Thanks to turtlexoxo for favoriting and following! Thanks to Anna Kendrick from her sing "Cups", from the movie Pitch Perfect. Thanks also to Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran (GINGER PRIDE, BABY!) for their song "Everything Has Changed."
Disclaimer: Maybe you've heard that the word twirking has been added to the dictionary. (Is that even spelled right? I really don't think I want to know!) If you look under it, you should see, and I quote (not really) "see also: Miley Cyrus." Now look up the word disclaimer. See where it says, and I quote (again, not really): "see also: District4girl's story"?
I slip my sequined red dress over my head and sigh as I look in the mirror. It's a good thing this is the last stop. Too bad Marlin isn't on stage with me. He could play his guitar with me. Leona told me today that I had to learn two songs because the Capitol people wanted to hear me sing again. I would refuse, but I don't even feel strong enough to say it. "Pretend you don't know about it. The cameras will eat it up," I whisper as I throw my arms around Marlin's neck and bury my face in his shirt. I feel him nod.
I hear Caesar call my name and I walk out, smiling and waving and pretending to love being here is hard. I just want to sit in the chair, answer some questions, sing my songs, and then leave. But of course they have to milk it out. I almost collapse in the chair. "How's the married life treating you?" Caesar asks immediately. I flash a fake, bright smile to the audience. "Impeccably great. We'll probably have to extend the house!" Then I giggle like a lovestruck ditz for good measure.
The audience goes quiet, then erupts into screaming and fainting colorful people. It's actually quite scary. "Is that what I think it means?!" I nod and flash another fake smile. "Twins!" I announce. "Have you told Marlin yet?" Caesar asks. I shake my head wearily. He points to the camera and does a few gestures. Suddenly there's Marlin and Finnick up on the big screen where they show the games to the victors.
Marlin pretends to look shocked, but I can tell it's fake. I'm probably the only one, though, hopefully. Finnick, who's a great actor from years of the playboy act, is great at pretending. He grins, pounds Marlin on the back, and gives him one of those one-armed man hugs that I can't stand. Then here comes the part I've been dreading. "Do you think you could sing a few songs for us?" The audience screams. I guess I have no choice now. I glance offstage at Marlin, who gives me a thumbs-up. I take my breath and try to muster up my strength.
"I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow. What d'you say?
When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers
It's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you
When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone."
"Great choice! Got anymore?" Caesar asks when the audience stops yelling. I nod my head, even though I feel like dropping. Why am I so tired?
"All I knew this morning when I woke
Is I know something now, know something now I didn't before.
And all I've seen since eighteen hours ago
Is blue eyes and freckles in your smile
In the back of my mind making me feel right
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed
And all my walls stood tall painted blue
And I'll take them down, take them down and open up the door for you
And all I feel in my stomach is butterflies
The beautiful kind, making up for lost time,
Taking flight, making me feel right
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you, know you, know you
'Cause all I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
And you'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed
Come back and tell me why
I'm feeling like I've missed you all this time, oh, oh, oh.
And meet me there tonight
And let me know that it's not all in my mind.
I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now
I just wanna know you, know you, know you
All I know is we said, "Hello."
And your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
Everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed
All I know is we said, "Hello."
So dust off your highest hopes
All I know is pouring rain and everything has changed
All I know is a new found grace
All my days I'll know your face
All I know since yesterday is everything has changed."
"Another great one! So, got any name ideas?" he asks. I sit up straighter. Finally, a question that I'll have no problem answering. "Well, they're twins, so I'm thinking River and Riviera." "Perfect choice. As I recall, your district partner was named River, and Marlin's district partner was named Riviera, am I right?" I flinch before nodding slowly.
"Ok, let's watch a clip of the wedding!" We watch it for an hour, before seeing me wave to the cameras sarcastically before shutting the doors to the reception. I smile. "Tell me, ViVi, what was going through your mind during the ceremony?" "Obviously love, it was and still is the best day of my life. And that dress was really heavy." The audience laughs. "Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but that's all the time we have with Victoria Ma-" he sees the look on my face and quickly rephrases his words- "Um, Victoria Shores, victor of the 61st Hunger Games!"
I walk backstage, where Marlin keeps up the act because the cameras are still trained on us. He pulls me into a hug and my feet leave the floor (did I mention he's like 6'3"?). He kisses my for at least a minute before putting me down. The cameras, apparently satisfied with their intrusion, are shut off. I stumble as we leave. "Whoa, somebody's tired!" Marlin laughs as he picks me up bridal-style and starts to walk again. "You have no idea," I mumble, before laying my head on his chest and falling asleep.
~A day later~
The next day, Marlin and I walk back to Victor's Village with Finnick. The sun has almost set completely. As he checks his mailbox, Annie peeks her head out of the door. "David, is that you?" Finnick flinches so hard the slot of the mailbox slams down on his fingers. I speak up. "Um, it's Victoria, Marlin, and Finnick." "Oh, the famous Finnick Odair came to visit me?" She giggles and bats her eyelashes. Finnick looks down at his smashed fingers, pretending to examine them, but I can see him blushing. I roll my eyes.
"Oh, Marlin, since you're my mentor, can you tell David that I need to talk to him about that alliance we had in the arena?" Annie asks while waving her hands in front of Finnick's bent over frame, trying to get him to look her in the eye. Marlin glances at me, then at her, then at Finnick. "When I see him," he finally says. Finnick waves goodbye to us, then leads her inside. I unlock our door and collapse on the couch. "Oh no, if you sleep on that thing you'll wake up feeling like a bamboo fishing pole," Marlin says sharply. I flip over to face him and raise my eyebrow quizzically. "Um... it's just really uncomfortable," he says. I laugh and get up.
When we get upstairs, I collapse on the bed. Yeah, I'm glad he made me get up, because this is so much more comfortable. "Can I try something?" Marlin asks after collapsing face-down next to me. "Whatever," I say sleepily. He lays his head on my still-flat stomach. "Hey, babies, this is your daddy speaking. I thought you ought to know that your mother is the most beautiful person in the world. She's gonna be a great mom, I just know it," he whispers. I smile. Yeah, I love my life so far.
If everyone would be so nice as to send me name ideas for girls? They have to do something with the ocean, like Azula, Coral, Pearl, and Riviera, but other than that, there's no requirements. It's for towards the end of the story. I was goin to use Madeline and Anna for a pair of twin girls, but there's already three sets of twins in this story. (counting Cashmere and Gloss, who come in later.) Seriously, it's like there's something in the water. Anyway, I appreciate it. R&R, please!