The Seventieth Hunger Games chapter 9

Hey, guys! Here we are, the ninth and final chapter. As you can see, it is only the ninth chapter, because I deleted the little character profile at the beginning. I just thought it was unnecessary. Anyway, I will try to get the first chapter of the sequel up later this month, but I have a lot of things going on, so I might be a little late. Just bear with me. Let start the chapter!

Lily's POV:

It's been a few months now, and everything's been fine. I haven't heard from Mother or Dad since Mother showed up that one time, and that's how I want it to stay. Vincent, now fifteen, has been a huge help with the other two. Will is the top of his class, and Peeta has been coming out of his shell a lot more and actually talking to other people at school. Me? I'm a little nervous about my upcoming victory tour, but I'm mostly fine. I'll also be sixteen in January. It's December now. Vincent and I are always the same age for a while before my birthday. We're about eleven months apart.

Like I said, I haven't had any trouble with my mother in months. I've barely even seen her around town, actually. Then again, she was never much for leaving the house in the first place. Plus, everyone in town hates her, so… Why would she leave the house?

Christmas is approaching fast, and the boys are practically bouncing off the walls, they're so excited. Mom never really let us do anything for Christmas. To her, it should just be seen as another work day. I intend to change that. Still, when you've got two preteen boys jumping around with excitement every day, it gets a little stressful. But I'm dealing. At least Vincent is a little too old to be that excited, which helps.

Anyways, it's exactly a week until Christmas and the four of us are headed into town today for decorations. Thing is, I can't concentrate on looking at anything, because Peeta is literally jumping up and down right now. Honestly, it's like he ate pounds of sugar.

"Okay, Peeta…" I put my hands on his shoulders. "I know you're excited, but nothing is going to get done if I can't concentrate. And for me to concentrate, I need you to calm down."

But Peeta wasn't listening anymore. He was staring past me, outside the store window. Turning around, I followed his gaze. Walking down the opposite road, probably headed for the Hob at the edge of town, was Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne.

I smiled and chuckled as I looked down at my brother, who was still staring at Katniss. "Oh, I see. Someone has a crush, doesn't someone."

Peeta gave me a sideways glance. "Maybe someone does… Probably Vincent. Will has his nose shoved in a book too much to like anyone."

I raised my eyebrows. "Mm-hmm, sure, let's go with Vincent. Although, I don't see Vincent staring at Katniss across the street."

Peeta turned away from the window and shuffled his feet. "I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, look, Christmas lights! They look interesting."

Peeta took off toward the lights. I chuckled to myself. Wait a minute… Peeta's over there, but where are—

"Peeta?" I called. "Where are your brothers?"

Peeta looked up from the light display he was looking at. "Will went to the library. And… I think Vincent is… Oh, he's over there."

Peeta pointed to the other side of the store and I turned to see what he was pointing at. On the other side of the store, was Vincent—Is he flirting with that girl? She looks older than me! Oh, I'm gonna kill—Wait… Oh, crap. That's Carrigan Elliot… Ethan's older sister.

I took a deep breath. "Peeta, stay here for a second, okay?"

"Okay," Peeta replied absently. He'd gone back to looking at the lights.

Slowly, I walked over to Carrigan and Vincent, stopping behind Vincent and crossing my arms, and scolding look on my face.

"Vincent Oliver Mellark," I said.

Vincent froze and slowly turned to face me. "Hi… Lily."

I raised my eyebrows. "'Hi'? Is that all the you have to say? What do you think you're doing?"

"We were just talking—"

"Talking? That wasn't talking, that was flirting on your part. I'm not stupid. Now, march yourself over there and go watch your brother, okay? Come on, go."

His shoulders slouching a bit, Vincent walked away and back over to Peeta by the lights.

I turned to Carrigan. "I'm sorry if he was bothering you."

Carrigan chuckled. "It's okay, really. I found it kind of cute, actually. I'm almost twenty, he's obviously way too young for me."

I hesitated. "Carrigan, um…"

"I know who you are," she interrupted, her dark eyes now sad. "You're Lily, our newest Victor… The girl my brother loved."

