Thanks to Guest, Tiffany.4.81, Mrsjmw, AliceCullen0629, and Molly for reviewing. It's nice to know I still have some followers reading ;) Enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 6
When we reach the 12th floor, she leads me to my room. Waiting inside for me are three oddly dressed people come rushing towards me.
"I found her!" Effie sings.
"Oh, look at her!" a greenish woman exclaims taking my face in her hands.
"I feel like I've gone back in time!" the other woman says.
"Ladies, step away. You're scaring the poor thing." the man says. He then extends his hand. "I'm Flavius. This is Venia and Octavia. We are your prep team. We also worked with your mother when she was your age…turned her into quite an icon."
"With Cinna's help." Octavia adds. I'm about to ask who Cinna is but they are busy assessing me and add things to their list of things to do to me. Effie reminds them they have one hour before leaving us. The next 45 minutes are a blur of washing, scrubbing, waxing, hair styling, nail painting, and make-up. I feel almost like a doll being polished and preened. I wonder if my mother had to go through the same treatment earlier.
"We're ready for the dress." Venia says with excitement. The other two join in with her giddiness. The garment bag is unzipped and red fabric flows from it.
"A Cinna original…brought here specially for you from the archive." Flavius mentions as he brings it closer.
"Quite an honor." Octavia replies. "Girls would kill to get their hands on this one." I carefully step into it and am zipped up the back. I then sit on the edge of my bed while the heels are carefully placed on each foot. I step in front of the mirror and take in everything. There's something familiar about this dress but I can put my finger on it. The team escorts me to the elevator and Flavius hands me a small purse before they say farewell. When I get to the lobby, I start towards the exit. I'm already late. My family is probably already there.
"Poppy." I hear Finnick's voice behind me. I turn to face him and see the bottom of my dress light up in flames. I fall backwards as I let out a shriek. I hear Finnick's laugh as he approaches.
"That wasn't funny!" I say as he helps me up.
"It's her dress…from the interview, remember? The flames aren't real." he tells me and it finally clicks where I've seen this dress. It was in the footage we watched earlier today.
"It just scared me." I murmur.
"You look beautiful." he comments, changing the subject completely.
"Thanks. You…" I trail off as I notice the red cummerbund that matches the fabric of my dress. We almost look like it was planned.
"I what?" he asks, bringing me back to the present.
"You, you look nice." I stutter.
"Come, the car is waiting!" Effie says quickly clapping her hands together a few times, like she is calling a dog. We make our way outside to the black car parked on the side of the road. The drive is only a minute away, seems like a waste to me but I keep my mouth shut. We walk inside together to a stream of photographers.
"Chins up, smiles on." Effie says before escorting us inside. There's no doubt we'll be in every paper tomorrow. Offspring of national treasures. Who wouldn't eat that up?
Once we are inside the main room I scavenge the place for my family. I see my parents talking to each other. I rush over to them and immediately hug my father with a force that causes him to lose his balance.
"Daddy!" I say in relief, knowing that he's safe.
"Wow, what a welcome!" he says holding me tight.
"I love you." I tell him. I look over at my mother who is close to us. "I love you, too." I say, hugging her as well. I feel horrible for the way I treated her last night.
"Are you feeling ok, Poppy?" my mother asks feeling my forehead.
"I'm fine Mom." I reply, hoping I'm not being too suspicious.
"Just checking." she says, before ending our hug.
"Look at you." my father says, taking notice of my dress.
"It was the prep team's idea for me to wear it. The flames scared me half to death. They forgot to tell me about that part." Both of my parents burst out laughing at my last statement.
"Remember that night you wore that dress?" my father murmurs to my mother.
"How could I forget it." she says with a small grin.
"You were downright lethal in that dress." he laughs.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you…well, maybe a little." she confesses.
"I love you, Katniss." he whispers, nuzzling his face close to hers.
"I love you more." she whispers back, gently kissing my father's lips. Normally I'd be letting out sounds effects to voice my disapproval of their display of affection but after today I can't help but take in love my parents have for each other. They beat some of the greatest odd ever to end up together.
"The Girl on Fire. That's what they called your mother. All because of that dress." my father informs me. "Cinna was a downright genius."
