Katniss' POV:
The ceremony in District 1 is a grand affair. I'm stunned by the amount of jewels everywhere the people here seem to be almost like the Capitol people in their obsession with extravagance. Although perhaps not quite as colourful in appearance as those in the Capitol. I see no one with coloured hair, dyed skin or impractical garish clothing in the crowd in front of me.
Clove finishes her part of the speech and I recite mine, reading off the cards carefully, trying not to show how the words feel wrong in my mouth. My eyes stare at the faces of Glimmer and Marvel, the two dead tributes of District 1, I gulp as uneasiness settles in my stomach I was the cause of death for both of these tributes.
The crowd cheers and claps when Clove finishes the speech. I smile at them as is expected before taking Clove's hand and retreating into the mayor's house. How can they act so happy to see us when I killed both of their tributes? It would be their right to scream and jeer at us but instead they act as if we are celebrities. I frown, I suppose we are now.
Haymitch meets us inside, I expect him to look pleased with us, the people reacted well to us after all but instead he just looks grim. He leans against the wall talking quietly to Clove's mentor who also looks quite worried while the peacekeepers of this district start to set up a car to drive us around the district.
The buildings look modern and a couple are even almost as tall as the ones in the Capitol. I know that District 1 specialises in Luxury items for the Capitol but I'm shocked by the amount of jewels everywhere. I always assumed that the district sent all their jewels to the Capitol
We drive down the main street and I see multiple jewellers, perfume shops and even stylists. We're allowed out of the car to walk down the street, there's a peacekeeper standing outside every shop so although we're un-escorted I doubt that we'd be allowed to wander too far away from the main area.
Clove walks beside me, her hands in her pockets, a scowl on her face. I don't think she's fully recovered from yesterday and I know she'd much rather be on the train than wandering around the streets of District 1.
We turn a corner and end up stopping outside a jewellers, curiously I examine the jewellery in the window, shiny rings, necklaces and bracelets, sit on purple velvet. Clove stares at them too, her brow furrowed in thought. Eventually she reaches for my hand, standing slightly closer to me.
"Are you ok?" She whispers, I nod without looking at her, I don't want to talk about this right now. She squeezes my hand before dropping it. I glance at her, she's staring into the window of the jewellers. "I can tell that you're not." She whispers, her eyes saddened as she turns to me and kisses my cheek, "we'll talk about it later." She whispers and I nod.
She turns and walks away a few steps, glancing behind her to see if I'm following. As we walk I examine the shop windows fascinated by the extravagance here. I never got to wall around the Capitol so this street is the single most extravagant street I've walked down, I can only assume the Capitol would be grander.
A large fountain looms ahead of us, a horse with a chariot standing in the centre as what I can only assume is a past victor stands in the chariot, a sword raises to the sky as water gushes solidly around the pedestal holding the statue.
I stop in my tracks my mouth falling open the sight. Clove pulls me closer to it and hesitantly I reach out to dip my fingers in the rushing water, watching as my fingers create a partition in the flowing water.
Suddenly a few water droplets hit me. I jump turning to Clove who's looking away, pretending to be innocent her hand wet. Grinning I cup my hands under the fountain and flick the water towards her. She smirks at me flicking some more water back to over towards me.
I duck around the fountain trying to avoid the water and she starts chasing me. We flick water at each other and soon we're both laughing, Clove catches up to me her eyes glowing with warmth, we sit down on the stone wall surrounding the fountain.
As we sit by the fountain we watch people walk past. I blush when I realise how we just behaved in a public place, behaving like children probably isn't the sort of thing expected of victors. A few people smile at us while others have their eyebrows raised and a look of disbelief on their face. Some even point at us and turning to their companions but none actually approach us. I can't help but be glad of that.
I turn to Clove to find her staring at me her beautiful eyes warm and I smile. She's so perfect. I move closer to her and capture her lips in mine. Suddenly filled with love for her, I tangle my fingers in her slightly damp hair. I pull away smiling at her.
A few people have gathered around and are pointing at us and smiling to each other, some are muttering to each other. I roll my eyes irritably; I can't even kiss my girlfriend in public without causing a scene. Clove stands up her hand in mine, pulling me behind her. She gives me a playful grin and pulls me through the crowds. Soon we're running away from all the people. I let out a laugh as we run down the main street of District 1. I barely notice the people staring at us quizzically as we rush past them.
