A/N: Thanks to everyone who's interested in this story. This chapter was a challenge to write, and I really hope you enjoy. Happy reading!
The slow whine of her bedroom door pulled Katniss from an already shallow slumber.
She needed a good night's rest leading up to the all-important presidential banquet dinner, but every time she closed her eyes, she relived every wonderful, naked moment in Peeta's bedroom hours before.
And those thoughts were not helping her rest.
Around 1 a.m., she slipped her hand underneath her nightgown and made his firm, quick circles until she cried out, her pillow pressed to her mouth to absorb the sound. Sleep quickly followed, and she dreamt of Effie Trinket feeding her, headfirst, into a machine that slowly turned her skin blue. She woke every hour.
Now, there was the sound of her room door opening, his face lit by the orange glow of the kerosene lantern hanging from his hand.
"Are you awake, hummingbird?" He whispered.
She propped herself on her arms and squinted at the door. "Yeah, dad."
She glanced over at Prim, who was still fast asleep in her bed. Then, Katniss freed herself from the covers and padded out her room.
He stood at the dining table. The kitchen smelled of cooked oats with goat cheese and basil and mashed fruit, and she knew her mother had been up long enough to make breakfast. With the heels of her hands twisting at her eyes, Katniss deftly navigated every creak of the old floorboards on her way to the table. She didn't expect his arms, wrapping her in a tight bear hug.
"I'm so proud of you, hummingbird," James said before releasing her. "I hated to wake you, but I won't see you again before the banquet. I can't wait for the entire nation to hear you sing tonight."
She smiled sleepily. "You're the main reason I agreed to do it, dad."
"I know I am," he said proudly. "And I know you're nervous about tonight."
She nodded, and he grinned.
"Can't fool your old man. I know you like the back of my hand."
His eyes narrowed at some distant memory, and his gaze softened. "I was certain you'd be a boy, you know that? We were going to name you after me. Then out came this screaming little gray-eyed girl with a pile of dark hair." James chuckled quietly. "I could have been offered every little boy in the world, and I wouldn't have traded you for a single one."
"Dad," Katniss said with a lopsided smile. "You're getting mushy on me."
"I know, I know. It's just that… time goes so quickly." He stared a moment longer. Then, he collected his miner's helmet and lunch pail from the table.
"So I told you last night at dinner that I took an hour of leave time so I can be on the lawn of the Justice Building tonight for the public broadcast, right?"
"Right," she said.
His face darkened with yet another memory. "I remember when we only gathered there on Reaping Day for The Hunger Games."
Her brows furrowed. Katniss was fascinated to learn about The Hunger Games at school, but her parents and many of the adults of District 12 lived it, including Haymitch Abernathy, 12's reclusive sole victor. Katniss couldn't imagine standing in front of the Justice Building and hearing them call the names of people she would never want to lose: Madge Undersee. Gale Hawthorne. Peeta Mellark. Primrose Everdeen…
"Nevermind that," James said with a quick shake of his head, pulling Katniss from her reverie. "Tonight is a good night. And try to stay awake until I get home so you can tell me all about what happened today. Alright?"
"Of course I will, dad."
His eyes shifted to her hands. "What's with the red string tied to your wrist?"
"Umm… Good luck charm," she lied about the string from Peeta's drawing. "I can use all the luck I can get."
"You don't need luck, hummingbird, you have natural talent. You'll do a great job."
"Thanks, dad." She smiled as she walked him to the door.
"And, don't be surprised if you catch the eye of a young man who might want to ask your old man for visits," he said. "As you know, I'm partial to Emory's son, but I'll be fair and entertain requests from any good Seam boy."
The smile on Katniss's face sank in tandem with her heart, but James didn't notice. And with one more kiss to her cheek, he was gone, leaving Katniss standing on the other side of the door, watching the shifting shadows cast by the lantern's light.
She was running late.
Katniss draped her messenger bag crossways her body, and her mother and Prim shoved her out the door with hugs and kisses at ten minutes 'til 8. By her estimation, her combination brisk walk/quick jog would get her to the Justice Building with barely a minute to spare.
When she arrived, she was surprised by what she saw. The entire area buzzed with activity. Peacekeepers in their standard white and Capitol officials in crisp black suits walked the property, talking amongst themselves. Workers, some Seam but mostly people she didn't recognize, were dotting in-ground lights along the perimeter of the perfectly manicured lawn. A crew of workers on extended ladders were installing two 12-foot campaign banners at both ends of the building's façade, and another crew was setting up a massive viewing screen adjacent to the building. Hanging lights were being draped from the branches of the two oak trees on the property, and several people were assembling round tables, draping them with white table cloths, and tying billowing cobalt-colored ribbon just underneath the tabletop for an elegant presentation in the Capitol's signature color.
Katniss scowled as she tromped up the front steps.
Exactly how much money is the Capitol spending on this campaign visit? I bet the cost of that ribbon alone could feed an entire Seam family for a week. And other than the food for tonight's banquet, none of this stuff came from local vendors.
She was still brooding when she encountered a man with alabaster-caked skin and steel gray painted lips seated behind a long table just past the entrance.
"Welcome," he said with buoyant professionalism.
What do you mean 'welcome?' I live here. You obviously don't.
"Katniss Everdeen," she said curtly.
"Ah yes, Ms. Everdeen," he said sounding pleased. "Ms. Trinket is expecting you for the full treatment." He flipped a few pages of the packet in front of him, and highlighted her name. Then he handed her a lanyard connected to a large badge that read "Stage."
"Drape this around your neck and report to the third floor lobby. Someone will direct you from there."
Katniss glanced around her. The buzz of activity on the lawn was nothing compared to mass commotion inside the building. People were everywhere and most were scurrying to and fro, hauling equipment, cleaning and polishing, or shouting orders. And Katniss realized that she had no idea how to get to the third floor.
Shit. I hate to ask this. "Where are the stairs?"
"There are stairwell doors to my far right and another set straight to the back of the building. If you prefer the elevator, you'll pass it on your way to the back."
Katniss thanked him and headed for the stairs in the back, hoping it would be less populated. It was. And the closer she got to the third floor, the more she visualized her recurring nightmare of Effie feeding her into a skin-tinting machine.
To her surprise, the third floor was quiet. The back stairwell led her to a short hall, and she followed signage leading to the elevator. Another long table was set up just past the elevator doors, and half-seated on one corner of the table was a man with dark hair whose skin was naturally the color of nutmeg.
Katniss approached from behind and cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she said quietly.
He glanced over his shoulder, then he stood and faced her. He wore dark clothes, but not a stodgy suit like members of the Capitol's delegation walking outside with the Peacekeepers. His was a subtle flair. Katniss noticed the swipe of gold eyeliner on each lid and a warmth in his penetrating gaze.
"You must be Katniss." He extended his hand, his chunky stone ring catching her eye. "I'm Cinna. I'm the chief stylist."
She'd heard Effie mention Cinna when her team visited District 12 weeks ago. And given what Katniss had seen of Effie and her team's outlandish fashion, Katniss was taken aback by how normal Cinna looked. She nodded and shook his hand.
They rounded the corner and started down a long corridor. All of the doors lining the hall were shut, but one door in particular had a small gold plaque that caught her eye: For Maysilee and the many lost before her. Katniss thought of Madge and her mother and hoped all was well.
"So you must think all this pomp and grandeur is completely uncalled for."
Katniss's eyes shot to Cinna, surprised by his words. "Actually, I do."
He laughed, humorlessly. "That's because it is. I may be the only member of this delegation who sees the cruel irony in spending this much money on a campaign visit to 12, which everyone knows is the poorest and most underserved district in Panem. The Capitol is paying your food vendors handsomely for the banquet dinner, but there's still a lot of need here, correct?"
"Absolutely," Katniss said. "My side of town is the poorest in all of Panem, and many people go to bed hungry. This visit is exciting, but when you all leave, nothing will have changed for us."
"And that's a shame," Cinna said with furrowed brows. "I've pointed this out several times to members of the delegation, but everyone tells me to focus on designing." He stopped walking and turned to Katniss with perceptive eyes. "Just like everyone treats you like you're from the poor side of town. Am I right?"
"Right," Katniss admitted.
"So was I," Cinna said. "I came from a really poor section of District 1, the part of the district that everyone wants to pretend doesn't exist. My family worked in the luxury trade for meager pay during the day, and we scrounged for food at night. But I made a better life for myself. Now, I'm the Capitol's chief designer."
The warmth of Cinna's eyes validated the sincerity of his words, and Katniss felt at ease.
