A/N Surprise, it's still Kaitlin. I'll be posting the next few chapters since Rome's going to be on the road for a few days. Spoiler alert, next chapter's going to be choosing day so this one's pretty much to tie up the loose ends. Also, there's a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter so if you think some parts are just useless information, think again.

Veeta went back to see Blaze again four times that week. Thrice, they were alone, but Thursday night, Blaze's sister Violet had been there, too. She taught Veeta how to make figurines out of silverware and other pliable metals. Veeta had grown very comfortable with them. The visits allowed her such an escape. Blaze never asked her about her life, it was as if they both existed only in the shop; their sole purposes, to create art and make love. Not that it was love, of course. There was no confusing what they did together with "making love". But still, Blaze fucked with a passion Veeta couldn't describe.

Everything was going beautifully until Friday night. Veeta was walking to the train when the sky lit up orange and the blasts sounded. The Amity leader, who had helped Belle and Bloom the weekend before, Tina, died that night. A gas leak in her house caught fire and caused an explosion.

On Monday morning, it was all the Amity talked about. They were still mourning, of course, but also gossiping. Tina's boyfriend, Candor Leader Jack Kang, had been noted as a suspect in her death, as he was the last one to be in her home the night of the explosion. He wasn't arrested, and Candor everywhere were chasing the Amity and preaching his innocence. It all would have been a funny sight if the origin were something other than the gruesome fiery death of a political figure. The upside was that everyone finally seemed to have forgotten about Belle.

That is, until she walked onto school grounds that day. Any Amity who saw her would immediately turn the other way. As she passed, conversations died away, and whispers followed her retreat.

The one exception was Veeta. Her eyes locked on Belle the second she was in her line of vision, and they followed her as she searched for someone. Her eyes caught Veeta's and she began to walk across the paved courtyard to her. When she was halfway there, a figure stepped between them.

"Belle, I'm so glad you're back!" Xavier pulled Belle in and hugged her tight. "I've been so worried about you."

"Oh, um, thanks, Xavier. That's really sweet. I'm sorry, but can you hang on a sec? Just, wait right here." Bell slipped out of his grasp and made her way over to Veeta.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Veeta, I um, I wanted to apologize. For last week."

"Don't worry about it. You were pissed. It happens. I mean it's not like we're friends, after all. You don't have friends, isn't that right?"

"I'm not used to it. But you said you cared about me."

"I do care about you. More than I care about most people, actually."

"It was wrong of me to yell. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been so aggressive."

"Stop talking to me like an Amity. Just talk to me like you. You know I hate those fake Amity apologies."

Belle gave Veeta a strange look. It wasn't her face, Veeta realized. It didn't look like her. I mean, the features were all the same, but her expression wasn't right. She was too… peaceful. She looked half asleep. Her voice too, it was dreamy and soothing and not Belle at all.

"What do you mean Veeta? This is me. I'm an Amity, it's all I'll ever be."

"Oh my god, you're on that funny bread aren't you?"

"Yes." Belle hung her head in shame. "I just wanted to feel better. Please don't be mad at me. You're my only friend."

"Oh, Belle." Veeta wasn't sure what to do, so she just pulled Belle into her arms. "I'm not mad, but no more of this. You don't need that crap to be happy."

"It's this or sex," Belle giggled, "and I didn't want to see Xavier. Plus, this lasts longer."

"You could have me." Veeta joked. "I guarantee I'd last longer."

Belle looked at her with a suspicious look that was almost childish, "Are you still trying to get in my pants?"

"To be honest, that's probably never going to stop."

"It's okay," Belle rested her head on Veeta's shoulder, "it adds to your charm. But I'm just not into girls, and I don't want to mess things up with us. I don't want to be like Ariel."

"You're nothing like Ariel. Ariel is a ditz and a bit of a bitch. You're way cooler than her, and prettier."

"Awwww, you're so sweet. I'm not going to be this smiley in three hours. But if I get mean, just know I still really like you. As a friend."

"Okay, and if you get too unbearable, I'll go get Xavier."

"I like Xavier." Belle giggled. "But I also like you. I'm glad we are friends again, I missed you."

"I missed you too. Xavier is staring at us." And he was, or more specifically, at Veeta; with a look, of pure hatred.

"Aw, he's so cute and loyal, I'm gonna go talk to him. But I will talk to you later." Belle kissed Veeta on the cheek dreamily and flew off too Xavier.

Veeta vaguely saw Xavier say, "Are you fucking her?"

Belle shook her head wildly.

"She said you were."

"Nope, nope, nope." Belle kept shaking her head. "We are best friends, but not sex friends like us. I just like penis and Veeta's jelly."

Xavier chuckled, "Are you high?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? And also yes."

Xavier just laughed and put his arm around her, "Let's get you inside."

"Okay, but only if you kiss me first. On the lips." She stood on her tiptoes and puckered.

Xavier laughed again and kissed her. Veeta's heart broke a little, especially when Belle threw her arms around Xavier and forced her tongue into his mouth. After eating each other's tongues for a while, they headed inside. As they passed Veeta, Belle waved and smiled. Xavier looked at Veeta, smirked, and mouthed, "I win."

