(A/N: Here's chapter four already. Nice. This is like my favorite story on my account so far. Have fun. Read. And please Review
…
Chapter 4: First day of training
Bella Pov
"Cato, Clove, are you sure about this?" Brutus asked again, trying to make them both see reason. I was sitting on the couch while Clove and Cato were pacing in front of me, thinking hard.
"Yes. I'm sure. She's from District 2 Brutus, she needs your mentorship. Are you going to do it or not?" Cato glared at the floor, pacing faster.
"Yeah. I'm in too." Clove said, and I wondered if they knew that they were pacing in the first place.
You see, the plan is simple. Brutus and Enobaria are going to mentor me. I'm the one their supposed to get out. There supposed to guide Cato and Clove as far as possible, and at the right moment, help me out. Cato and Clove are supposed to protect me in the arena. And that being said, I'm now a member of the Career pack.
I have no choice in the matter of Cato and Clove's fate, according to them.
"Fine." Brutus sighed, and Enobaria smirked.
"Welcome to the pack sweetheart." She smirked, showing her pointed gold teeth.
"Thanks." I waved at her, looking around the room. The TV was on, showing the holographic picture of Cato and me.
"You know what?" Enobaria smirked, jetting her finger towards the screen.
"The capital is going to fall all over you two! Brother and sister fighting to protect each other, they'll eat it up. It worked for Gloss and Cashmere." She smirked.
Cato nodded, acknowledging her.
"Okay, I've been gone for at least an hour. Can I go back to my floor before Effie and Haymitch have a fit?" I asked. All of them nodded to each other, and Cato stopped pacing.
"Yeah, I'll walk you back." Cato breathed, getting up. Clove took out one of her knives and walked off to do some target practice or something.
"Twelfth floor." I said, and Cato nodded silently, his mask back on. He pushed the elevator button and I stepped in, he right behind me.
"So, where have you been these last two years? Running from the truth?" Cato sneered, and I rolled my eyes when the elevator door closed.
"I got kicked out. So don't think I ran away with the intentions of escaping the games or anything. I've been living in the woods, and yesterday volunteered at the first District I could enter. District-!"
"Twelve. Maybe I should have volunteered you into the Academy early." Cato finished with a sigh.
"I've been practicing Cato." I smiled, seeing the edges of his lips twist into a smile.
"Really? So, has living alone taught you new skills?"
"Of course. I learned how to make a spear. And there's plenty more skills that I don't need to mention at the moment. What about you, have you learned more skills?" I asked, and Cato shrugged.
"Just the regular stuff you learn at the Academy." He said, pushing the button. The elevator went up fast, and I grabbed onto the railing for support.
"Hey, do you know what time it is?" I asked. And Cato nodded. "It's nine o'clock."
"I'm dead." I rolled my eyes, and Cato chuckled.
"Just tell them you got into the pack, they'll be far from mad."
"Whatever." I breathed as the elevator door opened, and I got off on my floor.
"Wait." Cato said, grabbing my shoulder. "What?" I asked.
"Well… I'm not really good at this emotional stuff but… Don't worry. You're going to get out of this." He assured me.
"But Cato, maybe I don't want to get out of this if it means I lose you!" I frowned.
"Yeah but… Bella I'm not going to sugar coat it. Your twelve, you're a big girl now. Yes, soon Clove and I will be dead. But I want you to know that it's not your fault. We're dying, so that you can have a life. I want you to live it well. And you may be sad at first, but we still live on, here." He pointed to my chest, where I knew my heart was.
"Fine, think what ever you want Cato." I sighed, turning to go to my room.
"Goodnight." He sighed, pressing the button. As soon as the doors closed, we stared at each other through the glass.
"Goodnight!" I called back, and then walked into the pent house sweet, where Effie was unsurprisingly waiting for me.
"Sweetie what were you discussing with that boy that took a full hour? You have to go to sleep for training tomorrow!" She snapped.
"I was discussing with Cato about getting into the career pack. I'm in."
Effie froze. "You're in the career pack? But how? They haven't even seen any of your skills yet!"
"Effie, have you turned on the TV yet?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No. I haven't had the chance. It's been such a busy, busy day." She fretted.
"Well you should, try the Hunger Games channel. You should find some pretty interesting news." I smiled, and without saying another word, I walked pass Effie's proud and excited face caked with thick makeup, and slipped into my room. I tried to think of what to do. The room was huge, with a bed big enough to fit more then four people. The TV remote lay on the bedside table, where a sparkling white lamp sat. Complementary perfume bottles sat perfectly arranged on the desk also. I sighed, not feeling tired at all.
