43

Evie looks out the window, " Why do they all dress like that?"

" The news people?" I chuckle going over by the window by her.

" They look rediculous." She mutters.

" They're from the Capitol, what do you expect?"

She sends me a look before peeking out of the window again. " There's quite a few."

She was right there were about 15 with their cameras, some recording eachother.

One was looking our way, I quickly covered the blind before they could get a shot of us. " Fero come over here." I instruct.

The two look at me waiting,  " Ok, remember smile. And don't be mean..Evie. Whatever you do keep walking."

Fero swallows, " Ok."

" Evie?" I say giving her a serious look. " Fero, walk with her, hand in hand. They'll like that too. I'll be in-front of you, just follow me if they get to bad I'll be there. We'll walk to the training center. Regular people don't even look at..ok?"

They both nod.

I smile a little bit, " Ok...ok, good. Good. Then let's go."

We walk to the door.

" Ready?" I ask.

" Ready." They both say, a little bit unsure.

I take a breath myself, I open the doors as soon as I do the cameras flash. I smile making way through everyone wanting to look at the newcomers.

I look over my shoulder to see if they were coming along ok, luckily they were, actually listening to what I said about the smile and wave.

And as soon as the recorders could get into reach the shouted questions at all of us.

" How does it feel to be picked?"

" How do you feel about your mentors?"

" Are you two together? Your hanging onto hands!"

" Start crossed lovers from District 12 again this year!"

One Reprter stopped me, shoving their pink fuzzy microphone in my face.

" Kaylaya! How does it feel to be a mentor!"

I smile, the biggest fake smile I could. " It feels good, I want kinds to have the same glory I did!"

" What are your tactics this year? Anything you can tell us early?"

I wink at the camera. " I can't say that for everyone to hear and know! But they will be totally different by the time I'm done with them."

The reporter nods. " How will you and your partner Cato overcome the competition this year?"

I'm not sure what to say, he'll be watching it later. He might be watching it live right now. Still I smile.

" I think people were waiting on a deadly combo like this...My female Mentor, Enobaria was good, but I think I'm better. Newer, I'm more diverse And Cato is...Cato, he's great."

" But why wasn't he with you?! He didn't want to see his other tributes?"

Still I smile though I want to push her out of the way." Someone needs to keep watch on our own...we need to track all the trainee's progress everyday. if they even falter for one day they're out, that's why we win consistently." I say with the proudest look I could give.

I think that was good enough. I pushed through that reporter giving a harder nudge, The kids follow being bombarded.

We get to the training center, literally slamming the door in the reporters faces.

" That was horrible." Fero sighed.

I scoff, " That was only a percentage of what your going to see. But good job."

" What did they ask you?" Evie asked.

I was about to say when one of the doors fly open. There Cato was with Enobaria. And they looked mad. Vad came in behind giving me a ' oh crap' look.

" Thanks for telling us where you went!" Enobaria yelled.

Even though she's now retired she still acts like a mentor.

She continues," Cato and I were looking all over for you! We were about to call the Capitol reporting you missing when we happened to watch the Tv seeing you were in 12."

Cato had his jaw clenched glaring, then he looked at the tributes, nose scrunched in disapproval.

I stepped infront of them, giving Cato a hard look before my eyes go back to Vad and Baria.

" We're just glad your ok." Vad piped in, he steps infront of Cato wrapping me in a hug. " Just don't ever do that again."

I again wrap one arm around him. This wasn't helping anyone's case, Baria looks at her brother, I hug him back not wanting to embarrass him, and Cato... Is clenching his jaw so hard I think he might break a tooth.

But I think Cato seeing this will really prove he's the one who hugged me first when we watched reaping. Show I'm not the one at fault.

I look at Enobaria, " I wanted to go get my tributes so I went to get my tributes." I say blandly.

" You couldn't wait until morning? Or at least tell Cato where you were going?" She snaps back.

I scrunch my face, " Nope."

Vad eyes me before looking at his sister, trying not to smile.

Baria's eyes narrow, " I don't need the attitude, you know what? Next time I won't bother. If your dead in a ditch I don't care."

I give her a sarcastic smirk, " Yea, I bet you all were just SO worried."

She takes a breath looking at my tributes, " Ok, I'm not doing this with you right now." With that she walks out, Cato following.

As he walked out, he purposely bumped into my shoulder. I give him a disappointed look which he returned with an eye roll.

I see he's still..very..mad at me.

Vad looks at me before looking back at the kids. "Welcome to 2."

They looked petrified. I turned around to face them. I scrape up a softer face though all I want to do is punch someone." That was a rough start. How about we get you guys settled in?"

They nod, I let them room together. They're from the same district and I have a good feeling they have no attraction to eachother. I told them to unpack and get dressed, meeting us in the lounge area of the academy.