"I noticed a reticence in your demeanor, Katniss, and I noticed that you've mended your dress more than once."
Katniss's cheeks burned.
"I'm not saying that to embarrass you," he said quietly. "Since no one from the delegation will listen to me, during this campaign tour, I've decided to try to encourage one person in every district of Panem whose life may be similar to my upbringing. You can have the life you want for yourself, Katniss, if you want it bad enough."
She stared at him, completely lost for words. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. When it came to her future, she had one option: finish school and find a good Seam boy to love. Until those words left Cinna's lips, Katniss didn't realize how desperately she needed to hear them.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You're welcome." He quirked an eyebrow. "Now since we're both stuck with this event, let's give them a great show."
This time, Katniss laughed humorlessly. "I don't know how great of a show I'll give them, Cinna."
"Then you'll look amazing giving them a terrible show."
And she laughed, an easy, generous laugh that relaxed her, even as they approached the bright, artificial light and the hum of voices coming from the prep room near the end of the hall.
From the wall of built-in bookshelves and the size of the room, Katniss guessed that the room was used as a library or an executive suite. There was no furniture other than a three-seater sofa against the wall near the doorway. Instead, opaque white curtains were everywhere, partitioning the room making it look like a triage area.
Effie spotted Katniss and Cinna as soon as they crossed the threshold, and she rushed over.
Katniss didn't know what irked her more – the sound of Effie Trinket's shoes, the sound of Effie Trinket's voice, or the blaring silence of Effie Trinket's clothes. This time, her dress was made of… paper? Pleated and gathered layers of newsprint that Katniss soon realized was President Coin's campaign paraphernalia.
"Oh good, our songbird is here," Effie trilled above the clack of her shoes. "You're going to be amazed with our results, dear."
Katniss felt a sudden rush of nerves, and her eyes darted between Cinna and Effie.
"I don't want my skin to be tinted," she blurted.
Effie burst into some irksome jingle of a laugh, and Cinna looked mildly amused.
"No, Katniss. I won't let anyone tint your skin," he said. "But here's what will happen today."
Cinna gave an overview of what she could expect throughout the day leading up to the start of the 6 p.m. banquet. When Katniss asked questions, Cinna's explanation put her at ease.
"Everything will be fine dear," Effie reassured. "And…" Something in her line of sight caught her attention. "Flavius, darling, let's move that entire station a little more to the right… Yes. Against that wall."
She turned her attention back to Katniss and Cinna. "My apologies. I'd better go. I'll send Octavia over in a moment to get you started." She clasped Katniss's hand in hers, and Katniss didn't expect the sincerity she saw in Effie's eyes. "If you have other questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask, dear."
"Thank you," Katniss said as Effie tottered off.
"Have you met Octavia?" Cinna asked. "She's great. She'll –"
Suddenly, a cavernous noise stopped him in mid-sentence. And Katniss's cheeks stained.
"Sorry. I was so nervous leaving home this morning that I forgot to eat. And I never forget to eat." Her eyebrows squeezed with concern. "I didn't bring anything for lunch either," she said, more to herself than to Cinna.
He snapped his fingers. "I almost forgot. Come with me."
He took her to the last room at the end of the hall. She blinked in disbelief at the three long tables filled with fat clusters of grapes and other fruits, delectable-looking pastries, an assortment of cheeses and nuts, neat sticks of vegetables, dips, jams, breads, milk, and juices. And that was just what she could see. Cinna walked her closer, lifting the lids on several warming trays containing various types of meats and eggs. Clearly none of this, not even the breads, were prepared in District 12.
Her stomach rumbled again.
"This is the breakfast spread," Cinna explained. "It's free of charge, and it's here for participants as well as the Capitol delegation working from the third floor."
She had to make sure she heard him right. "No charge? Are you sure?"
He shook his head. "No charge. Eat as much as you'd like."
"And all of this is for the people on the third floor? Not the entire building?"
"Each floor has its own spread," he said. "But that wasn't what I almost forgot to tell you."
Cinna walked to a closet near the back of the room and reached to the top shelf. He returned with a familiar white cardboard box. Katniss could barely contain the smile growing on her lips.
"A young man came by earlier this morning asking which room you'd be in. Someone directed him to me. He gave me this box and asked that I give it to you."
She nodded and dipped her head, well aware that her smile was quickly morphing into the silly grin of a girl in love.
Cinna smiled knowingly. "Eat something. I'll stall Octavia for another 15 minutes."
As soon as he left the room, Katniss lifted the lid on the box. Inside were three cheese buns and a tiny notecard with two words: Food Taxes.
And suddenly, nothing on the Capitol's fancy breakfast table compared to what was inside that box.
Not by a long shot.
Gale was supposed to meet Madge at 11:45 a.m., in their riskiest location yet – inside the Justice Building.
He left the mines at 11:00 so he could go home and scrub the soot from his skin, and Effie Trinket wanted him at the Justice Building by 12:15. That left 30 minutes to spend with his girlfriend in a room she said was supposed to be special, but had turned into a storage area for discarded furniture and equipment.
"I'll make sure the door is unlocked, so just walk in," she'd said. "I have the final fitting for my dress at 11:15, so I'll be somewhere in the building."
Madge had been an unexpected surprise in Gale's life. He had no problem getting a girlfriend, and when he was in secondary school, he was known to frequent the Slag Heap. Now, he worked 12-hour shifts in the mines, six days a week. With those hours, starting a relationship was the farthest thing from his mind.
The mines were closed on Sundays, and Gale preferred to be alone in the woods. He would hunt early Sunday mornings, trade at The Hob or with people throughout the district, and would return to the woods to spend the rest of the day.
Katniss had been a good companion for Gale in the woods when they were younger because she was just as desperate for her family's survival as he was. But James Everdeen had been deeply embarrassed to learn that his daughter had to hunt to help feed their family while he was incapacitated. James had taught Katniss to use a bow and arrow when she was a child, but now she was a young lady. He wanted Katniss to focus on her schooling first, and then find a lasting relationship that would provide her with a stable home. Hunting wasn't a part of that equation.
James, once an avid hunter, was rarely in the woods anymore either. Working in the mines could quickly age a person, and he'd worked as a miner for many years. Most Sundays, James was too exhausted to get out of bed before noon, and by that time of day, most of the good kills had scattered. So he often traded with Gale for meat. And Gale never left James's presence without hearing how proud Emory would be of him and what a good Seam boy he was. Gale appreciated the kind words, but for him and many people his age, the hard line of class division in District 12 was starting to blur.
And Gale's vision grew haziest the moment he laid eyes on Madge.
She was quiet and lovely, but her blue eyes shone with a bravery that matched his own. He wanted to know more. Gale waited for her after her fitting on the day the Capitol delegation visited, and like a good friend to them both, Katniss excused herself to the bathroom so they could talk.
For the first two weeks, they met at the end of Gale's work shift, even if it was for just a little while. On Sundays, he would ask her to meet him late morning - after he'd hunted and traded - at the farthest edge of the meadow near the forest's tree line. They would spend the rest of the day together in the meadow, laughing, and kissing, and talking.
Then last Sunday, he led her into the woods, to a secluded brook where the canopy of trees parted and brilliant sunlight reached the forest floor. It was there that they made love for the first time. And after, as she lay in his arms, it was there that she shared a family secret.
"My dad is cheating on my mom. He doesn't think I know, but I do."
Gale spoke after a few silent moments. "Does your mom know?"
Madge heaved a sigh. "She does. It's yet another thing that hinders her progress."
Gale didn't know how to respond. Claude Undersee's infidelity angered Gale because it was hurting Madge. But Gale wasn't exactly the comforting type. And just as he was trying to work up to a response, Madge said something that stunned him.
"Are you at a complete loss for what to say?"
Gale nodded. "Yeah. I have no idea how to respond to that."
"I get it," Madge shrugged. "And it's okay. I hope you don't mind me sharing these things with you."
"I don't mind at all." He huffed a short laugh. "My dad would always say 'You're too quiet Hazelle. That means something's troubling you.' I want to know if something's troubling you."
Madge kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Gale." She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "So would it help you if I just told you what I needed after I told you what was on my mind?"
Gale's eyes shot to hers in surprise. "Yes," he said so adamantly that they both laughed.
"I can do that," she said. "You can always be honest with me Gale. I'm quiet, but I'm not sensitive. Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you what I need. Okay?"
"Okay."
"And right now, I just need you to hold me and listen to me. You don't have to say anything. Just listen."