I have training tomorrow, but I'm not sure what I'm expecting. I wonder if Peeta's awake. I open my door again and walk across the hall to where I'm sure Peeta is sleeping. Without knocking, I walk in, surprised to find that he's not here. Is he in the shower or something? I think to myself, knocking on his bathroom door, and peeking in when there was no answer. Nope.
Where'd he go off to?
Well instead of going back to my own room, I laid down on Peeta's bed, thinking. Where can you sneak off to in this building?
…
I woke up in the morning still in Peeta's bed, but with a blanket strewn across my body. When I look to my left, Peeta's sleeping at the bottom of the bed, farther away from me.
Dang it Peeta, why must you be so nice? You're really making it harder to kill you.
I slip out of my covers gently and sneak back to my room with no interruptions. At the bottom of my bed in a neatly folded pile is what must be my training outfit.
"Bella?" Effie knocks at the door, and I open it so she can come in.
"Time to get up and get dressed. Believe it or not, we slept in." She said, and I rolled my eyes when she turned away. She sounded like she had a head cold. Looks like someone's finally seen the News.
I speedily get dressed, and brush my hair before running out to get a quick orange. It took me at least fifteen minutes or so. Just to make Effie mad of course. Peeta's already rise and shine when I get in the dinning room, smiling like the sun has come up after a whole decade of darkness.
Rolling my eyes, I grab the orange off the table, and sit down to talk to Haymitch, who's grinning from ear to ear.
"You know sweetheart, telling us that you're the baby sister of the leader of the career pack is an advantage. Is there a reason you waited to tell us?" He smirked, sipping his coffee, which I'm sure he added alcohol to.
"Didn't really think it was important." I smiled. Peeta looked up from his orange juice to smile at me.
"Congratulations on getting into the career pack."
"Yeah, you want me to ask Cato to get you in?"
"No."
"What? What do you mean no?" I snapped.
"I don't want to be in a group of blood thirsty killers Bella. That's not my style."
"Then what is your style? Starving to death in peace?" I snapped, not getting it at all. Getting in with the careers is a guaranteed safety! Who wouldn't want that?
"Bella just let it go. I'm not doing it and that's final." Peeta whispered, and I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. But don't come crying to me when we corner you and their seconds away from slashing your throat." I snapped, squeezing my orange till it was more of a pulp then a solid.
"Here you go sweetie. And I'm terribly sorry about your brother." Effie sniffed, handing me a napkin.
"Jeez." I snapped, grabbing the knife by my cup. "Everyone is just so sorry! But maybe I don't want anyone's pity!" I snapped, slamming the blade into the table.
"That is Mahogany!" Effie shouted.
"And this is pure, expensive, sharpened, steel!" I shouted back, and she flinched.
"I'll be down at the Training Room. Meet you all down there!" I shouted, and then stomped all the way to the elevator. Slamming my tiny fist against the open button, I stomped in, and pressed the basement bottom, where the training room was obviously placed. But the button for floor one lit up, and I rolled my eye. "District 1. Here we go." I yawned, and scowled when the door opened. Marvel and Glimmer, the tributes, stepped inside. "Hi shortie." Marvel smirked at me, and I took out my knife.
"What's up hormones?" I asked, trailing my fingers down the broad blade.
"Ha." He smirked, and the elevator started moving again. But before it could open, Marvel pressed the 'stop' button.
"What's up?" I asked, and he and Glimmer shared looks.
"We just wanted to talk a little." She smiled sweetly at me, and it was so fake I wanted to vomit.
"So, we heard that you and District 2 are siblings. Are you in the pack?" Marvel asked, smirking broadly.
"Yep. Its official. And if you'd like to stay in the pack, I suggest you take this elevator to the training room, before I have a few words with my brother." I said emotionlessly.
"I like her." Marvel said to Glimmer, pressing the button. "She's feisty."
…
"It took you long enough!" I whispered, standing around the large circle with all the other tributes. Peeta looked to me with a curious glance.
"What do you mean? I'm on time."
"Yes. But I just spent twenty minutes talking with District 1. Marvel's okay I guess, but Glimmer is just so annoying." I rolled my eyes as Atala talked.
"Tributes, over the next few weeks, twenty three of you will be dead, and one will be alive. Who that is determines on how much you pay attention and work hard-!"
"Easy as what!" I smiled. "What are you going to do first Peeta?" I asked.
