"I didn't just dance, I told a story that spoke of love, courage, and hope for a better future."

Chapter 7

The truth

I ran as fast as my feet would take me back to the house. Why had I acted so weird like that? I've seen men with out their shirts before; I hadn't even acted that way around Ovid. Then again that was in a totally different situation. I was just surprised; come to think of it I don't remember Ashton being at the funeral. Yes the more I thought about it the better I felt. I was surprised to see him. I told myself it was because he resembled Gale and I was shocked to see that face. I kept repeating it to myself so by the time I walked through the back door I was almost back to normal. Johanna looked up from her perch at the table and I had to look away blushing again.

"Is everything okay," she asks.

I looked up into eyes dancing with mirth and knew she had sent me out there on purpose. Why I didn't know but it made me angry. The anger helped clear my head and I remembered why I was there in the first place.

"Everything's great. Where is your restroom?" I ask forcing myself to sound normal and grabbing my pack off the floor.

"Upstairs first door on your left," she says before turning her attention back on her lunch.

With an excuse to go upstairs I don't waste time as I make my way up. I pass pictures of the three kids in various stages of age and some of Johanna and Gale. If I would've had the time I might have taken it to look at the pictures but with the little bit I did have I decided to use it more wisely. I passed by the first closed door on my left knowing what it already contained and continued on. There were five other closed doors on the floor and I knew I wouldn't be able to open them all. I chose one on the right and opened it up to a purple and green room that must be Cassidy's. Closing the door I opened one that was at the end of the hall and hit pay dirt. It was an office all right, decked out in expensive dark woods and leather. I whistled quietly. Gale's job must have really paid well. I round the corner of the desk and start opening drawers but with no luck. I turn my attention on a large filing cabinet in the corner and walk over to it. I knew I had found what I was looking for as soon as I opened the first alphabetized drawer. I thumbed through the files quickly, pulling out the paper Ovid had giving me I grabbed the files we needed and shoved them into my pack.

Sighing in relief I closed the drawer and took one last look around making sure that there was no evidence of my presence in the room before heading for the door. I peeked out first to make sure no one was in the hall, seeing that it was safe I walked out and closed the door slowly behind me. I turn to walk away and jump in surprise when I see Ashton standing in the hallway a few feet away. His eyes reflect suspicion as they watch me and it's all I can do not to run.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"Trying to find the bathroom," I say effortlessly.

His lips turn up in a smirk and he points behind him, "Back there."

"Uh, thanks," I mutter and walk past him to the bathroom.

I shut the door behind me and lean against it urging my heart to stop beating so fast. I could've sworn the hall was empty when I left that room. Did he know I was in there? Would he tell his mother? I had to leave as soon as I could before he had the chance. Hearing another door shut after a minute I opened the door checking twice that the hall was clear before I walked back downstairs.

I walked into the kitchen where Johanna, Cassidy, and Shadoe were sitting at the table laughing about something. It was nice to see the smiles on their faces especially after what had happened to them. I almost hated to interrupt the happy picture but I would have to say my goodbyes. I pull my pack tighter against my shoulder and walked forward.

"Well, I'm going to head off," I say.

Johanna turned her head towards me, "You haven't even finished your lunch."

"I know but I promised my friends I wouldn't be long," I reply.

"You can't go yet, you just got here," whines Cassidy.

"I'll be back, I swear. I just have to keep my promise to them first. Just like I did with you," I say softly squatting down beside her chair.

"Tomorrow?" Cassidy asks happily.

"Maybe," I say standing back up. "I'll see if I can get away okay?"

"Okay and when you come I'll show you my dolly's new dress and then you can teach me to dance, "she says excitedly.

I laugh and smile down at her, "All right. Well I better be going. Thanks for lunch."

"I'll walk you to the door, "Johanna says standing.

I allow her to lead me back to the front door; I twist the knob and open it turning back once more.

"Thanks again," I say.

She places her hand on the door and leans down close to my face, "I don't know why you did what you did and if it weren't for your mother I really wouldn't care but she has lost too much as it is. She deserves more than second hand information from me about her daughter, understand?"

"Yes," I reply.

"No, I don't think you do but someday you'll understand. Just give her a call and ease her worries," she says moving away.

I swallow hard and nod my head.

She smiles, "Good, I'll see you tomorrow."

It was the way her expression transformed so flawlessly from threatening to content that I could see how she had fooled the other tributes and became victor. With the way she acted you would never assume there was a warrior underneath the outer exterior. Even after all these years she could be scary. I let her shut the door behind me and make my way down the drive. Ovid would probably still be in the city with his acquaintances so that meant I would have to walk back alone. I just hoped I remembered how to get back.

