I lay in the hammock, swaying side to side. In about 4 days, Marcus and I will be going on the victory tour to every state.
Since we got back, Marcus bought a house close to mine since he used to live an hour away. Now we see each other all the time, practically inseparable. Jane and Becca have become best friends. My father, mother, and my brother and sister all love Marcus. His family loves me; Jane has pretty much become my second sister.
Everything seems perfect, but we both still have those sleepless nights where we are waken by nightmares of the arena. When I'm reminded of Sarah, Evan, and Kennedie.
I spend the night at his house often, though, because the nightmares come less often when I'm with him. Since we don't have to go to school, we don't have much to do and usually end up spending time at each other's homes. We barely ever go outside our homes because we have become something like celebrities. The first victors of The Hunger Games, America's lovers. I have even seen us on a few posters, mostly Marcus though. He's the one whose face is on teenage girls' walls across the country. I try to ignore it when a girl comes up and asks for a picture with him, but I'm only human, and jealousy kicks in. So we avoid public situations as much as possible.
I stare up for a while before I get up and walk back home. It is abnormally warm for November, and I don't even need a jacket. I walk in the door and see lunch is set up at the table. Hot dogs and some macaroni. We have enough money to buy expensive, fancy meals, but we prefer to keep things as normal as they used to be.
"Hey darling. Just in time for lunch." Father says. I pull out a chair and grab a plate. I hear a knock and jump up to get the door. I open the door and Marcus and Jane are standing outside. Jane gives me a hug and runs over to Becca.
"Hey." Marcus says, and he gives me a kiss.
"Hi. You're just in time. Are you two hungry?" I ask. He nods and we go to the table and sit down. He sits next to me and I hand him a plate. Becca and Jane are talking about school. Since they moved up here, Becca and Jane go to the same school. They got put in the same class. We all sit and talk and eat for a while.
"So tomorrow, I thought me and you would go to your favorite restaurant for breakfast." Father says. It's a tradition he has, taking everyone to their favorite restaurant for their birthday. Tomorrow I will be turning seventeen.
"Sounds great." I say.
Marcus leans over and whispers in my ear.
"I have a special surprise for you after that." He says. I smile.
"Secrets are for people who have something to hide." Daniel says sarcastically.
I scoop up some macaroni on my fork and fling it at him.
"We were planning that." I say. And this starts a food fight between me and him. Some misfired pieces hit everyone, so they join in. Hot dogs and macaroni are flying everywhere. Everyone is laughing, except for mother. She is more serious than father, who is laughing and flinging food like the rest of us. When a piece of hotdog hits her, she slams her fork on the table.
"Ok that's enough. Who's cleaning this up?" She says, angry. Everyone looks at me. Looks like I'm the one cleaning.
"Annelise." Mother says, giving me the look that lets me know that I need to start cleaning. I give a sorry smile.
"I'm on it." I say, quickly picking up the plates and silverware. Everyone is suppressing laughter, until mother gives them the 'look'. Everyone gets up from the table and heads to the living room, except for Marcus, who helps me clean. We end up scraping food off the walls, floor, table, and we have to use a broom to get some macaroni off the ceiling.
We keep hitting it until it falls, landing right on Marcus's face. I start laughing hysterically, falling on the floor. He's not laughing, but he suppresses a smile. I grab a paper towel and clean him up.
"Now you smell like cheese." I say, giggling.
"Great." He says, sarcastically.
When we are finished, we join everyone in the living room. We sit, and his arm automatically goes around my waist, holding me close. On the TV, they are doing some promos for the tour. I quickly flip the channel. It's just another reminder of the games.
"Are you guys excited?" Becca asks. Our silence is our answer. We will travel to every state, starting in Louisiana, going alphabetically, and ending in our state. We will make a stop in Washington D.C. right before we have the celebration in our state. It's required for everyone to watch. Each celebration is held in the state's capitol, and citizens of that city are required to attend.
We are required to give a speech at each stop. The government has given us speeches, so we don't have to make them, but we can throw in a little extra if we were allies with the tribute. What I'm dreading the most is facing the families of the dead tributes. Especially my aunt and Sarah's family. I try to avoid thinking about the games as much as possible, but even the smallest things are a constant reminder. The pink mark on my stomach from the burn, the scar on my leg, the nightmares. Even Becca reminds me of Sarah…
Sometimes, the nightmares are so bad, I just lie in bed all day staring at the wall. Some days I can go without thinking about them.
I lay my head on Marcus's lap and tuck my legs up. He rubs my arm, and we all sit in silence and watch TV. Becca and Jane go up to Becca's room, and after a while, Daniel gets a call from his friend and he leaves to go to his friend's house. I fall asleep after some time.
I wake up in the middle of the night. I'm by myself on the couch, covered with a blanket. I get up and walk to my bedroom and fall onto the bed. Marcus probably had to take Jane home. I fall back asleep and wake up again in the morning. I yawn and sit up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. I get in the shower and get dressed.
I walk down the steps and into the living room, where everyone, including Marcus and Jane, are waiting for me.
"Good morning, darling. Happy Birthday!" Father exclaims. He come and gives me a hug and kisses the top of my head. Everyone else wishes me a happy birthday, with hugs and kisses.
"Are you ready?" Father asks, and I nod. I wave goodbye to everyone and we hop into his truck and go to get breakfast. It's a small family-owned restaurant in town. We go here every year on my birthday, and I order the same thing.
Once we take our seat, our waitress comes and takes our orders. I get scrambled eggs, hash browns and sausage. Dad orders a pancake that is too big to fit completely on the plate.
"Another year older. I remember when I had to change your diaper." He says.
"Dad, you say the same thing every year." I say, smiling.
"Well it's true. You used to be the cutest thing. Now you're all grown up, beautiful, with a boyfriend, more money than you can handle, and been through the unthinkable. But no matter what, you will always be my baby girl." He says. I'm smiling like an idiot now. I get up and go over to hug him.
"I know I will." I say. "I love you dad."
"I love you too darling." He says.
I sit back down and finish my food. When were done, we pay and leave.