CHAPTER 2

They only allowed family to come see us after we got back, so I was very surprised when I saw Gale in the corner of the room, looking at me as if he had never seen me before. I had imagined this moment countless times throughout my stay in the Capitol, wondering if things might be different between the two of us, or if things could go back to how they were before. Now I understood that this was not possible.

After a quick moment of hesitation, I ran into his arms as if it was the most natural thing to do, which it was, except for the fact that everyone in the room was giving us reproachful looks. Oh, that's right. I'm supposed to be in love with Peeta. Even if there was not anything romantic between the two of us, I can understand that everyone else might not know that and find our relationship somewhat odd.

"Welcome home, Catnip. Great job out there, your shooting could use some work, though. I plan to get you out in the woods immediately, my snares haven't exactly been cutting it here lately," he whispered in my ear. He also gave me a wink that said you can tell me exactly you've been up to with the baker boy also, but of course only I could see that. When you know someone for so long you can start having telepathic conversations with them. Something Gale and I mastered long ago.

Oh, right. Peeta. I knew that I had to talk to him, what happened back in the arena was not something that two people could just forget. Hopefully he would not hold it against me if I requested only friendship from him. Peeta could not have actually thought that we would just come home and live happily ever after…

"Katniss, Primm and I want to show you the new house we're in now," my mother called over to me, "Your sister already got your room ready for you."

Primm's face immediately brightened, "We even get our own rooms now Katniss, yours is the biggest though."

I was not really worried about the size of my room, or my room at all actually, but my mother and Primm looked genuinely excited to show me and I knew this was probably the first time that they had been happy in a while.

"I'll see you tonight?" I asked Gale, hoping his answer would be yes.

"Sure, wear something pretty," he said with a wild grin shooting across his face, without a doubt remembering the last time he had said those exact same words to me. Before the Hunger Games. Before our lives would be forever changed by the horrors that only the Capitol could be responsible for.

I followed my family into the District and tried not to notice the stares that others were giving us. Before, I could walk throughout the entire place and not one person would even nod in my direction. Now everyone was staring and mumbling under their breaths. I guess that's what happens when you not only win the Hunger Games, but defy the Capitol in the process.

The house was enormous, and I could not imagine ever living here. It did not feel like home somehow, but just a place that my stuff inhabited, and that I would be sleeping in. My spirits were immediately brightened when I saw Cinna walking over. No doubt to try and make me look presentable for tonight. I had no idea how they were going to cover up the bruises and scars, not that I wanted them covered up. I kind of liked them, they reminded me that I had fought and that I had deserved to win.

"You're cousins' gorgeous. The looks must run in the family I suppose," he said to me as I motioned for him to come in the door.

"My cousin?"

"Yes. What was his name? Dale?"

"Gale?" I questioned. Cousin? What was that all about?

"Oh, yes Katniss. I explained to everyone that Gale was your cousin and that he could come and see you when you arrived," she said with a look that said, just go with it.

"Oh, right. Gale is so close I think of him as more of a brother, sorry."

"No problem," Cinna assured me, "You've got a lot on your mind right now, I should probably stick to easier questions like, 'what do you think about the new house?'"

"It's…. big," was all I said, and they both seemed to get what I was saying. I did not like it. I would much rather be in my smaller house located in the Seam right now. Something about it just seemed more comfortable than this… mansion.

"Let's get you fixed up, eh? I was thinking something along the lines of leather with lots and lots of chains, and makeup that will make you look like you just won the Hunger Games and now you want your prize. How about it?"

The look on mine and my mother's faces was plenty assurance for Cinna that his joke was not funny and he quickly pulled out something more suitable. It was beautiful. It was orange, with sparkly accents that looked more expensive then anything I had ever owned before. Obviously Cinna was going for an older look, but nothing that would offend anyone. I could not help but think about what Peeta would think about it, orange being his favorite color and all. This orange was like the color of a sunset and was equally as beautiful. The fabric fell all the way to the ground and had a train made out of a sheer fabric that would surely allow me to make and entrance and quite the exit. It was strapless, and Cinna had out a beautiful necklace laid out with a golden mockingjay engraved into it. I was going to show the world that the Hunger Games had not only made absolutely no effect on me, but it had changed me into a woman.

I would be forever thankful to the Capitol.

Yeah, right.