Sorry about the last chapter, I must of clicked on the wrong document and uploaded that. So sorry. Well here's another chapter! I can't wait for you guys to read about the twist ;) I'm sure most you won't have expected it.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games
Peeta's POV
Haymitch told us he wanted us to make friends during training. He said we're at a disadvantage because all of the other Victors competing in this years Games have won at least five years ago. And since we won only last year, we don't know any of the other victors personally so we'll be their first target.
We got dressed in our training suits, as much as I wanted to die during some of the training exercises we practiced back home when we found out about hte Quell, I know it paid off especially if I'm supposed to keep Katniss alive. Like last year, the suits are skin tight and are labeled with our district number, I notice Katniss has gained a few pounds, to me, it's a good thing to know that she has enough food to eat instead of being starving.
We are one of the last Districts to arrive. It took a while to convince Effie not to walk us down to training because 'Katniss and I are big kids now', I can see the careers are already hard at work at combat, I would have though they would have practiced more survival skills. I think it was Cashmere who almost died in her games because the career pack parted too early and none knew how to survive. It makes me realize that the careers are going to be even tougher this year, not only are they each almost ten years older than us, they have won these Games once before.
Throughout the early morning session, I spend a lot of time with Finnick working on our combat, I notice Katniss is trying to learn different knots and fish hocks, with Mags. So that's Finnick. I think. He's basically the Sex God in the capitol, some say that capitol citizens pay loads of money to sleep with him and even more money to get one of his sperms as a sample and have one of his kids. But I don't think any have been successful.
When it's time for lunch, we meet in the same room as last year. But we sit with Mags and Finnick from 4, the District 11 tributes, and Johanna Mason. When Johanna won her Games, she did it in a 'rebellious' way, sort of like Katniss and I did, and when she arrived home, all of her family was dead. Katniss and I are lucky that the capitol loves us so much, because if they didn't, I'm sure Prim and Gale wouldn't be with us anymore.
We talk a lot through the lunch, nothing about the Games, but just gossip. Like their days aren't numbered. Just living life while they can. I hold Katniss' hand the rest of the time we're there, trying to show the Game Makers were unseperable. She teaches me how to shoot, and for a first timer, I'm that bad. I show Katniss how to use the camouflage, lets just say I'll stick to painting and Katniss will stick with shooting.
"So who do you want for your allies?" Haymitch says at dinner. He's picking at his food again. I look at Katniss, and she nods. We discussed who we wanted earlier.
"Well, Katniss and I were thinking. We both like Mags, Wiress, and Bettee." I say. Haymitch nods, he doesn't say anything at first, which surprises me, but of coarse, he always has something to say.
"How about Johanna? Or Finnick? They seam really good and strong. Especially if you're trying to keep each other alive." I look at Katniss and she shakes her head at me.
"I don't like Johanna. I always feel that she's trying to kill me. She gives me the evil eye constantly." Katniss explains.
"I really don't care. Whatever Katniss wants, I'm okay with." I say dismissing myself from dinner.
It takes Katniss the rest of the training days to agree to have Johanna as an ally. I think she would be good to have. Along with Finnick. They both seam like they could survive and take care of themselves as well as fight off the careers.
We told Haymitch we wanted Finnick, Johanna, Mags, Wiress, and Beetee. I thought at first, he would disagree, but he actually said those were smart choices. The days of training flew by and Katniss and I were waiting our turn to show the Game Makers our skills. "So, what are you going to show the Game Makers?" I ask trying to avoid an awkward silence.
"I honestly don't know." She sighs, "I can't shoot an arrow at them though." She says and partially laughs.
"Same." About that time, a mechanical voice appears over the intercom "Peeta Mellark." It says, I give Katniss a quick kiss goodbye and she wishes me some luck. I walk into the room and I can feel the Game Makers stare me down. Last year, they were very drunk and ready to go. But I guess they learned their lesson from Katniss last year when they shoot the arrow at them. And they stare at me as I walk across the room to the camouflage station.
I'm not really sure what I'm painting. But I know that Katniss buried Rue in wildflowers when she died to show the capitol she wasn't a piece in their Games, just like I told Katniss the night before our first Games. I want to make them feel guilty about killing that poor, innocent 12 year old girl who just wanted to go home to her family. Just like the rest of the tributes. That's what I'm going to paint! A picture of all of the tributes from last year, as a group photo they take right before each Games. It takes me about forty five minutes to complete the painting. I look up at the Game Makers, they're all whispering and staring at me probably wondering what I'm painting.
