Bright wigs, overly done make up, and large colorful dresses and suits were the only things I could make out as the Tribute Train made its way through the overly crowded and anxious streets of the Capitol. Twisting in and out of the heart of Panem, I felt as if I were on a merry-go-round that never stopped.

Women had gussied themselves up and dragged their families out of bed at the crack of dawn that morning in hopes of catching a glimpse of the tributes competing in this years annual Hunger Games.

I felt my throat close up and my fists begin to clench at the thought of these people enjoying the events that were yet to come. Faces upon faces continued to pass by beneath us and I had to tear my eyes away from the people I hated most in this world, besides President Snow.

"Katniss, dear. Smile." Effie Trinket's voice whispered into my ear. Her breath wreaked of her morning coffee and biscuits. I had to urge myself not to gag as she leaned in closer. "Show them how pleasant this years District Twelve mentor is."

I glared up at her, but she was too busy waving and smiling at her fellow neighbors. Her bright orange hair was in an overly large up-do complete with large orange and black butterflies stacked atop each other, giving the illusion that they were flying out of her hair. Her winged eye liner and matching orange and black dress allowed to remind me that she was one of them. This was her home. The people cheering on our arrival had the same sadistic values as she did, she just hid them better.

I glance diagonally where Haymitch Abernathy is sat gazing out the window. He mouths the word 'smile' at me as I glare back at him. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I could not look at these people and smile as they took away another year of my life.

Looking straight ahead, I made eye contact with Peeta Mellark. He was sitting in the same over sized brown leather chair I was and he was smiling at the sea of Capitol citizens who were waving back at him. I suppose he was trying to gain their respect before the games started, but I could not stand to watch him succumb to the Capitol and their materialistic way of life.

Without thinking, I slammed my fist on the arm of the chair and watched as everyone around my jumped in surprise. Effie eyed me. The leather had molded to the shape of my first, but that was the last of my worries. Effie opened her mouth slightly, I could tell she was about to scold me for my actions, but it was too late.

I stood up from the seating area and fast walked toward the back of the train, opening the compartment door and slamming it shut all in one swift movement. There was a 'U' shaped couch that hugged the end of the train and a few lonely elegant chairs just like the ones in the previous room, but other than the furniture it was entirely empty and I finally felt like I could breathe.

I took a seat on the hard but elegant sofa and peered out the rear of the train as we continued our journey towards the heart of the Capitol. Cheers made their way through the walls of the train and I felt as if my head was spinning from all the commotion.

I quickly wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a long sigh. This was not how things were supposed to play out. I was supposed to be the one getting ready to endure another adventure into the arena, not Peeta.

I pushed back the tears threatening to spill as I thought about the days events that had seemed so long ago. It was just like any other reaping, except this year was the third Quarter Quell. Which meant that surprises were definitely in store. I should have known.

Seeing that it was the 75th Hunger Games and the third Quarter Quell, President Snow had decided to shake things up a bit. As if sending twenty four children off to die each year was not thrilling enough.

President Snow had decided that this years games would consist of victors instead of randomly chosen tributes, but the one piece of information he failed to share with us until the ceremony was that any district with five or less victors were to abolish the gender rule and chose tributes without considering genders. This had completely ruined the plan Haymitch and I had made to save Peeta.

Which is why I am here now. With Haymitch Abernathy and Peeta Mellark as this years tributes and myself as their mentor. To say I was terrified would be an understatement. I had no idea how to be a mentor let alone a good one that could stomach the concept of Peeta instead of me.

He did not deserve to be put through another round of torture. Although I am not able to say I feel the same way towards him that he does towards me, he does not deserve to go back into that arena. Haymitch and I had both decided that we were going to do what we could to keep Peeta on the outside.

I pull off my mockingjay pin and stare down at the symbol as I rotate it clockwise in my hand. The cold gold pin burns my hand but I continue to hold on to it. I need to be strong for Prim. I need to be there for her, to protect her. I will make it through these games, go back home to Prim, and never have to be apart of this terrible idea to control the citizens of Panem, ever again.

I hear the compartment door slide open and wake me from me thoughts, but I continue to rotate the pin in my hand and gaze out at the empty forests in the distance hoping the person will get the hint and leave. But I have no such luck.

"I'm really not in the mood for a lecture, I'll apologize to Effie later." I continue to stare out the window hoping Haymitch leave without saying a word.

When no one responds, I tear my eyes away from the scenery and see Peeta making his way towards me. I give him a small smile.

"I thought you were Haymitch."

"You don't have to apologize to anybody, including me. I know it's not fair for me to hold you to things you said in the games. You saved us. I know that. But I can't go on acting for the cameras and then us ignoring each other in real life. So if you can stop looking at me like I'm wounded, I can quit acting like it. Then maybe we have a shot at being friends."

For a second I am taken aback. I had expected him to bring up what had happened in the compartment, not this.

I look look away from him and focus on the ground. In all honesty, it has been hard since the games ended. We did what we had to do to survive. But lately it has just been a mess of me not knowing what I want from him, him wanting too much from me, and both of us having to pretend everything is fine and dandy for the Capitol.

"I've never been good at friends." I finally respond and he eyes me tentatively.

"Well for starters, it does help when you know the person. I hardly know anything about you except that you are stubborn and good with a bow." He watches the trees in the background pass by.

"That about sums me up." I shrug.

"No. There's more than that, you just don't want to tell me." He bites out. I can tell that this is hurting him, but what more can he ask of me? Befriending someone who is off to die for a second time in the last year is a lot harder than it seems.

"It's like I said, I'm-" He cuts me off.

"You see, Katniss, the way the whole friend thing works is you have to tell each other the deep stuff."

I smile. "The deep stuff?" He nods "Uh-oh." I mock him. There really isn't anything deep to tell him. I've been told I wear my heart on my sleeve, secrets are not really my forte.

"Like what?" I question after thinking for a moment.

"Like what's your favorite color?"

"Well now you've stepped over the line." He chuckles and looks down.

"Seriously, though. What is it?"

I make eye contact with him. "Green. What's yours?"

"Orange." This makes me laugh.

"Like Effie's hair?"

He chuckles. "No. Not that orange. More like a sunset kind of orange."

I nod. This is one of the first conversations we have had together. Last year, we spent most of the time worrying about our safety and making it out alive, we barely ever said to each other.

I can't help but feel guilty that this is one of the first times I have actually asked Peeta Mellark about his life. We have been together, side by side, for almost a year and I am just now learning his favorite color.

Our train suddenly becomes dark and a voice announces that we have arrived at the Capitol. I smile at Peeta, grab his hand and make our way towards the door. Through tinted windows I can see hundreds of Capitol citizens crowding the platform and numerous camera crews awaiting the arrival of the star crossed lovers from District Twelve.

I give Peeta's hand a small squeeze as Effie gives us the signal to evacuate. I glance around the train once more, lean into Peeta, and whisper, "May the odds be ever in your favor."