Action

We walked in the train, the last time w saw each other face to face is wasn't good. I felt myself go on edge when I'm by him.

Keep yourself together Kay.

I try to keep myself as neutral as possible taking a couple steps away from him.

Finnick glances at me and River chuckling." This is going to be a long trip. Girls, how are you?" He mentions looking at Baria and Neffy.

" Happy to be on another tour." Enobaria says plainly.

He rolls his eyes amused." I feel the pain. I like saving my tributes though I'd rather have them die then do these. On the bright side we have a male victor." He says with a smile at the end.

I swallow. Keep yourself composed.

" He should be dead." Cato said looking directly at River.

River smiled, " But I'm not."

I glared at him, " Where did this great plan come from?" I ask him sourly.

" What plan?"

" The plan that has us all here right now." I say bluntly.

River met eyes with me, " Missed you I suppose."

" If only the feeling were mutual."

" Eventually they have to be." He says with the same smile Finnick has.

That anger goes past my point, so much so I feel my adrenaline making me shake just a little bit. I looked out the window, we're just getting out of 4.

I look back at him, " You think so?"

" Yes, otherwise Snow will have ideas for us to do. Which I'll be more then fine to oblige to." He says with a smirk.

I chuckle walking up to him slowly. He looks at me cautiously, I flash a smile before I punch him so hard I heard a crack.

" Kaylaya!" Neffy shrieks along with 4's escort looking away with a yelp.

He comes back looking at me wide eyed, I see red streaming down.

I take a breath, wiping the stray hairs off my face before mimicking his pervious smile, " Well, until then... Know your damn limits Odair." I sneer, turning on my heel walking to my room.

Trying to keep myself as composed as possible, that punch did help greatly.

I hear Finnick say something to Enobaria, Cato butted in before I hear walking behind me.

I go into my room shaking my head, the nerve that kid has is insane. He's rediculous, he's lucky that's the only thing I did.

If he says or does anything like that again I'll make sure he can't talk, I'll break that jaw so fast no none will know what happened.

I get a knock on the door, they didn't wait for a response before coming in. It was Cato..no surprise.

I look at him with a glare, though I try not to. I'm just utterly pissed.

He looked like he was trying to hold in a laugh or he was just smiling like an idiot as he closed the door."I've never seen someone wipe a smile off an Odair so fast, let alone two. I'm glad someone other then me punched them."

The anger I just had was replaced with a bit of proudness. " It was a good punch wasn't it. And the crack.. Woo."

He does finally laugh," I'll give it to you, you really do pack a punch."

I smile. Not Cato..CEO of punching giving me a compliment on mine.

" Are you alright though?" He asks.

I take a breath..that was a loaded question." That punch was well needed. Hopefully that proves I'm not putting up with him or his..plan.

" I think we got the clear message." He says still with that smirk.

" Where we heading now?" I ask cracking my knuckles.

" 12, we should be there in a couple days I think."

I give a nod. This stupid dress they put me in was very uncomfortable, I need it off.

" I need you to do me a favor."

He raised he chin just a bit looking at me wearily. " What?"

I turn, " Unzip the back of this stupid thing until I can reach it."

" Or I can just take it off for you." He whispers in my ear sending shivers down my back.

" No." I say quickly.

" Sure about that?"

" Do you need to turn everything sexual?" I snap annoyed.

He chuckles, " Your loss." He unzips it about half way brushing his hands down my back, though I think that was on purpose.

I grab clothes going in the bathroom to change, " Thanks." I say quickly.

Once I shut the door I take a breath. Good thing he didn't see my face because it was hot.

I don't know how someone can be so driven like that all of the time.

I come back out to Cato still in my room chilling in my bed, though I don't mind much. It was nice talking to someone other then myself, I need the company.

I sit on the other end of the bed, " Well, what are we going to do now?" Cato asks.

" I'm staying in here. You can leave if you want, I don't want you to stay in here if you don't want to." I say making myself comfortable.

Cato readjusts so he's laying down. " No, I'll stay with you."

" You don't need to-"

" I want to. Like I said, I need to make sure your ok." He says, demands even.

I look over at him, "Ok."

We all have smaller TV's in our rooms though they are still big. We decide to turn on the Hunger Game channel watching the year a girl from 11 won.

When it went to the Reapings, I thought I recognized one of her siblings.

