AN: Hahaha… Or lord, help me. I'm writing yet another chapter despite me saying that I would only update on Fridays from now on. Ohgodmylifeisbeingtakenover…
Please, do enjoy this. (:
Also… go to youtube and put this at the end. watch?v=uKrCE1aYz7o&feature=relmfu
Not necessarily for this chapter, but just in general. It's… very well made. The singer arranged and composed the music for The Hanging Tree… and it gave me goosebumps.
Anyways, onto mentioning my lovely reviewers. :3
Dra9onfl7yz: I'm so glad that you liked the interaction between Katniss and Clove! I tried to keep them very much in character! :D Also, I'm glad you stuck through with my story, haha. I know you were somewhat worried when I first started. Thank you for sticking with me and I hope that my future chapters don't disappoint! (Oh, and what is this sleep you speak of? My best writing hours are 2 am – 6 am… enough sleep is never had… /sobs)
Midnight Blue08: Katniss' mom doesn't want them to sing the Hanging Tree song because of the words and what it means. She certainly didn't like it after Prim started tying rope necklaces while singing the last stanza and it's certainly understandable; a small six year old singing about two lovers killing themselves so they could both be free? Any mother would have a cow over that. Haha.
In general: I'm glad that all my reviewers from the last chapter liked how I made Clove and Katniss interact and how there's obvious tension between Gale and Cato.
I'm a huge fan of Clove and a huge fan of Katniss so I wanted to do them justice and not have a rioting mob after me for warping them into girls that loved everything. XD
And before I forget! No, Cato and Katniss aren't together, Cato and Gale are just angry that they're not the only guys in her life. It's an alpha male thing… or just a guy liking a girl thing. Lolol.
As for my other reviewers. Thank you so, so, so very much for reviewing! Your reviews keep me going! (… rhymes, you jelly, bro?) Please continue to support me, whether in reviews or just reading my brain child. (:
So, as all of you know… LGI SON, LET'S GET IT, LET'S GO. (If you've seen David So on youtube… you'll understand…)
Disclaimer: As always, I don't own The Hunger Games.
The truth will set you free most of the time
A few days after their very first session in the training room, it was time for their evaluations. Katniss was nervous. What if she got an extremely low score? So low that everyone would go after her, figuring that she would be the easiest to kill? Well, maybe that would be a slightly good thing. Surprise would be a huge advantage, but not if all of the careers were chasing her. She would have to get a decent score, but not too high and not too low.
Katniss
Peeta and I stared at the wall in front of us as we waited for all the other tributes to get their evaluations done. It was certainly nerve wrecking… waiting for twenty-three other people before finally going into a room with the people that held your fate in their hands. What if they didn't even pay attention? I mean… they surely would be tired after seeing twenty-three others before me. I jumped with a start when Peeta's name was called. We nodded to each other as he walked past opened doors which slowly shut after he had entered the room.
All too soon, at least that's what it felt like, the computerized voice called my name and I stood, taking deep breaths as I walked to the doors. Once I entered, I notice that the game makers weren't even paying attention to me. Scowling, I went to the weapons and found a bow and about ten arrows, I grabbed the weapon and went in front of the viewing platform.
"Katniss Everdeen, district twelve."
That got their attention and I notched an arrow. Breathing slowly, I aimed before firing. It was way off target… how did that happen? I never missed. The game makers laughed before going back to their conversations, I probably looked like a fool.
Notching another arrow, I pulled back until the string was taut. The bow was different from the one's my Dad made so it took me a few tries before I got to the dead center of the target. I looked up and smiled before it was quickly wiped off my face. They were all paying attention to a pig! A pig held more interest than a score that could decide my fate! Not that it should be a big surprise, really… this was the Capitol's people we were talking about.
Looking around, I noticed that the pig held an apple in its mouth. Notching the arrow I had grabbed from a rack, I aimed and let the arrow fly. Screams were heard as the apple was pinned to the wall behind (or in front) of everybody.
