/AN/
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*hearts*

I don't know how they managed to get me to the Capitol in such a short time. Probably pushed the train to it's limits. I'm pretty sure the Eastern border wasn't that close to the Capitol. Actually, I think the whole path was far from the Capitol. And I certainly never crossed any train tracks, as odd as that is. Maybe... Maybe I just didn't make it to any tracks. Maybe the tracks were right in front of me and they took me straight from the helicarrier onto the train. I don't know. Point is; wow, that was fast.

The room I'm in is nicer than the one on the train. It's not all green, for example. It's neutral, forest colors, but it's not all green. A bit smaller than the palace room I was expecting, but larger than any bedroom I've ever been in. And silk sheets. I always thought having silk sheets would be weird but after sleeping in them my body has found a comfortable position in them. The fuzzy blanket on top is even softer, and an amazing shade of beige. I don't even know how beige could be amazing but it is!

By the bed there's a remote and I look around. I can't see a television, but it could easily be concealed behind something. Techies. Hmph. I grab it and press a button. The curtains to my right open and I can see the Capitol in all its glory. It's not as grand as I expected but I know for sure that I'm here now. I press another button and the air conditioning turns on. Smiling, I press another button. Apparently the window is also a TV. I don't know how that's practical but they're probably just showing off.

I flip through a couple of channels -there aren't many anyway- and settle on The Hunger Games Greatest Hits. Literally just tributes' strongest, most tactical, winning hits. Surprisingly, the commentary isn't all that uninteresting or brutal. It's almost helpful. Within the first minute I learn which part of the throat is easiest to get to and most painful to be punched in. It might come in handy.

Someone knocks on the door and I turn the TV and air conditioning off, shutting the curtains while I'm at it. "Come in!" I yell. As they enter, they turn a light on. I blink at them, adjusting to it.

"You're finally awake." An irritated voice says. A female voice. Crap. It's Polly. And she's wearing green. Not that I have any problem with green. Okay, maybe I have a problem with her wearing that green... whatever it is. Like a towel dress. Is that really fashion around here? "Megan Theia. Nice to finally meet you." Her voice tells me she doesn't find it nice at all.

"I thought I would be meeting my mentor first." I say, not trying to sound pleasant. She scowls and I shrug, swinging my feet over onto the floor. Noticing no crutches around, I test my foot. I would rather have the crutches but if they tell me to walk; I have to walk. I've already learnt that lesson.

"How's your ankle?"

"Awful, thanks." I stand, wave my arms for balance, then put them on my hips and frown. I won't be jumping up and down, but I can make it out of this room.

"If you want a shower, then it's through that door-" She gestures to my left. I didn't even notice that. "-and if you're just hungry then you can join me for lunch!" She smiles, but I don't think I'm welcome. I guess she would hate me. The first runaway -that anyone knows about- and it was under her watch. Her tribute, from the district she was supposed to be representing. Yeah, I bet I pissed her off.

"I'll take a shower. There'll still be lunch, right?"

"Oh, yes! But I'm going to have to leave soon, so you'll be eating alone."

"What about my mentor? I hear I'm with the female victor? Wasn't her name Faith Monahhan?"

"Yes, you'll meet her later. She's out with Gale's mentor, Faith's husband, James." The familiar way Polly said Gale's name sort of pissed me off. Sure, they'd had some time to talk. A few days. But not that much- I almost wonder if it's inappropriate. Gales not really like that though, so I'm probably just trying to find more reasons to hate Polly.

"How is Gale getting along with everyone?"

"You are not his mother so I am not going to discuss those things with you. Ask him yourself if you're so concerned." She puts her hands on her hips. Then she takes a deep breath, clasps her hands in front of herself, and looks me in the eyes as I walk around the bed. "As you can tell, I'm pretty upset. I was not blamed for what you did, but I am being judged for it. You've affected a lot of people and I understand why you would take that chance but now I need you to be just a tad less selfish mmkay?" She bats her eyelashes at me.