I painted the tributes.I wanted to make the Game Makers realize that we're not a piece in their Games, everyone of those tributes will be remembered. I make sure not to forget anyone, I draw Foxface who ate the nightlock to the vicious Clove. I turn around the painting and I can see a sympathetic look from Plutarch Havensbee, I'm pretty sure that he's the Head Game Maker this year, so maybe he'll feel sympathy for me and take it easy on me in the arena.
They just nod and I'm dismissed. I walk straight to the elevator hoping Katniss doesn't notice I'm there. Haymitch, Effie, and I wait at the dinner table waiting for what she did for the Game Makers. "I wonder what Sweetheart did that's taking her so long." Haymitch says and takes a drink of his alcohol. I've been through the Games and I actually see why Haymitch drinks so much. It helps you forget, and trust me, if you've been through the Games, you want to forget. About that time Katniss comes through the door. She doesn't even greet us, she just walks swiftly to the couch and puts her face into the pillow and lets out a huge scream. "Well, whatever she did, it can't be good." Haymitch says and laughs.
"Shut up Haymitch! Before I kill you. I'm not even kidding. Leave me alone." She says in a stern tone. I can hear her start to cry now. Instinctivly I go up to her and kiss her head.
"If it makes you feel better, I painted a picture of all of the tributes from last year's Games. To show I'm more than a piece in their Games." I say softly but loud enough so Haymitch could hear me. She just nods, I'm sure she feels terrible about whatever she did.
We watch the training scores, all of the victors do a decent job and average around a nine maybe ten. "Now for District 12, Peeta Mellark, with a score of a 12." Ceaser says. I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad because now I'll have an even bigger target on me and that will only make it harder for me to keep Katniss alive. "Now the last tribute, Katniss Everdeen, with a score of a 12." She perks her head up from the pillow, her eyes are red and puffy signalling that she really was crying.
"How?" She asks, "All I did was hang a dummy and paint Seneca Crane on it." Haymitch, Effie, and I stare at her blankly about what she did. No wonder why she wouldn't talk about it. "He doesn't deserve to be forgotten, I mean, he let Peeta and I live right?" She says. Surprisingly Haymitch nor Effie has something to say, this is a record without them having to comment on everything we say. I guess they realize these are our final days together and are trying to make them enjoyable, even though Haymitch says he's getting us both out. She explains how Seneca was executed for letting both us live and she wasn't supposed to know about that.
Katniss' POV
The next day, I wake up in Peeta's arms, I'm only waking up like this one more time before we're in the arena so I'm trying my best to enjoy this. An avox comes in our room and hands us a note.
Good luck on your interviews tonight, we won't be practicing. Sweetheart, try to act appealing and clueless, Peeta, act like you're doing everything you can to get your lover out of the arena and add some of your people quality in it. I guess you'd both rather be with each other. -Haymitch
I'm relived that I won't have to be working with Haymitch on how I should portray myself. And have Effie tell me about manners when I'm about to fight to my death tomorrow. I guess Peeta got the letter before I did because he when I went to breakfast, I could tell he had something up his sleeve. When I sat down, preparing to eat my pancakes he grabs my wrist and pulls me upstairs. "Peeta, can I at least go back and get my pancakes?" I ask, "Because I'm starving."
Peeta laughs, "You're always hungry Katniss." He says and lets my wrist go. I go back to the breakfast table to get my pancakes, but a cinamon roll sounds good with it too, so I grab one of those as well.
When I go back to where Peeta was he started to laugh out loud, "Are you trying to feed another person as well?" Peeta asks.
"No, but I'm hungry." I say and eat the food. Peeta once again grabs my wrist and leads me up to the balcony that overlooks the entire capitol. As much as I hate the capitol for putting me through this hell, but it looks so rich and expensive, then you have the other districts that are run down and people are dying every day from starvation.
Peeta and I spend the rest of our last full normal day together on the balcony. I eat another breakfast along with a few snacks then lunch and soon a big dinner. Peeta laughs at how much I eat, I mean I can't help it that I'm hungry. Peeta and I watch the sunset together before Haymitch comes up and tells us it's time to get ready for our interviews.
"This was the wedding dress you would have worn if it wasn't for you know." Cinna says and hands me one of my wedding dresses.
It was the first one, the one that wouldn't fit, "Don't worry I made some alterations with your body and how the lighting will work out." Cinna knows a lot more about designing clothes than I do so I just agree to it. "And one more thing Katniss, don't forget to twirl." He adds and I nod.
