Hey everybody, what's up? I know that I have been doing a lot of role-play lately, but for the next few chapters, it's nothing but story. Starting right where I left off when Liz and Luke fell asleep after going to District 12. Just in case it has been such a long time since I last posted a real chapter that you had forgotten. Again, I apologize. Here's a chapter to make up for the other stuff. I promise, just for all of you awesome readers, I'll work on making this chapter especially long (I am writing this authors note before I write the actual chapter, and I am lazy enough to not change it after I finish.) But for the extremely long chapter, I need some extremely long reviews. I'll try and give you something to comment on. Actually, I can think of 4 things right now that are going to make you gasp or laugh (or more, maybe scream? That would be epic) from surprise or funny stuff. Enjoy :D
Peeta POV-
Is Luke insane? Sleeping in the same bed with Liz? Well, I can't say I blame him. Liz is a good girl. They wouldn't do anything bad. Or would they? No. They wouldn't. At age 32, I am already having my mid life crisis. Shouldn't that happen in like….15 years? Oh well. Maybe its stress induced.
I walk in to Liz's compartment and gently shake Luke awake. He groans and opens his eyes.
"Dad? What's wrong?" He mumbles.
"Nothing son. I just wanted to tell you that you need to be awake. It's the last day of the Victory Tour."
He practically strangles Liz when shaking her awake.
"WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY!" She yells.
"Liz! It's the last day of the Victory Tour!"
I step out before I make things get awkward. Katniss always tells me I shouldn't eavesdrop. But when it's my son and his future wife (that word is still hard to say when talking about Luke), I need to make sure that nothing bad is happening between them. They are only 15 after all.
Liz POV-Luke shakes me awake, and when he tells me it's the last day of the Victory Tour, I nearly scream. Peeta walks out of the room just as I wake up, and I throw my arms around Luke and kiss him until I feel like stopping.
"Want to get some breakfast?" Luke says with a shaky breath.
I kissed him for a pretty long time. Not a huge surprise that he's at a loss for breath.
"Nope." I say flirtatiously.
"Coffee?" He asks.
"No thank you." I reply.
He's trying to get me out of the room, and I don't know why, but I am not letting up that easy. He's either going to tell me what is going on or I am not going to leave.
"So…what's up?" I ask.
"Nothing much. I watched you sleep, nearly died trying to kill Miklisho in my dreams, and then made out with your mother. Honestly Liz, what do you think is up? We were sleeping all night. You fell asleep right after the Games on the video ended."
I never do that." I exclaim.
"I know. You get tired when you've partied. And when you're drunk."
"I was not drunk! Everyone on this train would know if I was drunk." I reply.
"Exactly. How much did you drink last night?"
"Um…like 1 cupful." I reply.
"Yeah, and you weigh like 90 pounds. One cupful can make you drunk."
"Whatever Luke. I doubt it. But whatever. Believe what you want to believe." I laugh.
Then I climb out of bed and Luke follows. We go immediately to the styling car, where for the second morning in a row, Vilnius and Argentina are making out with cigarettes perched between their manicured fingers.
I still haven't gotten over the initial jolt of excitement when I see my outfits for the tour. I have loved most of the things I've worn so far, but this dress that I would wear in District 1 may have been my favorite when Melody pulled it out of its garment bag. It was simply a Grecian style black dress with silver ribbon on the bodice. It was elegant in a simple way, and I loved it.
Luke didn't have anything particularly special. At least, nothing that really changed. I realized that I was the one that decided our mood and action. If we were being aggressive, I was the one looking aggressive. If we were being gentle, I wore a simple and less flashy dress. I had the deciding factor. I guess that's what I get for being a girl.
"Try it on." Melody said simply.
I slid myself out of my pajamas and into the dress. The chiffon felt good and cold against my skin, like liquid ice…oh wait, there's a name for that. Water. The chiffon felt like black water.
Luke left the room for a moment, along with everyone else. I was left by myself, and for once, I was a little grateful. I'd hate to admit the fact that I was scared out of my mind that Miklisho would show up and somehow ruin this appearance. This was going to be one of the most amazing appearances of the tour, because the people in District 1 were bound to hate me. Maybe they hated Luke, but they at least hated me. And I couldn't be happier about that fact. Why did I have a feeling he would just pop up in public and announce that he was alive? Because it seemed like something he would totally do.
