Here I am with another chapter, hope you enjoy it! We are up to 175 reviews in this story, thanks guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters.
Chapter #25~Rory's POV
For the next two days nothing significant happens to our now very small alliance; everyone just kind of mopes around, each tribute mourning the death of an ally. It still hasn't sunk in that Prim is really gone, I miss her terribly, and Caspian too. I'm guessing that the game-makers will have something happen to bring the rest of us together for a battle since nobody has died for two days. Sometimes I wish that it would just all end so that I could be with Prim, but then I remember her last words to me and my plan to win for her. Of course it would be so much easier just to die and be with her but I promised, I also promised to take care of Rosa and I intend on keeping all of them.
My hands are mostly healed thanks to the medicine and Prim's nurse skills. I removed the bandages last night and am quite glad to have regained full use of my hands once more.
"Hey." I look to beside me at Ruby who has settled herself down on the log that I am sitting on.
"Hi." I reply, not really in the mood for talking right now.
"How are you holding up?" She asks with genuine sympathy and kindness in her voice, which seems strange for a supposed career, but like I've said, this year's tributes are nothing like the normal ones.
"Fine I guess." I say even though it isn't really true.
"I miss her too," The girl whispers.
"Yeah."
We sit side by side in comfortable silence for a while, neither of us knowing what to say. We watch as the sun goes down and the moon comes up, giving us a little light to see by. The rest of our group sits around a small fire; hopefully small enough not to draw in enemies, and a few others sleep soundly in the tents.
"You loved her, didn't you." It's more of a statement then a question so I just nod slowly. "I could see it in the way you cared for her, the way you looked at her and also how you've barely said or done anything since he passing."
"She was my best friend ever since we were little." I tell her in a barely audible whisper. "It felt like a part of me had been ripped out when she…when she…" I can't say the word.
"I understand." Ruby whispers, giving my arm a little pat. "I had a friend like that back in District 1. He had just told me that he liked me and a few days later I was reaped. I liked him a lot but never actually got to tell him that." She sniffles a little and I give her small hand a friendly squeeze.
"You two want something to eat?" We turn around quickly at the sound of Jules's voice. He, Finnick, Gloss and Cashmere are the ones around the fire, eating some kind of meat one of them must have caught.
"Hungry?" I ask, turning to Ruby. She nods, "I could use something to eat." I help her up and we make our way of to the others.
The meat turns out to be fish that Finnick caught in a nearby stream. "Ever had fish Rory?" Finnick asks. I shake my head, "Don't get that in District 12."
"Well here you are." He smiles and hands me a raw fish on a thick stick.
"What do I do with it?" I ask, a little embarrassed.
"Well unless you want to eat it raw, which I wouldn't recommend. You hold the stick over the orange coal then slowly rotate it until the fish is cooked." He demonstrates then hands the stick back to me to try. It only takes a few minutes for me to get the hang of it and before long Finnick tells me that it should be good to eat.
I have to admit that the fish is quite delicious although it'd probably be even better with some spices. I have to say that I still prefer deer meat but at least it's food to fill my stomach.
"What do you think?" Finnick asks after I've thrown the bones away and wiped my hands and face.
"Pretty good." I say honestly.
"Okay, everyone let's get some sleep. I have a feeling something big might happen tomorrow and we need to be well rested." Gloss announces a few minutes later. "Cashmere and I will take first watch." Everyone nods in agreement and gets up, heading to their respective tents.
"Get some sleep, okay?" Ruby says to me before heading into one of the tents.
"I'll try." I promise. "You too." She nods and ducks inside where Rosa and Annie are already sleeping. Jules climbs in after me and so does Finnick, after taking off my jacket and slipping into the sleeping bag in my under clothes I fall straight to sleep, and thankfully this time I don't have any nightmares.
Prim's pov
I ended up sleeping at Katniss and Peeta's house since we stayed up late catching up and I didn't really feel like sleeping in my house alone. I was so tired that I slept late into the morning and only woke up when Katniss shook me.
"Better wake up little duck." My eyes flutter open and at first I think I'm dreaming but then I remember all that had happened yesterday and that I really am with Katniss again. I sit up, letting the blanket fall down onto my lap.
How did you sleep?" She asks, sitting next to me on the couch.
"Great, this couch is nicer than my bed!" I exclaim.
"Yeah, it is." Katniss agrees, then asks, "Are you hungry?" I nod, "Very!"
"Good, Peeta is in the kitchen making cinnamon buns for breakfast."
"Oh yummy! It'll be better than half cooked meat and dried fruit." I say, rubbing my tummy.
"I'm sure it will be." Katniss smiles. "How about you get dressed then we'll eat."