"Look, I didn't know he was going to—"

Carrigan put her hand on my arm. "Lily, it's okay. I don't blame you. I'm sure Ethan doesn't either, given how he died."

A pang went through my chest. "I am really sorry, Carrigan."

"I know." She glanced behind me at Peeta and Vincent. "You obviously have people who need you… I'm glad you made it back, if Ethan couldn't."

"Still… You must miss your brother."

Carrigan nodded. "I do. But yours are lucky that they have you to take care of them. I've met your mother a few times… She's really quite awful."

"Yes, that she is. Um, I should get going."

"Of course. It was nice to meet you."

"You too."
I turned and walked back to my brothers. Vincent turned to face me when I reached them.

"Do you know her?" he asked.

Though I could hear him, my thoughts were far away… Back to the arena. "Her name is Carrigan Elliot," I finally replied. "She's…. She's Ethan's older sister."

Vincent went pale. "Oh…"

I snapped back to the present and crossed my arms again, the over-protective-big-sister look back on my face. "Yes, well, she's also almost twenty, which means that she's way too old for your barely-fifteen-year-old self. What were you thinking?"

Vincent shrugged innocently.

"Ugh," I grumbled. I reached up and ruffled his hair, just to annoy him. "Look, wither you're three inches taller than me or not, you're still my little brother. I don't care if you want to fail at talking to girls, but they better damn-well be your same age, got it."

Vincent just started mumbling. "Yeah, yeah, I got—Wait… What do you mean fail at talking to girls?"

I cleared my throat and tried to resist laughing. "Oh, nothing. Come on, Peeta, let's go get your other brother from the library."

I turned and started walking, Peeta at my side. I knew Vincent was following by the sound of his grumbling.

A week later, the sun was setting on Christmas Eve. I'd been cooking all day, with Peeta's help, while Will and Vincent put up so many decorations in the living room, I'm starting to wonder how they all fit. Peeta had frosted an entire village of gingerbread houses, and was very invested in it. He was wearing one of those fluffy baker hats and everything. I, on the other hand, had my hair up in a falling-out bun, my sleeves rolled up, and an apron, covered in flour. Although, I must say, if there's one good thing I got from my mother, it was definitely her gift for cooking, if I do say so myself. Just as I was taking the last pie out of the oven, I heard a knock at the door. What could that be? Grumbling, I pulled off my oven mites and started toward the door.

"Peeta, if something starts burning, yell," I called over my shoulder.

"Okay," Peeta replied absently, still staring at his masterpiece of a village, looking for any needed details.

I walked down the hall and pulled the door open, half expecting it to be my mother showing up to cause trouble again, but it wasn't. Standing on the other side of the door was Carrigan, leaning on the railing, holding a black box against her hip.

"Carrigan," I said, surprised. "What are you doing here? Uh, not that you're not welcome, I just—"

"I know," she interrupted. "I didn't mean to surprise you, but, um… I was looking through Ethan's old room, and, I, um, found this." She held up the box. "It's for you."

I frowned. "N-no, I couldn't—"

"Please. If you knew what I knew… Look, he'd want you to have it. He just… Never got up the courage to give it to you. I think it was supposed to be your birthday present, but… Ethan was really quiet, and had a hard time talking to anyone. Just take it."

I stared at her for a minute, then slowly took the box from her arms. "What is it?"

Carrigan shrugged. "No idea. I didn't open it."

There was a small silence.

"I should probably be going." Carrigan started to turn away.

"Wait," I put a hand on her shoulder and she turned, "do you want to come in? We've got more than enough food, and my youngest brother would love to have someone else to show his precious gingerbread village to. But, if you have somewhere to be, I understand."

Carrigan shook her head and smiled a little. "No, I don't. You know what? Yeah, I'd love to see your brother's gingerbread village."

I laughed. "Come on in, then."

I stepped back and Carrigan walked inside the house.

