I know it's an extremely effeminate thing to notice, but the shower in my room is absolutely amazing. The ones in the Training Center were no joke, and I even got a nice one installed back at my place in Victor's Village, but the one in Snow's mansion most definitely takes the cake. There are little jets everywhere, and at least three dozen buttons to jack around with. Half because I don't feel like dragging my butt out of my room to face reality, and half because the shower really is beast, I waste a lot more time than I should testing out every single one before I finally reconcile myself to the fact that I'm going to have leave eventually.

Sighing, I turn the shower off and hop out onto the cold floor. I glance around in search of of one of the fancy dryer buttons like there were in the Training Center, but a sharp knock distracts me before I can find one. I figure that it's Leporis or another one of Snow's servants with orders to hurry me up, so I absently wrap a towel around my waist and rush out to the door, soaking wet and freezing cold, planning to tell whoever it is not to get their panties in a bunch.

The door opens just as I'm about to reach out and open it myself, and I stumble backwards when I see Cornelia Snow standing on the other side, her pale cheeks dusted with glitter and her chocolate-colored eyes outlined in sparkling green. Shimmering pink lips curve up into a smile when she sees me, and those big brown eyes look me up and down in a way that reminds me of the mutts back in the arena; it's like she sees me as something to eat.

"Well…" I mutter, running a hand through my hair and trying extremely hard not to blush. Even though I'd been pretty damn sure I didn't have a sense of modesty, apparently standing half-naked in front of Snow's granddaughter is enough to make me find one. "I don't suppose that now that you've seen my awesome studliness, you could go tell your grandfather about how great of a prostitute I'd be and have him switch me out for Katniss, could you?"

Cornelia puts a hand on my chest and smiles brightly. "Move the towel, and I'll see if I can make a convincing case-"

"Not gonna happen," I say quickly, taking a good-sized step backwards. I make sure to hold onto my towel a little more tightly. This girl seems beyond twisted, and I wouldn't put it past her to make a grab for it. "What are you here for anyway? Besides the chance to ogle District One's finest?"

"So modest," says Cornelia. She laughs angelically. "And I'm here to escort you to breakfast, of course. Cinna has plans to meet you at a nice little café, and I am sure he would be quite disappointed if you got lost in the mansion and couldn't come-"

"Wait. You're going to be there at breakfast… while I'm with Cinna."

"Of course, silly. That's what I just said."

I narrow my eyes, and suddenly something that the little witch said last night makes a lot more sense. "Maybe my grandfather isn't such a fool. I think I'll have fun with you."

"Snow's bribing you to spy on me," I say bluntly.

"Well, obviously he isn't going to let you run around by yourself," says Cornelia. "You tend to get into way too much trouble, and as long as no one knows I'm his granddaughter, well… wouldn't it be convenient that someone he trusts so completely is around to keep an eye on you all the time?"

"All the time?" I ask. "What do you mean by 'all the time'?"

"Well…" Cornelia reaches out again and makes a grab for one of my arms, but I yank it back before she can get her greasy little paws on it. "Any time you go out in public should cover it, I think."

I shake my head, unable and unwilling to believe this. I hadn't exactly planned on going up to Cinna and having a rebel powwow or anything, but I won't be able to so much as breathe during my whole trip if this creepy little… alien thing is going to be stalking me the whole time. And what are people going to say? Seriously, generally if a guy has a girl following him around, it means they're in some kind of relationship-

I jerk my head up and lock eyes with the little bint.

"No way in hell."

Cornelia peers up at me through thick lashes and smiles sweetly.

"But the Capitol will love it. My mother is a famous actress, see, and if I use her maiden name, everyone will know I'm her daughter! It'll be so romantic; just like my mother's movies. So I'm truly afraid that I can't bear to let you refuse; I'd be much too disappointed. Oh… you can try to get out of it, I suppose, but little Primrose Everdeen… well, I don't think she'd very much like it if you did."

My hands clench into fists, and I have to physically restrain myself from reaching out and breaking her neck or finding something sharp and gouging those sweet little eyes out. I take a large step back, this time so I can keep Career Marvel from breaking out and killing her, and spit, "Fuck you."

"Oh, no; you don't have to, although…" She peers at me so erotically that I have to struggle not to look away. "…if you really want to, I'm quite open to the idea."

