AN: Very few things have made me continue writing this story. Very few things. I was just about to delete this story, right when I looked at the reviews. I won't get upset, I won't be angry. But please. I put my all into chapters, and only getting one review and from the same person almost each time breaks my heart. I want you to know that those very good reviews that I got brought me out of 'Story Suicide' mode and into 'Let's update this story!' mode. Enjoy. I hope you do. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, or any part of it. All rights go to Suzanne Collins, although quotes from her book are used in this fanfiction. I make no profit off of this.
*Continuation of the previous chapter *
Haymitch and Effie just stand at us for a while, and I see that Haymitch is glaring at Katniss. It takes us a while to realize that Haymitch really isn't glaring at her, he's glaring into the dining room, which Katniss and I are standing in front of.
"Look's like they've got you a matched set this year!" Effie says in her usual chirpy tone. This causes both Katniss and I to whip around, and see two Avoxes, both with their heads down and their arms at their sides. There's a male and a female, both around their mid-to-late 20s. The female is the same as last year, which I find comforting. The male, however, looks familiar, but I can't seem to place a name or a place that I've seen him. I see that Katniss' eyes are full of shock and concern, and Haymitch suddenly grasps onto Katniss' arm, as if expecting her to do something. Instead she just stares at the Avoxes, as if they meant something to her. She twists out of Haymitch's grip, and heads over to her old room.
"Well that was certainly…" Effie stops, as she doesn't know how to continue in this case. I look for the switch on my suit, and turn it off. Portia and Cinna enter the room, and all being here, it's quite awkward. We're there for a while, all either looking down, around the room, or at each other.
I get the urge to go to my room and get away from all the madness for a while, so I break the silence and I inform all that are listening that I'm going to the room I had last year. I head over there, and immediately lie down on the bed, and rest my hands on my face. I take a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm down. A year ago, I thought that I was destined to death. That there was no hope for me, no use playing the games, just letting myself die in the hands of a bloodthirsty tribute. I was falling in love with the girl I tossed bread to so many years ago, only to find out that she thought it was an act. I was told that I had to "play along", but it is never the same anymore. I proposed to my "lover", and now we're getting "married". Katniss is "pregnant", even though we haven't explored each other like that yet. And I'm returning to the arena, where once again, I'll have to fight to the death. The thing is, will I be able to protect the girl on fire, even though we've been though so much?
Dinner was pretty uneventful. There was hardly any talking at all, just the hum from the lights and the clatter of the silverware. The only time something did happen was when Katniss 'accidently' dropped the peas on the floor. The male Avox that Katniss recognized was helping her pick them up, only to have Effie taunt her on claiming that it's not her job. We all make no attempts to start up a conversation anymore, as there is no way to put a positive spin on this. We're going back into the Hunger Games, and there's no way that both of us are coming out together.
Breakfast is much more eventful than the meal before. As usual, Haymitch, Effie, and I are already at the table long before than Katniss. Effie made us go through with the matching bracelet things, and Haymitch unhappily twists it around his wrist in discomfort. He grumbles slightly as reaches for the jam, obviously remembering last year and Katniss stabbing the mahogany. Katniss finally arrives, distraught looking. I tried knocking on her door a couple of door last night, but I got no response. According to the cameras, we're the happiest couple in Panem, but off, we hardly see each other.
"You're late." Haymitch snarls, and I remember the constant pounding that he did on her door. She took her time, though, and it seems to only rile Haymitch up even more.
"Sorry. I slept in after the mutilated-tongue nightmares kept me up half the night." She didn't come last night. She had a nightmare, a horrible one, but she never came to me. I never heard a knock at all from Katniss last night.
"All right, never mind. Today, in training, you've got two jobs. One, stay in love." Haymitch says. I can't help but sigh as I hear this. It's a painful reminder of what she did last year, how she acted, while I had no idea. Every touch, every moment. A stab in the heart.
"Obviously." Katniss says. Yet another stab. Might as well keep them coming. I'd rather have them now versus later, right?
"And two, make some friends-" Haymitch says, only to be quickly cut off by Katniss.
"No, I don't trust any of them, I can't stand most of them, and I'd rather just operate with just the two of us." Katniss says, still standing.
"That's what I thought at first-" I begin, but as always, I'm cut off by Haymitch. "But it won't be enough. You're going to need more allies this time around."
"Why?" she asks.
"Because you're at a distinct disadvantage. Your competitors have known each other for years. So who do you think they're going to target first?"
"Us. And nothing we're going to do is going to override any old friendship, so why bother?"
"Because you can fight. You're popular with the crowd. That could still make you desirable allies. But only if you let the others know that you're willing to team up with them," says Haymitch.
"You mean you want us in the Career pack this year?" Katniss asks, still confused.
"That's been our strategy, hasn't it? To train like Careers?" Haymitch says. "And who makes up the Career pack is generally agreed upon before the Games begin. Peeta barely got in with them last year."
"So we're trying to get in with Finnick and Brutus - Is that what you're saying?" Katniss asks, trying desperately to understand.
"Not necessarily. Everyone's a victor. Make your own pack if you'd rather. Choose who you like. I'd suggest Chaff and Seeder. Although Finnick's not to be ignored," says Haymitch. "Find someone to team up with who might be of some use to you. Remember, you're not in a ring full of trembling children anymore. These people are all experienced killers, no matter what shape they appear to be in."
He isn't wrong at all. All of these people won the games, and have mentored others too. They're all going to have a trick up their sleeves, as Haymitch said, no matter what shape they appear to be in. Who can I trust, though? Katniss, obviously. Like Haymitch said many weeks ago, Katniss must make it out alive. Effie comes, and Katniss quickly stuffs a pastry into her mouth as we leave. I take her hand, and we look at each other as the door opens. Her steel grey eyes are soft, yet strong. She's different than the girl I met last year. She's more determined than ever, even though she'll be the one returning home. She's my one true best friend, whether she sees it or not. But what will happen in the next couple of days is something out of my hands. Who knows what the arena will be like? If I die too soon, will Katniss be able to carry on? I certainty hope so. I think this as we walk out of the elevator, returning to the training center.
This is where it's time to begin the end of my life.
AN: I do realize that it's a bit shorter than normal. Hope you understand. ;D If you've read this story before, then you've probably realized that I changed the name and summary. I think it's better, don't you? I hope so. Anywho, I really hope that you enjoyed it. Please review, please. If I don't get any, I'll go back into Story Suicide mode… And we don't want that, do we? I hope not. :D
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FireBreadandSnares