"Smile, wave, be happy. Smile, wave, be happy," Taiya chanted.
"You've got it," Tigris smiled, as she zipped up Tanya's coat.
"I don't think I do Tirgis," Taiya stuttered.
"You just need to read the cards Moxie wrote for you. Smile at the crowd, have dinner with the Mayor and the lone victor of District 12."
"And then rinse, repeat in all the other districts," Taiya's voice shook as she tugged her hair. "I don't think I can do this."
"You can."
"What if I break? Everyone here is just watching me, waiting for me to break."
"You're stronger than that," Tigris assured. "I know you are. You put on a show that night in the Capitol and you're going to put on a show on your tour. We all believe in you. Even though you might not. Go on," she ushered Taiya out of her room and into the dining cart of the train.
"We have to tell her, what do you think she'll do if she gets off the train and sees that?" Finnick snapped at Tyler.
"Tell me what?" Taiya asked, and their heads whipped around to face her.
"Taiya…" Buck started.
"Tell me what?" she pressed.
"District 12 got hit by a storm last night," Finnick told her.
"Finnick!" Tyler snapped.
"Be quiet Tyler," Finnick growled.
"So it's cancelled?" Taiya smiled.
"No…" Finnick hesitated. "The tour is going to go on."
"So it'll be a bit rainy," Taiya shrugged as she walked forward and grabbed a grape from the bowl.
"That's not it," Finnick rubbed the back of his neck. "They got hit by a snowstorm. The entire district is caked in snow."
Taiya immediately dropped the grape as she collapsed into the closest chair, her legs crumbling beneath her.
"Snow?" she stuttered, looking up at the three men standing in front of her.
"I'm sorry Taiya," Tyler apologised.
"Just give me 5 minutes," she spluttered, getting up from her chair and racing back to her room. As soon as she entered her room she collapsed down on the bed.
If there's one thing she never thought she'd have to see again it was snow. It never snowed in District 4, and she took comfort from that. She hadn't even considered the fact that other districts were blanketed in snow for a good portion of the year.
Hearing a knock on the door she called out, "just give me a minute please."
Ignoring her, Finnick opened the door and stepped into her room. "Hey," he greeted quietly as he shut the door behind him. "You ok?"
"I just need a moment," she breathed as she shut her eyes. Feeling the bed dip next to her, she tensed as Finnick took a seat beside her. Gently he took ahold of her hand, making Taiya's breath hitch.
"Sorry," he apologised, as he went to withdraw his hand, but her grip tightened, keeping him tethered to her.
Relaxing into the comfort he was trying to offer, she lowered herself down to lay on the bed, pulling him downwith her. She looked into his eyes before nestling her head into his shoulder. He immediately tensed up and let out a nervous breath.
"You'll be with me?"
"Always."
"Panem today. Panem tomorrow. Panem forever," Taiya smiled as she completed her speech in front of District 12.
As soon as she was finished she was ushered off the stage by Tyler and the ornate wooden doors shut behind them. With the view of the crowd now blocked off, she slid down the wall, clutching her chest as she tried to contain the feeling of her heart splintering.
"You did good," a drunken voice congratulated. "First one's always the hardest."
"Thanks, Haymitch," Taiya muttered.
"You should probably get her out of here," he said to Tyler. "The mayor's a gossip. You don't want the rumour that's she's close to a breakdown getting out."
"I'm not having a breakdown," Taiya grumbled. Haymitch just smirked at her and she shrugged dismissively before she spotted Finnick across the room. Immediately upon seeing him she smiled and felt the pain in her chest dull slightly.
"And you most definitely don't want that rumour getting out," Haymitch whispered softly as he looked over at Finnick. "That wouldn't bode well for either of you."
"He's right," Buck agreed, and Taiya diverted her eyes.
"Come on," Haymitch offered her his hand and pulled her up. "Ok, now smile," he coached. "And rinse, repeat."
"That's what I said," Taiya scoffed.
"Well you must be smart kid," he tapped her arm. "Let's go."
The talent she'd presented to the nation prior to leaving District 4 had been her piano playing. But perhaps her greatest talent was acting. She'd managed to make it through all the Districts and into the Capitol without a hitch in her performance. At least that's what the cameras were led to believe. Behind closed doors she felt as damaged as ever, unable to pull herself out of the agony she found herself in.
"This is the most important event," Tigris warned as Taiya drank her hot chocolate at the dining table. "Everyone will be watching." Tigris looked around to make sure no was eavesdropping on their conversation before whispering. "He'll be watching."
"I know," Taiya nodded.
"No," Tigris took her hand. "You don't." Tigris cast a glance over at Finnick. "You cannot so much as even look at that boy. If he sees any crack in the facade he'll punish you both."
"With what?" Taiya whispered. "He's taken everything from us."
"Not everything," Tigris shook her head. "There's always someone to lose," she warned. Taiya fell silent. She knew Tigris was right. "Don't anger him. You had a few hiccups at the start, that he can excuse. But you've played the game perfectly since then. Keep playing it. You've seen what he can do."
"I have," she agreed as she looked over at Finnick. They couldn't lose anyone else that they loved. There'd be no coming back from it. For either of them.
The Capitol party was extravagance on steroids. No other way to describe it. Whilst some people in the districts starved to death, the Capitol citizens overfilled themselves with luxuries. It was grotesque.
She'd shaken hands with dozens of pink and blue artificially coloured people when one face with a manicured beard caught her eye.
"Hey," she smiled as she made her way over to him.
"Enjoying your night?" Seneca asked.
"No," she scoffed before her eyes widened. "Don't tell anyone I said that."
