Aright, I'm not quite sure how well this is going to work out as a chapter, because I am writing this in complete lack of inspiration, totally bored out of my skull mode, and I don't exactly know where this is going to end up. Hopefully, somewhere good. I want to real quick say that in the Children of the Games role play, a few parts have been filled. We now have an Effie, done by emilyroorose, and a Katniss, done by evilneevil. Also….this is a surprise to people, and the person this is about…..I have what I call a 'Katniss muse'. It was brought to my attention that I was not writing Katniss correctly exactly. I was making her too sweet and nice and motherly, when in reality she hasn't used her bow once, and is seriously not being the Katniss we all know and love, so I….made some character fixing…and I will be fixing Katniss. I owe this change to Katniss Everdeen District 12, and I would also like to make her the OTHER Katniss in the role play, since she's been so helpful. That's right; I double cast Katniss (Surprise Katniss Everdeen District 12. Aren't you shocked?)And I will say this is the only part I am double casting. Auditions are still available for the other parts, and I would love to have more people involved, because it's kind of strange having just a Liz, an Effie, and two Katniss's. Alright, so here's the chapter. I wanted to thank ACS201298 for helping me out a little on this with Luke's part. I had no idea what to write into this, and she really helped me get ideas. Also, I don't know if Gale had a middle name in the book, but I gave him one, so don't sue if he did have one and I just didn't get it right. And so without further ado, here is the chapter. Enjoy it…*insert evil laughter*
Liz POV-
I have the strangest, most wonderful dreams sometimes. When I least expect them, I dream of the most magical things imaginable. And then there are other times, when I dream of terrible, nasty things nobody wants to dream about. Family slaughtered. Getting pregnant and giving birth to a dead child. Stuff like that. This time though, it was nice.
I was dreaming about my wedding day. I see my reflection in a full length mirror. I'm wearing a black wedding dress, the prettiest one I can ever imagine. It's perfect, and I adore it. I am also wearing a black veil, but it's pinned onto the back of my hair, which is swirled into a bun. I hold a bouquet of red roses in my hands, and my makeup is nothing but black eye liner, mascara, and red lip stick.
I turn around and see my mother and Katniss standing together, hugging, crying happily. They are being friendly to each other. On my other side is my dad and Peeta, laughing and being as civil as two men can be.
I know Luke is standing at the end of the aisle in the church I'm in standing in now. I know that today will be the best day in the world. Or at least, it would be if it were a real thing that would happen.
I sleep peacefully, enjoying my momentary bliss.
Katniss POV-
"Rue!" I scream. I frantically hop from tree to tree, letting the mockinjays guide me to my friends location.
"Katniss!" I hear, and then a bloodcurdling screech.
Once I get to the source of the sound and hop down from the tree I see that Rue is on the ground, bloodied by a spear. Marvel. This is how I know the story went the real time, which is how I distinguish this as a nightmare. I look up, expecting to see Marvel's smirking face, but instead I see Peeta. He hurt little Rue!
I try and reach for an arrow behind me, but find both my bow and arrows are gone. Yeah, this is definitely a nightmare. I would never have my bow and arrows away from me. Ever. They are like a security blanket for me. A child has a blanket. I have a freaking bow and some lethal arrows. Wow. That makes me sound like Clove. Ew.
Peeta lunges at me and I get up, taking off screaming and crying, dodging all of the trees. I turn around to find not Peeta, which I could have probably dealt with, but a wretched, nasty mutt, a huge werewolf dog that has Peeta's eyes, and more bloodlust then Cato and Clove combined in its expression. It wants me dead, this much I know.
I run faster, not wanting to die, feeling my skin being torn on numerous thorns and brambles. I don't even stop for that. I keep running, hopping over a rock and landing, hearing a shattering sound but ignoring it as I run.
"Katniss." I hear, and turn around, hearing Peeta's voice. I immediately turn, hoping it's the Peeta I know and love. It is, and he's perfectly human. He extends his arms to me, and I jump into them, needing comfort. I hug him, kiss him everywhere that isn't covered with clothes, kiss him as long as I want, and feel better.
"WHORE!" I hear, shrieked in a high pitched voice. I break away from Peeta's kiss, awake, and find it isn't Peeta. It's Gale. And he's grinning like an idiot. I am sitting in his lap, my lips inches away from his.
I must have sleep walked in here. I was in a chair down the hall. I was...I wasn't here.
