***WARNING: Do not read this if you have not read Catching Fire or Mockingjay because the story will contain many spoilers from here and on.
Even though I didn’t want to I was forced to move into the Victor’s Village because the little home Scott and I shared had been taken apart. The Peacekeepers liked to recycle wood in the district in order to preserve the trees and maintain a balanced cycle. Luckily they had cleared everything out of the house before taking it apart and I got all my and Scott’s things back.
I was given the house right beside Elroy’s and he helped me move in. The house was really large. The main floor had a large living room, a den, a dining room, a kitchen and a bathroom. Upstairs there were 3 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a study, and a library. I got all my clothes, which weren’t many at all, into the closet of my room. Soon the house was set and everything had a place. Finally Elroy brought me a box of Scott’s clothes and asked me what he should do with them. I rummaged through the clothes and kept one of Scott’s hoodies that I always stole from him and loved to wear myself because it was big and comfortable. I told Elroy to donate the rest of the clothes to anybody that needed them. That’s what Scott would have wanted.
After I had settled in I still didn’t feel comfortable in the new house. It wasn’t long before I had to go on my victory tour. I didn’t mind the fact that I wouldn’t be in District 7 while I was gone because I didn’t like the house anyway.
The Victory tour was boring for the most part. I didn’t want to be there but I didn’t want to be back in District 7 even more so it was fine for the time being. In all honesty as long as I had Elroy I was a bit more comfortable and relaxed which I found very odd. My trip to District 1 was full of anger which I struggled to hide especially when I saw Troy’s father. I had a strong urge to kill him but restrained myself. He must have sensed the hostility I felt though because not once did he make eye contact with me. Most people knew that what I had said about putting on a good show with Troy was a lie and that I really did care. I didn’t say anything and remained silent beside Elroy. Afterwards I was lucky enough to meet with Troy’s father by chance. I glared at him and very openly threatened him. I stepped out in front of him to grab his attention because he avertedly tried to avoid me.
“I’m really sorry for the pathetic excuse of a father Troy had. I really hope that somehow you realize how wrong you were. You didn’t deserve a son like Troy and as much as I want you to rot in hell I only hope that somehow your son forgives you for what you did to him” I told him, leaving a shocked expression on his face before walking away. Elroy seemed impressed because he hugged me afterwards with a grin.
In District 2, I was sad to see that there was nobody there for Drex. She really was alone and I felt a pang of guilt for letting her go again. Spark’s family gave me dirty looks but for the most part the district didn’t care to see me. The rest of the tour was dull and the same everywhere except for District 5 where I was met with some smiles and even several waves. I guess they knew that what I’d said about using Kurt to get to Elra was a lie. I was so happy and it really surprised me. My happiness disappeared I saw a little girl standing alone before me and I could easily see that she was Kurt’s little sister. They looked exactly alike.
She looked at me sadly and even cried a bit. After the tour in District 5 I asked Elroy if he could get me the little girl because I wanted to talk to her. He did happily. Once the girl came to me she just looked at me for a minute then kept her eyes glued to the ground. I bent down so I was at her level. “Hello. I’m Skylar. What’s your name?” I asked her smiling. “Kalla” she whispered still looking down. “That’s a really pretty name. Well, Kalla, has anybody ever told you that you look a lot like your brother?” I asked smiling. She looked at me surprised and shook her head. “You really do. You should be very proud to have had such a strong and loving brother” I said to her. Tears formed in her eyes and spilled out. She was 9 and all alone. She definitely had it worse than me.
I pulled her into me and hugged her tightly as she cried heavily. I smoothed her hair down and held her close. “He was a hero. He saved my life” I whispered. Her small, bony body trembled and she cried out loud. I hugged her and kissed her head. “I love him so much and I-I really miss him” she yelled crying harder and louder. I tightened my grip on her as she cried into my shoulder. I picked her up off the ground and set her down on a chair. Peacekeepers looked at me oddly since we were inside the Justice Building. Elroy looked at us with a small smile. I ignored them all and focused on Kalla.
I moved a few strands of hair from her face and wiped her tears. “You and I have a lot in common, Kalla. We both lost somebody we really love. I have somebody else with me so I’m not alone” I said glancing at Elroy slightly. “And I’ll be somebody you can have as well so you wont be alone either. For winning, I was given some money and I want you to have half of it to take care of yourself with” I told her. She looked at me surprised and I just smiled at her. “I’ll arrange for somebody to find you a home. I promise I’ll make sure you’re ok” I said putting my pinky out. She looked at me sadly and whispered “But that wont bring Kurt back.” I dropped my hand and looked into her eyes.