He did as she asked, and after a few minutes of talking about what was troubling her, she was fine. And Gale knew he would never find another girl like Madge Undersee, and he vowed to do everything he could to make this relationship work.
Now, it was 11:35 a.m., and he was already at the Justice Building. He signed in, navigated the bustle on the main floor, and took the stairs to the third floor. Surprisingly, the halls were vacant. He found the room with no problem.
For Maysilee Donner and the many lost before her.
He twisted the knob and slowly entered. She hadn't arrived yet.
The room was wider than a storage closet but smaller than a full office. Amid the stacks of furniture, there was a book, similar to a large photo album, on a podium against the wall, and it was opened to a drawing of a woman with Madge's hair and eyes. The name Maysilee Donner was beside her face, and a paragraph was written underneath her name. Gale flipped a few pages and saw the names and faces of others, all Hunger Games tributes from District 12.
The door knob twisted, and he quickly flipped back to the page with Maysilee Donner. Madge slipped inside and locked the door behind her.
"Hey," she smiled.
He kissed her and gathered her in his arms. "Are you sure no one will catch us here?"
"I'm sure."
She led him through the maze of furniture. Near the back of the room, behind two large desks that were stacked atop each other, a blanket and two pillows were laid on the carpeted floor.
"Well Ms. Undersee," Gale teased. "I do believe you plan to have your way with me."
She pulled him to the floor and shoved him onto the pillows, fire dancing in her eyes.
"I most certainly do, Mr. Hawthorne. I most certainly do."
After Gale's fitting with Cinna, it was time for lunch. At 1:30, he was having something called a facial grooming session, and later that afternoon he was getting his hair cut and his nails trimmed. It wasn't Gale's idea of fun, but it beat the hell out of being underground working in a cramped, poorly ventilated mine shaft.
So he didn't complain. And when he entered the food room, he finally saw her; she wore a long terry robe and slippers, her skin glowing a pink-tangerine color from being freshly scrubbed. She was intently focused on making room on her plate for something called 'pigs in a blanket.'
"Well if you feed me like this regularly, I guess I'd paint my skin green too," he whispered at her ear so the others in the room didn't hear. She startled and spun to face him, but she recognized his voice.
"I'm so glad to see you." She sighed. "Gale, this is the craziest thing I've ever done in my life."
"Really?" Gale smirked as he started to assemble his plate. "Crazier than climbing high up in that tree with a bow and arrow and falling out of said tree while trying to shoot down a buck?"
"Must you always bring that up?" She scowled. "I was 12 or 13, and I'd read about something similar in a book. I thought I could pull it off."
"You scared the shit of our me is what you did," Gale said, adding some pigs in a blanket to his plate. "You were lucky, Catnip. You could have broken your arm or impaled your crazy self."
"Well that was my crazy. This," she whispered, gesturing with her head, "this is Capitol crazy. Do you know that other than my eye brows, eye lashes and head, I've had every hair ripped from my body? I didn't even know I had sideburns, but they ripped those away too."
"Damn," Gale laughed, as he grabbed their bottles of water. "I guess they saw you coming."
"I guess so."
They went to the hallway, away from everyone, and sat on the floor.
Katniss glanced over both shoulders as she untwisted the cap on her water.
"I know you and Madge are dating," she grinned as she sipped her water.
"I know you know," he smirked. "Madge told me that she'd told you."
"Well she'd super into you, so you'd better not hurt her Gale. She's my... my you in female form."
He huffed a short laugh. "Of course I won't. She's special. I really want things to work with her. But you're the only one who knows. We have to keep it a secret if we want to keep seeing one another."
"You know I won't tell on you, Gale," she said sweetly. "You're like the big brother I never wanted."
He laughed and jabbed her with his elbow, and they ate, inspecting and sharing and trading food from each other's plates.
"So can you keep a secret for me since I know yours?"
"You know I can, Catnip."
"I'm seeing someone too."
Gale cocked his head with interest. "Really? And does this poor guy know you're seeing him, or did you strong-arm him into submission?"
She swatted him. "Neither, jackass."
"I'm just saying," Gale said innocently. "You seem all quiet and demure, but I know the huntress underneath those layers. You're a headstrong, defiant ball of fire when you get ready. Which is how you got yourself up in that tree against my advice."
He was right. She could be headstrong and defiant, but that side of her rarely surfaced. She was more intent on being an obedient daughter to her hardworking father whom she'd almost lost in a mine explosion. But she wondered if her relationship with Peeta would be her ultimate act of defiance. She hoped it wouldn't come to that...
Gale drank from his bottle of water. "So who is this good Seam boy you're dating?"
She watched closely for his reaction. "Peeta Mellark," she whispered. "The baker's son."
Gale's jaw dropped. Then a huge smile stretched across his face. "Well, well, well. It seems we both do have secrets to protect."
Katniss was starting to blush. "It seems we do," she said, turning her eyes to her plate.
Gale's voice was suddenly serious. "Does he treat you well?"
Her eyes met his no nonsense stare, and she smiled, grateful for his concern.
"Yes. He treats me like gold."
Gale eyed her carefully for a moment; he believed her. "Then I like him," he said resolutely.
"So you won't tell my father?"
"Of course not." Gale shrugged. "I don't subscribe to that silly class division shit. I learned at the Slag Heap that no one cares what side of town you're from so long as you… well, you know."
She lifted her palm to stop him. "Yeah, I get it. Slag Heap 101."
"Something like that," he grinned. "So how long have you been seeing him."
"Almost a year."
Gale nearly choked on his food. "Almost a year?!" he whispered intensely. "And you've never told me? Well this guy must be something special for you to keep him under wraps like this. Do you think your father will change his mind about you dating a Merchant?"
"I'm hoping he will. I just have to find the best possible moment to tell him about Peeta."
"Good luck with that," Gale said ruefully. "Your father is Seam through and through. And Peeta's mother is known to be a bitch."
She didn't need to be reminded about their odds. She'd been trying all day to push her father's parting words that morning from her head. But she and Peeta loved one another, and they had to find a way.
"If any two people can survive, we can," she said, feeling that defiance rise inside her. "We'll find a way, Gale. I know we will."
It was 5:38 p.m.
They were in another room on the third floor, one of the rooms Cinna was using for fittings that included makeshift dressing rooms. Katniss and Octavia were inside a dressing room, behind a burgundy curtain that didn't reach the floor.
Katniss smoothed her hand nervously over the bodice of her gown as Octavia carefully zipped it. Katniss had only seen the dress on the hanger, and when she had her fitting with Cinna earlier that day, he didn't allow her to look in a mirror.
"It's best if you see it once we're all done," he'd said. She must have looked worried, because then he whispered, "the guy with the small bakery box from earlier will wish he brought you the whole damn cake when he sees you." And she knew her face had to be the same shade as her dress.
But now was the moment. The ceremony would begin in roughly 20 minutes, and it was time to see the final result. She turned to Octavia in the mirror-less dressing room.
"Oh Katniss," she gushed. "You look fabulous! No one will even recognize you!"
Earlier that day, those words would have unnerved or offended her. But after spending the day with the prep team, she'd really come to like them. Even Effie was starting to grow on her.
Katniss swallowed hard. "Do you think my family and friends will like it?"
"They'll love it," Octavia reassured. "Oh wait –" She snapped her finger and stuck her head through the curtain where Cinna, Flavius and Venia were waiting.
"Has Madge been taken to the banquet hall yet?"
"Effie just left with her and Gale a few moments ago," Venia said. "Should I try to catch them?"
"Yes dear. Tell Effie we only need Madge for a moment."
"Thank you," Katniss whispered when Octavia pulled her head from the side of the curtain.
"Oh it's no problem dear. Why don't we go ahead and walk to the mirror so you can take a look at yourself, hmm?"
Katniss nodded, exhaled a short breath, and followed Octavia out of the dressing room.
"Here she is," Octavia said in a singsong voice as Katniss appeared. Flavius sprung to his feet, his hand clasped over his mouth. Cinna slowly stood, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Oh wait! Close your eyes, Katniss," Octavia said. "It'll be more fun that way."
Katniss shut her eyes and Octavia guided her to the full-length mirror.
"Now… open!"
For a moment, Katniss just stood there, her brows furrowed in disbelief. The girl reflected in the mirror wore a stunning gown with an asymmetrical neckline in the shade of ember that perfectly caramelized her skin tone. Most of her raven hair was piled atop her head in an intricate updo, a side swoop of bangs almost covering one eyelid. By Capitol standards, her makeup was understated, but in District 12, it was perfect for her. Her darkened eyelids and full eyelashes, rose-colored lips, and contoured cheeks were stunning. And then there were her shoulders and chest and arms, lightly sprinkled with a fine gold dust that dazzled on her skin.