I look behind me. The door is open. Cato is staring at me, open mouthed, looking excited, which means he probably got discharged from his hospital room, which means he's better again.Damn. He's so annoying. Clove stands a small distance away, her gaze accusing, her eyes piercing invisible holes in me, her arms crossed over her chest. Hate her forever. Going to stab her if she calls me one more rude name. I know it was her who called me a whore.
And in the doorway, is my own Peeta. His tone is the one that hurts the most. He doesn't look angry. He doesn't look pleased either. But his face remains neutral. And it hurts, not knowing what he's thinking.
I get myself off Gale, who is still grinning. He probably thinks I meant to do it.
"So, so called Mrs. Mellark, who are we doing tonight? Peeta? Or Gale?" Clove comments after looking over to her daughters bed.
My glance follows hers to Liz. She's asleep, oblivious. She looks so happy, so...innocent. When her parents aren't there to influence her, Liz is just an innocent little girl. Her hair is splayed around her face, and her lips are pulled into a perfect little smile.
"Oh, so you have to think about your options, do you?" Clove continues to taunt.
I roll my eyes at her. "Can you shut your ungodly large mouth for one second?" I ask.
"Hey, I'm just pointing out what an inappropriate skank you are. You are such a terrible person, 12!" Clove says with a smirk.
Her husband loops an arm around her waist. I suppose he knows she might lunge at me or something. But I don't gibe her the chance before I walk out of the room, the door slamming shut behind me. She called me 12. She hasn't called 12 since we were in the Arena.
As I walk down the hall, I notice a shattered vase on the floor. That's what broke,and is the shattering sound I heard in my nightmare as I was running. I then go down the elevator, man I hate these things, and walk out the door, across town, and to our hotel room. I stammer over to the luxrious mirror, I look at my reflection, my hair was down and snarled. I brush it out with my brush and put my hair into it's usual braid. I wipe the newly formed tears off my face. I stomp over to the closet and exchange my current outfit for my green t-shirt, brown pants, and my father's old trench coat. I grab my bow and my sheath of arrows. I head to the door and have it swing open before I put my fingers on the knob, and suddenly I'm face to face with Peeta.
"Where are you going?" He asks me calmly.
"A place. It's none of your concern, Peeta. Now move out of my way."
"I'm your husband. I have a right to know where your going."
"And I'm your wife! Thanks for stating the obvious, but last time I checked, putting a ring on a girls finger doesn't make you her owner." I try and push past him, but he's still Peeta, and he's stronger.
"Where are you going?" He repeats.
"A forest. Now stop acting like Cato and move your ass before I move it for you."
I would never speak to him like that unless something was really bothering me, and he knows it. Nonetheless, he moves resignedly away and I swish by, walking away, and toward a forest...ok fine, it's an abandoned park, but it's still a place where I can shoot at things, and nobody else is here, and there are a lot of trees and bushes and plants, so I close my eyes for a moment and pretend it is in fact a forest, and when I open them I see it like that.
I walk among some trees, one of the more shady spots, and try to appear stealthy. I shoot an arrow at a rabbit, but don't even come close to hitting it. I'm not focused. I groan and put my bow and arrows up in a tree before climbing up myself, resting one hand on a slightly higher branch before leaning my head onto it and closing my eyes.
How could I have been so stupid? Kissing Gale! Why would I do that? Even sleepwalking, why did I end up on his lap? Why couldn't I have wandered toward Peeta? Oh right, because Peeta wasn't there. Stupid bastard. This is why I didn't want to be married. This is why I didn't want to have kids. But oh no, Snow wanted me pregnant, and Peeta didn't want to disobey, so we had a child. I should have shot him in the Arena! I should have won the Games for myself! No...get a hold of yourself, Katniss. I love Peeta. I love Peeta.
If only I could just tell him what I've been going through since...since...since we were sixteen. That's when my whole life went down the drain. Liz is probably back at the hospital having another heart attack because of me, Im such a terrible parent. I wasn't meant to have kids. I was meant to be a hunter. I mean Clove might be right, I am a terrible person. I just don't get it. Why, I wasn't meant to talk to people. I'm in my thirties and still have teenaged problems. And I have a son. Clove is right, Im just a whore, nothing more. I mean I did just kiss Gale while I'm married to Peeta. I wish I could just say I'm sorry to Peeta.
"Why am I so stupid?" I blurt out loud.
"I wouldn't say that, sweetheart!" Someone says.
