A/N: Hey guys, this chapter is a little late as well so it's a bit longer. The Games are coming soon! Please reviews and/or suggestions. Thank you!
Thomas backed away and said, "I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that." I'd almost forgotten about the kiss. I swear I had just seen the ghost of Peeta. Thomas was standing there waiting for my reply so I had. "It's fine… I liked it.", I said. It wasn't the complete truth but it wasn't a lie. I might have enjoyed it if I wasn't going crazy and seeing ghosts. Maybe it wasn't a ghost, but maybe subconsciously my mind was telling me to move on and let go of him. I didn't like talking about or even thinking about Peeta, but he was on my mind constantly. In fact, I had grown to actually love Peeta ever since he died in the Games. I just wish he was here for me to show him how much I loved him. Thomas was standing there with me, not knowing what to say. I was thinking about Peeta so much I had completely forgotten he was there, again. I sighed and said, "I'm just nervous to go to the Capitol tomorrow, that's why I've been so quiet." He pointed to the woods and said, "Didn't you see something out there?" I shook my head furiously and said, "I thought I did, but it wasn't anything." Thomas scratched the back of his head and said, "Well I guess this means you don't like me." I stuttered, "I-I-Its not like that. I'm still getting over Peeta is all… Would you be willing to wait?" Thomas looked away in the night and said, "I'll see you when you get back, Katniss." With that he walked away and knocked on Haymitch's door. The door cracked, and Thomas went inside. I went inside my home and laid on my bed, my brain emotionally fried.
Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, my prep team and I are all invited to the party at the Capitol. We'll be on the train most of the day, until we get to the Capitol. Luckily, my stylists picked out their outfits the night before so all the attention was on me. Effie brought in these glitter high heels, ridiculously too high to walk in. Cinna said, "Effie, you know Katniss can't walk in those heels." Effie rolled her eyes and said, "We have all day, she can break them in." My team worked on my nails, face, and hair. I never got to see my dress until the very end, but standing there in just a body suit I felt beautiful. My hair was up in a bun, but with curls hanging from the side. I had a sunset type of eye shadow on with a mixture of red and orange colors. They attached some false lashes and I was wearing a bright pink lipstick. My nails were a mix of an orange and pinkish color. I threw on a robe and relaxed as we still had a couple of more hours before arriving. Soon, Haymitch came in the room while I was eating a chicken dinner with rice, gravy, a mixture of vegetables, fruit, bread, and some type of spirit. The bottle said it was alcoholic but it tasted more like a strong soda to me. He laughed when he came in and said, "You like champagne Katniss?" I pointed towards my glass and he shook his head. "Like victor, like mentor.", he said chuckling. I glared and said, "I'll never be a drunk like you, Haymitch." He points to the drink and said, "I'm sure you thought this was soda, right? You already have a strong stomach apparently to alcoholic drinks. That's how it starts." I rolled my eyes and said, "What did you want?" He reached over to my plate and grabbed a stalk of asap gurus and snapped in between his teeth. "I wanna know why you sent my boy home crying last night." I thought back to Thomas and I in the Victor's Village in front of my home. I remember kissing, and me asking him for some time to think. In my defense, I was pretty sure I saw a ghost, which didn't really provide the rest of my mind time to process a romantic relationship. I leaned over and said, "I think I'm going crazy, Haymitch. Last night, I was with Thomas and he kissed me." Haymitch leaned back shocked but ushered me to continue. "I slightly opened my eyes during it and I saw Peeta." He looked at me with wide eyes and confusion. I continued, "Yeah, I thought I was going crazy. And Thomas was still kissing me, right? And then Peeta, or whatever I saw, told me to go ahead, I'm assuming with Thomas. And then I jumped back in horror. Thomas probably assumed it was him and when I pointed him to the woods, he didn't see anything. So now, I'm thinking I officially hit lunatic status and then Thomas asks me how I feel about him and… I don't know. And I asked him to give me some time and he just said he'll see me when he comes back." Haymitch nodded, and said, "I saw Maysilee Donner too after my Games." He was talking about one of the girl tributes from his Games. He sat with her until she died after she was attacked. He shook his head, "You're not going crazy, it happens to all the Victors, trust me." He patted my hand and got up to leave. Before he did he turned around and said, "Forgive me for what I said about not having charm, Katniss." I giggled and said, "What do you mean?" He rolled his eyes and said, "You must have some charm Katniss, you make everyone fall in love with you." With that he winked and left.
