Chapter 10

Six months had passed since the Third Quarter Quell. In that time, I had moved into the Victors Village; along with Ms. Robin, Klarissa, and Bri. Summer had come and gone, and so had fall. Winter had just begun here in 12. Of course, in that time, Thanksgiving and Christmas had come; two of the only holidays Snow still lets us celebrate. Of course, I am thankful for these, and the time spent with my family. But it feels different. It's not the same without Danielle.

It was the middle of January when the Victory Tour would begin; my Victory Tour. I had dreaded that day since I survived the Games. I had sat on my windowsill all day, simply staring out the window. I heard the door open and I looked up.

Ms. Robin stood in the doorway. She wore a sad smile on her face as she said, "The camera crew and your stylists are going to be here in a couple of hours. Why don't you go over to Haymitch's house? I think Peeta's over there." I gave a slight nod as I stood up, hanging my head and not making eye contact with Ms. Robin. I walked towards the door, but I stopped when I heard a soft, "Hey." I looked up at Ms. Robin as she pulled me into a hug. I let out a sigh, swallowing to keep tears back. I had become so distant, and closed myself off so much, that any sort of emotion was almost foreign to me anymore.

"You know I love you right?" Ms. Robin asked as she stroked my hair.

I nodded. "I love you too, Ms. Robin," I muttered. I felt a soft kiss on top of my head as Ms. Robin pulled away. She gave me a small smile as she moved out of the way for me to walk out of the door.

It had been a while since I had seen Peeta. Though yes, he was somewhat busy with Snow trying to force the wedding to happen, part of it was my fault. I had avoided him, but not just because I had avoided human contact at all. I had slowly begun to stop viewing him as a friend. He had just become a District 12 mentor to me; someone I interacted with only for Capitol and Hunger Games related events. And I hated those events.

I slowly climbed up the stairs that lead to Haymitch's front door. I heard talking inside, so I let myself in. I took of my jacket and scarf as I followed the noise to the kitchen. There, Haymitch sat at the table, while Katniss and Peeta were standing across from each other; all three talking to each other. Katniss, who was facing me, noticed me first, and looked up, signaling for Peeta and Haymitch to turn and look up as well.

Peeta gave a small smile when he saw me. "Long time, no see, Avi," he said. I simply nodded. I didn't want to start any unnecessary conversation with any of them. I hardly wanted to be here, surrounded by these people. I hated this Victory Tour, and it hadn't even begun.

However, I hated how I had begun to treat Peeta. I know he would be the only one to understand some of what I was going through and that I could talk to. But it was hard disassociating him from those Games. The hatred I had towards the Capitol had been replaced by the hatred of the Third Quarter Quell and the events surrounding it. Of course, this meant that I hated President Snow's guts; but as he was a mentor, it also meant, though I didn't realize it, I was slowly learning to hate Peeta too. I was slowly starting to see myself in a place that I hated, but also a place I didn't know how to escape from.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" I was interrupted from my thoughts by Katniss's question. I looked up at her, and though there was sadness in her eyes, you could see the care and compassion light through. I turned away quickly and shook my head. This whole thing is corrupted, I thought. They are corrupted.

"Come on now, Aviana," Haymitch said. "We're going all three be on a train together for the next two weeks or so, might as well learn to speak up now. You are going to have to for the cameras anyway."

"I'll save it for the cameras," I muttered.

Haymitch started to say something, and I assume from some subconscious look I gave him, he stopped. He looked up at the clock and said, "Effie and your design team should be here soon. Why don't you head back home and get ready?" I simply nodded as I turned to let myself out, hardly noticing Peeta's distraught face as he started to say something. I almost heard him sigh as I walked out and started towards my house.

I had walked in, and had set my jacket and scarf on the table as I heard Ms. Robin walk into the foyer. She had started to say something when she was interrupted by the door opening.

"Hello! Hello to my little star!" Effie said as she walked in. She hugged me, and I reluctantly hugged her back, as I tried desperately not to sneeze at the feathers on her jacket.

Then Cinna walked in, and I legitimately smiled at him. "Is that a smile I see?" Cinna asked as he came to give me a hug. It was the first legitimate smile I had given anyone in six months. He pulled away and asked, "Are you ready to work?" I nodded as he gave me another smile and we walked down the hall to a dressing room in my house. There I was prepped for the opening debut on Caesar's show, filmed remotely in District 12. After a couple hours of preparing, I was ready, and Effie led me outside my back door to where the cameras were.

"And there she is," I heard Caesar say, "the Burning Ember, Aviana Jennison!" I forced a smile and waved to the camera, as I walked down the stairs to a chair that was set up in the snow. I sat down as Caesar said, "So Aviana, how have you been since the games?"

"Ok," I reply, my go to, almost natural response to that sort of question now.

"Just 'ok'?" Caesar asked concerned. Only then did I realize I was supposed to be happy, like my sister wasn't brutally murdered in some sort of "game".

"Well, considering the circumstances," I said, trying to justify my answer. I swallowed my hatred as I forced out, "But things have been overall so much better for me and my family thanks to the Capitol's generosity."

"Well I'm glad to hear that," Caesar said. "We'll be keeping tabs on you as you continue your Victory Tour. So long for now!" I waved to the cameras as they shut off, then standing up from the chair and brushing off the snow that had fallen on me.

"Excellent everyone!" I heard Effie yell. "I want to leave in ten!" I quickly walked back inside to say goodbye to Ms. Robin, Klarissa, and Bri, before walking with Effie and Cinna back to the train.