I turn around in the train, ready to attack. The tip of my arrow head lands right on Haymitch's nose.
"I thought I was annoying bitch." I grimace, lowering my bow.
"No that was just crazy talk, you will always be my only sweetheart." He says, surprisingly sober. He balances on a tree limb next to me. I guess he had to know how to climb if he is a Victor. He then opens his arms, knowing how I feel. I lunge at him, hugging my mentor crying.
"Its okay. It's okay." He says patting my back.
"Haymitch? What am I going to do?" I ask.
"Well I don't think by the way I saw you running and hearing what Clove said that we should not leave Clove with the upper hand huh?" He says.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Why don't we pay Clove a visit with this bow here, hmmm...?" He says.
"Oh yes, Thank you Haymitch!" I say releasing my grip.
I hop down off the tree but before I find Clove I yell back up at Haymitch, "How did you know where I was?"
He looks down at me, "You are always running out into the woods, it wasn't hard." I then run through the forest..park, whatever,and walk back to the hospital, up to the entrance, and sneak in with my bow strung. I walk around on a tribute hunt.
Clove's going down. I'm going to give her a taste of her own medicine.
Clove POV-
Liz wakes up about 5 minutes after Katniss leaves. I guess the noise of our conversation woke her. Peeta goes and sits down next to Liz as she looks around at all of us, puzzled, and I wordlessly kiss Cato. "Thank you, honey. For holding me back so I didn't murder that whore."
Liz's eyes flicker to me. "What are you talking about? Where's Katniss?" She asks.
Peeta sits down next to her and starts crying softly. "Don't cry, Peeta." Liz says softly. She leans over and hugs him, like she's part of his family. I am fuming in fury on the inside, but Cato looks calm still, so I keep my cool.
"Katniss went out for a little while." Cato says, and Liz looks at him.
"Who were you calling a whore, mom?" Liz asks.
"Katniss." Gale answers. "Wow. Wow wow wow. When did Gale get here?" She asks, shooting me a look.
"Last night." Peeta answers, his lips forming a sneer.
"Pretend you didn't hear that, honey." I say soothingly to Liz, telling her what happened. She reacts completely the opposite of how I imagined she would. "Katniss isn't a whore!" She protests.
"Honey, you don't know what that word means. Go back to sleep." I say.
She scoffs. "I know she's less of a whore then you." And Peeta looks at her like she's just said the most amazing thing in the world.
"Go back to bed." I hiss, and she wordlessly lays back down. I can see the smirk twinging at her lips.
"I'm going to go look for my wife." Peeta states, looking pointedly at Gale. "Hey, she kissed me." he mutters.
"And why didn't you stop her?" Liz hisses, sitting up and glaring at Gale. Damn. Does everybody hate Gale today?
"Because I liked it! Because it felt good. Because I wanted her to not realize I wasn't Peeta."
Peeta scowls and walks out.
"She was sleep walking! You should have stopped her!" Liz demands, and Cato pushes her down against the pillows by her shoulders.
"Listen to your mother, Liz. Go back to sleep. I am too." Cato says calmly, and shockingly, Liz obeys. Cato exits the room, leaving me, Liz, and Gale.
Liz POV-
I wake up again to Clove and my mother about 30 minutes later. I know my mom just wants me to keep sleeping and sleeping so she doesn't have to deal with me, but that isn't the way it works out.
She's angry, like I figured she would be. "How can you say I'm a whore?" She asks me with that look on her face that she gets before she beats me, and that is my immediate instinct. Where my mind goes instantly. She's going to beat me. Again.
"If you beat me, I'm sure to die right now, mother." I say sternly.
She cocks her head. "It pains me that you think I'll beat you every time you say something I don't like." I roll my eyes and let my gaze drop to the sheets on my bed.
"Mom...has Katniss come back yet?" I ask her.
"No idea. And I really don't care." She retorts, kneeling on the floor and looking through her purse.
I roll my eyes again. How could she be this selfish? What kind of example is she setting for me? Is she trying to teach me that being mean to people is the way to live my life? Because someone will get in a fight with me if that's what I do. And Luke...poor Luke. I don't know what to say when he gets back in two days. Will this be resolved by then? Is he going to come home and learn of this from someone? Will that someone be me? How will he react if he does find out? I know that if I caught my mother doing that I would be heartbroken. Which, come to think of it, is probably how Luke would be feeling right now if he were here.
