A/N: Enjoy the story
Chapter 4
The days flew by quickly and before they knew it, it was the evening before the single tests. "Okay now, tomorrow you can shoot." Castro said since she's been antsy about that that whole time, she's still been having about the same amount despite their attempts to stop her.
"Finally!" She said happily.
"Good, now go to sleep."
"Okay, I will," she yawned.
"Good, goodnight, Katniss."
"Goodnight, Castro," she called. She headed into her room. Castro watched her go feeling very unhappy with life as it was.
He headed to his own room. 'Well it'll be over soon,' He thought. He got changed and laid down in his bed. He fell into an uneasy sleep.
He saw the arena in the nightmare. Katniss was down with the boy and girl from two standing over her. He could see her chest rise and fall and there was no cannon so she was alive and he wanted to go save her but his legs wouldn't listen, he couldn't move. The boy raised his sword high above his head and swung it downwards.
As the sword swung down he swung up in the real world. He was covered in sweat and pale as he tried to control his breathing.
"I'm still in the training center," He muttered to himself. "It was just a nightmare." He got up and went to splash water on his face. He looked over at the clock. He had barely been a slept two hours. He sighed figuring he should probably try again. He went back to bed and lay down.
Next he was back in 12 but younger almost two years younger in fact. It was time for the interviews of Slade's games and his district partner had just come off. He gave her a thumbs-up lost on how to do hers. "Slade come on up!" Caesar said.
He tried to look brave and made his way on the stage and took his seat.
"So, Slade tell us about yourself," Caesar said as Slade took out his pen and paper.
He started to write but was stopped by Caesar.
"What are you doing?" He chuckled.
Slade pointed to his mouth and shook his head trying to show that he can't talk.
"You refuse to talk?" He asked.
Slade shook his head and quickly tried to write, 'I can't.'
"Why won't you talk?" Caesar asked.
Slate was getting frustrated trying to show that he literally can't speck.
"Well if you won't talk then we may have to end your segment," Caesar said.
"No!" Castro screamed at the tv back home despite knowing Caesar was WAY too far too hear. Tears streamed down both dream and real Castro's face, "HE'S DISABLED! HE CAN'T SPEAK! IF YOU JUST LET HIM…! Slade! Everyone!" He said as Slade was dragged off stage.
Then he was watching as Slade ran from the Cornucopia with only a knife that had sliced his arm. The cut was not bleeding anywhere near enough to be worried about and he did really have any other injuries so he just keep running trying to find water but found himself quickly getting very tired.
Over the next few days he got weaker. He looked at the cut and saw that it was swollen had pus coming from it. There was no denying that it was infected, he needed medicine or he'd die. He managed to grab a stick and write in the dirt, 'Did you happen to get any money, Haymitch?'
Castro had wanted to give him some but being from the Seam if he gave all the money his family had it wouldn't be anywhere near enough. He could do nothing but watch as his best friend died slowly and painfully.
"NO!" He woke up screaming covered in tears and sweat.
That scream woke up Katniss though and she came rushing in from worry, "What's wrong?"
"Slade, Slade..." Castro muttered.
That just confused Katniss not having all the 12 tributes memorized, "Who's Slade?"
"He was...my best friend," Castro said starting to cry more hysterically
Despite the state she had been in, Katniss remember what he said about his best-friend on the train and pulled him into a hug must intended for comfort.
"I'm sorry," He said into her shoulder.
"It's okay," she said rubbing his back.
"I couldn't save him, I couldn't." Castro choked out. "I… just didn't have… enough money."
"What do you mean?" She asked still rubbing his back soothingly.
Though choked up, he explained what had happened to her, "I should have volunteered in his place, I should have known he couldn't have won being a mute."
"Shh, it's alright, he would not want to see you like this," Katniss said gently.
"Well… I guess not." He said hesitantly attempting to wipe his eyes.
"He wouldn't" Katniss said.
"That doesn't make it hurt any less though."
"I know," She said.
"So, what should I do?" Castro asked her.
"You live, try to enjoy bits of life, make him proud," Katniss said.
"That's easier when you're not being prepped then sent to the slaughter."
