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Heather woke up alone, she knew that before she could open her eyes. Her hand reached out for the spot that Haymitch was laying in earlier. The spot was warm, indicating that he only got out a few moments ago. Maybe he was in the kitchen, she theorized.

Still, she wished that he was by her side. As usual on this day, Heather had a nightmare. More like a memory of her own reaping. She remembered walking up to the stage without a pint of emotion on her face even though she was nervous on the inside. The horror on her brother's face. How she wanted that image to be cut from her memory but alas she couldn't erase it.

Rolling off her body, she stared at the white ceiling of her bedroom. When she moved in here five years ago, Heather had problems calling this place her room. However, after creating some precious memories, the uneasiness to call this place her room had dulled.

Take this room for example. This was the room Heather where she used to sing to Luke, her nephew, when he was a baby. This was the room where she told Haymitch how she felt about him and where they kissed for the first time.

Heather squirmed in the bed and suddenly felt the sun in her face so she moved away. She got up from the bed and went to take a shower. She took her time to wash her body and hair. Just like the kids, the mentors needed to be well-dressed. It was especially required of her since she was popular among the Capitol citizens.

Walking to her closet, Heather looked through her clothes to select an appropriate outfit, she was supposed to do that yesterday but forgot. 5 years ago, Heather wouldn't be able to pick out something that was suitable but after paying monthly visits to the Capitol, she grew accustomed to the fashion over there.

In the end, Heather decided on a beige skirt and a short-sleeved floral blouse. Normally she'd wear high heels, but Heather slipped it on a pair of ballet flats since it would be rough walking in heels on the rural roads of District 12. She did a front row braid then checked to see if her appearance was on point.

Heather's strawberry blonde hair was slightly wavy from the shower and reached near her waist. She didn't need to apply makeup since her blue eyes and pink lips naturally stood out without it. She pulled up her blouse a bit to hide her revealing cleavage. When everything seemed to be in order, Heather exited her room.

Heather passed by Luke's room as she headed to the stairs and abruptly stopped. She entered his room and regarded the mess in front of her. She had told him to clean up his room before he left for his uncle's yesterday, but clearly, he hasn't listened.

She sat on his bed and looked at the framed photos of her brother and sister-in-law. Heather never thought she'd lose them. When she won the games, she thought everything was going to be better. But then Snow came up to her with an… offer and she refused. Next thing she was standing in front of her old house, burned down in fire with Aeson and June in it while Luke was in her arms.

She remembered telling Luke a few months ago how she was not his biological mother. He was shocked and confused but not angry. Rather, he asked her whether he shouldn't call her his mother or not. She ended up spending the day, telling him stories about them.

There were many times where Heather laid in bed at night, wishing her father was still alive. That he was still with her. He would know what to do. He always did.

But Heather wasn't alone anymore. She had Cashmere, Finnick, Johanna, Miche, and Haymitch. Not to mention, the Everdeens and the Hawthornes.

Unfortunately, Heather didn't find Haymitch downstairs. Instead, there were two bouquets of flowers that she had bought from the merchant section yesterday and a small bag of things she would be taking along with her on the dining table. For the second time, she wondered about Haymitch's whereabouts and whether he was okay or not. Heather then simply waved it then. Haymitch was a grown man and knew of his responsibilities. She had no idea that she was going to regret her decision for not inquiring about his disappearance a few hours later.

Heather quickly made an egg sandwich and drank a cup of orange juice. She grabbed the items on the table and placed the strap of the bag on her shoulders then left the house.

Outside, people paid no heed to her as they were prepared for today's reaping. It was such a relief to her since the residents of District 12 always trailed their eyes on her whenever she was walking down the road.

Heather entered the district's graveyard, which resided by the meadow and headed toward her father's grave. She placed one of the bouquets on the ground and kneeled in front of it.

"Hi dad," Heather greeted. "I miss you. The reaping hasn't even started yet I already wish it was over. I don't know what to do. These kids look up to me and most of the time, I don't even know what to say. I wish the Hunger Games wasn't a thing. I want everything to be okay but I know that's not going to happen anytime soon."

Heather chuckled bitterly, "I wish for a lot of things that have low chances of happening. Most of the time, I don't even know where to draw my hope from. I hate it. The feeling of being hopeless. Still, it's nothing compared to what those kids are experiencing."

