The last thing I see before I black out is the real sky through the windows.
It's just as dark and murky as it was inside.
Agpkagpkagpk
The next week was a blur. I woke up in a hospital room, with wires and needles sticking out from beneath my skin. My red hair clean again, which also meant it should have been frizzy again. But thank God for Capitol hair products.
Never thought I'd say that.
The next day they let me out, and I was immediately wisked away by my old stylist, Jannett, and she starts working on my body like before I went in the arena. Within five hours I'm completely hair free -besides my eyebrows and the hair on my head- and dressed in a long, flowy, light mint dress. My usually frizzy and curly hair floats down in smooth waves, pushed back by a mint headband. My eyelashes are long and black, and my freckles are more prominent.
"Here. Wear these." Jannette says, shoving a pair of sparkly red flats under my nose. I sigh and put them on.
An hour later and I'm standing on yet another metal disk plate, rising up to be greeted by blinding sunlight. At first my heart races, thinking they're sending me into another death trap. But then I open my eyes and I'm surrounded by screaming capitalists, and Ceaser Flickerman is standing next to me.
And then he's introducing me to the crowd, and in sitting down. Questions and video clips and more questions and more video clips...
And nightmares. So many nightmares. They wake me up every night. Some night are worse than others. I'll wake up anywhere from five to eleven times a night.
I never thought I would miss sleep so much.
"Are you ready to go back home, kid?" Haymitch asks the morning after the interview. He pauses for a moment, before adding, "Didn't think I'd ever get to say that."
"We both proved you wrong." I said, looking out the window of the car that takes us to the train station. I would be home soon.
I would be home soon.
The train pulls o a stop in the small rundown station of District Twelve. I look out the window to see at least 2/3 of the district standing there, cheering. We hadn't had a victor in so long. I could see my grandma towards the front of the crowd, and Peeta was not too far behind her with his family.
I stood up and waited in front of the closed silver doors. They creak and groan, and then sunlight is streaming through the crack that continues to grow, until I'm staring out at my District.
It's a windy day, and I keep having to tuck my hair back to keep it from being in my face. It's mostly the towns people standing there and cheering, but I don't care, cause I'm home, and my grandma is standing right there, and I've still got Peeta even if I have no other friends-
I rush forward and engulf my grandmother in a tight hug. I know she won't cry, because that's not like us, but I also know that doesn't mean she isn't happy to see me.
"Aces! I can't believe you actually won!" Peeta says as he rushes over, and I hug him too.
"Me neither."
"My family is back at the shop, furiously perfecting a dinner they want you and Rooba to come to." He said, pulling back to look at me.
"Oh, I don't want to impose-"
"You won't be. Promise. You're one of my more respectable friends. Especially now. Mother would be ecstatic if you came over." He said. "How are you?"
"Physically, mentally, or emotionally?" I asked back, smiling slightly.
"All three."
I paused for a moment, contemplative. "Screwed up."
"Aren't we all?" He let go of my shoulders and took a step back so that I could have room to breathe again, but it didn't last long before I felt something crash into me, almost knocking me over. Something latched around my waist from the back, holding on tight.
I let out a strangled scream, not very loud, but existent all the same. I tried to keep my breathing in check as images flashed in front of my eyes from the games.
I looked down to see a little head of brown, curly hair tucked into my side.
"Thank you!" The girl cried, and that's when I realized who it was.
Posy Hawthorne.
"I- You're welcome." I said simply, not sure what else to say. I blushed as I felt everyone's eyes on us.
"I'd be dead if it wasn't for you!" She merely sobbed. My eyes grew larger as I pulled away from her, crouching down so I was eye level to her.
"That's not true. I have very high confidence that you could have won. You're a very smart girl, Posy. And you know how to live. That's all the matters, really."
"But I never would have been able to kill anybody!" She argued.
"That may be so. I thought the same thing before I went in, but I guess you really know what you're capable of until you have to find out." I said, not sure if it made any sense.
She snuggled and nodded, hugging me again. I hugged her back, happy that she was happy.
Someone cleared their throat and Posy pulled away, turning around to look.
"We should be going back home, Posy. Mom said not to take too long." Gale said, the same frown etched to his face. I bit my lip and stood up, very aware of this awkward situation.
"Come on, Aces. We should go too." My grandma said, placing her hand on my shoulder. I nodded. Turning, I began to walk with her and Peeta towards his bakery. I felt a hand land on my shoulder, and nearly jumped three feet in the air. Spinning around, I had to crane my neck back to look at who it was. It was Gale.
He coughed awkwardly before speaking. "Thanks. My family is grateful. My mother said to tell you that we owe you." He said gruffly. I'm sure my face was burning red.
"O-Oh. You all don't have to do that. It was really no... problem at all. I wasn't expecting anything in return." I stuttered, feeling stupid.
He wore a scowl on his face like he usually did when in close proximity to a Townie, and I felt as if I should be cowering in my shoes. But why should I? Had I not just won The Hunger Games?
So I held my ground.
"That's considered rude in the Seam." He said, as if I had made fun of them in some way.
"I am not trying to be rude. Merely trying to help my district in which ways I can. And if that means volunteering for a small twelve year old in a reaping, then so be it." I said, crossing my arms.
Had winning given me an immortality complex?
It's highly plausible.
He scowled at me for a few more moments before huffing. "Fine."
He turned on his foot and began to stalk back towards Posy, who smiled at waved happily at me. I forced a smile and waved back.
What an odd day this had turned out to be.