Chapter 25: Jealousy.

After deciding not to wake Gale up the next morning I get dressed in the outfit Cinna laid out for me, before heading down to breakfast where I find Peeta and Haymitch present.

Gathering a sizable amount of food on my plate I plop down in the chair across from Peeta with a sigh.

The boy with the bread looks to me with a raised eyebrow.

"Shut up," I reply to his silent question. "I'm pregnant."

An amused smile breaks onto his face at my words. "And that's an excuse for getting so much food?"

"Yes. Now what is that you have there?" I ask, nodding over to the paper in his hands before digging in.

"Oh, this? It's the rules and information for sponsors."

"Oo, let me see it." I reach over to pluck it from his grasp but he clutches it to his chest, hiding it away from me.

"No, get your own."

"Peeta, I just want to know what it says."

Going to grab it again he lifts it high above his head, out my reach.

"Then become a mentor."

"I am a mentor...and a tribute but that doesn't matter. Let me look at i-Peeta stop!"

He laughs at me as I lean over the table, desperately trying to snatch the paper out of his grasp while he waves it around in the air tauntingly.

"Come and get it!"

"This is stupid! All I want is to know what it says! Now give it here!"

"No!"

"Yes!'

"No!"

"Yes!"

"NO!'

"YES!"

"Will the two of you please just shut the hell up!? You're acting like children!" Haymitch screams, lifting his head from where it rests on the table.

"But-"

"No, buts. Peeta, don't provoke her! Katniss, don't ask for things you can't have!"

"Well," Gale interjects, entering the room freshly showered. "I'm pretty sure she can't have me and yet...she does. So, what does that say?" He takes a seat, beginning to make a plate for himself.

"Your opinions aren't needed boy."

Gale looks up from his food, clinching the fork in hand. With a challenging gaze he replies lowly, "Sure about that you old useless drunk?"

Haymitch slams his palms down on the table, rising slowly. "Now listen here you fu-"

"What? What are you going to do? It seems that all your plans fail so you can't possibly do much damage."

At this moment Effie decides to enter the room with a wide smile, oblivious to the tension. She claps excitedly. "Well I must say it is very nice to see everyone up! Talking strategy I see. I won't bother you for long. Just need to borrow Peeta for a bit."

The two men continue in their threatening stare down for a moment more before Haymitch finally sits, replying calmly to our escort but never taking his eyes away from Gale's. "Yes. Of course. Go ahead and have him, but we'll need him back soon. He's going to be taking Katniss down to training."

This only infuriates Gale more. His knuckles turn white, jaw clinching. "I don't see how he going is relevant."

"It certainly is actually. Must I remind you the whole of Panem still believes Katniss and Peeta are madly in love? So, they need to show it in front of any and all audiences. Camera or not."

"Effie, how about you take Peeta now. We'll see him in a little bit," I instruct, giving the boy with the bread a look.

With a glance back at the situation on hand he hesitantly leaves with our escort in tow.

"Now you two!" I start, my piercing gaze turning on the men still in a stare down. "It's your turn to stop acting childish and calm down! Effie thought we were talking strategy so that's what we're going to do. No more snapping remarks-" I give Gale a pointed look before transferring over to Haymitch. "Or underlining insults. Got that!?" They both nod.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine!"

"FI-"

"Boys! Shut up!"

"Fine!" They snap at the same time before Haymitch takes a deep breath, rubbing his temples.

"Fine. Fine," he says calmly, reopening his eyes. "Let's talk."

"Yes." Gale sits back, draping an arm across the back of my chair. "Let's."

Scooting a bit closer to him, I nudge his side a little for a 'calm down' warning before plucking a grape off his plate and popping it into my mouth as Haymitch begins to speak.

"Training this year will-obviously-be different. You just have two things to do. 1) Act like cousins. And 2) Make friends. Talk with other victors, learn some new skills from them. These people have known each other for years. Friendships have already been formed and that's why it is so important to get into the circle. Granted, Katniss, it will be easier for you seeing as how they know what you're capable of and that you have winning the games in common. But Gale-prove your worth. Show your skills and they will talk to you. Maybe go to a few stations together, show them you're a team. The victors will become intrigued. They'll show interest. Trust me.