I don't even comment on that as I escort myself back to the bathroom to change. If I'm going to have to deal with the little whore, I might as well do it with a bit more dignity.

…

Cinna isn't happy when we show up. There's something in his eyes that tells me he knows exactly who my little date is.

"Omigosh!" Cornelia croons excitedly. She lets go of my arm- which she'd been latched onto like a leech- and runs over to Cinna's table and stands in front of him like an awed schoolgirl. "Look, Marvel! I'm meeting Cinna!"

"People are staring," I say blandly.

"I know! It's perfect, isn't it?"

I have to resist the urge to bang my head against the wall.

"I'm Cornelia Ogilby. It's a pleasure to meet you," says Cornelia, turning those brown eyes of hers back towards Cinna. She's laying it on thick, I can tell; thick enough that she's actually managing to appear relatively innocent. She hasn't even started leering yet. "Marvel has told me so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you, as well," says Cinna, and I can't help but be impressed by the guy's cool. I've seen him on television before, but this being the first time I've actually met him, I'm a little disoriented by the knowledge that he's Capitol. He doesn't seem it; not at all. "I believe I'm familiar with your mother."

"Most people are," Cornelia says proudly. She slides into the booth opposite Cinna and pats the place next to her. I'm not even entirely seated before I find her feet in my lap. I try to push them away as delicately as I can, but Cornelia blissfully ignores my efforts.

Cinna looks at me questioningly, obviously asking me what in the hell she's doing here. I give the guy a light shrug.

"Poor creature couldn't stand to let me out of her sight."

Cornelia laughs and says, "Oh, you're so cute when you pretend to be arrogant."

I pretend not to hear her.

"You're supposed to be teaching me about fashion, right?" I ask Cinna. "What were you planning for today?"

"I have some designs we could look over. I'm also somewhat interested in hearing about what you're going to do to fix that fashion problem you were having." Cinna's eyes flash to Cornelia. "If I remember correctly, we discussed it over the phone the other day."

I have a feeling that Katniss is the 'fashion problem' I'm supposed to be fixing.

"Er, well... the scarf I was looking for wasn't available in District One, so I made sure to ask around about it when I got here yesterday. Unfortunately, it turns out that lots of people are purchasing that same scarf. I still bought it because I really do like the style, but it won't do shit… in changing any fasions, I mean. Because everyone's already wearing it anyway."

Cinna purses his lips. "And what, exactly, are you planning to do with that scarf now that you've bought it?"

"Good god, I'm not going to wear it!" I realize how that might sound and quickly correct myself. "I mean, I still love the scarf- it's a very, very nice scarf- but the style is really overdone right now. Best not to push it."

"Of course," says Cinna. He looks a little calmer now that he knows I bought Katniss for totally innocent reasons. Or at least I figure that's why he looks calmer. Cinna hasn't given me any sign that he gets the code talk, so for all I know, he could be speaking of an actual scarf. "Although I'm not surprised. You've always been very conscious about how you wear your scarves."

"I try to be," I say. "Even when my scarf-seller gives me really ugly free scarves. Just recently, the guy gave me a 'special' scarf that his son and daughter-in-law made a few years back. It's ugly as hell, but I can't get rid of it without offending him, and he's so temperamental… I don't want to piss the bloke off, or he might quit doing business with me altogether."

Cinna glances at Cornelia and back at me, and I nod subtly. I really don't know if Cornelia has any idea what we're talking about or not, because she's still smiling stupidly at Cinna.

"That's unfortunate," says Cinna.

"It is," I say. "Anyway, that's everything about my scarf problem. Unless you have something to add."

"Nothing to add at all," he says slowly, and with that he reaches into his bag and goes on, "Now, speaking of scarves, I would love it if you'd take a look at the one I've drawn up here…"

…

I spend most of the day with Cinna. By the time that we've finished looking over my designs, attended a (somewhat disturbing) Capital fashion show, and went on a mini shopping-spree, it's late enough that I only have enough time to change clothes and comb my fingers through my hair before I'm escorted out of Snow's mansion and taken to a waiting limo.