"Thank you for your consideration."
And with that I bowed and began to stalk out of the room, almost forgetting to place the bow back in its original place.
Effie yelled that night about manners and Haymitch cackled. It was always entertaining if tributes put the game makers in their places! Hell, he wished that he would have done the same thing when he was a tribute!
Soon enough, Caesar Flickerman appeared on television in order to give all of the tributes scores. Everyone cheered and congratulated Peeta when his score of eight appeared.
"And now, for Katniss Everdeen."
Everyone waited with bated breaths and Katniss mentally prepared herself for a low score, or maybe even a zero… was that even possible? She'd soon find out.
"With a score of… eleven."
It seemed that even Caesar was surprised at how the district twelve girl had beaten everyone's scores, even the careers from one, two, and four.
Cinna stood and raised his glass, grinning.
"To Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!"
A day had passed since the revealing of the scores and only a few days after the tribute's parade before Katniss found herself frowning once more because they were, yet again, being shoved into formal attire in order to try to gain attention from sponsors in the form of an interview. She bit her bottom lip and worried it with her teeth. She had told Cinna that she would fail him. The stylist had made her look beautiful once again, but it would all be for naught since she had the "personality of a rock", at least in Haymitch's very own, drunken and slurred, words. Gold lined eyes seemed to hold amusement before the owner put a hand gently on her cheek.
"They'll love you, just like I do. You'll be able to worm your way into their hearts and make them like you. Don't count yourself out just yet; after all, you made me like you."
The girl one fire began to protest, worry began to sink even deeper into the pits of her stomach.
"I wasn't trying to make you like me, Cinna…"
He grinned as if that were the answer to all of life's problems.
"Exactly, now go wow them, girl on fire. Show them all what you showed me."
Katniss
I began walking somewhat clumsily in the heels that were placed on my feet. Why would anyone want to wear these things in the first place? My first few steps were unsure and I wobbled a bit before I finally got the hang out it. Thank you Effie for putting me in even taller heels and making me practice on our floor for the better part of the night and morning.
All too soon the interviews were happening. The girl from one, Glimmer if I recalled correctly, seemed to capture the crowd's attention with her sex appeal; though, I'm pretty sure that's all she had going for her, career or not. After all, she couldn't even properly wield a bow. The boy from her district came off as smug but also had a sense of humor, morbid as it was, which Caesar was focusing on and attempting to make it not as morbid. After their allotted time limit of four minutes each, it was time for district two's interviews.
Clove walked up, her hair done in an odd fashion and I could tell that she was not pleased about it. Despite coming from an inner laying district, she would much rather just throw her hair up quickly and effectively. I could see her train of thought right now. This was not a quick and effective hairstyle. Her train of thought would be funny if her hair, the reason for the thoughts, hadn't been done in honor of The Games. After Clove finished her interview I could tell that she was going to use the façade from when I first met her: knife happy, psychotic, and cut-throat.
Finally, as Clove left the stage, I felt my heart give a painful squeeze. It was Cato's turn and I did my best to seem as aloof as possible. The Cato I knew and the Cato that he showed Panem… they were so different but alike. Both could be cocky and blood-thirsty, but there was something else that was there… I'm sure no one in the Capitol would see it, but me… I saw it. He was using his mask. I knew that Clove and Cato would watch the reapings, it was mandatory on the train ride from the districts, and I knew that it tore all three of us apart… knowing that we would have to face each other.
I zoned out for a while before coming back in time to see the small girl from eleven walk onto stage. There was a small pang in my heart as my throat closed up. She was so similar to Prim that it disgusted me that no one went up for her. She was young and sprite-like. I smiled a bit when she told everyone not to count her out, that she was difficult to catch. If I had to liken her to anyone back from home, it would be a mixture of Prim and I. She was tougher than Prim, she seemed like she would be able to think her way out of tough situations and use the terrain to her advantage, like me, but at the same time… she was so soft spoken and seemed shy that her attitude reminded me of my darling little sister who was probably at home, crying her eyes out into Buttercup's ugly fur coat.