“No it wont but he’s still watching over you. He never left you, Kalla. He loved you too much to disappear and leave you on your own. He’s still with you. As long as you remember him and keep him in your heart he’ll never leave you. You’ll always have him” I said smiling at her. She looked at me surprised and I added, “He’d want to make sure you were ok and safe. I want to make sure of that too so that’s why I’m giving you half my money. It’ll take care of you and make sure you never have to put your name in for extra tesserae in the coming years. I owe your brother a lot for saving my life so I promise to take care of you” I said putting my pinky up again. She looked at it and smiled before hooking it with hers. Then she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly, whispering “Thank you”
From there the Victory Tour continued through all 12 Districts and finally ended in District 7. Elroy came over every day after that and spent some time with me and we often ate dinner together but it never seemed to be enough. The house was too big and intimidating for me. With nobody else in it, the house felt hallow and empty and I found myself hating it more and more each day. Loneliness took over me and I never felt comfortable anymore, even with Elroy visiting me every day.
The night was far worse. The house was too quiet and I was often scared just to be in it alone. The same nightmare haunted me every night. I watched Scott die over and over again. I woke up screaming and crying almost every single night until I simply refused to sleep anymore. Elroy grew worried about me when he noticed I how tired I was from lack of sleep. I was slowly falling apart and he noticed.
I felt terrible for making Elroy worry. One day he just decided he was moving in with me and brought all his things to the house. After taking one of the bedrooms Elroy stayed by my side all day, always doing his best to make me laugh. He’d tease me and pull my hair like a little kid, making me chase him around the house and I slowly started getting happier and the nightmares started disappearing.
On the occasions when my nightmares tortured me Elroy always found his way to my bedroom quickly. He would lie beside me and wrap his arms around me. He’d sing me his song and I always felt comforted but I still found myself thinking about Scott. Even so I was grateful to have Elroy. He always stayed up until I went back to sleep and never let me go. His singing was what always calmed me down and I often found myself moving closer to him when I was scared. I’d hug him and bury my face into his chest. His arms always wrapped around me protectively and lovingly. He’d never let go and always stayed beside me until morning in case I had another nightmare.
With Elroy’s help I slowly started getting over the Hunger Games and found myself smiling and laughing more often. I never took Scott’s necklace off because it was all I had left but I never neglected Elroy’s kindness and patience with me. Slowly things started looking up and I felt like my old self again.
It was long before I was out climbing trees with Elroy and I laughed and teased him until I saw he was as good at climbing trees as I was. I once even tried to push him off a tree which didn’t go as planned since he pulled me down with him. We laughed like idiots even though we both got hurt. We often ran through the District trying to catch one another after pissing each other off. It became such a custom that in fact people often helped us by telling us which way the other went.
“It’s your turn to make dinner” I told him one day. “But my cooking sucks” he said walking to the kitchen. I sat on the counter as he rummaged through the cupboards. “No it doesn’t. You’re just trying to get out of cooking” I said smirking. “So you admit I’m amazing” he stated grinning. “No. You suck I’m just too lazy to cook” I said. He laughed heartily and threw a loaf of bread at me. “Shut up and help me” he said. I caught the bread and rolled my eyes but did as he said.
I grabbed the carrots out of his hand as he was about to cut them. “No!” I glared at him shaking my head. “What?” he asked confused. “If I’ve learned anything while living with you is that you should never use a knife” I told him. “That was one time! One time my hand slips, I drop it and I’m automatically not allowed to use a knife?!” he whined. “You would be if the knife hadn’t fallen on your foot and cut you” I said chopping the carrots quickly. “I wasn’t even that badly hurt. It was just a scratch!” he complained. I turned to him and pointed the knife at his nose.
He looked at me terrified and slowly moved away. “You talk a lot” I told him then broke out laughing and lowered the knife. “Hahaha” he laughed sarcastically. “Did I scare you?” I asked with a smirk. He rolled his eyes. “As if I’d be scared of a little princess like you” he stuck his tongue out at me and winked with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes and said “Just shut up and hand me the leeks.” He did as I told him and as I was cutting them up he pulled out a bottle of wine. I finished chopping them up and threw them into the pot as Elroy pulled the cork out and poured the wine into a glass. “That’s a bad habit” I told him. He looked up at me and asked “What?”
