I didn't leave my room until we got to the Capital.

I could hear the cheers of the citizens through the train walls as we pulled up in the station. I walked like a zombie to the dinning car, just in time to catch Haymitch handing Katniss a butter knife and whispering something to her.

"Aces!" Peeta said happily when he saw me. "Are you alright?"

I didn't answer him, instead I looked towards the doors that would open as soon as the train stopped. I didn't want to be here, not again. I wanted to go home. I wanted Peeta to go home, and Katniss, and Haymitch.

"I don't want to." I said quietly. I missed the look between Peeta and Haymitch before Peeta walked over and wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm sorry, Aces." But we walked out onto the platform anyways.

"Aces!" People screamed, waving and smiling at me. My breathing came heavily and Peeta kept his arm tight around my shoulders, helping me through the crowds.

But then he had to leave to go get made up for the opening ceremony. I stood there with Haymitch, face blank and chest tight.

Watching Peeta and Katniss come down the runway, waving at screaming Capitolists, tugged at my insides in a painful way. The fire that lit up along their previously black dress wear gleamed in my eyes, but I didn't see it, couldn't see it. Couldn't see anything until the night before they had to go in, until I was about to lose my best friend.

I snapped back to life that night at dinner.

Had I really sunk into myself that badly that I missed everything?

"What happened?" I asked. The entire table was terse and quiet, no one making eye contact with anyone else.

"Well, you see- Lover Boy here decided to announce his love for Katniss during his interview." Haymitch answered, waving his fork around as he spoke around a mouthful of food.

"Wha- you did?" I asked, looking to a sheepish looking Peeta. Not getting anything but a blush from him, I turned to look at Katniss who didn't look any happier. She was aggressively stabbing at her food as she ate, refusing to look anywhere near his direction.

"I'm sorry guys. I totally- I mean... I've been a terrible mentor." I said, putting my face in my hands. And I had promised Gale I would get her out, I promised Peeta-

"Aces, it's alright. We understand." Peeta soothed. "No one really expects you to be functioning so soon after... and back here no less- it's cru-"

"Shh!" I hushed him. "No!"

He blanched as he seems to remember the ears everywhere and ducked his head, going back to pushing his food around.

"Just... Make sure you guys eat enough tonight. And... try to sleep by any means possible. You'll need it." I paused to take a steadying breath. This shouldn't be so hard. Or maybe it shouldn't be so easy. "Haymitch and I will be working here on the inside to help you. So just... do cool shit, I guess."

When I had advised them to 'do cool shit,' I hadn't meant, go team up with the careers or drop a nest of tracker jackers on them. Honestly.

But the people in the Capitol were eating it up- more money from sponsors was pouring in than before, and after that nasty burn Katniss got, it had definitely been needed.

I returned to the control room with the other mentors and weaved my way through the busy room to Haymitch.

"How's it looking?" I asked. He grunted and motioned to the screen he was standing in front of. I watched as nothing happened, the screen still focused on the same muddy bank spot that Peeta had slowly melted into not two days ago.

"You stay here and watch over these two; I have to go make some suggestions." I nodded and took his spot, watching as he left the room. Turning back to the Games, I watched Katniss hobble her way around.

"Be careful, please." I urged to the screen, knowing no one could hear me.