She wasn't just beautiful. She was as radiant as the sun.
"I can't believe it," Katniss whispered.
She turned to face the team, mostly a band of spectacles who had expertly transformed a ruddy, forgettable girl into a work of art.
"I love it," she whispered. "I don't know how to thank you." She stretched out her arms. "Just… thank you."
Octavia hugged her first, then Flavius was next in line practically bouncing with excitement.
"Remember what I said," Cinna whispered when they embraced. "You can have the life you want, girl on fire." She knew she would never forget his words.
A moment later, they heard Effie's footsteps and a delicate prance. Effie came into view first, wearing a metallic blue sheath dress with an elaborate fur neckline. And of course, she donned a powder blue wig.
"Oh! Oh you look amazing dear!"
But Katniss's eyes were locked on Madge. Her best friend wore a gorgeous, floor-length, navy chiffon gown with an intricately-beaded pearl bodice and cap sleeves. Her hair was curled in soft tendrils and loosely tucked into a bun at the nape of her neck. And like Katniss, Madge's makeup was immaculate.
Both of them stood gawking at each other, their mouths hanging open. They rushed to one another.
"Oh my goodness, Katniss!"
"Madge! You look amazing!"
"No, you look amazing! Oh my gosh! Your family and your friends will flip out!"
"You think they'll like it?"
"Absolutely."
"And so will yours, Madge. You look so beautiful. Has your family and your friends seen you yet."
"Yep," Madge beamed. "They love it! And they look amazing too."
A man's voice interrupted their elation.
"Am I late for the party?"
All eyes turned to a stubbly-faced, paunchy, middle-aged man who looked strangely familiar to Katniss, but she couldn't quite place him.
"Uncle Haymitch!" Madge gasped and rushed to embrace him.
That's Haymitch Abernathy? The victor? I never thought I'd see him in person.
"Hi Madgy," he said warmly, welcoming her embrace. "You look lovely."
But Effie looked completely dumbfounded. "Haymitch? Are you here for the banquet?"
"That's right tutz."
"Well why the hell didn't you show up for your fitting when we were here weeks ago?"
"Why didn't you just come out to my house?" He asked coyly. "You know where I live."
Effie looked like she was about to explode, and Katniss couldn't help but be glad that Effie had changed out of her paper dress from earlier. She was livid enough to incinerate it. Her exchange with Haymitch Abernathy was fun to watch.
"Haymitch!" She growled. "You are the most impossible, irresponsible, inconsiderate, asinine –"
Cinna stepped in with lifted palms. "Whoa. It's okay Effie. I have some extra suit jackets and pants in Haymitch's size. And we can give him a quick shave." He shook Haymitch's hand and led him to a dressing room, while Octavia, Flavius, and Venia rushed to set up a grooming station.
Effie drew deep breaths and tried to compose herself. "That man," she gritted as she smoothed her hand over her dress and forced a smile back to her face. "Okay everyone. Great job today. Now it's time for the main event. Katniss, I'll show you to the backstage area, and Madge you can follow me to the audience."
They fell in line behind Effie, and Katniss felt her nerves resurge. Madge grabbed her hand.
"You've got this," she smiled encouragingly.
I sure hope I do.
James Everdeen arrived at 5:50 p.m. He didn't want to get there too early because he'd only taken an hour's worth of leave time. Miners only received 24 hours of leave time per year, and James always tried to save his hours until the end of the year so he could take two days off in addition to the Christmas Day holiday to spend with his family. But tonight's event was well worth it.
There were hundreds of people there. He stood at the edge of the crowd, barely on the lawn, his eyes scanning the crowd for his wife and younger daughter. James didn't expect to find them, but when he heard the voice he knew it was his Primrose.
"Dad! Dad! Over here."
She and Maura waved excitedly from near the back of the crowd. They could have arrived earlier and been near the very front; he knew they were hoping to find him and that warmed his heart. He kissed the backs of their hands, leaving smudges of soot behind.
"How's your day going, honey?" Maura asked.
"Much better now," James smiled. "I get to be with two of my two ladies for the better part of the next hour, and we get to watch our hummingbird sing for Panem." Maura clasped his hand in hers, unbothered by the soot.
"I think she'll have a really pretty dress," Prim said, smiling up at her father.
"I think so too, sunshine."
Inside the banquet hall, Peeta and Rye had taken seats at one of the two empty tables at the back of the room. They both got haircuts, dressed in their nicest suits, and were prepared to work in the kitchen plating the breads and desserts from Mellark Bakery. But unbeknownst to anyone planning the event in District 12, the Capitol brought its own serving staff. After the food was delivered from the local business late that afternoon, there was little else to be done.
Peeta thought he would have to watch the event from the lawn. But then a woman in a ridiculous paper dress swooped in to the kitchen and told the District 12 folks – mainly Merchant kids and a few people from the Seam who were serving Rooba's meats or the Hob's stew – that they were a part of the banquet dinner headcount. To avoid having empty tables in the camera shot, Effie Trinket said they "just have to attend."
Peeta and Rye were happy to oblige. Thatch, who had helped deliver the food, never planned to attend. He'd made plans with Natalie instead. Now, their parents were in Peeta and Rye's line of sight, at a table far across the room with other Merchant families.
"Someone's watching you," Rye murmured so others at their table wouldn't hear. "Your 9 o'clock."
Peeta locked eyes with a demure-looking Lilla who eased an apologetic smile to her face and waved. Peeta only nodded in acknowledgment.
"That girl's still got it bad for you, huh?"
"Trust me. It's over."
"Who dumped who?"
Peeta shot his brother a quizzical look. "Does it matter?"
"She's been telling everyone that she regrets dumping you, and that the reason you're still single is because you can't move on from what you two had."
"That makes no sense," Peeta grimaced. "If I can't get over her and we're both single, why wouldn't I just get back with her?"
"She won't leave it alone until she thinks you have a girlfriend. And you and I both know why."
Peeta shrugged. "I have no idea why."
"Because she thinks you're going to win finals next year, which you probably will. Can you imagine the notoriety coming your way if you win? You'd be the first person from District 12 to win nationals and the son of wrestling great Daniel Mellark. Your name would be known throughout Panem. And she wants to be at your side when all that happens."
Peeta ran a hand roughly down his face. He couldn't believe he didn't figure that out himself. That's exactly what she was up to; her interest in him resurfaced only after he placed second in nationals earlier that year. Lilla was disingenuous and shallow, and that was exactly why he dumped her two years ago.
"Hell," Rye said flatly. "For that amount of notoriety, I'd date you."
"Shut up," Peeta retorted.
"Seriously," Rye joked. "Let's make a go at it. You and me, holding hands in public, spooning after dark."
Peeta laughed so hard, his face was turning red. "You're a dumbass, Rye."
The lights dimmed. The banquet was starting in five minutes. And as Peeta's laughter subsided, his anticipation grew. Despite what Lilla said or what anyone thought, Peeta had a girlfriend, and they were happy. And in a matter of minutes, she would take the stage and sing. And blow the entire nation away.
There was no real stage inside the Justice Building, but one had been constructed at the front of the banquet hall for the presidential visit. On stage was a podium and microphone, and to one side were three rows of seats for stage participants.
Effie had appeared at eight minutes before 6 and shushed everyone waiting backstage. "We have a full audience inside, and the lawn is packed with people watching the live broadcast of the ceremony. Not to mention people throughout Panem are watching. All microphones are on, so we must keep quiet people."
The primary school participants huddled and held hands and used their inside voices. Cinna had designed everyone's attire. The boys were in dark suits with cobalt sashes, and the girls wore matching white dresses with cobalt sashes. The middle schoolers were in custom-designed outfits pertaining to their skit about the history of District 12. And then there was Katniss in her ember-colored gown, pacing and reciting the lyrics of The Valley Song in her head. She was so focused that she didn't notice Mrs. Englund was supervising the primary school children.
"Katniss?" She approached, her eyes misting with tears. "You look absolutely beautiful," she whispered.
They embraced. "Thank you Mrs. Englund."
"Are you ready?"
"I think so," Katniss said with an nervous smile. "I keep telling myself that it'll be over in two minutes. Just two minutes."
"That's right. And you look so lovely, you could sing the alphabet and no one would notice."
Katniss chuckled and was about to thank her again when a little boy, maybe five or six-years-old with ash blonde hair ducked from behind Mrs. Englund.