“Drinking I mean. It’s a bad habit. You really shouldn’t drink so much. It’ll hurt you” I said somewhat worried about him. He smirked and when he was done pouring the wine he put the cork back on. “Is that concern I hear?” he asked. I turned back to the soup I was making and shrugged. “Don’t flatter yourself” I said annoyed. “How about you have a glass too?” he asked holding the glass towards me. I glanced at the wine uninterested and glared at him. “You’re a bad influence” I told him. He chuckled and replied “I never said I’d be a good one” then he took a sip of wine.
Something sparked into my head. “That reminds me” I stated. “Hmm?” Elroy asked looked at me curiously. “My last night in the games, you sent Scott something and attached a note. What did it say?” I asked. Elroy nearly choked on his wine. I raised an eyebrow. “Tell me” I demanded. “I think we’re out of bread! Let me go buy some!” he yelled and nearly ran for the door. I tossed my knife at the door just as he grabbed the handle. The knife missed his head by a millimeter. He stopped terrified and tried to pull the knife out. It took a bit of strength and time since I’d thrown it pretty hard. “What did it say?” I asked picking up the butcher’s knife. “Let’s not do anything drastic now” he said dropping the knife on the ground and throwing his hands up. “I wont if you tell me what it said” I smiled innocently.
“You know I really don’t remember” he said making it seem as if he was thinking. “Maybe this knife will make you remember” I smirked getting ready to throw it. “WAIT!” he yelled. I paused and raised my eyebrow at him. “I suddenly remembered” he said putting his hands out in front of him, palms towards me as if to calm me. I waited as he sighed and walked towards me. He grabbed the wine and chugged it down then sighed. “Well plain and simple it just said that he should offer to help you with your bandages” he shrugged. I glared at him. “You’ve become a bad liar, Elroy” I said stepping closer to him. He held his ground and acted as if nothing happened. “It really didn’t say anything else and I am not!” he whined turning towards me.
I stood right in front of him, only an inch apart and looked up at him. Elroy was about 5 inches taller than me and often made fun of me for it by calling me short. Stupid 6 foot idiot. “There was more wasn’t there?” I asked. “There was not” he shrugged avoiding eye contact. “Tell me” I said. “I already did” he persisted. I leaned up towards him and gave him the puppy dog eyes. “Pretty please tell me” I begged moving closer to him. “You’re worse than a little kid” he laughed. I looked at him sadly and threw my arms around his neck. “Fine then I’m not letting go until you tell me!” I said clinging to him.
He looked down at me and smirked. “Fine” he said grabbing me waist and lifting me up off the ground. He carried me over and sat me on the counter. I still clung to his neck. “Will you tell me now?” I asked. He looked me in the eye said “Nope” with a devious smile playing on his lips. I gave him a sad look as he somehow managed to pour himself some more wine and take a sip even though I had my arms still tightly wrapped around his neck.
“Want a sip?” he asked not giving in. “No! Tell me!” I said. He shook his head and drank his wine. He put his glass down and smirked at me. “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” I asked. He laughed. “Yep” he said laughing. I stuck my tongue out at him and was about to move my arms when he grabbed my wrists and smirked. “Are you really giving up already?” he asked. “Yeah. You wont tell me” I said. He held my wrists. “I bet you’ll hit me if I tell you” he said. “Bet I wont” I said. “I know you well enough” he smirked. “Find I’ll take you up on that bet. What are the terms?” I asked him. His face brightened and he seemed way too satisfied. “Ok if I win you have to do whatever I say” he said. “And if I win?” I asked. “I have to carry you around all day” he said. I thought about it. I’d seriously have to refrain from hitting him if it was bad. “Fine, now tell me” I said.
He tried to keep from laughing. He let go of my wrists, my arms still around his neck. He leaned towards me and stopped right by my neck. The smell of faint cologne and wine filled my nose. His warm breath hit my neck and I knew we was hesitating a bit. Then he whispered into my ear, “The note said; stop being a baby and offer to help her fix her bandages. It’ll give you a chance to see a bit more and if you’re lucky you’ll get a bit too”. My jaw fell open and my hands fell from around Elroy’s neck. Elroy pulled away smirking. I was ready to hit him but I bit my lip. “So I pretty much told him to grab a hold of you while he had the chance” he said licking his bottom lip. I clenched my fists and breathed deeply through my nose. “Y-You” I couldn’t get it out. “I told him to take you and have you right there in front of everybody” he said amused.
