We shall now return to Blaze's POV
Blaze: My lips are tingling as I make my way into my bedroom and flop down on the soft bed that swallows me up. What just happened? Why would he kiss me? It's one thing for me to be seducing him and gaining his trust, but... this is not according to plan. When I kissed him I felt something, I wanted more. I quickly dismiss the thought from my mind. Why would he kiss me? Maybe my plan was working, I think, maybe he is falling for me. It seems unlikely. In fact, it seems I'm the one falling for him! A spark of a thought appears.
What if he has the same exact plan as I do? What is he plans to make me fall head over heals for him, just to toss me out? Knowing him, he would find that plan quite easy to pull off. I mean, almost all the girls are in love with the prick. Yes! That must be it! This may work to my advantage. If he already thinks I've fallen into his trap, he won't work as hard to keep me on the hook. Mean while, I'l slowly be baiting and reeling him in without him even knowing. I will win this little game! With my mind at rest for the moment, I drift into a dreamless sleep.
"Get up, don't sleep your life away you priss!" Acacia yells from outside my room. The clock on my night stand reads 6:00am. I can barely say that is sleeping your life away.
"Hurry!" She shouts.
"Coming!" I scream back at her. She is on my nerves. As I pull my sleepy body out of bed I can head her saying,"Come on Tristan. Please wake up in five minutes." Ug!
Once in my bathroom I turn on the water and am assaulted by ice cold water. I'm not even joking, some of what tumbles onto my head is frozen slush. The cold gives me a brain freeze. I hate hate hate everyone!
"Hurry Up!" Acacia whines.
I have lost my patience. I go to the door, open it still naked, and throw bits of slush from my hair at her. She sheiks.
"Do you want me to come out now?" I ask, but she has already run away. Good thought so, I think. I'm about to slam the door and go back to the bathroom to brush out and towel dry my hair when he walks past. My face goes hot as he simply stares. He looks as if he about to comment, but the door is shut so hard I think one of the hinges may be broken. Why didn't I put a fucking bathrobe on?
I decide to skip drying my hair or doing anything besides getting some clothes on. I savagely claw through my wooden first one holds nothing, but woolen scarves. They are itchy and the most ugly things I have ever seen. Trust me, I've seen millions of ugly scarves my aunt knit me and these are a thousand times worse than one she made that read "Blazie Boo loves her Aunty" for my fifteenth birthday last year!
It may seem hard to believe, but from there my wardrobe went even farther down hill. I finally open the last draw and find a puffy pink staples dress and jeans with fake mud splatters on them. The out fit also includes black stilettos and a head band with a little white cartoon kitty with a pink bow on her head. The label on the head band reads "Hello Kitty INC." I like cats, but this seems extremely childish, not to say way out of fashion. I bet this was popular hundreds of years ago. Then I see it, under the bed, a little chest. Inside are black skinny jeans, red halter top, and bunny slippers.
I put in the top and pants, but throw out the slippers. Instead I change into the black stilettos. My hair is puffy, so I go into the bathroom searching for a straightener. I just hope it doesn't set my head on fire. With a bit of makeup and a positiveish attitude, I head out the door.
I know we were all suppose to meet for breakfast, but I honestly have no idea where the dining area is. Last night I was too un-nerved to get to know my surroundings. Every thing seems silent, then I hear a voice, Acacia's voice,"And then she throws snow at me!" I follow the noise, 'round a corner and emerge in a room filled with, a smiling Ebny, tired Phermona, gruff Haymitch, sexy Tristan (shut up), and flustered Acacia.
"Hello," I say politely and walk over to a buffet line of food set up. Everyone goes quiet and then I hear a chorus of, "Hies, hays, helloes, and one sup." After piling my plate with eggs, potatoes, pork, and many sweets, I head to the table.
"I heard you had an exciting morning, sweetheart," laughs Haymitch. I ignore the comment.
"So what's going on?" I ask in a fake upbeat tone.
"Well," says Ebny,"Haymitch was going over your plan for training." I can tell this isn't true and they were talking about me.
"No really," I demand, "What were you talking about?"
"To start off Blaze, I must say I'm a bit jealous," Phermona gives a mischievous glance, "I mean every girl dreams to get above a C. You really are special." Everyone, but Tristan laughs. He just enjoys himself while I stare daggers at him.
After everything's settled down a bit Haymitch asks, "Besides your bust size Blaze, do you two have any special talents?" His face show a slight trace of boredom. I grab two knives out of sheer anger and throw one at him and the other at Tristan. Acacia screams, Tristan ducks, and Haymitch simply leans a little to the right. The aim is off by a couple of inches, but the both are glued to the wall.
"Well, it seems someone has a few temperamental issues, but other than that, good job," Haymitch smiles, seeming to forget it he who insulted me. He then hand Tristan another knife," Try to get it to stick."
Tristen takes the knife and throws it with all his power. Although the handle makes a good dent, the blade doesn't even make contact. He tries to hide his embarrassment.