I wish she were going into the games. Especially if she could take my place. Okay, I ran. I had a good reason. I don't want to die! I don't want to let my loved ones watch me die while others are cheering around them! It's what I want, but they would want the same. "I'm just going to go have that shower. I'll publicly humiliate you later"

She gapes for a moment while I walk to the bathroom. It was too much to hope for that she would be silent for a while. "If you dare do anything like that to me I'll-"

I turn on her, "You'll what? Tell me I can't have dessert? Understand this Polly-" I frown at her name "-I'm not yours to punish. That's up to the judges at this point. Then to Caesar Flickerman. And finally, lastly, to the other tributes. There is no room for you so back off!" I bite the last two words at her and she gasps, taking a delicate step back. I don't know when I became so snappy... But I'm starting to like it. I stalk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind myself and leaning against it. This is going to be difficult.

The whole apartment is in neutral colors. The dining room, the TV room, even the windows have a brown tint. ...Well it might just be reflecting the walls. There are random splashes of color, I guess the decorators tried to make it homely modern. Kind of like Janet did, but with less sense to it. After eating I set to my goal of creating a butt indent in the couch. I think they get new ones every year though because it's barely been broken in. It, too, is brown. The pillows are blue though, and I crush one between my knees and chest. It's my third favorite pillow in the world. First is my own, the one that I left at home. The second is the one that I shared with Liam. I'm not in love with him or anything, I just felt so safe in his arms. Like he would never let me go or let anything bad happen to me. I suppose first should be Jack's shoulder, but I don't want to start thinking of him as a pillow.

I watch the news, mostly; waiting for them to announce that I have been found. To see what lies they come up with. There's nothing, though. No mentions of me at all. They highlighted the careers and a tribute who's the son of a previous victor. 13 year old Benjamin from district 6. He is going to be targeted for sure.

From district 1 there is Ann and Henry. Queen and King, most likely. From district 2, Jill and Gregorio seemed like another couple. Couple of buffed up super soldiers, that is. From 4 there is Bea and Toby. Nothing to add about them, they were just typical careers. My first impression, much like I was expecting, is; I'm screwed. They are going to rip me apart!

I rest my head against my knees. What am I doing? Right this moment, what am I doing? I'm... trying to distract myself. Waiting for Gale. My mentor. Caelus. The world to end. Maybe I should eat something. No one outside the few who have already seen me would know that I've been caught. Gale probably doesn't know yet. I'm not sure I want to see him. I'll get private training if I have to, but I don't think I can handle it.

But behind me, the elevator dings and I jump up from the couch. I clutch onto the pillow and walk around the furniture so I can see who walks in. If I'm lucky, it will be Caelus. If I'm not-

"Megan!" Gale yells, hurrying into the apartment. I'm frozen on the spot as he runs forwards and folds me into his arms. "You're safe."

He doesn't say anything for a while and I begin to wonder what he's thinking. Not that he would tell me- not here. Behind him James, Faith, and Caelus give us some space. Caelus catches my eye and points to his head. I'm confused for a moment and then Gale steps back. "Gale-" I don't know what to say to him.

"Caelus saved something for you." He reaches into his pocket then reaches up and places the hair clip where I usually wore it on the left side of my head. Gale grins at me, "If you wanted to get rid of it there are easier ways than to let the peacekeepers have it."

"I'm keeping it. Forever. I just- So much happened and I forgot that it was in the backpack..." I throw the pillow back onto the couch and wrap my arms around his mid, "I am so sorry that I ran-"

"Don't be." We haven't hugged this much in years, and I suddenly realize that I missed having his arms around me. "But I am so pissed to be the last to know that you're back-"

"They haven't made any announcements yet." I tell him. "I've been watching the news for a while and I haven't been mentioned at all."

Caelus walks around us to the couch and picks up the pillow I was holding onto, "That's because it's going to be downplayed. No one wants to talk about a runaway. If anyone mentions your district, or Gale, then they'll casually drop your name and wonder how you're doing in training. Maybe even bring up how the bets on you are going. There are pictures of you up but no one has seen you or anything... They just know what they saw from the reaping's live feed. It wasn't much; they switched cameras as soon as they knew what you were doing. Focused on wildlife and the national anthem. Do you even remember much from that day?"