They closed it for us to get the kids settled, which I appreciate so we don't have the 2 children trying to scare them.

" Thank you for realeasing some of the tension." I tell Vad.

He slumps on the couch next to me, he looks over laughing a little bit. " No problem, but I got to tell you..I wouldn't even talk to my sister like that I thought she was going to beat you."

I laugh too, " Well I've had worse, nothing really scares me anymore."

He nods, he turns his body more to face me, he wants to ask...I already know what he's going to ask.

" So..What all did happen? I mean with you and Cato."

I shrug" We broke up-kinda- Though non of us said it. I guess we're on a break? I don't know he just think she did nothing wrong, and his attitude has been sucking so.."

Vad sighs, " He's a complicated one.."

I chuckle," I've gathered. But we need to figure it out sometime, but until then it's going to be interesting living together."

" Your going to continue to live with him?" He asked.

" Well...yea, I mean that is my house too, I can bring whoever I want-"

" -Do you really think Cato would let someone else in that house? Let alone have someone else have you." He scoffs.

" That's not what I mean.. I still want him. I'm saying I can do what I want."

Vad tips his head eyeing me, " It's Cato."

" I know Cato Vad... He needs to learn he can't control me. I think maybe I just need to let him cool down a little bit more."

Vad give me a softer look." If you need a place to stay Your moms or mine are open, just let me know. And I don't see Cato doing much with those kids so let me know if you need any help."

I smile up at him. " Thank you."

He gets up ruffling my hair. " I'm going to go, I'll let you bond with your kids, I'll go get your room ready." He says looking back with a wink.

I chuckle, rolling my eyes. I think it will be better not being at the house for a couple more days yet. I think both of what we need is just time away from each other. He was still equally pissed.

The two of them broke my concentration,they both come out wearing casual comfy clothes though it's a little bit big for their bodies, they'll grow into it though.

" Is your room ok?" I ask eyeing up 12.

" It's nicer then our whole district." Fero scoffs.

Evie gives a ' I agree' look. I smile," Well I'm glad you guys like it. I figured it would be easier for you two to be together since your both from home."

I stopped talking for a second, figuring out what to say. " And I'm sorry you needed to see that before. Me and Cato aren't exactly well right now-"

" Really? Wow... I couldn't tell." Evie said sarcastically.

Fero gives her a look, " What happened?" He asks, wanting to know.

I didn't know if I should say exactly I mean I just met them and I don't know what they would do with the information.

I give a dismissive shrug," We're just fighting right now. And I didn't tell him I was coming to get you guys..obviously."

I pause again deciding what to say, I know they might not like what I was going to say but I feel I need to say it.

" I think I told you this before but, I don't think he's going to really be training with us, He's mad at me and he's already taking it out on you two. But, the boy that was with us before said he'll help, his name is Vad."

Evie nods, slightly smirking. " I wouldn't get to bold." I tease looking at her, she looks at me going back to her stone cold face.

" All the kids here think Cato is some sort of god, so if you have a problem with him I wouldn't say anything. If they ask, play it off. And though it sucks to say, don't be to close with anyone here. They all have a chance to be going in the arena with you. So don't show them anything special. Just for the time being."

They look uncomfortable, I know saying you can't have friends or trust anyone must be hard, but I want them to live.

I give a small smile. " I'm not telling you guys this to scare you, or not making you two to be unlikeable. I'm doing it as an precaution. Because Cato likes to get back at me using other people. You guys don't deserve that. You have 5 months here, I'm sure by the end of it will be ok."

They looked more relaxed, thankfully.

" Do you want me to show you around? Or just you two stay here and get settled, talk about game plan? Or?" I suggest.

They quickly look at eachother, " We'll stay." Evie says.

" Ok, And please don't run off. Someone will find you and if they do, it'll be just like the games, but you won't die, you might wish you will. Or a peacekeeper will bring you to me or Cato.. trust me you don't want that. Then we will need to chip you."

" We're not going to run, We would have no place to go." Fero mumbles.

" Good, glad we're on the same page. Keep your doors locked, no matter what, I'll be here tomorrow at 4 AM sharp. Don't open your door until then ok?"

" Ok."

I smile again before getting up, leaving them to rest and do whatever they wanted to do until tomorrow.

I make sure to lock the doors, using the select locks so the kids can't pick pocket the doors getting in.

I decide to go to my moms first to grab remaining clothes I have over there before going to Vads house to sleep. It's only the middle of the day but I really have nothing else to do besides rest and think of what I want to do for tomorrow.

I  walk, not paying attention to anything just walking. Luckily the press left so I won't be bombarded with them. I feel semi-normal again.

When I walk past people greet me, saying hello or something like that while others nod their heads my way out of respect.

I have 5 months of some normality, though I know cameras will be on us soon enough again to see the progress. The better I can make these kids the better they will do.