Katniss POV-
I wait outside the door waiting for somebody to give Clove a warning as I slowly get closer to the door of the room. Surely someone can see me right now. After about a minute I feel safe that nobody is going to say anything, and I tuck my bow under the bench to the right of the door; the one where my nightmare started last night.
I keep my shealth over my right shoulder, they sash running across my body. I decide to take my trench coat off and pull it over my bow, just so noone can see it. I walk to the edge of the door and see where every one is. Liz is sitting calmly enough in her bed, looking at the sheets in evident thought, but she lays down and falls asleep again, Gale is sitting in the chair to the right of Liz's bed, and lastly, Clove is kneeling on the floor scavenging through her purse. Here is my chance.
I ready myself, my body pointed towards Clove and not safe haven. I lunge forward then I dart towards Clove and wrestle her. We turn over and over, her on top, then me, then her, me, her, me, her, me, her, and finally push her down onto the ground with a thump. She reaches and takes her knife out of her bra, but I slap it out of her hands and it slide across the floor, under Liz's bed.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" She screams, waking Luke up.
Gale just stares, just stares. "I don't know, TWO. What am I doing?" I smirk.
"You little bitchy whore." She says with all her anger.
I take an arrow out of my shealth. "What should we cut off first? Hmmmmm... the mouth!" I snicker.
I start to lightly trace her mouth with the tip of my arrow head.
"You little-" She says.
"Well lets dig in." I interrupt.
I start my arrow at the tip of top lip and puncture it then start to slide my arrow until I get to the right crease of her mouth, not deep enoughe to bring serious injuries but just enough to have blood flood her tounge.
"You think this is SO funny, don't you?" She asks.
"Hmm, what should we do next?" I ask her.
"Just because your cutting me up doesn't change the fact that you kissed Gale. It doesn't change the fact that your a cheat, an idoit, and a whore. And it DEFINATLEY doesn't change the fact that you HATE Peeta, so called Mrs. Mellark." She retorts with a grin.
This hurts, it takes me deep. "I love Peeta." I state, my arrow head has now ended down at her throat.
I puncture a hole, just big enoughe to have a dot of blood come to the surface but not a huge gash. I take my arrow in my hand, winding it back so it aims at the mark like a target. And just before I bring my arrow down and slice through Clove's neck I hear "KATNISS! DON'T!"
I look up and see Liz, shaking and trembling. "Please!" She exclaims, and looks she's about on the verge of tears. Gale walks over and sits down, taking Liz in his arms. She slowly stops trembling so much. "Shhhh. It's alright. They're going to stop this." He murmurs softly, comforting her as he strokes her hair.
"Yeah, loving this chic fight." Gale says sarcastically, clicking his tongue.
I can see why Liz is so upset. When I talked to her about her parents Games, she had thought her favorite part was watching every time her mom got vicious. Bloodthirsty. Exactly the way Liz wanted to be. The moments where she was over me were the parts she enjoyed. And now she was watching that be used against her strong mom, where she could do nothing to stop it. Her mom looks vulnerable, and she doesn't like seeing it anymore then Clove enjoys having it done to her.
I move the arrow away from Clove's throat, and slam it down on the floor next to her, taking a layer of skin off her ear probably. "You are so lucky you have a daughter depending on you, 2." I hiss. "Because I would kill you otherwise." I get off the floor, brushing myself off, and exiting the room before going out and seeing Peeta at the end of the hall.
"Peeta!" I call out.
I know he isn't so mad anymore, because he comes right over to me.
Gale walks out, pinning me seductively to the wall.
"Nice work, Catnip." he slurs.
I turn him around and pin him to the wall. He groans from the force.
"Never take advantage of me again, Gale Alexander Hawthorne, or may the odds be ever in your favor." I hiss.
I let go of him and he walks back into Liz's room.
Peeta POV-
I walk over to Katniss, and she falls onto the floor, but I help her up and sit her on a bench. My head is reeling with all the information I have now. She looks so concerned, so upset. I'm upset too. I'm not speaking to her, but I sit down next to her anyway. She notices me sitting down and wraps her arms around my chest and rests her head on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Peeta." She blurts out.
I refuse to speak to her. "Peeta I'm sorry for kissing Gale. I love you." She says, tightening her grasp. I still am not saying a word. She looks like she's about to cry, but I don't back down. "Peeta?" She asks urgently. I don't move a muscle.
