One Lucky Winner

Chapter 80 ~ Thomas

Day 8
6:17 PM

Injuring Tony this afternoon made me happy for a little while, but I've been kind of depressed for the last few hours. Katniss and I just walk in silence, so it gives me a lot of thinking time. I've just been thinking about Newt. I'm still trying to just shake it off and man up, but it's harder said then done. And, the chat about Chuck isn't helping with my depression.

It's evening now. We've had no luck finding Peeta today. I'll never tell Katniss this, but I wonder if we'll ever find him at all. It seems kind of hopeless.

"Do you wanna stop now?" I ask Katniss. "I'm tired."

She sighs. "A little further." I wonder how she has the strength to go on. She didn't sleep a wink last night. How the hell is she still going?

I sigh and continue walking, trying to push Newt and Chuck out of my mind. It's not working. I don't know what else to think about besides my dead friends.

"Is it just Thomas?" Katniss says suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Your name. Is it just Thomas? No last name?" she says, kind of smiling.

That's rare. She's in a good mood suddenly, and she started the conversation. Not me. I don't know if it's just because she sees I'm depressed or she actually wants to. Whatever the reason, I smile. "No. Not that I know of. Guess that just makes me homelier then, huh?"

"Homely? When did I call you that?"

"When we first met, remember? You said I looked like the 'homeliest person ever'."

She laughs. "Well, I don't remember saying that." She looks at me. "Don't listen to me when I'm in one of my moods. I say the stupidest stuff."

"Already stopped listening."

She kind of laughs. This short conversation of ours already put me out of my temporary depression, so I decide to speak again, trying at a flirt. "I know what last name I can have."

She looks at me, waiting for an answer.

"Everdeen."

She gives me a disapproving look, but I can tell she wants to smile. "You think you're funny, don't you."

I shrug. "Maybe."

"Well, ha ha ha. Hilarious." Before I can reply, she sets down the bag next to a couple of very large and tall pine trees. She still won't let me carry something. I guess she still doesn't trust me.

"Let's stop. I'm tired, too."

"Okay," I say, sitting down next to the bag.

Katniss sits down with a sigh. "I just don't know where Peeta is. I've been looking for him for, what, three days now?" She takes a drink of a water bottle. "It seems impossible."

"We'll find him," I say, even though I've lost hope. "Give me some of that."

To my surprise, she hands over the water bottle without any complaints. I take a sip.

A cannon suddenly rings out throughout the arena. I look up, I can't see who it is because of the pine trees. I look at Katniss, who is looking at me with wide eyes.