(The victory tour is finally here! Hope you enjoy, please review)
Today is the Victory tour of District 7. I can't help but wonder what pressures the tacky little lovers from 12 are under. I wonder what threat lures over that girls head if she doesn't get it right. If she doesn't perform to her max. Peeta on the other hand, I imagine is known the wiser. Possibly the safest option. But then not knowing can drive people to say all sorts of dangerous things.
I can see it now. Snow's golden snake eyes prying over his screen at them both. What has this girl done? She has made made Snow look breakable. She has made him look weak. Just like I did over a year ago in his office. I dragged our every possible weakness until the snake was crumbling at my very feet.
Blight is propped up the wall when I join him in the Justice Building. He's dressed smartly in a suit and there's no trace of alcohol on his breath.
"Lets go see what 12's got then." He says with a firm nod. Katniss' little stunt isn't something we've had no chance to discuss. I have no idea what he thinks to it but I know for a fact he knows the damage she has caused. He saw it first hand with me. He had to deal with it himself exactly like Haymitch. He had to make me look like a helpless child.
I link my arm with his and we emerge out of the doors and onto the stage. There's thousands and thousands gathered in the square eagerly awaiting there arrival. Waiting for the girl that game them a flicker of hope.
The mayor follows after us and once we've taken our seats. He's been our Mayor for the last 19 years yet he hasn't changed in the slightest. He hasn't had surgery but he hasn't changed. His wiry mousy hair lays on his head just as disgustingly as my own. Well I say that but mine as actually grown into a chin length bob in these last few months.
He reads out a small passage. It's the same one every year. It's says that we must honour our Victors victory whatever District they're from. That we must open them into our arms like they were our own. I can't help wonder is that is some disguised way of warning 7 to be nice. To be civil.
His speech closes and the door creaks open. Joined in hands and taking steps out of our Justice Building, they raise there hands in victory. They're smiling and waving at the crowd but I know she's being cautious. Watching District 7's every move. What is our District capable of? I don't even know. There's lots of us. We're the second biggest district but I am not sure the extent of damage we could cause. We're hard working. We have men that could lift a tree alone. But we also have thousands of law abiding women who are just as brainwashed as the Capitol. Maybe that isn't true. Perhaps they're like me. They've worked for years to keep themselves alive and to give up seems like an unusual thing.
Katniss' head crosses to where Blight and I sit. I give her a firm nod of the head. They except there trophy then Peeta says a few words and they leave. She isn't much of a talker. That's his specialty.
She speaks louder with actions. Hence why her little trick with the berries has sent the whole of Panem into wreckage.
Blight and I follow them through and I can't help hope I get a few minutes to talk to her. But I don't. They've whisked her away for lunch and I'm just left with her mentor. He's too my surprise sober but rigid with fear for his two little victors.
"Haymitch." I call down the hall. He turns to face me. He doesn't speak he just stands there like a pathetic old man who has no idea what he can do to keep the girl, he has fought so bad to keep alive, alive. I pull my arms around his shoulders giving him a firm hug.
"If she keeps her gob shut, Snow won't touch her. Right now too many people love her too much." I whisper into his ear.
"She's not very convincing though Is she?" He mumbles. No. No she isn't. She hasn't convinced me since day 1 but Peeta sure has.
"She's convinced the Capitol freaks though." I remind him.
"You've gotta look out for her next year Johanna." He tells me firmly gripping onto my arm.
"She can look after herself." I squirm wanting nothing to do with this so called girl on fire. Wanting no more to do with there stupid little MockingJay. He grabs under my arm rattling me slightly.
"You'll do it for Plutarch! However much you hate it Johanna, she's the MockingJay and she'll be no use to us dead!" He hisses in my ear.
So now I don't just have to watch her lead this rebellion. I have to look out for her too. Who knows? Maybe she would be better off dead. Leave an lasting legacy and all.
"Get off me Haymitch." I breathe shaking my arm free.
I leave the building in a huff marching straight over to Chuck's house to see if he fancies coming over for tea tonight.
It's hard you see hiding so many secrets from him.
I knock twice on the wooden door with the back of my fist. He opens promptly with a smile on his face.
"Hey." He smiles.
"Did you watch the tour?" I ask him as he lets me in.
"How could I not. She's the spark we've been waiting for." He smiles. I slap him hard in the arm hoping it hurt.
"Saying that will as sure as hell wind you up dead." I snarl at this clueless boy.
"Johanna you saw her being out those berries. So that they'd be no victor!" Chuck shouts at me rattling my arms in frustration.
"I saw her bring out those berries so they wouldn't have to kill each other! And that's how you have to see it unless you wanna be dead!" I scream back.
If he doesn't go along with that he'll sure as hell wind up dead. That's why I have to pretend that's what I think because I am setting an example. A prestigious role that's opinions will spread across my District like wildfire.
I know damn well she did that to prove she can't be played and so does Snow but unless we want Snow knowing about the full scale rebellion he may soon have on his hands we act none the wiser. We act entrapped by her love story.
"Johanna you're letting an opportunity slip! That girl has given us the opportunity to fight back!" He screams. I shake my head firmly.
"She's given us the opportunity and we have to be smart with it." I tell him. Smart and cautious of every word that escapes our lips.