Peeta and I wait our turn backstage for our interviews. Some of the tributes really piss me of of how stupid they act. "Now, lets give a warm round of applause for the Girl on Fire, Katniss Everdeen." Ceaser says and I take this as my signal to walk on stage.
Ceaser welcomes me and gives each check a kiss. "Katniss, you look absolutely stunning. Was this one of your wedding dresses you were supposed to wear?" He asks.
"It was, I'm so sorry you guys can't see me getting married in this gorgeous dress. It's truly amazing. Cinna truly is a talented designer. I'm so blessed to have know him" I say as innocently as I can. I don't have to look at Cinna to know I'm supposed to twirl now. I twirl and like last year, there is fire coming out of the dress, but this year, there is also smoke. I sit down because I feel a little dizzy. I look down at my dress and find the fabric has turned into black feathers and right by my shoulders are wings. I am a mockingjay. I think to myself. Cinna is going to be in so much trouble for this.
"What are you now exactly?" Ceaser asks with a smile tugging on his face.
"Well, last year my token in the arena was a mockingjay, and I now I think this is supposed to be a mockingjay." I say with pride. Ceaser was about to say something else, but the timer rang. I gave one last bow to the crowd who are chanting for me.
I walk off the stage and I can hear Peeta whisper "Please don't be mad." He says, I don't know what I could be mad about. I walk over to see one of the t.v.'s that is showing Peeta's interview.
They start off by cracking a few jokes with each other. "I'm sorry you and Katniss won't be having your wedding. You both seamed so excited." Ceaser says.
Peeta nods, "I hope the audience can keep a secrete, because we already are married." Peeta explains, confusion is all over Ceaser's face. "We had an old fashion District 12 wedding. We knew we would have on in the capitol, and couldn't wait any longer. No one knows but Katniss and I. Not even Haymitch or her mom." Peeta says.
"Well, I'm glad you guys got a few months of happiness, after all, you both deserve it." Ceaser says, the crowd has tears in their eyes, they're so pathetic.
"I wish I we would have waited until after this year's Games. I mean we just didn't see this coming." Peeta says trying not to have tears form in his eyes.
"Surely a little time is better than no time." Ceaser says trying to life Peeta's spirits.
Peeta just shakes his head, "Maybe I could think that too Ceaser, if it wasn't for the baby." Peeta lets a tear slide down his face, Ceaser also looks like he is about to cry. "It just sucks, because I've become friends with Johanna and Finnick and Mags, and now I have to kill them to ensure my wife and baby will survive? I wish I could hold the baby and hear it call me daddy. But, it needs to live. Along with it's mother. I love them both more than life itself." Peeta says, the crowd is going crazy now, Ceaser can't calm them down, they're all screaming "Peeniss, and my favorite was 'Everlark'.
Peeta's buzzer sounds and he walks off the stage, I have tears in my eyes, mainly from my costume. I open my arms for Peeta. So now when I'm in the arena, I'm going to have to act pregnant. Great. "Is there anything I need to be sorry for?" Peeta asks, I can see how sincere he is.
I don't answer him put press our lips together. That night, we showered together and made love several times knowing that it would be our last time doing it. Peeta and I both wake up naked. As Cinna and Portia walk in, I can hear them giggle a bit. But I don't care. It's not like I'll ever see them again.
Cinna and I ride to the launch room where he hands me this year's outfit. It's a blue jumpsuit. "I don't think it could provide much protection from anything." Cinna says while feeling the material. "If it's been treated, it can protect you from the sun." Cinna makes sure my signature braid looks perfect and pins my mockingjay pin on the jumpsuit.
I sip on some water remembering how I almost died of dehydration, and now that I'm 'pregnant' I have to drink and eat more. I nibble on some crackers, but I'm too nervous to be hungry.
"20 seconds." A voice says. I look at Cinna and he nods, I walk over to the glass launch tube and step inside. I sit in there for 20 seconds but I don't rise into the arena.
"Cinna! CInna!" I scream. Three peace keepers enter the room, two hold him down while the other beats him. I can see the blood coming from everywhere. As soon as the peace keepers exit the room with Cinna my glass tube rises.
I try not to think about Cinna's death because right now I have to focus on keeping Peeta alive. When the glass tube rises, I'm blinded at first from the sun in the arena. I smell the salt water splashing around. I can only form one clear thought, this is no place for a girl on fire. I can't help but wonder what horrifying deadly muttations lurk around in there.
I try to search for Peeta and our other 'allies' but nothing. They must be blocked by the cornucopia. The countdown begins and before I know it the gong rings. And now it's every man for himself.
