Who ever can catch Johanna's little speech error gets a cookie. Hint: It has something to do with the CF/MJ rebels...and the titel of a HSM song. (UGH I hate that movie :P)

Now that you have the hint, you'll find it easily :)

Arcane

ar·cane [ahr-keyn]

–adjective

known or understood by very few; mysterious; secret; obscure; esoteric:

Ever...

I wake up the next morning expecting to be alone, but my father is sitting beside my bed and is asleep. I go to shake him away, but he stirs before I can move. "You didn't have to stay here all night." I tell him, fidgeting with my hands.

"Of course I did. If the nightmares came back I'd be able to wake you up without you waking the rest of the train first."

I half smile and hug him. "'Morning Daddy."

"It's the afternoon, sweetheart."

"What!" I throw the blankets off of me to check the time. Sure enough, 12:30. "Crap! Cinna only has half an hour t-"

"That won't be a problem. He doesn't want to make you look too different this time."

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Oh good. Can I go back to sleep?"

"Nope, I have to hand you over to Cinna now. Cinna!"

Great. Just great.

Haymitch...

"Ow! Venia stop pulling my hair!" Ever screams.

"Hold still and it won't hurt as much!" Flavius hisses. Ever rolls her eyes, but obeys him anyway.

I smirk and tease her. "You look like a girl, sweetheart."

"I'll punch you!"

"I'll kick you ass!" I say with a grin. She ignores me after that.

Ever...

I tug on one of the tight curls my prep team styled my hair into. I hope it will straighten, but it doesn't. I sigh and follow Tanith off of the train. My father has a small bottle of liquor in his hand- not that I expected any different- but he isn't drunk just yet. Peacekeepers lead us to the stage like always.

The crowd is silent and the victors behind me aren't glaring. They seem to be examining me and measuring up my worth. No matter, I think as I open my mouth to speak. "Um, hi. I know you want me to hurry and get this speech over with, so I will. I really didn't know either of your tributes. Mike did give me a few pointers on wielding a knife, but he helped everybody out. I guess he was just genuinely a good guy. Then there was Hollie. She scared me. That's really all-"

"Liar!" Screams a middle-aged woman from the crowd. Everyone parts to either side so I can get a better glimpse of her. "Liar! You killed her! You killed my daughter! You murderer!"

My eyes frantically move around. "What am I supposed to do?" I mouth to my father. He just shrugs. Thanks for supporting your daughter, Daddy.I think sarcastically.

"You murderer!" She repeats shrilly.

"I-" I start before I am interrupted by a hand being placed slowly over my mouth and gently pushing me aside. I look up and recognize the person ad the victor of the 70th Hunger Games, Johanna Mason. I've run into her a few times in the Capitol and we were close enough to wave when we saw each other. But I doubt she remembers my name.

I am completely surprised by what happens next. Johanna bends down to the microphone which is set for my height. "Ms; I realize you miss your daughter and you wish she was standing here instead of some little girl from District 12, but contain yourself. Thank you." She steps back and gestures for me to step forward and finish.

"Right...about Hollie. I'm sorry that she had to die, but I had to it. Again, I'm sorry, but it is what it is. Thank you." I mumble those last two words and abruptly turn to walk away. I don't even give Johanna Mason a second look.

Daddy is mumbling something and I stand on my toes to try and hear it, but I can't hear anything so I give up after about ten seconds. The same Peacekeepers from earlier lead us into the Justice Building. I am prepared for the victors to all be very hostile, considering I killed Hollie Stern, but they weren't. They behaved oddly, yes, but not openly cruel. I look for Johanna, thinking that maybe I should thank her for standing up for me, but I can't seem to find her. I shrug and begin shaking the hands of victors as the come up to greet me.

I sit down next to Daddy and Cinna for the feast and notice Johanna still isn't there. I tap my father on the shoulder and whisper, "Why did Johanna stick up for me back there?"

"A similar thing happened to her on her victory tour. She kept her cool like you tried to."

"What do you mean by tried?" I inquire.

"Uh...really? You were about to have a heart attack up there. Lucky Mason noticed."

"I thought I told you my name is Johanna." She says, sitting in the empty seat across from me.

His eyes widen. "Er, right."

"Haymitch, you don't have to be afraid of me. I'm not going to rip your head off."

"Yeah...okay."

"You know I won't. We're all in this together." Daddy gives her the 'look' and she instantly covers her mouth.

I am completely confused here, so of course I ask a question- "What were you talking about, Johanna?"

"Nothing." She and my father say in unison, too quickly.

"Come on, what is it?"

"Ever Elizabeth." Daddy warns.

"But-" I am interrupted by Mayor Jennings.

The short, pudgy man stands up and raises his glass. "The mayor and victors of District 7 welcome you, Ever Abernathy, to our fine district. I trust you are doing well?"

"Yes." I say softly, bare above a whisper.

"Congratulations on your victory. I hope you have been enjoying an will continue to enjoy your stay here with us. To Ever!"

"To Ever!"

'To Ever!' Really, I am getting sick of hearing those words. Ugh, but more importantly, what was Johanna talking about that Daddy won't let me even hear about? I know I'm still his little girl to him, but I'm not little anymore. Nobody comes out of that arena a little girl.

Not even me.

Whoo! I can't wait until District 4! Guess what happens there? MORE Haymitch sappiness, Ever and Finnick antic-ness, Mags giving Ever cookies-ness and Ever-meets-Annie-ness! Yay!

I shall cram D6 and D5 in one since nobody cool is from there.