"Give me another shot," he says cooly, "D cup over there got two." I try to refrain from crossing my arms over my chest. Haymitch agrees with a sigh and gives him another knife. Again, Tristan throws it with great power, but the timing's off and it only dents the wall. Haymitch and Tristan frown while Ebny, Phermona, and I chuckle. Acacia stays silent.
"Okay so here's your strategy," Haymitch begins after some thought, "Move around to all the stations and make sure to focus on rope tying, fire starting, edible plants, and any other things that will teach you how to survive. Even though killing is important, you need to know how to survive without the luxuries of home. Blaze you are to stay away from knife throwing and daggers and that sort of thing until your private sessions. Tristan," he sighs,"Try to find something your good at. Okay?" I nod and he huffs, looking away.
"Oh and one last thing," he adds with a grin,"You two will stick together like you're making love!"
"What?" We say at the same time. I practically spit out a piece of potato onto Acacia.
"Your heard me. You will work as a team never leaving each others side in public. Act like your highly attracted to each other or something. Honestly, it shouldn't be too hard since Tristan's a stud and Blaze could be a stripper. Now go and get cleaned up, Acacia will meet you to the elevator at eight to take you to training."
"What?" I say yet again ignoring is comment yet again. Usually training doesn't start 'till ten. Haymitch must know what I'm thinking because he says simply,"They think it is fair to give you Capitol kids more training time so that you can get better prepared for the games."
"So in other words, they think were all just little pieces of fluff that don't know anything." I say.
"Well, yes that's pretty much it." He grins.
It's seven fifty-five and I'm trying to find something to wear. I can't as well show up in what I'm wearing. Luckily I don't have to search for long because on my bed there is a box that reads: Training Uniform, Teem Twelve Female, Blaze Boltson. Inside the box is a small folded note.
Dear Tribute, This year it has been decided that everyone should wear the same uniform. This is in the rule of fairness. Of corse the men's and women's outfits will be slightly different, but overall, everyone will be treated the same. Your outfit has been designed with your measurement collected from your stylist. Hope it fits! -HG HQ
I open the package to find a dark green t-shirt, light brown pants, black boots, and a black hoodie. I take a look at myself in the mirror. I look like fucking Katniss Everdeen!Frowning with distaste I walk out the door and into the hall towards the elevators. It's the best I can do, I tell myself while biting my lip. When I get there Tristan is dressed in a tight black t-shirt, combat pants the color of my shirt, and matching black boots.
"You didn't get a hod die?" I ask casually.
"It's in my room," he smirks,"If you want I'll get it for you for when you get cold and want to snuggle."
"Go choke on your own dick." I tell him. He just shrugs. At one second to eight o' one Acacia arrives. Silly District people are never early and barley on time. By the time we get to the under ground training rooms it's eight o' five and obviously we are the last ones there. The training room is like a ginormous gymnasium with different stations set all around. It even has a fair sized pool in the far right corner which makes me think the arena might have something to do with water.
All the other tributes are sitting in a circle chatting with each other. Someone comes over and pins a pice of cloth with the words "Team Number Twelve" on my back. I'm relived to see on a large board: Training- starts: 8:10 ends: 12:10. Thank you Haymitch, I think silently.
A large woman comes into the center of our ring and then dismisses us. To my relief almost all the other tributes are in pairs. Some, like Nicolia and Silver even hang out with people from different teams. At first I'm worried they'll come over here to flit, but if seems they're busy toying with other boys. Out of the corner of my eye I see Thistle and Briar attempting to shoot an arrow and Ged beating the sand out of a dummy.
As we train, I try to make note of what I see, Nicolia can make a good noose, a boy on Team Two can do harm with a mace, Silver aces the edible plants test, Asher can damage a dummy with a sword, his partner Aria can hit very precisely with a blow dart, a small bird-like girl on Team Five can work with a Chinese war fan, Jeval a boy on Team Nine can use a trident, and last to my surprise Analease can use a javelin.
"So what do you want to do next?" I ask unamused after we have both done well at the fire making station.
"I wanna get my hands on some weapons," he says slyly. I let out a lazy breath of air, not really caring. We go around and work with spears, awls, tridents, hand to hand, blow darts, ropes, and even working with a gun.
"Why don't we try bows and arrows," I offer. I have a feeling Tristan will fail miserable and besides, I've always wanted to try one anyhow. We go over and the trainer gives a short lesson on how to use a bow and arrow. I go first. I stand the way the trainer instructs me to, pull back, and release. To my dismay the arrow lodges in the floor. Tristan laughs.
"I guess your best when your pissed off," he says snidely.
"Like you could do better, you arrogant ass." I frown.
He comes close to my face, close enough to kiss me, "Watch me," he whispers seductively in my ear. He pulls back, the muscles in his arm tightening, then releases. I watch, as he commanded me to, watch as he shoots a bull's eye.