Cinna's soft hand cups around my shoulder, I have to admit I'm surprised, but I can't glimpse away from Rue. Not yet at least…
Rue glances at Thresh, feeling the awkwardness surrounding us. Is it truly possible that we're doing this all again? The Capitol has some pretty amazing abilities, but bringing the old tributes back… I don't see how it's likely.
For once, I turn, staring Cinna dead in the eye. It's actually him; his young features stick out to me making me realize how much I'd really remember all these years. He smiles like Rue had done. "Come on, Katniss." He says in a kind voice, "We have a lot of things to explain."
By we he means him and Portia, maybe even Haymitch and Effie since they're both refusing to reveal anything else. And here they come now, Effie almost jumping with joy as she nearly knocks Haymitch away. Her eyes are filled with so much joy that I'm not even sure it's Effie anymore. She's always been the sensitive one, and maybe we all started to grow on her more. Portia is right behind her, the skin on her arms red as if she's been rubbing it too often. Haymitch probably looks the least excited, his usual frown written all over his face, but I can see a hint of a smile in it.
Peeta grabs my hand, and for the first time since Caesar's interview, I've noticed him. I look at him, letting his blue eyes stare into my grey ones. How the Capitol manages to do this al to us, I don't know, but the rest of the tributes seem to find the show interesting.
The girl from 6's muffled cries is the only thing heard in the area, but every few seconds they're getting softer and softer until they're no more. Her district ally is trying to comfort her, and there's something about the picture that reminds of me something. If only I could remember…
Haymitch gives a slight nod of his head, signaling for the rest of us to follow him back into the elevator. I can only imagine what our little group has to say. And what about Peeta's prep team? No doubt the Capitol would bring them back only to have them killed again. Isn't that why we're back in the Capitol?
Effie's skeletal fingers block out my view of the code for the elevator, but whatever it was I didn't seem to care enough to pay attention.
Portia smiles to me, indicating that good news aren't on the way to come. Sometimes I really dislike that same sad smile, everyone seems to wear it. Just like my owing, I can never get out of it.
The doors open widely, and our group piles out one-by-one. Effie is first to speak as always. "Tidy up, you two," she says. "We'll discuss things over dinner."
With a quick wave of her hand, they leave Peeta and I alone in the hallway.
It's a strange feeling, almost like we're not comfortable around each other, but whether it's true or not remains unknown. I trust Peeta full heartedly, but something sticks out of my mind.
And there he is smiling, this time not sympathetically. "How was your interview?" He asks awkwardly as if he wasn't there.
"…Good…" I simply reply before locking myself up into my room. It still remains its old empty self, still cold and lifeless as always.
I grab a plain green shirt and jeans from my bed. They're piled neatly, telling me that an avox had come to fix the room up. Apparently they didn't have much to worry about.
I quickly remove my dress, and slip on the ordinary uniform. Somehow, it suits me better, and I feel like my real self. A hunter, not some prissy girl admiring whatever the Capitol does to us. I'll let Glimmer play that part.
When I step out of the room, Peeta's already dressed. How does he do that so quickly? I put that in the bundle of side notes of things I don't understand about Peeta.
"Ready?" He asks sweetly.
"Ready," I say without the least bit of feeling. I guess the Capitol wears me out more than I had suspected. But how could you not get distracted by your old opponents?
He slips his hand into mine, and together we force ourselves down to the location of our colorful team.