"I know, but there has to be something you have always wanted or wanted to do that you can do here," Katniss said.
"Well… I'd like to kiss you again." Castro said a little awkwardly.
Katniss blushed, "Really?" She asked.
"Really," Castro nodded blushing as well.
"Well...okay," Katniss said still red.
Castro leaned in and kissed her. This one was different though. It was passionate; he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against himself.
She didn't try to fight it though just giving in. She found that she liked this kiss it felt great as she wrapped her arms around his neck, his tongue cautiously traced her lips.
She hesitated but knowing it could help she parted her lips letting it in.
Their tongues dueled and she found she was enjoying it until they had to separate for air both panting and smiling slightly.
"That was perfect," Castro said.
"That was amazing," Katniss admitted.
"You really like it?"
"Yes, I really did," Katniss said honestly.
"That's good and bad then." Castro sighed.
"Yeah," she sighed not letting go of him just yet.
"I wish there was some way around this."
"Me too, but there's not," she sighed.
"So, what do we do now?" He asked.
"I don't know," she sighed.
"Maybe we should try going back to sleep for right now." Castro suggested.
"Yeah we should," she said.
"I keep getting woken up by nightmares though." Castro sighed.
"When Prim has nightmares she sleeps with my mother," Katniss said.
"So, maybe we could sleep together?" Castro concluded from that.
"Just sleep right?" Katniss asked.
Castro nodded, "Just sleep."
"Okay," she said. So they climbed into his bed and fell asleep.
Hours later someone was gently shaking them awake. They opened their eyes finding Effie. "I knew this would happen," she said smirking.
"It's not like that," Castro said pulling back the covers showing they were both fully clothed.
"Oh, but both look so happy together," Effie said.
"That doesn't mean we're doing that." Katniss corrected.
"No, but are you two together now?" She asked.
Katniss hesitated, "Well, we can't really be, for long anyways."
"So you are?" She asked.
They looked at each other for confirmation. "Yes we are," Katniss finally said.
"I knew it!"
"Then why did you ask?" Katniss asked.
"Confirmation," Katniss stuck her tongue out at Effie. "Manners, Katniss." Effie lectured. Katniss just huffed. Effie sighed at that but decided to ignore it, "Just get ready, today's time to show the gamemakers what you guys can do."
"Right," They both said.
Katniss got up and headed back to her own room to get dressed, "Happy now?" Effie asked Castro
"As I can get given the situation," Castro said.
"Good now, get ready," Effie said smiling.
"Could you leave the room then?" Castro asked.
"Oh! Right," Effie said.
She left the room and Castro and Katniss got dressed then headed to the dining room, "So, eventful night?" Effie asked.
"You could say that." Castro said blushing.
"It was...interesting to say the least," Katniss said.
"Well, I guess I can spare you the details on that for now." Effie said still smirking.
"Why are you so happy?" Castro asked.
"Because I totally called it all the way back on the train,"
"What?" They both asked confused.
"After you guys went to 'practice' some more called that you two would be a real couple before the games start."
"You did?" Castro asked.
"Yes, to a very surprised and confused Avox who had nodded that he agrees."
"You talked to an Avox?" Katniss asked.
Effie nodded and explained the talk.
"Really? That is so not like you," Castro said.
"That talk with Katniss really took a toll on who that is." Effie sighed.
"I'm glad," Katniss said smiling.
"You guys do need to eat though." Effie offered since they hadn't been yet.
"Right!" They said digging in.
As you could guess, Katniss had once again drank a lot of hot chocolate as she ate but then it was time to head down.
"Nervous?" Effie asked as they entered the elevator.
"Yes." Castro said but Katniss shrugged.
"Well don't be," She said.
"I know, but it's hard not to." Castro said.
"I know, but you'll both due great," She said.
"Definitely," Katniss nodded.
"See she's excited," Effie said.
"She's not thinking clearly, her hot chocolate habits are getting worse then Haymitch's alcohol habits."
"Not true!" Katniss huffed.
"Um, yes it is." Castro said simply.
"No it's not," She said.
"If you say so," Castro said even though it is true.
