SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT! I had a horrible writer's block for all my stories… But I think I'm back now, because I suddenly had this rush of inspiration and started writing at 12:15am :P You guys have been amazing, so hats off to my readers and reviewers :D Hope the chapter makes up for your awesomeness (:

Disclaimer: I think I'm going to stop putting disclaimers; everybody knows Suzanne Collins owns the Hunger Games; not me.

Tonight's the Opening Ceremonies, where the tributes from every District parade around the City Circle with their extravagant costumes and well-trained horses to pull their chariots. I've always liked observing the costumes; the vibrant colours and interesting designs were something I loved.

Since the tributes will arrive here after the Opening Ceremony, Blaise made us do an all-round spot check. I'm not exaggerating when he said that we had to make sure that each little crack and corner of the room was squeaky clean. At the end of the day when we were finally given permission to relax and watch the tributes, my back felt like it was going to break and my hands were so sore from rubbing and wiping they were numb.

Estella and Hermia quickly took a seat to my right just as the opening music started playing. The tributes from District 1, Glimmer and Marvel I think, wore charming smiles, which matched their pink, feathery costumes that gave shone whenever light hit a jewel. It was okay, but it was way too feathery for my liking.

The District 2 tributes were wearing gold armour combined with a gold helmet and waved at the crowd with arrogant smirks.

The rest of the chariots go by without standing out, apart from the chariot from District 11, with Little Rue and Big Thresh. That's what I labeled them whenever they came up. Rue was little, and Thresh was, well, big.

I think the exhaustion is getting to my brain because I swear I'm dreaming when I see the tributes from District 12 on fire.

I look at Hermia with wide eyes and know that I'm not dreaming, judging by her shocked expression. I turn back to the screen and watch Katniss and Peeta in pure awe.

The flames illuminate their faces, accentuating their features, making them look extremely attractive and… powerful. Both of them were positively glowing. But that's not the only thing that surprises me.

They're holding hands.

Well, not romantically, but holding their hands up to the crowd, kind of showing everybody that they're a team. Then they're smiling and waving at the crowd and Katniss even blows kisses to the crowd.

As they enter the City Circle, they lower their hands, but don't let go of each other. They whisper to each other and turn back to President Snow as he makes a speech. But the screen barely stays on him; it's hard to tear your eyes from Katniss and Peeta, as they are like burning embers in the night.

xxx

"Come on, girls, they'll be arriving in no less than 5 minutes! Get your heads together!" commands Blaise sternly.

Estella, Hermia and I nod our heads as we scurry around the whole floor, checking one last time that everything is in place and ready for the tributes, mentor and escort's arrival. We take our places just before they exit the elevator.

We keep our heads down so I'm not able to look at them, but I manage to hear their voices. They don't notice us as they walk by, probably heading to their quarters. Figures. They mustn't have noticed our flaming red hair and red blazers.

When we're sure everybody has made it to the Quarters, Estella, Hermia and I head to the dining room to prepare for their dinner. Blaise isn't meant to be seen by anybody else but us, so as soon as they arrived, he went downstairs to the basement and just stayed there, doing whatever he does.

We quickly make sure all the dishes are perfectly aligned, the carpet on the floor isn't curled up at one corner and the cutlery is lined up with the plate. If there were such thing as 'Perfecting the Dinner Table' test, I'd ace it without breaking a sweat.

When Katniss, Peeta, their stylists, escort and mentor are seated at the table, I immediately take the bottle of red wine and fill their glasses up. I am very, very careful that I do not make any contact whatsoever with any of them, not wanting to mess it up. It's also very risky, because Katniss might still recognize me as the girl she 'bumped' into at the woods almost 19 months ago.

The meal passes by without a problem. When it's time for the dessert to be served, Hermia brings me a cake and a lighter. I raise my eyebrow.

One of the stylists ordered this. Something about Katniss and Peeta's 'fiery debut'. Just light the cake after putting it down.

I nod and quickly bring the cake to the table, set it down and light it up.

Apparently I spent too much time lighting it, because Katniss asks, "What makes it burn? Is it alcohol?"

