Chapter 11: The Victors
Emerald's POV
I moved into the victor's apartment in the Capital, a day after I woke up, which was good for two reasons. One: because I really hate hospitals, and Two: Because I get to live with Cato. Tonight Cato, and I have and interview with Caesar, You know, talk about our strategies, what it feels like to be victors and more importantly each other. I just want to go home, but at the same time I don't want to leave Cato.
I felt pair of soft lips pressed lightly against mine. My eyes fluttered open and I smiled at Cato. "Well that has to be the best wake up call ever." I sighed, kissing him again. He pulled away first, "Come on, we've got to get ready. Your stylist, mentor and the lady with blue hair are very persistent. I almost had to fight them off, to let you sleep more. I don't know how long I can keep them away." He joked, his stormy blue eyes, sparkling in what little sunlight that streamed into my room. "Okay." I huffed, pulling back the covers and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Standing up I started to walk to the bathroom, but I didn't get very far before a pair of strong, muscular arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close to a warm, rock hard, bare chest. I giggled as Cato nuzzled my neck with his nose. "What happened to we have to get ready, my people are getting antsy?" I asked, turning around to face him. "I think they can wait a little longer." He said, using his low, seductive voice, kissing me gently. I kissed back and soon the kiss became heated and full of passion, he pushed me up against the bedroom wall, my hands tangled in his beautiful blond hair. We heard a knock on my door, before things went too far. "Shit. Why does this always happen." I rolled my eyes at his reference to the time when Topaz interrupted our make-out session in my dressing room. "Shh." I put a finger to my lips untangling myself from his arms and heading for the door. I saw that it was James who had knocked seeing that Cato was in my room he blushed, knowing he had interrupted something. "Sorry." He mumbled, looking down at his feet. "Its okay James. What do you need?" I wondered, putting a bright, reassuring smile on my face. "Oh, um... Andromeda wanted me to make sure you were up and to tell you and Cato that your stylists are waiting for you in your dressing rooms." He gave a little nod at Cato and then left. "Thank you!" I called after him, before going back into my room. "Okay, now we really should get ready." I told him, he nodded, gave me a quick peck on the lips and left my room.
After my shower I put on white and blue striped, off shoulder, long sleeved shirt, a pair of dark wash jeans, black converse and my locket. I didn't bother to put on any make up because I knew Topaz would just take it off, and I left my hair down, believing it to be pointless, to do anything to it, since it would be restyled anyways.
When I was done I went to the kitchen to get some breakfast, before Topaz and her minions tried to make me look pretty. I sat and ate a plate of bacon, eggs and toast. "Hungry?" A familiar, male voice questioned me, seeing as I was all but inhaling my breakfast. I looked up to see Cato standing in front of me with a cup of coffee in his hands. Nodding I simply say, "Yeah." then continued to rapidly eat the food that was quickly disappearing. He let out a low chuckled and sat beside me. He watched me as I ate. "What?" I wondered, staring him in the eye, almost getting lost in them. "Nothing, I keep forgetting that your not used to this much food." He replied, I just shook my head at him, "That's not why. In case you haven't noticed I've been in the hospital for a week and, I haven't eaten a thing, besides that nasty hospital food- which doesn't really count as food, since it makes me want to puke." I informed him, taking my now empty plate and placing it in the sink, taking an apple out of the fruit basket sitting on the counter and pouring myself some coffee. "I suppose I can ignore your horrid eating habits just this once." He teased; I rolled my eyes at him, taking a sip out of my mug. "Whatever." I mumbled. "Come on Em, we better get down to the dressing rooms before they come and get us." Cato snaked his large, muscular arms around my waist, resting his chin in the crook of my neck. I giggled, putting down the apple and coffee cup, and turned in his arms to face him. "I love you Emerald." He told me seductively. "I love you too, Cato." I kissed him passionately, savoring every moment of it, because if I've learned anything in the Hunger Games its that anything can be taken away from you in the blink of an eye, everything you love, hate, could be gone forever never to return to you. I pulled away and sighed, "Cato we really need to go now." He groaned and I rolled my eyes at him. "I promise we can continue this later." I whispered in his ear, he smirked and said, "I'll hold you to that." I shook my head at him, took one last sip of coffee and headed to the elevator that will transport me to the dressing rooms, Give me strength! I thought, knowing full well that it would take Topaz and her team all day to make me look good for the interview.
****Skip to the Interview****
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Please give a warm Capital welcome to our victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Cato and District 11's shining gemstone, Emerald!" Caesar welcomed us. Cato and I walked onto the stage, waving and smiling at the crowd of crazy Capital citizens, as we made our way across the stage, to where Caesar stood. "My, my don't you look magnificent." He told me, shaking my hand and gesturing for me to take a seat in the egg chair that was closest to his. "Thank you Caesar, you to." I grinned at him. I hate this. I thought to myself. For me to have just gotten out of the hospital yesterday, it was hard to go out and act like I'm fine. Cato and I sat down; my hands were in my lap. Caesar got the crowd to settle down a bit and smiled at us. "So tell me... What does out feel like to be victors?" He asked, a curious look in his eyes. "To tell you the truth Caesar, its strange." I was telling the truth it was strange. The interviewer cocked an eyebrow at me. "In my district there aren't many people who ask questions, no one wants to know about what happened in your past, but here, everywhere I go there are people asking for my autograph and what not… I kind of like it." I giggled, Cato reached over and took my hand, the crowd 'awe'd. "Well I'm just glad that she's still alive, and now I can be with her forever… or until she realizes that she's too good for me and moves onto someone better… whichever comes first." Cato chuckled with an underlying seriousness in his voice. The crowd laughed with him, not catching onto the fact that he thought that I really was too good for him. "Oh Cato… There is absolutely no one who would be able to take your place. I'm not going anywhere." I reassured him, covering his large hand with my small one. The crowed completely melted at this and Cato smiled and real one, not the usual smile he gives the crowd so they think that he is loving all of this. "Well it seems to me that you two are very much in love, yes?" I looked back at the strong, loving man that sat beside me and sighed, "More than you know." He gave me a quick peck on the lips and agreed. "Emerald tell us what you were thinking in the arena. What brought on your, I'd like to call it little but we all know that's not true, outburst?" Caesar questioned. "Oh that. Um… about that, yeah… I had a mental breakdown. In the feast, I witness all my friends die and I knew it was stupid to make friends, but I couldn't help it. That's just who I am and I guess I snapped. I would however like to apologize for it. I don't think I was thinking at all. I… can't express the frustration… and the pain that I felt in that moment. It just kind of hit me all at once in that single moment of silence." I explained, but not really meaning my apology. "I think when I say this I can speak for all of us Capital citizens, we accept your apology and wish you the best in the future with Cato and the rest of your family." The blue haired man told me and smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you Caesar, that means the world to me." I said through gritted teeth. "Unfortunately that's all the time we have for today. Everybody, our victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games, Cato and Emerald!" Caesar yelled over the roaring applause. Cato and I stood up and left the stage.
We part ways when we got to the change rooms so we could get changed back into the clothes we had on before the interview and met up again at the car that took us back to our apartment.