Gale lets go of me and I hobble to the couch, laying back so my leg is on the pillow in Caelus' lap. I grin at him and he, oh so kindly, pats my sore ankle. I grip at it and glare at him. "Yeah, I remember a lot." I lay back down and realize Gale had put another pillow over the armrest for my head. Quickly, I smile at him as a thank you. "I remember the day, with Jack. And the evening -into the night- on my own and on the run. What I don't remember is the reaping. I know I was there, and I can still hear Polly's voice calling my name... But after that and until I was already running through everyone's back yards, it's all kind of a blur."

Gale leans forwards from the armchair behind me and to my right, "Caelus told us that Jack is a captive. I'm sorry, Meg."

"Yeah, well, so long as he's safe. Umm, I'm sorry about you getting reaped, by the way."

"Are you kidding?" He grins, "You got reaped, Meg. I'm sorry about that. I can survive- Oh, fuck."

"Yeah. Fuck." Both Caelus and Gale look at me oddly, "I just wanted to try it out again. What? Stop looking at me like that!"

"It's just... weird." Gale tells me. "You're not exactly the type to get away with it. You're sort of..."

"Innocent? So I've heard." I glance at Gale and I can tell a memory passes between us. Sure, I'm still a virgin. But I'm not some little girl. I'm not a kid- I smirk at Caelus, "Admit it."

"Admit what?" He asks as James and Faith sit on his other side. "That you're innocent? Been there."

"I won our bet, Caelus. You owe me, and I want you to pay up in front of everyone-"

"But not in front of Jack, right. You still want him to think you're a kid." He laughs, "Since childish is the only quality he admires." Instead of replying, I bring my foot up. Before I can kick it down he grabs it, "Don't even try, sis."

"Woah!" Gale interrupts, "I didn't know you two were related! Distantly, maybe."

"We are not related," I assure him, "and if we were, I never would have had that crush on him."

"You had a crush on me?" Caelus smirks, "That's cute, sis."

"Yeah, but, you're a bit too grown up for me."

"Obviously. We all know your type-"

"Hey, how about this?" Faith starts, "All of you stop talking about Jack Frost. That's not the direction we're taking things. You've heard Polly. She's had this figured out for days and we can't screw it up."

"Screw what up?" I ask, not too sure I want to hear it. If it has something to do with Polly's plans then it can't be good.

"Gale should tell you." For the first time, I notice a scar running down the right side of her neck. With her long red hair down, I couldn't tell. Swinging my legs over the edge of the couch, I sit up straight and look at Gale. Whatever it is, I can already tell by his expression that I'm not going to like it.

"Meg..." He sighs. "You know I love you. You're family. But Polly's been working on this story that... I love you in a different way. And you do, too. You ran because you couldn't be in the games with me-"

"I didn't know!" I'm already frustrated, but I try to keep my voice down. What does Polly think she's doing? I can't be anything more than Gales friend. Definitely not his- his lover! Or whatever she wants me to be! Lightly, Caelus starts rubbing circles on my back. It helps. Barely. "I didn't know you were going to be reaped."

"We all know that. But not everyone is that smart and even if they are the Capitol has it's ways to make people believe things. Point is; we have to help them make people believe it. It's just a television show, Meg. Can't you handle being in love with me for a couple of weeks?"

If we survive that long. "There are so many other reasons- And wouldn't they rather cover up the whole running away thing than build a story around it and letting it be public information?"

"It's Polly's idea-"

"Everything is." I take a deep breath and look at Faith who's holding onto James with pursed lips. He's strong, with sun-lightened brown hair. As I thought was typical for victors, he's uncomfortable being back in the apartments. Faith isn't like that. She seems like she feels with emotions and not memories of them. I kind of like her already. "It's nice to meet you. Both of you. But I think I need some more alone time." Faith nods so I stand up.

"Hey, stay and enjoy our company!" Caelus complains. "Polly will be here soon and-"

"Just call me for dinner later, alright? And make sure she thinks carefully about what she's going to say. You still owe me, Caelus." Without saying anything else, I walk to my bedroom.