"You're really pretty," he said shyly, his smile revealing a missing front tooth. He reminded her of another little blonde boy she'd first noticed during show and tell, many years ago.
Mrs. Englund ushered him forward, and Katniss squatted to come eye level to the boy. "Well thank you. And you're mighty handsome. Are you one of the delegates who will welcome the president?"
"Yes," he said proudly. "I'm Charlie."
"I'm Katniss." She extended her hand, and he shook it. "It's nice to meet you Charlie."
"Okay Charlie," Mrs. Englund chuckled. "Go wait with the others students." He waved with a dreamy little grin, and rushed back to his peers.
Just then, the lights dimmed on the stage. They were starting in five minutes. Effie approached Mrs. Englund and told her to get the children ready.
"They're giving the welcome, so they're first," Effie spoke quietly. "Mayor Undersee will open the event. When you hear the music, that means that President Coin is entering. You need to lead the children out at precisely that moment."
Mrs. Englund placed the students in a single-file line. Minutes later, Mayor Undersee was at the podium. Then the presidential music started and there was rousing applause. President Coin had arrived.
Katniss felt her pulse quicken. Then she found herself smiling at Charlie, who turned to smile and wave once more as he was shuffled onto stage. And just like that, her nerves dissipated. If Charlie wasn't nervous, she didn't have to be nervous either.
There was mass cooing and applause for the primary school children who gave a heartwarming welcome to President Coin. Mayor Undersee reappeared at the podium.
"President Coin you haven't had the full District 12 experience until you've heard our song, The Valley Song."
"She's next," Prim and Rye said, excitedly and with a whisper, respectively.
"Please give a round of applause for secondary student Katniss Everdeen, who will sing The Valley Song in our traditional way, without accompaniment."
James and Maura, and Prim, and Peeta anxiously watched the stage. James, who'd removed his miner's helmet when President Coin entered, quickly set it on the grass in front of him.
And Katniss appeared. And there was a collective gasp, the applause suddenly intensifying. The girl Maura and Prim had pushed out the door that morning had worn a tattered dress and her signature braid. But the girl approaching the microphone was unbelievably stunning in a fiery red gown, elegant hair, glowing skin, and immaculate makeup. Her family's jaws dropped, and so did Rye and Peeta's.
"I'm breaking up with you, Peeta," Rye whispered. "Fuck notoriety. I'll date her instead."
But neither Peeta nor James could speak. Katniss stood at the microphone, smiling bashfully while she waited for the applause to subside. She couldn't see anyone past the bright lights shining at the stage, but she remembered Effie's admonishment from earlier.
"Chins up, smiles on. No squinting at the lights and no chewing on your lips, young lady."
Finally, it was quiet enough to start. And suddenly, her heart pounded in her chest. She stood there, drawing a few deep breaths.
James and Peeta silently willed her.
Come on, hummingbird. You can do this.
Come on, babe. You can do this.
She shut her eyes, parted her lips, and started to sing, her melodic soprano feeding into the microphone. Everyone, inside and outside the banquet hall, fell silent.
The more she sang, the more she felt at ease. And when her song ended, she opened her eyes to rousing applause. President Coin stood to her feet, and everyone in the banquet hall followed suit.
James and Peeta beamed.
"That's my daughter," James shouted repeatedly and was met with warm congratulations and several slaps on his back.
That's my girlfriend! Peeta shouted in his head as Rye slapped his back once.
No one in the audience was as stunned as Daniel Mellark. Katniss did have an amazing voice, and the young woman who'd just taken the stage looked nothing like the girl who pulled her sister past Mellark Bakery on their way home from school every day. The girl with the hair like coal that his youngest son once professed to love.
Daniel glanced to the back of the room where Peeta sat. His youngest son never spoke of Katniss Everdeen after Nance struck him when he was a child. And Daniel had argued with his wife later that night about her reaction, reminding Nance that their five-year-old was just a boy who would outgrow what amounted to his first crush.
But now, there was a look on Peeta's face that gave Daniel great pause. If his 17-year-old son still loved Katniss Everdeen, that would be a problem.
Not her. Not any Everdeen. I can't allow it, son. I won't allow it.
During the ceremony, Charlie switched seats with another kid on the second row so he could sit beside Katniss. And when she smiled down at him while the middle schoolers were performing their skit, he whispered and asked if she would be his girlfriend.
What?! This Charlie is a bold little guy, Katniss chuckledto herself. But he's too cute to say 'no' to.
"Okay," she whispered back. And he beamed.
When all the presentations ended, President Coin took the stage, again to rousing applause. She was about 50 years old with silver gray hair that hung in sheets past her shoulders. She was shorter than anyone expected and had to adjust the microphone downward before she spoke. Coin's skin, which looked like the color had been sucked from it, wasn't helped by her all-gray ensemble, part of which draped around her shoulders like a cape.
She spoke of the District 12 she inherited after Coriolanus Snow's tyrannical and tumultuous rule, and of the peace Panem enjoyed during her leadership. When she said that not another innocent child from District 12 was sacrificed for the sake of a barbaric game, she received more rousing applause and a standing ovation.
"There's more to be done, good people of District 12. We will continue to keep your families intact, and your schools competitive, and your mines safe for every new generation. Some of our young people will finish secondary school and marry and start families. That is important work. Some of you will follow the proud legacy of so many before you and will begin work in the mines. Panem thanks you; that is important work. And some of you will leave District 12 in search of higher education, and will return home to re-invest in your district. That is of the utmost importance. And just as my regime has done for the past 24 years, we will continue to support the brave, smart, selfless, hardworking people of District 12."
More rousing applause and another ovation.
"So stand with us. Let's continue in the good work that we started. My opponent talks of the need for advancement. We have already been advancing for the past 24 years. The difference is that my opponent wants rapid change to fuel this advancement. Now I agree, some change is needed for growth. But not everything needs to change in order for growth to happen. I understand that too much advancement, too quickly, can devastate a family, a community, an economy. My 24 years of experience has taught me the proper pace of advancing a nation, and that is something that you cannot learn at this level unless you lead at this level!"
More rousing applause. And another ovation.
"So again I urge you, good people of District 12, stand with us. Help us ensure that we don't descend into some uncertain future with uncertain consequences for our children, our families. Help us not lose what we've all worked so hard to achieve. Go to the polls this fall and cast a vote for the only candidate who has delivered 24 years of peace and 24 years of experience and who wants to continue working for you. Thank you District 12!"
The end of her speech drew the longest ovation, and she spent a few moments waving to the crowds before taking her seat in the audience. Mayor Undersee concluded the ceremony by again thanking President Coin for visiting 12, thanking the Capitol delegation for their excellent and diligent work, and thanking District 12 – from the people who helped plan this visit to those gathered on the lawn outside the Justice Building.
"This concludes the public broadcast of our event," Mayor Undersee said. "Again, thank you all and good night."
The outdoor screen projected Coin's campaign poster, and people on the lawn started to disperse. James planted another set of kisses to his wife and daughter's hands and hurried back to work before his hour of leave time ended, a proud smile plastered on his face. And again, unbeknownst to either of them, he and Peeta shared the same thought.
I can't wait to see her tonight.
After the public broadcast feed was cut, Mayor Undersee explained the order of events and proper protocol to banquet hall attendees.
"Now we'll have the dinner service. Menu cards with the items from local vendors are at each table. Everyone on stage can take their seats in the audience, and parents of the primary students, you can come to the edge of the stage to gather your children. I know you're all eager to greet President Coin, and there will be plenty of time for that after we dine. President Coin has graciously devoted this evening to District 12, so she will be happy to meet and greet each of you later this evening. Thank you for your cooperation, and I hope you enjoy our wonderful meal."
Katniss quickly spanned the audience, and her eyes locked with Peeta's. He was seated near the back of the room, next to his brother. To her surprise, Peeta's curls were gone, trimmed to a long buzz cut. Just the sight of him made her body quicken. They allowed themselves a longing gaze before diverting their eyes so no one would notice.
Charlie tugged at her hand. "Come on," he said excitedly.
She descended the stage stairs between Charlie and the rest of the primary and middle schoolers. He reached for her hand again at the bottom of the stairs and tugged her to a woman with a kind face just like his.
"Charlie, you did a great job," she gushed, enveloping her son in a big hug. She turned warm eyes to Katniss. "You did a great job, too young lady," the woman smiled. "What a lovely girl you are, and such a wonderful voice."
"Thank you," Katniss smiled. This woman was clearly a Merchant, and Katniss didn't expect her kindness. "Charlie is a great kid."
