Hello again! Thanks so much to save the manatee , Cometas Por El Cielo , nevergiveuponyourdreams , itsmagical1327 , and Alyss369 for reviewing :) thanks to anyone who has favorited or followed this story as well :)
Shout out: Hey back to you Renée! ;)
Bridget:
Claudius Templesmith announces Renee of District 4 as the Victor of the 71st Hunger Games. I turn to Finn with a look of joy and shock on my face. For a second all we do is stare at each other until I fling my arms around his neck. He doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around me.
"She did it!" I breathe.
"Yeah." He smiles as I pull back from the hug.
The rest of that day is a blur. It takes about 2 days for the Capitol to fully prepare Renee so on the third day is her game highlights and the presentation of the new victor. All of the official business is done by the end of the 4th day which gives 4 days before everyone goes back to their Districts. I finally get to meet Renee 5 days after her games ended.
I walk into the Victors Lounge and Renee is talking to Finnick on one of the couches. I walk over and flop down next to Finn.
"Am I interrupting?" I ask.
"Nope. We're just chilling." Finn tells me.
I laugh at him. "Whatever Finn." Renee looks kind of awkwardly between me and Finn. "I'm Bridget Abernathy." I smile sweetly and hold my hand out.
"Renee. Its nice to meet you. You're the Twelve mentor's daughter right?" She says while shaking my hand.
"Yeah. Haymitch is probably getting drunk right now." I roll my eyes.
"He's actually getting better Bridge." Finn tells me reasonably.
"I know." I shrug. "Anyway, have you been to the Purple Palm restaurant yet?" I ask Renee.
She laughs and shakes her head. "No."
"Finnick Odair! You haven't taken this girl to the best restaurant in the Capitol yet?!" I act shocked.
"Nope. Not had the chance." Finn says.
"Do you have any plans for today?" I ask and they both shake their heads. "You do now."
"Okay. Sounds like fun." Renee smile.
"You can't go unless I'm invited, Abernathy." I hear Preston call from behind me.
"Hey that's my line!" Peyton exclaims and Renee giggles.
"Oh God the Hanagan Twins." Finn chuckles.
"Let's take Renee out for lunch. My treat." I smile.
"I can't let you do that." Renee says.
"No its fine. I have Haymitch's debit card." I smirk.
Renee chuckles. "Okay then."
"You guys head down. I need to go up to tell Haymitch I'm going and I need to change." I tell them.
"Really Bridget?" Finn says.
"Really Finn. I may not be a Victor but I still need to keep up my appearance. We all can't wake up looking amazing every morning you know." I joke.
I head up to the twelfth floor and walk into my room. I grab a pair of black tights and jean shorts and change out of my leggings. I grab a plaid flannel shirt and a tight white cami top and replace my over sized t-shirt. I leave the plaid shirt unbuttoned and I roll the sleeves up to just above my elbows. My makeup is already done and my hair is in a braid. I slip my black flats on and grab my brown satchel, that I got with Johanna and Peyton, before heading out the door. I tell a fairly sober Haymitch where I'm going before I get in the elevator and get out at the lobby.
When I get to the lobby the others are already there so we get in a car and ride to the mall. We get out and go to eat. Peyton and Preston introduced themselves when I went upstairs so we all are already accommodated.
The past couple of days Preston and I have been getting close again. I learnt that Hannah and he broke up because he caught her cheating on him with Brutus, the District 2 Victor's, son. I fill him in on my emotional roller coaster days. We actually learn things from each others pasts that we kept from each other before. Peyton keeps making comments that anyone else would think were harmless but I can tell that she is hinting at us to get back together. I always just roll my eyes at her.
Through lunch Renee gets to know us better in exchange for us getting to know her better. We laugh and joke and have a really good time. Peyton and I show her all of our favorite shops and things to do while Finn and Preston talk as they trail behind.
Preston:
I walk with Finnick behind the girls. Bridget and Peyton are excited to find a new shopping buddy.
"Finnick?" I ask as I observe the girls.
"Yeah?" He replies.
"Can I confide in you?" I ask him.
"Yeah. Why?" He asks curiously.
I sigh. "I think I want Bridget back." He doesn't reply right away so I carry on. "I was such an idiot before and I didn't mean to ever hurt her and I didn't want to break up. I miss her but I'm not sure whether she has thought about getting back together or even considers the idea."
"Go for it." He replies.
"What?" I ask, stunned by his reply.
"Ask her back out. You've only got 2 more days until you leave for the Districts. Take a shot. Live in the moment." Finnick shrugs.
"Oh... Okay. I will. Thanks." I say with a smile.
