Chapter 2

Before we could disembark from the train we are accosted by capital stylists, not Portia or Cinna unfortunately, but some orange waif of a person. I am handed a pair of dark trousers and a blue button down shirt. I sigh in resignation and take off toward my room. I take a lopsided shower in an attempt to give my bum leg a rest. After quickly toweling off to avoid all glances in the mirror, I catch site of my Frankenstein reflection anyway and pause to see my broken body, though oddly clean with no scars is just perplexing. I wonder what the point was of erasing them was. I mean, clearly the games left their mark, so why bother? I run a quick comb through my hair before glancing around my room. I've noticed that my things have all been packed into a shoulder bag but I walk out of the room to find Katniss without it. I want no more reminders of this trip. I have enough already.

I find Katniss just as she emerges from her car, her hands also empty. She's been attempting to peer through her window at the crowd that has formed in anticipation of our arrival. She has no doubt been looking for Prim and Gale. I look at her trying to gauge her mood, her thoughts but her face is as closed off as it ever was. She is completely unreadable.

"Katniss" I start. She looks up at me, her grey eyes meet my blue ones and I swear my heart stops. She is so beautiful.

"Peeta," She starts to turn away. I reach my hand to stop her and she shrugs it off. She makes her way to the front cart and sits on the edge of a chair. "Listen, about this star crossed lovers thing."

My heart is in my shoes. This is not going the direction I had hoped, had dreamed that it would. "It's okay Katniss. I understand that you don't feel the same way about me as I do about you. You did what you had to." I immediately try to clamp down on these traitorous feelings. I want to grab her and kiss her until the pain goes away, to take her in my arms and run away where no one can find us. I wasn't ignorant. I knew she was doing what she needed to survive, but some small part of me hoped that she would come around.

She looks like she wants to say something but in bounds Effie Trinket. "Come on you two, you've got one more showing to go and then it's off to a life of luxury." Effie stops and takes in the scene glancing from Katniss's tense posture and I'm sure at my face which I'm struggling to make impassive. I never was good at hiding my feelings. I really needed to work on that.

"Ready to go kids?" We are once again saved from making any conversation or answering Effie's probing look by Haymitch. I'm beginning to think his good timing isn't just my good luck. I think there might be more to Haymitch than I ever thought.

"Let's just get this over with." Katniss huffs in her usual surly demeanor.

"Smile for the cameras and hold hands." Haymitch huffs right back.

I slide my hand into hers for one last moment. I cherish the feel of her small cold hand that fits delicately in my larger paw. I look down at her and just for one moment I catch her eye before the doors are thrust open. Its early evening in the district but the train depot is all lit up and there are camera's everywhere. People are yelling us, vying for our attention.

Katniss is careening her head in every direction trying to locate Prim and her mother. I glance around myself. I have a hard time spotting him but my father stands stoically alone by a street lamp in the back. I catch his eye and offer a small nod in his direction. He returns my nod with a sad smile and a small wave.

Katniss pulls her hand suddenly out of my own and I immediately miss the feel of it. It leaves me feeling empty. She is trying to make her way through the thick onslaught of people to get to Prim. I see her blonde hair shining in the light as she sits aloft Gale's shoulders. I follow Katniss and throw my arm around her shoulder. I push through the throng of people a little easier with my broad shoulders. Katniss looks up at me with a small smile and a quite thank you before she's swept into the embrace of Prim. I'm carried onward by the crowd in the direction of my father but not before I see Gale Hawthorne wrap his arms around Katniss and kiss the crown of her head.

My insides boil and then freeze in defeat. I never had a chance. I make my way slowly through the people offering their congratulations, everyone touching me. They all want a piece of their victor but all I want as an escape. At long last I make my way to my father

"My boy" he whispers and he steps forward before offering me a soft hug and a kiss to my forehead.

"Father" is all I manage to utter out before I feel the burn of tears in the back of my throat. I choke them back. I will not cry. He loops his arm through mine giving me a little something to lean on as we make our way out of the crowd and slip away from the noise and bustle in the train depot.

I make to turn down the street at the square to return home to the bakery when my father tugs me in another direction. "No son, this way."

Oh yes. Victor Village. How could I have forgotten? I guess the saying is really true. You can't go home again. I slowly hobble all the way across town to the slightly greyed sign that announces our entrance to Victor's Village. Before now I'd never had reason to enter it. The sole occupant, Haymitch, too didn't seem to mind his lack of visitors. I see him now offer a small nod as he makes the way up his sidewalk. The Village as it's called is a small cul-de-sac of ten houses; it would be its own community, if the houses were filled. My father and I continue down past Haymitch's house to the next, Katniss's, it goes without saying. And finally we stop in front of mine. It's identical to the two before it, two story and massive by 12 standards, nothing personifying it of the occupant, yet anyway. My father slips the gold key into my hand and I quickly unlock the door and step into the entry.

The entry is softly lit and I find someone has started a warm fire in the hearth of the living room. A basket of fruit sits upon the counter in the kitchen along with a friendly "Welcome to Your New Home, Compliments of Your Capital." My stomach churns at the thought.

"Welcome home, son." I turn to look at my father.

"Where are mom, and Rye and the others?" I ask confused.

He holds his hand up to stop me. "Son we need to stay at the bakery. Things have been busy since you left and your mother suggested that you might need your space."

"You mean she wouldn't want to live next door to Seam Trash." I spit with only a small amount of venom. I'm sure she didn't want to live here, especially not with that particular Seam brat since I had spilled to the world that my father once was in love with her mother.

"Peeta" my father starts.

I sigh with a shrug and offer him a small smile. "I'm sorry Dad. It's okay. I understand. I appreciate you picking me up and bringing me home".

"If you need anything I'll only be a call a way. " He offers as he makes his way back to the door. "Please come over for dinner tomorrow night we can all catch up."

"I'll think about it, I will." I tell him as my hand rests on the door unwilling to shut the door as he walks away. I'm unwilling to shut him out of my life, but it looks like I might not have a choice.

I watch him until he rounds the bend past the entrance into Victor's Village before he's disappeared. I take a gulp of breath air trying to slow my hammering heart. Its dark now, completely dark. Haymitch has one light burning on the second floor, Katniss's house is all a blaze, like a beacon in the dark. I can see her through the window sitting on the couch laughing and hugging Prim.

She is closer than ever but why does she feel so far away?