"That being said you also need to be separate during training most of the time. The pool of family members will be huddling close to their victor as protection, a safe blanket. Don't do that. You two need to show that you're strong without each other, then when you join back at a station, make them see you're even stronger together. Because if that's the case they will take you both as allies but also know that if you don't have one another you're just as dangerous.

"Now, Katniss I want you talking to manly victors, a few non of course, maybe their family members, but victors, victors, victors. You too Gale, after proving yourself useful that is. You can't just go running to them immediately. In the meantime and throughout the whole of training converse with the family members and the randomly picked tributes. The random ones will most likely stick together, feeling intimated, left out, irrelevant. They will be the band of misfits, so become their leader. Show you're able to play both sides. Of course, if need be, it doesn't hurt to butter them up either. Gale, you're handsome, charming, strong, use that to your advantage with randomly picked tributes to family members to victors-everyone. And the both of you-well I watched the re-cap of the parade last night. You've earned the dark, threatening, mysterious angle. Keep that. Use that. And you will have a chance. Just leave the rest up to me."

Gale nods along with Haymitch, appreciation in his eyes. "For once, we find ourselves in an agreement, Abernathy."

I, of course, was not to keen our plan even though I knew it would work, but after a half-hearted debate, a few curses, and Gale's convincing words I finally agree.

It is ultimately the best possible option we could do in our situations. It's smart if not somewhat manipulative, then again what about the games isn't? Besides, these are other victors. They've killed, won, mentored, and been in the system for quite a while. We need to use all sides to our advantage.

And it starts today.

I squeeze Gale's hand tightly, feeling the calluses on his skin press into mine while relishing in the only real physical contact we'll be granted in the next few hours.

"Try not to strain yourself too much, okay?" he reminds, breaking the open silence.

I nod in agreement. "I won't. A repeat of that one time in training back home isn't what I want."

He looks down at me with a look I can't quite place causing me to smile at him in return. At my beam a slight grin worms its way to the curve of his mouth and he bends down, awarding a gentle, lingering kiss to my lips. "Right," he whispers back, closing his eyes with his forehead pressed to mine.

I reach up to place a hand over his which cradles my face, his thumb rubbing soothing lines across the tip of my cheekbone. I close my eyes also, letting out a sigh in contentment.

We're only allowed to stay like that for a few seconds more before a throat clears beside us and I pull away, looking to the boy with the bread who stands a few feet away, appearing clearly uncomfortable.

He gives me a sheepish look. "We're almost there."

Gale nods, stepping from me completely as I move towards Peeta who wraps an arm around my waist.

A small ding sounds, signaling the elevator has reached its destination. With a small whoosh the doors open, reveling a packed training center.

Unfortunately our small disputes this morning caused us to not be as early as Effie would've liked (she had a complete fit). Even though we're still 3 minutes early we didn't arrive with the full 25 minutes to spare as our escort would have so loved for us to be.

Gale gets off without hesitation, refusing to see the next exchange between the baker and me. I turn to Peeta with a sigh, allowing him to whisper some random crap in my ear that looks to be sweet nothings. A sickly pang hums through my chest as he kisses me, smothering the glorious tingling feeling of Gale's lips on mine with his obscure unfitting touch.

A fake dreamy smile slaps across my mouth as we pull back. All too slowly he releases his hold, allowing me to face the fellow tributes. I stride out onto the floor with my head held high. Some openly stare while others attempt to be more discreet, causing me to resist the urge of rolling my eyes.

A Capitol's person pins the number 12 to my outfit as I come up next to Gale, making sure not to bump his side since I know he's silently fuming about that kiss which he couldn't witness but knew happened.

The small interaction between Peeta and I was Haymitch's idea much to my boyfriend's dismay because apparently just accompanying me to training isn't enough. The only good thing coming out of this is that Gale's anger about it adds to his dark and dangerous character the Capitol's people have granted us with.

Atala, the main trainer, checks her watch before beginning to explain each station for the non-victor's benefit. I take the opportunity to glance around the room, taking note of the tributes.

Surprisingly, most have showed up but I have sneaking suspicion (for some) it's only so they can help their family members train rather than to help themselves. That being said there are some empty places where victors of that district are meant to be. All of the randomly selected tributes have made an appearance though. I can't say the same for family members…

The short striking sound of Atala's whistle tugs me out of my thoughts and I look to Gale in question. He shrugs. I nod in okay as we briefly speak with our eyes. No more than a minute later we're going our separate ways.