The party at the Capitol, was like the celebration I went to the night before in District 12 but 100 times better. There was better decorations, more food, music I hadn't even heard of before. It had a nice poppy beat to it. Everyone wanted to meet me, touch me, dance with me, kiss me! It was the first time I was ever face to face with my "fans". They kept commenting on my dress, and it was wonderful. It was black and orange with hints of red and pink. Like burning flames, brighter than bright. It went down to my ankles, but with no train, it was easier to walk in. I wore the high heels Effie gave me all the way here, but last minute Cinna threw on a pair of three inch pumps and told me not say a word. Everyone admitted I was the most gorgeous victor there ever was and I tried not to get a big head, because I realized they'd act this way too anyone who won the Games. While the Games killed people and destroyed lives, to the Capitol it was just entertainment. I was called up to see President Snow, in a private sector by myself. I was nervous, bone rattling scared to be truthful.
I couldn't say no though, so I was escorted to his private room. It was a nice little room, with a balcony so you could see the rest of the party going on. President Snow was in all white and handed me a rose. "Miss Everdeen.", he said, offering me something to drink. It was the same champagne I had on the train and I almost asked how he knew, but I remembered that the walls have eyes everywhere in Panem and trains would be no different. I gradually raised for a toast and said, "Thank you, this is my favorite." President Snow smiled and said, "Well, this is the most popular in all of the Capitol, I figured you might enjoy it." Maybe he wasn't spying on me he just gave me a popular drink trying to be courteous. We sat in silence for a few moments until he said, "I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you up here. To be honest Katniss I've heard you were a creative person and I'm need of your creative skills. I need a good idea from you. Kind of like how you thought of that new place in your District." I straighten up frighten. I had built the recreation center in District 12, just so everyone wouldn't be bored. Someone would've told me if it was illegal, right? I quickly said, "President Snow, I'm sorry I didn't know the building was bad, I will tear it down first thing when I get back." He laughed and said, "Oh no, the building is fine, I was just using it as an excuse to comment on your creativity." I relaxed a little and took a sip of champagne. "Well I'm more than happy to help you sir, within my means of course.", I said, looking down. He sighed and said, "Katniss, what do you think we should do for the next Quarter Quell?" My heart stopped and dropped to my feet. I couldn't even believe he would ask me, what I thought the Capitol should do for slaughtering more children. I was probably the last person in Panem to ask in fact. I wanted to tell him where to stick it and tell him I wouldn't dare help him set up another damn Games. But politely I said, "I'm not sure what you mean sir." He looked me and said, "You'd think with all the smart people in the Capitol we could think of a decent Games, especially as important for a Quarter Quell. But every idea is dumber than the other." He laughed and said, "Katniss, someone wanted to put a volcano in the Games! A VOLCANO! One eruption and everyone's dead in minutes. If I wanted to do that, I'd hire a firing squad." I stilled and waited for him to continue. He's talking to me like someone who was never and would never be affected by the Games, not the most recent Victor. Snow continued, "I was just wondering if you had any ideas. Hell, if you could think of a decent arena, I'd be grateful." I closed my eyes and pretended like I was thinking, when in reality I was mentally stopping myself from choking him until his face turned the color of Effie's wigs. I sighed and said, "Maybe the next Games, you could put them in… a swamp environment." He nodded and said, "Never thought of that. Great job, Miss Everdeen. Any ideas on what we should change about the tributes?" I thought for a bit and said, "Maybe only twelve tributes this year, sir. It make the Games last longer and less chance of alliances, right? That could be interesting." I was listening to myself, and disgusted. But if he took my advice only eleven kids would die instead of twenty-three. He clapped his hands and said, "I'm not saying I'm picking your choice. But what a brilliant idea!" He motioned towards the door and said, "I should let you get back to your party, Katniss. Thank you again." He leaned in to kiss me on the cheeks, I thought but he whispered in my ear and said, "I apologize for what you're about to see when you go outside. Let's just make sure you don't mention it to anyone however. It would be a shame for your mother and sister lose their little doctor's office." I was confused but nodded and said, "It was great seeing you President Snow. Thank you for your time, it was pleasant. He smiled and opened the door for me. When I walked outside, I saw an Avox man, sitting on the ground, holding on for dear life, beaten and exhausted. The guards motioned me to keep moving as I saw the man get dragged into the room where Snow was. With a quick glance I saw his neck where a quick incision was made and stitched over plenty of times. Blood was still dripping from it, obviously leaking. And then I remembered it resembled the sticky residue that Snow had left on my cheek the night we first met.