"Could I meet him?" I ask my mother, eager to meet the man that made my mother into an icon that no one could forget. The happiness drains from my mother's face and is replaced with sorrow. Tears fill her eyes and she excuses herself before walking away.
"What did I say?" I ask with worry.
"He's dead Poppy. Your mother watched him get beaten to death by Peacekeepers."
"Dad, I'm sorry I didn't know." I apologize.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. I should go find your mother." he says before walking off into the crowd. I take a seat at a table, feeling dejected. This is what happens when secrets are kept. It ends up hurting everyone in the long run.
"Heh-heh, well look at you." Haymitch says, flopping into the seat next to me with a drink in his hand. I look at him not amused.
"Yeah, this was a great idea." I say sarcastically. "I still don't know why I had to wear this."
"Because people love being sentimental. You think they'd let just anyone where that dress?"
"Well it just ends up upsetting her. Everything I do." I say. Haymitch is quiet for once. I actually have his attention.
"And?" he asks, with raised brows.
"I need a drink." I reply, to which he lets out a loud guffaw.
"You and me both sweetheart." he says clinking the ice cubes in his empty glass. I start to stand but he holds up his index finger at me before feeling around the inside of his tuxedo jacket. He pulls out a silver flask, screws off the cap and replenishes his cup. He then slides the glass over to me, opting to drink straight from his container. I look around the room for my parents before taking a sip, setting it down closer to Haymitch to make it look like it's his, not mine.
"You're smart. And I know you hate hearing this but so was your mother. Never would have lasted this long without it."
"You sound like the sentimental one now." I jab at him before taking another swig. The alcohol burns on it's way down, but I've been through enough pain today to not be bothered by it.
"I've been through a lot with those two. Still shocked they're still standing today. You're lucky to be here. You know that kid?"
"There's too much I don't know." I comment. While I am a little more out of the dark after today, there is still a lot I do not know. "It's not like I try to upset my mother. I just say things, innocent, normal things and they make her fall apart."
"Like?" Haymitch asks for examples.
"I asked her to meet Cinna." I quietly mention.
"That would be pretty darn difficult."
"I know. He's dead. My father told me afterwards." I inform him. "Do I just assume that everyone's dead?"
"She lost a lot of people she cared about."
"I need some air…I'll be back before it starts." I say, standing with my glass. I make my way through a set of open double door and down the staircase to a small courtyard. I hide myself in the shadows as I sip from my glass. I look down to the hem of my dress and remember the flames. I slowly twirl with a firm grip on my glass as to not spill any of it. I am mesmerized by the fluid movement of the flames that come and go as I start and stop. I take another sip and start again, my body buzzing from my libations. When the glass is empty, I set it down and spin a little faster this time, the flames growing with each whip. I close my eyes and pretend I am on stage, spinning for Caesar and the Capitolites, trying to feel what my mother might have felt. My momentum is stopped when I come in contact with a pair of arms and a body.
"Poppy." I hear a voice delicately utter my name. I look up to find Finnick is the person that belongs to that voice. I then feel a little sheepish for having him discover me in this way. "Poppy, what on Earth are you doing?" he asks me a little laugh.
"Pretending to be her…my Mom."
"I thought she was the last person you wanted to be." he says.
"Maybe she's not so bad." I admit. A new thought then occupies my mind. "Why are you here?" I ask him with an emblazoned curiosity.
"I was asked to come get you." he replies.
"But how did you know where to find me?"
"Lucky guess I suppose." Finnick says. He then gets closer to me and sniff me, something I find odd. "You're drunk." he says.
"No, I had one drink."
"One drink on an empty stomach." he informs me. He sits me down on a stone bench and tells me not to move before disappearing. He returns a few minutes later with a glass of water and a basket of dinner rolls.
"Eat this." he says handing me one. Normally, I'd ignore orders like this but I can feel the hunger creeping in.
"You expect your parents not to notice?" he asks.
"Yes. No. I don't know." I sigh before taking another bite.
"Where did you even get that from?" he asks me.
"Haymitch."
"Makes sense."
"Finnick, you won't tell my parents, will you?" I ask with worry.
