A scowl probably isn't the proper response to anything Derek says in return, but Katniss scowls anyway. Everything she just said - Katniss doesn't think she could've sound more idiotic if she tried. Like Glimmer, giggling and trying to flirt with Caesar's entire audience. No, worse than that. She sounds like one of the vain, stupid Alphas that give ridiculous nicknames to some of the Specials. Katniss hates herself right now. She hates herself a lot.

And Derek just continues to compliment her. Telling her that it's the girl in the dress he likes more than the dress itself. Calling her his hero and actually looking as if he might mean it. Doesn't he get how stupid she sounded? He should be laughing at her, not... not continue being so nice.

"I meant it objectively," she mumbles, still scowling in self-directed anger. Yet as they dance, she doesn't miss a step. It's easy to dance with Derek. It's very easy. She steps into his space enough to move a little bit closer to him. Derek might be conscious of an audience but she's too caught up in her own thoughts to consider it. "That the woman - all the Alphas - have been eyeing you and her hands were going..."

Katniss quickly shakes her head. Defending her words only seems to make everything worse. But too much of tonight reminds her of things from the glitches. Of Finnick. She presses her lips into a stubborn, thin line as she finally dares herself to look back up at him. "You don't deserve that. Being treated like a commodity."