I wake up early the next morning, to find Annie curled up next to me.
I shift my position slightly, and Annie stretches and yawns.
"Good morning."
She sits up, and looks around, confused for a moment. Then she remembers where she is, and flops back onto the bed.
"Morning Finn. What time is it?"
I glance at the clock.
"Seven. Might I ask what you are doing in my bedroom?"
She lets out a sigh and sits up.
"I had a nightmare last night. When I woke up I didn't know where to go, so I came here. I hope that was okay."
I sit up as well, stretching my arms over my head.
"I don't mind, but you should have woke me up."
She shrugs.
"You were sleeping soundly, and I didn't want to bother you. Besides, I feel safe when I'm with you, awake or not."
I grin, and flex my muscles.
"Well who wouldn't feel safe with me around?"
She laughs and pushes me.
"If the roof was a little higher we might have room for your ego in here! Next time I have a nightmare I'll just go see Mags."
I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling.
"Annie, how often do you have nightmares?"
I watch her closely. She's sitting with her back to me, but she turns to look at me as she answers.
"A lot. But they're never as bad as yours."
This takes me by surprise, and I sit up.
"What are you talking about?"
"Finn I know about the nightmares, I was here last night...was it bad?"
I sigh and get out of bed.
"Yeah. No worse than usual though. You should go get dressed, breakfast will be served soon and then we have to get ready for the first stop."
She hops out of the bed. And walks over to the door.
"Where is the first stop?"
I look through my dresser as I reply.
"District one. We'll go through all the districts except four, according to number. Then we'll go to the capitol for a party, and the last stop is back home where we will have dinner with the mayor and anyone else who is invited."
She nods, and then disappears out the door.
I pick out a soft coral shirt, and a pair of jeans to change into. Then I walk to the dining car.
Bruce is there, drinking a large mug of coffee. He looks like he didn't sleep at all last night.
"Morning Bruce. Sleep last night?"
He looks up and shrugs. Taking another drink.
"Never sleep well anymore."
I sit across from him, and ask a server for some coffee.
"So the nightmares never go away?"
He shakes his head.
"If anything they get worse. Through the years they build up from watching the kids you mentor die brutal deaths."
He says it with so much bitterness in his voice. The look in his far away eyes, everything about it suggests that he has been through much worse than most. I leave the subject alone, and we sit in silence for a while until Mags and Annie show up.
"Good morning you two! Did you sleep well I hope?"
Mags says in a cheerful voice. Annie takes a seat next to me, and smiles at Mags.
"Oh yes, the beds here are the most comfortable I have ever felt. I could have sworn I was sleeping on a cloud."
Mags laughs, and sits next to Bruce.
"Yes they do have that effect don't they?"
At that moment breakfast arrives, and the conversation fades off as we all busy ourselves with eating mountains of sausages, omelets and crepes. Annie enjoys the food imencely, and eats almost as much as I do. Once we finish, the servers bring out iced fruit drinks, that are cool and refreshing. As we sip these, the conversation returns.
"So our first stop is district one?"
Mags nods, and glances at the clock.
"We should arrive sometime early this afternoon."
Annie holds her head for a minute as she took to big of a drink.
"Ooh! It feels like my brain is frozen! What is district one like?"
Bruce snorts into his drink, and Mags gives him a disapproving glare.
"Don't you mind him. District one is as you know the district responsible for making the luxury items for the capitol. So needless to say it is very grand, you will see lots of very fancy things there. And the people are...nice enough."
Bruce chuckles.
"Nice enough? You should just tell them the truth, they will just find out the hard way."
He turns to Annie and I, leaning his arms on the table.
"You see, the people from district one, they look as themselves as the 'outlet of the capitol'. Since they are the richest district, and they make all kinds of petty useless things, they think that they are superior to the rest of us. They're snobs, the lot of them. I would be greatly surprised if I ever met a humble or non self-centered person from district one."
He shakes his head with another chuckle, and orders a fresh cup of coffee.
"But they aren't rude"
Mags says quickly, and gives Bruce another glare.
"Unlike some I could mention."
Annie and I grin, and I decide to ask another question.
"What exactly will happen when we arrive?"
Bruce remains silent, brooding over his coffee.
"Well, once we arrive, you will be announced like when you first came home after the games. Then you are supposed to give a speech, and mention something about the district one tributes that died. After that there will be a dinner party at the mayors house, then it's back on the train."
I wince when I hear that I'm supposed to give a speech.
"What do I say? I killed both Vicktor and Glorry. What can I say to their families?"
Mags shrugs.
"Make it out like they died with great honor, and their families should be proud of them. If you want, we can have a speech written for you."
Annie watches me as I think it over.
"You could do it Finn, you have a way to always make things sound better than they are. Besides, people love you anyway, it doesn't even matter what you say."
I shrug, and finish my drink.
"Alright, I'll just do it. I must have a written out speech? Or can I just say what comes to me?"
Mags stands up,
"Normally I would suggest writing it out, but you always seem to be able to think of something to say so you don't have to write it down if you don't want to. Your prep team will get you ready right after lunch, so be ready. Until then do whatever you want, I am going to take a nap."
She bids us good day, and disappears into her room. Bruce sits and stares at Annie and I for a little while. Annie finally gets so uncomfortable that she says.
"Um...Bruce, can we help you with something?"
He grins, and leans back in his chair.
"I was wondering which one of you would say something first. Sorry about that, force of habit. I was trying to get a read on you two."
I nudge Annie, and whisper loud enough for Bruce to hear.
"Don't worry, he stares at everybody, not just pretty little girls."
Then I turn to Bruce, and grin.
"You really shouldn't you know, it's kind of creepy."
He laughs, and crosses his arms.
"When you become a mentor, you'll understand. So what's the deal with you two? Are you really just friends like you claim to be?"
Annie sighs in exasperation. But I just grin.
"Ugh! Why is it so hard for people to grasp the idea that Finn and I have known each other almost our whole lives and we have always been just friends. Seriously! A guy and a girl can be just best friends."
Bruce chuckles, and stands up.
"Alright, I didn't mean anything by it. Truth is I had a close friend that was a girl, so I understand."
I look up in surprise. I thought that Bruce didn't have any friends or family.
"Really? What's her name?"
He loses the smile on his face, and his eyes grow sad.
"Was, past tense. I'll be at the bar if anyone needs me."
He walks out, and I frown.
"That was weird."
Annie says.
"I wonder what happened."
I stare at the door Bruce walked out of.
"Yeah. I wonder..."
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