"Not a chance," he laughed. "It is a bit much. The Capitol does have some cool clubs, but this party here, it's just filled with people who think they're worth more than they are."
"What about you?"
"Oh I definitely think I'm worth more than I am," he smiled as she laughed at his joke. "Your district tour was a hit. Everyone loved you."
"I am very loveable," she confirmed as she took a sip of her drink.
"Your left hand."
"Hmm?" she asked.
He raised his hand and opened and closed it a few times. "It's your tick. When you're nervous you open and close it. Get rid of that and you'll have a near-perfect performance."
"Really?" she gasped as she held her hand up. "Huh. How'd you notice that?"
"I'm observant."
"And he's watched your interviews about a million times," Romulus teased as he came up to throw an arm around his brother's shoulder, who promptly smacked it off.
"Shut up," Seneca growled.
An avox walked up to them and held out a note for Taiya. Gulping she took it with a smile and opened it.
- Miss Ambersnow,
If you'd be so kind as to excuse yourself and meet me in my office. The peacekeeper by the door will show you the way.
President Snow -
Taiya sucked in a breath. This was what she was dreading.
"Everything ok?" Seneca asked.
"Of course," she smiled. "The President wants to meet with me to congratulate me on the success of my tour," she lied.
"Awesome!" Romulus gasped. "That's so cool."
"Best not to keep him waiting so if you'll excuse me," Taiya smiled shakily before quickly turning and heading off, not waiting for a response. As she made her way to the door as instructed, she had to walk straight past Finnick. Neither one of them made eye contact, very aware that could cause more issues than they could withstand. But she was still able to feel the ghost of his touch as they passed, briefly touching fingertips. It was a whisper of a touch, but it was reassuring to her.
Head held high, she walked through the door and followed the peacekeeper up to the Presidential office.
"Ah, come in Miss Ambersnow," his ancient voice sounded. Taiya walked into the room, trying desperately to keep her breathing stable. "Please take a seat," he smiled.
"Thank you," she muttered.
"Amazing manners," he smiled. "No doubt taught to you by your father." Taiya stiffened before nodding. "Of course. He was a good man. Such a waste," he mused. "I'll admit Miss Ambersnow, your performance after your games did alarm me for some time. But you appear to have made a remarkable recovery."
"Thank you, President Snow," she smiled. "It took some time, but I am feeling much better, and of course ever so thankful for the love and care of the people from the Capitol."
"I have a feeling it is not so much Capitol medicine that has helped you reclaim your mind. More so it may have been being thrown off the pier by one of your mentors," he smirked as he clicked a button and video footage came up of Tyler throwing her off the pier.
"Oh," she breathed.
"We are always watching Miss Ambersnow, as you are well aware. Although I must admit. You have impressed me. Apart from your outburst at the new mayor's wife, you have kept your emotions hidden from the wider community of District 4."
"Thank you."
"I do not wish to waste your time Miss Ambersnow. I'm sure you'd rather be at your party. I know you are very aware of the obligations of victors."
She sucked in a breath. "I am."
"I do not have those intentions for you," he smiled and she tilted her head. This was not what her team had prepared her for. "I have something else in mind for you."
"And what would that be?"
"Your popularity is astounding. Across all districts as well as the Capitol. A true Capitol darling. And I'm sure if I employed you, you would be quite profitable and desirable. However, I believe that you will perhaps be more useful to me if I employ you for another purpose. I believe you will be much easier to control than some of the others."
"Easier to control? I did kill a doctor," Taiya challenged.
"A minor hiccup," he brushed aside. "One that will not be repeated. You see my dear Miss Ambersnow. I have noticed that a certain Crane boy seems to be quite taken with you. And I am sure he has mentioned how he is training to be a future head game maker. The importance of this role in our society cannot be undervalued. But this younger generation does seem to be a little more independent than the ones that have come before. I would very much like you to get closer to him. Whilst he may be a little more independently minded than his father, he is very malleable to the influence of a beautiful girl."
"You're prostituting me out to Seneca Crane?" she asked in disbelief.
"Not necessarily," he denied. "This is an arranged relationship. You'll be the whisper in his ear."
"My whisper, your words?"
"Indeed. A public-facing relationship that can be as real or fake as you desire. Just so long as the boy is controlled and the Capitol believe in the love story."
"How do you know it will work?"
"I've observed you for quite some time now Miss Ambersnow. I believe I will be able to achieve more for myself if I have you working one on one with Mr Crane. He will be malleable when influenced by you, and I wish to use that to my advantage"
Taiya looked down at her feet. "What's in it for me?"
President Snow let out a loud laugh, making her flinch. "You can consider it my gift to you allowing you to continue your dalliance with Mr Odair. Behind closed doors of course."
Taiya looked up at him carefully, her eyes filling with tears. She knew there was no escape from him. Not without dire consequences. So as reluctantly as she could, she nodded her head.
Ummm, so it's been a hot minute. But I'm back. Sorry, it took so long to update. I totally know where I want to take this story, but I've just really lost my inspiration for this middle bit. But I also simultaneously feel like it's really important for when we catch up to the Hunger Games novel.
I hope you did enjoy this chapter though. Please let me know your thoughts.
Sparkly-She-Demon: Sorry, feel like I skipped over a lot of the tour, but I just wasn't sure how much it would add to the story
gamergirl28: Hello! I definitely have plans for the 74th. Spoiler, she won't be happy
Mariiiiiiiie001: Can't wait for the 74th either!
Idshipthat101: Definitely not abandoned. Just stuck in a rut. Definitely have bestie plans for Taiya and Johanna.
Pinklips90: So glad you're enjoying it