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𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 2

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙨

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"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up." Maverick calls out, urging us into the living room as we enter the house.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to bring myself back to reality and push what had just happened out of my mind.

But it's hard. God, it's so hard.

"I need a shower!" I holler back, trying to keep my voice from wavering. I hate how they treat me when this happens, so I try my best to keep it to myself.

"No time, come on!" He waves us over. "Mom is making us popcorn. Ma, andale!" He yells towards the kitchen. Kane shakes his head.

I huff, guess I'll just take a warmth bath later then. "Popcorn, really?" I muse, plopping myself down on the couch next to him.

"Ah, ya voy, ya voy!" Ma shouts back, causing a smile to form on my lips, outside's events slowing starting to simmer to the back of my mind. It's easier when I'm surrounded by them.

I notice Kane's less tense seeing me more relaxed now. He kicks his boots off and joins us, taking a seat in his reclining chair.

"Can you tell me what we're watching now?" I turn to Maverick with a glare.

"Oh right." He winces slightly, adjusting his position. "The 'star-crossed lovers' special is on tonight, and we couldn't miss that." He waves his hands in the air for dramatic effect.

My noses scrunches up as my brows furrow. "Why are we watching that? There's plenty of other things to do." Or waste our evening with.

"Cause this is our only source of entertainment." Maverick answers like it's obvious. Guess it's much better than what is usually forced upon us as "entertainment."

"How's your back?" Kane asks, his look of concern reappearing, as if it ever left.

"Only getting better by the day." Maverick nods strongly, dismissing the worry. He hates the negative attention. Kane and I glance at each other, he raises his brows and I point my eyes towards Mav.

"Hey, alright cut that out." Maverick interjects. "I'm fine. I've finally been walking on my own these past few sessions."

Kane sighs, letting it go. For now.

Maverick is the light in our family. Always smiling, always happy, always producing a joke.

"Well, I'm looking forward to something else being broadcasted a change." I mumble, trying to muster up a smile for Maverick.

For the past year, up until the 74th Hunger Games, the previous years Game played over and over and over again. There was no relief from the sound of the sickening crack of Maverick's back on the television.

Every time I closed my eyes or tried to sing it was all I could hear, and it was deafening. But he's been slowly recovering day by day and he never lost his smile, even when coming home from the Games.

We all made bets on how much the little love story was complete and utter bullshit. Maverick thought the blonde boy was totally head over heels for the archer girl. I thought it was all a ruse, just as Kane did. Ma says it's because none of us have ever experienced love, but how can we in a life like this? How can I?

Even though this televised special is still part of the Games punishment, I think it's only fair. No one else got to win with another person by their side. No other district got to come home with both their tributes holding their hands up high.

No other Victor got to be saved by a relationship for the years to come...

"Oh, it's starting!" Maverick increases the volume as Caesar Flickerman's song starts blaring. Every time I have to hear that song again it's too soon.

"Ma!" Mav hollers.

"I'm right here." She chastises. She passes us each our own bowl of popcorn, which I quickly start inhaling.

"Last year, the 74th Hunger Games brought us the greatest love story of our time."

"Ugh." I let out a noise of disgust.

"Boo." Kane tosses some popcorn at the projected light.

"Shh, I can't hear!" Maverick whines.

"Then you need to get your ears checked." Ma throws some of her popcorn at him.

He rolls his eyes, sick of our shit, but secretly appreciating it.

𓅫𓅫𓅫

"You're late." Grandpa calls out as he hears the door close. I sigh. No matter how hard I attempt to be quiet or how old he gets, he still manages to hear everything.

"Yeah, sorry. Was just finishing up studying, Grandpa." I clear my throat.

As I enter the living room, he swivels his chair around to face me.

"Don't lie." He stares. "Where were you really?" It's like he's analyzing my thoughts, scrutinizing me. How can he always tell when someone's lying? I don't get it, it's like he has a sixth sense. As if he's never lied...

I smile. "Okay, you got me." I chuckle, holding up the shirt Aunt Tigris gave me, though it's zipped away in a bag. "I got a new shirt for the Victory Party in a couple weeks. Thought you'd want me to look my best to represent our family."

A proud smile adorns his face. "Yes, of course. Let me see." He nods towards the bag as Caesar Flickerman flashes onto the tv screen. He glances over his shoulder. "Quickly boy, the interview is about to begin."

I shake my head. "Yes, of course." I feel my spine tense with nerves. Surely after sixty some odd years he can't remember one measly shirt, right? He's had thousands since then.

I carefully unzip the bag, hiding any shakiness crawling it's way to the surface.