"No I won't tell them." he says kindly. After finishing my second roll, I feel better enough to go inside. When we get inside, some man is giving a speech. According to the screens on the side of the stage, he is Plutarch Heavensbee. It's a name I remember from history but I can't be sure of whom he is. I take a seat at our table with Finnick occupying the seat next to me.
When Plutarch is finished speaking a montage of those that perished begins. It starts with one slide featuring all of those that died in the Hunger Games each year, 23 faces being replaced by 23 more through the 75th Games. Single photographs are featured after that. Cinna's face pops up and I feel my foolishness return. I feel stupid for having asked my mother about him.
When it gets to Finnick, Sr., I can hear Annie let out agonizing cries. Finnick starts to comfort her, whispering words into her ear. It's heartbreaking to watch firsthand. The slideshow ends and my father is called to the stage, gaining lots of cheers from the audience. He gives a beautiful speech that seems to touch the hearts of every single person in the room. He receives a standing ovation as he makes his way back to our table. Dinner is served and I am mostly quiet, listening to other people's conversations. I've said enough hurtful things plus I'm not sure the alcohol has left my system yet. I listen to stories from the past being shared, mostly Haymitch recounting events involving my parents when they were young.
"And this one here tried to threaten me with a butter knife." he says with a hearty laugh.
"You were mocking us." my mother quips.
"That was before I knew what I was dealing with. All that fire that had yet to be ignited." he says quite poetically.
"I'd like to make a toast." my father says, interrupting before my mother and Haymitch can go back and forth with each other (which they usually do). "To all our friends gathered here tonight and the ones that cannot be here with us. Even though the circumstances that brought us together were not ideal, I am lucky and grateful to know each and every one of you." he says with his glass in the air. Everyone clinks glasses before taking a sip of their drink.
"Any I'd like to make a toast as well." my Aunt Johanna says with a smug expression. "To President Snow…may he continue to burn in hell." she says with a wicked smile.
"Johanna!" Annie exclaims.
"What? Where else would you expect him to be? And Coin too, that no good little bi—"
"Johanna, there are children here!" my father warns her. I can't help but smile. I love how unfiltered my aunt can be. It always adds some entertainment.
"Well I cannot tell a lie." she says a smirk before taking a sip of her drink.
After dinner comes dancing to which I make a quick exit. I'm not much of a dancer. I take this moment to explore more of the grounds of this place. I walk outside and past the courtyard to the garden, full of sculpted hedges and flowers. I hear the trickle of a fountain and follow the sound until I find it. I also find Gale Hawethorne there, laying on the ledge of the fountain with a beer in his hand, looking up at the stars. I walk over and sit down, my body situated next to his head.
"Catnip." he whispers. I open my mouth to correct him but I stop before any words come out. This is the one time that my looks can work to my advantage. I'm not going to pass that up. It's not like he'll catch on anyway. He's slurring my mother's name and he appears quite intoxicated.
"Hi." I quietly say, matching my mother's tone.
"Will you ever forgive me?" he asks, getting right to the chase.
"I don't know." I tell him. I'm not about to speak for my mother so I leave it ambiguous.
"You know you weren't the only one fooled by Coin. She lied to me too. Told me that what I was doing was going to help our nation. It was supposed to be used on the enemy."
"But it wasn't."
"I know." he says, he eyes tearing up. I slowly run my fingers through his hair to prevent him from too worked up. I jump when I feel his hand wrap around my wrist, afraid that he might have figured me out. I'm relieved when he takes my hand and holds it against his cheek, taking in its warmth.
"If I'd known we end up like this, I would have ran away with you the second you asked me." he murmurs. I sit in silence. Why would be my mother want to run away with him? It's not like I can ask him. "Even if you had ended up with him, it still would have been better than this."
"I should go." I abruptly say, pulling my hand away from him. I have a feeling he's about to go even deeper about events I'm not even away of. Before he can react, I stand up and run back towards the party. My head reels at what just happened and I wonder why my mother cannot forgive him when he seems so genuinely sorry.
I go back inside and find my mother and father on the dance floor.
"Mom, I need to talk to you." I say, stopping them.
"Now, Poppy?" she asks confused.
"Yes, it's important." I reply. The worry on my face must clue her in that I'm serious because she leads me off to the side.
