The next few days are a blur of activity. Countless advisors and such come in and out. When I'm finally able to get away, not to mention just for a half-hour, I head straight to the woods. When I approach the ledge, I see him already there. I creep up slowly like I would come up to a wounded animal.

"Hi," I say hesitantly.

"Hi," he says with no emotion so I can't tell if he's mad or not. He probably is.

"I'm sorry," I blurt.

He finally looks back at me. "It's not your fault," he says still emotionless but I can hear the anger.

I walk over to the ledge and plop down next to him, "Then why're you mad at me?"

"It's nothing," he turns away.

"Okay, well I only have a half-hour."

"See?" he questions with a tone of disapproval.

"No," I say confused.

"You're busy up until you leave," he states, "Who knows if we'll ever see each other again."

That's when I burst out laughing at the absurdity of all of this. "Gale—" I choke out then start laughing again. "You really think I'll win?" I say but it comes with another round of laughing. It's the hardest I've laughed in a while. It feels good.

"He'd be stupid not to like you," he says with just a hint of a smile on his face.

I roll my eyes and shove him lightly. Then I grab his arm, "look I promise I'll come home, we'll see each other again."

He frees his arm and wraps it around my back, "alright."

We sit there in silence and its comfortable silence, compared to what I'm going home to. Looking at my watch—my mom's she gave it to me so I made sure to be on time—I see a half-hour has passed. Sitting up from his shoulder, I groan.

He lets his arm drop, "time to go home?"

"Yes," I sigh.

"See you around Catnip."

I smile, "see you. You're coming to see me off right?"

"Wouldn't miss it," he says.

I push myself up and begin the journey, if you can call it that, back to my house. The whole entourage—Effie, the escort, Haymitch, my personal guard, Cinna, my stylist, and my temporary maids until I get to the palace—is there. I feel like I'm too pampered. What person needs this many people to watch out for them? Before I was selected the only person I had to watch out for me was Gale.

"Hello Dearie," Effie trills.

"Hi," I say.

"We were just discussing your arrival at the palace," my mother chimes in.

I nod slowly, "Okay, well I'm gonna just go to my room."

"Not so fast," Haymitch calls.

I spin back around on my heel, "yes?"

"Oh, let her go, she probably doesn't care anyways," Cinna tells Haymitch.

"Probably not," I announce.

"Okay, then go on," Haymitch shoos me.

I walk into the bedroom and flop down on my back on the bed. "You alright?"

I lift my head up, "Yea I'm fine, Little Duck."

"Just overwhelmed?" she sits down on the bed.

"Yea, you get me so well," I tell her ruffling her hair.

"Well, that's my job as your sister," she fixes her hair, "don't mess my hair up one of your maids did it."

I laugh, "Yeah, Yeah."

"Katniss," Effie calls.

"That's my cue," I mutter, then louder, "Coming!"

Prim giggles and I walk into the hall and down to the kitchen. I stand in the doorway until Effie motions me in.

"Sit," Haymitch says, and I sit in the closest chair available which happens to be next to him and my mother.

"Okay," Cinna begins, "Each contestant has a special outfit on the way to the palace, and I was thinking fire because fire is memorable."

I nod, "Alright, I really don't have a say anyway do I?"

"Nope," Haymitch cuts in.

"Alright," I sigh.

"It's a big, big day!" Effie practically shouts. I groan and roll over into my pillow. Reluctantly, I get up and let the maids get me ready.

When they leave, Cinna come in with my outfit. It's a black fitted jumpsuit that he says he's going to light on fire, supposedly. He puts my hair up in four braids and curls them up into loops. When I look in the mirror, I still see me but he's defined my features. They'll still recognize me at the palace.

In past years, they just go up on stage with the mayor. This year we're going in convertibles, sitting on the back of them when we get close to the palace. Effie ushers me into the limo and into the justice building where I say my goodbyes to the people that show up.

I stroke the couch until my mother and Prim come in first.

"Katniss, you look so beautiful!" Prim gushes.

"Thanks, Little Duck," I ruffle her hair and this time she doesn't protest and all of a sudden she's crying.

I pull her to me, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"You have to win, or come home safe," she cries.

"Why wouldn't I be safe?" I stroke her hair.

"The rebels," she says.

"Hey," I tilt her head up and wipe her tears, "I'll be fine."

"Try to win," she says.

"Of course, but it's not my choice," I tell her

She gives me one last hug, and my mom gives me a hug.

Minutes later, a peacekeeper comes in to escort them out. "No! Katniss!" Prim cries. They literally have to drag her out. "I love you!" I call after them.

Gale comes in next, "Hey Catnip, what did you do to make Prim cry?"

I punch his arm, "I didn't do it."

"I'm kidding," he rubs his arm playfully pretending to be hurt.

He sits next to me, "Ah nice couch."

"That's not important," I laugh.

"It's true though," he says.

I turn to look at him, "anything serious?"

"Nope," he says and we sit in silence then he says, "Oh wait, yes."

"What?" I ask anxious because the peacekeeper will be back soon enough.

"You have to try to stay there as long as you can because I—" just then the door flies opens.

"Times up," the peacekeeper barks.

Gale gives me a tight squeeze before standing up and taking me with him because I don't let go. He wraps his arms back around me. The peacekeeper tries to drag him off, but I don't let go and neither does he. The peacekeeper barks something into his walkie-talkie. Another peacekeeper grabs Gale's other arm, and together they drag him off and I have to let go.

"Katniss, Remember I—" the door slams shut and I'm left not knowing what he wanted me to remember.