Later, after Carrigan had gone home and my brothers were all in bed, I was still sitting in my dark bedroom, staring at the box in front of me. I hadn't gotten up the courage to open it yet. Okay, Lily, you just have to do it. That's what—My thoughts faltered…. That's what Ethan would want. Slowly, with shaking hands, I lifted the lid off of the box and set it down. Inside the box, was a folded note, and a much smaller box. I picked up the note first before slowly unfolding it and starting to read.

Lily,

I'm not even entirely sure that you know who I am, but… I couldn't think of another way to tell you everything that I want to. I'm the boy that sits at the back of the class and doesn't talk to anyone. I'm the boy who watches everyone else's problems around him… says nothing, just watches. I'm the boy that has to leave a box on her doorstep, just to tell the girl he loves how he feels…. That's me.

You? You're the girl that everyone is jealous of. Brilliant, beautiful, kind, strong… everything that makes someone worth loving. How could I not fall for you, really? I doubt that you'd ever feel the same way, and I doubt you even know I exist. I mean… You could have your pick of any other suitor. But I… I couldn't live with myself if I never said this: I love you, Lily. I've loved you for years, and I'll love you for many more, always. Your laugh, your courage, your kindness, your stubbornness…. Everything that makes you… Lily. There's so many more things I could put in this note, but... Well, that would take way too long.

All my love,

Ethan

I must've read it at least four times before it actually sank in. I was only able to focus again when tear drops fell and splattered onto the paper. Slowly, I set the note down next to me, tears falling from my eyes. After the arena, I'd obviously known that he had feelings for me, but… Never that he felt this strongly…. And now he's gone. Gone, forever, because he felt this way. Half of me just wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but the other part was still curious. Hands violently shaking, I picked the smaller box out of the bigger and set the big one on the floor before lifting the lid of the black, velvet-wrapped box. Inside, on a thin, gold chain with a wreath of tiny gold leaves around it, was and obsidian pendant that sat perfectly in the palm of my hand. In the center of the pendant was a pure, clear, amethyst in the shape of a lily. This was the most beautiful necklace I'd ever seen. This was something you should only be able to find in the Capital, or District 1. How did Ethan afford this? The necklace only made me cry more. The chain was just long enough to fit over my head without unclasping it. It fit perfectly next to my locket. I set the velvet box on the bedside table and curled onto my side, letting the tears fall onto the pillow, hoping they would stop. But they didn't, they just got worse. A low sob escaped me and I didn't try to stop it… I couldn't. Everything else was quiet and peaceful. I simply stared at the moon outside, through clouded, teary eyes. Then I heard the door creek open behind me and quickly wiped my eyes before looking over my shoulder.

"Peeta," I said, looking at the small boy in the doorway. "What is it?"

"I heard you crying," Peeta replied. "Are you okay?"

I swung my legs over and sat up. "I'm fine, Peeta, I just… never mind."

Peeta closed the door and sat down next to me. "Is it about Ethan? He was Carrigan's brother, wasn't he?"

I nodded slowly, surprised that he knew all that. "Yes."

"Are you sad that he died?"

I decided not to tell Peeta everything. "Of course. I'm sad anybody had to die. Mal, Ethan… The entire Hunger Games is barbaric, you know that."

Peeta leaned his head against my arm. "I hope I never get picked."

I reached up and stroked his ashy hair. "Me too, Peeta. Me too."

Okay, you guys, that is it for this, the final chapter of The Seventieth Hunger Games, although I'm wondering if I should do a bonus chapter or two of Lily's reaction when Peeta gets picked and everything, so tell me in the reviews if I should do that. The official sequel, however, will be set in the Quarter-Quell. *Grins maliciously* I have plans for the Quarter-Quell. Also, I have a bit of a problem/slash idea. I originally planned this story with Lily ending up with Finnick, but… If I could find a way for Ethan would still be alive, do you guys think it would be better if Lily ended up with him? Who do you guys ship more? Finnick + Lily, or Ethan + Lily. Tell me in the reviews. Also, can you guys see the cover image that I attached? I don't know if you can. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, I don't know why, but, whatever. It's just a picture of a Young Abigail Breslin, who is the face claim for Young Lily. I hope it works and you guys can see it. Alright, I'm done rambling now. I'll see you guys soon. Bye guys, - Lily