We reach a bench and stop, panting for breath. Clove jumps up onto the bench so she is taller than me and leans down to kiss me, her eyes glowing. I laugh, wrapping my arms around her waist, lifting her off the bench easily and placing her on the floor. I much prefer a shorter Clove. Grinning I kiss her once more.
We walk slowly back up the street hand in hand, I note that Clove has successfully made my uneasiness melt away. Haymitch meets us halfway down the street. He looks slightly less disgruntled than before as he nods towards us. "Nice show earlier" He mutters to me, so only I can hear. I glance at him my eyes wide as I drop Clove's hand, he saw all that? I glance around and notice the subtle cameras lining the streets.
Of course this entire trip would be on film, briefly I wonder how much of what happened in District 2 was caught on camera. I hope for Clove's sake that it wasn't a lot, my uneasiness returns with a vengeance. I turn to look at Clove, hoping that her eyes will help it disappear like before but find her gone. Glancing around frantically, I can't find her. "Haymitch where's Clove?" I ask, fear creeping into my chest.
Haymitch glances behind him shrugging. "I'm sure she's alright." He says, frowning slightly but I can't help the panic that entered my very being. What if she's hurt? What if the peacekeepers have arrested her for some reason? This is not the place for her to be walking off on her own. Haymitch grabs my shoulder dragging me back down the street. "Calm down, we'll find her." He grunts, "There's peacekeepers all around here, it's not like she could've got far."
We walk back down the street, people glancing at s curiously when they see me without my girlfriend, I suppose I look a state as I frantically look around for any sign of her. We turn the corner and I spot her, she grins at me when she sees me and I rush toward her taking her into my arms, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.
"Where were you?" I ask frantically, kissing her all over her face. She rolls her eyes and takes my lips in hers possessively.
"It's alright, I'm here now." She says when we've parted, I take her hand, deciding not to let go of it until we reach the train.
"That doesn't answer my question." I say frowning at her.
"I …got distracted." She says haltingly, I scowl at the pavement, she's not telling me where she was and that upsets me. "It doesn't matter."
"The peacekeepers didn't try anything did they?" I ask quietly so only she can hear. She shakes her head frowning at me.
"No, of course not, I just got distracted is all." She nudges me reassuringly. I nod, I know she's hiding something form me but I guess she'll tell me what it is later. I'm just glad she's alright. We follow Haymitch back up the street and the car that brought us here waiting for us.
The car drives us to the train, peacekeepers escort us the short distance from the car to the station and we clamber onto the luxury train. Haymitch indicates towards the door and I share a look with Clove, he wants us to follow him.
We trail after him until we reach the last carriage and Haymitch sits down pointing to the seats opposite him for us to do the same. He looks grim again and my heart pounds in my chest, whatever he needs to say it's not going to be good.
"I have some bad news for you." He begins looking between us. "If Snow wanted you to stop a rebellion you're not doing a very good job." He sighs.
"What?" I exclaim, sitting up abruptly. Haymitch shakes his head holding up his hand to stop me talking.
"Instead of sounding like you're in love you two sound like you're reading from a drilling manual." He takes some white cards out of his pocket and holds them up I recognise them as the cards that Effie writes for us, he sighs and tosses them at us.
"You try reading that stuff Effie writes." Clove growls picking up a card and wrinkling her nose. Haymitch sighs rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"The good news is that all your actions in District one were broadcasted across Panem. With any luck that will convince people your love is real although I'm not sure that how that will stop any rebellion. If anything it just might convince them that you two aren't interested in anything but each other." He sighs and I notice how worried he looks.
"So what do we do now?" I ask, biting my lips. I reach for Clove's hand as fear enters my chest. What is Snow tries to hurt her? What if Snow tries to hurt Prim or my mother?
"Tomorrow we'll reach the Capitol, I want you two to smile and wave. You're going to a party in the evening at Snow's mansion I want you to act every bit like the in love, harmless victors you're supposed to , the cameras will be on you, you have to convince Snow that you're one of them, no threat to him and no leaders of any rebellion." Haymitch says decisively. "It's the only way I can think of but it may already be too late." He has that grim look on his face again a she nods and gets up. "Just…try not to screw it up." He says before leaving, closing the door behind him.
I stare at the door, my heart beating rapidly in my chest. Never before have I wanted to go home so badly. I want to take Clove home, get Prim and my mother and take them out into the forest where they'll be safe.
