First (sequel to Last)

Chapter 1

There are moments in your life where everything seems surreal. Like you're living in a dream. Like you know everything is actually happening but it doesn't seem like it.

Life after the Arena feels like that.

My eyes never seem to adjust to the world around me, and, according to my family and friends, half of the time I'm in a totally different world. Sometimes I'll go to the market or the Cafeteria and see someone with red hair like Mandolyns', green hair like Dracons', or brown hair like Lila and Tigerlilys'. I'll momentarily freeze and stare until whoever it is turns around and I see they don't have pointy teeth, a scar, or bright emerald eyes. I explain this to my siblings, but they always laugh and tell me I'll be fine. The only people who get me are Cinna and Caroline.

Cinna understands because of his parentage. Caroline understands because, well, she lived it. Caroline stays with us a lot. She's sort of my emotional support.

I appreciate her for it.

So life isn't pleasant. The Capitol finally announced the fact that Caroline did, indeed, survive. But there are sweet things, things like taking care of the tigerlilies growing in the Everdeens' garden, or feeding Wyn, our new calf, with Cinna.

* * *

"Come here, Eve. I've got you," Caroline whispers, climbing into my bed and wrapping her arms around me. It was another night where I had had a nightmare about the tributes. Tonight my dream goes like this: I'm hunting with Lelah in the woods. I spot a turkey and aim my arrow at it. Just as the arrow hits the turkey, it turns into Mandolyn. This is a constant dream and I've been having, but it isn't the worst. I have my dreams where I'm the one who killed Tigerlily. Anyway, I wake up screaming half the time and Caroline, who shares a room with me, has to climb into my bed to comfort me. Sometimes it makes it worse because of all those times Mandolyn comforted me in the Games.

I sob into Caroline's arms. She lays a hand on my back and rubs it comfortingly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the rest of the games. But I'm here now," she tells me, and I know, I just know it's true. Caroline WiManka is a girl of her word.

"Hey! Is everything okay??" Lelah bursts into the room. In case you're wondering, Lelah is the oldest.

"Yeah... Eve had another nightmare," Caroline says.

"Oh. Do you need me, or do you-"

"I'm good, thanks," Caroline remarks.

"Why are you talking to me like I'm not here??" I exclaim angrily. "I'm not a child anymore, Lelah. Caroline, I appreciate it, but was your big sister figure murdered by her own boyfriend in front of you?? Or did your best friend die just to let you win the games? I don't think so!!"

"I think I'll just go..." Lelah says quietly, and runs out of the room.

"Eve... I'm sorry," Caroline whispers. "I love you so much and I care about you. That being said, I need to respect your wishes. I'm selfish. I can't even imagine what you've been through."

"No, Caroline. I'm sorry I snapped at you. I care about you too, it's just... I feel like people are giving me a sort of special treatment." I hug her.

"Listen, Eve. I hate to say it, but you need it. I mean, you've seen some awful stuff. You lost your leg. You get terrible nightmares every night. I'm sorry, but it's important for your health." Caroline pulls the covers over herself and wraps her arms around my waist.

"Can I sleep with you for the rest of the night?"

"Sure. I think... I think I need to appreciate everyone who tries to help me even if I don't feel like I need it, so... thank you," I tell her.

"My pleasure." Caroline smiles warmly.

I don't have any more dreams that night. 

* * *

"Come on, Eve!" Cinna yells. "I've got something to show and tell ya!"

"I'm coming, Cinna, I'm coming!" I laugh and rush to the hill where Cinna is standing. I see he's laid out a blanket and lots of sandwiches.

"A picnic? Really? I hiked all the way up here for a picnic??" Cinna laughs, takes a seat on the blanket, and takes a sandwich.

"Not just any picnic," he says, his voice muffled by the sandwich in his mouth.

"Oh?"

"We're here to watch the sunset on your last day of being twelve." I giggle and take a seat, biting into one of the sandwiches. The golden ball of the sun starts to lower, spraying blue, purple, red, and orange all over the districts twelve and thirteen. Cinna places his hand on mine, and a sort of spark runs through my body.

"Wanna know a secret?" Cinna asks. I nod.

"I like you. A lot." He turns to me and smiles nervously. His cheeks are as red as the sun.

"Me too." I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. He stares at me for a second before pecking me on the lips. I turn away from him and watch the sunset.

Eventually, long after dark and the stars shine, my head lands on his shoulder.

And I officially turn thirteen.