Aspen had to laugh softly at Pixel’s admission. “Not sure I am the best out…” She admitted because after all, this was her party and she didn’t get ten seconds alone. There was always someone wanting a picture, an interview, to ask a question, or an introduction she was supposed to be present for. “If anything, it’ll just make it worse.” Surely the pair of them, the previous Victor with the new Victor, would bring the media running.
“But if you can get me five minutes without a camera in my face, I will owe you one forever.” Aspen joked but she was serious. The past thirteen days had been long and she was ready to go back home. To go back to her little corner of the world, decorating cakes at the bakery, and just being Aspen. Then again, she would never be just Aspen again. “I am not sure if I feel more like a freak show here or back home.” District Nine hadn’t had a Victor in nearly fifty years, so she was a strange creature back home, especially at school.
Pixel sighed. “I mean, you’re not wrong. But it’s ok, I have tricks.”
She’d met Aspen briefly once or twice, and the girl seemed nice. It was a bit of a relief not to have a big, scary Career following Pixel’s victory, since she didn’t quite know how she’d manage having to stand next to that. Especially after her own tumultuous relationships with the Careers in her year. Two of them had verbally threatened her before the Games even started, and Leon was... well, she still hated thinking about it.
“It’s tough, but I’m used to it. Believe me. It’s worse when you’re suddenly in a club of ‘youngest victors’ with Nolie Reyes and Finnick Odair,” Pixel answered, noting the two previous trained Careers (it truly was weird that she’d made it out of the arena, she had to think). “Come with me.”
Pixel had scouted out a spot during her own Victory Ball in an emergency exit stairwell. Occasionally mentors would come in here to smoke, but they never bothered anyone else looking to make an escape, so Pixel knew it was a safe spot. She led Aspen over there and let out a breath of relief, not realizing until now just how tense she’d been from all the mingling. “Here. It’s quiet.”