" Baby Thresh." Cato says sourly.

The Thresh that killed Clove with his bare hands..and the Cornucopia. It was horrible to watch.

" We don't need to watch it-" I say quickly about to switch to the other channel.

" No, it's fine... he got what he deserved." Cato says still fixed on the tv.

I set the remote down looking back to the screen.

We watch the games, she did well all the way through. Now we both know why Thresh was such a threat and looked good and fed.

It was later afternoon when I looked at the clock. " I think I might go down and eat."

" I'll stay here." Cato says, he looks half asleep so I let him be. I get up going down to the main area.

When I go down the hall, no one was there. Perfect. If I just just eat in peace that would be perfect.

I grab some dish called meatloaf, which was pretty good. I hear foot steps coming from down the hall, I roll my eyes in annoyance I was almost in the clear..if I just eat a little faster I can leave.

And with my luck, of course it was River.

I ignore him eating the rest of my meatloaf.

" How's my girlfriend?" He asks.

" How's your face?" I retort.

He gives me a glare while I give him a smirk.

He has minor bruising, thanks to Capitol Medicine, by tomorrow it'll be all healed. Darn.

" My face is doing fine.... Enobaria said the medicine will make my face look better then before, so I guess I should thank you."

" Well, anytime you want your face to look better let me know."

He ignores my comment grabbing some meatloaf also eating it. I finish mine quickly putting the plate up on the small counter for the Avox to clean.

I was just about to leave when River decided to talk."So what's the plan?"

I turn, " Plan for what?"

" Getting to 12, the tour."

" We don't need to like eachother yet." I scoff.

" But we need something for them to hold onto. Give them small signs, to keep them talking."

" No idea."

He sighs, " We need to figure it out,we have a lot of important eyes on us."

" All thanks to you. Maybe shut your mouth next time, that normally keeps you out of problems."

River scoffs, " Maybe you should hear the whole story before you judge."

I cock an eyebrow, " Yea? What story?"

" We needed to do it, He wanted to send me and Finnick to occupy some of the people in the Capitol."

Finnick Odair, loved by the Capitol. He always had good looks, which after his stardom in the games he moved to more..mature things I know he didn't want to do.

" His lease is almost up." River says " People wanted him before he was done, some me... One thing he said he'd protect me from was that. I know how disgusting it is. This is the thing we knew would work to surpass his lease"

" It would've been nice to have a warning."

" If you were in my shoes Kaylaya, I know you would do the same thing." River says sourly.

" Never said it was bad, now I know the reason.... I'm sorry, I guess. I don't think any of us knew."

He looks at me for a couple seconds before looking down at his food. " Yea. Anyways. Back to the plan."

I feel a little bad now for punching him but his comments still weren't nessasary. " What do you have in mind?"

" I guess be..close. They'll want something."

" We need to hold hands?" I ask.

" Maybe."

I don't want to...

"How about just be friendly.. it's only our first stop. We need to make it look real, we can't just jump into it."

River rolls his eyes, " I don't think they'd know a difference."

We bicker some, I hear footsteps come closer.

We both look over annoyed to whoever was just about to walk in. Cato stopped scanning the two of us.

He walks, nudging me. I give a smile, " Well, when you decide to be cooperative, my room is down the hall to the left." River says getting up, leaving.

Cato sends him daggers as he walks past disappearing down the hall.

" What was that?" Cato asks.

" River and me trying to make a plan."

he hums grabbing some food eating it.

I go to the couch looking out the window. It looked so gloomy.

" 8, it only get's worse from here." Cato says.

" Lovely."

" We should be there by the afternoon tomorrow, then 11 is a half day away." Cato says taking some food for himself coming over to one of the other chairs eating it.

I nod not really paying attention. I was kinda nervous to say a speech, I always hated public speaking. What do I even say to a district who lost their kids, I mean I didn't kill them but I don't want to gloat either.

" What's wrong?" Cato asks.

" Nothing."

" Something is wrong."

" No, it's not." I say annoyed.

" Lie."

" Nothing is wrong Cato. I'm just thinking." I pause looking at him before looking back out the window.

"Thinking about what."

I sigh knowing that he's not going to stop until I say something. " I just don't know what to say for speeches. I want to make sure I give them closure or something to the failed that lost their kids."