"She's my girlfriend, mommy," Charlie smiled proudly. "I asked her, and she said 'yes.'"
The woman and Katniss chuckled in amusement. "That's our charming little Charlie. We call him our Casanova." She turned her attention to her son. "Charlie, honey, Ms. Everdeen is a little too old for you."
Charlie frowned. "But she said she would be my girlfriend."
"Your mom's right, Charlie," Katniss said regretfully. "I am a little old for you."
"Plus," his mother added, "she's from the Seam and you're a Merchant, honey. And Merchants and Seams don't date. When you're older, you'll need to find a good young lady from our side of town."
Katniss felt as if someone hit her in the stomach. Hard.
"Forgive him," his mother smiled apologetically with the same kindness in her eyes. "He just doesn't know any better yet. And again, you did an amazing job tonight. Come on Charlie; let's take our seats."
Charlie protested as his mother led him to their table. And Katniss stood there, engulfed in sadness and anger, her heartbreaking for Charlie, who would soon be taught the ways of prejudice and division that were central tenets of District 12 society. But even more painful was the reality that nothing – not talent, not makeup, not a Capitol-designed gown – would change how some people viewed her because of where she was from. And she remembered Cinna's words about having the life she wanted.
I want more than this. I deserve more than this. And one day, I'll have the life I want, even if I have to leave District 12 to get it.
Katniss was assigned to President Coin's table.
Seated on either side of the president were two members of her delegation: Plutarch Heavensbee her communications director, and Romulus Thread, the Head Peacekeeper in Panem.
Gale was seated next to Heavensbee. When Katniss saw him, she couldn't hide her shock. His hair was cut to a clean taper on all sides. He face was cleanly shaved, and his Seam eyes glowed against his olive skin. Plus, he was wearing a suit that looked to be cut to his lean, muscular frame. They embraced.
"You look amazing, Gale."
"So do you. I couldn't believe that was you on stage, Catnip. You'll have no shortage of guys asking for visits."
"My heart belongs to a 17-year-old. And maybe a 6-year-old," she joked. "Time will tell."
She sat next to Gale, and Mayor Undersee claimed the seat across from Gale. Madge sat next to her father. The eighth chair was empty, but only for a moment. After Katniss, Madge, and Gale introduced themselves to President Coin, a black-suited Haymitch Abernathy plopped into the chair, a look of pure apathy on his clean-shaven face.
Capitol servers poured beverages into the glasses and set a large basket of rolls from Mellark Bakery on the table. The basket was still circulating when a server lowered a hearty plate of salad in front of Katniss and others at the table. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen. On a bed of spinach leaves were vegetables, fruits, nuts, and cheeses, all glistening in some liquid dressing. And there didn't appear to be single dandelion stem anywhere. It wasn't until Gale nudged her and handed her the basket of bread that she realized she was just sitting there, gawking at her plate.
"Haymitch," President Coin said with a smile that never reached her eyes. "It's nice to see you again."
"Alma," Haymitch said coolly, tearing apart a roll.
There was obvious history there. Mayor Undersee jumped in to ease the tension. "I hope you've enjoyed everything thus far, President Coin. We've carefully planned this meal to showcase our amazing District 12 cuisine."
At the same moment that Haymitch rolled his eyes, Gale reached for his water and took a sip. And Katniss knew Gale was trying to keep himself from commenting on the hungry people of the Seam who knew nothing of District 12's amazing cuisine.
"Everything is lovely, Claude. Thank you for a wonderful ceremony." Her eyes shifted to Madge. "And you have a lovely daughter, who I understand is a very good student. Your father should be so proud."
"Yes, he should be," Madge said, forcing a smile to her lips. Haymitch snorted a sarcastic laugh, and Mayor Undersee shot him a warning glance.
Katniss had just shoveled a forkful of the delicious salad into her mouth when President Coin's gaze shifted to her.
"And it's Katniss, right," Coin asked, poking her fork into the salad.
Katniss nodded, trying to chew as fast as she could. She took a sip of water.
"What an absolutely lovely voice you have. You must sing at every function."
Katniss shrugged. "Actually, I haven't sung publicly in years."
Coin cocked her head in amazement. "Well you should. A voice like that could earn you a college scholarship to join a school choir."
Katniss almost dropped her fork.
"Really?"
"Really," Coin nodded. "You're that good."
Katniss's mind raced. She had no idea that college scholarships existed for singing. This could change everything.
Coin's attention had already shifted to Gale.
"Where can I learn more about these scholarships?" Katniss blurted.
Coin smiled politely at Katniss. "Well, since you were so kind to sing for us, we could compile a comprehensive list and send it to you. Your office could handle that, right Plutarch?"
"Absolutely," Plutarch said. "I will get your address before we leave. You can expect to have the list in under ten days."
"Thank you, President Coin." Katniss instantly locked gazes with Madge, and both their eyes widened with excitement.
This could be my ticket out of 12! I want to go to college and study commerce and have the life I want. Maybe I can even go to the same school as Peeta.
Coin's eyes were back to Gale. "And Gale, you are one of the miners, correct?"
"Yes ma'am," Gale said.
"I've been looking forward to meeting you. Much of this election rests on opportunities in the districts for young people. Some of our smaller or more rural districts similar to 12 have seen a mass exodus of young people who are moving to more populated areas. You're a shining example of how a young person can make a life for himself right at home in an industry that my administration has made much safer."
Gale sat silently for a moment deciding between two responses. On one hand, he could agree with Coin's notions, earn his pay-and-a-half for the evening, and feel certain that he would still have a job to go to the following day. On the other hand, he had the ear of the president of Panem, and he could tell her the truth about what miners faced.
His candor could cost him everything. But so could the dangerous conditions in the mines. He already knew what he had to do.
"Actually, with all due respect President Coin, the mines are not much safer than they were four years ago when the explosion killed my father and several others, and almost gravely injured Katniss's father."
Everyone at the table, even Haymitch, stopped eating, their eyes darting between Gale and President Coin. Haymitch snickered. "I like this one," he said, gesturing his head toward Gale.
"Now just a minute young man," Mayor Undersee said hotly. "I take issue with that statement. President Coin has done a marv —"
Coin held up her hand and instantly silenced the mayor. She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Gale.
"What's that you say?"
"We're not much safer," Gale said. "Your administration supported us by instituting industry-wide safety guidelines, purchasing better mining gear, and installing level meters to detect increased gas levels. And we are very grateful for those things. But what we fear even more than a cave-in is the methane gas. The level meters aren't effective with as far as we travel into the earth. We try to use lamplight to detect methane on our own, but methane gas is hard to detect. If it gets in the shaft where we work and we inhale too much of it, it will kill us almost instantly."
Madge looked positively frightened, her eyes darting from her father to Haymitch to President Coin. It was as if she was silently screaming for someone to do something. Katniss lowered her head, feeling a rush of guilt for thinking about her own future when her father and Gale's work was so inherently dangerous.
Gale had President Coin's full attention. "Gale, what will it take really improve safety in the mines," she asked quietly.
"We need a second mine hole, another means of ventilating the mines. I've been reading up on it, and that would help tremendously. We could always benefit from wider mine shafts, and we need someone who is staying abreast of safety standards and practices and the best types of equipment. Not an inspector; someone who's looking out for all of us who work in the mines."
Coin nodded thoughtfully with narrowed eyes.
"And this isn't exactly a safety thing, but we'd love to have more than two days' of leave time per year. We get 24 hours a year of annual leave, but we work 12-hour shifts. And my four-year-old sister who starts primary school this fall has already claimed one full day of my leave time so I can carry her lunch box on her first day of school. She said she wants everyone to know that I'm her muscle."
Hearty laughter filled the entire table, and with it, the heaviness was lifted. Servers reappeared and replaced the salads with plates of roasted wild turkey and root vegetables, seasoned potatoes, and a side of rabbit stew.
"I heard you, Gale," President Coin said. "Thank you for your candor."
"Thank you listening to my concerns, President Coin."
"Plutarch, please be sure I have Gale's contact information. I'd like to keep in touch with him myself, to address the concerns of District 12 miners."
Mayor Undersee clenched his jaw and sawed into his food, but he kept silent.
"Now," Coin said, glancing around the table to be sure everyone had been served, "let's eat."
After the dinner portion of the night ended, swarms of people waited for their chance to meet President Coin, with Mayor Undersee at her side.
