I've been SO busy lately, I haven't had any time to even look at the reviews. I'm glad you're all enjoying the story. I've been out of town and working and school starts on Monday. =X But I wrote this up quickly. Next chapter will be of their Training Sessions. I'm excited to write it. =D That should hopefully be up by the latest Tuesday night.

Chapter 7:

Immediately following the festivities, we were escorted back to the Training Center. This was a huge building devoted to housing the tributes and their teams. Every district had their own floor, so naturally our floor was the top one; 12.

The elevator was nice and the view was fantastic, but I was too busy touching the bruise trying to retain the feeling of Katniss' light kiss and trying to drown out Effie's endless gushing of how "fabulous" we both were.

"You two don't even know! Everyone's talking about you!" she went on and on. I tried to catch Katniss's eye but she was too busy looking out the clear elevator windows. Effie kept going on about something to do with coal and diamonds. Whatever it was, I was sure it was wrong, so I continued to think about anything but her high-pitched voice.

When we got up to our floor, Katniss and I both immediately went to our quarters. I quickly showered, but after the scrubbing I had gotten from my design team earlier that day, I wasn't eager to go to in depth with it.

When I had dressed, I left the room and both Portia and Cinna were there to congratulate me on how well we did. Portia's green locks were down now, hanging loosely at her sides still covered in gold glitter, she was practically shining and the shine continued to her beaming expression, "You two were marvelous." She drew me into a hug and kissed both cheeks. Cinna clapped me on the back, "I'm glad you caught on to the hand holding. It was the perfect touch."

A few moments later, Katniss came out of her room with Effie and Cinna and Portia turned their attention to her, but I didn't mind. Effie was trying to escort us all into the dining room to eat dinner and I was sure I wasn't the only one who was starving.

Haymitch actually managed to join us for dinner, looking clean shaven and as sober as I had ever seen him in my entire knowledge of his existence. Everyone at the table seemed more interested in talking than eating; Katniss and I being the exceptions. I'm not sure either of us were paying much attention to the conversation.

Katniss's voice catches my attention though, "Oh! I know you!"

The entire table goes completely quiet until Effie snaps, "Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How you could you possibly know an Avox? The very thought!"

Katniss and I exchange confused glances across the table, I'm glad she asks the question "What's an Avox?".

"Someone who committed a crime." Haymitch answers. "They cut her tongue out so she can't speak. She's probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you'd know her."

"And even if you did, you're not to speak to one of them unless it's to give an order. Of course you don't really know her." Effie huffed.

I can tell my Katniss's expression that she isn't satisfied, she's still certain she knows her. She reached for a glass of wine and tried to cover her tracks, "No, I guess not. I just tho-"

I couldn't take it, I jumped in to save her snapping my fingers, "Delly Cartweight! That's who it is. I kept thinking she looked familiar as well."

Katniss caught on right away. Delly looked nothing like the girl standing nearby, but it was an easy way to release the tension, "Of course! That's who I was thinking of. It must be the hair."

I smile, "Something about the eyes too."

You could nearly see the tension disperse around the table. Everyone dug into the cake the girl had brought in and then we were escorted into the next room to watch the opening ceremonies for ourselves. We really are as stunning as everyone has gushed and the hand holding gives us a little extra something different. A united front against the capitol opposed to the other pairs of tributes who stand stiffly as if the tribute beside them is already their enemy.

Haymitch takes us aside and lets us know the training session is in the morning and that we should get some sleep. After we both walk down the hallway to our rooms, I lean up against her door. She could squeeze by if she wanted but I knew she wouldn't, "So. Delly Cartwright. Imagine finding her lookalike here."

She hesitates for a long time but I could tell she knew what I was really asking. She glanced around her and I immediately took the hint, "Have you seen the roof yet? You can see the whole city from up there."

"Can we just go up?"

"Sure, come on."

I lead her to a flight of stairs out into the cool air, the view is as breathtaking now as it was earlier when Cinna had showed me the first time.

"I asked Cinna why they let us up here. Weren't they worried that some of the tributes might decide to jump over the side?"

"What'd he say?"

"You can't." I demonstrate by putting my hand out allowing myself to get electrocuted, "Electric field will throw you back on the roof."

She rolls her eyes, "Always worried about our safety. Do you think they're watching us?"

I shrug, "Maybe. Come see the garden."

I lead her to the other side of the roof where there's flower beds, trees, and most importantly wind chimes. The wind and the chimes cause enough noise that I was certain it would drown out anything Katniss would say.

She bends down to look at a flower closely, but murmuring quietly too, "We were hunting in the woods. Hidden, waiting for game."

"You and your father?"

"No, my friend Gale." I tensed at the name but tried to play it cool, "Suddenly all the birds stopped singing at once."

She went on to tell me the story of the Avox girl and the boy who was with her. A hovercraft had appeared, the boy died and the girl was sucked up into the vehicle.

I noticed her shudder, "Hey, you're shivering." I took off my jacket to wrap around her shoulders. "They were from here?"

Katniss nodded, "I don't know where they were headed. Or why they'd leave here."

"I'd leave here." I said impulsively, "I'd go home now if they let me." I pause for a second, "But you have to admit, the food is prime." I added just to cover my tracks in case we were overheard.

"It's getting chilly, we better go in." As we step inside, I have one more question, but I made sure to be extra casual, "Your friend Gale. He's the one who took your sister away at the reaping?"

Katniss nodded, "Do you know him?"

"Not really. I hear the girls talk about him a lot. I thought he was your cousin or something. You favor each other." I say as if it is a fact rather than a question.

"We're not related." Is all the response I receive.

"Did he come say goodbye to you?" still cool as ice.

"Yes." She examines me closely, "so did your rather. He brought me cookies.

"Well. He likes you and your sister. I think he often wishes he had a daughter instead of a house of boys." I pause wondering if she knows anything about my father, so I carefully add, "He knew your mother when they were kids."

Katniss was the cool one now, "Oh, yes, she grew up in town."

We walk in silence for a moment as we reach her door. She hands me back my jacket, "See you in the morning then I guess."

"See you." I respond, still as coolly as I can. The Gale conversation put me on edge, although I had absolutely no right to care. I knew they spent all their time together. I'm not sure why I was even surprised she didn't quickly deny the rumor of them being together. Of course they were. It made sense.

I laid down on the soft bed and felt the tension in my shoulders release. I couldn't obsess over her. I wasn't going to live through the Games anyway. She was if I could do anything about it. So it was good that I knew she had someone to go back to that could take care of her. Or at least…that's what I needed to keep telling myself.