Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. I realize that I didn't update the past two(?) Fridays. And I feel terrible, I'll try to crank out three more chapters this week to make up for it.

Thanks for all the reviews! It really makes me want to write more.

Disclaimer: even if I had been named Suzanne Collins, I would still not own the hunger games

I'm standing outside of my chariot, in a black jumpsuit. I scan over the crowd, searching for Peeta. Finally he comes into a view, in a jumpsuit like mine. I feel so terrible for being mad at him, and I want to run into his arms. But I control myself, knowing that there are always people watching.

"Peeta" I whisper as he nears. I grab onto his arms, fighting not to hug him. "I'm sorry"

He smiles. "It's ok Katniss, I wasn't angry at you"

Cinna comes up to us, grinning wildly. He holds a torch with a glowing red flame. Immediately my heart starts to race.

"You guys ready?" he asks. I nod, hopping into the chariot. Already I feel nervous and shaky, but Peeta looks at me, and grabs my hand. Helping me stay on my feet.

Cinna comes over, and lights our capes with flame. I cringe, waiting for the burning sensation. But it doesn't come, instead there's a warm tingling feeling. Peeta looks to me; grinning.

"Do I need to pull off your cape?" he asks. But I shake my head.

"No, you?"

"no" and then we're off, into the humongous crowd. As soon as they see us, the audience goes crazy, yelling screaming. And I try to look happy, smiling, waving, blowing kisses. They are, after all, our only hope now. Peeta lifts out hands into the air, presenting us as a team. And the crowd screams louder, people yelling out our names.

I feel almost giddy when we make it to the end, ready for President Snow's speech. I notice the way his eyes wander to us frequently, hungrily. And I fight the urge to hide my face. Peeta squeezes my hand reassuringly.

Finally we're finished, and our capes suddenly go out. But there's still someone watching me, I turn around. The burly boy from District two stares at me. Peeta notices my discomfort, and pulls me into a hug. I bury my face in his chest, hiding from the boy's hungry eyes. Peeta plays with my hair, not saying anything.

Our moment is interrupted as Haymitch stumbles in.

"Good job" He slurs, obviously drunk. He pats Peeta on the back harshly. "And you weren't too bad either sweetheart"

I mostly ignore his comment, but I step back from Peeta. Cinna comes over and joins us. "Perfect" he states. "Perfect"

I attempt a smile, but I can feel it shaking. My eyes wander to the boy from district two. He's still watching me, scanning over me. I gulp and look away, hoping he'll stop.

Effie comes to take us to where we'll be staying while in the Capitol. It's a huge hotel building, with twelve floors, and since we're district twelve, we get the penthouse. It's gigantic, with all sorts of wacky, modern furniture. Everyone sits down at the gigantic silver table, Cinna and Portia join us as well. Plates of food are brought, and I stare in awe. There's so much food. We all dig in, except for Haymitch, who's fumbling with his tie, he takes a flask from his pocket, and pours it into his glass. I watch as Effie stares at him in disgust.

One of the Capitol workers comes up to the table, placing a bottle of liquor in front of Haymitch. I do a double take, immediately recognizing her.

"Hey! I know you" I say, looking at her.

Effie stares at me in horror and disgust. "That's outrageous!" she cries. "How could you possibly know an Avox?!"

Peeta looks in realization, then points at the redhead girl. "Delly Cartwright!" he yells. "She's a dead ringer for Delly"

I suddenly remember how I know her. "Ya something about the eyes"

"And the hair" adds Peeta.

But all of this is untrue. Delly is girl who goes to school with Peeta and I. She has a bubbly, ditzy personality. She has blonde curls, and bright blue eyes and looks nothing like this redhead, brown eyed girl.

I can see Peeta's face twisting with guilt, just remembering the day we saw this girl. It was late July, and warm. So Peeta and I were hunting, Gale had been busy taking care of a sick Posy that day. We were just out in the forest, Peeta treading loudly behind me when we heard something. It was a mockingjay, singing the shrill tune of a hovercraft. I immediately panicked, shoving Peeta and myself into some thick foliage. That's when we saw them. It was a girl and a boy, from the Capitol, running through our forest. They stumbled around in the thick shrubbery, trying desperately to outrun the hovercraft. But it didn't go well, the hovercraft sent some kind of metal stick on a rope. It speared the boy right through, and lifted him away. And then the air was filled with the girl's tortured screams, as they pulled her up into the hovercraft. Peeta struggled beside me, trying to help, pain in his eyes. But I held him back, refusing to let him get hurt too. But he looked as guilty as I felt, just leaving the two to fend for themselves.

Peeta nods at me. Trying to assure me that it's ok, that it's not my fault. But it is, the boy died that day, and she got stuck like this. The Avox gives a sad smile, then walks of back towards the kitchen.

I can't stop thinking about it, Does she blame me? Maybe she'll even enjoy watching me die on television. To her, it's still probably better than what happened to her. I feel profound guilt, and sadness, for everything's and everyone that has been affected by the Capitol. I can only seem to muster more hate for all the citizens, and their tyrant President