"Hey girls! Why don't we get some hot chocolate?" Finn calls to the girls in front of us.
The three of them walk back to us and Finn leads us to a coffee shop but I don't remember the name. I offer to buy the drinks as the others sit on two sofas that have a table between them. Bridget offers to help get the drinks with me which now gives me a chance.
After I've ordered and paid the employee goes to make the drinks and leaves Bridget and I.
Bridget:
"So..." Preston says.
I don't know what to reply so I ask "What's on your mind?"
"Actually Bridget I have had something bugging me lately. You see I never meant to hurt you. I didn't want to break up either but I think because we hardly knew one another and we were spending so much time with each other that we were suffocating. Do you know what I mean?" He tells me.
"Yeah but where are you going with this?" I ask, confused.
"I... I wanted to know if you'd like to go out with me again." He tells me.
I'm frozen. Well that wasn't random at all! I don't know what to say. I've thought about giving us another try but what if it ends badly? I don't want to fall for him again because, like always, everything that falls get broken and I was exactly that. Broken.
On the other hand I had some of the most fun with him. We became good friends and I feel like I know him better now than I did when we were a couple. We now know what the other has been through so we know what's pushing the limits. We can be a better boyfriend or girlfriend, right?
"I... Uh... I don't know what to say Preston." I tell him and I watch his face fall into a sort of upset expression as though he's trying to wear an emotionless mask. "You've caught me completely... off guard. Uh... I... I think... You know what? Yes." I surprise even myself with what just came out of my mouth.
"Really?" He smiles.
"Yeah." I smile back.
"Here you go! Three hot chocolates, one chocolate frappuccino, and one mango smoothie." The cheery girl behind the counter says.
"Thank you." Preston and I say in unison.
We go back to the others with smiles on our faces and hand Peyton her smoothie, Finnick and Renee their hot chocolates and I take my frappacino as Preston takes his hot chocolate. I look up and see the three people have identical knowing smiles. Preston finally looks up and notices it too.
"God Finnick! Can I not tell you anything just man to man?!" Preston complains.
"You trusted him? Didn't you learn anything from the roof incident?" I ask Preston.
"I probably should have remembered that detail." Preston says.
"Roof incident?" Renee asks.
"Preston and I went up to the roof one night and shared our first kissed. Finnick just so happened to come up and see us. He blackmailed us to keep him quiet even though he didn't last 24 hours." I explain.
"Finnick! I think I might just have to tell Annie." Renee smirks.
"Please don't!" Finnick begs.
"Wow. Its pathetic to watch a grown man beg especially one who's a victor in the Hunger Games." I say.
Renee chuckles. "I couldn't agree more."
"Shut up and finish your drinks." Finn grumbles.
We laugh but comply. When we've all finished our drinks we go back to the Training Center. I have a few bags from shopping because of Peyton but its mostly shoes. I, surprisingly, only bought one handbag and its not even for me. Its for Willow.
I observe my haul in my room. A slightly frilled button down top, a black skirt, a couple of pairs of jeans, a pair of white jeans, a pair of white denim shorts, a couple of different colored cami tops, a pair of wedges, a pair of nude heels, two pairs of sandals, 3 pairs of slip on flats, and one dress that is mint green and its cotton.
"Whatcha got there Sweetheart?" Haymitch asks me completely sober.
"Just some clothes from today with Finn, Preston, Peyton, and Renee." I shrug.
"How was it?"
"It was really good. I had a lot of fun."
"That's good. Look I'm really sorry about the whole whiskey in the coffee. You're right. I should've told you but I can't just stop."
"I know that it takes time Haymitch. I'm 15 not 5 and I wish you'd have understood that enough to be flat with me."
"I know. I'm sorry Bridget."
"Its fine."
At that Haymitch leaves my room and goes somewhere. Renee had some victor duties to attend to and Peyton was off with Hannah somewhere so I go to the eleventh floor to see if Preston wants to hang out.
I walk out of the elevator and on to their floor. Seeder is on the couch and sees me walk in. She smiles warmly at me.
"Preston is in his room dear." She tells me.
"Thanks Seeder." I smile and walk towards my boyfriend's room. I have to readjust to saying boyfriend now.
I knock on Preston's door and he almost immediately opens it. He smiles at me and opens the door wider to let me in. I walk in and sit cross legged on his bed. He picks up a few things off his floor and puts them into a suitcase.
"I don't want to go back yet." I sigh.
"Me neither." He sighs back.
"Promise me you'll write? Once a week at least?" I say.
"I promise. We can see each other in the Capitol at Renee's Victory Tour." Preston tells me.
"Yeah but that's not until about January. I can't wait that long! I missed you too much and now we have not even 2 days before we leave." I pout.
