"Good news." Haymitch said when we got back to our floor and cleaned up. "At least half the Tributes want you as an ally."
"Well, they saw her shoot." Peeta told him.
"Well, sweetheart, you got your pick of the litter." I glance at Peeta then back to Haymitch.
"I want Wiress and Beetee." I said.
"Johanna calls them "Nuts" and "Volts"." I made a face at the mention of Mason.
"Well, okay, good. Now, who else?" Haymitch asked me.
"Mags." I told them, strongly. Peeta sighs and turns around, I sent a glare to his back. "All right, fine, then no one." I snapped. I stood up from my seat and was about to storm out when Haymitch caught my arm.
"I'll them you're still making up your mind." He said to me. I just glared and yanked my arm out of his hold, storming away from all of them. I head to the roof where I could get some privacy from everything. I crossed my arms and leaned against the safe rail, looking up at the starless night wishing that I was at District Twelve and stargazing with my sisters. I let out a groan of annoyance when the door to the roof opens.
"Peeta, I'm not in the —" I turned around and trailed off at the sight of Odair standing behind me.
"Trouble in paradise?" He sassed with that sarcastic grin on his face. I shot him a scratching glare before turning back to the city landscape.
"What do you want, Odair?" I asked him. I glanced out the corner of my eye when he moved to stand beside me.
"I know." I snapped my head towards him, hands gripping the rail until my knuckles turned white.
"Know what?" I questioned through gritted teeth. He turned to face me but his smile was gone and was replaced with remorse. I stared at him, perplexed and a little insecure.
"Snow made you an offer you couldn't refuse because he threaten you." He walked forward causing me to stumble back a few steps. "He threaten you with the people you love and you agreed to it." He paused and let out a sad chuckle. "I wish I was as smart as you were and agreed to it first thing. I think a lot of us wish we were."
"What do mean 'us'?" I asked.
"A lot of Victors are in the same predicament as you, Calla Lily. You aren't alone in this life style but you were the smartest of us all." I looked down for a moment then back at him. "And I'm sorry that you are. You deserve better then being force to let them use you like this." He held a hand out to me. "I hope you can forgive me for my rudeness." I nodded and placed my hand in his.
"Allies?" I asked him. He stared at me shock before giving me a true grin.
"Allies." I smiled at him, "Can I walk you back to your floor?"
"Yeah, thank you." He offered his arm to me. I blush lightly and wrapped my arm around his.
"So, I've heard you get called by a few nicknames. How many do you have?" He asked me. I let out a chuckle at the strange question.
"Well, most people just call me by my whole name. Only my friends, sisters, and boyfriend call me by a nickname." I stated.
"He calls you Callie, right?" I nodded my head. "Okay, what about the others then?"
"Gale and Kat call me Cal while Haymitch is Cals, but he mostly calls me sweetheart. Prim calls me by Calla and Cinna loves to call me Allie." He lets out a whistle.
"Six nicknames and only using the first part of your name." He said, "You could make at least three out of the second part." I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" I asked him.
"Well, if all of your friends get to call you by a nickname they made up, so will I." I burst into giggles. He shot me a playful grin. "There we go." I shot him a inquisitive look. "You've been too withdrawn from what I've notice. You just needed a new friend to give you some light." I looked at him inspired by his openness and friendliness. I found that we reached my floor all too soon.
"Thank you for walking me to my floor, Odair." I told him as I unwrapped my arm from his. He gave me a wounded look and placed a hand on his heart.
"Ow, you got me right were it hurts." I laughed. "At least call me by my first name, Lils." I stare at him startled for a moment.
"Alright, Fin." He wrinkled his nose causing me to laugh some more.
"Now I just sound like a fish." he whined.
"Well, you do come from the fishing District." I teased. He let out a huff of annoyance. We both turned around when the door slid open behind us. Haymitch stood there staring at us with a raised eyebrow, arms crossed.
"Your late. Curfew was thirty minutes ago." I rolled my eyes at his protectiveness and turn back to Fin.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Fin." He nodded and sent a smile to Haymitch.
"See ya, Lils." He walked over to the elevator, sending me a wave before the door closed. I push pass Haymitch and went to the dinning room to grab a bite.
"Fin?" He questioned, everyone was staring at us. I looked over my shoulder at him. "Lils? When did the two of you become chums?"
"About thirty minutes ago. He apologized for being rude to me." I told him while eating an apple. "I want him as a ally too." Peeta and Haymitch looked at me in surprise. I finished the apple, tossing the core onto a plate and left for my room. "Goodnight." I said, my voice bright and a slight bounce in my step.