Cato gets up putting his and River's plate by mine, "It all depends on how you present yourself, you know? Be humble, but confident. If you can be like that, you'll have no problem getting through these."

I just nod, that sounds way easier said then done.

He comes to a chair closer to me, "I'll talk to Neffy. She can write you cards, she did for me last year she likes doing those kinds of things. I'm going to take a shower, then talk to Neffy."

" Ok." I say softly.

" Ok." He assures going back down our halllway.

I guess he's right. If I'm humble I should have no problem, if I plan everything I should be able to get through this.

And if we can figure out our relationship problems this should be a piece of cake..right?

I just need to make a plan with River.

I decide to talk to River, I need to make this work. If I was put in their shoes I know I would've done the same thing that they did.

No one deserves to do that..Even the Odairs.

I walk down the halls knocking the the left hand side door. Waiting for someone to answer.

" That was fast consideration." River says opening the door.

" I guess you can thank Cato for that. Now are you going to let me in?"

He steps out of the door, " Come in."

I go into his room sitting on a small chair.

" Ok... we get off the train, what do we do?" I ask.

He leans forward thinking, " Wave, smile? I guess do small gestures if you don't want to hand on to hands yet."

" Small gestures?" I ask.

" Yea, like helping you up or down the stairs. Walk next to you, things like that."

I nod. " Yea. Yea, that should work. That's a good idea."

He smiles, " I always have good ideas."

Clearly.

We talk a little bit more, trying to figure things out, which we do, now it's just small talk.

" Are you nervous for the talking part?" River asks suddenly.

" I think it's how we approach it."

" And how do we approach that we sound good."

" Be humble. That's what Cato recommended, if we do that, we shouldn't have a problem. I know He was going to talk to Neffy, she might make cards for me."

I hear footsteps again not really minding them.

" As long as we have eachother, we'll be ok." River says though he said it way louder.

That made no sense..

His door swings open, " Have you seen.." Cato stops looking at me.

" What's going on in here?" He asks annoyed.

River smirks, that's the reason he said that...

" We were talking about our realationship." River says with his stupid smirk.

Cato looks at me, " Well, I won't keep you two.." He shuts the door.

I stand up " Nice job you dick!" I yell at River.

I go out the door, Cato was already half way down the hall. Jeez.. this man can walk fast.

" Cato. Wait up."

He turns giving me an annoyed look" What?"

" He was just being a dick, he knew you were coming. We heard your footsteps."

" Well, go back and have fun with him. Try to figure out your 'relationship'." He says shortly beginning to walk away.

" Seriously?" I ask.

" Yea." He snapped still walking.

I scoff, " We were making our plan to do at 12."

Cato ignores me, walking still. " I didn't think you were going to his room."

" That's where he was. How else was I supposed to talk to him?"

" Ok." That's all he said.

Why is he getting all mad? We were literally just talking, need to figure this mess out so Snow doesn't get involved. He knows that.

" Whatever." I bite going into my room slamming the door.

Boys are so dumb. Why did he get so mad? Why am I mad if he's mad at me? I shouldn't be. Screw him.

I'm not going out there anymore tonight, I'm not dealing with anymore quarrels, or fights so watching more Tv. I turn on the channel Cato likes to watch.

Nope.

I turn on some gameshow half watching it, half thinking about why he was so mad, and why River feels to take it upon himself to spite him.

Maybe if he was a little more decent we can get along. Who does he have to talk to? Just Finnick.

While I was watching the program I felt my eyes get heavy, I must've dozed off because some time after there was a pounding on my door.

Who is knocking at this time of night?

" Come in." I say tiredly.

Cato comes stumbling through the door. All I see is blood running down the side of his face and side of his neck.

" Oh My gosh..Cato!" I jump out of bed helping him sit down.

" I have a small cut." He slurrs. Is he seriously drunk?

I take his head making him meet my gaze. His eyes seemed glazed over as he looks at me. Yea..he's drunk.

" What happened?" I ask.

" I...paid your boyfriend a visit." He says slightly laughing.

You got to be kidding me..

I look at him for a couple seconds, " You did what?"

" Of course she's mad." He exclaims trying to get up.

I push him back down," NO! No.... I'm not mad. Just tell me what happened."

" Well.... I wasn't very happy that you were in his room. That's where bad things can happen.. So I went to go tell him your mine-I mean OFF LIMITS...he has a mouth on him let me tell you." He says shaking his head. " He cut me! That wasn't very nice."