Katniss was near the back of the room, away from the bulk of the crowd, also greeting people who wanted to congratulate her on her performance. Haymitch hovered around a long table at the back of the room that had been stocked with alcohol, coffee, tea, water, and a pink non-alcoholic drink with a slice of lemon wedged on the rim. Someone was manning the drink table, and Effie Trinket, who stood facing Haymitch, looked to be refusing him anything containing alcohol. Finally, Haymitch left in frustration.
Madge and Gale slipped out of the banquet hall and met in the office manager's narrow paper goods supply closet. She locked her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest.
"I wish you didn't have to work in the mines," she whispered. "I had no idea of the dangers you face every day."
He pulled far enough away to look into her eyes. "Hey. Don't worry. I'll be fine. We all look out for each other down there. We take precautions."
She exhaled slowly. "Maybe President Coin will really do something about it this time. Did you give your contact information to the Plutarch guy?"
Gale nodded. "I feel like Coin will follow up. This is an election year, and with a strong challenger this time around, she needs to foster as much goodwill as possible."
"Well, I'm proud of you for speaking up, Gale. I admire your conviction and bravery. And I love that you ticked off my dad."
Gale chuckled lowly. "And I admire your bravery, Madge. You're stronger than most." They shared a kiss filled with love, even though neither of them said the word.
Gale returned to the banquet hall separate from Madge. As soon as she entered, Peeta approached.
"You look great, Madge," Peeta smiled.
"Umm, hmm," she smirked. "You and I haven't spoken in a year-and-a-half, not since I told you to let her catch you staring. I know why you're really here, Mellark."
Peeta dipped his head, grinning. "You're right. I apologize, Madge. I should have thanked you a long time ago. You changed my life that day."
"No thanks needed," she said. "I'm glad it's working out."
"It is definitely working out," Peeta nodded.
Madge smiled knowingly. "So I'm guessing you need a favor?"
There was suddenly an intensity in Peeta's eyes, and Madge fully understood what it meant.
"I need a few minutes alone with her. In private."
Katniss was surprised by the number of people who congratulated her. Of course, it didn't compare to the throngs of people waiting to greet President Coin, but since most of the people in the room were Merchants, Katniss was surprised nonetheless.
She didn't expect Charlie and his mother to be among the people who approached her.
"He said he forgot to tell you something," his mother smiled warmly, turning her gaze to Charlie.
"You did a great job and you can really sing," Charlie said politely. His words sounded rehearsed, and his smile from earlier was gone. Katniss wished she could wrap him in a big hug and beg him to never let anyone change him. Instead, she managed a smile and politely and thanked him. Then, as his mother tugged him out the door, Charlie glanced over his shoulder, shot Katniss his dreamy little grin, and waved with a flirtatious flutter of his fingers.
Katniss waved back and laughed, relief flooding her body. In Charlie's mind, she was still his girlfriend despite what his mother said or what side of town she was from. He was playing by the rules and keeping his true feelings a secret, like another blonde guy she knew.
And just then, Daniel Mellark approached. Nance didn't bother; she waited across the room with the others in line to meet President Coin.
Daniel shook her hand and smiled, but Katniss noticed the subtle squint of his eyes; it was odd, like he had a question and he wanted to see if she had an answer.
"Congratulations, dear," he said. "You did a superb job."
"Thank you, sir." She'd never looked squarely at him before. He and Peeta greatly resembled.
"By the way, do you know my sons, Rye and Peeta? I was just wondering where they'd gotten off to. I'm sure they'll want to meet the President too."
Katniss didn't flinch. "I think that's Rye over there, talking to Madge Undersee, the mayor's daughter."
Daniel followed her line of sight and saw Peeta and Madge in conversation. And he knew that either Primrose was confused about which boy her sister had a crush on, or Katniss was lying. Nonetheless, watching Peeta smiling with Madge was promising...
"Oh, that's Peeta, not Rye," he said. "People confuse them all the time."
Katniss smiled politely, grateful that her prep team was approaching to congratulate her. Something about this conversation with Daniel Mellark was making her nervous. He shook her hand again, they said good night, and he walked back to the other side of the room.
Then, Katniss was in a flurry of hugs and congratulations from Octavia, Flavius, Venia, and Effie. But when Cinna embraced her, he also had a message that he whispered in her ear.
"Madge wants you to meet her on the third floor as soon as you can get there. In the room she said is dedicated to her aunt. She said it's very important that she speak with you."
Katniss nodded with concern in her eyes, hoping it wasn't bad news about Maryenne Undersee. She slipped out the banquet hall and headed for the back stairwell.
The door was unlocked, so Katniss slipped inside the room with the gold plaque. To her surprise, the room was filled with discarded furniture.
Madge waited beside a podium, clutching a book the size of a large photo album to her chest. She spoke before Katniss could ask what was wrong.
"I need to put this book in your messenger bag so I can smuggle it to my Uncle Haymitch. It's safer at his house anyway."
"Okay…" Katniss looked baffled. "Is that why you called me up here? Cinna said it was important."
"It is important," came a familiar male voice.
She spun, her widened eyes locking with Peeta's. He leaned against the wall behind the door in an empty space between stacks of chairs and tables and desks. Katniss rushed to his arms, their lips smacking with kisses.
"Hey," Madge said, snapping her fingers to get their attention. "I've given Peeta the rundown. Rye is running a diversion for Peeta downstairs, and Katniss, you guys only have 15 minutes before people notice that you're gone. I'm going down the hall to the prep room to slide this book into your bag. I'll be back in 15."
They thanked her, smiling contentedly from each other's arms. Then Madge was gone, twisting the lock on the door knob before pulling it shut.
Katniss ran her hands over Peeta's hair in disbelief. "Baby, your curls are gone."
"A requirement for Boggs," he grinned. "Like it?"
"Yes, but I can't decide which style I like more," Katniss said. "You look so good."
"And you…" Peeta slowly shook his head, fire catching in his eyes. "You look absolutely irresistible. I wanna rip you out of that dress."
She leaned in, whispering seductively against his lips.
"Why don't we just unzip it?"
Her back was against the wall. Literally.
The clasps on the back of her new black-lace bra scratched a short line on the paint with each thrust of his hips. It was important that she not mess up her hair, which would be a dead giveaway of what happened during her absence from the banquet hall. So she held onto him, her head draped over his shoulder, her legs wrapped around his waist, her black-lace panties dangling from his wrist, his pants and boxer briefs in a pile at his ankles, her whole body in his hands.
Katniss tucked her lips into her mouth to muffle her moans, but from this angle, every drive of his hips was getting her closer to the feeling she craved. It was like a hunger.
"You are so damn beautiful, Katniss," Peeta gritted. "I'm so proud that you're mine."
His words helped topple her, sending her over the edge with long, strained moans. And as she fell over the edge, she pulled him with her. He drove faster, harder, his hips jerking and his face squeezed, guttural noises he couldn't contain ripping from his throat. They clung to one another, breathless and weak, exchanging soft words before he lowered her to the floor.
"I probably won't get to see you before I leave for Boggs the day after tomorrow," Peeta said as he secured the belt on his pants. "Coach is going to keep me pretty busy until I leave, just like he did with Thatch and Rye."
"I understand." Katniss turned so Peeta could re-zip her gown. "I want you to make the most of this opportunity. But I'll miss you like crazy while you're gone."
Peeta turned her to face him and brushed the back of his fingers against her cheek.
"I want you to know something, Katniss. Boggs is the best college prep program for wrestlers there is, but Boggs also has a reputation for its offsite parties. My brothers told me all about them. The guys get Saturday nights off, and they hook up with local girls and get laid. It's almost a tradition."
Katniss swallowed hard, her eyes worriedly searching his. Peeta pulled her hand to his lips. "I want you to know this so you're not caught off guard, and I want you to know that I would never, ever cheat on you."
She shut her eyes and nodded, exhaling a long, steady breath.
"You're the only girl I want, and I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have. Do you believe me, babe?"
She opened her eyes and smiled. "I believe you, Peeta, and I trust you. Thank you for telling me."
He pulled her into his arms. "Our relationship may be a secret to everyone else, but we won't keep secrets from each other. I promise you, I'll be faithful."
"And I will too. I'm committed to what we have, and I don't want anyone but you."
He kissed her with a wide smile on his face. "By the way, you killed it tonight. I fell in love with you all over again."
"Yeah?" she beamed.
"Yeah. And I saw all those people congratulating you. Including my dad."
Her brows furrowed as she remembered her conversation with Daniel Mellark. "Peeta, after he greeted me, he asked if I knew you or Rye."
Peeta's eyes narrowed. "He asked if you knew us?"
