Finnaly Chapter 2! Sorry it took so long but school has just been CRAZY! Anywho here is my next chapter. Also Cato acts rather uncatolike in this chapter but don't worry we'll get to see the Cato we all know and love in later chapters! Enjoy, and please, please review!

"What the Hell!" I slam my fist down on the mahogany coffee table. For the last several hours I had been forced to walk arm in arm with Cato and act like we were friends, as countless capitol citizens paraded past us. The worst part hadn't been Cato though, hadn't been the crazy costumed freaks offering congratulations. The worst part was the occasional references, the occasional comment about Peeta. Most people had seemed to skirt around the topic (for which I was incredibly grateful) but sometimes it slipped out. Whenever someone did mention his name it took all of my willpower not to lung at Cato and strangle him for what he did. But that wouldn't do in front of all of Panem, now would it? Instead I did my best to act happy and chat with the multitudes of strangers. But now, back in the safety of the training center I was free to act as I wished. "Why?" I turned to glare at Haymitch.

"I already explained it to you sweetheart." He says impatiently and raises a glass of brandy to his lips.

I want to scream and knock the glass out of his hands, instead I make my voice as calm as I possibly can. "Please explain it again."

He eyed me calmly. "I told you the President Snow is furious that Peeta died. Apparently the capitol citizens were really enjoying the whole star crossed lovers business."

I ball my hands into fists. "And how does Cato fit into all this?"

"Well after Cato killed Peeta on top of the cornucopia" I wince, "everyone expected that he would kill you too, but he didn't. I dare say the gamemakers would have sent the mutations back in to finish one of you off but President Snow stopped them."

"Why exactly?" Even though I already know.

"As I explained earlier the people want a romance, and if it's a romance they want, it's a romance they'll get. Snow just wants this Hunger Games to have been a success, if that means two victors then so be it."

"So what am I supposed to do?" I ask angrily, "Be all over Cato?"

"Not exactly. No one will believe it if you two just suddenly 'fall in love'. Instead we are going with you two growing together in the aftermath of the games." He puts down his glass. "Now you should get some sleep, you're interview is tomorrow." That doesn't really leave any room for negotiations so I go to my room.

I change out of my gold dress, letting it fall to the ground. I'll pick it up tomorrow. Then I curl up in my bed in nothing but my underclothes. I try to relax and fall asleep, but to no avail. Visions of the games flash before my eyes. I can almost hear the canon. Then I think of Peeta, and immediately wish I hadn't. I remember him in the cave, begging me not to go get the medicine that would heal him. The tears that I've been holding back for so long begin to stream down my cheeks. "Peeta." I whisper his name. I sob into my pillow. Eventually I drift off into dreams full of the horrors of the arena.

I am running. Trees and rocks covered in moss flash by. I know where I am, back in the arena. My heart thuds loudly in my chest. I keep running, not sure why or from what, but I'm certain that if I stop I die. Through the trees I glimpse something. A person. I see a flash of blonde hair illuminated by the sun. I know that hair.

"Peeta!" I call out, but there is no response. "Peeta!" I'm certain he is there, waiting for me. "Peeta?" But then why doesn't he answer me. I stop. Suddenly I notice that I am in a meadow, the same meadow. Rue's meadow. All around me mocking jays begin to sing. It's Rue's melody. Simple and lovely. But something sound off, the notes a little too sharp, the pitches too high. Then one of the birds lets out a high pitched shriek, a warning call! "Peeta!"

Then I feel strong arms around me and a cool blade against my throat. I look up into Cato's cold blue eyes.

"Up! Up! UP!" Effies voice wakes me, "Today is going to be a big, big, big, day!" I open my eyes. Sunlight is flooding the room. Effie has disappeared. I'm shaking, goose bumps cover my skin. I can still recall my dream. Rue's song, Cato's face. I shiver. His eyes, the eyes of a predator, the last thing you see before you die. And Peeta… but I stop myself before I can complete the thought. I will need to be strong today, last night's tears must remain of the night.

I dress quickly, and then my prep team descends. I assure them that they did wonderfully and then I sink into silence. Cinna finally arrives and shoos them away. He dresses me in a gauzy white dress with pink shoes. We talk some, but not much, which is fine since I don't really feel up to it.

The interview is to take place right in the sitting room. I get a real shock when I see Cato sitting there, on the sofa, but then I remember that since we are both victors our interview will be together. Then I notice the room itself. A space has been cleared and a love seat has been positioned for the cameras. All around it are vases of pink and red flowers. I hate whoever thought of this. The flowers, roses mostly are the kind of flower reserved only for lovers. I know that these flowers were meant for me and Peeta, only now Peeta isn't here. Caesar Flickerman gives me a hug and a congratulations.

Then Cato and I sit stiffly next to each other on the loveseat. Haymitch shoots me a glance that says very clearly "You're supposed to pretend you trust him." I try to relax a little but I'm painfully aware of his hand next to mine, the same hand that killed Peeta. Then the cameras flick on and I try my best to look like the happy little victor that I'm supposed to be. Caesar Flickerman and Cato seem to have the whole interview down. I just try to speak as little as possible. Cato is wonderful though, always playing the right angle for the camera. I wonder if he knows how much trouble we are in or if it's just natural. I suppose they raise them to be victors in 2.

Finally after a long while Caesar asks me the dreaded question. "Now Katniss I know it might be painful for you, but we have to know how you're dealing with the tragic loss."

I try to look as composed as possible before answering. "Well-I-I truly don't know what to say. Imagine if you woke up one morning and you couldn't remember your own name," I paused "That's what life is like without Peeta. I'm sure you could imagine." I'm sure they can't.

"Hmmm." Caesar sighs sadly, "So very unfortunate. And what about Cato here, he was the one who actually dealt the final blow. I can imagine some animosity there."

Oh you bet. But Panem can't know that. Instead I say, "I can't blame Cato for this. It was that or die, and I probably would have done the same in his place." I can almost hear the sighs of the many viewers, and I feel Cato put his arm around me, as if to comfort me.

"It's simply tragic." Then Caesar turns his attention back to Cato, "And you Cato, you could have been sole victor. Instead you refused to kill Katniss. Do you mind telling us what was running throught your head at the moment?"

"I don't really know, it all happened so fast." Then Cato looks down at me and strangely I see none of the rage that I have come to associate him with in his eyes. "I just knew that if I killed Katniss I would never have been able to go on after the games." With that the cameras flick off, leaving all of Panem hanging.