I plop back down on the couch glowering at the wall. My next visitor is unexpected.

"Madge," I say.

She sits down next to me. It's silent until she obviously remembers why she came. "They let you wear something from home. Will you wear this?" she hands me a pin.

"A Mockingjay," I say in realization.

"Yeah, will you wear it?"

"Of course," I tell her giving her a side hug.

The peacekeeper comes and she goes without a fight. Effie collects me and we get into the limo that is taking us to the airport. I'm flying with three other girls. I think their names are Rue, Glimmer, and another girl I don't remember. When we get to the airport gate Rue is already there. I look down at my shoes because I've never been good with people.

"Hi," Rue calls cheerfully and I look up.

"Hi," I call back cautiously.

Nearing her, she sticks out her hand, "I'm Rue."

I shake her hand, "Katniss."

"Nice outfit," she compliments and I look down at it.

I smile, "Yeah, my stylist outdid himself didn't he?"

She grins, "He did."

"You look great too," I add. She is wearing a shimmery under shirt with an overall dress, topped off with a glittery headband and shoes. Her hair is just down; it still looks good though.

"Thanks," she says and gets distracted looking behind me. I turn around too. Glimmer is sashaying towards us in a long shiny pink dress, with a furry cover-up, and big pink dangling earrings. Her hair is put in a half-up-half–down-hair-do. She wears big pink sunglasses as well.

"Hi," Rue calls like she did with me.

Glimmer just peeks over her sunglasses and looks us over, obviously not pleased. She wrinkles her nose in disgust. Rue doesn't seem affected. And when Glimmer gets to us Rue sticks out her hand.

"I'm Rue," she says.

Glimmer looks at her hand like it's a dead rodent. Rue keeps up her friendly demeanor.

"Glimmer, right?" she asks.

Glimmer nods slightly, the first acknowledgement that Rue is understandable.

I decide to be semi-friendly, "I'm Katniss."

Glimmer turns her eyes to me, still looking over her sunglasses. She looks me over again, wrinkling her nose again.

She finally takes off her sunglasses, folds them neatly, and shoves them in her purse. "I don't know about you two, but I plan on winning. So I don't plan on making any friends," she says still looking at us like we're something the waves washed up.

"That's cool, C'mon Katniss lets go sit," Rue says and I follow her to a bench.

"That nerve!" Rue exclaims.

"You did great," I say, "Keeping your cool I mean."

Rue smiles, "Thanks, my mom taught me to be nice to people who aren't because they need it most."

"My mom would probably get along with yours then," I laugh.

"Look there's the other girl, I can't remember her name," she giggles.

"I can't either," I agree. Then I turn around and watch the red-head walk towards us in a sequined silver dress that falls at her shins. She wears silver dangling earrings. Her bright red hair contrasts well with her silver dress.

"Time for the friendliness," Rue whispers then calls out, "Hi."

The girl shyly waves.

When she nears us, "I'm Rue."

"I'm Finch," she says softly.

Rue shakes her hand. "I'm Katniss," I tell her.

She nods. Our personal guards and escorts stand off to the side. The stylists will be there when we arrive.

"Come along girls," Rue's escort calls.

We all follow her to the gate and take a seat on the plane. I sit next to Rue and Finch. Glimmer sits across the aisle. Me and Rue talk and Finch answers questions when we ask.

***Hours later***

"Get in the car," Cinna ushers, opening the door for me. I climb in and onto the back of the convertible.

"Head up, Smiles on, They're going to love you," Cinna says and he lights my cape on fire.

I scream and try to beat out the flames with no avail. The flames reach my skin and all I feel is tingling. Cinna gives me thumbs up and the car drives into the night. People are cheering already but they increase at least three volumes when they see my flames.

I smile bright like Cinna said too. I get into it and start waving and blowing kisses. People reach up and pretend to grab them like their tangible things. Someone throws a rose and I catch it pricking my finger in the process. I wince slightly then put my smile back on. They start cheering my name. By the time I get into the palace gates and around the back my face hurts from smiling.

Cinna extinguishes my cape and helps me out of the car.

"They loved you!" Effie trills.

"Great job, sweetheart," Haymitch says.

"I'll see you before your interview, your maids will take care of you until then," Cinna says.

I give him a quick hug, and he whispers, "I'm can't bet but if I could I'd bet on you."

He releases me and I follow Haymitch into the palace. He takes me to the women's room so he says. We spend some time in the women's room until our instructor which just happens to be Effie, takes us to our designated rooms.

My maids, Venia, Ocatavia, and Lavinia, dress me after some arguing. They leave me to go to sleep. Suddenly I'm thinking of Prim, and my mom, and Gale, and Madge, and for some reason thinking I'll never see them again and I start sobbing. I'm sure I've woken the whole palace. Someone knocks then throws open the door and runs in.

Its Prince Peeta, he looks different than his usual appearance. Instead of perfectly straight hair, it's shaggy and looks like he's run his hands through it. Instead of pressed suits, a pair of nice pants with his shirt untucked. His eyes still look the same though, ocean blue.

"I'm sorry," I say once I've slowed my sobs.

He stands at the foot of my bed, "It's alright, I was just walking through the halls to clear my head. Overnight work," he groans.

I've never seen the not so perfect, but still perfect in a way, side of him. I've calmed down enough by now. He puts a hand on my leg. "Good night. . ." he trails off not knowing my name.

"Katniss," I say softly

"Katniss," he tests, "well good night Katniss."

Then he's at my ear, "You should wear flames more often they suit you."