"Okay." She then leaves their small living room so that I can change into the clothes I wore yesterday. After re-braiding my hair I open the door and walk down the hallway that is much like my own and into the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and bread hits me in full force as soon as I open the kitchen door.
"Oh Peeta! It smells heavenly!"
"Morning Prim. I hope they taste just as good." He greets me with a smile. Peeta then moves closer to give me a hug but I jump back.
"What's wrong?" He asks with a small smile.
"You're covered in flour!" I say, pointing to his apron and hands.
"Oh right, sorry. Katniss?" He turns to her with pleading eyes.
"Whatever." She chuckles, throwing her hands up and walking into Peeta's open arms. He then maneuvers his white hands to Katniss's hair and begins rubbing the top of head, turning her hair white. I stifle a giggle and Peeta winks at me. Katniss steps back a few seconds later and when she goes to flatten her mussed up hair her hands come back covered in flour.
"Oh you are so going to get it!" She shrieks and grabs a handful of dough and the cinnamon shaker. Peeta's face goes a little pale and Katniss grins evilly. I just stand back out of range and watch the two have a cinnamon roll fight.
A few minutes later Katniss is covered in flour from head to toe, and Peeta's face is totally covered in cinnamon and sugar and he has bits of dough in his blond hair.
"Guys! What about breakfast?" I ask loudly still laughing.
"Sorry." Peeta grins and moves in on me again.
"Oh no you don't!" I turn on my heels and run out of the kitchen towards the outside door calling behind me as I run, "I'm going to change and eat at my place, be over later!" Before they have a chance to respond I bound out of the door and onto the street. The fake arena sun is up in the fake blue sky creating a beautiful warm day. I wonder if they ever make it rain. It takes me a second to remember how to get back to my street and house but after a few wrong turns I finally come to 75th Avenue.
I don't see anybody that I recognize on the way to my house; I actually don't see anyone period. People must stay to themselves here I guess. I am just passing house 11-75 when the door swings open and my friend bounds outside.
"Prim!" She squeals and hurries down the front steps to meet me. "Sage!" I squeal as well and catch the 13 year old in a bear hug.
"I can't believe you're dead too!" Sage giggle still holding tightly to me.
"And I'm so glad that I got to see you again. Any scars?" She shakes her head. "Nope, the doctors fixed me up real good and Sara was really nice, did you meet her?"
I nod, "Yeah, and I persuaded her to try and come visit if she is able to."
"Oh goody!" Sage exclaims, giving me another hug.
"Have you seen Carissa yet?" I ask the girl. She bobs her head up and down, "Yeah! Just yesterday she came over since Thrasher isn't here yet." I suppose Thrasher is her tribute partner. "I'm living alone as well but I slept over at my sisters last night." I inform her.
"Awe I bet that's nice to have a family member here, makes it feel more like home." She sighs and looks off into the distance. I nod in agreement, "It sure is, but I'm glad I have friends too."
"Would you like to come inside?" She asks.
"Maybe in a bit, I need to change and eat breakfast then I promised Katniss I'd be back. But don't worry, I have a feeling that we will have plenty of time to spend together."
"Okay, well I'll see you later." Sage smiles and begins walking down the street.
"Where are you going?" I call after her.
"Carissa's! House: 09-75!" She calls back.
"Have fun! I might be over later."
"Great to see you Prim!"
"You too!" With a grin on my face I climb the 3 steps to my small house. On the way to my bedroom I see a door that I had never noticed before. Upon opening it I find a small living room much like the one I slept in last night at Katniss and Peeta's house. There is a pretty large couch in the middle with a TV facing it. Two comfy chairs sit on either side and a small coffee table is placed in between the two chairs. There is a large window on the side but the view isn't very inviting, just my neighbors house. I decide to keep the curtains closed so as to have some privacy and not have other people spying on me. After that is done I make my way to the bedroom and closet.
I toss the clothes I was wearing into the laundry basket, not sure if someone will do my laundry or if there is some way to do it myself here, and search for a different outfit for the day.
I decide on just a pair of comfortable pants and a blue tank-top, I have to wonder if someone knew that my favorite color is blue because half of the clothes are all different shades of the color.
Thankfully the weather is pretty moderate so I am not hot with the jeans, nor cold with the tank. I am practically starving by the time I am dressed for the day so I hurry into the kitchen, hoping that I can find something easy to make myself something for breakfast.