I'm heading towards the fire making station where 2 figures crouch while Gale's going in for the spears with the District 5 tributes when something catches my eye, pulling me to a halt, and redirecting my course.

I walk towards Seeder and Meldon as the women desperately attempts to juggle the timed edible plants test all the while her son continues to speak. The 14 year old is successful in his unknowing distraction because Seeder ends up with only 3 questions correct.

"Need help?" I ask lightly, coming up from the side.

"Oh, Katniss. Um, uh, no. No thank you. I just-we just…"

Shaking my head I grin at her. "I understand. It can be hard to concentrate when there's other commotion going on."

Seeder lets out a sigh in relief, smiling back. "Yes, well, Meldon wants to go to the knife throwing station and…" She trails off, biting her lip.

"I can take him," I suggest. "I was just heading over there. While I'm no expert I'm happy to help."

"Really? It's not too much trouble?"

"Not at all. Back home I taught a few things to a 13 year old of my own."

Glancing over at the bows Seeder understands immediately. "Of course. Mel, you wouldn't mind if Katniss took you, right? She's the victor who helped Rue in the games last year."

At the mention of Rue my heart deflates, but Seeder's son seems to perk up at the name and he looks to me before nodding shyly.

With a reassuring smile I place a hand on his back, herding him over to the desired station. "If it makes you feel any better I promise I won't stab you while we're practicing."

Instead of laughing like Rory would have the poor boy simply looks terrified.

Awesome. I've messed up already.

Halting where the knives are we find the trainer just now finishing setting up the targets. She smiles at us before stepping away, wanting to see what we can do so far.

I let out a few practice shots before getting the hang of it, and throwing out a steady flow of knifes until I'm successful in hitting bulls-eye. Overall my skill has most definitely improved since last year but it's still nowhere near as good as I am in arcehery.

Meldon isn't horrible. His stance and arm are off but it's nothing we can't fix. The trainer works with him for a little while until going off to help someone else and leaving me to assist him. For the next few hours we learn about the types of knifes, what specific ones are made for what, which would best fit him, then of course the actual action of using them.

"Okay, so you want to hold the knife like this. Try to use this hand first since you're right handed." Positioning Meldon's arm in the right position I give a few more instructions before he throws, his blade sticking to the board, not quite in the middle but close to.

He gives me a helpless look but I shake it off. "Hey, that was good. Better than most. I know it's a little unlikely but did you ever work with knives back in District 11?"

Meldon shrugs bashfully before replying in a quiet voice, "M-my mom-well we have a lot of my mo-money because of her so we don't really farm. But-but sometimes I help some of the neighborhood kids skin the a-apples and pears and things like that. M-my mom also keeps weapons in the closet in secret. I used to play with them unti-until she caught me one day."

I nod. "Oh. I get it. I get it. Just between me and you I keep weapons too."

"Like the bow? I saw you use it in the gam-games last year…with Rue."

"Yeah, like the bow." Turning back to the targets I change the subject, not wanting to linger on Rue any further. "How about we get back to throwing? If you make a bulls-eye I promise I'll convince your mom to let you have an extra piece of cake at lunch."

He takes the knife from my hands with a smile and I step back, watching as he carefully aims…then throws. The blade buries itself just at the edge of the small dot which marks his triumph.

"It's okay," I encourage. "Try again."

Meldon makes a move to do as I said, but a slightly raspy voice slices through our comfortable little bubble, forcing the boy to freeze in obvious fear.

"Yeah kid," the girl taunts cruelly. "Try again as if it's going to get you anywhere. You've got nothing to lose as it is."

Clinching my jaw at her words I turn around slowly, coming face to face with District 2's tribute. Brutus (2's victor) didn't have any family so low and behold this random girl from his home volunteers.

The 17 year old, also known as Nala, stands in front of me with her feet spread apart, hip popped out to the side, and hands placed on her skinny waist. Her shocking curly red hair is gathered in a high ponytail with an unruly touch to it. Her slender yet athletic figure reaches just an inch below mine and those dull brown eyes of hers holds an intimidating gaze. It's obvious she's trying to scare me, force me to bow down.