"What's wrong?"
"I did something stupid."
"What?" she sternly asks.
"I was outside and I saw Gale out on the fountain. I went to talk to him and he thought I was you so I pretended to be you." I quickly tell her.
"Poppy!" she exclaims. "What did you say?"
"Nothing important, but the things he said…Mom you need to talk to him. He's so sorry." I urge her with tears in my eyes. My mom lets out a long sigh before saying, "Okay." I take her hand and lead her to the gardens. Just before the fountain, I tell her to walk straight ahead and he'll be by the fountain. While my mother does this, I take off my shoes and sneak to a spot where I can watch. Gale is right where I left him, lying down on the fountain. My mother walks over to him and hovers over him.
"How many have you had? she asks removing the bottle from his hand.
"I've lost count." he admits.
"Come on." she says holding out her hands. He takes them and she helps him up.
"Nice dress. I think I like the red one better." Gale mutters.
"That was Poppy pretending to be me. I was inside this whole time." she explains. Gale looks mortified.
"Catnip, I—" he starts.
"It's ok. You were drunk and upside down. What exactly did you tell her?" she asks. He recounts our previous conversation for my mother.
"I'm sure she'll have a lot of questions for you tomorrow." he says.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry." he says.
"It's ok. I'll just answer her questions and it will be over with."
"No not that. I'm sorry about Prim." he says taking my mother's hand. "Most days, I wish the bomb had killed me instead of her. At least that way you still would have cared about me." he tells her.
"And on the other days?" my mother asks.
"I'd just try to end it. All of it." he says closing his eyes. Despite the distance between us, I can see the tears build up in my mother's eyes.
"Why?" she asks.
"You wouldn't talk to me…wouldn't take my calls or write me back. You avoided me on the rare occasions when I did visit District 12. I didn't see the point in living without my best friend. I thought you might be happy if you found out I was dead. Justice served."
"Gale, never." my mother says wrapping her arms around him.
"20 years Katniss. 20 years of sadness and guilt."
"I'm sorry." my mother murmurs. "You know how stubborn I can be."
"Can we just go back to the way we were…before the war and the Hunger Games? Just two kids hunting in the woods?" he pleads.
"We're not kids anymore." she says with a laugh as she tries to dry the last of her tears. Gale pulls out a tissue from his pocket and hands it to her.
"I know. I'll be 40 soon." he says. My mother looks at him in shock. "I know. Did you ever think we'd live to be this old?"
"There were times where I didn't think I'd live to see my next Reaping." my mother comments.
"We were lucky Katniss that we had the fathers we had. I know times were tough and that there were times that barely made do but we were a lot better off then some of those Seam families."
"I know. I was lucky you found me." she says. I'm not sure what she means by this. Find her where?
"Right place, right time." he says with a laugh, holding onto her tightly.
"We should get you inside. Do you think you can walk?" she asks.
"It takes a lot more than this to floor me." Gale replies with a smirk. They make their way back towards the building. I stay put so I'm not discovered, then locate my shoes and go back inside. I sit down at the table with Haymitch.
"Well would you look at that." he says with a guffaw, motioning towards my mother dancing with Gale.
"I did that…well, I helped." I say proudly.
"You know there was a time I thought those two would end up together." Haymitch discloses.
"When?" I ask curiously.
"He was whipped to an inch of his life by the Head Peacekeeper for poaching. Your mother saved his life that day. Stepped in front of him and took a lashing to her cheek. We brought him back to her house and she wouldn't leave his side. Your father will never admit it but it hurt him like hell."
"What else?" I ask, wanting to know more.
"Had to make up a lie about him being her cousin during the Games. People didn't believe that he was just her friend, a handsome boy like that. And we needed people to buy that your mother and father were really in love."
It's strange to think that anyone would ever question my parents' love for one another. They were young then and didn't know each other well. It makes sense. The whole scheme was brilliant when you think about it. It had never been done before.
"So you said you helped do that…how?" Haymitch asks. Now it's my turn to tell a story…
Lots happened in this chapter. I decided to have Gale and Katniss reconcile with each other because I hated how they were never friends again in Mockingjay. Let me know what you thought about that or anything else you like/didn't like in the chapter ;)