After school Veeta was walking to the train with Gideon and Lily ahead of her, they were talking about something to do with drum circles. A moment later Xavier caught up to them; they passed Belle and Xavier wrapped his arm around her.

"Hey gorgeous." He said.

"Hi Belle." Gideon smiled. Gideon was really a friendly guy; he had always been nice to Belle. Lily looked away, her face in a tight line and tears in her eyes.

Belle pulled away from Xavier.

"Hi guys. Um, I just realized that I forgot something. I'll see you tomorrow." She turned and hurried back towards the school. Veeta rushed after her, reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Hey, do you want some help watching Bloom tonight? We can study for faction history together."

Belle smiled softly, "Yes, I would like that a lot."

They walked hand in hand to the bus and rode in silence. When they got off and walked through the art district, Veeta spotted Blaze hanging a new display in her shop's window. Blaze saw her too, and jogged out into the street to meet her.

"Hey Veeta, you coming by tonight?"

"I don't see why not, I may be a little later than usual though."

"That's okay, I'll wait up." Blaze smirked. "Just remember, I don't like being teased, so you better be ready to work when you get here."

"You know I will be, but just to remind you…" Veeta grabbed Blaze and kissed her, their mouths battling for power. They pulled back, both smirking.

"See you tonight, sexy." Blaze purred and walked off, a little swish in her hips.

Veeta looked over at Belle, whose expression could only mean one thing, "You have got to be joking."

"What?"

"She's like, twenty."

"So, I'm an adult, it's legal."

"You barely know her!"

"I know her quite well actually, we spent almost every night together last week."

"So you two are just, like, a thing now?"

"Yeah, if that's what you want to call it. We're the same kind of 'thing' as you and Xavier."

"You two are nothing like Xavier and I?"

"Oh really, and how are you and Xavier so different?"

"We have a history together."

"Blaze and I have history. We have two whole weeks of history."

"That is not even kind of what I meant, but fine, do what you want."

"I shall do what I want, and who I want. In this case, Blaze. And maybe Violet."
"Violet? She's not even your type."

"I take that offensively, how dare you suggest I sort all the wonderful women of the city into types. I appreciate all women for their individual beauties."

"I mean she get's attached easily."

"Valid point, I guess. Analise on the other hand…" Veeta teased.

"She wouldn't look twice at you."

"How would you know, have you tried?"

"I've spoken to her a few times."

"And?"

"And she's nothing like her sisters."

"Are you suggesting there are women out there that are beyond my power?"

"Yes, I am. Myself for example."

"Does she not like women?"

"I don't think she really likes anyone. She's not really a sexual person. Although she did flirt with you when you met her."

"I'll be passive with her, just let it happen if it's going to happen."

"Changing the subject completely, I need you to come over Friday night. If you are insistent upon being my friend."

"Taking advantage of me already are we?"

"Isn't that what friends are for."

Veeta laughed, "Okay, what do you need?"

"I have a lot of baking to do that night, I could use some help."

"I don't really know how to bake, but I guess I can try. What's it for?"

"It's the final part of my sentence, it's a peace offering to be reaccepted into the community."

"They shun you for two weeks and you have to apologize? That's not fair at all."

"I'm choosing not to be cynical about it."

"Okay, baking it is then. So I've got a question. What does it take to get shunned in Amity?"

"Well, people sometimes shun you just because they're mad, but a legal shunning like mine," Belle pointed to her pin, "is only if you break Amity law."

"Okay. Question two, what does it take to get into Amity?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like what is your initiation process?"

"Are you asking if there is a test?"

"Yes, exactly."

"No, no tests. You just do chores and take a few lessons, like a month long career fair and cultural exchange. And we farm a little because it's harvest time. But you can't fail."

"What if you break the law during initiation?"

"Okay, then you fail. I mean, some people get warnings, but for Dauntless transfers, one strike and you're out."

"Harsh." Veeta whispered.

"Honestly, the instructor, Shannon, is really nice. Your real issue will be Eileen."

"Eileen?"

"She's the Amity Judge. She's very…passionate, about Amity law."

"I see…" Veeta was getting nervous. "How passionate?"

"At the end of my trial she put on my record that I am prone to violence."

"Fuck, I'm screwed."

"Not if you don't break the law, and there aren't that many Amity laws." They arrived outside the daycare center. "Wait here, I'll get Bloom."

When Belle emerged with Bloom, Bloom's face lit up and she hugged Veeta.

"Kitty!" she said.

"Um…what?" Veeta looked down at Bloom.

"I'm so glad you are back, Kitty! Lala missed you a lot."

"Bloom!" Belle blushed.

"Oh did she? And, why am I Kitty? My name is Veeta."

"No, you are kitty. Because we went to an art shop and a lady with dark hair said she loved your cat."

Veeta raised an eyebrow at Belle, whose face was buried in her hands.

"I thought Lala didn't know that I was bringing my kitty to visit Blaze."

"Well…Blaze said so. She says you let her pet her kitty all the time. But she laughed when she said it, so I think she may have lied. Also she called it your pussy, but didn't add cat at the end, which was weird because people don't say that a lot. But I guess she just talks weird."

"Hey!" Belle said too loudly. "Who wants ice cream?"

"Yay, ice cream!" Both Bloom and Veeta cheered.