Chapter 19 - Home

                                    

                                          
When I wake, I find I am no longer in my room in the training centre. We must be on our way home at last. I disentangle myself from the sheets and order some breakfast through the mouthpiece on the wall and it appears, steaming in front of me in an instant. I savour the smell and warmth for a moment before wandering over to the window and eating as I watch the rolling green hills fly past. For the whole morning, I simply wander around my room in the hope that I won't have to talk to anyone: this is the first time I've really had to myself in a long while.
                          

                          
At around noon, there is a knock at the door and Anyanna enters.
                          
"Hi, Tobias. Did you sleep well?" she asks.
                          
"Yeah, I did, thanks," I reply with a small smile. I slept better last night than I had since returning for the games. It was nice, not to be awoken by nightmares for once.
                          
"We will be arriving in District 1 soon. Perhaps you should change into these," she informs me and hands me a neatly folded pile of clothes.
                          
"Yeah, okay. Thanks," I say and she leaves me alone once more.
                          

                          
Before long we are pulling into the train station in District 1. By the end of tonight, I won't have to worry about when my next interview is; whether someone is watching my every move. Finally I will be able to grieve in peace.
                          

                          
"Ready to go Tobias?"
                          
Anyanna sticks her head in the door and I nod in response. She pulls the door open all the way and I follow her out into the corridor. At the exit to the train, she gestures for me to wait.
                          
From outside somewhere I hear hundreds of voices, chatting excitedly as they await my arrival. Before long, they fall silent in response to an amplified voice announcing:
                          
"Welcome home to our newest victor, Tobias Eaton!"
                          
The doors hiss open and the station is revealed in front of me. It's packed - the entire District 1 must somehow be crammed into the tight space. I force myself to smile and wave at the cheering crowd, even though I want nothing more than to go home. Not to my new home in the victors village, but to the home I used to share with Tris. I'll need to collect my belongings, anyway.
                          

                          
Eventually I make my way over to the other victors, all of whom greet me with enthusiasm. Many names are exchanged but I'm not really paying attention. Only two people stick in my mind: Maia and Midas, brother and sister who won when they were 18 and 16 respectively. Victory seems to run in the family: Cashmere, I discover, also has a brother who won the year before her.
                          
"We should really get going - everyone will be expecting us soon," Cashmere says, breaking the constant flow of  conversation.
                          
"Wait, get going where?" I ask. I thought I was just going home.
                          
"To the homecoming party, of course!" she exclaims. "There's one for every victor!"
                          

                          
Well there go my plans to spend a quiet night at home.
                          
We move quickly as a pack through the crowd towards the Justice Building. As we grow closer, the delicious smells of many different dishes reach my nose. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
                          

                          
The night flies by. I'm the star guest at this party - everyone wants to talk to me; to congratulate me on my victory. The only redeeming factor is the food: it is absolutely amazing and there are so many dishes that I simply can't taste them all. This is nothing like the parties we used to have in the Dauntless compound, where you used to know almost everyone.
                          

                          
I am relieved when Maia and Midas find me to take me to my new home. It's all I can do to put one foot in front of the other, following them back to Victors Village.
                          
I stare up in awe as we pass through the huge gates. I've never been in the Victors Village before but everything looks twice as nice as my old home. We walk to the back of the village and come to a stop in front of a large white house, of  the same layout and appearance as all the others. All the windows are dark, indicating no one lives there. Not until now.
                          
"Here's your house, Tobias," Midas says with a smile. "We'll help you move all your stuff tomorrow."
                          
"Thanks guys," I reply.
                          
"We live just opposite you, if you need anything," Maia says.
                          
I nod to indicate I have heard and watch as they turn and head over to the house opposite.
                          

                          

                          
Once they are inside, I turn and enter my own house. Everything is pitch dark and I have no idea where the bedroom is. I appear to be in some sort of living room so perhaps there's a couch I can sleep on, just for tonight. Before long, I've found one and I immediately collapse down on it and fall asleep.
                          

                          
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Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long. I've been super busy because it's my last term of school ever!! Last day of classes tomorrow, which is sort of scary but... Anyway. I also had loads of trouble writing this so it's not that great. Hopefully the next chapter will be better :)
Don't forget to vote if you liked it and feel free to comment any feedback! It honestly makes my day to hear from you guys :)
TTM <3