Wilted Roses ; The Hunger Games

XX. forgiveness is not an easy task

ROSE HATED CAMERAS. Ever since the games she couldn't stand attention from the public eye, but as a victor, that was something she unfortunately couldn't escape. There were cameras lined up in front of her house, oblivious to the fact that she hasn't even stepped foot outside that cursed place. She thought she would at least have to camp out in her house until the cameras were ready for her, but Portia decided it would spice things up if she emerged from Finnicks house, the intentiom behind it purely disgusted her, but she was unable to say no.

Magnolia had— once again— dressed her in a red dress. Being cursed with the name 'Rose,' red was an inescapable color. It was the most toned down of the outfits chosen for her but it still had such a flare that would be fit for a victor.

     "Well don't you look ravishing." Finnick complimented as she walked through the halls, her team standing right behind her as he took her hand and twirled her around.

"Why thank you." She responded, a smile evident on her face as she bowed in front of him. She was still nervous, but he could always help calm her with just his presence. He has went through this exact process before, all the interviews, all the publicity, he was truly one of the only people who could understand what she was going through which undoubtedly brought them closer together.

"Now! Let's get you out, the cameras are waiting!" Portia ushered her through the halls where Finnick followed, Willow was sitting on the couch and Rose flashed her a smile which wasn't returned. Guilt struck through her, it was clear that after all this time, she still blamed Rose for the passing of their mom. Anger bubbled in Roses stomach, not towards Willow, but towards herself. It was her fault. She had every right to hate her, now because of her actions, she had lost all the family she had left. Angry tears swelled in Roses eyes as she tried to differentiate her sadness from her anger, she tried to push it down but it kept coming up.

"Hey." Finnick whispered to Rose, clearly taking note of all the emotion twisting her face. She turned her head up to him and he took her hand in his, squeezing it for assurance.
"You're going to be okay, it's just two minutes." He assured her, she nodded to herself, taking a deep breath before the door was swung open and their hands were forced to release, Rose being shoved into the spotlight once again. She looked back as the door was closing to see Finnick giving her a tight lipped smile before he was completely blocked from view.

Expectantly, the camera's that were facing her own door, zoomed over to view her coming out of somewhere that definitely wasn't her home.

     "What do we have here?" Caesar whistled as his face was shown on a small screen above the dozens of cameras. Rose forced on a smile as she strutted towards the middle of the street where she lined up perfectly with Caesar. "Miss Carter coming out of Mister Odair's house!" He enthused, trying to make it into more than it actually was. She brushed it off, fighting off the urge to stomp back into her house.

       "So, Rose, I think we all remember what happened the last time we talked." Caesar remarked as embarrassment flooded over Rose. She forced a chuckle though the annoyance was very clear in her stare. "That is why I am hiding behind the safety of television!" Caesar boomed, the audience below him roaring with laughter at a joke Rose truly didn't find that funny.

     "On a more serious note, how is our favorite victor doing? Enjoying your new life?" He interrogated, though Rose was already having enough. "Just two minutes." Rose repeated in her head, talking another deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.

     "Doing great." She deadpanned, meaning to use a lot more emotion than she actually did but there was nothing Rose wanted more than to flop herself onto her bed and get some sleep without her dreams being flooded with gruesome images and the screams on her loved ones.