The Hunger Games: Their Separate Stories

#2 the Mentors

Seeing his family for what could be the last time went as well as Peeta could have hoped.

Peeta's mother was bitter the entire time, rubbing it in his face that he would never be able to win as she had. She grumbled and sat on a chair far from Peeta and the rest of his family. Meanwhile, Peeta's older brothers were sniffling and trying to keep the crying at bay. Even if they mistreated him throughout his childhood, he was still their baby brother and did not want to lose him. Peeta's father was going through it the worst. He had always had a soft spot for Peeta, so seeing the possibility of losing him made him ball his eyes out.

The feeling of being numb continued as he entered the train with Susan. He finally learned what her name was when Effie mentioned it during the car ride to the train station.

Susan didn't make any move after Effie showed them their compartment and brought them back to the resting compartment for refreshments before dinner. She sat quietly next to Peeta and stared at her fruity drink.

Peeta couldn't help but stare at the windows. They were traveling so fast, he couldn't get a good glimpse at what they were passing by. He guessed that he would get a chance to see what was out there if he won and got to go on the Victory Tour of Panem.

Just as Peeta was fed up with the silence and was about to start a conversation with Susan, their mentor walked into the resting compartment with a glass of a honey-colored liquid in hand.

"So," she said with a wicked smile, "you're my first tributes, huh?"

Katniss Everdeen stood tall in her heeled thigh-high, leather boots. The seventeen-year-old Victor of the 73rd Hunger Games was recognizable anywhere in Panem, especially to Peeta. He did fall in love with her at the age of five, but her win has made everyone fall to her feet. Her beauty and fierce attitude she wore turned the Capitol into dust. Everyone wanted Katniss and all she had to offer, from her talent with a bow to her fashion designs. Her talent, inspired by her phenomincal and well known stylist, is fashion. Her designs were such a hit, people were practically murdering each other for her looks and drilling at the runway shows she held. She only does seasonal shows after her first one was such a hit; she wanted to make sure every look was perfect for her fans and for the occasion. She didn't want to be turned into some quick fashioned designer, but a respected one.

Her fame has totally transformed Katniss from a wallflower to the girl in a sparkling crown getting all of the attention. She practically had a new identity that most from Twelve who knew her before her games could not recognize.

Despite being unrecognizable to most in Twelve, Peeta could still see her natural and formal beautiful underneath all the makeup she wore now. He remembered how she wore her hair in two braids as a child until their first Reaping took their innocence and she promoted her hair to a single braid. Now, she wore her hair in big, bouncy curls that fell down to her elbow. She never wore such clean clothes, but now she wore tight, dark denim jeans and a cream-colored blouse with long, flowy sleeves that fell off her shoulders, exposing her olive skin. Her natural-looking makeup covered her soft freckles and peach-colored cheeks. The red lipstick complemented her olive skin tone but added to the whole get-up that made her look five years older than she was.

Peeta was still entranced by her gray eyes, regardless of how much fire they spit.

"So, are you going to introduce yourselves or act like puppets the whole time you'll be here?" Katniss waved her glass in the air and raised her eyebrows up impatiently. Katniss's temper and patience were known to run thin, something new to her personality. Peeta knew her to be impatient but respectful, sweet but fierce, giving but resourceful. Now she expected everyone to give her the respect of a queen and she came off as rude to those other than Capitolites.