"Help me." I whisper to the air around me in a whispered prayer to a god I hoped existed.
I look around the room, wringing my hands. I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the vanity mirror and walk slowly over. I place my fingers on the edge of the marble, and before I can make myself stop, I've collapsed into the chair, placed my head and my hands and started sobbing.
My life had become a series of TV airings, appearances, wedding plans, makeup overuse, and death threats. As much as I loved Luke, I didn't want to get married to him. I didn't want to grow up so fast. I know I sound bratty and mean and terrible, but I was forcing myself to put on a smile for the cameras. Holding myself back near painfully to resist screaming "Why the hell do I have to be getting married?" to anyone who asked with a cheesy smile and excited squeals to see my new engagement ring.
I hold up my hand, looking at that perfect little pink Mockingjay shaped diamond that glittered on my left ring finger. I still couldn't believe Luke had proposed to me. Like I said, I loved him, but I didn't think he would ask me, let alone have a ring, so soon. I almost said no before saying yes. I know, hard to believe. But it's the truth- I was scared of commitment. Or maybe I was just scared of everything coming to an end as to my perfect teen life.
I hear the door creak open and I quickly wipe away my tears. To make it look like I am doing something, I pick up a perfume bottle and spray some around near me. The overpowering scent of flowers….I think…..fill the air, and I hold back a cough. I watch in the mirror as Luke walks up behind me. I swivel around and face him.
"Hey baby." He says.
He wears a pair of black dress pants, a crisp white shirt and a black bow tie. That's my classy fiancée for you. Wow. That word hurts me to think about.
I feint a smile and pretend to have not been completely bawling my eyes out a moment ago.
"I have something for you." He says.
I can feel my cheeks heat up as I blush.
"You didn't need to give me anything. You proposed to me. We're getting married, and that is the ultimate gift." I reply with a laugh.
"You and I both know you enjoy gifts. Just…turn around and close your eyes."
I follow his direction, and I feel his cold fingers brush my neck. Then I feel his lips sucking on my neck.
"Luke, stop it! My dad will kill you." I say with my eyes still closed.
"Of course. Sorry about that. I'd hate to upset your dad." Luke laughs.
The pressure from my neck lifts, and I feel something cold graze my neck.
"There. Finished. You can look now."
I open my eyes and look at my reflection. Hanging from my neck is a gold chain with a small black gem in the center. It looks beautiful with my dress.
"Luke. It's beautiful."
"You like it? It's an Onyx stone. They're the only black gemstone. I thought you would like it. They have attitude and individuality. Just like you."
I stand up and come to his side. He holds my face in his hands and kisses me gently. We don't try and do anything more. Just a simple, gentle kiss. We don't release. That is, we don't stop kissing until Vilnius and Argentina come in. Luke pulls his lips away from mine, his eyes teary.
"We'll give you a minute." Argentina says softly.
She and Vilnius leave again.
"Why are you crying?" I ask Luke.
He gives me a smile, tears sliding down his face like raindrops on a window.
"It's just that I love you so much. I could love you my entire life and never, ever, feel like I deserve you. You are the most wonderful girl I have ever met, and I hope that I will be a good enough husband to suit the incredible wife I know that you will be."
I smile at Luke and stand on my toes, planting another kiss on his soft lips.
"You are wonderful. Never forget that. And you will be the most amazing husband in all of Panem. And you'll be a hell of a lot better at being a parent then I am. I mean really, it's not that hard. I am not a person that likes kids. So you'll be a lot better naturally." I say, trying to make Luke laugh.
Anything to make him stop crying. I hate seeing him cry. It makes me heart split to pieces and my brain go numb, and I can't think of anything besides me being a terrible person. He wipes away a tear with his hand.
"Let's finish getting ready so we can flaunt our victory over Miklisho." I say.
"And Silke. We can't forget about Silke Deprie." Luke replies.
"Really? That girl was dead as a doornail before she was off that pad for 10 seconds. Miklisho stabbed her too quickly. I doubt she would have done anything good in the Arena anyway. She was an airhead. All the girls in District 1 are." I say with an annoyed tone.