The driver drops me off in front of the Training Center, of all places, and I blink several times when I'm told to go up to District One's floor. I reluctantly listen, absently letting my feet take me into the building and up the familiar set of stairs. This building reeks of ghosts more so than the tribute train. I first met Rue here, and Katniss and Peeta... for Rue and Peeta, this was the last building they ever saw.

District One's rooms are no different than I remember. The couches have been arranged back into their normal positions after those terrible last interviews, and I'm not sure if that makes this easier or more difficult. The way it is now, I can almost imagine watching the tribute parade with Glimmer, waiting for our scores together... her absence is painfully noticeable, more so than it had been after the Games. Now it's dead quiet. There aren't any distractions, and my head is a lot clearer.

I can almost hear her icy, brittle laugh.

I exhale and smile wryly. Snow obviously knew I wouldn't be planning anything romantic (as if screwing a prostitute could possibly be made romantic in the first place) tonight. He wouldn't have made such an obvious play to kill the mood if he did.

I try sitting on the couch as I wait, but it's no use; I'm too nervous. I get to my feet and start pacing. After a while I find myself stopped in front of the window that Glimmer and I talked next to the night I caught her sneaking back to her room. I can still see the moonlight sparkling off her hair, the way that her face was about ready to crack.

God, I was an ass to her that night. I'm also pretty damn sure I'd thought myself nice. Asking a breaking girl if she's okay just about hit the top of the good things I'd done in my lifetime at that point.

It's thoughts like that that almost make me thankful I won. Thankful that I have a second chance, that I can make things right.

Then there's a knock on the door, and that thought flies out the window because Katniss is coming to me as a freaking prostitute, and if Peeta would've won- Peeta, the one guy on earth who deserved it more than anyone else- there wouldn't have been a rebellion, and Snow wouldn't have to sell Katniss, and they'd probably already be starting in on thier happily ever after.

I shake the thought off as I start walking towards the door. My steps are slow and nervous, and my heart is thudding hard against my chest.

Katniss. On the other side. I'm going to see her for the first time in weeks.

I want to smile, but I force my face to stay emotionless, force myself not to get too excited. She still hates me. We haven't made up yet. She won't be happy to see me, not at all.

It's no good. I can't calm myself down, can't make myself remember that Katniss doesn't think I'm the same Marvel who held her in the cave, who recklessly risked his life to save her own multiple times in the arena.

My hand trembles as I open the door, and I miserably fail to bite back a smile when I see Katniss staring up at me. Any degree of composure that I'd felt before evaporates at the sight of her standing there, small and stunning and just as beautiful as I'd remembered.

I reach out to touch her, then yank it back when I actually seeher face.

She's lost weight, which is bad because she didn't have all that much to spare in the first place. Her cheekbones are straining against the skin so tightly that I'm half worried they're going to poke through, and she's ghostly white. The bruise-like circles under her eyes can't entirely be blotted out with thick makeup, and when I look up and meet her shocked gaze, I cringe outright at pain in her silver eyes.

My last couple weeks have sucked, but I immediately get the feeling that they've been nothing compared to hers.

"M-Marvel," she stutters, and then she bites her lip and shakes her head. I frown when she takes an enormous step backwards. "No."

"What?" I blurt, because it almost looks like she's going to turn and run away. I was a dick to her, yeah, but the horror and loathing in her eyes… I hadn't expected that, and it hits me like a punch in the gut. "Katniss-"

"I can't do this."

Then she's backing up out the door. I instinctively lunge for her, but she darts out of the way and takes off, heading straight for the staircase. I'd bet anything that Haymitch is up on her floor, and I know for a fact that he, of all people, isn't about to hear me out. Not after the punch he gave me the last time I saw him.

"Katniss!" I cry, running after her. "Dammit, what are you doing?"

She keeps running. I take the stairs two at a time, my long strides giving me an easy advantage. It still takes me a couple flights to catch up completely, but I'm close enough to make a grab at her by the time we reach the third floor landing, my hand closing around her elbow as she slows to turn the corner. She struggles and tries to break away, but I quickly pull her closer, grabbing her around the waist and holding on tightly, refusing to let go as she kicks and pounds at me.

Then she goes limp and stops, and I let out a sigh of relief at the break, even as I tighten my hold on her even more.

