Chapter 21

Snow's P.O.V.

Someone tapped my shoulder.

I reflexively launched out and grabbed the person's arm and pinned it behind their back. 

By the time I was half awake, I had Jerome pinned against the ground with my knee on his chest.

"Ow." 

I let go of his arm. "Sorry." I murmured. "Reflex."

"To be fair, I should've guessed."

I laughed. "Yeah, you should've."

He turned around and rubbed his arm. "You're strong for someone someone your size."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It is."

I smiled at him. He slowly reached out and pinned a lock of stray hair behind my ear. I watched as he slowly leaned in.

"Uh, guys?"

Jerome froze. We slowly stepped away from each other and turned.

"Sorry to interrupt but uh..." Mitch trailed off. Thalia stood behind him with an expression that was a mix of confusion and excitement.

"Well, we're low on food. So hunting?" Thalia said.

"Uh...yeah. That would probably be a good idea." Jerome said awkwardly. 

"So um...Jerome, you wanna join me? Thalia and Snow can hold down the cave and protect our supplies since they went hunting last time." Mitch suggested.

"Sure." Jerome said picking up his spear. "Um...I'll see you later then." he said to me.

"Yeah, see you." I murmured.

He hesitated but leaned over and kissed my forehead.

"Who cares if they know?" he murmured.

I smiled slightly to myself.

Mitch and Jerome left. As they did, Mitch glanced back at me and gave me a weird look.

"So...you and Jerome huh?" Thalia asked as she picked up her bow. 

"I guess." I said as I cleaned one of my knives with a piece of cloth.

"When did it happen?"

"Last night."

"What happened?"

"He kissed me." I said simply. 

"Do you like him?" 

"Yes." I said looking up.

"Do you love him?"

"What kind of question is that? This is the Hunger Games." 

"Do you love him?" she repeated as she aimed her bow at a nearby tree. 

"The Hunger Games is no place for love. I learned that the hard way." I whispered.

"The Hunger Games may not be a place for love. But you can't deny your feelings Snow."

"I can try."

"And how's that working out for you?"

"It's failing."

"So you love him."

"I don't know what love feels like. The one time I thought I was in love...I almost died."

"His name was Jason wasn't it?" Thalia asked quietly.

"How'd you know?" I asked looking up in surprise.

"I overheard you and Jerome talking. So you fell in love with him?"

"I thought I did. But then he and Vena tried to kill me."

"The District 1 girl? The one who was jealous of you?"

"Yeah, that one." I mumbled.

"She tried to kill you."

"Her and Jason yes."

She muttered something under her breath.

"Thalia?" I murmured. 

"Yeah Snow?" she asked putting down her bow and looking at me.

"What happens...what happens if I am in love with him?" 

She looked at me. "In the end, either you die, he dies, or you both die."

"I don't want to live." I whispered. 

Thalia didn't say anything.

"I don't want to win. I hate my life, I hate this place."

"What happens if he loves you back?" Thalia asked.

"Then that makes my job a lot more difficult."

Jerome's P.O.V.

"So...you and Snow huh?" Mitch asked as we walked through the forest.

I didn't respond.

"Jerome," Mitch murmured. "Seriously?"

"What?" I snapped. 

"She's...Snow. And you're you."

Ouch.

"Thanks for the support."

"That's not what I meant Jerome. This is the Hunger Games. You can't both come out of this alive. Remember Katniss and Peeta?"

"I remember." I whispered.

"You love her don't you?"

"Maybe I do."

"You do."

"Yeah." I sighed. "Yeah, I do."

"So what're you going to do?"

"I don't know." I murmured. "Only one of us can come out of this alive. And I want it to be her but...I have my family to think about."

"And what about that guy she allied with before?"

I stared at him. "How do you know about that?"

"Thalia and I overheard you talking."

I sighed again. "She said she thought she loved Jason, but he betrayed her."

"Do you think she loves you?"

"Maybe. She's so hard to read."

"Yeah, she is." Mitch said. 

"I-I love her. I honestly do."

"Woah. You serious?" 

I nodded.

"But what about Jason?"

"I don't know Mitch."

"Do you think she still loves him?"

"Maybe."

"You're in pretty deep." Mitch said.

"I know."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

A glint of silver caught my eye.

"It's a parachute." Mitch murmured.

I reached out and caught it in my hands.

Slowly, I opened up the jar to see a small piece of bread and a note.

I handed Mitch the piece of bread and unfolded the small piece of paper.

My fingers trembled as I read it.

I had one choice.

I didn't like it but I had to do it.

"Mitch?" I said after a moment.

"Yeah Jerome?"

"I know what to do."

A/N

Sorry that's so short!

But the next few chapters are going to have a lot of plot twists and stuff! So...yeah! That's it!

:)

Hope you enjoyed!

Comment what you think the plot twists are going to be!

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Love ya!

-Lucy