Luke smiles back at me. He's happy that I'm back to my normal self after our little episode.
"And are all the boys perverts like Miklisho."
"I suppose we'll find out today."
I head to the door and when I open it, Algeria falls into the room at my feet. I frown and cross my arms over my chest.
"I wasn't snooping. I was doing nothing of the sort."She gets up and Argentina and the others file in. Melody takes me to my vanity and puts on all my makeup.
"No ruining this. You have only 10 minutes after the stop in 1 until you get to 2."She says.
"So in other words, don't be licking each other's lips and messing all this up." Norlina adds.
"Darn it. Because I was really going to lick off that delicious looking lipstick." Luke says.
I put on a pair of black sandals and walk out of the train like a model. Six Peacekeepers come to my side, and 6 to Luke's, who walks behind me. People here hate us so much that having us stand together is not even an option if we want to come remotely close to staying alive.
I hate this District. District 1 is where all the luxurious things come from. As I walk down the polished streets, I see that the name isn't just for show- District 1 is the most grand. The most regal. Whatever word you choose to use to describe this magical place, it could be. For one brief moment, I hate my own district for not looking like this. We are the closest to being Capitol people, but these people live better.
Like I said, for a moment. But then I snap out of it and walk with Luke up to the stage to stand in the wings. I look around, expecting Miklisho to try and strangle me with a rope or stab me in the heart, but I don't see him anywhere yet.
The man I saw in the Reapings video take the stage and announce in a bold voice that we are there. People boo and hiss, and as I walk out to the man, Luke clutching my hand next to me, I hear a ton of people sobbing.
Looking down, I see the entire first row is in tears, and half of them are guys I would have used to call attractive, and they all hold black roses. The other half of the row composed of a few blond girls with extremely fake looking faces and bodies, a couple that was maybe a few years older than my parents sobbing, the man holding the woman to him, and a bored looking woman with at least….12….yeah, there are 12 kids with her, crying and holding hands. The woman's lower lip quivers, and then she breaks into sobs too. I figure that that woman was either Miklisho or Silke's mother, and all those children were siblings to one of them.
"And now, Ms. Velvet Deprie would like to say a few words in honor of her daughter, Silke."
The woman and the man mount the stage, and the woman takes the microphone from the mayor.
"My daughter was a wonderful girl. She did everything she was supposed to. She was brilliant, and exceptionally beautiful. When she was Reaped, I really was thinking she would come home. She would have been going to Prom this year. She would have gone so far in everything. And now….well….now she's gone. And there's nothing I can do to get her back. I can only hope that somewhere, she is watching down on us, and hearing me say that I was proud of her, and I loved her with everything she did."
The woman holds her composure for most of the speech, and then at the end, she cries gently. Her husband takes her by the hand. I do the right thing, even if it isn't what Snow would want. I go to the woman, and I give her a sympathetic hug. She stops crying and hands me the microphone.
"Silke was an amazing person. I can't say I knew her well, but I do know that she would have been an excellent person to be friends with. Anyone who knew her should honor her memory. And while I wish I could say she had helped me, I can't. I was allies with her, though I never had the honor to fight with her by my side. I know that she would have been a huge threat, and she would have gone far."
Luke nods and sheds a tear or two. He makes an obvious attempt to make people see that he is as sorry about Silke's death as I was showing.
Silke's parents disappear back into the crowd, and the other woman comes to the stage. She's Miklisho's mom.
"My son was as brave as any other boy in Panem. He stood up for what he believed was right. And when everyone around him was taking steroids to help themselves enhance their skills, he thought it was right. But his skill was not based off of the steroids. He had skill all on his own and he did everything he could to try and come home to his 12 younger brothers and sisters. He knew I needed help with them and he volunteered for his younger brother. He knew what he was sacrificing, and he got vicious to protect himself, just as I know that that girl-" she points a finger at me, "-there did. Miklisho acted from instinct. Any Career tribute needs to have drive and excellence, and he had enough of it to fill 20 people his age. I am proud that he was, and will always be, my son, and I am honored to say that I applaud Liz and Luke on their Victory. They deserve none of the madness and disrespect we here are offering them."