"You already tricked me with the play dead thing once," I remind her, thinking back to when she woke up for the first time after getting stung by those tracker jackers. I put as much distance between my face and her head as possible, just in case she decides to headbutt me again. I don't want another bloody nose. "It isn't going to work."

Apparently she takes that as permission to start flipping out again, and I curse as she gets me hard in the stomach. My grip loosens and she tries to struggle free, but I grasp desperately at her, knowing that any chance I have of even somewhat helping her is going to go out the window if I let go now.

"Katniss," I plead. "Just let me-" She stomps on my foot, and I curse loudly. "Dammit! What is your problem?"

"Do you really have no idea what my problem is?" she spits. She stops struggling, but I don't let my guard down for a moment.

"Well, okay, you have a shitload of problems," I pant. "But I don't see why you should flip out on me because Snow's being an ass and… and selling you, of all the disgusting things… God, I know I've been terrible to you, but you could at least give me the chance to speak before going bat shit crazy on me, and-"

"W-what?" Katniss sputters.

"What, what?"

"You think what Snow's doing is disgusting?"

"No," I say sarcastically, "I'm getting a kick out of it. Shit, Katniss, I may be an unfeeling ass, but I think even Cato would've seen something wrong with this. Or has Snow gotten you brainwashed into thinking that it isn't disgusting? Because, I swear-"

I don't get a chance to finish before she fights out of my hold- which I'd stupidly loosened during my rant- and throws herself at me. I freeze up as I feel her arms wrap tightly around my neck, sure that she's planning on choking me to death, but then she starts shaking and inhaling deeply- I'd swear she's breathing in my scent if that wasn't completely crazy- and fisting her hands in the back of my shirt.

After a long moment, I awkwardly raise my hands and hold her against me, unsure of what just happened. It isn't until she takes a shaky breath and whispers, "I'm sorry. I thought you… I didn't know…"

I pull away from Katniss the second that what she's saying sinks in.

I left her acting like a Capitol asshole, so she'd have every reason to think that I am one, that I'd be willing to do something like… like purchase her and use her. I should've known that she'd jump to that conclusion. Katniss doesn't trust anyone, especially not someone's who's already burned her once, but God... knowing that she thought I was going to rape her, that there didn't seem to be a doubt in her mind about it...

I fail miserably at keeping the hurt off my face.

My sister, Katniss, my entire fucking district... I get that I've fucked everything up, but it sucks, having everyone treat me like a piece of shit, especially when I'm trying so damned hard to be something more than that for the first time in my life.

"Marvel?" asks Katniss.

"I- it's alright," I say stiffly. "I get why you thought what you did. It doesn't matter anyway."

"But... why?"

I shake my head. "I just figured... you could use a night off. It doesn't mean shit, not really. Snow said, when I talked to him, that there wasn't anything I could do to actually help you, so I did what I could. But anyway, I don't have anything important to say, and if Haymitch is here or something, you'd probably be a bit more comfortable with him-"

"You were talking to Snow about me?"

I'm well aware that Snow is probably tuning into this conversation with interest, but it's not a big deal. He knows why I'm here. No harm in admitting it to Katniss.

"Yeah. I came up to the Capitol to get some help from Cinna on my 'talent' as soon as I saw you and that freak Baxwoll on a news cast. I'm staying at Snow's mansion, and we had a friendly chat about your 'obligations' yesterday morning."

Katniss looks down. I pretend not to see the tears in her eyes as she straightens her clothes and hardens her expression. "How did you know what was actually going on?"

I snort.

"You weren't willing to kiss me after we spent two weeks watching each other's backs in the arena. Somehow I doubt you'd be all over a Capitol idiot within two days."I hesitate, but then reluctantly admit, "Besides, you aren't the only one." She opens her mouth, and I quickly wave off her concern. "No, Snow has reasons for not wanting to sell me. I mean, beyond the fact that I'm not exactly Finnick Odair. Cashmere's hinted at it a few times though, and Glimmer flat out told me her best bet to get sponsors was to convince Capitol men to pay money hoping she'd make it out of the Games alive so they could, well… you know."

"This is sick," says Katniss. She takes a shaky breath. "Me, Cashmere, whoever else he's doing this to, we won. It should be over."

