Peeta
Snow comes into the dining room a while later after saying his speech and tells us to start eating because the opening ceremony will start soon. One wall of the dining room is made out of glass, giving us view of the opening ceremonies. There's a long table also made of glass in the middle of the room with different plates of food.
"So, how has your lives been for the last fifteen years?" Snow asks, the loud music that could be heard from inside showing that the District chariots have started to move.
"Overall it's been great," I reply.
"Hmm, that's good," Snow hisses and glances out the window in time to see the District Four riding out.
"Finnick," Katniss whispers, staring at the fourteen year old looking a lot like his father on the chariot.
"I wonder how Finnick and Annie are holding up," I say and she shrugs.
"They're probably feeling how we feel," she replies, staring at each chariot for about a minute.
And then it's District Twelve's turn and the coal black chariot carries out a… "A Mockingjay," Katniss says, looking at me and then back at Hope.
"They look amazing," I add, staring at Hope and thinking of how much she looks like Katniss.
Snow clears his throat and I glance his way to see him frowning. He doesn't like it. "Are you okay, Mr. President?" I ask, innocently.
"Oh, I'm grand!" he hisses, and smiles even though his snake eyes tell me he's anything but happy. "Your daughter looks fabulous."
"That's my little Mockingjay," I whisper to myself and squeeze Katniss's hand.
I stand up and walk towards the glass door, leading to the balcony. I step outside and listen to the roars of the crowd. They love them. Just like they love Katniss and me. "It looks like Cinna has worked his magic," Katniss says from beside me. I look over at her and smile.
"She's beautiful," I say and she nods.
"What now?" she asks.
"Now, we go mentor," I reply and she sighs.
"You may leave and head to the top floor of the training centre where District Twelve always stays. Maybe we can do this again sometime- when your baby is born," Snow hisses.
We turn around and follow him back inside and towards the door. "Maybe," Katniss says but I know she'd say no when the time came. "Thank you for having us."
"Your welcome. Wish Hope luck for me," he grins and closes the door behind us after we walk into the hall.
Hope
They love us. They can't get enough of us. My nervousness disappears and I wave and blow kisses. This makes them love us even more and I glance at Jesse to see him doing the same. As soon as my eyes fall on him I can't seem to take them away. He looks amazing.
His bright blonde hair has been styled so it's messy but in a nice way, the gems on his suit turn orange every time the sun hits them and the smile on his face… it's perfect. I mentally shake my head, telling myself I sound stupid and even more like a girl.
Our chariot stops at the City Circle and Snow says his speech. I ignore the feeling of his snake eyes on me and look at anything but him. We are finally aloud to go and we ride into the training centre. Our chariot stops and Jesse helps me off and then lets go of my hand. Cinna and Portia walk over with huge grins on their faces. "You were awesome!" Portia squeaks, enthusiastically.
"It's all down to you two," Jesse says and they thank him for the compliment. I would have too if I wasn't worrying about my parents.
"Let's go," I say, eager to find them.
We all head to an elevator and ride up to the top floor. The doors open at the same time as the other elevator and I watch my parents walk out. "Mom! Dad!" I yell and I fling my arms around them. They stumble backwards a little, surprised at the force.
"I'm sorry about earlier," my mom whispers and kisses my forehead.
"No, I'm sorry," I huff and pull away.
"You two were great tonight," my father says as Jesse walks over.
"Thank you, Mr. Mellark," he replies.
"Please, call me Peeta. Mr. Mellark sounds old," my dad says.
"Well you are getting there," I tease and he chuckles.
"The real stuff starts tomorrow," my mom speaks up. "Go wash off all your make-up and change into something comfortable then we'll eat dinner-" I cut my mom off.
"I thought you just ate with Snow?"
"You really think I'd eat anything he put on the table? It was probably poisoned," my mom explains. "Yeah, so we'll eat dinner, watch a re-cap of the opening ceremonies and then you have to go to bed because you need lot's of energy for tomorrow."
"Have we got to watch a re-cap? We were just there, a part of it. I'd rather go to sleep," I object. My parents glance at each other and shrug.
"I guess it's okay to miss it," my father finally says.
We do as my mom said and go to our rooms to shower and then change into fresh clothes. After that I go to the empty dining room and eat, my stomach rumbling until I take a bite out of a cheese bun. Jesse joins me. "Hey," I mumble, my mouth full of bread.
"Hi," he greets back and sits down opposite me. "You looked great tonight."
For some unknown reason I blush. My parents pay me compliments all the time and I don't blush. It must be because Jesse's a boy. But Finnick Junior said I looked nice once and I didn't blush. I mentally shake my head and smile at Jesse. "Thanks. You looked good, too."
"Pfft, not compared to you." I just smile and carry on eating, not sure what I'm meant to say to a guy that's complimenting me.
"I'm going to go to bed," I say after a while of eating. "Night."
"Good night," he replies and I leave. Unfortunately, I can't sleep. I realise that after staring at a wall for about half an hour. I toss and turn for another ten minutes before deciding it's no use and going into the TV room.
I sit down on a large sofa and switch the TV on. I scroll through the TV menu and my eyes fall on 'The 74th Hunger Games.' I know it's wrong and that my parents have told me not to watch it millions of times before but… I'm fifteen, what did you expect? I press okay and watch the TV intently as the show starts. I laugh on some parts of the interview, I cry when my mom sings to Rue and I have to cover my mouth to stop me from screaming when my mom and dad nearly eat the berries. I don't know why I acted like that because obviously I knew they survived.
The door opens and I turn the TV off quickly, scared it's my mom or dad. I turn around and find that it's only Jesse. "It's only me," he whispers and I sigh in relief. He comes over and sits next to me.
"You couldn't sleep, too?" I ask and he nods.
"What were you watching?" he asks.
"My mom and dads first Game," I reply and switch the TV back on. "It finished just before you came in." I once again scroll down the list and my eyes fall on my parents second Game.
I look at Jesse and he shrugs. "Go ahead," he says, quietly.
"Okay," I whisper and we watch the Quarter Quell.
When all the scary parts come I jump out of my skin and Jesse looks over and laughs at me. How come he's not jumping? It's like he's watched the show before. A scream that I know belongs to my mother makes me come out of my thoughts and I watch my mother claw at the sand. I lean forward and put my elbows on my knees and put my head in my hands, curious as to what's going on. I watch my father run to my mother's side and her crying out in pain. "Katniss, could you…" he gulps, nervously. "… Be pregnant?" I gasp.
"What?" I ask no one in particular.
"Huh? You didn't know you were born in the arena?" Jesse asks from beside me. I jump, forgetting he was there and my eyes widen when I realise what he said.
"Oh my god," I whisper. I never asked where I was born; I always assumed it was back in District 12. A thought dawns on me and a shiver runs down my spine: I was born in the arena and now there's a big chance I'll die in there, too.
REVIEW!