The Girl On Fire With An Arrow Score
The Tributes experienced their first days of training and were talking about a fight they had witnessed between two other Tributes.
"He's a Career," Haymitch said as he continued to eat. "You know what that is?"
"From District 1," Katniss answered.
"And 2," Jeanetty whispered loudly. "They train in a special academy until they're 18. Then they volunteer. By that point they're pretty lethal."
Effie tried to cut in with a cheery thought. "But they don't receive any special treatment. I fact, they stay in the exact same apartment as you do. And I don't think they let them have dessert. And you can."
The thought was not very reassuring. Peeta turned back to the Mentors. "So, how good are they?"
Haymitch shrugged. "Obviously they're pretty good. They win it almost every year, but..."
"Almost," Effie cut him off.
He shrugged again and continued. "...they can be arrogant. And arrogance can be a big problem." He shot a look to Katniss. She looked back at her Mentor as he continued. "I hear you can shoot."
She looked back to her food. "I'm alright."
"No, she's better than alright," Peeta cut in. "My father buys her squirrels. He says she gets the, right in the eye every time."
Katniss turned to Jeanetty. "Peeta's strong."
"What?" Peeta himself looked surprised.
"He can throw a 100-pound sack of flour right over his head. I've seen it."
"Okay, we'll, I'm not gonna kill anybody with a sack of flour."
The adults watched silently as the Tributes went at it. "No, but you have a better chance of winning if someone comes after you with a knife."
"I have no chance of winning! None! All right?" The table was silent for a moment. "It's true. Everybody knows it." Peeta scoffed and continued his rant. "You know what my mother said? She said District 12 might finally have a winner. But she wasn't talking about me." He looked at Katniss intensely. "She was talking about you." She refused to return his gaze. Peeta looked down to his lap before speaking again. "I'm not very hungry." He threw his napkin over his place setting and retreated to his room.
Katniss sat in thought for a few moments before wiping her mouth. "I'm done, too." She stalked away to her own room.
"They'll be okay," Jeanetty said as everyone else continued on with her meal.
A few days later they were all sat down for the evening meal. Jeanetty was explaining Evaluation to the Tributes. "Tomorrow, they'll bring you in one by one and evaluate you. This is important because higher ratings mean higher will mean Sponsers."
"This is the time to show them everything," Haymitch said waving off the serving girl come to refill his drink. "There'll be a bow. Make sure you use it. Peeta, you make sure to show your strength."
"They'll start with District 1, so the two of you will go last." He paused in thought. "Well, I don't know how else to put this. Make sure they remember you."
XXX
Effie was reprimanding Katniss when the Mentors entered the apartment. "You realize that your actions reflect badly on all of us. Not just you."
Cinna attempted to calm her down. "They just want a good show. It's fine."
Effie got even more angered. "How about it's just bad manners, Cinna! How about that?" Haymitch and Jeanetty walked into the living room. "Well, finally! I hope the two of you noticed, we have a serious situation."
Haymitch gave Katniss a thumbs up and a smile. Katniss gave a faint smile back. "Nice shooting, sweetheart."
Jeanetty walked over to Katniss and pulled her into a hug. "Tributes have been wanting to take a shot at the Gamemakers since the dawn of the Games. You've got balls, girl."
"What did they do when you shot the apple?" Haymitch laughed in delights he sat in a chair across from the Tributes.
"Well, they looked pretty startled."
"Oh, yeah," he agreed, still laughing.
"What is it you said? 'Thanks for...'" Jeanetty asked sitting next to her.
"Thanks for your consideration." she and Jeanetty finished together.
"Genius!" Haymitch laughed harder. "Genius."
Effie almost flew off the handle. "I don't think we're gonna find this funny if the Gamemakers decide to take it out on..."
Jeanetty interrupted her. "On who?" She stood and took Effie's arms, rubbing them lightly. "On her? On him?"
"I think they already have," Haymitch said from his chair. "Loosen your corset, have a drink." He sat forward in his chair, directing himself towards Katniss. "I would have given anything to see it."
Drinks were passed out before the evaluation numbers were given. A few minutes later, Ceasar Flickerman began the report. "As you know, the Tributes were rated on a scale of 1 to 12 after three days of careful evaluation. The Gamekeepers would like to acknowledge that this was an exceptional..." He droned on for a few minutes before he got to the scores, even then it seemed to take forever before he got to District 12. "Now our final District. From District 12, Peeta Mellark. A score of 8."
Everyone began congratulating him. "We can work with that," Effie told him neutrally.
Ceasar continued. "And finally, from District 12, Katniss Everdeen. With a score of 11."
The room burst into noise as everyone stood and began congratulating her. "I thought they hated me," she told the group in shock.
"They must have liked your guts," Haymitch said with a smile.
Cinna raised his glass. "To Katniss Everdeen, The Girl on Fire!"