She absolutely shined during the parade.
I gaze at Katniss in wonder as she walks into her room at the Training Center, the place where she kissed my cheek still burning. Even without the flaming cape, she looks stunning. I, on the other hand, look ridiculous.
"You did great, kid," Haymitch says as he comes up behind me and gives me a pat on the back. I blink and mess up my hair with one hand. Haymitch still had has his hand on my shoulder, and I look up to find him giving me an inquisitive look.
"I'll see you at dinner, Haymitch," I say, pulling away.
"I'll see you," he replies. There's something strange in the tone of his voice, but I ignore it, preferring to think about how only a few minutes ago I'd held onto Katniss. For a moment we were together, one. That's when I realize what Haymitch is trying to do, and maybe the stylists are in on it, too. And then an idea floats to the front of my mind. I guess it's time I really align myself with Haymitch.
"Tomorrow I think I should be coached alone," I tell Haymitch. He doesn't seem surprised by this. He shouldn't. Not since I admitted the truth to him three days ago, after the tribute parade. The truth about how I have a crush on Katniss. How I really don't intend to survive. Outside of Haymitch and I, though, that card is still hidden. And I don't know if Haymitch knows that I intend to play it tomorrow at the interview.
"Big plans, then?" he asks with a sly smile.
"Yeah. I want to talk about my interview." Haymitch lifts one eyebrow in curiosity, but doesn't say anything. "I've got an idea or two about what I should say." He nods knowingly.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," I agree, and then I head to my room.
"I think she's upset with you," is the first thing Haymitch says to me when I come down to the Training Center the next morning. I'm still not quite awake, so I give him a puzzled look. "Katniss. About training alone." Oh yeah. That. "So, let's talk about tonight." Haymitch sits down at the table at the end of the room, and I pick a chair across from him. "Well? You said you had an idea?" I clear my throat, not sure how to say it.
"I'm going to talk about Katniss. I'm going to say I love her." It's the first time I've used that word, and I'm not entirely sure I'm there yet, but it does sound good. And maybe it is true. Haymitch is leaning back in his chair now, just scanning me.
"How?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can't just get up on stage and declare your love for her, kid. We've got to be careful about this." The front legs on his chair slam back to the ground. He leans in close to me; I can smell the alcohol on his breath, and I briefly wonder how he can even function like this. "No, you've got to be hesitant, as if it's a big secret."
"It is a big secret." Haymitch just smirks. This irritates me, and for a second I think about rescinding my cooperation.
"Caesar will ask about District 12, probably he'll even ask if you've got a girlfriend back home. Just take it from there." The smirk disappears for a moment as he scans me once more. I feel uncomfortable. But I've been feeling uncomfortable a lot since I got to the Capitol. It's still not something you get used to. "I have faith in you, kid."
And that's it for our little discussion. For a while, at least. He watches me toss a few things around the Center. I also show him how I can paint myself into the trees and the rocks. This he seems a little more impressed by, but he doesn't say much about it. I do hear him say something about it being useful in any case. There's a shiver up my spine and for a moment I wonder what might happen that I would have to use my painting for.
Because our plan is for me to team up with the Careers at any cost. Any cost except Katniss's death. A disguise for me would mean I was alone. There's no way I'd help the Careers hide like that. But I'll pretend to. I'll pretend to help them so Katniss will be safe.
It's a plan that will almost certainly get me killed.
I just hope it's later rather than sooner.