~o~
When I woke up that morning, the slight happiness I had was gone was replaced with dread. Today was individual assessment day and as always, Peeta and I were last. I got dressed in my training outfit with it's matching jacket and went to breakfast. We ate in total silence then head off to the holding room. Everyone was there chatting to one another as we walked in and took the last two seats.
"District Three. Beetee Latier. Report for individual assessment." Peeta and I look over to Beetee and Wiress as he stood up and left. I grabbed Peeta's hand, squeezing it a bit too tight.
"It's gonna be okay, Callie." He whispered to me. I turned to look at him.
"How are we going to kill these people?" I asked him which he had no answer to. Soon, I was the last one in the holding room, waiting for my turn.
"District Twelve. Calla Lily Everdeen." I look up. "Report for individual assessment." I stood up and walk to the door. As I'm walking into the training room, Peeta slows his walk and stares at me in horror. I turn my head to him, confuse as he looks back at Gamemakers. I turn my head back to them as I walk to the center of the room. I furrow my brow when I spot the painting on the floor and look down to get a better look at it. My mouth drops open in shock as Rue final resting place stares at me. I feel a tear roll down my cheek as I stare at the painting. Did Peeta do this on purpose or did the Gamemakers make him do this?
"Miss. Everdeen." I ignore the call. "Miss. Everdeen!" I slowly turn my head to them. "You have ten minutes to present your chosen skill." I glared at them then rush to the stations. I grab a dummy and place it on a chart then grab some rope and paints. I began to write on the chest of the dummy before making hair, beard, mouth, and eyes on it. I tie the rope around its neck, pulling the rope through the rafters and hung the dummy. I tie the end of the rope to a table leg and bow. I walked away, leaving them murmuring at the Seneca Crane dummy I made.
~o~
Effie took me to Cinna for the final interview with Caesar tonight. He put my hair up in a braided but with white jewels and took me to see the outfit I would be wearing. It was a white fluffy monstrosity of a gown.
"A wedding dress?" I questioned him.
"President Snow insisted, but I made a few alterations." He told me. I raised an eyebrow at it.
"Like what? Make it super fluffy?" Cinna let out a laugh. He began to get me dress while we watched the interviews of the other Tributes.
"I just can't stop crying." Cashmere cried to Caesar.
"Does anybody actually believe this?" I asked.
"Apparently, everybody." Haymitch said as he munched on some grapes. He points to someone behind me. I turn to see Effie, Flavius, and Octavia sniffling behind me. "These Victors are angry, Cals. They'll say anything to try and stop the Games. I suggest you do the same." I turn back to the mirror.
"All right, turn around." Cinna said. He looked at me for a moment. "I think I'm done."
"Will I be twirling tonight?" I asked him.
"Save it for the end." I nodded.
"One minute. Is she ready?" We both turn to Effie. She lets out a gasp. "Oh, Calla Lily." She walks over to me. "Oh . . ." She takes my hand in hers. "You would have been the most beautiful bride." She told me, tearily.
"Thank you." Just as tearily as I realize, I may never get married to Peeta if we die in the Games.
"Let's go show them what real beauty looks like." I stare at her in shock and nodded. We walk to the stage and I get ready. "Oh, pretty, pretty, Calla Lily, they're going to adore you." I smiled at Effie. "And there are a lot of sponsors in the audience, so of course, just be your usual self. Actually, be your happier self." I let out a giggle.
"Really? A wedding dress?" We both turn to Mason.
"Snow made me wear it." I told her and look back front. She walked over to me.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome . . ."
"Make him pay for it." She said. I give her a look and turn back to Effie.
"You know her as the Girl on Fire. The Victor of last year's Hunger Games. Calla Lily Everdeen!" The doors slid open and I walked up the ramp onto the stage towards Caesar. "Calla Lily Everdeen, you look fabulous. Doesn't she?" He asked the crowd. "My, my! Whoo, whoo, whoo. Now, Calla Lily, this is a very big and very emotional night for all of us. Wouldn't you say?"
"Don't go crying on me, Caesar." I said teasingly.
"I can't make any promises. You know me." I let out a laugh while giving a bright smile.
"I wouldn't believe you, even if you did." The crowd burst into laughter.
"I love her! The Girl on Fire is so cheeky." He laughs. "But, Calla Lily, on a more serious note. I think we're all here a little disappointed, more than a little disappointed, that a certain wedding did not take place." He hissed out the last word. "Aren't we, folks?" The audience aws. I turn to look at them. "Alas. But am I correct in assuming that this is the gown that you would have worn on that day, yes or no?"
"Yes, President Snow thought everyone would want to see it." I answer.