Whatever he used, he got Cato pretty good. It doesn't help this idiot is drunk. Normally he never has a scratch.

" Yea that wasn't very nice."

He throws up his hands, " I know right!"

I shake my head, " Come here." I pulll his hand leading him to the bathroom. " Sit." I instruct.

He sits on the counter. He has blood all over the place. " What did he use to cut you?" I mumble more to myself then to Cato.

" A big knife."

" Did you try wiping the blood away?"

He nods like a kid, " Yup, but it keeps on coming so I came to you. Dr.Kaylaya."

I grab a wet rag dabbing the blood he had everywhere off of him.

" Let me grab some clotting cream."

I rummage through the small cupboard finding a first aide. I found the cream,perfect.

I go back to Cato. He was lazily watching me, swaying slightly.

" This might hurt a little bit." I warn.

" I can handle it." He assures.

I gently grab his face to turn it to the side, I grab a little bit of the cream putting it on.

He hisses, his hands find my arm squeezing it.

" I thought you said you could handle the pain."

" This isn't pain, this is torture." He clenches.

I try to work fast, his grip was getting tighter and tighter.

" Ok, your all cleaned up."

He slowly gets off the counter bascially running into me. " Thanks."

" Go to bed Cato." I say dismissively. I was still annoyed at him from before.

When we walk back in my bedroom he crawls underneath my covers, " I'm staying here. I'm not leaving you alone when he's..roaming these halls. He could try to visit." He whispers.

He's not staying here.

" I'll be fine Cato. Go to your room."

" No! I'm staying here." He insists. He wraps himself in my sheets. " I'll protect you."

He was half asleep anyways so I guess just for this night he can stay. It'll be to much work to get him even up.

" Cato I want my bed, you can stay if you sleep on the floor."

" I don't want to sleep on the floor. Your bed is to comfy."

" I want my bed."

" We can share the bed..I'll behave."

I don't want to sleep on the floor, I like my bed to much. I grab my pillow putting it in between the two of us.

" Touch me and I'll stab you Hadley."

" Yes ma'am."

I crawl in the bed by him. I was just about ready to fall asleep when he decided to talk.

" Kaylayaaaa." He says loudly.

I roll my eyes, I just want to sleep. " What?"

" Who's hotter? Me or fish boy?"

You got to be kidding..

" Go to bed Cato" I say trying not to laugh.

He sighs, " It's fish boy isn't it?" He asks, he seemed so disappointed I almost felt bad.

" It's not River."

" Fish boy." He states.

" It's not fish boy, Cato."

" You think he's better looking. Your not denying it."

I'm going to regret saying this to him. Please don't remember.

" No...Your..cuter. Way better then R-Fish boy." I say. It felt so foreign saying that to him. Never again.

There was silence, good he must've went to bed.

He all of the sudden takes the pillow looking at me with a stupid proud smile.

" I think your smokin, mouth watering hot to." He finally says. " You make every single girl in the whole universe look bad."

Man, That was a boost for my ego. I'm so asking him about that tomorrow. Now I have crap on him.

I burst out laughing, " I hope you remember this tomorrow."

He chuckles shaking his head, " I won't."

He puts the pillow back up rolling over, " Night."

" Night Cato."

I couldn't really sleep considering he is right next to me. He snored slightly which wasn't the distraction.

It was while he was sleeping he took the pillow wall away using it to sleep so now there's nothing separating us. Luckily he's still facing away from me.

I could easily sleep in his room, but I don't feel like getting up. And knowing my luck, we will wake up..very..close to each other.

I yawned, I need to sleep before I stress myself out so I do, or try to at least. All night I had dreams about the crowds booing or yelling at myself as I was giving my speech, assuring...for sure.

I must've drifted off to sleep, I opened my eyes and it was light again. I shifted making the blonde boy behind me squeeze me harder into his chest like I could melt away.

He was hanging on to me..

I nearly stopped breathing.

THINK...

I try to get out of his grasp gently trying to pry his arms off of me but he didn't budge. I let out a small frustrated sigh sitting there.

" Stop moving." Cato mumbles, still half asleep.

" Can you let go?"

" No."

" Cato, get off of me." I whined-I was sweating-he radiates heat.

I feel him lift up his head, " Oh shit!" He practically pushed me off the bed, I needed to catch myself. I turn back looking at him deadpanning me.

