Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games Suzanne Collins does.

Burned

2. Kitten

As I wake up I smell food. My stomach growls perfect timing. As I get up to brush my teeth and get dressed all I see in my closets are short dresses, miniskirts and low cut shirts. I have to look desirable today and every day, I miss the days when I could wear an old T-shirt and no one would care. Ever since I became a victor I have to look "desirable" like I give a damn but I have to remember this is all for Prim….

As I'm looking through my closet I chose a short dress that's black but at the end of the dress it's covered in multiple colors at the end. I know how much the Capitol loves colors. It reaches mid-thigh, good enough. After I put in on I put on the matching shoes and head out to breakfast. As I walk in all eyes are on me even Haymitch.

"Wow you look really nice Katniss." Maggie says in an awe tone. She's too kind, it might be a good trait in life but in the arena it can get you killed. I remember one time a girl like Maggie was just walking around in the arena when a guy pretending to be hurt calls out for her to help him. She fell for it as soon as she was close enough he dragged her down to the ground and cut her up took 3 hours for her to finally die. Good new a Career killed him by slitting him throat.

"Yes, look how marvelous you look with all those colors on!" Effie says in an excited voice. She thinks I chose these clothes out myself. I just don't get why people in the Capitol love colorful things so much, hell even their toilet paper is multiple colors.

"Thank you so much!" I say in an Effie voice, Haymitch knows exactly what's going on and why the hell I would even touch a dress like this, which is why he's looking at me with admiration and pity. I think the admiration is for my strength not my dress.

As I sit down to eat some pancakes I notice were close to the Capitol, 30 minutes away.

"Any of you got any questions? We're close to the Capitol. It's now or never" Haymitch slurs lazily. Sometimes I wonder if he can read my mind…

"What are we going to do when we get there?" Asks Maggie now that I think about it she reminds me of an older version of Prim innocent in every way possible. I stop thinking about this I can't get attached to her or to anyone. It's why I don't have a lot of friends except for Gale, Madge, Haymitch, Finnick, Johanna, and Cinna. Even then the people who could understand me the best were Finnick or Johanna Or sometimes Haymitch.

"Well you'll be escorted to your stylist to get ready for the parade while I do drink and Katniss poses for the cameras and Effie starts driving everyone in the country of Panem insane. Sound good?" Haymitch ask in a sarcastic sweet tone. I wonder how he comes up with all these insult while he's drunk. It's something else I'll wonder about but never find out the truth.

"Yeah sure I guess I was just wondering, sorry" Maggie says usually Haymitch is a jerk but now he looks like an even bigger jerk being rude to Maggie, it's like yelling at Prim just makes you look 10 times worse.

"Haymitch the girl was just asking no need to be rude, and look how polite and nice she is" Effie praises Maggie. This is the first time I heard her praise anyone in District 12 other than me and especially in manners. Peeta looks like his in deep though probably thinking about District 12 and his family. I can't blame him the chances he's going to survive are 1 in 24 but I'm going to do everything I can to get him home in one piece breathing.

"Peeta were almost here" I say he looks at me then eats the rest of his food. Then my 2 tributes stand up and wave outside the window as we reach the Capitol. I look at Haymitch raising an eyebrow he looks back impressed. Peeta and Maggie look at us.

"I thought it would get us sponsors?" Peeta says more of a question than statement. Smart maybe he'll be a victor after all.

As we pull up and there are cameras and people everywhere! As Peeta and Maggie exit the train Haymitch pulls me over

"I'm mentoring Peeta?" he says in disbelief with a raised eyebrow I know I'm the one who want him victor but Maggie is to kind, gentle and too nice for Haymitch.

"Would you rather have Maggie?" I don't wait for a respond. "Come on let's talk about it later now I got to go and talk instead of sneaking in with the tributes." I say walking out I hear Haymitch say something but I don't know what. As I walk out I hear people screaming questions at me.