I made it to the crest of the hill before I heard the twig snap behind me. I hadn't really known anyone was following me. I swing around ready for a fight only to drop my hands to my side as soon as I see the grey eyes and dark auburn hair of my stalker.

"What do you want?" I ask impatiently.

"Nothing much, just whatever you took from my fathers office, "he says accusingly.

So he had seen me but I wasn't about to admit to anything nor had over the files. Schooling my features into a mask of indifference I say, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I saw you leaving my fathers office, now give it up," he says.

I turn and start walking the other way calling over my shoulder, "I was looking for the bathroom that's all. I don't know what delusions your having but you should get that checked out."

I felt his strong grip around my upper arm pulling me forcefully to a stop, "Don't lie to me. I know you took something, now what is it."

I try to yank myself free but his grip only tightens more, "You're hurting me."

"Give it back," he says his grey eyes boring into mine angrily.

When I didn't say anything he grabbed my pack with his other hand and tried to pull it off but I managed to jerk away from him. He reached out to grab me again but a deep voice stopped us both.

"Don't touch her," Ovid said stepping out from behind some trees.

"I should've known," spat Ashton.

Confused I ask, "You know each other?"

"Well…" Ovid began but in a split second Ashton was on him. He got in a good punch since Ovid hadn't been expecting it but Ovid quickly got the upper hand and I cringed as I watched him hit Ashton in the face with enough force to send him flying backwards. Hollering Ashton ran forward and tackled Ovid slamming him into the ground. After about a minute of them wrestling back and forth Ovid effortlessly flipped Ashton and pinned him in a head lock.

"Are you done?" asks Ovid breathlessly.

I could see Ashton trying to break free but Ovid just tightened his grip. "Will you let me explain?"

Ashton's eyes met mine and then to my astonishment he nodded. Letting go Ovid stood and backed away. Not taking his eyes off of Ashton he began to speak.

"Sort of "Ovid said

"How," I ask.

"He used to come and see my father," answers Ashton, who is now leaning against a tree as far away from Ovid as he can get.

"Wait, what?"

"It's true; I thought he could help me, give me information or at the least advice on what to do. About a month before he died I told him about what was going on" Ovid says.

"That's why you sent me isn't it because you knew they would recognize you, especially Johanna, "I say back.

"It was the only way," Ovid argues.

"You used me. Why didn't you just tell me the truth?" I ask angry.

It isn't Ovid that answers but Ashton," Because he didn't want you to know he was the reason my father was killed."

"I thought he died in an accident," I say shocked.

"No, they made it look that way and they did a good job because no one questioned it. I mean people die every now and then from malfunctioning pods. It was my father's idea after all to put actual pods in the field to give the soldiers some real experience. It was just an unfortunate event that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. A place where Ovid told him to meet him," says Ashton accusingly.

"I never talked to your father that day. I swear I had no idea what they were going to do or that they even knew I had spoken to your father in the first place. I never asked him to meet me. All I ever wanted was some help I didn't think your father would get so involved "Ovid says defending himself.

"You led them straight to our door when you came here. What did you think would happen? That my father would just let it go. God Finnick you were practically another son to him of course he got involved and when he got that urgent message he went running," Ashton replies throwing his hands out in exasperation voice raised.

"I didn't know Ashton; I swear it on my life. I would have never intentionally endangered his life like that. He was our commander, if anything I thought he would be the safest," Ovid says pain lacing his words.

"Yeah, well he wasn't and now of all people you involve Katniss and Peeta's daughter," replies Ashton pointing at me.

"I didn't want that either but they found me in district four and she happened to be there. They saw her, what would you have me do?" asks Ovid.

"Take the kid home where she belongs before you get her killed too!" yells Ashton.

I bristled at being called a kid, "Excuse me, I'm right here and I'm not a kid. I'm only two years younger then you and besides I volunteered to help."

Ashton smirked, "What are you going to do kid dance the enemy to death. Make everything better with a song and sway of your hips like you tried to do at my father's funeral?"

My face flushed with anger, "How dare you. I'm stronger than you think and I didn't just dance, I told a story that spoke of love, courage, and hope for a better future. A future your father envisioned along with countless others. Whatever is going on, I'm not going to stand by and let it happen and I won't stop until whoever is behind it is brought to justice!"

"Oh please tell me how you'll accomplish that," says Ashton sarcastically.

I pull out the files from my pack and hold them up, "I'm going to start with these."

A/N: Thank you for the reading! Please leave a review, I'll love you forever since a review can be the greatest gift a writer can get. : ) Tell me what you liked, what you hated, or what you think will happen next. I'll probably be updating this daily so stayed tuned.