He pushes himself up, his eyes wide. " Did we?"

" HELL NO!"

He blinks a couple times," Then why am I?" He stops himself, " Ohhh.."

" I tried making you leave. But you insisted sleeping in here to protect me if River was roaming the halls."

" So you slept by me?" He asks in a flirty way, his smirk appearing again.

"Where else was I supposed to sleep? I wasn't going to sleep on my floor, and you said you weren't. So unfortunately, I needed to sleep by you."

" You act like it's a bad thing to wake up to the hottest man in 2.." he jokes.

This is the perfect opportunity.

" Do you remember much from last night?" I ask.

I takes a breath, he lays back down covering his face with his arm. "..No."

Oh he sure does.

" Do you know what you asked me?"

"..What?"

He knows.

I smile, " You asked me whom was hotter."

" Oh did I. Who did you say?" I could see the smile appearing on his face.

" I needed to say you. You looked lie you wanted to cry."

He sits up. " No I wasn't!"

I sit back accomplished. " I thought you said you didn't remember."

He stammered, " Well..maybe a little bit."

I sit crossed legged looking down at him trying to smile, " So then you remember when you said I was so mouth watering-smoking- hot? So hot.. I make every girl look bad. You remember that?"

He face falls, I see a small redness appear on hiss face. I gasp, I think I scared him a little bit.

" Do I see a blush on your face?!" I half yell.

" I'm not blushing." He says bluntly looking away.

I try to make him look at me but he won't making me laugh. " You didn't answer me. Do you remember that?"

" ..Well, I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true." He says quietly.

I smile even bigger. " Awe.. I feel the love."

He tries to look at me angry, " Shut up Musak."

" Do you need a hug from this smoke show? You seem grumpy." I say in a baby voice making him break into a smile.

He's still blushing, it was kinda cute. I want to make him blush more, it was funny. So you know I wasted no time jumping on him giving him a hug.

" I'm removing all bad energy." I whisper.

He chuckles, rolling to the side making me dangle on the ledge.

" Cato!"

" Not doing anything."

I was falling off the bed, I couldn't even do anything because I was laughing trying to not fall...resulting to me falling.

" I hate you."

He looks at me from over the bed. " Sure about that?"

I roll my eyes. " Go take a shower, you smell like the bar." I say getting up going to take one myself.

I to smell like the bar.

I heard him mumble before I walked into the bathroom. I couldn't help but think....me and Cato just shared a bed. Cato Hadley.

I take a breath before going in the shower, first stop.

Once I'm done I put on sweatpants and a sports bra before going out to eat and get the plans for today. Luckily Cato was gone by the time I got back out.

I walked down there to see Enobaria and Neffy watching the TV.

Neffy looks over, " First stop today! How exciting!"

I scoff, " I wish I had your enthusiasm."

She gives me an unimpressed look, she was ready for sure, all gray and Smokey. 12 was by far the poorest, all they do is mine. She definitely got the look down.

I looked at the Tv to see me and River, us greeting eachother. We looked civil, a great start for sure but how long can I do this and ' increase' our realationship?

" I think for today start the love story." Enobaria says.

" That's what's we're doing."

Baria shakes her head." No. I mean intimate. Couple steps ahead. You got the introduction down. They'll want to see more."

" No, not for the first stop." I protest.

' It would be better this way Kay. If we are a couple steps ahead it will make it all look better." Neffy says sipping her coffee.

I glare at her, I just punched River yesterday now I need to act like I love him.

" Is he up yet?' I snap.

" Is who up?" His ears must've been ringing.

I cross my arms, glaring at him, River was walking towards us looking between all of us, then up and down at my body.

I roll my eyes, " They want us to increase..us."

" Ok." He says simply.

Of course he's ok with it.

I give him a look, he just shrugs " What's our story going to be?"

" I don't know..your the one who got me in this mess." I snap annoyed and I've only been up for maybe 10 minutes.

" If anyone asks. We connected these last two ish days. We had a..deep. Conversation."

Sounds alright to me.

I grab food to, though it's not much now my appetite I mustered up to have was gone.

Cato came out shortly after though I didn't realize at first I was picking at my food thinking how to act when we walk out, somewhat playing along with River's lines.

He pushed my head lightly with his hand as he walked pass, I gave him a weak smile before looking down at my food.