I hug the woman, and this time, I have to fight very hard not to cry.
"Thank you, ma'am. I am so sorry that Miklisho couldn't win. I had to kill him so my allies wouldn't die. So Luke wouldn't die, and I-" the woman presses a finger into my lips.
"Say nothing more. You love Luke. Women do so much for love. I blame you for nothing but a guilty conscience. Clear it. All of the Games and their events are in the past for this year, and they will never come back the same."
Luke and I stand on the stage, and two by two, the boys with the roses come up, and one of them each hands us one rose, until every boy has gone and given us a rose. I shake hands with a few of them. It seemed like the civil thing to do. They all looked back at me with tear stained eyes and pale, overly fake looking faces. They all were murmuring things about Silke as they walked away.
Luke and I left the stage and stood with our parents. I hugged my dad and cried, and he didn't yell at me. My mom hugged me from the other side. We walked to the train in silence. Before we entered, Effie made us take a deep breath and calm ourselves. The scary thing was I had no idea she was there at all. We all did what she said so we could get back to the train and get ready for District 2.
Melody and Vilnius went to get our clothes as we did our hair and makeup. Yeah, they let us do it. Luke was brushing his hair out. I was curling mine and clipping it up into a perfect bun. I added my red lipstick and black mascara. Thick eyeliner and brown eye shadow would match what Melody told me. I was wearing red, and that's all she said. Melody rushed in, gave us our bags, and then walked right back out again to get ready for something else. Luke and I start pulling off our District 1 clothes and putting on our district 2 clothes. Luke has a super tight white shirt, black leather jacket, and a red tie to match my dress. I step into my dress, which is red, and short, and sexy. I stood by the vanity and examined myself. I looked good. But I still couldn't get myself to stop shaking.
"What's wrong?" Luke asks, coming to my side.
"Nothing. Just nervous, that's all."
"About what?" Luke probes me for more, but I barely say anything.
"It's nothing. Zip me up?" I reply.
He comes and pulls the zipper up on my dress. It fits snugly around me, but not enough to make me uncomfortable.
"Please Liz, tell me why you are so nervous."
"Fine. I…well, there's a Victor in my district named Enobaria. She won the 62nd Hunger Games. She's….my idol. Everyone has a role model that they idolize, and she's mine. She's one of the most vicious tributes ever known. My mom was compared to her, but Enobaria was still better. She's going to be at the party, and I am nervous she'll come up and hate me. I don't think I'll be able to handle that if she does."Luke smiles.
"Nobody could ever hate you. Enobaria would be stupid not to love you. You are vicious, don't you worry about that.""Thank you. But your nice words don't make anything easier. I'm still nervous." I say, clipping the pair of black dangly earrings in.
The same ones I wore on the train to the Capitol when I was convinced that Marcus was going to have a heart attack. I remember that day, even though it was months ago. I wished I could forget everything about Marcus, but the truth was, I couldn't. There was a small sliver of myself that didn't want him forgotten. And so far, that small sliver was a hell of a lot stronger than the rest of me.
Luke wraps an arm around my waist and my head tilts back. His lips come so close to my mouth….so close…..
"HEY! I said no kissing!" Melody shrieks at us.
Luke and I groan simultaneously. Melody smirks.
"Hey, it's the rule. Just follow it and you'll stay on my good side."Luke and I head off the train, and this time, we don't need Peacekeepers.
"HEY PRINCESS!" Somebody screams in the square.
I look around and see Brent with his glasses and goofy grin. He runs to me and tries to hug me, but I push him off me.
"Hey hey hey, watch the dress." I say
."Oh my god! You have no idea how much everybody has been missing you. Tina is so far behind on her campaign. No need to thank us. We did everything but sabotage to make you get ahead. The fact that you're a Victor makes you twice as likely to be Prom Queen. And we kicked out Sam. He took it much better than we thought. You won't be seeing Xavier for a couple days. He's still ashamed of his battle scar. Sam cut him in the cheek. It scabbed up really grossly. And don't even get me started about how he bruised his-"
"Brent, have you met my fiancé, Luke?" I interrupt.