Clove's thumb rubbing my knuckles brings me back to myself. I turn to her, He green eyes a worried but looking into them calms me somehow. "We can do this." She says quietly, I nod leaning into her, wanting to drink up her presence as I rest my head on her shoulder.
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes for a second. "How are we going to stop this?" I ask fearfully. I feel Clove move her hand up to play with my braid. She's silent for a while as if trying to find the right words to answer my question.
"I don't know." She says eventually, sighing in defeat. "But we'll be alright, Prim and your mum will be alright." She reassures me. I'm not sure if I believe her. "We'll make sure of it."
We hold each other until we're called away for dinner. Neither of us talks much as we pick at our food. I think even Effie picks up on our defeated demeanour. She keeps looking between us and frowning before glancing at Haymitch who's busying himself by emptying an entire bottle of vodka.
Haymitch manages to drink an incredible amount before swaying in the chair. I spot Clove watching him warily and decide to call it a night, dragging her into our room. She sighs and lies down on the bed, stretching out with her hands behind her head.
"So District 1 was interesting…" She says slowly, not looking at me. I nod and lie next to her resting my head on her as she wraps her arms around me.
"I didn't expect them to be so pleased to see us…I mean after 2…." I trail off, maybe this is not the best time to start mentioning 2. After all the memories of what happened there are probably still fresh. I hear Clove take a shuddering breath.
"Yeah…" She starts playing with my braid absentmindedly. I lie there just listening to her breathing, thinking over the day and remembering seeing the faces of Glimmer and Marvel on those screens, guilt creeps into my chest and I pull away.
I sit on the edge of the bed allowing my hair to cover my eyes as a stare at my lap. I'm a murderer and those people celebrated me, as if my actions were something good. There's going to be a rebellion, I don't see how either of us can stop it. How can I protect the people I love, what if I have to kill again? I feel the bed shift as Clove sits up.
"What's wrong?" She asks, I shake my head taking a deep breath. I can't even look at her. What if I can't protect her? What if Snow kills her and I can't do anything about it? I can feel myself shaking. Clove moves closer to me wrapping as arm around my shoulder but I don't react. What will I do if I lose her? "Hey…" She squeezes my shoulder and I blink slowly.
"I don't want to lose you..." I whisper, to my shame tears spring to my eyes. Hastily I try to wipe them away. Clove shakes her head hugging me tightly.
"I'm not going anywhere." She reassures me but it's not much comfort.
"This rebellion… What if Snow…" She cuts me off with a kiss.
"I'm not going anywhere." She repeats sternly and there's a determination in her eyes that take my breath away. I stare at her as she reaches up and brushes a stray strand of hair out of my face. "I'm not…I'm going to stay right here with you." She smiles and kisses me again. I melt into her, wrapping my arms around her and end up pushing her down on the bed.
"I love you." I whisper my face inches from her as we part for breath.
"I know, I love you too." She grins at me but it soon slips off her face when she sees my eyes still filled with fear. She flips us over examining my face carefully before speaking.
"You're scared." She states and I nod, how can I not be? Snow has already turned me into a murderer with those wretched games but now he seems intent on ending the lives of those I love if I don't do something that is probably impossible. She nods slowly kissing me gently on the forehead.
"I'm sure it will be alright…" Her eyes are haunted and I can see she's not entirely convinced of the statement. I sigh turning my head away, knowing I will break down if I stare into those beautiful eyes any longer.
Clove shifts to the side lying down next to me hind me and wrapping her arms around me protectively. "We'll think of something Katniss." She whispers, I shake my head, scrunching my eyes shut as I take deep shuddering breaths.
"Why were District 1 so happy to see us?" I ask after a while, Clove sits up slightly, looking me in the eyes questioning for a moment before shrugging.
"Career district…" She mutters, I shake my head.
"But 2 wasn't very happy…" I bite my lip.
"Yeah well, 1 didn't have a district member betray them…" Clove frowns, "why does it matter?"
"Those people, they treated us like celebrities…But I killed them...Marvel and Glimmer...I…"
"That was in the games., you has to it was kill or be killed." Clove says her eyes flashing dangerously. I nod I know it's true but it still didn't sit right with me that those people celebrated it.
"I just…I hate that it's celebrated…I hate that it makes us heroes, it's just so wrong."
"I know." She says sadly, kissing my cheek, her eyes saddened.
I turn towards her, and wrap my arms around her burying my face in her shoulder. She just lies down and holds me. I'm not sure how long it is before the tears start to fall.