If she didn't remind me so much like the rest of District 2's cocky, ruthless teenagers that look of hers might've worked, but she doesn't understand. Not yet. She doesn't get the full weight of what killing someone is. What it feels like. She's been given too much power with not enough strength to deal with it. The worst part is that she will never truly get it until those last few moments when she realizes she's dying where there's no going back. All of this because she's a Career and this is all just a game to her until it's not.

With just one glance I can tell she's trained all her life, waiting for this moment. For the moment where she slits an innocent kid's throat open, not to get back to her family, but to bear "honor" to her district as if there's any pride in murdering without feeling.

It's almost funny how I lose all respect for Careers the moment I lay eyes on them. Now victors from these Districts are a different story because sometimes-after winning-they finally understand what's at cost for killing…then sometimes they don't. Unfortunately this girl is neither a victor nor gets what it's like.

My glare meets that stupid smirk of Nala's and I pull myself into my own intimating stance. "Seems like you've got nothing to lose either seeing as how you're stooping so low as to pick on a 14 year old."

"You mean you? Really? I never would've guessed you thought so low of yourself, but I see you're just facing the facts with that one."

"Mmm," I hum, taking a few threatening steps towards her as I speak. "You're right. I should face the facts as should you. Like the fact that you're a cocky, arrogant, conceited little bitch who is getting in way over her head."

"Wow." Nala lets out a dark breathy chuckle. "I can't believe you ever won the games with a mouth like that. I mean, I kinda get it. All you did was run away and cry the whole time but that can only get you so far this time."

"Oh, really? If you think my mouth is dirty by cursing then what do you do with yours? Wrap it around any dick you can get?"

Fury flashes across her eyes causing her to shift on her feet, raising her head a bit higher. "By the way how is that family of yours?" she asks, changing the subject. "It's going to be a shame when the last time they see you is in a cardboard box sent from the Capitol. I wonder if your little sister will cry for you. Or how about that cousin here today? Will he hold your dead body in his arms? Don't worry. I'll give him a minute to weep before I bury a pic-axe through his head."

Rage overtakes my being at her words but I hold it at bay, ensuring she doesn't see just how much that sentence got to me as I spit out, "I hope whoever kills you gets to enjoy watching the life drain out of those pukey, dirt brown eyes of yours."

"Not man enough to do the job yourself, huh?"

"Oh I don't mess around with pigs. It's a disgrace to my family. Honestly, it'll be a no brainer if you make it past the blood-bath because, really, who or what would ever want to touch a nasty whore like you?"

The girl opens her mouth to remark but is cut off by her fellow Career. "Nala!" Cashmere's clipped voice slices through the air. The women rounds up next to the District 2 tribute. "What do you think you're doing?"

Nala looks taken aback at her tone and her stance loses any factor of intimidation, her face turning slightly scared like a kid caught stealing candy. "J-just putting Katniss in her place."

"And how's that working out for you?"

"W-well I-"

"Back off, Nala. Don't fight battles you can't win. Now get out of here."

She nods her head obediently, throwing me one last glare, before scurrying off.

I turn to Cashmere, raising an eyebrow. "Should I thank you or is this a battle worthy enough to fight like you said?"

The women shakes her head. "Neither."

An agreement passes between us and with a curt nod to one another we part our separate ways.

During the rest of the time given I work with Meldon for a little while longer until Seeder drags him over to a different station allowing me to teach Johanna and Finnick archery in exchange for spear and axe throwing lessons all the way up until lunch is announced.

Much to my dismay I find the other victors pulling the tables together to form one large one, leaving only a few loners to spare which the randomly picked tributes claim by themselves.

After making sure Meldon earns his extra piece of cake I get food for myself, sitting down next to Gale with a sigh. Closing my eyes tiredly I lean my head against his shoulder, hoping the gesture doesn't give anything away.

"So, how have you been doing?"

"Okay. I'm afraid I haven't been trying very hard. You?"

I feel him shrug. "Good, I think. Made a few…I don't know what to call them, but I'll tell you about it later."

The rest of lunch goes without incident. We talk, eat, I'm introduced to a few victors along with their family members, but other than that there's nothing much to report. Though some people have a habit of being a bit too touchy or making extremely cheesy jokes.

