PREVIOUSLY IN THE SURVIVAL GAMES: Emery Abernathy is Haymitch's adoptive daughter and winner of the 73rd Hunger Games. After having a hard time coping with normal life, her friend Finnick visits her and helps her out, but also tells her that President Snow wants them to fake date for publicity. Emery planned to perform a play for her talent before embarking on her victory tour.
You wasted all that sweetness to run and hide
I wonder why
I've fallen from grace
Took a blow to my face
I've loved and I've lost
It's okay to be afraid
But it will never be the same
- Explosions, Ellie Goulding
The train journey to District 11 seemed to be a blur, like it wasn't real. I was still in a daze from the play. They were all brilliant of course. It was filmed live then sent to the Capitol where it apparently went down a storm. The capitol citizens like it when their little district pets put on a show.
As soon as the show was over, I was whisked away to the Justice Building where I was interviewed for television. It was my first official appearance since I went mad and shaved off my hair. I smiled and laughed at their questions but on the inside I was squirming.
I was also asked 101 questions about Finnick and I. Were we dating? Were we in love?
"We're just friends," I said, looking down at my lap and smiling slightly. Snow would like that. I had received a letter telling me that we were to go public at my ball. Until then we were to keep the public guessing. Was I happy about this, of course not. But I had gotten away with so much; even I knew not to rock the boat.
"We're here Em," Haymitch said, shaking me lightly.
"Thanks," I said, standing up from my window seat and brushing myself down. The district was warmer, lighter than 12, but there was something quite unfriendly and oppressive in the air.
This would be one of the easier districts. Both the tributes from 11 had died on the first day and I had very little interaction with them. It would be the career districts and three that would be the worse. I had actually murdered their tributes; I doubted I'd get a warm welcome.
There was a small crowd milling around the station, photographers and such. Haymitch put his arm around me and led me to the taxi.
"Ugh, I do not to be here," I moaned, leaning my head against the cool window.
"Just think, in ten minutes, you'll be reunited with Rohm."
I let out a loud groan that strongly resembled a cow giving birth. "Please don't. I can't handle the frills and the nakedness."
The tops of Haymitch's ears turned pink. "Don't let him. You're a victor, you're in charge now."
"I was in charge anyway," I said with a small smile. He scoffed.
"If my memory recalls, it was Finnick who gave you the trowels and saved you from embarrassment."
"You're a drunk, your memories mush," I answered back with a grin. The car pulled to a stop outside a building just like our justice building, I had a feeling they were standard issue.
"I'll make you pay for that sweetheart," Haymitch answered, getting out the car.
"I'd like to see you try old man."
My rare happy mood dissolved as soon as I walked into the lobby. I looked around for Effie but she wasnt there. Instead Peacekeepers lined the walls, surrounding a man who stood grandly at the stairs.
"Welcome, Abernathy's. I am Reg Dobson, the Mayor of the District." I was surprised. He looked quite shabby for a mayor. We weren't the richest district, in fact we were the poorest, but even Madge's dad owned a jacket that wasn't threadbare.
I smiled back at him and held out my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sir. My names Emery."
He let out a chuckle. "Of course you are. Have you met our previous victors?" He gestured to the far corner of the room where a group of three people sat. I couldn't really make out their faces because I wasn't allowed to wear my glasses, but if I remembered right, Haymitch's best friend was from District 11. No wonder he was so chipper earlier.
"Miss Abernathy, I'd like you to meet Rosie, Seeder and Chaff." Before the words were out of his mouth, Chaff pulled me into a bone crushing hug.
"Lovely to see you she-mitch! Haha," he laughed. My face remained stony.
"Is there really a need to squeeze the life out of me, every time we meet?" I asked, rubbing my sore ribs.
"Ignore him honey, he's just bitter because he was made to get up before 5pm," Seeder said, putting an arm around me. I laughed, that I could relate to. I saw the elderly woman, Rosie, crack a smile too.
"I'm sorry, I don't recognise you, what games did you win?" I asked politely.
Rosie grinned at me mischievously and opened her mouth. She had no tongue, only a green and blue stump of flesh in its place. I shrunk back in disgust while everyone else laughed.
"Rosie's a mute, a career cut her tongue off in the 19th Hunger Games," Chaff explained. "But it doesn't stop her completing her little party trick every time we get a new victor aye Rosie?"
Rosie let out a strange howl of approval then laughed along with the others. At least she seemed happy. She'd accepted the past and moved on. I could do with taking a few life lessons from Rosie.
"My apologises," Mayor Dobson cut it. "But we're under a very tight schedule and your stylist is here to dress you."
