Chapter 7 – First Night and Day at the Capitol
We finally got off the train and are now heading into the building where the tributes stay. I can't stop thinking about that. Condoms. I shudder. Peeta and I walk to our room while Effie yells after us that dinner will be in about an hour. He opens the door and pushes it open with his leg as he grabs me and lets the door slam behind him.
"Peeta?" I ask him before we both fall on the bed. I can feel his body heat from beneath me.
"Yes?" He responds but it comes out more like a question.
"Do you think that Klarissa will be alright?" I ask him, "After all she is only thirteen…" I finish off. He puts one hand on my back and starts rubbing lightly while his other hand strokes my hair. Whispering in my ear he says "I think she'll be fine, after all she does have all the qualities of her mother." We both manage a laugh under all the stress. I close my eyes and then there's a knock on the door.
"I got it." Peeta tells me as he takes me off his chest and rolls me over onto my back. I catch myself before I doze off completely and then reach for Peeta who's usually next to me but I just feel a cold and empty spot. I get up and hear the water running in the bathroom so I knock and enter.
"Katniss?" The voice from the shower asks, "Is that you?" I strip down to nothing and join my husband in the shower.
"Yes it is." I say between laughs, "Now hurry up, dinners soon." I finish washing my hair and body and I get out and press a button. My hair and body are completely dry in about three minutes. It reminds me from when I was sixteen and in the games but for some reason I'm feeling a lot worse than back then but then again I have Peeta which makes it a little better. I grab a simple gray dress and throw on a black belt to match.
"Kat? It's time for dinner." He says as he walks back into the room. I slip on some flats and grab his hand. We walk down the hall just in time to see Klarissa and Avan sitting right next to each other. Peeta's grip on my hand tightens and I can tell he feels uncomfortable with Klarissa and Avan after walking in on them on the train.
He stands up and greets us, "Mr Mellark." Then he turns to me, "Mrs. Mellark."
"Please just call us Peeta and Katniss." Peeta requests, "It'll make everything a whole lot shorter." I giggle at his remark and then nod in agreement. We both take our seats and Effie stands up and addresses the table.
"We have one week until the games." Effie mentions, "So let's go through the schedule shall we?"
"Is it busy?" Avan asks. All of us look at him with a look of desperation and try to hold back our shock but Effie doesn't. She gasps and then continues.
"Tomorrow you will go down for training to get some of the basics down and meet the instructors, but before that you will be in the opening ceremonies. Tomorrow morning you will meet your stylists and they will make you over and then the opening ceremonies will go on. Then the two days after that you will go back and practice whatever you like and go to whatever stations. On the fourth day you will have private lessons with Peeta, Katniss, or Haymitch however this wish to do that. On the fifth day you will have more private lessons in the morning and then after lunch you will go and meet and get ready for interviews. The sixth day is your interviews and then you will spend time back here with us. Then the seventh day you will be prepped for the games and then the next morning you will be launched into the arena." Effie polishes off, "And have a nice night. Get enough sleep, your next week will be busy!" She hoots as she walks off. Peeta and I are looking at each other thinking about how much busier the schedule is now than it was back then. We finish off our dinners and then say goodnight to everyone. We get up and leave when we hear a sudden crash. I turn around suddenly and see Avan lying on the floor. I look up at Klarissa and see her looking around in horror. I start walking towards Avan and help him up while Peeta goes to fetch Effie and of course Haymitch just stares at me.
"Klarissa can you please go and get me a wet towel?" I ask my little angel. She nods and quickly hurries off. A few minutes later she returns and hands me the towel. I place it on his forehead when Effie comes back with Peeta on her heels.
"What happened?" Exclaims Effie.
"He just fell onto the floor…" Klarissa says. Effie must've given her a look because next thing I know she scampers away. I turn back to see Avan and his eyes wide open staring at me.
"Are you okay?" I question him.
"I'm fine…" He says, "Thanks." He pushes my hand away gently and walks away down the hall. Peeta, Effie, Haymitch, and I all exchange glances and go off our separate ways. Back in our room Peeta and I lie next to each other and I hear him whispering things into my ear to comfort me before I drift off into a deep sleep. I vividly see Klarissa and Avan in the arena. They're running and hiding just like Peeta and I. Then I see him fall to the ground while Klarissa just sits next to him. I start to hear her scream but it's not her. It's me. I wake up tears streaming down my face. I sit up in bed for a few minutes sobbing and that's when I feel Peeta's arms around me trying to hug the bad dreams out of me.
"What was it this time?" He asks me gently.
"Klarissa... and… and… Avan in the games…" I manage to get out, "And then Avan fainted." I finish off.
"Kat… there's nothing to worry about. I don't think that will happen and besides it was only a dream."
"Peeta, you don't understand." I say defensively, "Avan has epilepsy."