He grabbed food before sitting down next to me, obviously knowing something was up.

" What's the great plan for today?' He asked for anyone to answer in the room.

" Kaylaya and River start their love story, we decided to make it come early." Neffy says straightening out the nonexistent wrinkles in her sooty dress.

I already know Cato was looking at me, he got his answer, River was eating his food unsure what he was doing or thinking but Cato was looking over at him giving orders.

" You behave with her do you hear me? Otherwise you'll be in a body bag before this trip is over." He spits.

" Ok Hadley." River smirks. " Oh.. I see your cut healed nicely."

Here we go..

Cato gives an aggressive smile, " Thanks, I had Kaylaya clean it."

River's smirk falls, " What couldn't do it yourself?"

Now Cato smirks, " Just gave me an excuse to be in her room."

Woah.. Slow down Hadley. So he came in there just to what.. Tell River?

I poke my food, biting my cheek annoyed at the two of them.

Finnick walks out looking between Cato and River rolling his eyes, " I see everyone woke up in a great mood today."

" Just giving your brother some ground rules." Cato says giving a cocky smirk.

Finnick looks at River before looking at Cato. He goes over my Baria and Neffy watching the TV.

I eat the rest of my food in silence, Cato 'accidentally' brushes his leg against mine but I ignore it, he made me mad.

My nerves were getting the best of me, " How long until we're in 12?" I ask.

" 3 hours." Baria says, " Rest a little bit then the style teams will be here to get you ready."

3 hours until I need to 'like' the boy kitty corner away from me. I feel like this is a stab to Aspen, I wouldn't even want to know what he's thinking of this right now.

" Great." I grumble getting up, walking back to my room.

I clench my jaw as I'm walking, I just want to scream. It was a mixture of emotions realizing I need to do this and the two boys fighting over me like I'm some prize.

This is all just so sickening.

There was a knock on the door, though I had I good idea who it was, I told them to come in.

Cato came inside, I pick at my nails when he came on the bed, " I'm fine."

Cato chuckles, " I doubt that."

" I knew I would need to do this eventually."

" Doesn't mean you would ever want to do it."

I stay quiet, he puts his hand on my leg squeezing it lightly. " remember my promises ok?"

" I know."

" Good. I'll have mouthwash and hand sanitizer for you as soon as you get on the train." He jokes.

I give him a dirty look but I couldn't help but smile a little bit. I let out a big sigh, " What if they ask questions?"

" Lie. Or say something that would satisfy them."

" Ok."

Cato looks over at me, " You can do this." He starts getting up, ' Cato.." I blurted.

Crap.

I wanted him to stay, he always seem to cheer me up. I'm jus being clingy...

He turns, " Nevermind." I say quickly looking down at my nails.

" Ugh, fine I'll stay, stop begging me." He says in a high voice making me smirk.

" Your an idiot."

" You like it."

" No."

He reaches over me for the remote, " What shall we watch today, Hunger games or cheesy Capitol channels?"

I give him a look, " Cheesy channels..ok." He says.

" Every time I see you close to the Tv that's what you always have on."

" You know what I watch?" He asks looking down at me.

" It's just on observation Hadley don't flatter yourself."

He looks back at the Tv, his face smiled looking away before he looked back at the Tv.

We sat in comfortable silence, watching the game show that was on. It was funny watching Cato, he would mumble something or move around when they messed up.

" It was obviously letter H idiot." He mumbled.

It made me smile, he acts all tough..until you get to know him.

He just makes everything, care free I was always relaxed when he was around. I eventually fell back asleep, Cato was still yelling at the TV.

" Hey..Kay..Kaylaya." I feel someone shaking me. My eyes fluttered to Cato, who was looking down at me.

The stylists arrived from one of the other carts over here. They were setting everything up, all they needed was me.

" Favorite part." Cato mumbled. " I'll see you when your done."

" Yea."

He got up walking out of the room. They all go around me talking amongst themselves like I wasn't even there.

" First stop!"

" She needs a lot of work!"

" She doesn't need much, she's already gorgeous!"

I didn't miss their squabbles.

They sat me down in a chair they brought in doing my hair and makeup first, It felt heavy and tacky once they were done, but I was instructed not to touch my face so I didn't.

They put my hair in a fancy updo curling a couple flyaway hairs. When I looked on the mirror I looked Smokey for sure, you could see my eyes along with a bold dark lip.

