Hi again guys. Sorry about the wait. Yet again, I've been really, really busy. I hope I can make up for it with this chapter. I think I might just upload two tonight. We'll see. Anyways, thank you if you are still reading. It really does mean a lot to me.

Chapter Nine - Change

Knock, knock.

I pull my head out of my pillow, my eyes heavy with sleep. I had a troublesome night, and I bet that it shows.

I run a hand through my tangled hair and sit up. Judging by the amount of light coming through the window, it seems that I have slept all day. Everyone has given me the space and time I needed to get myself together. Partly. I'm like a china doll, that somebody has dropped and attempted to glue back together again. I've been broken, and half fixed. The cracks are sill there, and I could break again at any second.

It's strange, being back here, living in this new home. Really, it's adding to the stress.

Last night, I realised that I am never going to go back to my old life. I just stood there in shock, until Natalie ushered me inside, and tucked me into bed. I didn't say a word. Then, I lay there, in darkness, going over the plan that has been forming in my head.

Knock, knock.

Somebody is at my bedroom door.

"Phee? It's Raven. Everybody was wondering if maybe, you wanted to come to the beach with us? I understand if you don't, but it really would be nice..." I hear the familliar voice.

"Raven, hey." I smile, pulling myself out of the layers of sheets and blankets, and wandering over to open the door. I'm still in my dress from yesterday.

"Rough night?" she asks when she sees me.

"Yeah." I whisper. I don't need to hide the fact, as it's pretty obvious.

We are silent for a few seconds, and I realise her bloodshot eyes, and the dark circles that surround them.

I'm not the only one then.

"So, do you want to come with us? Everyone's going, it's going to be fun." she says.

"Who is everyone? " I sigh, leaning on the doorframe for support.

"Ryan, Hunter, Hunter's mother and grandfather, Will, Joel, Megan, Emily, Rebecca, Lewis, Donna and Jonothan." she says, counting with her fingers, just to make sure she's right.

"Okay, I'll come. But I'm bringing Natalie." I say.

Raven lets out a squeal of delight, and throws herself onto me, almost knocking me over.

"Woah there." I chuckle, before resting my head ontop of hers.

"Are you okay?" she asks seriously, looking up into my eyes like she can see into my soul.

"Yeah. I've just got a lot of things on my mind. You don't need to worry about me." I comfort her. "What about you? How have you been holding up?" I ask.

"I'm good, now that I know you're okay." she smiles. "I'll see you at the beach in half an hour."

The door closes behind her, and I fall back onto my bed. For once, I don't have to worry about how I look or what I say. I can be myself. I let out a sigh of relief.

I pull off the uncomfortable dress, tossing it into the corner before opening my drawers, and fishing through them until I find some plain shorts and a vest top.

In no more than a few minutes, I am ready to go.

I don't bother putting shoes on.

"Natalie! Natalie, where are you?" I shout. I know she'll probably be cleaning, or lighting a fire. My voice echos around the house.

Sure enough, she walks out of the kitchen door and smiles at me.

"We're going down to the beach soon, and you're coming, whether you like it or not. You're going to enjoy it, I promise." I say, while I grab a cardigan and put it on. I know how cold it gets down at the beach when the sun isn't out.

Ryan and Raven have apparently already left, as I can't find them anywhere.

I've not been this happy for a while, it reminds me of when I was a child.

Natalie and I make our way down to the beach. I love the way the cool grass feels against my bare feet, the chill of the night air, the sound of the ocean. It's very serene.

I break the silence.

"I forgot to ask you, do you want to move into the guest bedroom in our house? It has to be better than where you are staying just now, and we have no guests, so... Why not? You deserve it." I smile warmly.

She smiles and nods furiously.

"Good." I say, hopping over a rock as we make our way down to the cliff path. I can see a fire burning on the beach, and figures. I can hear distant laughter amongst the rolling waves.

"Looks like fun." I smile. Normally, I would be running down to the beach, but I'm afraid of injuring myself. I just walk, helping Natalie along.

We reach the campfire. Everybody is sitting around it, waiting for us. We join them, sitting in the sand, which has been warmed by the fire.

It really is a picture perfect scene. I'm wrapped in Will's arms, and I feel safe there.

And this is the opportunity I have been waiting for.

Megan, Emily, Raven and Lewis go off to play games in the sand, leaving Hunter, Her Mother and Grandfather, along with Will, Joel, Rebecca, Natalie, Donna, Jonothan and I sitting around the fire.

I'm going to tell them about my plan.

"I've been thinking a lot recently, and... I know that we can't live like this. The spotlight will always be on us, and we'll have to be mentors. We'll have to send kids off to their death every year. I just couldn't stand that. So, I've sort of... Thought of a plan." I start.

"Go on..." says Joel, leaning forwards.

"Well, I know this is all going to sound crazy, and there's a lot of gaps in this plan, but just listen for a second.

There's got to be something, beyond the horizon, right? Something better than this. So, that's where I plan to go. I'll take all of us. There's enough seats on a hovercraft.

I'll wait until after the reaping, so we can take the tributes with us too, save them. You guys can come with us to the Capitol, we can stay in the same hotel. We'll go when the games are on, when the whole of Panem's attention is averted. I'll arrange for the tributes to fake their deaths, somehow I'll get through to them. By then, we'll already have stolen a hovercraft, and ripped out the tracker. We'll pick up the tributes, and get out of here. Out of panem. Forever."

There is a few seconds of silence.

"That's smart Phee. Real smart. It might just work, but are we willing to risk it?" asks Jonothan.

"Anything has to be better than a life like this. Think of the future." says Will, looking over to Raven, Megan, Emily and Lewis, who are laughing, blissfully unaware of what's going on.

"Speak of this to nobody." I say, before getting up and running over to the kids, who are drawing in the sand, losing myself in their somewhat blind world, and getting to enjoy myself, just for once. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders, at least, for now.

By the time we get back to our house, it is at least midnight. I carry my sister on my shoulders, who is half asleep, her long dark hair hanging in my face. Ryan has offred to carry her, but he needs a break. Natalie walks beside us, exhausted. By the end of the night, we all joined in on the childish games.

I place Raven in her bed, and kiss her forehead, before walking up to my room, and changing out of my sand covered clothes.

I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling.

I need to perfect this plan. I need to give my family a second chance at life. I need to take every opportunity.

I need to change everything, for the better.

So yeah, that was chapter Nine. I hope you enjoyed, and as always, a review would always be appreciated. Thank you for reading, the next chapter will be a short one, but should be up on the same night as this chapter. Sorry about it being late again, technical problems (explained in next chapter)

BethanyDee x x