Fawn turned over smiling to herself, she inhaled the delightful scent of,

Travis? Fawn opened her eyes quickly. It didn't take long for her to remember where she was. Immediately her eyes scanned the room for Travis, but she couldn't find him. He must have gone out to see if the overseers were allowed out of their rooms. Fawn pulled the covers back and set her feet on the soft carpet of the floor. Walking over to the bathroom, she found her clothes from yesterday and shut the bathroom door, changing out of the borrowed guards suit. Fawn brushed her hair to the best of her abilities with her fingers, but it didn't do much good. She smelled faintly of smoke. When Fawn walked out of the bathroom and she saw Travis standing on his enclosed deck, his hands on the bronze railing.

"We're allowed out." He said, not looking at her. Fawn could almost feel the unhappiness that came off of him. Did he really care about her that much?

"Garth will be looking for you." He said, this time turning his head to look at her. The sun shone off his copper hair and his green eyes looked dark as shadows crossed them. Fawn walked over to him, looking out across the garden.

"Travis, I don't feel right, leaving things the way I did last night." Fawn said to him. Travis shifted his position putting his right forearm on the railing.

"Why? It needed to be said and it was, big deal." Fawn noticed he was forcing himself to keep a steady tone, she sighed.

"Travis, I know that we kissed and I didn't resist it and all that, but we just wouldn't work. You and I are two different people." Fawn looked at him.

"That's where you're wrong." Travis said, leaning off the rail.

"Fawn, you and I, we are more alike than different. We both are very committed people, we stand strong in our beliefs, we are both stubborn," Fawn glared at him. She didn't know why all the girls swooned over him, he didn't seem the greatest in romancing, "but most importantly, we both want to do what's right. For everyone, not just ourselves." Fawn felt goose bumps as a hand settled her waist.

"I feel it and I know you do too." Fawn tried to pull away, but it wasn't much of a resistance. Travis put a hand on her face, tilting her mouth towards his. Fawn's pulse began thrumming and she couldn't resist the invitation. Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips to the warm ones that awaited hers. Travis's arm tightened on her waist slightly and he leaned into her. He seemed so vulnerable, so open, and Fawn's body tremoured in delight, despite her reserves. Travis separated his lips from hers and he wrapped his other arm around her, pressing her to his warm chest. Fawn could feel his heartbeat, it was steady beneath his flesh. She couldn't help asking the question that had been bothering her the whole time.

"What about Ruth?" Travis stiffened a little.

"Ruth and I used to be one in the same." He let go of Fawn.

"When my parents died of starvation she shared the same taste for revenge that I did. We were inseparable, until we arrived here. I can't kill innocent people, it makes me no better than any of the barbarians out in the world, but Ruth. Ruth doesn't care whose blood gets shed as long as it's an Easterners. Ruth changed, she is not the girl I once knew." Fawn detected a tone of sadness in his words.

Had he loved Ruth once? Had he held her the same way he held Fawn earlier? Fawn now understood Travis's hate for the East.

"Travis, I'm sorry about your parents." She said quietly. Travis glanced at her.

"They always tried their best. Refused to eat anything until I had eaten first." She saw his fist clench.

"Then the crown, they promised to send us food, promised us help. It never came and my parents faded out of existence before my eyes." Fawn eyes widened in shock.

"I never knew those things happened in 8." Travis let out a sad chuckle.

"No one ever does." Fawn stood in silence on the balcony until Travis's warm hand engulfed hers.

"Fawn, there's still six days left. Just give me a chance." Fawn looked at his hand then his face.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"What about Garth?" Travis's face twisted into a scowl.

"Garth, that closed minded little-"

"Travis." Fawn growled, as her skin pricked with defensiveness. Travis sighed.

"He doesn't have to know." He ventured.

"Travis, I am not going to lie to him." Fawn said sternly. Travis sighed again.

"Fawn, there's six days left! Garth doesn't have some claim on you, something, something that says you are all his. Why don't you just tell him the truth then, that you may have other interests?" Fawn sighed. She didn't know how well Garth would take the news, truth was, she didn't know Garth that well yet. Then again, she didn't know much about Travis also.

