Mocking Jay

arena messed us all up pretty good, don't you think? Or do you still feel like the girl who volunteered for your
sister?" she asks me.
"No," I answer.
"That's the one thing I think my head doctor might be right about. There's no going back. So we might as
well get on with things." She neatly returns my keepsakes to the drawer and climbs into the bed across from me
just as the lights go out. "You're not afraid I'll kill you tonight?"
"Like I couldn't take you," I answer. Then we laugh, since both our bodies are so wrecked, it will be a
miracle if we can get up the next day. But we do. Each morning, we do. And by the end of the week, my ribs feel
almost like new, and Johanna can assemble her rifle without help.
Soldier York gives the pair of us an approving nod as we knock off for the day. "Fine job, Soldiers."
When we move out of hearing, Johanna mutters, "I think winning the Games was easier." But the look on
her face says she's pleased.
In fact, we're almost in good spirits when we go to the dining hall, where Gale's waiting to eat with me.
Receiving a giant serving of beef stew doesn't hurt my mood either. "First shipments of food arrived this
morning," Greasy Sae tells me. "That's real beef, from District Ten. Not any of your wild dog."
"Don't remember you turning it down," Gale tosses back.
We join a group that includes Delly, Annie, and Finnick. It's something to see Finnick's transformation since
his marriage. His earlier incarnations--the decadent Capitol heartthrob I met before the Quell, the enigmatic ally
in the arena, the broken young man who tried to help me hold it together--these have been replaced by someone
who radiates life. Finnick's real charms of self-effacing humor and an easygoing nature are on display for the first
time. He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to. She's lost
in some daze of happiness. There are still moments when you can tell something slips in her brain and another
world blinds her to us. But a few words from Finnick call her back.
Delly, who I've known since I was little but never gave much thought to, has grown in my estimation. She
was told what Peeta said to me that night after the wedding, but she's not a gossip. Haymitch says she's the best
defender I have when Peeta goes off on some kind of tear about me. Always taking my side, blaming his
negative perceptions on the Capitol's torture. She has more influence on him than any of the others do, because
he really does know her. Anyway, even if she's sugarcoating my good points, I appreciate it. Frankly, I could use a
little sugarcoating.
I'm starving and the stew is so delicious--beef, potatoes, turnips, and onions in a thick gravy--that I have to
force myself to slow down. All around the dining hall, you can feel the rejuvenating effect that a good meal can
bring on. The way it can make people kinder, funnier, more optimistic, and remind them it's not a mistake to go
on living. It's better than any medicine. So I try to make it last and join in the conversation. Sop up the gravy on my
bread and nibble on it as I listen to Finnick telling some ridiculous story about a sea turtle swimming off with his
hat. Laugh before I realize he's standing there. Directly across the table, behind the empty seat next to Johanna.
Watching me. I choke momentarily as the gravy bread sticks in my throat.
"Peeta!" says Delly. "It's so nice to see you out...and about."
Two large guards stand behind him. He holds his tray awkwardly, balanced on his fingertips since his wrists
are shackled with a short chain between them.
"What's with the fancy bracelets?" asks Johanna.
"I'm not quite trustworthy yet," says Peeta. "I can't even sit here without your permission." He indicates the
guards with his head.
"Sure he can sit here. We're old friends," says Johanna, patting the space beside her. The guards nod and
Peeta takes a seat. "Peeta and I had adjoining cells in the Capitol. We're very familiar with each other's
screams."
Annie, who's on Johanna's other side, does that thing where she covers her ears and exits reality. Finnick
shoots Johanna an angry look as his arm encircles Annie.
"What? My head doctor says I'm not supposed to censor my thoughts. It's part of my therapy," replies
Johanna.
The life has gone out of our little party. Finnick murmurs things to Annie until she slowly removes her hands.
Then there's a long silence while people pretend to eat.
"Annie," says Delly brightly, "did you know it was Peeta who decorated your wedding cake? Back home,
his family ran the bakery and he did all the icing."