"Yeah, and Snow's a dick." I look around and remember we're still on the third floor landing, where anyone could overhear us. "Now we should either go back down to the first floor if we're going to continue this conversation, or you should go back to Haymitch."

Katniss bites her lip and looks at me for a long moment. She's fidgeting uncomfortably, and for the first time I notice her bare legs peeking out from the long coat she's wearing. I vaguely wonder what she's wearing underneath, then shake my head quickly, doing everything I can to get rid of the thought.

Now is really not the time.

"I… I'll come with you. I have questions."

"Alright then. Lead the way." I gesture her down the stairs, and she hesitates a moment too long, unwilling to turn her back to me. I try to tell myself that it's a natural reaction to the Games, but she trusted me with her life in the arena. Now, no matter what questions she wants answered or how civil she's acting, she has very obviously lost any semblance of that trust. Another slap in the face. "Fine," I mutter under my breath. "I'll go first."

I start walking, straining my ears to listen to her footsteps behind me. I can't hear her, but I don't let myself stop walking. I'm well aware that Katniss moves silent as a ghost, and looking back to check would only make me appear insecure. Which I'm not. At all.

Not insecure my ass. I actually sigh in relief when we reach the first floor and I look to see her still trailing after me. I don't bother holding the door, knowing she'd rather I go through first, and reenter the main room, making a beeline for the couch and plopping down on one of the cushions. Katniss hovers awkwardly in front of me for a moment before seating herself at the very edge of an armchair, almost like she thinks she's going to have to take off right away.

Right. Because I'm a monster, and it's clearly in my character to chase after her with a knife if she pisses me off.

"Alright," I say, my voice a hell of a lot more upbeat than I'm truthfully feeling. "You said you have questions."

"Did you really pick fashion as your talent?" Katniss asks quickly, almost like she's embarrassed about the question. I gape at her, wondering if she's serious. That was a bit less less grave than I'd been expecting.

"Er. Yeah. Why…?"

She purses her lips. "It's mine, too. I think it's ironic. That's all."

My lips curve up into a smile despite myself. That's a good thing. A very, very good thing. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to meet up during our time in the Capitol and go over stuff, and maybe I could even invite her to District One to meet Apollo. I'm not sure how great of an idea that would be since half the population is dying to kill her, but I'm sure Snow wouldn't let anything really happen. Death or serious injury would be too kind. He's more of the psychological, make her life a living hell, kind of guy.

"It's ironic, but it's also a bit of a good thing. I'm meeting up with Cinna sometime tomorrow. You could come with. Hell, bring Haymitch; I want to see how he deals with Cornelia."

"Who?"

"Satan's child," I say absently. "We're apparently just concluding the friendship stage of our relationship. I'm sure we'll be a couple by the end of my visit here."

Now Katniss's brow is furrowed, her face scrunched in confusion. I really do want to explain the whole Cornelia thing to her, but I'm pretty sure that Snow would frown upon such candidness. I get the impression that he wants no one knowing about his demon daughter. Especially Katniss, who would so gleefully use that information against him should the chance ever arise.

"Apparently? Am I supposed to guess what that means?"

"Maybe it's a bit of a hint to look beyond what you see," I suggest, smart enough not to add in the 'for once' that really does deserve to be attached to the end of that sentence. No matter how much I love Katniss, there's no denying that she's judgmental as hell. She'll draw a premature, highly opinionated conclusion about something the instant she sees it, internalize said conclusion, and hold onto it as long as physically possible even if it's blatantly wrong. "Anyway, it's not important. I might talk to Cinna about inviting you to our next breakfast date though. Anything else you wanna ask me?"

She swallows and looks at her hands.

"I… that locket you gave me. I tried returning it to Cinna without opening it."

"You're shitting me," I mutter. Figures.

"He made me keep it, and… I just want to know, what was inside, the note, it wasn't…" Her cheeks are red now, and I can't believe that Katniss Everdeen is blushing. "Never mind. I just thought it was odd that you'd risk giving your district the wrong impression just to mess with me. Say I had given it back to Cinna and he read it-"

"As if Cinna would've said anything," I cut in. I look at my hands and frown to myself. This would be the time to tell her that I wasn't messing with her, that I do love her and have been acting like an ass to help her, but she looks so fragile and broken, and I'm not sure what's better for her: allowing her to continue thinking I betrayed her, or telling her that her family's life is in my hands and having her worry about that on top of everything else.