I knew what he was going to say. I'm used to it, but Luke would think I was gross and scummy to hang out with Brent after he finished that sentence.
"No. I have not had the honor. How dare you, Liz! Say, you wouldn't have any cigarettes on you, would you?"
"Brent. Come on! You know you're the one that is supposed to be supplying the cigarettes. And dude, you are such a-"
"LIZ! Got to go!" Effie trills.
I wave goodbye to Brent and walk to the stage with Luke. Artemis greets us, and Luke and I walk up to the sound of deafening applause.
"Wow. They are loud here." Luke has to yell at me over the noise.
"It get's louder honey." I reply.
I go and stand by Artemis. She wraps me up in a hug and shakes Luke's hand.
"Your Victors of the 88th Hunger Games…Luke Mellark (tons of screaming and clapping)….and our very own…LIZ HIRSCH!"
As Artemis announces my name, I hear and see Team Victory making the best of the noise themselves. They are jumping up and down, screaming their heads off, and of course, screaming the dirtiest things they can think of. So dirty I can't say some of them to this day.
Artemis hands us each a bouquet of roses, and then Marcus's family comes to the stage. I smile at them and try to hold back my tears. His mom hugs me.
"I am so happy for you dear. If Marcus couldn't win, I am so happy that it was you that won."
"Marcus was a deathly amazing tribute." I say in a cool tone.
This puts a light in her eyes. Saying someone is "deathly amazing" is the highest compliment you can get in District 2 these days. Marcus's mother plants a kiss of my cheek and hands me a pin of a sword.
"He would want you to have it. Now I can end my sorrow, knowing his prized possession is in the possession of you."
I shake her hand and hug her one last time, and then I dismount the stage. Brent is such a liar.
Xavier came running to the front of the crowd with the other Victories behind him, making the sounds of the ancient Native American tribes with a "WAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWA" sound. I started laughing.
My parents and Katniss and Peeta came up quickly before the chaos and informed us they would not be attending the party. Even better. Jason hoists me up and spins me around. Xavier hands me a cigarette.
"Honey, smoke that. All the way down. When you're pregnant, you can't." I don't protest.
I take the cigarette and take a puff. I gag and sputter.
"Dude. This is crap. What happened to the kind we used to smoke?"
"They went out of trend. These are all the rage, and cost ½ as much." Jason says.
We all walk to the Justice Building, and we go to the top floor, where the party happens. It's elite as elite can be. Only ¼ of the district is even considered to be invited. I know Enobaria will be here though. The set of gold French doors open and the Victories step in.
"We have an entrance to make." I say.
A few minutes later, Luke and I step into the brightly lit room. Everyone erupts into applause and I smile and smirk and wave. We walk down the steps, and I don't trip on my immense heels. I scan the room and find the bar. I take Luke's hand and we walk together over. And the first thing we do is order an apple margarita. The bartender doesn't ask any questions when I flash him a pearly white smile. The rubber bands are long gone, but I know my smile is still perfectly straight and shiny. I walk to a crowd of people are start talking. And then I spot her…
"Luke." I hiss.
"What?" He asks.
"That's her. Enobaria."
Across the room, a woman looking to be in her twenties wearing a stunning silver halter dress smiles with white teeth, and gold tipped fangs she had specially made.
"She has fangs." Luke says simply.
"Isn't it wonderful?" I breathe.
I have to fight to keep myself breathing in a steady pace. My heart is threatening to leap out of my chest.
"So, why does she have fangs?" Luke asks.
I think for a moment. I had heard this story a million times. Memorized every word practically.
"Well, she was 17 when she entered the Games. And the most major kill she ever made was vicious. She ripped out someone's throat with her teeth!" I exclaim.
"That's disgusting." Luke says, wrinkling his nose.
"Here, it's a huge accomplishment." I quip.
"She looks so young. Like, younger then our parents."Luke observes.
"She does, but she is older. She's…43." I reply.
We stand there is silence for a moment. I take a sip of my margarita.
"Well go talk to her." Luke exclaims. I nearly choke when the margarita goes down my throat that time."What? You…I ….I can't just go talk to her. She's her."
