Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! I do not own Catching Fire.

Ch. 36

All three of us Victors get into routine; running, training, throwing knives, learning snares, and finally learning about our competition. Katniss and I become stronger and faster and thicker filled with muscles. Everyone helps us. Katniss's mom has us on a strict diet to put meat on, Prim helps us with our sore muscles, and even Gale joins in to help us with snares. This is working out well; even Haymitch's beer belly has begun to flatten out.

My favorite part of the whole thing is watching the old Games. It's not that I enjoy watching the Games, it's nice to know our competition before we even go in though. There's Annie Cresta, the girl I saw sitting next to Finnick on the victory tour. She looks aware and full of life when the Games first start. Then things go wrong, her district partner killed right in front of her. You see her almost go crazy right there. But she had one thing none of the others had; the will to survive. And of course knowing how to swim, but it was there in her eyes, even after they had gone insane, you could see it, you could believe it; she was going to win.

Then there's Mags in one of the earlier Games, she had to be at least eighty now, but here watching her games, she's strong and independent and beautiful. Her thick brown hair hangs in a ponytail as she fights against the different tributes. Her fighting is clean and proficient. It was obvious from the start that she would win, I wonder if she knew that.

"There's no way, she'll be in it. I mean can she even walk anymore?" Asks Katniss, once Haymitch told us the year of these games. I know for one she definitely won't be fighting the same way.

"Crazier and crueler things have happened," is all Haymitch answers back with. He was right, it was all the remaining Victors, whether they are barely living or had children, whoever was reaped was going in. That was certain. I found Haymitch closing his eyes a lot as we watched fellow victors fight in their Games. They are his friends. This is a horrible thing that is happening.

Late at night, once we're done watching past Games, Haymitch and I talk; talk about saving Katniss. He's told me her plan, to keep me alive, he says he's been just playing along. I just hope I'm not the one that's being played by both of them.

"What's your reasoning for keeping her alive again?" asks Haymitch late into the night, probably early into the next morning. The reaping was coming up and we were in the best condition we've ever been in. Now was the time to begin really planning things out.

"I won't have anything to live for with out her. She does." Saying it so many times, I realize it's partially selfish of me. But really in all honesty it's not. Prim needs Katniss. Katniss's mom needs Katniss. People need her. People do not need me.

"Then you have to convince her to live. You're the only one that can really do it." Haymitch says and we set together on a plan. The next day I go get a picture of Mrs. Everdeen and Prim, and because I had to, a picture of Gale from Hazelle Hawthorne. These pictures were my District token. They were going to show Katniss that there is life beyond me. That she will live.

The rest of the spare time that I do have, I spend with my family. Who I realized it wasn't only their fault that I had drifted away from them, it was mine as well. I had been so caught up in my own sorrow, that I didn't realize Rhys was in love, or that Marcus wanted to further his education, or that my mom, yes my mom, had begun to be nicer. I shouldn't have ever put all the blame on them.

Rhys was planning to propose to his girlfriend, Sky, who in all accounts was simple, but perfect for Rhys. Her build was small and her intelligence the same, but she would have a wonderful life with my brother. They'd probably take over the bakery when my dad gets too old and have children. I'll regret never meeting their family, but hopefully they'll know who I was and what I did for love.

Marcus, who was so nice to only listen to my problems, that he never told me of his dreams. He wanted to teach. Children. Which was wonderful for Marcus he was always so amazing with children when they came into the bakery. I'll regret never being able to send my children off to their Uncle Marcus's class, but I know I'll stay in his heart.

My mom and dad, always so quiet and standoffish were beginning to come out of their shells. My dad had started to joke with the costumers, and my mom had even begun to talk to the costumers. I wasn't the only one that had changed over the past year, my whole family had as well.

The reaping comes; it's time to leave. And even though I know I will get to say goodbye to my family later, I go by the bakery in the morning anyways. I wish Rhys and Sky the best of luck in their marriage. And I say a tearful goodbye to Marcus. And I could see it, a small tear in my mom's eye. They all knew there was no possibility of me coming back this time. I was gone for good.

At the reaping the two large reaping bowls sit the same size they are every year. The girls' sits with one slip, I could barely even see it in there. Then the boys' with two slips. If Haymitch's name were to be called by Effie's high shrill voice, I would volunteer. Effie waves her hand around in the large bowl containing Katniss's name, finally she finds the slip. Katniss walks up to the stage. Then Haymitch is called, but like planned I volunteer. I feel my pocket for the picture before I step up onto the stage. There are no goodbyes; we are taken straight to the train.

I hope you liked it! I know I'm a horrible person, I'm making his families futures look bright and then, well, you guys know what happens. Sorry! Don't forget to REVIEW On the way out! Thanks! ~boywithbreadlover