"It still might've gotten into the wrong hands," Katniss insists stubbornly. "And then what would people think?"

"That I was trying to mess with you," I say easily. "That's not what you were going to ask me, though."

"I changed my mind," says Katniss.

"You aren't allowed. I want to hear what you were going to ask about the locket," I insist.

Katniss shakes her head. "It really isn't important. It's… I was just going to confirm that you were joking again. You know, because we're apparently friends now, and they do things like that. Joke, I mean."

"Right," I say. "Because that wouldn't be the cruelest fucking joke I've ever heard of."

"Marvel?"

"I don't..." I shake my head, because I really have no idea what to say, how much I can say. How much I should say.

"Marvel," says Katniss again. "Forget about the necklace. It's nothing."

Great. I tell her I love her, that I'd really appreciate a tad bit of trust, and apparently that is absolutely nothing to her.

Either she's a better liar than I've given her credit for, or she's telling the truth, because her words hit me hard. For the millionth time tonight.

My entire district turns against me and I don't give a shit, but a scrawny sixteen-year-old girl from District Twelve makes a dismissive comment about a freaking necklace and I feel like a toddler who just got his candy yanked away.

"Alright," I say slowly. "It's…" I can't get the word 'nothing' out. It is something. I think it's something, and I don't want to lie to Katniss anymore. It's selfish, but here I am with a chance to make her not hate me, and I'm wasting it. Wasting it for good reason, but... is it really worth it when I won't be able to protect Katniss for all that much longer anyway?

Besides, she's going to go back to District Twelve after this, and I can almost guarantee every single one of them are going to treat her like a traitor. Getting out of the arena with the District One con artist over Peeta, and then running to the Capitol and spending her nights screwing random guys? Katniss isn't going to be able to say a word, and even if her family sticks with her, she'll have very, very few allies.

Isn't it more important for me to give her a friend? She really shouldn't be ignorant anyway, and it isn't like she's weak. Katniss will be able to handle it.

I cringe at the last thought.

Katniss will be able to handle it.

It seems like everyone thinks it all the time. Katniss can handle being born in a shit district. She can handle her father's death, and starving to within inches of her life. Taking care of her family without any adult help is a piece of cake, and hell, throw in getting Reaped with a boy to whom she owes her life to give her a bit of a challenge. Then I come in and make things worse, and now she's getting prostituted out like she isn't worth a million times more than that, and I'm ready to put something else on her shoulders.

What if this is the time she won'tbe able to handle it?

I'm selfish enough that I have to tell her something, but there's no way I'm giving her the burden of knowing everything.

"I didn't give you that necklace to mess with you," I say slowly. "I gave it to you because what it says in there…" I swallow. It's harder to tell her I love her when I'm a hundred percent sure it's actually true. All the other times, I've either been faking it entirely, hopelessly confused or unsure of what was going on. Now, though… it'll be completely sincere and there's no way in hell she's going to believe it. "… it's true. I wasn't lying to you with the necklace, Katniss. I was lying in the interviews after the Games." I duck my head. "I love you."

Katniss shakes her head, just like I expected.

"I don't believe you."

"You shouldn't," I say. "You should never believe a word that comes out of my mouth. Never, ever blindly listen to what I say. I've been taught to lie my entire life, and I'm better at it than you could ever imagine." Hell, I've got an entire country fooled right now.

"You're not doing a very good job at proving your point," says Katniss coolly.

"I wasn't finished," I say. "I don't want you listening to what I say." Especially not with Snow censoring and altering every other word that comes out of my mouth. "I want you to pay attention to what I do." I think about how she's going to see me with Cornelia and amend, "Not all the time, but when it really matters, when it's something big. When there's a lunatic ready to kill us and I almost die fighting him so you can escape, or when I stumble through the forest, about ready to keel over from pain and bloodloss and a bunch of other shit, to make sure you're okay."

"So what?" Katniss asks, and I know she still doesn't believe me. "You decided to lie in the interviews because you were worried your district would think badly of you for falling in love with a rat from District Twelve?"