Just as she gets up I say "Why'd you do it?" in a grim tone. I don't want any more conflict, so I keep myself calm. "I didn't mean to, Peeta. I was sleep walking." She says.
"Just asleep?" I ask cautiously.
"Yes, just asleep." She yawns, and I know she hasn't slept in a while. I wrap my arms around her, securing her tightly like I did when we were on the Victory Tour. She seems to like it, and soon she's asleep. I hope she knows I'll always be there for her.
Cato POV-
Ok, it was not my fault that Clove was bleeding. Even if it was, it's her fault for being weak enough to let it happen. I wasn't in the room. I was not in any way, shape, or form responsible for the fight.
I come in to find Clove gasping on the floor, her hands covered in blood, and Liz shaking and trembling on the bed. Naturally, I figure Liz did something to Clove. I mean, it's been the other way around so many times that it wouldn't shock me if Liz wanted a little revenge. But then I realize Clove would easily overpower Liz, and Liz wouldn't go after her mother like that.
"Liz? What happened?" I ask calmly.
"Katniss happened, Cato! She attacked me." Clove hisses from the floor.
"Hmm. Well, why'd you let her, Clove?"
My wife, being the woman she is, stands up and grabs me by the collar before I can dislodge her. "I can't exactly fight someone when they are stabbing me in the throat and I'm trying to show our daughter fighting isn't the answer."
Liz looks at the two of us, her mouth opening silently. She says nothing. "What are you thinking, Lizzie?" I ask.
She rolls her eyes. "I'm thinking mom doesn't care what she shows me, and she totally was trying to fight back. Katniss was just better then her this time."
I smirk at my wife. "Well if Liz thought it, it must be true." I say.
"How so?" Clove asks calmly.
I pull her close to me and whisper in her ear. "She idolizes the very ground you walk on. It would take something amazingly amazing to make her even think of saying something like that about you."
Clove jerks away and scowls at me. "Come on, Cato. Take a seat. The doctors will be here any minute to give Liz her medications for the day and update us on her condition."
I take a seat to Liz's left. Clove sits down on her right, holding a tissue to her neck, wincing as she applies pressure. "Trying to stop the bleeding?" Liz asks. Clove only nods at her. "Try holding that there and then putting a bandage over it. It will stay there a lot longer." I am shocked by my daughters medical knowledge. She seems to know what she's talking about, and that alone is enough to make me shocked.
"I have more medications to take?" Liz asks.
I nod. "I promise, it'll be over before you know it."
The doctors come walking in, and Liz lets out a scream, seeing all the needles, 36 in all. God, she hates needles more then I hate Peeta. And that's saying something.
"I can't do it." Liz gasps. "I won't. Daddy, please don't make me." She cries.
"Liz...sweetie, you can do this. You can. OK? Get through this, and...and...I'll...I'll give you back your ring." I say.
Her head snaps up. "You mean it?" She asks, smiling.
I nod. "Yes. Get through this without freaking out too much, and I will give you back your ring."
She looks at me with suspicion. "And when I get this ring back, I can marry Luke, right?"
I nod again. "Agh! Oh my god, ok! Let's get this over with."
Katniss and Peeta wander in, probably hearing Liz's excited scream, and Clove and Katniss glare daggers at each other. "Daddy, I have another condition." Liz says. I raise an eyebrow. "Alright. And that would be?"
She smirks at me. "Mom has to apologize to Katniss."
"WHAT?" Clove yells. Liz looks at her.
"I think you heard me. Apologize to Katniss, and I will take all of these injections without so much as a swear." Liz manages.
Her smirk is so much like Clove's it's hard to tell it's on a different face.
"Fine." Clove groans, turning to Katniss. "I'm sorry. True?" She says with as much sincerity as she can.
Katniss nods. "Yes, for the sake of our kids, and because we can't very well be expecting Luke and Liz to be good if we can't be." She replies.
Clove smirks. "Excellent."
Katniss wanders over to Liz, who's gotten pale.
"What's wrong?" Clove asks her. "I didn't think you'd actually apologize!" she exclaims.
Clove laughs. "Well I did. So now you need to hold up your end of the deal."
Liz sniffles. "Clove? Do I have permission to help your daughter get through this?" Clove nods. "Cato? I want your permission too." I nod. "Absolutely."
Katniss takes a seat next to Liz and takes her hand. "There are 36 needles. So...3 for each district. Let's count the districts." She says gently.
