Chapter Eight

After about an hour or so Effie calls me down to dinner. I'm glad to see that Cinna and Portia are there. Things are always a lot less awkward when they're here. When Katniss arrives I immediately know that something his wrong. Her eyes are red, her face blotchy. All I want to do is go over and hug her, comfort her, but I know I can't do that. During the soup I catch her eye and raise my eyebrows, trying to ask the question without speaking. What happened? She just gives her head a small shake.

It's during the main course that Haymitch just comes out with it.

"Okay, enough small talk, just how bad were you today?" I jump in straight away.

"I don't know that it mattered. By the time I showed up, no one even bothered to look at me. They were singing some kind of drinking song, I think. So, I threw around some heavy objects until they told me I could go."

"And you, sweetheart?" says Haymitch.

"I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers." My mouth drops open slightly and I just stare at her. I notice that everyone else has done the same. Yes, I was angry at the gamemakers but I didn't go that far. I suppose Katniss is a lot more fiery than me.

"You what?" Effie sounds horrified.

"I shot an arrow at them. Not exactly at them. In their direction. It's like Peeta said, I was shooting and they were ignoring me and I just . . . I just lost my head, so I shot an apple out of their stupid roast pig's mouth!" I have to admire the determination in her voice.

"And what did they say?" says Cinna carefully.

"Nothing. Or I don't know. I walked out after that," she says.

"Without being dismissed?" gasps Effie.

"I dismissed myself," she says simply.

"Well, that's that," says Haymitch. Then he butters a roll.

"Do you think they'll arrest me?" she asks nervously.

"Doubt it. Be a pain to replace you at this stage," says Haymitch.

"What about my family? Will they punish them?" I know that this is what she's been fearing, she's only here because she wanted to protect Primrose.

"Don't think so. Wouldn't make much sense. See they'd have to reveal what happened in the Training Center for it to have any worthwhile effect on the population. People would need to know what you did. But they can't since it's secret, so it'd be a waste of effort," says Haymitch. "More likely they'll make your life hell in the arena."

"Well, they've already promised to do that to us any way," I say grimly.

"Very true," says Haymitch. "What were their faces like?" he adds with a chuckle.

Katniss starts to smile, "Shocked. Terrified. Uh, ridiculous, some of them. One man tripped backward into a bowl of punch."

Haymitch guffaws and we all start laughing except Effie, although even she is suppressing a smile. "Well, it serves them right. It's their job to pay attention to you. And just because you come from District Twelve is no excuse to ignore you." Then her eyes dart around as if she's said something totally outrageous. "I'm sorry, but that's what I think," she says to no one in particular.

"I'll get a very bad score," Katniss says.

"Scores only matter if they're very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones. For all they know, you could be hiding your talents to get a low score on purpose. People use that strategy," says Portia.

I hope that's how people interpret the four I'll probably get," I say. "If that. Really, is anything less impressive than watching a person pick up a heavy ball and throw it a couple of yards. One almost landed on my foot."

Katniss smiles widely at me, which instantly makes me feel better. Once we've finished eating we go in to the sitting room and await our scores. First they show a photo of the tribute, then flash their score below it. As predicted the careers get very high scores ranging from about 8 to 10. District 12 is last, my face flashes on the screen, with a silver eight rotating underneath it. I'm relieved, Effie squeals with delight, and Portia pats me on the back with a smile.

Then Katniss comes up with her score. Eleven. Effie screams, everyone is congratulating her, she sits there looking stunned.

"There must be a mistake. How . . . how could that happen?" she asks Haymitch.

"Guess they liked your temper," he says. "They've got a show to put on. They need some players with some heat."

"Katniss,the girl who was on fire," says Cinna, and he hugs her. "Oh, wait until you see your interview dress." "More flames?" she asks. "Of a sort," he says mischievously.

Katniss looks over at me, "Congratulations," I say with a smile, and I mean it, she obviously deserved the score.

"You too," she says, smiling back.

We go up to bed soon after that. I sit on bed and think back on the days events. It's all well and good having Cinna on my side, and Katniss clearly made an impression on the gamemakers, but if I'm really going to help her I need to speak to Haymitch. It's the interviews the day after tomorrow, and the after that we're in the arena.

I get undressed and get in to bed. Tomorrow I'm going to have to explain things properly to Haymitch, and see if we can come up with a plan. I lie back on the bed, thinking about home for one of the first times since I arrived in the Capitol. I wonder how my family would have reacted to seeing me ablaze at the opening ceremony. My father at least must think I have a chance, I did get an eight in training. My mother gave up on me the moment my name was drawn from the reaping ball. But how can I blame her when I've given up on myself?

I wake up relatively early, and go and shower. My eyes are still puffy and tired, so I end up smelling of roses again. I go down to the dining room and find Haymitch and Effie already sitting there.

"Haymitch I need to talk to you." I say seriously. He looks at me quizzically.

"What is it?" he says.

I sit down at the table, and take a deep breath, "I want to be coached separately." I say quickly. Haymitch's momentary look of surprise fades away quickly.

"Alright, I understand." He says. No you don't Haymitch. You think I'm being selfish thinking about how I'm going to save myself. How wrong you are. Effie goes off to wake Katniss.

"I want to come up with a proper plan Haymitch." I add as Effie comes back in to the room, followed minutes later by Katniss.

Katniss sits down and looks at us all strangely, as if to ask why no ones speaking.

"So, what's going on? You're coaching us on interviews today, right?" she says.

"That's right," says Haymitch.

"You don't have to wait until I'm done. I can listen and eat at the same time,"

"Well, there's been a change of plans. About our current approach," says Haymitch.

"What's that?" she asks. She's going to think that I'm despicable. I only hope that she eventually finds out the truth. Surely Haymitch would tell her?

Haymitch shrugs. "Peeta has asked to be coached separately."