"I can try, but that won't guarantee anything." She said finally. Travis's face spread into a wide grin.

"Thank you." Fawn walked away from him, stopping with his door halfway open.

"Don't thank me for anything yet." Fawn closed the door to his room. She felt a little sick to her stomach about this whole situation. What if Travis was just playing her like he had done with all his other girls? As if summoned by her thoughts Garth came out of his room. Fawn was surprised when he ran over to her, his face melting into relief.

"Fawn, there you are!" Fawn was confused for a minute before remembering that she had practically disappeared after the interviews. Garth smiled at her.

"I was so worried, the servants couldn't find you-" He stopped, looking toward Travis's room where Travis was standing in the doorway. When he saw both of them looking, he retreated into his room, closing the door once again. Garth looked back at Fawn in confusion.

"Wait, were you with Travis?" Fawn felt her confidence shrivel and Garth noticed.

"You were." He said quietly. Fawn grabbed his arm.

"Garth, it's not what you think." Fawn racked her brain for an excuse.

"When the archives got broken into, I was on my way to see you, but the guards shoved me into the closest room possible. The room just happened to be Travis's." Fawn kept her tone level, not sure if she believed her own lie. Garth must have.

"Did he...respect you?" Garth ground out the words out awkwardly.

"Yes, I made sure of that." Fawn figured that was mostly true. Garth nodded.

"Good." Fawn looked at him closely, he seemed a little off now.

"Are you okay?" She asked him. Garth let out a long breath.

"It's just..." He trailed off, looking away from her. Fawn put her hand on his face, drawing his gaze back to hers. He was definitely upset.

"Garth, what's wrong? You can tell me." Garth smiled a little, removing her hand from his face, but not letting go of it.

"Back in Section 5, I was very close to this girl. Her name was Eva." Garth smirked.

"Eva and I had a future planned together. Everything, a house picked out way out in the country, where it would just be her and I." He stopped and Fawn felt her stomach drop.

"What happened?" She asked quietly, even though she was afraid of the answer.

"I went over to her house one night, to surprise her." His voice quivered.

"I found her in bed with one of my friends." Fawn inwardly crumbled.

"Oh Garth." She said, wrapping her arms around him. Garth hugged her back and she felt him exhale.

"Fawn, I can't deal with another relationship like that." His voice was close to her ear. Fawn stopped breathing. How was he going to respond to her request now?

"Garth?" Fawn asked, retreating from his embrace.

"Yes?" He asked, searching her eyes curiously. Fawn took a deep breath.

"I know I told you I would be your girl, but what if other options come up? Like what if I might think there is someone else?" Garth blinked.

"You mean you would like to see someone else?" He asked. Fawn cringed, that didn't sound good.

"Yes...I just want to make sure I'm making the right choice." Fawn said to him. Garth didn't answer immediately and it worried Fawn. Then he smiled.

"Of course, Fawn. We both want that." He paused.

"Just, don't lead me on if you know we aren't right for each other." Fawn sighed in relief.

"Thank you so much." She leaned up and kissed him softly. Garth smiled and kissed her back. He stroked her cheek.

"You're coming to the fireworks tonight right?" Fawn nodded. Another one Clay's idea. There would be camera crews all over the place, which meant more interviews.

"Of course, I wouldn't want to keep disappointing the news reporters." Garth chuckled.

"They will be releasing a poll of where we all stand in popularity." Garth said. Fawn let out a nervous breath. She didn't really care whether she had the throne or not, but knowing what the people thought about her made her nervous.

"I still don't like all of this." Fawn stated, thinking about the competition. Garth nodded in agreement.

"I don't either, but this is part of our duty, and besides " He smiled and kissed her, "it can't be all that bad." Fawn couldn't help ducking her head a little. Garth wasn't all that bad and so far he seemed completely infatuated with her and no one else.

"I will see you tonight." Garth stepped back, his smile never leaving his face. Fawn nodded back to him and began the walk down the hallway that would lead to her room.