"President Snow, as usual, was right." I barely mange not to roll my eyes or make a face. "Was he not, folks?" Caesar laughs. "I love it! I love it!" The crowd cheers, I gave them a big plastic smile. "Don't you love it, folks? It's incredible. It's so gorgeous. Would you do us the honor? Please? Please? Please?" I moved forward a bit and looked for Cinna. He gives me a nod just like he did last year. I begin to spin around in circles. My dress catching aflame from the hem, changing from white to black. The fluffy fabric turned into smooth silk looking like feathers. "Oh, my God!" I kept spinning until the fire reached the very top of me and spread my arms out. I had wings like a Mockingjay then I sent a look to Cinna and Haymitch, was I the Mockingjay? The audience cheers wildly.
"It's a bird." Caesar stammers. "It's got feathers. It's like a bird."
"Like a Mockingjay." I said loudly.
"Your stylist certainly has outdone himself this time, hasn't he? What theatricality! Cinna!" He stands up and raises his hand. "Take a bow." Which he does. He sends me a air kiss. I move to stand with the others as Peeta took his turn.
"But, Peeta, the wedding, the marriage, never to be?" Caesar asked.
"Well, actually, we got married." The audience gasps. "In secret."
"A secret wedding? All right. Do tell."
"We . . . We want out love to be eternal." Audience sighs.
"Of course."
"You know, Callie and I, we've been luckier than most. And I wouldn't have any regrets at all if it weren't . . ." He trails off looking like he's about to cry.
"If it weren't for what? What?" Caesar questioned.
"If it weren't for the baby." The audience clamored excitedly. Hell, I was too internally, I had no idea I was having a baby. All of the tributes glanced at me.
"All right. This is news! Let's find out more." The audience begins to shout. "Calm down. This is news to all of us." The crowd was beginning to scream for the Games to be called off. "All right." Caesar turned to Peeta, whispering something in his ear. "Let's, uh . . . Everybody, calm down." Peeta walked up the steps to me and pulled me into a hug. "It's a great night. A great night." I grabbed his hand and look to Chaff, taking his stump in mine. "This is news to all of us." Soon all of the Victor Tributes connected hands and we raised them into the air. "We're going to find out what we do about this." The audience clamors and Caesar turns around to look at us. Caesar turn to the stage hands and began to make cutting motions. The whole room went pitch black. We were dragged back to our floor, we changed into some normal clothes and waited for Haymitch and Effie to return.
"They won't cancel the Games." I whispered to Peeta. We stood up when Haymitch and Effie entered the room.
"Baby bomb was a stroke of genius. Unfortunately, Games are still on." I shut my eyes and looked away. "This is goodbye, for now."
"Presents for the boys." Effie said and handed them each a black box.
"What is this?" Haymitch asked as he open the box and pulled out a gold bangle.
"Your token. Remember?" She reminded him. "Hair for me. Pin for Calla Lily. Gold bangle for you. And for Peeta, the medallion that we talked about."
"Thank you, Effie." Peeta told her with a small smile.
"We're a team. Aren't we?" I nodded to her. "And I'm so proud of my Victors." She hugged Peeta then turned to me. "So proud. You're so . . . Well, you both deserved so much better." She cried. I bit my lip. I've been hearing that one line way to much lately.
"Thank you, Effie." I whispered.
"I am truly sorry." She sobs and leaves the room.
"Thank you, Haymitch." Peeta hugged Haymitch. "For everything." I watched them for a moment.
"Any last advice?" I asked.
"Stay alive." My lips twitched a bit. He begins to leave.
"Wait." I went over to him and brought him into a hug. "Remember our deal." I whispered to him. I bit my lip for a moment. "Protect Cinna, please." I half whispered, half cried when I pulled back. "Do whatever it takes to keep them alive. Promise me."
"Okay." He nods. "Cals, when you're in the arena, remember who the real enemy is." He pets my hair then walks away. I watch on as he leaves, almost like how my father left me alone with a world of responsibilities to take on all by myself. 'Snow is the real enemy not the Tributes.' I thought to myself but I was going to have to kill the other Tributes anyway besides the one I allied with. Peeta took my hand and we walked to his room, laying down on the bed together. We didn't get any sleep that night, just held on to the other.
"I love you." I whispered to him and propped up on my elbow to look at him. He tuck some of my hair behind my ear.
"I love you too." He whispered back. I leaned down and gave him a soft kiss. Someone knocks at the door. We break apart and looked at the door, then back at each other. "I'll see you soon." I bit my lip and nodded. He got up from the bed, I turned and watch him leave.