Finally, after the small girl, Rue that was her name I vaguely recalled from when Caesar had introduced her, the big male tribute from her district came up. Very few words came from his mouth before the buzzer went off, signaling that it was my turn to go on stage.
Cato
When it was time for district twelve's interviews, I couldn't stop my eyes from widening at the sight of her. Her stylist certainly knew how to make her best features stand out. The colours of her dressed seemed to flow every time she took a step. It was like a flame not only surrounded her body, but was her body and she was a goddess of fire. Clove didn't even bother to elbow me as I stared at her openly, she herself couldn't keep her eyes off of Katniss.
I could tell that everyone was stunned into silence as Caesar asked her a question. The audience shook from their stupor when Katniss, sweet, darling, Katniss, stared at the host with a blank face.
"Huh?"
Caesar joked and said that someone was a little nervous, but I could care less. She was stunning. I blinked a few times, very slowly, as I tried to keep her image burned in my head as my face went back to being closed off and my eyes became cold. I hated this… pretending that I could care less about anyone but myself… maybe if it had been anyone other than Clove and Katniss I wouldn't have to pretend, but the Capitol… even unknowingly they were able to cause the tributes and their loved ones to suffer.
As I composed myself more, Katniss stood and started to twirl. Even more, my heart began to pound as I saw her dress come alight in those flames from the night before. Clove, I could see from the corner of my eye, bit her bottom lip as the radiance of the girl with fire in her eyes became even more radiant in front of all of Panem.
As soon as Katniss' interview was over, she walked back stage where Haymitch caught her by the elbow and smiled.
"You were great, Sweetheart. Oh, and nice dress."
The mentor of district twelve then turned to Effie Trinket who had joined Katniss and gone on and on about how beautiful she was and how great she did.
"Yours… yours not so much."
Effie glared at him before the trio turned to look at the screen where Peeta was joking along with Caesar, asking the interviewer if he smelled like roses. When all the playful bantering was over Caesar asked a question that caught everybody's attention.
"So, Peeta, is there a special girl you have your eye on back home?"
Peeta laughed, his blue eyes seemed dull in comparison to the smile he was giving as he shook his head.
"Aw, come now, with your looks, surely there's a girl back home! Am I right or am I right, people?"
He asked the audience the question this time and everyone cheered.
"Well, there is this one girl… but I'm pretty sure that she didn't even recognize me until the reaping."
Caesar frowned as the audience aww'ed, showing their sympathy.
"Well, I tell you what, Peeta. You go into the games and you win them, and when you go home, she'll have to go out with you."
The baker's son gave a pained expression before smiling grimly.
"I don't think that'll work, Caesar."
"And why ever not?"
"Because… because she came with me."
People seemed to cry out in agony at the revelation of who Peeta had his eye on from back home.
Katniss narrowed her eyes as her face flushed and her hands shook in barely concealed rage. How dare he? First she finds out that wants to train alone after seeing her score and then he says that he likes her? As those thoughts were running through the hot-tempered girl's head, the buzzer went off.
"Well, I wish you all the luck, Peeta. I think we all do."
Everyone in the audience nodded their heads and clapped as Peeta shook Caesar's hand and left the stage. The boy with the bread was feeling nervous, how would Katniss react to his confession? He guessed that he would find out soon enough.
Cato
My eyes narrowed into slits for the briefest of seconds as Clove's body tensed beside mine. That boy would die within the first few minutes of the game! As soon as we reached the arena and the countdown finished… I would bask in his blood. How dare he confess to the whole of Panem! I knew he'd had feelings for Katniss, Gale had told me last year… I just didn't think he'd be stupid enough to confess on national television!