I looked to the top of the stairs and saw Rohm waiting at the top with the prep team I couldn't remember the names of. There was another man with them I didn't recognise. He looked quite normal for Capitol stylist, something that made him strangely attractive.
I didn't get offered introductions. As soon as my foot touched the top step, Rohm took us to a large bedroom where four dresses had been laid out.
"It's so lovely to see you again Emery, we must catch up later. I'd grab us some tea now, but they're running a very tight ship." He let out an annoying fake laugh that made my ears ring in pain. I think I preferred evil Rohm to suck up Rohm. Mean I could deal with, eyeball gouging behaviour I couldn't.
"Now which one, the pink or the black?" He held up two dresses, one pink and puffy, the other plain and demure.
"I like the pink," Haymitch said with a snigger. I resisted the urge to punch him.
"Black please," I said, snatching it off Rohm and running into the bathroom to change. Once I was done, they did my hair and make up while the new guy stood back and watched, studying my face. I tried to stare him out but I felt unusually shy and intimidated by this man. So instead I stared down at my lap and listened to my prep teams mindless babble.
Once they had done my make up, Rohm took out something that looked like furry caterpillars and held them up to my eye.
"Woah, no chance," I said, backing away. I'd never wear fake eyelashes, they looked ridiculous.
"They really make the dress pop," he argued.
"Over my vision and my popping dress, I'd go for vision. And you still haven't given me any contacts," I said. I heard my tone and hung my head. Thor would be scolding me now, calling me a brat. I couldn't help but smile sadly.
"I think the eyelashes should be Vetoed and replaced with this," the new guy said, taking a diamond necklace out of a box. It was nice, but not too underwhelming to make the bling king Rohm throw a tantrum.
"Yes that's perfect," Rohm said, fixing it to my neck. "Let's go, chop chop."
I mouthed a thank you to the man before I was dragged out the room and back down the stairs.
"Now Emery, this is the part where you make your speech, I expect you're prepared?" Effie said, appearing from no where.
"Effie!" I exclaimed pulling her into a hug. "Where have you been?"
"Planning your ball in the Capitol, it's causing quite the buzz, one of the biggest I've seen."
I groaned again. We had reached the front door now, I could hear the mayor giving a little welcoming speech. I tried to prep myself but it was useless. All too soon I was pushed out into the cold on to the stage, fronting a crowd of about 1000 people.
I tittered slowly up to the microphone, cursing Rohm for giving me huge heels. "Hi," I said, exhaling slowly. "I've never really been great at speeches in front of crowds. Normally I can talk the hind legs of a donkey but... Yeah."
The crowds expressions still remained emotionless. I found a spot on the top corner of a building and focused on it.
"I'm sad to say that I never really knew any of your tributes, but if they were like the people I met today, I'm sure they were lovely. In my time as a victor, I have learned so much about myself and dealing with hardships.
Sure, it was awful that they died so young but there is nothing you can do to change it. We need to just move on and deal with problems as they come. Should we forget these hard times, no because they shape us. We can learn from them and build on it.
In such an agricultural thriving district as this, I am sure you can agree with this statement. Be it applied to the games or everyday life. Thank you for having me here."
I cringed as I walked over to my seat. Haymitch sat next to me, struggling to hold back a laugh. I had gone completely off topic but at least I did it.
"Was it really that bad?" I whispered.
He shrugged. "You've still got ten more to get it right."
:-:
District 4 could not come quick enough. After eight speeches, parties and district tours I had enough. All I wanted was to chill out with my friends and sleep in until noon. I couldn't have the sleep but at least Finn would be here to make it all a bit more bearable.
He was waiting for us on the platform as we pulled into the station. I didn't have to fake my excitement to see him. As soon as we pulled to a stop I jumped off the train and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
"Gosh I've missed you," I mumbled into his chest.
"You too Em. Your hairs looking neat," he said playing with the ends lightly.
"Yours too." It had grown out a bit since the last time I saw him, giving him a more boyish and carefree look.
"There's been a change of plan," Finnick said as Haymitch and Effie joined us. "I'm to take Em to the victors village for an hour while the rest of you go to the mayors house."
"Why?" Effie asked. "We're under a tight schedule."
Finn shrugged. "Snow's orders."
Now it made sense. We would be alone, creating the buzz of a relationship. Not in the open, but the mystery was there. I hated Snow, but he sure as hell knew what he was doing.
Finnick held my hand as we walked down the road, a couple of stay photographers trying to subtly follow us. It was a lot warmer here than at the other districts so I loosened my scarf and undid my coat.
"Any news?" I asked. "Been to the Capitol lately?"
Finnick cringed. "Unfortunately yes, but at least my little 'meetings' are less public now. How about you, any more meltdowns?" he asked with a playful smile.