"Yeah. He said he didn't want you guys to miss greeting President Coin, but your family was nowhere near the front of the line. I saw you talking to Madge, and I pretended to think you were Rye. I think he might suspect something."
Peeta shrugged. "I don't know how. I haven't mentioned you since that time he –"
Peeta stopped short.
"I know," Katniss admitted softly. "Delly told me that your mom hit you when you were younger for what you said about me."
Peeta's jaw clenched. "And my father did nothing to address it. I love my dad, but there are some things he allows that I'll never understand."
Just then, there was a tap at the door.
"It's me," Madge whispered from the other side.
"We'll be right out," Katniss said.
She and Peeta shared one last kiss. They spoke hurriedly.
"I told Gale about us. He's dating Madge and they're keeping their relationship a secret too."
"Okay," Peeta nodded. "And we have to find a place to be alone when I come back. We can't do this at the alcove," he grinned sheepishly.
"I know. I'll try to think of something while you're gone. I love you. Travel safe and come back to me, okay?"
"I will, and I love you too. Remember, amaranthine."
She smiled over her shoulder before she walked out the door. "Amaranthine," she whispered.
Peeta stopped by the men's room to discard the used condom and check his face for traces of lipstick. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling over what his father said to Katniss.
Why would you ask her if she knew me? What was that about, dad?
And though he had no answers to those questions, he hated to admit something he had known since he was five years old: he needed to keep his love for Katniss Everdeen a secret from his father too. Because unlike his mother, Peeta had no idea where Daniel Mellark stood.
When Peeta re-entered the banquet hall, his family was next in line to greet President Coin. He joined his parents and Rye, just in time.
"Are you alright, son?" Daniel whispered. "Rye told us that something had given you the runs."
Really Rye? Peeta's eyes shot to his brother who was mildly smirking at him.
"Yeah. My stomach's settled now. It must have been the stew. It was pretty rich."
Now it was their turn. Daniel introduced his family as they each extended their hand to the president.
"Mellark Bakery provided all of the breads and desserts for tonight's banquet," Mayor Undersee told President Coin.
"Absolutely delicious," Coin smiled pleasantly. "I may dream about that caramel cake tonight."
Everyone laughed on cue. "Well we would be happy to send some back with you as a reminder of District 12," Daniel said.
"Absolutely," Coin said.
"Daniel is modest, so he won't tell you this himself, but he's a local wrestling legend, and the Mellark boys are among the best wrestlers in Panem," Mayor Undersee gloated. "Peeta leaves for Boggs Academy in a few days, and he and Rye both placed second in the national competition in the past two years."
"Well done," President Coin nodded, sounding impressed.
"We're really proud of them," Daniel said warmly. "Rye leaves for Lyme this fall, and Peeta will try for the national title next year."
"And we have another son who is also a great wrestler," Nance said. "Our oldest, Thatch."
"A family dynasty," Coin smiled. "Rye, is it?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I wish you well at Lyme. And Peeta, correct?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I hope you win that national title. Your family is clearly a pillar of this community, and your win will mean a lot to District 12."
"I'll do my best, ma'am," Peeta smiled politely.
As they moved off the line, two smiling Merchant couples approached Daniel and Nance, and Rye caught the eye of a few friends who beckoned him over. Peeta made his way to the drink table at the back of the room. It would help his stomachache story if his parents saw him slowly sipping bottled water.
Someone reached for the pink beverage with the lemon wedge next to him.
"You're Peeta Mellark, right?"
Peeta looked into Seam gray eyes so much like hers. "Right."
"Gale Hawthorne," he said with a tempered smile, extending his hand.
Peeta returned a similar smile and shook Gale's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
They took a few steps from the table and stood beside one another against the wall. They both knew this wouldn't be just a simple greeting. They were both important in Katniss's life, and they needed to understand certain things about one another.
"I think we have someone in common," Gale said, lifting the cup to his lips, not making direct eye contact with Peeta.
"We do," Peeta nodded. "She's a good friend of yours, correct?"
"More like a sister. We've helped each other through our most uncertain, devastating times."
Peeta looked directly at Gale, who also turned to face Peeta.
"Thank you," Peeta said sincerely. "I wish I did more for her and her sister during those times."
Gale seemed caught off guard by his words. He studied Peeta through narrowed eyes. "You love her."
"More than you know," Peeta said quietly, holding his gaze.
Gale slowly nodded, smiling with unparted lips. "I believe you. And I'll do all I can to help you guys because I know she loves you too."
"We appreciate that." Peeta took a long sip of his water. "And I offer the same to you. Katniss told me a few minutes ago about your relationship. She's a great girl."
Gale took another drink to mask his broad smile. "That she is. We're just getting started, but I hope it lasts. And speak of the beauties, here they come."
Madge and Katniss approached, and they stood in their respective boyfriend's line of sight. Peeta extended his hand to Katniss, keeping their cover in case someone was watching.
"Good job tonight, Katniss," he said, quietly.
"Thank you, Peeta. And Gale, this is my best friend, Madge Undersee."
He extended his hand. "Gale Hawthorne. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Madge grinned.
Katniss cleared her throat. "So… you two have met." Her eyes darted between Peeta and Gale. "I hope Gale has been on his best behavior."
"Oh don't worry, Catnip – That's her real name by the way, Catnip Everdeen."
Katniss scowled at Gale. Peeta and Madge smiled, trying not to laugh.
"I haven't told them about some of your more harrowing moments in the woods. Like that time you fell out of a tree shooting at a buck," Katniss said along with Gale.
"When will you let that go?"
"Never," Gale grinned.
"Excuse me."
No one noticed her approaching. She slid between Katniss and Madge, and now she was in Peeta's line of sight.
"Lilla," Peeta said, the smile dropping from his face. Madge's eyes traveled from Katniss to Peeta to Gale and back to Katniss, who was clearly on edge.
"Hi everyone." Her irritatingly bubbly voice was somehow diluted, and she seemed… contrite. She turned to Katniss with a sour smile. "Good job tonight. They really worked wonders on you."
Katniss's eyes flared and her fists clenched at her side, and Gale silently willed her to make eye contact with him. This was the absolute last place she needed her fiery side to surface.
"What do you want, Lilla," Peeta said abruptly.
"I know we had that fight a few weeks ago in the hall at school, and you were right. I was completely out of line, and for that I apologize. I was just hoping that maybe we could go somewhere and talk. Just you and me for a few minutes."
"No thanks, Lilla. Now if you'll excuse us we were –"
"Peeta," she implored, her eyes locked on his. "I know I've made mistakes, but I'm trying to fix them. To fix us. And we're both single and that tells me that we're both still holding on to what we had."
And suddenly, Peeta had plan.
"I'm not single."
All eyes in the circle flashed to Peeta, but his eyes were locked on Lilla.
"What?" Lilla chuckled dismissively and rolled her eyes. "She must be invisible."
"Oh she's real, and she's in the room tonight. Closer than you realize."
Katniss held her breath, her body tensing, and her eyes glued to Peeta. But he refused to take his eyes off of Lilla, who looked injured.
"Are you just making this up to hurt me?"
"I've never once tried to hurt you, Lilla. You know that. But I'm with someone I care about very much. We kept it a secret because she's really quiet and doesn't like a lot of attention. But, I'm tired of hiding." Peeta shrugged. "It's about time everyone knew about us."
Katniss felt like she couldn't breathe. Peeta, no! If everyone knows about us, it'll ruin us. My dad will put a stop to it, and your mom won't allow it. Please don't tell Lilla about us. Please!
He lowered his eyes to the carpet. "I hope you don't mind that I'm ready to tell everyone." Then, he reached for Madge's hand and pulled it to his lips. Madge's eyes widened with surprise, but she instantly recovered. "Come on, love," he said softly to Madge, interlocking his fingers with hers. "I want to officially introduce you to my parents."
As Lilla croaked with surprise and hurried off, Katniss stared after Peeta and Madge with her mouth hanging open. If Peeta appeared to be dating Madge in public, it would put a stop to his father's suspicions and Lilla's advances, and his mother would be the happiest bitch in District 12 knowing that her son was dating the mayor's daughter. And since she and Madge are best friends it only makes sense that Katniss would hang out with Peeta and his 'girlfriend.' And she might even bring Gale along, her good Seam boy…
"That's one smart boyfriend you have Catnip," Gale said shaking his head. "Absolutely brilliant."
Katniss nodded unable to contain the shrewd grin forming on her lips. "Gale," she said sweetly. "I think it's time you asked my father for visits."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. I need to take a brief hiatus to work on my other fic, but I will update this one very, very soon. Comments are greatly appreciated!