I find a loaf of freshly baked bread with an assortment of seeds and things on the top and after locating a sharp knife I cut into it, sighing at the smell. There is a jar of honey on a shelf and a carton of juice like we had on the capitol train, in the fridge and that is what I have for my breakfast. I'm sure that it is not even close to those cinnamon rolls that Peeta was going to make but I'll probably be spending the night over there more often until Rory comes. I have mixed feelings about that, I want to see him so badly but I also want him to get to go home. I am also glad that I am with Katniss but I also can't imagine what Mother is going through, I hope Hazelle and Gale with take care of her for me, we are practically family anyways.
After I am satisfied and no longer hungry I slip into a pair of flip-flops and saunter back outside, not stopping to wonder if I should lock my door or not, or if there is even a lock on it. I cross the street to Sage's house but after knocking a few times on the door and not receiving an answer I continue my way down the street, stopping in front of each house, trying to remember who had died during my games and which house they would be in. I find Carissa's house at 09-75 just like Sage told me. The girl Willow who died right before me at 08-75, Anna and Alan from District 5, and Aaron from District 3, the boy who saved me in the bloodbath. I decide that sometime I will go to his house and thank him properly. There is a bigger house for District 2, probably because there were four tributes and all but one are there already, just like all the houses on this street except mine since we are only two. Enobaria and Brutus live in this house and so does Aster, I really hope that all the fighting and enemies have stopped once out of the games, I wouldn't want Aster, or Rosa when she arrives, to get hurt when this is supposed to be a safe haven.
District 1 of course is still empty. I can't help but be excited for Ruby to come join us, I just hope it's not too painful. Gloss, Cashmere and Jules are surprisingly nice as well and I have to say I like them quite well.
Then I remember that I passed 04-75 already without stopping and turn around quickly. Misty is there and I want to see her right away and tell her of Caspian and how brave he's been but sad without her. It only takes about a minute to get there and I leap up the stairs to the large door. Knocking loudly in five consecutive knocks I stand back trying to catch my breath and wait for my friend to come to the door.
A few moments later I hear heavy footsteps approaching the door. The door is swung open and it is definitely NOT Misty that stands there in front of me.
"Caspian?" I ask in disbelief.
"Prim!" He grins and engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug.
"You're dead?" I barely get out.
Caspian nods, "Yeah, a few minutes after you actually."
"Wow. "I'm glad. I mean I'm sorry you died but I'm glad you're here, and get to see Misty again." I stumble through the sentence and Caspian just smiles.
"I know, and me too."
"Wait, did you know about all of this." I ask, gesturing around me.
"Yeah, a handful of us were let in on the secret. The reaping was rigged at certain Districts so that those of us who knew would be chosen."
"Wow." I say again, unable to comprehend all of this.
"Seriously. It's huge that the man we hated all of our lives is actually the good guy."
"Crazy."
"Have you seen Katniss yet?" He asks.
"Yeah, spent the night with her and Peeta last night."
"I'm sure it's nice to have a family member here." He whispers and I just nod.
"Caspian? Who are you talking to?" A voice whom I am assuming is Misty's echoes through the house.
"Come and see for yourself!" Caspian calls back.
"I haven't told her that you are here as well yet." He says to me. I just smile and wait for the girl to come to the door.
"What?" Misty has arrived but hasn't spotted me yet.
"Hey." I say quietly, stepping around Caspian to see her.
"Prim! You're here!" The 17-year-old squeals and lifts me up, swinging me around on the porch and laughing.
"IT's nice to see you too." I say, still laughing.
"Come in, come in!" She sets me down and motions for me to come inside. "We have some talking to do."
I follow Misty inside their house and Caspian, after shutting the door, comes in as well. I am in awe at the decorations of the house. Mine is just pretty bare and plain but they have pictures of the ocean on the walls and shells on shelves giving it a homey kind of look.
"Misty had it all decorated when I got here." Caspian says smiling.
"Where did you get all of this stuff?"
Misty chuckles, "Everyone has a sort of chute in their house where you get food and your clean laundry delivered." She explains. So I don't have to do my own laundry. I think to myself. "And if you want something you just send up a letter with a button and they send the things down. I wanted this place to look more like my home in District 4 so these are the types of things that I asked for."
"Wow." I say for the third time, "I'm going to have to do that!"
"And we can help you if you want. I've had a few days to get settled." Misty promises.
"Thanks!" I exclaim, giving them both a hug.
"Come sit down and we can get all caught up." Misty invites and I settle down in one of the plush chairs across from Caspian.
"I could get used to this." I whisper, mostly to myself.
So what did you think of Prim's first day? Sorry I didn't have much with Rory but we'll get to that, I just think that everything where the 'dead' tributes are is more exciting! Sorry for the not very good ending but this is the longest chapter in this story so far, Yay!
Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter, there were only six but its not too bad Sorry for any mistakes!
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Thanks again.
~FirePearl