Katniss returned to her room, angered that once more she wouldn't have a single moment of privacy. It was no wonder why Haymitch drank so much. Okay, that wasn't really fair. She knew why Haymitch drank so much. The Games and their aftermath had really done a number on him. She was sure that no one enjoyed seeing Snow gone more than Haymitch did. She wouldn't be surprised if he regretted not being what took him out.

Katniss was so distracted that she nearly missed the box sitting on her bed. It was simply beautiful. It appeared to be covered in a white satin paper and tied with a shiny, red ribbon. She hesitantly approached it and pulled at the bow.

The ribbon fell to the side. She touched the top of the box and wasn't surprised to find it felt like actual satin. She lifted the top off and set it down on the bed. She was greeted by layers of white tissue paper, embossed in gold with the name of the store. She carefully removed each layer and delicately laid them on the top of the box to avoid tearing any. Then, she came to red material. Running her hands over it, the material moved like water.

She pulled the material out to discover it was a dress. Katniss couldn't recall ever seeing one nearly as beautiful as the one she held. She was certain that no one in her District had ever owned anything half as nice. The Capital had lots of ornate dresses, but they were all too flashy. This one was simple but elegant.

Without a second thought, she held it against her person. It would fall midcalf when worn. She stepped in front of the mirror and turn partially to the right and then partially to the left. Then she did a small twirl. It flowed without effort. Katniss couldn't remember the last time she had allowed herself to be carefree.

She looked towards the hem of the dress and caught site of a white envelope in the reflection of the mirror, lying on the floor. She walked back over to the bed and gently rearranged the dress back in the box.

She picked the envelope up, flicked it up open, and slid the card out. Her eyes read each word before sliding the card back into the envelope. She then placed it on top of the dress and left her room to join the others to attend the District 11 dinner.

She found everyone milling about in the lounge. Then, the train lurched forward. "What's going on? I thought we were going to dinner."

"Intelligence says that District 11 doesn't like you two lovebirds together." Brutus said smirking.

"We are not lovebirds nor will we ever be."

"Apparently, the District is smitten with you for your relationship with their female tribute and want to kill him for making moves on you after he killed their male tribute. Rather than try to foil an assassination attempt, it's been decided that we will have dinner on the train and continue on to District 10."

"I see." Katniss said and headed towards the dining car.

"No remorse over someone trying to kill me?" Cato had hoped that by now she would have started to form some attachment to him. If nothing else, he had hoped that she had found his gift and was warming up to the fact that he wasn't such a bad guy and she should give him a chance.

"Cato, I wouldn't be surprised if half your District wasn't trying to kill you." On that note, she exited the car.

Haymitch slapped a hand on Cato's shoulder. "Well that could have gone better."

Dinner started out as a silent and tense affair. No one quite sure how to handle the matter of Cato's intentions not being well received in the District and Katniss not wanting anything to do with him. It was finally Effie who broke the silence.

"Jade, that is a beautiful bracelet. You must tell me where you got it from!"

"I stole it from Cato's new collection." Jade said as she reached her arm across the table to give Effie a better view.

"Really? I never would have pictured jewelry as part of your portfolio, Cato."

"The collection is set to debut at the end of the tour." Cato smiled. He was thrilled to find his collection was already being admired. Since he knew that the train was being televised, he knew that the collection would sell out in minutes with Effie praising it.

"How exciting!" Effie clapped her hands over the excitement. Katniss rolled her eyes and pushed the vegetables around on her plate before taking a bite, reminding herself that the food she was playing with was something that most of the people in her District didn't have the pleasure of eating.

"Cato has several projects in the work. He's really working to diversify his portfolio. He's run into a few snags with the coal shortage so a few of them are running behind schedule."

"District 12 is sorry to be such an inconvenience." It was the only words that Katniss had spoken throughout the dinner, and it was clear that she thought the conversation was frivilous.

"Katniss!" Effie exclaimed, shocked that her victor would still continue to act in such a manner. This was the same Katniss that she had met at the reaping. She had attempted to groom her into a fine young woman who would meld well into the Capital, but it seemed that the past six months in District 12 had undone all of her hard work.

"No. Do you know why there is a coal shortage? It isn't because District 12 is too busy twiddling our thumbs or designing jewelry. There's been two cave-ins and a fire so excuse us for the inconvenience."

"How's Gale?" Haymitch asked as he took a drink

"Doctor said Prim probably saved his leg. He said it would take another week to be certain. Definitely won't be able to go back in the mines for another six months."

Cato stewed, starring at her from his set. Who the hell was Gale? She couldn't give him the time of day, but she was already moving onto another District 12 loser.

"He wasn't very happy that I went to help volunteer with clearing out the first cave-in, and I told the foreman that I could help with the second cave-in when I get back from the tour."

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL!" Cato shouted from across the table.

Katniss stood up. "I'll do whatever the hell I want."

She didn't give him a chance to respond before storming out of the car.

With the exception of Katniss, everyone had retired back to the lounge car and were indulging in post dinner drinks. Katniss had returned to her room and carefully placed each layer of tissue paper back in the box. Then, she tried to retie the ribbon on the box.

She had decided that she didn't care if the dress was another Capital ploy or if it had come from Cato. She wanted no part of it. She only had to get through eleven more Districts, and then she wouldn't have to see him for at least another six months. If she was lucky, he would let Brutus continue to mentor, and she wouldn't have to see him at all.

She carried the box out of the room and down the hall. She passed several peacekeepers who barely glanced at her. She found everyone in the lounge.

She wasn't surprised to see that Haymitch was already half drunk. She was surprised to see Cato sitting in the chair facing the door. He set his drink on the table beside him and watched as she approached him.

The room grew silent as the tension built. She stopped right in front of him and dropped the box in his lap. "I don't want anything from you. Ever."

He watched as she spun around and headed back the way she came. He called after her as she reached the door. "Katniss"

She paused but gave no further response.

"I meant every word." Then he watched her leave the train, and he was left with the decision of what to do with the box.

A/N: Thank you for the nice reviews I got over the weekend. I've been a little down with sinus issues so they were a nice pick me up. Hope this chapter meets expectations.