After Katniss leaves the roof, she can't help but wonder about the mysterious Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane. Yes, he knows how to speak to a crowd, he's definitely charismatic, polite, and most of all, handsome. But honestly, Katniss doesn't know anything more. His answer to her question, which had once seemed simple, intrigues her. He sounded doubtful as he said that, almost as if she had made him think. Maybe she did.
Honestly though, Katniss wonders whether maybe he just answered her that way to confuse her, maybe force her to leak some valuable information which he could then hand over to Snow. Or there could be cameras or microphones on the roof and he didn't want to say anything in case they were caught. Nah, Katniss thinks. That wouldn't happen, couldn't happen. A Gamemaker going against his own Games, the very things he has been raised to admire? Not possible.
Her heart begins to throb as Katniss thinks about Seneca's dark hair and electric blue eyes. They're unlike anything she has ever seen before. Nobody in the Seam or the whole of District 12 would ever have eyes of such a strange colour, there are a lot of cousins and whatnot and they all pretty much share the same grey or deep blue eye colour. It's surprising that there are any eligible men in District 12 because of the small size of it. You would think that everyone would be related, and Katniss is sure that if you looked back far enough that would be correct.
But that doesn't matter anymore, she doesn't have to live there anymore, nor worry about which of the men are suitable for marriage and have good jobs to support Prim and her mother. This week, she was been offered a permanent home on the outskirts of the Capitol so she's seriously thinking about taking it. It seems better than living in District 12 in the semi-abandoned Victor's Village with her one drunken neighbour Haymitch.
Prim and Katniss' mother are allowed to come with her, and she can't help but think that maybe the Capitol, but mainly President Snow, want to keep an eye on the Everdeen's. Considering a handful of berries almost brought down the Capitol, Snow won't even want her to think about going back to her rebellious ways back home. Who knows, Gale might end up convincing her to begin a rising!
Katniss sighs, flopping against the pillows of her super soft bed. There's no point in daydreaming about Seneca, it's not like love is exactly at the top of her list of priorities. Avoiding President Snow, staying alive, and keeping Prim safe would be on top. Below that, probably something like seeing Gale again and letting Peeta go.
Possibly, she could slot love in somewhere just beneath that, but if Katniss ever ended up with Seneca Crane, she's sure it would just be a fling. During her brief time in the Capitol she's learned quite a bit of gossip and apparently the youngest Crane is something of a playboy and most definitely a flirt. If he had any interest in her, Katniss thinks, he would have flirted a little bit with her already. Damn! She thinks, I have to stop letting him get into my head. In a couple of days there'll be some story about him being involved with some Capitol woman and she'll let her heart break in two.
Since when has she ever though about guys anyway, the Hunger Games have seriously messed her up for life. She should be thinking about her upcoming Victory Tour, or her Victor interview with Caesar Flickerman, or remembering hunting with Gale. Chances are, she's never going to see Gale again. At least, not after the Victory tour when she moves to the Capitol for good.
Katniss has seen the house she has been offered- It isn't a bloody house, it's a mansion! There are six bedrooms, four bathrooms, two en-suites, two living areas, a study, a huge kitchen and an entertainment room with the most recent technological designs, including a gigantic television which adjusts itself for perfect viewing. In the main house- sorry, bedroom- there is an absolutely enormous walk-in wardrobe as well as the aforementioned en-suite bathroom. It's all decorated in deep reds and cream, with some black and white thrown in there as well. Not exactly Katniss' taste but as long as she's somewhere safe and her family is as well, she honestly doesn't care about how pretty the house is.
Katniss must go to the formal Victor recognition ceremony and be crowned officially, but she has one problem. She has to go with a date. She can't exactly turn up on her own, she needs someone there who she really trusts and who would make her feel at ease in this social event. Apparently it's the biggest thing of the year short of the actual Games so Katniss' nerves are beginning to take her over. She originally thought of maybe asking Cinna along as her friend, but he isn't allowed to go for some reason.
A few days ago, when they had finally breached the subject, Effie Trinket politely suggested the Head Gamemaker, and Katniss must have blushed for Effie began to tut and smile knowingly. "Charming young man isn't he dear! And handsome to boot." She had exclaimed and poor Katniss had had to excuse herself to go and splash herself with water. I suppose, she thinks, now that I don't have to worry about starving or keeping the family alive and healthy, my mind is starting to go all teenage-girl on me. She really wishes it would stop. Her thoughts feel like they are forming differently, everything somehow changing to centre on Seneca. She keeps getting dragged back into the memory of their brief time together on the roof, so Katniss simply lets herself drop off into the deepest sleep of her life.