"Katniss who do you think will win?"

Katniss I love you dress it is so colorful!"

"Katniss" Is all I hear I just smile if I knew winning would get me this much attention I'd just die in the arena. Smiling and waving as usual I walk in to see some mentors talking, I see Cecelia a women I am acquaintances with. I barely get two steps before a familiar person says "Hey my little kitten" In a seductive voice I turn around.

"Hey Finnick" I say hugging him. Good thing he's here someone else to have the attention, not that I can blame him Finnick is someone very attractive with bronze hair and sea-green eyes.

"Excited for the Hunger Games this year?" He says in a sarcastic tone we both know I hate the games.

"Yeah where we see innocent teens get killed, and then after the games are over we get sold to the highest bidder." I Whisper in a fake cheery voice so no one else can hear me except him. I'm not trying to be mean but honestly most of my tributes die in the bloodbath at the Cornucopia that's why I don't get close to them not after Dorian. I see Finnick flinch as I bring up being sold to the highest bidder. Finnick and I usually have the most customers along with Cashmere. A lot changed since I won like me being the Capitols' It girl. I guess being able to take on the Careers and win usually makes you more desirable to people.

"Well you may have a victor this year. The boy I mean looks strong, attractive, you probably won't need to help him get sponsors, the girl though you might. My guy tribute probably isn't going to last the bloodbath, and I'll have to try hard to get him sponsors." Finnick tries to cheer me up. As I'm about to reply I hear another familiar voice

"Well if it isn't Katniss Everdeen and Finnick Odair Panem's most adorable Couple!" I turn around and see Johanna most people hate her because she can be a little mean but that's just her she is a good friend of mine. Well she's the one who can understand my problems other than Finnick.

"Yeah don't we look so good together" Finnick says goes over to hug her. "Hey Johanna" He says in a baby voice to piss her off.

"Though seriously you guys look so cute together made me want to puke" she puts on a sweet smile I know she's just joking but that really pisses me off when people say me and Finnick are "The Cutest Couple Ever", "A Match Made In Heaven" when he already loves someone else, her name is Annie I met her before sweet girl just a little weird. She's not as insane as people make her out to be.

"Hey Johanna!" I say in a cheery voice joining in on the hug to annoy her.

"Get off of me idiots!" Johanna says sharp tone. Despise it she's not that bad once you get to know her as we break up the hug a peacekeeper comes over to us.
"President Snow requests your presents in his office Miss Everdeen." Oh this can't be good I've never had a pleasant conversation with President Snow usually they're always him threating me. Finnick and Johanna shot looks of concern they both know Snow isn't the guy you stop in the middle of the street to say hi, no he's more like the guy you go in the opposite way of the street just to get away from him. Walking down the hallway I dreading about what he could want now. As I open the door I immediately smell blood and roses.

"Welcome Katniss. Please it down it is so nice to see you again." He's lying he doesn't like me and I don't like him but I sit down that man is just cruel if you don't do as he says.

"Nice to see you again too" By the look on his face he knows I'm lying. Oh well so was he. "Did you need something President Snow?" I ask politely or what I hoped sounded polite.

"Yes you see you are getting very popular among my friends and you have a very busy schedule" he says I don't know where this is going and I don't want to I hate selling my body but I do it for Prim, if I don't he'll kill her or probably put her name in the reaping ball a few dozen hundred times. "See I need you to stay in the Capitol for a few months after the games end. I hope it's not a problem Katniss." He says with knowing eyes. He knows I'll do anything to keep Prim and my mom safe.

"No problem sir, is that all?" I hope it is he waves goodbye telling me I should go get ready for the parade. I look at the time. Shoot I'm late. As soon as I go through that door I'm immediately sat down to get ready for hair and make-up after about an hour I see Cinna come through the doors, I give him a hug he's a good friend of mine and I can trust him with almost anything.

