The Two Volunteers: Unplanned

Chapter Three

I hate parties so much, but I put on my best act. Especially after what I have learned about the District's earlier I want to give everyone the best show possible. I do things I don't want to do, talk to people I don't want to talk to, though I can't say I eat food I don't want to. This is butcher meat, bakery bread, and only the best the District can give. But it will never be good enough for a Victor, according to everyone in the Capitol.

I currently sit with Prim and Haymitch, Prim adoring the party and the lights and the food, while Haymitch only seems interested in his drink. We talk only a little bit before Effie comes to us, tapping me on the shoulder.

"Katniss, I have something very exciting for you, come along dear." She motions for me to follow. I am reluctant at first but I know I have to go with her. So I set down my plate of food next to Prim and walk with Effie. She leads me through crowds of dancing people who I ignore. These are all people from the District, more the higher class of course but in my opinion there are too many of them. I follow Effie to the other side of the room where a man stands by the wall, next to a table of spirits.

"Katniss, this is Plutarch Heavensbee. He came all the way from the Capitol to see you." She says with delight. I put on a smile but I could honestly care less.

"Miss Everdeen, may I have this dance?" The plump man with a bad comb over asks me. I can't exactly say no, not with Effie standing right there anyways so I nod. He leads me to the dance floor. He places a hand on my side which is very uncomfortable. But I lay one hand on his shoulder and he places his other hand in mine.

"So, um, you are from the Capitol?" I ask.

"I am actually the head Game Maker." He tells me.

"That's a brave job, designing the Games that ruins the lives of innocent children?" I question snobbily. He only laughs.

"Well, someone had to take the job. Seneca is now retired, which is crazy because he is younger than me." I could honestly care less about the head game maker.

"So why didn't you talk to me when I was in the Capitol?" I question. It doesn't make sense for him to come all the way here when just the other day I was in the there. He shrugs.

"I assumed there would be less people at this party, too many ears to hear us at the Capitol." He tells me.

"They were all drunk, they wouldn't be able to comprehend anything. Not that you could hear above the music there." I say.

"My assumption is you didn't like the celebration?" He asks and I give him a sarcastic laugh. "You don't seem to be very fond of this one either."

"They aren't my favorite, but I can tolerate them." I say. I find the silence even more awkward than the conversation. The noise being the drunk people around us trying to make conversation with each other but failing horribly. "So, the Quarter Quell is your first year? That must be stressful, having to make these Games more 'special' than the others right?"

"Yes. Of course these games have been in the making for years, arenas aren't built over night after all." He says, looking behind me." But I think they will be interesting. People all ages will enjoy the games, young and old. You know, the entire country will play a roll in them." He has a very mischievous look and I want to question him further about the games. What does he mean? Of course the entire country has a part in the games, that's every year. Watching your friends, siblings, children, and students ripped from you forever.

And I want to know more. After all, I will be mentoring this year and I would like to know about what is going to happen before we get there. But there is nothing I can say because that would be out of line. So instead, I just stand there awkwardly for a moment in the silence. That is, until someone else taps on my shoulder.

"Excuse me, may I have a dance with the Victor?" Asks Peeta behind me. I look at him with relief because he is rescuing me.

"Of course." Plutarch says. "I will leave you two alone." He nods at me, and I to him, and he walks away. I go to Peeta's arms willingly, so much better than those of Plutarch. Something about him feels weird. Peeta places his hands at my hips, and mine go around his neck.

"Thank you." I sigh.

"What did he want?" He asks.

"I'm really not sure, I couldn't make sense of him." I smile because even though the entire thing was awkward, being away from him it's kind of funny. I look up at Peeta who is smiling at me.

"Seriously, you saved me." I say.

"Hey, I wouldn't want his hand at my waist either." This makes me laugh. With everything going on lately my sleeping schedule has been effected. The Tour brought back too many memories so the nightmares wake me and keep me up, thinking of what to say about Gale has been a chore, and so much traveling the past two weeks. I can feel my eyes begin to droop and I lean against Peeta a little more, my ear against his heart. Thud, Thud-Thud, Thud. I like his heartbeat, it's the only thing that seems normal anymore.

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When I get back home, many hours after my mother and Prim left, I again find it hard to sleep. I suppose I am just afraid of going to bed because the nightmares will surely consume me, and that means waking my mother in Prim with my screaming. I was hoping to find a way to calm them down some, but I still haven't found the answer.

I decide to get out of bed, I don't want to be stuck in doors anymore. But I know I can't go to the woods, even though I would love to. There are too many people out right now who could see me, because even if I left the party it doesn't mean everyone did. Instead, I open the window. I grab a blanket and slide through, sitting myself on the roof. The nightgown I am in will be soaked because the snow will melt underneath me, but what do I care? I have at least 3 of the same one in my closet.

The sky spits the snowflakes out, not a complete white out but harder than just a few. Since the winter has come, I have found the snow comforting to say the least. To stand or sit in the middle of it there is no noise, complete silence. That isn't something I get often, even the noise in my head seems to quiet down when there is snow. The silence is overpowering, and I love it.

I love silence when I want to, not when I have asked a question or need something to drown out my thoughts. This silence is good. I take the time to enjoy the peaceful hush of the outdoors. That is, until my mind becomes to overpowering.

I wonder deeply, what would Gale have thought of the speech I gave for him today? Would he be pleased? Or would he cross his arms the way he use to and tell me there is always room for improvement? Or knowing our new found feelings of each other, would he of just wrapped me in a hug? I don't know, but I would hope the last.

The thought of Gale brings me to thinking of the entire Hawthorne family. And as the faces of each kid race through my mind, and the image of Hazels red cracked hands from washing laundry, I get an idea. They have no problem taking what I offer them, Gale would never allow it because he would see it as charity. Had he not volunteered, he would be living in that house in the Seam doing what he always did which was hunt for his life, and his family. Now that he isn't here though, I know what he would want me to do.

Tomorrow morning, as soon as I wake up, I am going to go get Rory. It is time he learns how to hunt. Because one day, he is going to have a family. And he will have to supply. But for right now, he has officially become the oldest child. And Gale wouldn't want him just taking, he would want him learning to do it himself.

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Sorry everyone for the shorter chapter, but I updated two days in a row (: I seem to have a little more time now, so I am writing more! I have big things planned for this book, so stay tuned!