The Victor

14

The 72nd Hunger Games are over, and I've never wanted to leave the Capitol less. The final interview with Finnick's tribute has ended, most of the other mentors have left already. Finnick's already prepping for the Victory Tour, which means he'll visit District 12. I may not see him until then, which isn't what I want. I want to stay here, avoid all responsibilities with him.I'll have to visit Syca and Maisie's families when I return, something I don't want to do. I don't want to see the blame in their eyes.One year. One year until I have to do it all over again.Haymitch and I pack up everything, and I say goodbye to Effie for another year. She's been so unlike her normally cheerful self that I know she was hoping for another win. She didn't want to see Syca and Maisie die anymore than I did.An hour before the train leaves, I go down to Finnick's level. When I knock, he opens it, his hair a mess, looking frazzled."Everything okay?" I ask, and he shakes his head."I just finished packing," he answers. "When does your train leave?""An hour," I say, stepping inside. "But I have to leave in twenty. I just wanted to say goodbye.""Oh, will you miss me?" Finnick says, that half-mischievous, half-flirting smirk on his face."Stop torturing the girl," a voice says, and Johanna unfolds herself off the couch, strutting over to Finnick and me."Johanna," I say. "I'm glad I caught you.""Yeah, well, I was just leaving. And I hate goodbyes, so save it," she says, and I grin, nodding.She glances at Finnick, then leans closer to me. "Make Snow pay for it," she says, and I nod as she sweeps from the room.As she does, I realize something I never had before. Johanna won the Games before mine. She's my age. Somehow she always seemed older, but she's seventeen, just like me."She likes you," Finnick says."She has a funny way of showing it," I say."We're the closest thing she has to friends. She refused President Snow's offer, so he killed everyone she had back home."I meet his eyes. "I guess that makes me lucky.""I think she's glad she found someone else who's willing to risk the people they love to stop the Capitol from destroying them," Finnick says, and his eyes darken."Stop it," I say. "You can't blame yourself. The Capitol hasn't destroyed you." I glance at the clock on the wall. "And I have to hurry.""I'll see you on the Victory Tour," Finnick said. "Just give me six months.""Six months," I say. "And then it starts all over again."We're silent, and I sigh."You never get used to it, do you?" I ask. He shakes his head and reaches for me. I hug him tightly, feeling all his muscles contract as he hugs me back."I'm very glad I became friends with you, Piper Lockly," he says. "The past year would have been nearly unbearable without my phoenix.""I'm very glad as well," I say with a laugh, and he releases me. I begin to walk towards the door, then I turn."I'll see you in six months," I say. He nods, and I walk out the door."Here's the thing," he calls after me, and I turn around again to see him poke his head out the door. "Six months is too long."I grin and say, "You know where to find me, Mr. Odair."When I arrive in District 12 the next day, it's to no crowds, no cameras. Only quietness, the sound of tired people going about their lives. Haymitch and I slip back into Victor's Village unnoticed.I visit Syca and Maisie's families without Haymitch, who has returned to his old habits of drinking and destroying his house. Syca's mother breaks down in tears as I talk, but Maisie's family, her father and her two older sisters, are all strong, filled with steel. I promise them anything they need, food, medicine, clothes, but it's clear they want nothing to do with me.As I walk back to my home, I pass the bakery. Peeta's probably in his room in the back. His mother's in the kitchen, I can see her through the window.Stealthily, I sneak into the back, going to the last window on the right. I tap my knuckles against it. Instantly, it opens and Peeta's head shoots out. My heart clenches at the sight of him, his blond hair growing long, his eyes worried as he looks at me."You're back!" he whispers, and I climb into his room, onto his bed."It's been weeks since you've come to visit," Peeta said."Things just got…dangerous for a while," I say, and I hug him close, unable to stop my arms from clenching around him like pincers. The warmth of his body against mine is enough for me to almost break into tears, but I swallow them. "How have you been?""Busy. Mom's making me work in the bakery for longer hours now that I'm the only one not working in the mines," he says. I look at him. He's muscular, a lot bigger than me even at fifteen."If she starts hitting you again –""She won't. Not anymore. Not since I got taller than her," Peeta says with a satisfied grin and I smile back. "Are things better now? Are they safe? Can you come see me all the time now?"My smile fades. How can I tell him that I'll never be able to freely visit him, not until I've faded in the eyes of the Capitol?"I don't know," I say, and he nods."Piper, be safe," he says. "I don't want to lose you again."I hug him tightly once more. "You're never going to lose me."After I leave Peeta's, I hurry back to Haymitch's. I don't have any doubts. I won't let President Snow run the rest of my life. There has to be a way.I enter his living room, the front door slamming shut behind me, and he jumps up, staring at me."Pidge? What're you doing?" he asks."I need you to tell me everything you know about District 13."