"Fuck my district," I snap. "I really don't think it's possible that they think any worse of me than they do already. That's hardly why-"

"Then why? It wouldn't have hurt either of us if you kept up the stupid act, and I might've been able to fake a relationship with you and not have had to deal with… with this, and… and hell! It isn't even just that. You cheered when they showed Rue's death, Marvel! I hardly want your love even if you aren't lying. You've been terrible, and-"

"THAT'S THE FUCKING POINT!"

Katniss snaps her mouth shut.

"I was supposed to be terrible! Did you really think that I was happy about Rue's death? You had to have known I wasn't stupid enough to take on Cato single-handedly because I thought I would beat him. Never once, not once in those last weeks in the arena did I ever give you a reason to doubt me, and you forget all of that in an hour!?"

"What was I supposed to think?"

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I shouldn't be pissed at Katniss. Or maybe I should be, because what I'm saying is true. She should've believed me. So she has trust issues, trust issues she was dealing with for the entire two weeks we were partnered up. I know that. But I think I did enough to prove myself trustworthy.

I shake my head.

It isn't her fault that she that she hates me, that she never so much as considered the possibility that I could be putting on a show. It really isn't her fault. The Capitol tricked her. It isn't her fault.

I can't believe myself. If our situations were reversed, I wouldn't have doubted Katniss. I would have refused to believe it. Hell, I at least would've tried to say something to her.

"You were supposed to think," I say shortly, "that I have a reason for acting like I did."

"What reason could possibly justify hurting me like that?"

"It shouldn't have hurt you!" I say. "You should have trusted me, and god, I'm hoping you'll trust me right now because I can't tell you anything else." I take a shaky breath and spew out another, much less harmful lie. "I'm not allowed to explain any of this. You'll just have to take my word for it."

"You just told me how good of a liar you are. Why should I take your word for anything?"

Remember what I said about Katniss drawing conclusions and refusing to budge?

It's becoming quite clear that she's pegged me as a bad guy and isn't going to be seeing me as anything different anytime soon.

"Because when a vain, selfish prick is willing to risk his undoubtedly precious life for you, it's generally a sign that he holds you in pretty high esteem."

Katniss stays stubbornly silent, and I want to bang my head against the wall. I get that she's looking for a lie in everything that comes out of my mouth, and I can totally understand why she's doing it, but she's being freaking ridiculous.

"You're obviously done listening to me," I say finally, breaking a freakishly long, tense pause. "It's probably best you go running back to Haymitch now and tell him all about how mean, evil Marvel tried to fill your head with his dirty lies."

"I..." She takes a deep breath. "I need to think about this, but if- I don't know if it's a great idea, but- I would be willing, if you are still... I wouldn't mind having breakfast with you and Cinna tomorrow. If that's at all possible."

I nod slowly, unsure if that's a good sign or not.

"Of course. But... I have to warn you that I'll have company. Again, you should drag Haymitch along. It'll make the outing a lot more enjoyable."

She frowns, but I shake my head and wave her towards the door. "You'll see tomorrow, I'm sure. Nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about right now."

Katniss takes a single step towards the door, but stops at the last moment.

"I'm sorry again, that I thought you bought me to... you know. I should've known you wouldn't do that."

Then she disappears before I can say a word.

...

A/N-

Three months in the making, but... here it finally is. I do apologize for the length of the weight, but some really crap things happened in real life, and when I finally did get back to trying to write, I couldn't focus on this story at all. It didn't seem like anything I could write was even vaguely close. I'm also not completely satisfied with this chapter; it came off a bit odd to me, probably because it's been written on and off over a three month span, but it's the best I could do and I hope that's good enough. Thanks to everyone for waiting for so long and sticking with this story even after so much time. I promise that I will finish it, and I really hope that my updates will be a lot more consistent from now on.

If anyone sees any glaring problems with this chapter, or anything that's terribly wrong with it, please let me know. Other than that, thanks so much for sticking with my story.

No review replies this chapter because I want to get it up (and it's been so long that most everyone probably forgot what they reviewed anyway), but I do promise them for next chapter, and I give all of you permission to verbally abuse me if I break said promise. That's everything, I think. Once agian, I do appreciate how many people have supported this story over my break.

~bballgirl32~