He pulls one side of his lips into a smile and sits opposite me on the bed. He reaches up cautiously and lightly places his hand on my cheek. I tilt my head into his and I place my hand on top of his so it holds his there.
"I know. I missed you too. This is going to suck." Preston tells me before leaning his face to my cheek and pressing a light kiss on it.
"Damn straight." I smile sadly.
"I'll see you in the summer too. During the games." He tells me.
"Yeah." I nod.
For most of the time I'm there I help Preston pack. After he is all packed we go up to my room and he helps me pack. Its proven a difficulty by the time dinner is ready and I'm not even half packed. Preston agrees to go to the mall with me tomorrow and get another suitcase to pack the rest of my stuff in.
Preston and I have gotten back from the mall and I ended up buying two more suitcases because I bought more thing. Just a few dresses and coats and a brick red colored satchel. Haymitch really should take his debit card back...
We take my stuff up to my room and I fill my new suitcases with my stuff. I leave out the mint green dress and nude heels that I got yesterday and a pair of skin colored tights and a nude sweater.
I usher Preston out of the room and make him wait while I take a shower. I quickly get clean and put on some silky Capitol pajamas so I can shove my clothes that I wore today in my suitcase. I squeeze the water out of my hair so that its only damp. I brush my hair and let it dry naturally.
I walk out of my room and see Preston flicking through my latest piece of reading. It's my copy of The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbotsky. I decided I'd read this for a change from my normal 400-500 page books because its a little shorter and the style is a little different. I peer over my boyfriend's shoulder and he is reading my favorite line:
'I ate the brownie, and it tasted a little weird, but it was still a brownie, so I still liked it. But this was not an ordinary brownie. Since you are older, I think you know what kind of brownie it was.'
"That's my favorite line." I tell him.
He stiffens at the surprise of someone watching him. "Yeah it's pretty good."
I walk around from behind the sofa and over to Preston. He opens his arms and I sit in his lap with my arms around his neck and his hands around my waist. I can't remember how many times I wished that I was in his warm safe embrace after we broke up. Probably too many.
"I'm going to miss you." Preston tells me after he lightly kisses my cheek.
"I'm going to miss you more." I tell him.
"I don't think that's possible." He smiles.
"Oh yeah it is." I smirk.
"Bridget! There you are!" An annoying squeaky voice exclaims.
I roll my eyes as I look up to see the Twelve escort. "What do you want Effie?"
"Have you got all your bags packed?" She asks me.
"Yes. Now leave me alone so I can have some peace and quiet with my boyfriend before we leave tomorrow!" I say impatiently.
"That is no way to speak to someone! I do have to go and find Haymitch though..." Effie trails off before she leave.
Preston chuckles. "Trust her to ruin a moment."
"Tell me about it." I giggle.
Preston checks the time on his watch and sighs. "I should probably get going. It's already 9 o'clock and we have a journey home."
"Please don't leave." I say.
"How about I go and take a shower and get changed for bed before I come back up to tell you good night?" Preston reasons.
"Okay." I say as I crawl off his lap.
"I'll be back in a minute." Preston says before he leaves.
I doze off before Preston gets back so the next thing I know I'm being carried into my bedroom.
"You didn't have to carry me. I can walk." I tell Preston.
"Did I wake you up?" He asks concerned.
"No." I smile at him as he tucks me into my bed.
Preston kisses my forehead and goes to leave but I grab his hand.
"Stay. Please." I beg.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Preston says.
"Please? It's our last night in the Capitol." I beg.
He sighs and walks back over to my bed. I start to move closer to the wall but he just climbs over me and gets under the covers. This probably isn't what two 15 year olds should do but oh well. I turn on my side so I'm facing him and I smile at him as he smiles at me. God how I've missed his welcoming smile. I snuggle in closer to his side and he puts his arm around me so I take it one step further and put my head on his chest.
"Bridget! Wake up. It's 8." I faintly hear Haymitch call.
"Yeah I'm already up." I call back even though its a lie.
Haymitch grumbles and walks away. I slip out of bed, being careful to gently remove Preston's arm that is slung across my waist. I take my clothes and slip into the bathroom so I can take a shower. This shower is more or less to wake me up over actually being clean as I had a shower before bed.
When I've had my shower, minus washing my hair that I didn't get wet, I pull on my undergarments before I pull on my thin tights. I unzip the back of my dress and slip into it before I awkwardly zip it back up. I tiptoe back into my bedroom incase Preston is still asleep. I sit behind the vanity and straighten my thick hair. It takes about 30-45 minutes to do it properly. I brush on my make-up carefully. I finish it off with some lipgloss.