"I'm sure she loves when people go and talk to her. Go ahead. Go. I'll be right here when you get done talking to her."He pushes me a little, and I cross the room gracefully. That is, I don't fall on my face and/or butt. I approach Enobaria slowly, and then I am close enough. I take a breath, put on a smile, and start talking to the woman I had admired forever.
"Excuse me? Enobaria?" She looks up at me.
"Hello there." She exclaims.
"I just wanted to say I think that you are amazing. Simply incredible."
She doesn't reply, so I say the one thing that pops into my head.
"I love your fangs."
She smiles at me, and I see the shine of the gold.
"Thank you. I used to think they were too flashy, but now I love them as well."
"It's Elizabeth, right?" She asks.
"Yes ma'am." I say hesitantly.
. "Ughhhhhhh. Ma'am? You're far too formal! Call me Enobaria. We're friends."
"Friends?" I gasp.
"Yes….is that alright?" She replies.
"Of course. I was just surprised someone of your standards would want to be friends with me."
"Oh! You are too funny! I have to be friends with someone as creative and clever as you. I mean, the way you murdered that boy the first night with seduction. Genius! It was absolutely sinister! More than my own actions even."
"Really?" I yell.
"Yes. You are such an inspiration. To me. And to anyone who sees you."
"Thank you! I have idolized you since I could walk practically."
"That's wonderful! I appreciate that. I am going to go to the bathroom, but it has been a pleasure talking to you." She puts a hand on my shoulder, and a chill goes down my spine. Then she pulls me into a hug, and the second she's out of sight, I am running back to Luke, who has a huge smile on his face.
"So how'd it go?" He says.
"She. Touched. Me." I stammer. He nods.
"Is that all?"He says, pursing his lips and squinting his eyes in a interrogational way.
"Shut up! I'll tell you later. Let's party! This is for us after all."He takes me hand and we go and dance for a long while.
We drink, we eat, and we dance. With anyone that wants to dance with us, we say yes. And at the stroke of midnight, the party has ended. Everyone begins to clear out.
I look around the room, and suddenly that pang of guilt and pain hits me like a bullet.
"What's wrong, Liz?" Luke asks.
"Nothing. Just….Marcus. He wanted to win so badly. Almost as much as I did. I already had glory just for being alive. He didn't. He deserved to win, but he didn't. And I feel terrible about it."
Luke wraps an arm around my neck, and we walk back to the square. And from there, we go to the Victor's Village, and to my new house. There's a note on the door from my parents-
Everything is already in there. Have fun sweetie! The key is under the mat. Luke can sleep over tonight. Katniss and Peeta gave him permission.
I smile and pick up the key. I twist it in the lock and step inside. Lemon floor polish scents everywhere. I flick on a light and see the magnificent house that is now mine. Although I am too tired to really take anything in. We walk up the stairs slowly, and then I open the door, turn on the light….and freeze. There is someone else in here.
I see a pair of boots sticking out of my closet. Then I see the body of the person. A boy. Man. I don't know. He looks my parents' age I guess. Then I see a head of short, somewhat spiky brown hair. And he's holding one of my bra's.
"Oh my god! Who the hell are you? How did you get in here? And why-" I walk over and snatch the bra out of his hand, "are you holding my bra?" I yell.
The man stands up, taller than me. Taller than my dad. But then again, both my parents are slightly taller than me.
"I have permission to be here." He says in a deep voice.
"By whom?" I ask.
"Clove and Cato Hirsch." He says.
"And why are you here?" I ask.
"I was assigned to be a bodyguard for their daughter, Elizabeth. I am guessing that would be you."
"Yeah. That answers two of my questions. Now, who are you?"
"My name is Lieutenant Hawthorne. Gale Hawthorne."
So there were a few moments in here. Did I make any change in emotion for you? What made you cry? What made you laugh? What made you say "OH MY GOD!" so loud you swear your neighbors could hear you? And did anybody jump out of their seat when Gale showed up? I want to hear about it! All of it! Please, review and let me know what you are all thinking. Like I said, I would love to hear from you. Also, there is a poll on my profile (well, 2, but only one you have to take) about tributes. Please, go on there and vote so I can decide something important. Thank you! Delicious Love, MrsLukeCastellan