Jaded ||| Johanna Mason

twelve

The train ride to the Capitol was different than the first time Jade went. She wasn't as stressed about going, considering she wouldn't be the one going into the arena.

Of course, there was the little issue of being sold by President Snow but Jade tried to push it out of her mind. She just needed to enjoy her time on the train for as long as possible.

She decided to stay away from the tributes going in. Jade knew at least one of them was going to die, most likely both, and she didn't feel the need to get attached.

They were vicious kids, though. Jade found that out quickly. Not that she, herself, was any different. But they wanted to show Jade up. It was a tough act to follow, one person in the pack turning on the others, decapitating and disembowelling other tributes.

She didn't know until they arrived just how much distrust she had thrown into the dynamic.

It was explained to Jade as they waited for their tributes to be finished with the parade.

Luster had been furious when Jade killed his handpicked students. He accused Domitia and Odius of planning it, that Jade was planning to kill everyone from the beginning.

The 68th games weren't a sure bet. The 2's didn't know how Luster was going to play it and they were nervous about that.

Nonetheless, the mentors sat up in the stands with the other Victors as they waited for the parade to commence.

Jade was genuinely surprised at how well some of the Victors got along.

Sure, there was rivalry between districts. But most of the Victors talked and joked together like old friends, catching up after a year away.

Even some of the 1 and 2 Victors had friends in the outlying districts, even if during the meat of the games it was pure competition.

Jade watched as Haymitch and Chaff laughed together with drinks in their hand, while Mags and Vera spoke quietly together. Domitia even leaned back to talk to them at some point.

It was a stressful feeling to be the odd one out again. Jade was new and she was sure there were a few Victors who weren't fond of her.

That was when Finnick decided he wanted to talk to her and abruptly took the seat next to her. Jade was startled for a moment before she looked over and saw who it was.

His signature smirk was sitting playfully on his lips. The one that dropped the panties of all the Capitol women and won him his game. Jade sarcastically rolled her eyes.

"Hello Finnick," she stated, looking out at the crowd by Tribute Avenue. There were thousands of people craning for a glimpse of the Tributes yet to come.

"Oh come on, Jade. What's with the glum look? Aren't you so excited to see all of your biggest fans again? From my recollection there's a very large group of them," Finnick replied. He always seemed to know everything and yet acted clueless at the same time. It was part of his charm.

"Ah, yes. I'm so excited for my ears to bleed when I try to go anywhere. Though I don't think any of my fans are sitting near me," Jade stated uncomfortably as she looked around at the other Victors.