Liz nods, and I gesture to the nurses to come over. "Don't look at them, alright sweetie?" Peeta says, taking a seat at Katniss's feet. "Look at me or Katniss. Ok?" Liz takes a breath. "OK. I understand."
She shudders as the doctors wipe her arm down. The entire thing. Which means they'll be going in everywhere.
The doctor nods at Katniss. "Okay, this one is for a man from district one. You don't want him to see you weak do you?"
The needle goes into her arm and she looks at Katniss teary eyed.
"Its okay,shhh. this one is for that man's wife. Don't let her see you cry." Katniss says.
The second needle jabs into her arm, she now just stares at Katniss.
"And this one is for their child." Liz almost loses it. "Miklisho. This one if for Miklisho, your friend. He saved you, didn't he? Take this one for him." The doctor pokes the needle in her arm and I can see her determination keeps up and she just stares at Katniss.
"District one is done, now onto Two. This one is for Cato... I mean your father. Don't let him see you weak." I look at my daughter. She takes a breath as it goes in. "No weakness." She murmurs.
"This one is for your mother." They stick the needle in.
"This one is for yourself. Don't let yourself down honey!" The needle goes in. Liz flinches, but she's doing really well.
District 3 is just a man, woman, and child again. I realize by District 4 that she's using some people that are significant.
"District 4. This one's for Finnick...you met Finnick at that party, remember?"
Liz bites her cheek. Katniss leans in to whisper something to Liz, but I can still hear her. "He'll tell you he thinks your cute if you don't stop now." Now that makes Liz relax. She likes Finnick. Good to know. "And now this one is for Maryann Deluna. Remember her?" Liz's old Games ally. Liz nods and the needle goes in. "Michael now. Can you do it for him?" Liz lets the doctor do it.
Districts 5-10 are just generic people. Liz flinches, but she's being so brave. I watch her as her body trembles slightly every once in a while.
"District 11...do it for Katrina. She thought you were so weak. Show her your not." The needle goes in. "Do it for Thresh. Show him you and your mama are the same strong personality." She doesn't flinch that time. "Now Rue. Little Rue. Your named after her." Liz blinks a few times, but doesn't even make a sound.
"Last three. For Peeta." It goes in, and Liz starts crying.
"It hurts so much." she gasps.
"It's alright. You can do this, Liz. Just look at me. Just look at me." Peeta comments, his fingers brushing along hers. Liz starts laughing because she's ticklish.
"Do this one for Katniss." He says, and Katniss nods.
The needle goes through, and Liz moans.
"Last one." Katniss says. "Do it for Luke." Peeta says. That last needle goes in, and then it's over.
"Alright, Ms. Hirsch. Good job. You did so well." Dr. Mars says.
Liz sighs in relief and collapses back onto the bed. Clove kisses her on the forehead and gives Katniss a light glare, but it's quickly replaced with a smile. I haven't seen Clove smile in forever.
"Thank you." She says to Katniss softly.
"No problem. I'm just glad I could help."
Dr. Mars smiles and looks at her clipboard. "I have some positive news. From yesterday's blood sample after the treatment yesterday, we can see Liz's body is reacting very well to the injections. If she keeps healing like she is now, she won't have to do any more treatment after tomorrow."
All of us start screaming and cheering in joy. Liz herself looks the happiest. The doctors leave the room, and Liz looks at me.
"Ahem. Dad, you owe me something." She says.
I reach into my pocket and take the ring out, handing it to her. She holds it in her palm, not putting it on. "Second thoughts?" I ask in a joking but hopeful voice.
Liz shakes her head. "Hold on to it until tomorrow night. I want to have it when Luke walks into the room. I'll let him slip it back on my finger." I scoff and roll my eyes at her. "Why?" I ask. "Because it's romantic." She laughs.
Luke POV-
I get off the train, smiling and laughing, carrying my own bags and Effie's, because she refuses to carry her own things. But I don't care. I'm too happy to be home to care that I have to carry a million things.
Once off the train, and waiting for Effie to stop flirting with the conductor, we both start walking toward the Victors Village.
"LUKE!" I hear, and swivel around just in time for my best friend in the entire world to come barreling into me, causing me to drop the suitcases and drop to the ground to defend myself. I start laughing and wrestling with the larger, older boy.
"SCOTT!" I scream.