"Quick put this on I know it's not my best but can't have you outshining the tributes." Cinna says giving me a fiercely red dress that's strapless but long covering my feet but skin tight. I turn around and hug him, thanking him and walk out. As I take my seat next to Haymitch while Effie goes on about how beautiful and elegant I look in that dress and Haymitch rolls his eyes and starts drinking vodka. As the parade starts I hear everyone screaming "Glimmer" or "Marvel" District 1 tributes. Then the screams get louder screaming "Clove" or "Cato" District 2, they are better Careers that Districts 1 and 4 but that's because they create the Capitol's weapon themselves. The rest of the parade is quieter and quieter then suddenly I hear screaming "Maggie" or "Peeta" I'm surprised I didn't lose my hearing the crowd is louder that Districts 1 and 2 combined. Looking to see what Cinna did I see it my tributes are wearing black to represent coal but behind them is fire? Must be fake fire if they look that happy, even I cheer. Though as I look at the other Districts their eyes are filled with hate especially 1 and 2. Listening to President Snow's speech about the Hunger Games I wonder why is he so full of hate? I mean everyone starts out as a little baby what happened to him to make him so heartless? As he finishes we go to congratulate them stepping in I see a few eyes turn to me I ignore it and walk over to Peeta and Maggie.

"You guys did great!" I said as I give them a smile they look shocked that I smiled at them, people know I rarely smile since my father's death.

"You were fantastic" "You completely stole the spotlight!" and a bunch of other things were going around us suddenly Haymitch says lets discuss this in the penthouse he says looking at someone or something I turn to see it's Cato from District 2 he looks nice in his costume. He's glaring daggers at Peeta and Maggie but then turns to look at me his face blank. Haymitch grabs my arm and drags me to the elevator. As we get into the penthouse everyone goes to watch the recaps Haymitch takes me into the free room where no one else can hear anything.

"What's up Haymitch?" Must be important this is our talk room where we talk about things that don't want to be heard by others.

"It's that guy from 2" I wait Haymitch to continue "He kept looking like he was going to go right over there and kill Peeta and Maggie" Haymitch sounds surprisingly only a little tipsy.

"They outshined the whole show it's understandable" In District 2 they teach you how to kill before you probably went to kindergarten, its instinct to kill a threat.

"Never mind I'll talk to you tomorrow I'm going to the bar now Sweetheart." He bids farewell for the night I go to the others to watch the recaps. Where now at District 9.

"Where were you?" Maggie asks curiously

"With Haymitch discussing mentoring stuff" I stay distracted District 11 just came and now us everyone cheers and compliments Cinna for making it and Peeta and Maggie for looking so good. As we head out to bed I think we might have a winner.

I'm running with Dorian by my side running to the cornucopia and away from the mutts. A mutt catches my legs but Dorian quickly pushes it off me. I see Dorian being tackled by another mutt, and then another he tells me to run. I do I run and run but I can hear his screams as the tear apart every single limb from his body. I want to puke at the sound but I have to be strong and win for him then he screams my name "Katniss"

I wake up sweating repeating to myself "It as just a dream" I knew it was more than that though it was a memory. I get dressed seeing as it 4 am in the morning I'm wondering where to go at this time in the morning. I think the roof but then I think training center. Might as well practice my skills. As I click down I wonder if someone will be in there but I highly doubt it, not this early in the morning. As I enter I go over to the knives and practice my aim isn't perfect but it's good enough to be fatal if not treated. I'm good at killing from a distance which is why I'm good at knives, not as good as I am with an arrow…

I'm interrupted when I hear someone say

"So you the famous Katniss Everdeen"

I turn to see who it is…

A/N Thank for people who put this on their story alert, favorite's stories, and reviewed. Sorry if this chapter seems rushed I was in a rush writing this chapter. I'll try and update every day or two. If you want Cato's point of view or another characters (Peeta, Clove, Haymitch, etc.) then just review and tell me who the character is that you want.