"I do, and you have to agree with me now," She said. Castro sighed folding his arms. "Well you do," She said.
"I know, and that's what sucks."
"Oh, cheer up," She said taking his hand.
Castro did smile right as the elevator stopped and slid open. She dragged him off the elevator into the waiting room. "You don't need to drag me." Castro said as they sat down.
"I know, but you were moving slow," She said.
"It not like we're late." Castro said looking around, "Even if we were, we're from District 12."
"Well that's true," she said.
"I'm telling you, it's the hot chocolate."
"What about it?" Katniss asked.
"It's making you not think clearly." Castro said.
"No it isn't," She said.
"Yes, it is." Castro sighed.
"Says you," She said laying her head on his lap for the time being.
"Says everyone who isn't you."
"No everyone thinks so," He said.
"Hot chocolate is fine to drink," She said.
"Not that much." Castro corrected.
"Overreacting," Katniss smirked.
Castro shook his head, "Definitely not."
"Just relax okay?" She asked.
"I'll try if you do." Castro said.
"I am calm," She said.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am," She said.
"Then calm down more." Castro sighed.
"What's wrong with home I am now?" She asked.
"Look at your hand again."
"So I'm a little nervous?" She shrugged.
"You're jittery."
"You're shaking too," Katniss said.
"I just said I'll calm down if you do." Castro reminded.
"Okay then," She said calming down.
He took a deep breath trying to calm himself down as well.
They both did relax some. Marvel was called in and so on and so forth as the room got emptier and emptier. They just sat waiting,
After a while though, it was just the two of them. "It'll be okay," Katniss said.
"Yeah, I guess it will." Castro said looking down and her with a smile.
"I'm next right?" She asked.
Castro shook his head, "Boys then girls."
"Oh right," She said.
"So, could you get off my lap then?" Castro asked.
"Right!" She said.
She got up just as it was time for him to head in.
"Good luck," She said giving him a kiss on the cheek before he headed for the door.
When he went in, he immediately noticed that no one noticed him. 'Not a good start,' He mentally sighed. He went over and grabbed the knives and started throwing them at the targets.
Soon his turn was over and he left sure he would get a low score for this. He headed up and just waited for Katniss to be done before talking to Effie or Haymitch about it. She came up fifteen minutes later looking pleased with herself.
Castro raised an eyebrow at that, "What did you do?"
"I had a great presentation," she said.
"Even though it technically not aloud, could you tell me what made it so great?" Castro asked.
"I shot an arrow near them," She said.
"Seriously?" He asked.
"Seriously they were not paying attention to me," She said.
"They weren't paying attention to me either but I didn't throw a knife near them… now that I think about it I probably should have though."
"Well it got their attention," Katniss said.
Castro just chuckled and gave him a thumbs-up, "Good job."
"Thank you," She said bowing.
"I guess we'll have to wait and see what that does for you tonight though," Castro pointed out.
"Yeah, I guess so," She said.
"It might be pretty low though." Castro warned.
"I know that," She sighed.
"Low scores don't usually matter much though, only high ones." He added, "There are lots of people who score low on purpose to throw of the other tributes. Like Johanna Mason."
"Yeah she was amazing!" Katniss said.
"But everyone thought she was useless up until the final few." Castro pointed out.
"Yeah, then she slaughtered them," Katniss said.
"Exactly, so if you score low you can just become the next Johanna Mason just with a bow and arrow instead of an ax."
"Yeah..." She said excited, but clearly nervous.
"That doesn't help though does it?" Castro asked.
"No, because I would still have to go through you," She said.
"Right," Castro sighed.
"I don't want to do that," She admitted.
"I understand," Castro sighed.
"You won't go through me though if it came down to it?" She asked.
"I don't think I could ever kill you." Castro sighed.
She sighed nodding as she looked at the floor. "So, what will we do if it does come down to the two of us?" Katniss asked.
"I don't know," Castro said.
"Maybe it would be best to avoid that completely." Castro sighed.
"Yeah, but that would mean one of us dies before the finals," Katniss said.
"Then it would be me." Castro said.
"Don't say that!" She said.
"Well, I don't want it to be you."