"Ah." He examines carefully as I place it in his hands before he turns it around. Suddenly his face turns stone-cold, emotionless. His brows knit together causing his forehead to crease, though none of that would be noticeable to the eye of the unknown. No.

You have to know Grandpa to know his reactions, otherwise you'd think he was always groveling, in a mood of the sorts, and never a pleasant one. I've only ever seen him smile at my sister or myself, other than maybe a couple rare occasions when he's impressed, which is almost never.

"Where did you get this?" He speaks after a beats of silence.

"There she is, Katniss Everdeen!" My attention flickers up to the screen.

"Ah, just a shop in the Capitol, Grandpa, why?" I meet his look with one of curiosity, almost daring him to ask more questions, knowing he won't cause that would only bring them out of me.

He grazes his fingers across the buttons. "No reason." He shrugs. Mhmm.

"Beautiful isn't it?" I ask.

He glances up at me and I believe for the first time, at least that I can recall, he's thrown off guard.

Unprepared.

Challenged even.

"Indeed." He hums. "Shall we watch, then?" He motions behind him before turning back to the tv.

"Yes, sir." I smile, sitting proudly beside him as he keeps the shirt in his hands, tightly clinging on to the fabric.

𓅫𓅫𓅫

"There she is! Katniss Everdeen! The Girl on Fire!" Caesar announces as the camera flashes to Katniss walking out of her home.

"That is a pretty badass nickname." Maverick points, spitting popcorn everywhere with his mouth full.

"Yeah." Kane looks down at his hands. I wonder if she hates it as he hates his. I remember mine, or more so what he called me after I won. It sent such a dark chill down my spine.

"I like her coat." Maverick compliments, eyeing the fur. He's had a taste for fashion for years, learning how to utilize our livestock further and make a lot of our clothes out of fur and hide.

"And there he is! Peeta Mellark! The Baker's Boy!" Caesar shouts. I throw my head back against the cushions.

This is going to be a long evening.

𓅫𓅫𓅫

"What do you think, Caius?" Grandpa turns to me as the camera shuts off of the couple and switches back to Caesar.

"Think about what, Grandpa?" I look at him, unsure of the question.

"Do you believe those two are in love?" He ponders, resting his chin upon his hand awaiting for my answer.

"Am I the right person to ask, Grandpa?" I let out a laugh. "I mean, I'm not even married."

He chuckle to himself. "No. But you're young, impressionable, observant. Just the right audience for this." He leans in closer. "So? What do you believe?"

Growing up, Grandpa never spoke of love. If he did, it was only in disdain as if it was a disease, a poison, a trick. I never even met my grandmother, she passed away when I was merely two or three, and he never spoke of her other than a means to an end. It was like he had to marry her out of convenience, like she was a chore he had to face or an assignment he had to do. I could tell he never truly loved her and he even told me the day I turned eighteen that love was a fabrication and someday I would have to choose a wife simply out of duty.

I've never heard of someone speak of love so coldly.

Aunt Tigris once said it was because love bit him, and made him unlovable, like a poison. I wanted nothing more than for her to keep going as I could tell there was much more there to be told. But I didn't pry.

I wish I had.

"I choose to believe in what's best for the Capitol, as you have taught me." I finally answer, realizing I was silent for far too long.

"And what would that be, as our future President?" He asks, reminding me of the pending cloud of doom that reins over my head, reminding me of what it is to come.

"I- I'm not sure I know yet, Grandpa." I speak honestly, unsure of the answer he is truly looking for.

"You will, my dear boy. You will." He pats my knee before standing and he drapes the shirt over his chair. "It's a lovely shirt. What is that, tesserae?" His gaze bores into mine.

But I do not crack.

"Yes. Yes, I believe it is tesserae." I stare back at him strongly and something flickers in his eyes— fear or maybe shock because I did not back down.

Not this time.

𓅫 𓅫 𓅫

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello lovely readers!!

I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter and getting both Wrenley and Caius's POV's!! Also the dynamic between Snow and Caius... And what did y'all think about the shirt??🤭

Don't be afraid to comment your thoughts, reactions, and questions!! It is so much more motivating!! Until next time <3

Hope y'all are ready for much more Wrenley, Caius, and the Zavala-Baird Fam in 2024!!

ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!!

Long time no see!! Wattpad deleted this book for NO reason & no notice back in April... BUT thankfully restored it in June!! I was very disheartened & upset, but SO incredibly thrilled it reappeared in my drafts!!

I've been waiting for the right time to republish & thought what better day than the anniversary of the publication date of Catching Fire ;)

So happy LATE (😭) 15 years to Catching Fire🔥🏹