A/N: Hi guys, here's chapter 2! Most of the reviews I received said they really liked it, but it was a bit fast. I hope I calmed it down in this chapter. Also, I'm going to go back to edit the first chapter into 2 separate chapters instead of 1 and add a bunch of detail that was missing... I'll be honest, I wrote that first chapter in about an hour.

Anyways, still no beta, but I'm narrowing down on one. So, hopefully, I'll have one before chapter 3!

Also, I'm going on a short vacation until Sunday, and I won't have any time to write. Chapter 3 will come out some time next week, probably closer to the end of the week.

Legal stuff is in chapter 1!

Peeta's POV as always.


I wake up the next morning to Effie banging on my door.

"Wake up Peeta! You must eat something before you head to the hovercraft."

Right. Today starts the games. I could be dead in just a few short hours. I had tried up to this point to not think about it, but now death was knocking on my door. Well, death and an extremely excitable woman with pink hair.

I got up, and walked into my bathroom. I strip down and step into the shower. I've finally given up trying with the buttons, and just press a few of them until the water feels good. After stepping out, and drying, I glance in the mirror and see a decently large bruise on my neck from where Marvel had me last night. He could have killed me. He would have killed me before the games, and he didn't even care. Clove could have, too for that matter. I knew they were brutal, but I didn't expect them to break what little rules there are for The Hunger Games. I guess I underestimated them. I can't do that again. If I do, I'll be dead. If Cato hadn't shown up I'm sure Marvel or Clove would have finished me off right then and there.

Cato.

That's what's really confusing. He gave up his place in the Careers to help me. To protect me from them. Now he said he'll have a plan for today, some way for him to protect me in the Games. It's all so confusing! Why does he want to protect me, of all people? I'm nothing special, certainly. He's trained his whole life for these games, and everyone expects him to win. Why would he give all that up just to keep me safe?

He did kiss me last night. I wonder if he has feelings for me? Or maybe he's just playing with me. He'll get his kicks in now, then kill me in the arena and go back to the Careers. It honestly wouldn't surprise me, but I want so desperately to believe him. I can't think like that. Either I trust Cato and live, trust him and die, or don't trust him and die. I guess I don't have much of a choice.

Plus, it's hard to admit even to myself, but I might have some feelings for him, too. Not really sure what yet, but...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Kid, get your ass out here and eat some breakfast! We've got to get moving!" Haymitch this time.

"I'm coming!" I shout. I take one last look at myself in the mirror before getting dressed and heading out into the common area. I see Katniss and Effie already eating, and Haymitch just sitting back down to what I assume is another glass of some liqueur.

I take my seat next to Katniss, and I start loading my plate with food. I'm not particularly hungry, but... Well, they don't call them 'The Hunger Games' for nothing. None of it really looks appetizing, but I stuff some waffles in my mouth anyways.

Katniss is the first to notice the bruise. "What happened to you? You're neck looks awful!"

Thanks for stating the obvious, Kat. She doesn't even sound that concerned; more like she's pointing out something I did wrong in the hopes of getting a reward.

"Nothing major," I say, shoveling another fork full into my mouth. "Just ran into one of the Careers last night." I don't want to tell them everything, at least not Effie and Katniss. I imagine I'll have to tell Haymitch before I go; I wonder what he'll think.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, dear. It's rude." Effie shoots me a disapproving look. Good to know what she's worried about out of what I just said.

"Nothing major?" Haymitch says, shooting Effie an exasperated look. "It looks more like someone tried to kill you, kid. I'm betting it was the big guy from 2, right?" he says with a knowing look.

"No!" That was a little too loud, and earns me a strange look from the everyone at the table. Why am I so quick to defend him? "I mean, uh, no it was the other guy, Marvel, from 1. He and Clove, the girl from 2 caught me on the roof, and tried to trap me. But I got away." I'm not about to tell them Cato probably saved me, or the fact he's no longer part of the Careers because of the fight. No, Katniss could and would definitely use that against him. Against us, I remind myself. Cato and I are a team now.

Effie interrupts before Haymitch has a chance to question me more.

"Time to head up!" she says. Her voice is still almost too much to handle. Even after the nearly week I've spent with her, it grates. Still, knowing it might be the last time I hear it gets to me a little.

"Haymitch, can I talk to you for a moment before we go?" I ask hesitantly.

"Sure kid." He waits for Effie and Katniss to get in the elevator. The latter sends me a questioning look, but I ignore her. "What's up?"

"Last night, I-I went to see Cato, the boy from 2 about joining the Careers..." I start to spout off everything that happened last night, leaving out the kiss, but telling him about Cato's potential plan, the fight with Marvel and Clove, Cato coming to my rescue, and ending with Cato bringing me back to our floor.

When I finish, I look down at my feet. I'm beyond worried Haymitch is going to hate me for going behind his back, and trying to join the Careers. I look back up to his eyes, and he stares at me for a minute. Say what you will about him, drunk or not he's still very intuitive, and it looks like he knows I'm leaving something out.

"I hate to say it, but it's your best shot, kid." he says. "I have no idea what he's got planned, but he's the strongest tribute here. If he, for some reason, wants to protect you... Go with it."

I'm in a little bit of shock... Part of me really can't believe Haymitch didn't rip my head off for screwing with his plan. At least he didn't question me about the part I didn't tell him. I stare at him for a second before I remember I'm not done destroying everything he's set up for Katniss and I.

"I-I'm also not going to go on with the 'Star-Crossed Lovers' thing." I know this is what's going to anger him. "I can't keep up with it, and I'm not going to make my last act in this world lying to everyone in the Panem." I couldn't do that to my family. Well, I could do that to my mother, but I owe my dad more than that.

"Whatever. You're choice, kid, just don't die." He sighs, "Let's go, Effie'll kill me if you're late."

Now I know there's something Haymitch isn't telling me either. Otherwise he would have torn me to shreds for killing every chance I had for getting sponsors. Something's up, and he's not telling me. Either way, I can't do much about it now. I follow him into the waiting elevator as he presses the button to take us to the hovercraft.


A/N: There you have it, chapter 2! I hope this one delivered a little more than the last chapter, even though it was shorter. I'm also hinting at the main plot line a tiny bit in this one. Anyways, reviews are always loved!