The Hunger Games - Surviving The Storm - book 3

Chapter 1

After my morning meetings I was taken aside by Cinna who dressed me for the trip through town. From my schedule I learned we would spend the next week and a half going through the Districts to take account of the Mayorships. I wasn't looking forward to any of it. The only District I wanted to visit was 12. I had permission to move my brothers grave to the Capitol. It's new home would be the graveyard at the manor. Everyone who has lived in the house and passed had a tombstone there.

Before I reached 12 I would be passing through the other 11 Districts which would take 11 days. 11 days on a stinking train with no where to go but up and down the corridors. The trains reminded me of the times as a Tribute when I traveled from my District to the Capitol for the Hunger Games. The thought of getting on that train made me queasy and I immeadiately grew sick to my stomach.

The drive through the Capitol was fast but not fast enough to keep peoples gazes rolling in our direction. Sure the windows of the car I was in was blacked out but it didn't help their gazes from being seen by me. It was like their eyes were on me, even when I wasn't looking I felt them creeping.

In the car I sat between Cinna and Jackson. Cinna was accompanying us as our stylist, him and his family. His family was in the car behind us with the woman who ran our schedule, her name was Tiffaria Maxrae. I hated her company, every minute that passed by was another reminder.

"5 minutes to eat, 4 minutes to eat, 3 minutes to eat, 2 minutes to eat, 1 minute to eat. Put your silverware down its time to get changed out we have 15 minutes." Is how she would talk during our meal times. She even drove Cinna crazy when he was dressing me out. "15 minutes to change, 14 minutes to change, 13 minutes to change." I remember one time Cinna butted her out of the room. He told her that he was never late when he had a schedule and didn't need a constant reminder. Since then she wouldn't remind him but I knew from the way her eyes flickered down at her time piece that she was thinking it.

When we arrived to the train station there were news people out at the platform. I was relieved that they were unable to see me and Jackson through the darkened windows because they would see that I was leaning on Cinna's shoulder instead of his. Cinna helped me to relax with his mellow mood and I needed him.

"Cameras" I whispered to Jackson who was looking out the window.

He nodded his head. "Well I guess we need to get our acting faces on." He murmered.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Think of something happy, think of something you love. Affection I need to show affection. When I opened my eyes I nodded my head once to Jackson who opened the door.

I watched him step out of the car and several flashes go off. I went rigid for a moment until I felt Cinna's hand on my back.

"You can do this." He murmered.

I nodded my head and took Jacksons hand when he offered it to me. When I was out of the car I smiled as I looked into Jacksons eyes and he smiled back. He wrapped on arm around my waist and I placed my hand on his chest. The entire time our gazes stayed connected until he had to move on towards the train.

Before we made it on board the news man came forward and began asking a few questions.

"Who's this lovely lady you have at your side?" The man asked Jackson.

Jackson looked into my eyes with the faux love gaze and began talking. "This is my beautiful fiance' CallaRose Evermark."

"Where did you two first meet?" he asked me.

I giggled as if recalling a memory and then spoke. "We were attending one of his brothers luncheons a year ago and he had spilled some burgundy on my gown since then we've been spending more and more time together" I lied successfully.

One of the few things I inherited from my father was being able to convincingly tell a lie. Though I didn't approve of the gift I couldn't deny that it kept me out of trouble a few times.

"Did you two attend together or seperately?" The man asked me again.

I flashed a more larger and dazzling smiled and began to speak. "Honestly we both had different dinner acquaintences. The girl he was with he had been talking to for a few days and the man I was with is my best friend."

"Who is your best friend?" He asked me.

I nodded towards Cinna who was off to the side talking to his wife and son. "My stylist we go back 9 years."

"But he is married." The man began. "Does that complicate things for either of you."

I laughed at his comment. "Hardly, his wife and son are also close friends and they work for us as well. We don't treat them like our workers but we treat them like our family because that is how we see them." I leaned into Jackson and he leaned down and gave me a kiss.

"Can we be expecting a wedding anytime soon?" The man asked Jackson.

Jackson nodded his head and pulled me a bit closer. "When we return from our duties in the other Districts we will be betrothed you are welcome to join us for our day if you'd like. Just in the nick of time, Tiffaria was rushing towards us pointing at her time piece.

"Time to go, time to go we have a schedule needing attention." She said. Tiffaria shooed away the news man and rushed us onto the train.

The moment the doors closed and the windows tinted themselves automatically I stepped away from Jackson. He looked at me and then headed down the train towards the bedroom. I followed as well wanting to have a few moments to collect my thoughts and emotions and found that Jackson and I were assigned to the same room.

"I refuse to sleep in the bed of a man I am not betrothed to. Who assigns the rooms?" I asked Jackson.

"Everything is passed by Finnick if he doesn't like something he will change it." Jackson said to me. "If it really bothers you I will sleep in the tv room."

I looked at him and shook my head. "I can't let you do that." I sighed. "Well we will be married soon so I guess we are just preparing for what is to come right?" I asked him.

He slowly nodded his head as he walked over to the left side of the bed and sat down. "I'll take this side and you can have the other okay?" He told me.

I nodded and walked over to the right side and sat down. "Do you think we will ever really fall in love?" I asked him

He looked at me and gave a weak smile that barily pulled up the corners of his mouth. "We can really only hope right?"

We could really only hope. Years from now when our child was growing up and becoming aware would he ever ask how much I loved his father? In turn would I be able to say I love him more than my heart could bear and truly mean it? Could I?