When they pulled out the dress I didn't know whether I liked it or hated it. Again it was tight which I wasn't a fan but Elsie made all the dresses so I'll wear it.

With the whole outfit I looked terrifying. Like I rose from the ashes or something but it matched 12 perfectly.

I wonder what River looks like? I guess we should make a rough plan what we're going to say and do before we go out there.

They escorted me into the main area where all the mentors and escorts where. Neffy and I think 4's Tabby were talking, they both looked at me first shrieking in satisfaction.

The mentors looked over at them annoyed before looking at me. Enobaria smiled, Finnick had his grin " She still can clean up nice." He said.

I rolled my eyes playfully, glancing at Cato. He was taking the whole outfit in with a satisfied grin, " Love the outfit." He says smugly.

I chuckle walking by him, he had his collar of his shirt lop sided on one side, " Here." I giggled fixing it.

I looked up at him, he already was looking down at me watching me fix his collar. I give him a cheeky smile, " Well look at you, all cleaned up." I push his head like he did to me hours ago making him smirk.

Cato looks over, his jaw tensed. I turn to see River walking in the main room. He had a black suit with a sheen matching mine.

" We match 12." I say simply. I look back at Cato giving him a small smile before walking in River's direction.

" What's the plan for this? I'm thinking we just do like 'cute' things."

River smirks, " What did you have in mind?"

" I don't know."

He rolls his eyes, " Fine, how about your timid or something and I just lead you. Hang on to hands, give small smiles stuff like that."

" Do we need to kiss?" I ask.

" I'm not a monster Kay. I have some respect for you left I suppose. We don't need to, but they want us to go further. We'll figure it out." River assured.

" Ok."

" Oh! We're here!" Tabby says.

We look at eachother walking to the door, we stand there waiting for the train to stop.

" Ready?" River asks outreaching his hand.

I look at it warily, the train stops. " I guess."

" Let's do this."

We both open the doors on our sides, there was clapping from the crowd but not much. I heard the humming from the Capitol cameras so I smile bright wrapping my arm around River's arm once I was done waving a little bit.

He smirks holding his hand waving to the crowd, he looks at me giving a softer-more comforting- smile though it was fake it put me a little bit more at ease.

12 was dark and murky I glanced around it was like a dump, all the houses looked like they could fall at any moment. The people looked scary the all were so skinny, they looked like any happiness, or even life was sucked out of them.

River squeezes my arm a little tighter, I must've looked sad or scared, I looked at him before looking at the stage infront of us.

He unwrapped our arms giving me his hand to help me up the stairs with my dress on.

The mayor comes out, " Welcome the Victors of the 75th annual Hunger Games, River Odair from 4 and Kaylaya Musak from 2!" He looked tired to but he was trying.

We both stood there, River gently nudged me forward. Cato stepped forward handing my cards, I give him a small smile but his face was blank, professional almost, no emotions.

He got me speech cards.

I give a small smile out to the crowd, glancing at the familes on the podiums, teary eyed.

Don't look at them.

I want to thank you all for inviting us to your district celebrating our victory with us. We fought hard to be here with you today and want to thank you for the sacrifice of your children who braved..through death.

What kind of speech is this?

I glanced at the families who looked mad but I kept going, I had nothing. Otherwise I would say my own.

We appreciate the balance Panem had created, with us Panem is now and Forever.

River stepped up, adjusting the mic for himself. His was in different writing so Tabby or someone wrote him notes also.

His wasn't much better but the end of it was something that's for sure.

......If it wasn't for your childrens sacrifce me and Kaylaya wouldn't be with eachother now, because of them we've rekindled our love.

River gives me a smile before leaning in.

What do I do? Do I kiss him?

I can't reject this.

Just get it over with. I closed my eyes kissing him, I did it before I try to think about how I felt pregames.

I feel him pull away, so I smile though it was fake and didn't represent at all what I was feeling.  "Panem Forever!" He said confidently, raising our hands like they do for the games.

The crowd had a small short round of clapping though everyone looked like they wanted to kill us for themselves.

Peacekeepers escorted us back to the train, I had to smile like an idiot all the way back, looking all giddy.

We reach the train, speeding away as fast as we came we waited a little bit to make sure there were no far zoom cameras before letting go.

First one done, 11 more to go.