Katniss knocked on the double door on the twelfth floor. Apprehension took hold of her as an Avox opened the door. She noticed that groups had formed two of the girls were off in a corner chatting while the other two were sitting at the table pouring over notes. Peeta had all four boys sitting at the other end of the table looked sullen.
The two girls in the corner noticed Katniss enter first. Katniss tried to restrain herself but still found herself running across the room and pulling the two girls in a tight embrace. "Thank you" was the only thing that she could think of.
"We told you that we would do it. Did you not believe it?" Leevy asked.
"I figured it would just be one of you I would have to think, not both of you." Katniss said as tears began to flow down her face.
"Stop that!" Delly whispered. "You cannot show anyone emotions. You taught us that last year." Leevy moved her head so that her hair was blocking the view of others in the room so that no one could see her face. Katniss struggled to compose herself and sat down at the table. Dragging Leevy and Delly with her.
"So what did your crazy people order me for lunch," She asked looking over to Peeta.
"Well I figured that since they missed the train ride we could have some of that amazing lamb stew with plums." Peeta said with a smile
"My favorite and I am starving." The Avox standing by the door nodded and disappeared silently through the double doors.
"So how do you like the Capitol?" Katniss asked.
"From what we have seen it looks amazing," Peeta's friend Warn said. "I looked out of my room as I was getting ready, and wow… buildings everywhere." Katniss just smiled. It started a conversation that the others joined in on. Telling stories of what they had already noticed going on in the city. Katniss just smiled and nodded. She wished that she could be happy for them, but she was not. They were going to march into the arena to their deaths in just a few months.
"Katniss?" Leevy said for what must have been a multiple time.
"Katniss, are you alright?" Peeta asked.
"Oh, yes?" Katniss replied coming back to the conversation.
"I asked what district they stuck you with." Leevy said again.
"Oh, District One" Katniss replied
"Shame," Varun said
"It is ok really; they seem to be a good group"
"In terms of tributes or people" Leevy said
"People, sorry I have a hard time just labeling someone as a tribute"
"It's ok Katniss we know what is going to happen." Delly said with a somber sound to her voice.
"So who else did you get as your mentors?" Katniss asked trying to change the subject.
"An old lady named Mags from District 4. She just points and makes these weird sounds. Johannah Mason had to translate for her." Delly said.
"She is even more beautiful in person," Barnaby chimed in.
"I think he may have met his future wife," Peeta said punching his friend on the shoulder.
"Not all of us can get engaged at sixteen." Barnaby said back as he punched back.
"Um hello the fiancée is in the room with you two," Warn said at the two with a grin.
"Who else?" Katniss asked
"Brutus from District Two, this middle age woman that Johannah kept calling Nuts I think her real name is Wiress, and Cashmere from District One."
"Descent group." Katniss said with a smile.
"Who are you working with?" Peeta asked
"Gloss is the District One mentor, and then there is Finnick Odair from four, Lyme from two, Beetee from three, and Cecilia from eight."
"Two of the most gorgeous victors ever! You are going to have Peeta jealous when it comes to you spending three months with Gloss and Finnick alone."
"Turns out that Finnick is engaged to Annie Cresta," Katniss said trying to cut off the jealousy before it had a chance to begin. Katniss did not know where she and Peeta really stood in terms of their relationship. He proposed to keep Snow from figuring out that their rebellion during the games was just that a rebellion. The more that others thought that she was in love with Peeta the more that the rebellion was kept at a minimum.
"Ah, but Gloss is still single and he is walking sex on a stick."
"I am not even sure what that means," Katniss said looking at Delly trying to keep a straight face.
"That he is just yummy." Leevy replied
"I will let him know that you are single Delly."
"Would you really?"
Katniss just grinned. The boys at the opposite end of the table were all breaking out in uncontrollable fits of laughter. "Is boys all girls think about?" Varun asked.
"And just what is it that boys think about?" Mikasi asked.
"Girls!" Thom said falling out of his chair laughing. Katniss just watched her friends as dinner was served. They were calm and relaxed as dinner was served. She thought back to her first meal on the train after she was reaped. Haymitch stumbling in drunk in the middle of it. Her nerves getting the best of her. She looked over the table. So many rich foods and her friends were just carrying on conversations and barely eating.