Heather continued talking to the gravestone as if it was her father. She told him about Luke. About the times she spent with her friends. Basically, everything happening in her life. She always visited her father's grave during reaping days. Even before she became a victor.

Her father's death wasn't even anything special. He had died peacefully in his sleep when she was 15. At that time, she was bitter and depressed. Not just because of his death but also because of the fact that she was partially blind back then. She didn't even get to see him on the last day they spent together.

Next, Heather stood up and went to Blaze's grave. Blaze was her tribute partner. He had died during the cornucopia bloodbath. She wasn't able to help him that day since she ran off as soon as the gong sounded to avoid the inevitable.

After standing in front of his grave for a few moments, Heather exited the graveyard and proceeded to go to the train station where she was supposed to meet Effie. On her way there, Heather bumped into Gale and Katniss. She noticed them carrying a dozen fish, a bag of greens and a gallon of strawberries. She immediately figured out that they were in the woods.

Heather knew Katniss ever since she was a little girl. Aeson and Heather had met her and her father when they were out in the woods one day. They quickly became friends and helped each other by exchanging some knowledge. Mr. Everdeen taught them how to use a knife and archery while they helped him identify some of the edible and healing plants. As for Gale, Heather had helped deliver his little brother, Rory, with her dad. She also helped deliver Posey, his little sister, a month after she won.

"Good morning," she greeted with a bright smile. "I see you guys lucked out today."

They both smiled at her. "Yea, we did," Gale agreed.

"Off to meet Effie?" Katniss asked with a teasing smile.

"Yea," Heather replied.

"I don't know how you can handle her," Gale said.

"She's not that bad," Heather argued. "Nola was way worse than her."

Nola was Heather's escort during her games. She got transferred to District 4 after Heather became a victor. Katniss and Gale looked unconvinced but didn't say anything regarding the topic. Soon, they parted their ways.

Heather hoped that Katniss and Gale won't get reaped. She didn't know how she would be able to handle it if they did.

This year, Effie had her usual pink wig and a spring green suit. As soon as she caught sight of Heather, she let out a girlish squeal and went to embrace her. Heather let her be for a few seconds before the scent of her perfume became too much on her nose and gagged her.

"Oh, my," Effie pulled back and grabbed Heather's face, squishing it. "You. Look. Fabulous."

"Thanks," Heather said in a muffled voice.

"Is Haymitch not here with you?" she asked. Effie didn't care about him but asked out of sincereness.

"No," Heather sighed. "I don't know where he is."

Effie nodded. Heather handed her bag to the avox in the train to put it in her room. Then she and Effie walked to the square. There weren't many people there seeing as it was still early for the reaping to start. They greeted Mayor Undersee and sat at their designated seats. Heather looked worriedly at the seat beside her where Haymitch was supposed to be sitting.

Heather watched people slowly file in and sign in. She winked at Gale when he came to stand in the front row and craned her head to spot where Katniss was. As more people entered the square, Heather felt bad that she was sitting up on the stage with more space than they did.

When the clock struck two, Mayor Undersee stood up to the podium and began to read the history of Panem. The same story that he tells every year. At the moment he started to list District 12's victors, Haymitch appeared.

Drunk.

He hollered something Heather couldn't make out, staggered onto the stage, and fell into the chair beside her. The crowd applauded, only since they had to, but he turned around confused and tried to give Effie a hug, but Heather stopped him and pulled him back into his seat by grabbing his hand. He then leaned into her and rested his head on her shoulder.

Heather sighed and pushed her hair to the other side so it wouldn't get to Haymitch's face. Effie gave her a disbelieving look but she didn't care. She was mad but she held onto her anger and kept her face neutral. She knew that Haymitch had a reason for being this way.

Mayor Undersee, wanting this to be all over, called Effie over to start pulling out the names. She walked up to the podium and said in a bubbly and bright voice, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!"

Inwardly, Heather cringed.

After going on about how an honour it was to be here, Effie went over to the ball glass with the girls' name. She reached out her hand and pulled out a small piece of paper. Heather held her breath, wishing that this was over as soon as possible.

Effie then crossed to the podium again, smiled at the crowd one more time, and read out the name in a clear voice.

"Primrose Everdeen."