"The camouflage station. Back at home, I used to decorate the cakes, so camouflage should come as a breeze. What are you going to do?" He asked, and I shrugged.
"Marvel's going to help me with my aim on spearing. And I'm going to help him with knives." I shrugged. Peeta raised his eyebrow at me.
"Why's Marvel teaching you again?"
"Because he likes me." I blushed, making Peeta snort. "He thinks I'm feisty, he said so himself." I whispered, and that was when Peeta started snickering. On the other side of the circle, Cato looked at me curiously. I shrugged nonchalantly and looked away.
"Peeta. Cato doesn't like you." I whispered, and Peeta looked over at Cato, who was now glaring at him.
"Where'd you get that idea?" Peeta said sarcastically.
"Right. Peeta, what kind of weapons do you need help with. I wouldn't feel good with myself if I let you go in the arena with nothing on your side except painting-!"
"I can't be killed if they can't find me." Peeta smiled, and I rolled my eyes.
"Peeta, did you ever think about food? You need to learn how to hunt. Your going to need to be able to find water. Fire skills. You can't catch a rabbit by flicking paint at it." I rolled my eyes when Peeta just chuckled.
"I'll let you teach me something. How's that?" He asked, and I nodded.
"That'll be fine." I sighed, and I noticed that Cato was walking towards us.
"Bella, time to go." He said, pointed at the lethal playground behind him. It looked expensive and well put out.
"Okay, I'll teach you tomorrow okay?" I called, and he nodded at me as Cato dragged me off to where the other careers were standing.
"What are we doing first? Beating people up?" I asked, punching the air to show my excitement, but Cato just rolled his eyes, a smirk on his face.
"No. We're working on our 'weaknesses'." Cato said. "Everyone state a skill they have to work on."
"Its not exactly a weakness, but I could use some more practice on Archery." Glimmer said. Knowing how to string the bow does not mean you're actually good at it Glimmer.
"Spears." I said.
"Archery." Marvel shrugged.
"How to make a fire." Cato shrugged.
Everyone looked to Clove, who shrugged, embarrassed. "I don't have any weaknesses-"
"Spit it out Clove." I rolled my eyes.
"Fine. Healing maybe?" Clove muttered.
"Now was that so hard?" Cato teased her, and Clove scowled heavily.
"Alright Bella, help Glimmer and Marvel with the bow. Clove and I will hit the fire making station, and the plants." Cato said, and everyone shook hands. I grimaced when Cato and Clove left me alone with District 1. Glimmer looked glum at the prospect of having to be taught by me.
"Ugh… I just want to let you guys know that I have little patience, and I don't really know how to teach people." I told them both as we neared the Archery section. Marvel smiled at me, and I blushed.
"It's okay. First do a demonstration, try and adjust our positions, and then tell us what we're doing wrong." He said confidently, and I grabbed the first bow I could get my hands on.
"Well, first you stand like this. Feet apart." I instructed as Marvel and Glimmer copied me, grabbing a bow themselves. We stepped closer to the target area, and the three of us strung our bows.
"Well, just copy me." I instructed, and breathed deeply. Praying that I wouldn't miss and embarrass myself in front of everyone, I zeroed in on the target. Here we go-!
"CAN'T SHOOT FOR LIFE!" Glimmer squealed in my ear just as I let the arrow go, and I missed. It hit the side of the board, outside the outlined body.
"Glimmer, I swear, you did that on purpose!" I snapped.
"You have to be prepared in the arena." She smiled sickly sweet. "No one's going to stand still and stay quiet as you take your sweet time princess. So get it straight." She smiled, tilting her head to the side.
"Grrr…" I growled, and quickly strung another and let it fly. "Bull eye." I grinned. "Hold it Marvel." I put my hand on his to stop him from trying.
"Let Glitter get this one. She sure can talk a lot, lets see if she has the moves to match."
"It's Glimmer." She sneered at me, her lips stretching angrily.
"Don't care. Now shoot."
"Humph." She sneered, stringing her bow, making sure to accidentally hit me with the arrow as she swung around. Ignoring the scratch she made on my shoulder, I glared at her as she prepared to shoot. Her fingers tightened, the string was pulled back, and then just before she made the shot, I struck.
"YOLO!" I shouted, and she jumped, making the arrow miss the target completely, and hit the wall pathetically.
"Hey! You did that on purpose!" She glared.
"Like you said Princess. No one is going to stand around and wait for you to shoot them. Their not going to be quiet. You have to be prepared." I said sarcastically, and Marvel snickered.