I decide its time to wake Preston up so I go over to my bed. I lean down to gently kiss his cheek. His eyes flutter open and he stretches with a smile on his face.
"Morning sleepy head." I smile.
"Good morning beautiful." He tells me.
"Come on its 10 past 9. You need to go and get dressed. The trains leave at 3:10." I tell him.
"I want to take you to brunch." Preston says.
"What?" I chuckle.
"That's a couple thing right?" He asks me.
"Yeah I guess." I giggle.
"Okay then. Let me take a shower and get ready and we will go to brunch." He smiles as he gets out of bed.
"I'll be in the victor's lounge." I tell him.
He leaves and I put my sweater on. I grab my satchel and slip my heels on before walking out of my room and into the living room to grab my book. I get in the elevator and get off at the victor's lounge.
"Hey Bridget!" I hear a voice call to me from one of the sofas.
"Hey Renée." I smile at her when I sit on the sofa next to her.
"Bridget do you know where Preston was last night? He only came home this morning." Chaff asks concerned.
I try to hide the smile creeping onto my face but I guess the blush is a dead giveaway because Renée smirks at me. "Did he sleep in your room last night?"
I look over to my side and my smile falls and eyes widen a little when I see Haymitch's shocked expression. "I, uh... Renée!" Is all I manage to get out.
Chaff laughs and me with Renée. "You guys suck!" I tell them.
"You're the one that snuck your boyfriend into your room last night." Renée says.
"Shut up!" I shout in shock which makes them laugh more.
"Boyfriend?" Haymitch asks me.
"Yes and as soon as he gets done getting ready we are going to have brunch." I snap.
"Brunch?" Chaff guffaws.
"His idea." I defend myself and he laughs more.
"He is a sissy." Finnick chuckles.
"He asked if it was a couple thing so he is taking me out." I say to defend him a little.
"I'm not a sissy for wanting to take my girlfriend out and finding an excuse to." Preston says from behind me and my face breaks into a smile.
"You guys are so cute." Renée coos.
"Shut it. I have a bone to pick with you when I get back!" I warn Renée.
"Again you're the one that snuck your boyfriend into your room last night."
Preston almost chokes on the water he was drinking. "Say what?!"
"My blush kinda gave it way. Sorry." I say.
"Okay. Lets go." He smiles and his deep blue eyes sparkle.
I turn and hug Haymitch. "Bye Dad." I whisper in his ear. When I pull back he is giving me a rare 'Haymitch Abernathy' smile.
Haymitch:
Dad? Did she actually call me Dad? This is new. I wonder if its a one time thing or its the start of a new era.
And what about Preston? Huh. So they're dating again? I swear if he hurts her again I will brake his face. I'm getting better at being sober so I could punch straight enough to land a good shot.
"How much you wanna bet Preston becomes all mushy when they leave tomorrow?" The newbie interrupts my thoughts.
"I'll bet 100 pancs." Chaff says.
"You're betting against your own son?!" Seeder hits Chaff.
"Yeah... Bridget makes him into a sappy love struck teen." He replies.
"Don't try and blame this on my daughter Hanagan. It's how you were with Floret." I defend my daughter.
"I was not that bad. Besides Floret was my soul mate." He says.
"You just proved his point. 'Soul mate' is mushy." Renée comments.
"Thank you. I think I'm going to like you." I give her a small smile.
"Thanks. Besides your acute alcoholism I think I might like you." She replies.
"Wait. You knew that Bridget and Preston were dating yesterday... How?" I ask the young girl.
"When we went shopping Preston and Finn were talking and so when Bridget and Preston went to get our drinks I asked him about it and he told Peyton and I that Preston asked if he should ask Bridget out again." She shrugs when she finishes explaining.
"How do you know everything about my daughter's love life before I do?" I ask fish boy. I might just have to call him fish boy now... It's kinda catchy.
"Because Haymitch, you're her father and I'm Panem's sex symbol. If you had the choice of talking to me or you who would you choose?" Fish boy asks arrogantly and smugly. Yup it's definitely fish boy from now on.
"What do you think the love birds are doing now? Sharing a smoothie?" Renée smirks.
"Probably... Or pancakes..." Fish boy states.
"I think Bridget is head over heels for him. She's all bubbly and giggly. Is she normally like that?" Renée asks.
"Nope she quite the opposite. She's sarcastic, snarky, intuitive. She can be a little bit cocky too." Peyton says as she sits on a recliner next to where Seeder is sitting.
"Preston once made a comment about how Bridget would look good with a ring on her finger... I think he might be a little metrosexual." I grumble.
"I always thought he was gay." Peyton shrugs.