But I know making them better is also putting a target on their backs. I know our kids want the fame, and they will get jealous. I know Cato is going to put a bug in their ear, I need to make sure I'm as equally close with them as I am with 12.

I arrive to my moms house, she's by Neffy. Since my dad died she's been there a lot which I don't mind. Neffy is awesome for letting her stay. I think she was getting lonely as well.

The sweet smell of nutmeg filled my nose as I walk in. Everything looks perfect, it seems just like the old life, less then a year ago when everything was just so simple.

I thought my life was just so, so boring. All I really had was my parents, Zane and Aspen.

I can't even think of him anymore without having a triggering response it seems, I feel as guilty as when I was laying next to his body.

Up the stair case were photos, of course my eyes landed on the one of both of us. We were 14 and 15 we were laughing, I was jumping on his back, both of us were smiling looking at the camera.

I find myself smiling as I'm looking at it. " Oh, what a ride it's been." I whispered, leaning my head on the photo, like that's supposed to give me all the comfort I need.

I wouldn't even want to know what he would've said about all of this. With River, the districts, me and Cato, us fighting,  now with me being a victor, training kids.

What would life be like right now if I didn't volunteer, I would be beyond curious to see my life.

But I don't think I would want to know. I have a feeling something would've happened. They would've been with the careers, fought, I'm not sure if Aspen would've made it.

He could've been ate my the Mutt, Nelly would surely be dead. And if something would've happened in there and I wasn't  there I would've wished I did volunteer and would be thinking about the life I'm living right now.

Since he was to be a career is when my life started to fall apart. I should've fought harder for him not to volunteer.

But again, there's no point thinking of something I can no longer change. I give the photo one last look before going up the stairs to grab a bag full of clothes.

I come back down stairs looking over everything. I take in one last deep breath before locking it back up again.

I go down the porch steps walking to Vad's house. As I'm walking up to the door I hear talking.

" He was ready to fight you!" I heard a girl yelling..Baria yelling.

" I was just helping her Baria."

" You know how he gets."

" Yes I know how he gets, I've been friends with him since forever."

" You also know how he gets with her.."

They were talking about me and Cato.

Shocker.

" I guess they're on a break, so technically I didn't do anything."

There was silence for just a moment, I hear Enobaria sigh.

" I know you two are good friends. And I know all you want to do is help. But if he finds out she's here, it'll be nothing but problems, I've kept him off of you this long he's bound to get after you sooner then later. Let those two figure things out."

I hear her come to the door so I quickly knock, backing away a little so It looks like I just got up here.

Of course Enobaria opens the door, " Kaylaya." She says plainly  not happy nor upset.

Very neutral, like she just didn't have a whole conversation about me.

I smile just a bit. " Enobaria."

" How long are you staying here?" She says eyeing up the bag.

" 2 days at most. I just need to cool down before returning home. Plus I told 12 I'll be there at 4, having somewhere way closer will let me sleep more."

She nods before looking back at Vad. " I hope he'll be a good host. I'll talk to you guys later."

She walks past me, I walk in closing the door, deciding whether or not I want to say something about their conversation.

I decide not to, I mean Enobaria was right. It was a me and Cato thing. No reason to drag people into our messy lives.

" Where can I put my bag?" I ask.

" I'll show you."

He leads me up the stairs to a spare bedroom. " Here you are. You should feel special.. I made the bed for you."

I inspect the bed, " The blanket is on crooked."

He flips me off, I can't help but laugh, dropping my things following him back down stairs.

" So what should we do now?" I ask.

" Do you want to go in the hot tub? Seemed like a stressful day." Vad insists.

A warm hot tub actually sounds really good right now, I went back up stairs, I actually did bring a swim suit so I throw that on, waiting for Vad downstairs until he comes to leading me to where it was.

" Man I haven't been in here for awhile." I say slinking down into it.

" Yea not since you got back from tour."

" Seemed like such a long time ago."

He chuckles, " What, like 3-4 months ago?"

" It was that long already?"

He laughs, " Yea, time flys when your Panem royalty."

I scoff, " I wouldn't go that far."

He laughs, going deeper in the water. " What time are you getting up to train your kids tomorrow?"

" 4"

He whines, " Ugh we need to train them that earlyyy.."

" I just want to make sure they made it ok. And I want them to work before kids get there so they don't embarrass themselves. You don't need to come if you don't want to, I'll be ok."

" No, I want to." He smiles. " I don't want you to deal with this alone. I know Hadley isn't thrilled about me helping but he can always help and when he does, I'll back down..but until then."

" I have a feeling that's going to be while."

Vad smiles tipping his head back and fourth, " Well, let's not think of that, tomorrow I'm going to get my butt whooped by a fiery redhead victor."