--» 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 «--

Chapter Twenty

"Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting shaky there," I fib, both of us massaging our hands.

"It didn't show. I'm sure no one noticed," Katniss says, making me nervous, hoping she isn't onto me. I can't tell her, at least not yet.

"I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. You should wear flames more often." I say, drawing us from the previous subject. "They suit you." I look up from my hands, and while blushing, smile. In her glossy eyes, I see a thousand emotions running through her, but the only one I long to find is joy, which I find just before she does something so inexplicable.

She stands up on her tiptoes and lets her soft, pale lips meet my cheek, right on the bruise Haymitch's fist created. This time it's me that can't figure out what to feel. Fear, joy, love, hatred, all bottled up inside of me. I'm paralyzed as I stand here in front of her, looking deeply into her ashy eyes, but before I have time to reply or even get my thoughts in order, she skips towards Effie. Katniss Everdeen, skipping, something I never thought I'd live to see.

After an appalling half-hour of making small talk with Capitol people, we mope over to the elevator that resides within the Training Center, which is extraordinarily tall with walls made entirely out of glass. I look over at Katniss, unsure about how safe the elevator really is, but she's in awe at the sight of it and doesn't see me looking. Effie's high heels click as she enters the elevator, Katniss rushing after her, eager to ride it. As the elevator lifts off the ground, strung up by just a few wires, I find myself gripping onto the railing so hard my knuckles turn white. However, soon enough, it's over. Katniss frowns, the same frown a child would make when they were told there was no breakfast for them in the morning, when she realizes the ride has ended. Effie gives us a quick tour of the penthouse, large and coated in blue, just as the train had been.

Shoving me into my room to look around for a moment, she squeaks, "Don't be late for dinner!" and rushes away.