I clenched my hands into fists so that the fabric bunched up and I took deep breaths. It wouldn't do to go on a rampage. Not only would I lose sponsors, but I would probably be dealt with if I harmed a single fucking hair on that asshole's head before the games even began. Two more days and I would be able to see the life fleeting from those blue eyes of his, his face turning pale from blood loss as I severed his head from his body. His body would then crumple to the ground as I enjoyed my first kill. There was no doubt in my mind that he would be the very first person I slayed.
Clove
I tensed when I felt blood lust and rage rolling off of Cato's body. He wasn't the only one that donned those feelings though. I would gladly immobilize the baker's son, maybe pin him to the ground with one of the knives they were sure to have at the cornucopia.
I could picture it now… he would be running away as I and the rest of the career pack went for the good weapons in the very mouth of the giant object… I would then run after him and throw a knife, nicking his leg as he fell from the wound and the unexpected object being hurled at him, I would throw yet another knife and pin his clothing securely to the ground. Afterwards, Cato would come up with a sword and slice that head off of his shoulders.
Shivering, I felt a sliver of pleasure run up and down my spine. I wasn't always blood thirsty, but this concerned Katniss… my only female friend and Cato… a brother in everything but blood. The two were meant for each other, they brought out the best in the other. Anyone who got between the two would find themselves… lacking body parts.
As the two tributes from twelve entered their floor, Katniss pushed Peeta harshly against the wall, her forearm pinning his neck so that he wouldn't be able to breathe; a technique she had learned from Cato many years ago. Effie screamed but did nothing as she worried about what would happen between the two.
"What the hell was that?"
She yelled as her grey eyes lit up in anger. A crash had been heard, but the girl from twelve was too angry to care. Just then, Haymitch pushed her into the opposite wall and glared.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, sweetheart?"
"HE MADE ME LOOK WEAK!"
"HE MADE YOU LOOK DESIRABLE! And sweetheart, right now you need all the help you can get. Now, I can sell the star-crossed lovers from district twelve-"
"We are not star-crossed lovers!"
"It's a television show!"
Cinna looked on at the three before sighing. He hated to disappoint Katniss by being on another side in this, but their normally drunk mentor was right and as such, he decided to voice his opinion.
"He's right, Katniss…"
The dark haired teen stared at everyone and calmed down slightly. She bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes, not wanting tears to form. Finally, after giving herself some time, she opened her eyes and then her mouth.
"… do you think I looked believable..?"
Haymitch gave the girl a sad look, knowing that she wouldn't be able to be close to Cato after this whole fiasco, Snow would make sure of it. Even if Cato wasn't in the games, which unfortunately he was, the hole that Peeta had dug was too deep now and Snow would see to it that one or both of them died… if not, riots would go on at splitting a pair of teenaged lovers up and that was something the President did not want.
"Yeah… now… go cool off, sweetheart… tomorrow's your last day of training and after that… well, you know what happens next."
She nodded before storming off and heading to the roof. As she was doing this, Peeta was being led to his own room by his personal stylist, Portia. He had thought that maybe his confession… the truth… well, he had hoped that it would be a burden off his chest but it ended up just causing more problems. He supposed that the truth didn't always set people free.
AN: So? What'd you guys think? :D
I really enjoyed writing most of this chapter! (… I enjoy writing most of my chapters, but… who cares? Haha.)
I wasn't going to add Clove and Cato after the confession, but it felt fitting. Cato and Katniss have spent years together. They've become closer and have bonded. Clove also knows that the two are in love. She wouldn't want the two being torn apart all because of another person. Cato… well, Cato's reaction to this whole thing… it should be obvious why he would react like that. Haha. Now, I might sleep… or I might start on the next chapter… All you persons out there better be excited~ Cato, Clove, and Katniss have a reunion and talk and rant and… lots of anger directed at Peeta in the next chapter. Haha.
Peeta lovers, sorry~ I love Peeta, but… this is a KaTo story and as such… Peeta must be out of the picture. D: