I'm currently co-writing this fic with a friend :) Please read and review, tell us what you think!
"Katniss…Katniss. Please wake up," I hear someone say. "We're going to be late."
I purposely stayed in bed late today. "Mmm?" I stretch my arms and open my eyes. I know it's Peeta. He's already dressed, holding a plate of cheese buns.
"Hey. Sleep good?" He brushes my hair out of my face.
"Why are you up so early?" I ask, grabbing a piece of bread. I'm pretending not to know.
He gives me a funny look like he knows I'm avoiding the topic, which he probably does. "You know why."
And I do. Today marks the one year anniversary after the rebellion, now known as "Mockingjay Day". It's also my birthday tomorrow. I've been dreading this day for far too long. "Oh. That." I lie. I sit up. "I can't believe it's already been a year…" I whisper.
Exactly one year ago, the nation of Panem broke away from the clutches of President Snow and the Capitol.
And tomorrow, exactly eighteen years ago, I was born. The Capitol wouldn't see what was coming until sixteen years later.
"I know..." he says.
I sigh and bury my face in my hands. "Do we have to go?" I plead. I'm supposed to speak alongside Peeta and Paylor at the ceremony. I don't want to speak or remember any of it.
He rubs my back. "Yes...and who knows? There might even be a few surprises for your birthday maybe."
I think about this. Maybe...or maybe not. He's been acting suspicious lately. He keeps going away on "business trips" to the Capitol. He tells me it's just work but I think he's up to something. Once, he accidently slipped the words, "visiting old friends" out of his mouth.
He grips my shoulders to make me stand. "C'mon. Let's get you ready." The words make me cringe at the thought of Cinna, my old stylist who was murdered. I still have my prep team, but they're all getting ready themselves for this event.
He walks me to my closet and pulls out the dress I'm supposed to wear. Cinna had left it for me before he died. For some reason, he had always been one step ahead of me. Peeta leaves to let me get ready.
It's a light green colored dress with a brown leather jacket. The jacket reminds me of my father's. I open the jacket and a note falls out. I unfold it and it reads:
K,
I'm calling this one, "Abraham's Daughter". Wear your brown hunting boots. They'll look great with this. And you'll probably feel a lot more comfortable.
-C
PS: Braid!
I smile. Oh Cinna... I miss you so much.
I quickly put it on, attaching my Mockingjay pin. I braid my hair. I look in the back of my closet and pull out the old boots. I haven't worn these since...Gale left. I shove them on and look in the mirror. I definitely look like my father's daughter.
I brush my teeth then walk downstairs to where my mother and Peeta are sitting. My mother's pain has lessened a small bit since Prim's death last year but there isn't a day we don't think about Prim. I wish she was here now to examine my outfit. My mother looks as if she's going to cry, but that's how she is everyday. She stands and I hug her. "Prim and dad would be so proud of you, mom. I know they are," I say softly.
She holds me still and says, "They would be very proud of you too. You look beautiful. Just like your father."
I give a weak smile. "You're coming later, right?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." She smiles again. "Now get going." She pushes the door open and I link my arm with Peeta's. We step outside into the cool, morning air.
He kisses me. "You look amazing." He pauses and sighs. "Ready?"
I smile slightly. "Ready."