For a brief second I imagined it and my eyes widened. That’s it. I couldn’t take it. Before I could stop myself I tackled Elroy to the ground. He groaned in pain as he hit the ground. I rested my knees on the ground on either side of his stomach and pinned his wrists to the ground above his head. “You’re sick” I told him. “You’re not much better” he said smirking. I looked at him confused. He glanced down at my body and I followed his gaze, realizing that this wasn’t the most appropriate position and that I was leaning towards him. I glanced back at him embarrassed. He laughed and leaned up towards me, resting his elbows on the ground, forcing me to lean back a bit. He grabbed my waist and picked me up. “Put me down you perverted jerk!” I yelled. He slung me over his shoulder and carried me to the living room. I pounded on his back. “Perv! Put me down” I yelled.
“Shut up or I will drop you right now” he said. Finally he put me down on the couch. “You lost the bet” he smirked. “Technically I didn’t! I didn’t hit you” I said. “You tackled me to the ground” he said annoyed. “That’s not the same as hitting you” I stated. “Believe what you want but I won the bet” he said. I stood up. “What do you want?” I asked. Elroy hesitated a bit and seemed sad for a minute. He looked down at my shirt. I was wearing Scott’s hoodie and his necklace was dangling from my neck.
“I want you to let go, Sky” he told me. My eyes widened and I just stared at him. “What?” I asked. “Let go” he repeated himself sadly. “Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?! Stop saying ridiculous things!” I yelled at him. “Skylar I just don’t want to see you hurt. Scott’s gone. It’s better to accept it and move on” he whispered being very patient with me. “I have accepted it! If I hadn’t I’d be locked up in my room crying! He’s gone and I know he’s gone! I’ll never forget him Elroy and nothing you can possibly say will ever make me forget him!” I yelled. “You’re being foolish! Open your eyes Skylar. You cant live life constantly looking back at the past!” he screamed. I just looked at him and shook my head, tears welling up.
“Screw you, Elroy” I said turning away and running out the door. “Skylar!” he called after me but I just kept running. It was snowing out less than earlier since the winter was coming to an end now but still there was plenty of snow. I ran into the woods and made my way to my favorite place, the tall oak tree. I stared up at it. The branches were bare but there was plenty of snow on them. The sky was dark, nearly black already and the wind howled loudly, blowing snow into my face. I rested my hands on the tree.
“I know you’re there” Scott smirked. “Am not” I called out. He laughed. “You’ve given yourself away” he said looking up at one of the highest branches of the tree. “So what? You still cant get me” I said sticking my tongue out at him. He raised an eyebrow at me and said “Don’t make me climb this tree.” I smirked sitting on the branch, kicking my legs back and forth. I patted the branch on my right. “Come on up” I said. He chuckled and suddenly the snow started falling. I looked up and put my hand out with a smile. I watched happily as the snow slowly fell onto my palm and melted within seconds. “Sky, get down before you get hurt” Scott said worried the snow would make me fall. I smiled. “Catch me!” I told him jumping off the branch. I landed on top of Scott and we both fell to the ground. “That wasn’t necessary” he said laughing. He rubbed his forearm in pain. “Sorry” I said and grabbed his arm, kissing it. “All better?” I asked. He laughed and hugged me. “All better” he replied.
The tears came and I fell to my knees. I gripped onto the tree trunk afraid of slipping from this world completely. My body was shaking and trembling and I felt as if I’d been broken into a thousand pieces for a second time. I felt arms wrap around me and lift me off the ground. Elroy picked me up and held me towards him. “I’m sorry” he whispered kissing my forehead. I blinked a few times and looked at him through my tears. “I’m so sorry” he whispered again, practically near tears himself. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face into his chest. He set me down and hugged me tightly. “I didn’t mean you had to forget him. I could never ask you to do that. I just want you to keep living your life, Skylar” he told me.
“I promise that no matter what I will” I whispered making him smile a little. Things did get better for a while.
But soon enough the next Hunger Games came. I was upset to have to face that again and to have lost my 2 tributes but practically expected it. I wasn’t as happy or kind as I used to be. But when I watched Katniss Everdeen on the screen, 2 years after my games, I felt pity and fear for her and what she’d have to endure in the future. Never did I imagine what would come in the quarter quell and just where I’d go afterwards.