Katniss looks at me. Oh dear God, help me. I want to run away and just kill myself. "That's the last thing I wa- oh! I know you!"

Just my luck.

When I suddenly realize how big of a trouble I was going to be in, my face contorts in terror as I shake my head quickly and scurry away.

I am in so. Much. Trouble.

xxx

"Lavinia, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be upstairs?" asks Blaise, unsmiling.

By the time I make it to the basement, my breaths are short and ragged. Not only because I didn't bother taking the Avox elevator and just ran down the 12 flights of stairs, but in fear of knowing that I might meet Doctor Antiphonus again. Running down 12 flights of stairs gives you lots of time to think about the reasons why it would be okay to just jump face first on the stairs and tumble to death.

The, female, tribute, looked, at, me, and, she, recognized… me.

A look of confusion flickers on Blaise's face. "Lavinia, please tell me how she recognizes you. You're an Avox. How in the world would she know you?"

Maybe… maybe… I don't know! I don't really want to tell Blaise the truth. Besides, I'm going to end up dying, one way or the other.

Blaise seems to sense that I'm lying, so he says firmly, "Lavinia, I can tell if a person's telling a white lie while blindfolded and hanging upside down. And right now, you're telling a full out lie. Spill it, Lavinia; don't make me."

I don't want him to, so I just tell him the whole story. When I heard a hovercraft and started running, when I got caught in the net and screamed for help and even made eye contact with her, but she and her male friend didn't help me. About how they just stared past at me like… they were just looking at the sky. But they clearly weren't, because she recognized me.

Blaise sighs. "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you? Don't tell me you blame her for not saving you or something."

I shake my head; I forgave her a long time ago. No hard feelings, but I don't know if she's going to bother me about it.

"Hopefully not," says Blaise. "And if she does, you report to me right away, you understand?"

I nod my head. What do I do now?

Blaise sighs again and says, "Since it's almost midnight, you might as well just head to bed. But you'll continue working up there and you will not attract any trouble or any attention to yourself. You really don't need any more scars, Lavinia. If you get another wiping from Antiphonus, you can say goodbye to ever opening your eyes again. Please don't do anything stupid."

xxx

When Hermia and Estella come back down and see me on my bed, staring at the ceiling, they immediately start signing to me as if I have to pairs of eyes.

Slow down… One at a time.

Estella raises her eyebrows and signed: What in the world happened in there? How does someone all the way from District 12 know you?

I sigh and sit up on my bed. She witnessed me getting captured while I was running away. We were near the fence of District 12 and then the hovercraft came. She and her friend were just watching me as the hovercraft grabbed me.

Hermia and Estella's eyebrows are raised so high I'm pretty sure it's going to fly right off their foreheads. I sigh and shake my head. I collapse back on the bed and put the pillow over my head, not wanting to see what they have to sign.

I feel someone yank the pillow off my head and I groan. I sit up again and see that both Estella and Hermia are standing at my bedside, glaring at me as if I had just committed the biggest crime in the world. Which I haven't. I think.

You're not going to do anything stupid, right? signs Estella with a wild look on her face.

I roll my eyes. No! Why does everyone think that I'm going to do something stupid? Are the words 'I am going to do something stupid' written all over my face? I sigh. And for the record, I don't blame her for anything. Even if she helped me back then, she would've gotten in huge trouble and would probably end up like me too. Besides, she's a tribute in the Hunger Games. It's not much better than where I am now.

Hermia and Estella sighed. I rolled my eyes again. What did you think I was going to do? Trash her room with paper balls? Not wash her dirty laundry? Gosh, you guys…

They smile at me. Good. Not washing her dirty laundry isn't that bad… I thought you were going to put a huge spider in her toilet or something…

I go to sleep that night, clutching my stomach from having the longest laugh I've had in the longest time.

xxx

SOOOOO Lavinia is still alive, and so is this story (lol). We're so close to 60 reviews… Do you think you can get me to more than 60? I think we can ;) Reviews would be MUCH appreciated (: