A/N: Finally back! I'm so sorry :( this whole week has been madness, so much work & studying for the finals! Which are next week, ugh. Here it is!

Chapter 8

As soon as I walk out the doors, chaos ensues. Screaming and shouting erupts, and I run like hell to the elevator. I curse my stupidity inside the elevator. Pissing off the Gamemakers would not be in my best interests. I try to calm myself by glancing at the outside world, flying by like a blur while the elevator ascends.

The elevator dings, and I rush out. I speed past everyone in the sitting room and slam close my bedroom door. I topple onto my bed.

Footsteps pound on the floor and thumps arrive on my door. Outside, I hear them all whispering. "What the hell happened?"

"Move," I hear Gale say. The thumping stops. Then a light knock surfaces. "What happened, Katniss?"

I bury my head my pillow. "Nothing. Go away."

"Come on, Catnip." The knocking continues.

"What can I do to make you go away?" I ask.

Gale lets out a small laugh. "You know me better then that. I won't go away."

I groan. He's right. I know he never gives up.

"Give it up. I'm gonna get in there." Gale taps on the door again.

I stand up and crack the door open a sliver, then I peek outside. I see Gale, and spot Effie, Haymitch, and Peeta behind him. "Only you can come in," I tell Gale.

Haymitch sighs. "Whadja do now sweetheart?"

I ignore him. "Come on, Gale!" I drag him inside and look outside one last time.

Then I shut the door, but not before Peeta blurts out, "I am your friend too Katniss. Remember that."

The door closes. I yank it back open. "What?" I say to Peeta.

He reddens slightly. "We don't have to be enemies."

I nod. "Yeah. But we're going to end up killing each other, aren't we?"

He averts my gaze. "Maybe not." He looks up again and holds out his right hand.

I pause, then take it. His hand is warm and gentle, with a few blisters. Peeta looks at me, then abruptly pulls his hand away and leaves.

It is really quiet. Haymitch stumbles away.

Effie merely says, "Be ready for supper."

I close the door and rest against it. Oh damn. I forgot that Gale's sitting on my bed.

Gale claps his hands together. "So...what happened?"

I drop down next to him. "I was so stupid. I shot twenty-four dummies with the names of all the tributes. Then I wrote on the wall: 'WE ARE ALL DEAD AT THE HANDS OF YOU.'"

Gale is silent, then grins at me. "Figures, Catnip. You never were one to listen to rules."

I can't help but return that smile, but then I remember the seriousness of the conversation and duck my head. "What if they punish my mother and Prim?" My voice cracks when I say Prim's name.

Gale wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Don't worry. They'll be fine, I know it. Rory will watch out for her."

I look up. "Rory?"

He nods. "Rory told me he would take over our duties as best as possible." Then Gale smiles devilishly. "He also seems to have a crush on her."

I gasp. "No way!"

"Really. He blushes every time her name is mentioned." Gale stands up, then pulls me up as well. "Time for dinner now."

"Yeah, yeah," I say, but follow him out the door.

Haymitch claps slowly. "Well well, the princess is back from the ball. Finally."

I sit down and shovel food onto my plate.

Effie leans forward. "What happened?"

I try to stall by chewing on some beans. I am forced to swallow and answer her. "I kind of accused the Gamemakers of being the death of us all?"

Everyone stops eating. Haymitch drops his beer. Peeta pales.

Effie gasps, and without even excusing herself, jumps up and runs out of the room, her heels noisily clicking against the ground.

"What's up with Effie?" I say to no one in particular.

"You didn't know? Effie and Seneca Crane himself are sweethearts." Haymitch seems a bit annoyed.

"Oh. Well. That's...awkward," I mutter.

Peeta taps his fingers on the table, then says, "What happened afterwards?"

"What?" I ask. I remember the previous conversation. "I left without being excused. And when I left, they all started screaming."

I remember some small details. "Oh, and one guy fell of his chair and make a huge thump on the ground."

Haymitch guffaws. "Serves them right. Never liked them anyways. They're all a shady lot."

We all crack up at the expense of the Gamemakers, until Effie's disapproving voice jars us back to reality.

Her arms are folded across her chest, and she says, "Katniss. Someone is here to see you."

I wait. She gestures to a dark figure coming through the door.

When the person comes into the light, my heart stops.

It's none other then Seneca Crane.

A/N: Kind of a short chapter, I know. How was it? The bit about Seneca & Effie being a couple, do you like it? I got the idea from another fanfic, called The Importance of Being Effie by thegreatgizmo, go check that out. It's one of my favorite stories on here about Effie! Review this chapter please :)