I leave lunch in good spirits and instead of really training I take the time to asses everyone's skill level. It's a bit obvious who's good at what. You can either tell by how their body is built, what station they continue to stare at, or which station they hang around a lot as their comfort place in training.

It's no surprise the Careers stick around the weapons. Although Brutus hasn't shown up the male tribute from District 1, also known as Tate, Cashmere's husband is hopping through the stations with flying colors, his specialty being spears.

The District 3 and half of 5 tributes don't seem to have made an appearance so obviously there's not anything to say. 4 is Finnick and his mother who are clearly good at fishing-the young victor excelling with the trident. There's the morphling victor who refuses to leave camouflage and her twin who seems to keep disappearing into the shadows. Johanna's weapon is the axe while her fellow randomly chosen tribute, Sunny, is skilled at the ropes course.

I'm walking round the training center with a calculating gaze, numbering off the District tributes when I catch sigh of them. District 8. The old man, the victor, appears confused since he's sat himself down on the floor, grabbing onto people's ankles when they walk by. Just a little ways away from him is his fellow District partner. With Woof having no other living relatives this 18 year old girl was reaped on her own.

She's definitely pretty. Gorgeous even. With straight as a pin needle raven black hair and dark lashes hovering above a pair of alluring electric blue eyes, she's graced with long legs, high cheekbones, tanned skin, and what guy's back home would call a "killer body". On any other occasion I wouldn't have paid much mind to her or these things, but the fact that she's at the snare station and (from the looks of it) is most definitely skilled at it demands my attention…then there's the fact that she's all over my boyfriend.

I can feel my gaze instantly turn dangerous as my eyes narrow, zoning in on the arm playfully placed on Gale's arm as she scoots closer to him, her annoying giggle reaching my ears. Gale looks to her with a beam in response to whatever was said.

I watch with a burning light searing up and down my body as the girl continues to mercifully flirt with my boyfriend, touching, being way too close for 'just friends' with my boyfriend, talking and building snares with my boyfriend.

Who the hell does she think she is!?

Anger floods my brain, spreading to my toes and infecting even the darkest of places, the smallest of holes in my body. Every fiber screams, blackens with the most fearsome demon-jealousy. And not the kind in the elevator with Johanna. That was nothing but a fleeting thought which doesn't even earn a second glance. That was more…playful we could call it.

I'm not the one to get jealous so easily. I can't even remember the last time I was back home but this? This is on the boarder of crossing a line you can almost never go back on.

Even though I have the powerful urge to rip her hair out a painful polite smile slithers across my lips as I stride over to them. "Hey," I greet a bit too loudly, gaining their attention from whatever they were laughing at a second before.

Gale looks up, (oblivious to the anger in my veins) his infectious, charming, smile becoming brighter, happier at the sight of myself causing to sigh mentally and my heart to melt at his joy.

"Hey Catnip. What's up?"

I shrug causally. "Nothing. Just came over to see what you were doing."

"Oh." He glances down to the snare he's setting up. A spark in his eye tells me he's over the moon about his creation and is about to launch into a full on explanation about it. I smile larger at his gleefulness, finding it cute how he can go on for hours upon hours talking about snares without missing a beat. Time seems to escape him then. It's one of the small pool of things which can make him truly, openly express his elation which in turn makes me happy as well.

As he explains the snare in front of him I nod along, sitting with my legs crossed next to him with a small grin. Gale finishes off his explanation which admittedly I was bit distracted during seeing as how that blooming smile of his hasn't faltered one bit.

Gale looks to me, biting his lip as he reaches out to brush few pieces of stray hairs out of my face but suddenly remembers where we are and stops, playing it off as nothing. Instead he asks, "So, what do you think?"

"I think that it is way too complicated for me to understand so I might just leave the snare making to you."

He chuckles. "As always."

"As always."

A throat clears next to us forcing me to finally acknowledge the girl sitting with Gale as she begins to speak. "It's really interesting. I honestly can't believe how good Gale is at snare making. I know how to do some but I'm not as good as him."

"Oh come on," Gale says. "You're awesome. Almost better than me."

She giggles. "Thanks, but you're wrong."

"All right you keep on living in denial. In the meantime I want to introduce you to my girlfr-cousin. Ka-"

"Katniss Everdeen." She smiles politely, looking to me. "I know who you are."