"I almost threw my drink over Joanna Mason the other night, does that count?"
He nodded seriously. "Yes, I think you can add that account to your crazy chart."
I nudged him in the ribs. It wasn't actually my fault. Joanna was being her usual snarky self. I was sleep deprived, stressed out. Anyone in my position would have lost it.
The walk to the victors village was relatively short. Only after about five minutes of walking, the houses came to view.
Where our victors homes were called 'town houses' these houses were a lot wider and brighter, panelled with painted wood, complete with front porches.
"Wow, your houses are so nice," I said sincerely. Their village was a lot less dreary than ours, though that may be because we only had two occupants.
"Thanks, behind the houses on the south side, we have our own private beach. My back porch actually looks out onto the sea," he told me, pointing over to a bright house with shells and rope decorations hanging outside the windows.
"Really?" I asked excitedly. I had never seen the sea before, not properly anyway. This was one of the few things I was actually looking forward to on my victor tour.
"Come on, I'll show you."
Finn took my hand and led me into his home. It was bright inside, everything was made of wood and the few furnishings that wasn't were pastel colors.
"Finnick, is that you?" a deep voice sounded from the far room. I froze, I didn't realise there would be other people here.
"Yeah Dad, it's me," Finnick called back. There were footsteps before a door opened to reveal Finnick's father. He was quite tall, like his son, and had white, wispy hair. His eyes, which looked tired and sad, widened when they saw me.
I smiled at him kindly. "It's nice to meet you sir."
He smiled back at me wearily before turning back to Finnick questionably.
"Oh right, this is Emery Abernathy," he explained. "She won the games this year and she's my... Girlfriend."
If his Dad picked up on the hesitation in Finn's voice he chose to ignore it. "Girlfriend? What happened to that Cresta-"
"Annie's just a friend dad," Finnick said quickly. "I'm just going to show Emery the sea, we won't be too long."
He grabbed my hand again and all but dragged me out the back door. I was about to protest but the sight of the waves crashing against the shore had me speechless. I closed my eyes and listened to its steady rhythm, letting the sea breeze blow into my hair.
"This is so cool," I said, edging closer to the waters edge.
"It's a shame it's so cold, otherwise we could go in."
"Another reason to hate the victory tour," I muttered.
Finn laughed. "One day, we'll do it... Somehow. I'm learning how to surf too, I'd like to see you attempt that."
"What's surf?" I asked, sitting down on the steps of the back porch.
"There's a board and you have to stand up on it while riding the waves," he explained, using his hands to demonstrate. "You'd fall off in the first second."
"I'm not even going to disagree with you," I laughed.
I looked into the house and saw Finnick's dad at the kitchen sink, pretending not to look out at us.
"Hey Finn, why'd you tell your dad that I was your girlfriend?" I asked.
He looked down at his lap. "The less my dad knows the better. But he's not an idiot, I know that."
"Like with you and Annie Cresta?" I asked with a smile. His head shot up immediately.
"W-what? H-how did you-?"
"Your dad mentioned Cresta and I put two and two together. She is a victor here after all. And I remember your meltdown in the taxi at the Capitol where you were all "I love her but she doesn't return my feelings" crap."
He mouth gapped open before he smiled. "You remember that?"
"Yeah, it was really weird, hard to forget," I said monotonously.
He elbowed me in the ribs. "Hey, don't be cheeky fake girlfriend or I'll dump your ass." He stood up and brushed himself down. "You want any snacks, energy drink?"
I frowned at him. "Are you still drinking that crap?"
He looked down shamefully. "I have an addiction, I think it's the sugar."
I stood up with him and followed him into the kitchen. "You know how many chemicals are in that stuff. They're probably more harmful. You may as well just take a spoonful of sugar a day."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, cracking open a can.
I ran across the room and snatched it from him. "No! Here, have... This," I said, picking up a sugar cube from a bowl.
He looked at his distastefully before taking it off me and popping it into his mouth.
"A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, in the most delightful way," I sang with a grin.
Finn rolled his eyes then grabbed his coat. "Come on Mary Poppins, we've got a dinner to attend."
I am ridiculously sorry that I haven't updated this story in so long. I tried to do a brief summary of what happened but please feel free to go back and read it again.
There have been a million things going on in my life. I got a job then got fired then got another one, ive had a lot of school work, friend drama which turned into boy drama which turned back into friend drama. I really was not in the right frame of mind to write. I could've forced myself to write but then it just would have been garbage.
But I'm back now with my writers mojo, this chapter only took be a few hours to write. I tried really hard but I COULDNOT write the play, it was just not flowing.
I'm so sorry I took so long, it's really inexcusable and it won't happen again. Thank you for still sticking around. Please review and let me know what you think : )