2

"What is this?"

I hold up the most ridiculous-looking clothing item I've seen in a while (granted that it's been years since I've been to the Capital).

"How do I even.." I turn the thing over in my hands, trying for the life of me to figure out what should go where.

Haymitch has been laughing to himself ever since I opened the box that arrived on our doorstep this afternoon, but I'm about ready to throw him out, curtousy be damned. I glare at him, sitting there at the kitchen table with a half-empty bottle in his hand.

"Those are your new pants, sweetheart," he explains smugly, "Plenty of room at the waist. You're gonna need it."

I stretch the material between my fingers. Wearing these circus pants would mean admitting it, making it real. Tears spring to my eyes and I have to turn my back to my house guest. I feel completely out of control and I hate it. And now I have to wear these stupid new clothes.

Sniffing and running the back of my hand over my eyes, I return to the box and dig out another garment- flowing yellow cotton. It's a dress. I groan.

"There's a green one in there, too, if you'd like that better."

I turn to the kitchen entryway where Peeta now stands, his expression half-excited, half-wary. He knows I'm not a big fan of dresses.

"I was hoping you'd wait to open that until I got home," he says with a grin, crossing the room and coming to stand by me at the counter. He kisses my temple in greeting.

"Haymitch and I got curious," I explain, nodding my head in the drunkard's direction. He raises his bottle in a lazy salute.

"Do I have to wear these?" I ask, turning back to Peeta, holding up the pants with the thick elastic waistband.

"You don't have to wear anything," he responds with a smirk, "but I think you'll want these, especially in the next few months."

"They look ridiculous," I scoff, throwing the pants back in the box indignantly, "And dresses, Peeta? Really?"

I know I'm being dramatic, but I just cant get a handle on my emotions lately. I stomp out of the kitchen to the tune of laughter from Haymitch and eventually Peeta as well.

"You're halfway there, kid," I hear Haymitch chortle, and Peeta glumly asks if he has any advice.

I know it's coming before he even utters the words:

"Stay alive."