"Well I don't know who you are," I reply, grinning back, it being obvious (all except to Gale) we both want one another gone.

"Catnip, this Adeline. The female tribute from District 8."

Holding a hand out I lie, "It's nice to meet you."

She shakes my hand roughly, matching my fake tone and lying also, "You too."

Pulling back I look to my boyfriend. "So, Gale, I was wondering if you wanted to go to a different station together."

"Actually, Gale, I think you should stay here. Finish up. Maybe show me a few more things," Adeline suggests, biting her lip while batting her eyelashes at him.

"Uh…"

"Gale," I warn. "Don't you remember what Haymitch said?"

"Who? That old drunk?"

"I wouldn't be talking Adime. You have Woof."

"It's Adeline!"

"Whatever." I turn to Gale. "What's it going to be?"

"Um." He scratches the back up his head, giving me a 'sorry' look. "I think I'm going to stay here. I really need to finish this snare and I wanted to help Adeline with her skill. I swear we'll do something tomorrow Catnip, all right?"

My jaw clinches in anger at his words as that District 8 girl gives me a smug look. "Fine," I answer through gritted teeth. "You know what? Don't even bother." Storming off I "accidently" bump into Abby or whatever in the process.

The rest of training Gale spent with that girl, laughing, playing, messing around and not in a sisterly kind of way. No. In a like budding romance kind of way which only angered me further. I wasn't even that mad at Gale. Maybe I should be but I'm not. The fury in me is reserved for the special District 8 girl.

I watched them like a hawk, gritting my teeth through the moments where Adeline most certainly over-stepped her boundaries, and glaring at the back of her head when no one was watching. I'm pretty sure I scared the tributes from District 10 when I snapped the wood for shelter making in half once I saw her make a move to practically kiss Gale, but he unknowingly pulled away at the last second. It was when he was getting more supplies for the snares. He wasn't even looking at her and hadn't noticed her presents when she began to lean in.

The look on his face when he stepped back then finally noticed her going in for a kiss was the funniest thing I've seen in a while. I don't know if he realized what she was trying to do but either way he brushed it off, or didn't care about her attempts which only gave me little satisfaction.

Sighing, I throw another stone back into the small indoor fountain. The small clinking of rocks as it bumps with the other pebbles echoes throughout the den.

"A bit vicious there aren't we?" Peeta states, taking a seat next to me on the couch.

"Let it be. Maybe the rocks will die."

"Um, Katniss, they kinda can't seeing as they aren't living in the first place."

"Whatever. Let there be blood spelt somewhere then."

"Want to tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," I snap, hurling another stone. It bounces off the side of the marble fountain this time.

"Really? Because you're throwing rocks, wishing inanimate objects to die, and you've been sulking all evening. I'd say something is bothering you but everything seems completely not out of the ordinary…at all."

"I bet Haymitch needs your help with whatever. How about you go to him?"

"Katniss."

Letting out a breath I shake my head, sitting back on the couch and hugging my legs close. "It's just something that happened in training today. I don't want to annoy you with my stupid problems. I'm probably overreacting anyway. It's nothing."

"Your problems aren't stupid, Katniss. You can tell me. I'll listen."

So I do. I let it all out. I tell him everything.

It felt good to get a little weight off my chest but on the other hand I feel slightly bad for informing Peeta on my jealousy when I know he's not over me and feels the same about Gale. The only difference is that Peeta tolerates Gale because he actually wants to see me happy even if it's not with him while I just wish Adeline would go burn.

I guess you could see the slight contrast in our personalities.

When I'm done Peeta sits in thought for a little while longer. "Well," he finally starts after some time. "It does seem like a problem…"

"Tell me about it."

"But, Katniss, you have to think about this a bit."

Giving him a dumbfounded look as he gestures between the two of us I ask, "What?"

A small smile creeps onto his face. "Katniss Everdeen, if you'll have me, I think there's something we can do about the Adeline situation. It'll be small but definitely speak some kind of volume. That is of course, if you're up to it."

Squinting my eyes at him in thought, my mind races around to figure out what he means.

When the idea comes to me Peeta earns himself a surprised look before a smirk quickly overtakes my features instead.

I nod firmly. "I'll do it. Now, what do you have in mind?"