My best friend helps me up, and we share a man hug. Effie clicks her tongue. "Feel free to head to my house." I say. I smile. "Or Haymitch's...now's an alright time to look through his underwear drawer." She blushes, but heads off, taking her bags with her, probably to do exactly that. "I see Trinket's back." Scott says with a roll of his eyes. "Yeah...she's a handful. I had to carry her stuff." I groan. "How long are you in town?" He asks. "Three days. So I need to see everyone like...now."
Let me real quick tell you about Scott. He's about my height, maybe an inch or two taller, and he's 16, two years older then me. He has dirty blonde hair that falls into his eyes a lot, and the brightest blue eyes you will probably ever see in any of the districts. He's also the hugest flirt in the world, and when I left the district last time, he was dating Alice's little sister Maya. She's my other best friend, and she's 16.
"How's Maya?" I ask, tying to get him to open up. I know he really likes her.
"Pregnant." He answers. I scream twice. And then scream again.
"Your joking!"
Scott laughs. "Yeah. If only. She's about 4 months pregnant now, dude."
My eyes widen. "Wait...the last time I was here was like...a month and a half ago. Are you saying she's been pregnant for like...two and a half months, and your just telling me now?" I ask. He nods. "God, Scott. Your insane, hope you know that."
Scott latches an arm around me. "Is she showing yet?" I ask.
"Yeah. Barely. But she's gotten used to it, or so she says. Having a pregnant girlfriend is hard. My parents are so pissed it isn't even funny."
"How about hers?" I ask.
He rolls his eyes. "Still wishing Maya would date you, of course. But since I'm your friend, and so is she, they are alright with it."
I nod, understanding. "That must be rough, man."
"Hey, enough about me. Let's go see the others. Alright?"
We both laugh and before I realize it we're in the district square, and my little group of friends are running toward me.
A chorus of "LUKE!", "YEAH, VICTOR BOY'S BACK", "WHAT UP SEXY?", AND "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" shower me as I walk in to the middle of the group, dropping my suitcases and hugging everyone. Daniel, Meredith, Maya, and then Scott again.
"Oh my god, how are you?" Meredith says, running over and kissing me on the cheek. Don't worry, she does that to everyone. Her brown eyes are sparkling like diamonds, which I know happens when she gets excited, and her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, which falls out as she jumps up and down from excitement.
"I'm good Mere. How are you?"
She laughs. "I am so good." She responds.
"I'm good too." Daniel murmurs, coming and hooking an arm around Meredith's waist.
"Don't I get a kiss?" he asks, and Meredith rolls her eyes, kissing him gently on the lips.
"You two dating now?" I ask, and Meredith nods, holding out her hand.
"Promise ring!" She squeals.
"6 months, then both of us are 18, and it's legal. At least in our parents heads." Daniel adds.
Daniel has jet black hair died blood red, and his eyes are a shade of deep green. He's the arrogant, sneaky friend that annoys you to death, but you love them anyway.
"LUKE!" I hear, and turn around, seeing a smaller boy run toward me. Logan. Logan is Scott's little brother. he's 11, and from what Scott has said, he kind of idolizes me. He wants to be like me, look like me, act like me, you know, the usual copycat act. I was annoyed at first, but now I think it's kind of cute.
"What's up buddy?" I ask him.
He looks happy just to be noticed. "I'm really good! How's Liz?"
He also adores Liz. Maybe more then me. No wait...that isn't possible. "She's good. We're getting ready for our wedding."
"Am I invited?" he asks. "If your brother is coming to be my best man, absolutely."
I look around the square. "Have you seen Austin anywhere? I thought he'd be staring daggers at me from a bench somewhere by now."
Austin is my friend, but he's also kind been a snob because I've kind of ditched him a little, along with some of the people I used to hang around with before the Games. We're friends, but not nearly like we used to be.
"He's around somewhere, I'm sure." Maya says, coming toward me. Scott wasn't lying, she is pregnant. She's just barely showing, but her belly is definitely bigger. "Congrats. I heard the news." I say, and she beams. "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl yet?" I ask.
She nods enthusiastically. "A boy. And I'm naming him Loki. Like the Norse god, you know?"
She's a nut for mythology.
All my friends have their quirks. But I'm happy to be near them all.
I'm just so happy to be home. Everything's perfect.
Well, there's the chapter. Sorry, not gonna be a huge note. Hope you liked it. REVIEW! Tell me what you thought! I really want to know. And remember, the role play is still open to audition, and I need your feedback to do another awesome chapter. Thanks for reading!