"We all did..." Fish boy comments and I laugh.
"It's comforting to know that you people think that my daughter is dating someone who's gay." I chuckle.
"Not our fault she's dating a complete mush." Renée shrugs.
"I swear to god if he does anything like he did last time I'm going to brake his face." I warn Chaff.
"Feel free." Chaff smirks.
"You are so pleasant about your child." Renée laughs.
"He's a sissy at the minute. He needs to man up." Chaff replies.
"Okay I need a drink but I can't so I'm going to take a nap." I grumble before I walk back to my floor.
Bridget:
Preston has taken me to brunch. He and I both ordered pancakes and coffee although he got chocolate chip pancakes and I got normal pancakes with raspberries.
I look to my left and see an old juke box. My face lights up and I jump out of my seat and take a look. A lot of the songs are from before Panem so I look through the songs. I come across one that says 'Taylor Swift, Ours' and I'm pretty sure she's known for relationship songs so I try it. When I've done I go back to my seat.
The song comes on and it's fairly catchy. The lyrics fit Preston and I almost perfectly.
Elevator buttons and morning air
Strangers' silence makes me want to take the stairs
If you were here we'd laugh about their vacant stares
But right now my time is theirs
Seems like there's always someone who disapproves
They'll judge it like they know about me and you
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do
The jury's out, my choice is you
So don't you worry your pretty little mind
People throw rocks at things that shine
And life makes love look hard
The stakes are high, the water's rough
But this love is ours
I sip my coffee and watch Preston in the middle of the song. His deep blue eyes look sad and far away. I'll have to ask him about it later.
And it's not theirs to speculate
If it's wrong and
Your hands are tough
But they are where mine belong and
I'll fight their doubt and give you faith
With this song for you
'Cause I love the gap between your teeth
And I love the riddles that you speak
And any snide remarks from my father about your tattoos will be ignored
'Cause my heart is yours
I stop listening again and smile at Preston. He's smiling his gorgeous warm smile back at me. My attention is brought back to the last line of the song.
The stakes are high, the water's rough
But this love is ours
"That's a good song." Preston smiles at me.
"I like her. Taylor Swift I mean. She was good." I agree.
"That'll be our song then... What you just played."
"Perfect."
I lean in and kiss Preston lightly before the waitress comes and gives us our food.
I almost completely devour my pancakes in five minutes because they are amazing. Preston must be hungry too because he's the exact same way. I giggle at our hurries eating. Preston looks up and chuckles too.
After Preston and I finish our brunch we head back to the Training Center with our hands entwined. We sit in the victor's lounge just talking until the others come. I giggle at something Preston said as I spot Renée come in.
She looks around to try and spot someone. "Over here Four." I call to her and wave.
"Hey love birds." She winks at us.
I giggle a little. "What have you been up too?" I ask my new friend.
"Making fun of your boyfriend." She tells me.
I give her a questioning look so she explains. "I said he was going all mushy then we called him metrosexual and the Peyton and Finnick said they thought he was gay."
"Nice to know..." I chuckle.
"Your dad said something similar." She smiles.
"I'd expect so." I tell her.
"Hey Bridget?" Renée looks at me when Preston gets up and goes to get a drink. "I wanted to thank you for being so nice to me. You welcomed me like an old friend when you first met me and I appreciate it. Even though I didn't stop one of your best friend's death, you still were the nicest person I'd met. Thank you." She tells me sincerely.
"There was nothing you could've done... Besides, you seemed like the kinda person I'd want to be my friend." I smile at her.
I give Renée a tight hug before Preston tells us it's time to get to the trains. I sigh as the three of us walk together. We walk down the row of trains and stop at District 4's train.
"Bye Renée. See you on your victory tour." I smile at my new best friend.
After Renée gets on her train Preston and I walk down to the end where our trains wait. We stop I front of his train.
Preston takes both of my hands in his and we gaze into each others eyes for a moment. I feel like I'm in an emotional good bye scene from a movie. I get lost for a few moments in his deep blue eyes. Preston sighs and pulls me by the waist into a hug so my hands automatically wrap around his neck. I lean my head on his should and bury my face in the crook of his neck. I take in his sent before I have to leave so that I can remember it. Preston pulls his head back to look at me before kissing me passionately.
Haymitch walks past us and coughs to subtly let me know its enough so I pull away from Preston. I smile at him and kiss his cheek.
"See ya later alligator." I wink at him.
"In a while crocodile." He smiles at me before kissing my forehead and boarding the train.
I sigh as I get read to drag my heels along the platform to my train but I stop when I see Effie walking behind me. I swiftly walk to the Capitol train and hop on to head back home.