"I know, but I don't want you to die not trying," She said.
He sighed, "I will try."
"Good, promise me?" She asked.
"I promise."
"Okay," She sighed.
"So, what now?" She asked.
"Find Effie and Haymitch," He said.
"Right," She said and they headed to look finding them in the dining room.
"How did it go?" Effie asked.
"Very well I think," Katniss said.
"What happened?" Haymitch asked.
She told them all about her session.
Haymitch laughed at that and gave her a thumbs up, "Nice job, sweetheart."
"Thank you!" She said smiling.
Effie glared slightly at that, "I don't think you'll find it funny if the Gamemakers decide to take it out on her."
"They won't they like guts," Haymitch said.
"Are you sure?" Katniss asked him.
"Yeah, they'll love you," He said.
"What about you Castro?" Haymitch asked.
"Not nearly as well," He sighed.
"That doesn't necessarily mean not good though." Haymitch pointed out, "What did you do?"
"I threw knives across the room," Castro said.
"That's still good." Haymitch said honestly. "You both did a great job."
"If you say so," Castro said expecting a low score.
"We'll see for sure tonight though." Haymitch added.
"Yeah, I guess so," Castro said.
"Until then, you guys can just relax."
"We can?" Katniss asked taking Castro's hand.
"Yes you can." Haymitch said and Effie nodded.
"Well alright then," Katniss said.
"What do you want to do with it?" Castro asked her.
"Relax somehow?" She asked.
"Alright," He nodded.
"Maybe, see what the Capital has on TV?" She asked.
"I guess it can't hurt, as long as we try to avoid their addiction." Castro shrugged.
"They have movies," Effie said.
"Alright, any you'd recommend?" Katniss asked.
"Well, the Harry Potter Series," She said
"What's that?" They both asked.
"A story about a boy who goes to a school for wizards it was massively popular in the world in the old days," She said.
"Alright, I guess it's worth a shot." Katniss shrugged.
"You'll love it!" Effie said
"Alright, do whatever you have to do to play it then." Castro said.
Effie went over to the wall and slid a disc into a machine and stepped back.
The Sorcerers/Philosophers Stone started playing first.
After a short while, it started to get tiring to Katniss and she sighed slouching back in her chair.
"What?" Effie asked.
"The previous society had terrible taste." Katniss muttered.
"So, you don't like it then?" Effie asked.
"No, I do not." Katniss said.
"Well, not everyone does," Effie said.
"I like it." Castro said.
"Well I don't," Katniss shrugged. "It's boring and predictable," Katniss sighed.
"How so?" Effie asked
"We may not have movies in 12 but with the topics of so many oral stories and songs… it's no different, nothing special at all."
"If you say so," Effie shrugged.
"I guess that's just my opinion though."
"No, there are others who don't like it either," Effie said.
"There are?" Castro asked.
"Yes of course," Effie said.
"I find the hard to imagine, no offence, Katniss."
"None taken," She shrugged.
"Maybe we should find something we'd both like though." Castro suggested.
"Thanks," She said gratefully.
Effie thought for a second, "Well, what kind of stories do you guys usually like?"
"I like action, with a real story," Katniss said.
"And Castro?" She asked.
"Anything with a good story to it," He said.
"How about In Time then? It's a dystopian time science fiction and oh my god, if you think Panem is divided by wealth. Everyone in any section you stop aging at age 25 then your clock starts running starting from 1 year, once that reaches 0 you 'Time Out' and die but that time's the currency. You earn it, buy stuff with it, gift it, gamble with it, pay your taxes with it, etc. etc. The country's divided into 12 'Time Zones'. In Time Zone 1 the average citizen has at least a thousand years when in Time Zone 12 you're lucky as hell to have a day, most people can and do kill for an hour as they see it clicking down to only minutes."
"That sounds cool!" Castro said.
Katniss nodded in agreement, "Yes it does."
Effie smiled and put it in. She played the movie and this time they both really liked it. Haymitch came in. "The scores are starting," He said.
"Right," Effie said changing it to the scores.
Hi, Better a Freak Than a Fake here, these aren't my notes but In Time really is a real movie and I totally recommend it, that is all.