"You know what? I don't need this!" Glimmer snipped, and then stomped off to who even cares.
"Okay Marvel, back to business. Lift your arms like this." I moved his arms higher, and Marvel laughed.
"You know, back at home no one talks back to her like that. Her fathers the mayor and the whole District knows not to make her mad, no matter what she does to you. I've never seen anyone stand up to her like that." Marvel smirked, and I shrugged, bashful.
"Someone needs to put her in her place. And it didn't seem like you were going to do anything. Mr. Stand and watch Glimmer act like a blonde." I rolled my eyes. He shrugged.
"Yeah well I didn't want her ratting out to my mentors that I've been sneaking upstairs." He shrugged, and I was suddenly curious. What's he got going on?
"Sure. Try it like this. Hold your chin higher." I said, and Marvel did just that. "Should I let it fly?"
"Go ahead spear boy." I smirked, and I heard his chuckle over the snap of the string as the arrow went flying. There was a plunk sound, and I smiled as the arrow hit dead center.
"Wow Marvel, you actually don't suck." I smirked, and he laughed.
"Maybe a little less laughing and a little more practicing though, because I want to make sure that wasn't just a lucky shot." I said, and he nodded. "Sounds reasonable." He said, grabbing another arrow.
"So what's with you and Mr. Sunshine?" He asked, and I frowned. "Who?"
"Mr. Sunshine. You know Mellark? Well I saw you two giggling like school girls earlier, what was that about?" Marvel asked, and I froze as he sent another arrow flying.
"Nothing." I muttered, not wanting to admit I was talking about him.
"It obviously wasn't nothing if you both were talking during Atala's speech. What was it?"
"I'm not telling you."
"You can tell me. Who am I going to tell?"
"It's none of your business." I shivered, growing red as he put the bow down and leaned closer to my face.
"Why is it none of my business?" He smirked, and I felt my heart beat pick up.
"Because… You… I… I just don't… Cato's calling me. Cato." I yelled, making Marvel raise a sarcastic eyebrow.
"Better go get him Marvel. He acts up when he's mad. Coming Cato." I yelled, and then ran as fast as I could to the fire station. Cato was swearing over a bundle of sticks, trying to rub a flint together with a stick.
"Hey Cato." I said nonchalantly, sitting down next to him. Cato swore loudly, and then turned to me.
"Why were you yelling my name?" He asked, throwing the flint down.
"Marvel asked me a question that I didn't want to answer." I shrugged, looking around for Clove. She was looking bored, listening to the plant guy over at his section.
"What did he ask you?" Cato asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Whether I liked rain or sunshine." I said, shrugging.
"You were always a bad liar." Cato glared, looking me in the eye.
"Uh, he asked what Peeta and I were laughing about earlier."
"And what were you laughing about earlier?"
"Puppies."
"Again, you are a horrible liar. Now what were you laughing about. And why is your face all red?" Cato asked, touching my cheek, which felt like a furnace.
"Because Marvel is looking over at us." I murmured, and Cato looked over his shoulder.
"Don't look at him you idiot!" I whispered furiously, punching his shoulder.
"What? But why… Ohhhhh." Cato whispered, and then to my embarrassment, started laughing like a hyena.
"Sorry to bust your bubble." Cato laughed loudly, and people were starting to stare. He's going to embarrass me, I realized with horror.
"But he is way too old-!" I grabbed and stuffed the metal flint into Cato's mouth, making him choke. "Shut your mouth!" I warned him, but squeaked when Cato smacked me in the back of my head.
"Sorry, it's a reflex." He said, watching me try to fight back the tears.
"It's fine." I said hoarsely. He patted the spot where he hit me, and I felt a bump. Just great.
"I'm sorry Bella. Hey, we're having a meeting tonight. Just us careers. Are you in?" Cato asked, and I nodded.
"Yes. What are we doing?" I winced, running my hand along the bump in the back of my head.
"We're planning strategy. Glimmer's bringing us something that'll really make a difference." Cato smirked, and I frowned.
"What's she bringing?" I asked, but Cato covered my mouth and leaned closer to whisper in my ear.
"A map of the arena." He whispered lightly, so light it was barely audible.
"What, but how'll she'll pull it off?" I muffled against his hand, and Cato jetted his thumb in Glimmer's direction. She was smirking at the Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane, and running her hand threw her long hair.
"Oh. She's going under cover. Literally." I rolled my eyes, making Cato laugh.
"Well, however she does it, its benefiting us greatly." Cato nodded, and I had to admit. He's right.