James Franco - Aston Royce (male mentor)
Mia Wasikowska - Nova Mack (female mentor)
Florence Welch - Astrid (escort)
Quote by: T.S Elliot
The train ride was quiet, besides Astrid’s need to flounce about everywhere. She carried a clipboard in one hand and a schedule book in the other. Within minutes she was running into another train car muttering about needing to see Aston and Nova – the previous winners of the Hunger Games for District Six. She left me alone with Blaise, fantastic.
My eyes shot over to where he lies on a bright blue sofa.
“I’ve seen you around the markets before, right?” he asks, a hand over his eyes and his mouth a solid line.
My response is simple and one worded, “Probably.”
He doesn’t respond afterwards and I don’t expect him to.
My gaze on him transforms from apathy to analyzing. I know I can’t trust him – I won’t trust him – unless he can show me some evidence to otherwise act upon and change my opinions. This may be the Hunger Games and I may need his help in the future, but dare I give him my loyalty in a heartbeat? Hell no.
I start to leave the train car, but I know I need to say something more, so I don’t leave him thinking I could care less about all of this.
“I know one of us – or both of us – is bound to die in the Hunger Games, but that doesn’t alter the fact that we’ll need each other now and during the fight. Two’s better than one anyways, right? Just… keep that in mind.”
I’m out of the door before I can know whether he responded or not – or if he even heard a word of it.
________________________________________
I find Astrid again, but instead of talking with my mentors – like she had muttered about earlier – she is primping herself up.
“If you’re looking for Nova and Aston they’re in their rooms – said something about pain or whatever. If you’re looking for me,” she turns away from her mirror and smiles brightly at me, “well, here I am!”
Her hair is red and wild reminding me of licking flames in a fire, and her lips are bright and done to perfection, like the rest of her makeup. She’s preparing herself for arrival to the Capitol I realize, and I can’t fight off the small frown that graces my lips.
“What, does it look bad?” her question comes out fast and alarmed as her hands dive straight towards her head.
“No, that’s not it!” I usher the words of my mouth before she ruins her handy work – although I truly don’t care for it. “I was just thinking.”
“Oh, well don’t trouble your thoughts, not while the Capitol is only so far away. You’ll love it, you and Blaise both.” she places both her finely manicured coral colored nails together in a thoughtful manner. “The food, fashion, it’s all marvelous!”
I nod at her though I know she’s not really paying attention, and vise versa. We’re both in our own worlds now, where hers is viewed as a fabulous sanctuary and I see a place that’s far from a haven.