We watch the reruns of the Parade, and it quickly becomes obvious we were the main stars of it. Since the moment we came out there was not a pair of eyes able to turn away from us; maybe it was the flames that surrounded us, maybe it was the crowns lit on fire above our heads, maybe it was our hands joined or the fact that we were smiling at them, kissing them back and seeming to have an amazing time. Not even during President Snow's speech the cameras were able to resist the temptation of turning to us once in a while. And during the interviews, Caesar Flickerman he said it was obvious the Capitol had a favorite already. "Katniss Everdeen the Girl on Fire, I'm hoping to see more of you already!" He said just as the program was ending. We toasted with wine, making it the first time Danny and I ever tasted it and Cinna kissed both our foreheads before leaving along with Portia, Danny's stylist, and the rest of our prep teams. Effie excused herself soon after, leaving us the three under the soft glow of the screen. Danny was yawning next to me so I sent him off to bed. I looked up to Haymitch as soon as the door of Danny's bedroom was closed. "So?"
"Nice sweetheart. They like you. Now you have to be sure they love you. Go sleep, you'll need it." He says, dismissing me and I nod, going to bed. I can't resist to smile a little as I remember the crowd cheering my name, but when the makeup comes off and I am wearing normal clothes again the smiles disappear from my reflection in the mirror. I don't want a crowd cheering my name, I don't want to be the Capitol's favorite. I want to go home.
The next morning I find that my clothes have already been chosen for me: a pair of black sports tights and a dark purple shirt. I know it's the first day of training so it is obvious I will be needing this kind of clothes. I get into the shower which is similar to the one in the train and manage to have a nice shower for the first time. After that, I put on my clothes and braid my still wet hair as I walk out of my quarters. In the dining room Daniel is already waiting, seeming uncomfortable as he is alone with Haymitch. Effie is nowhere on sight and Danny is visibly relieved as he notices me walking in. I kiss his blonde hair, grabbing my plate to serve some food in it, murmuring a "morning" for Haymitch. Danny's clothes are identical to mine.
"I do hope you can be more charming than that for the cameras, sweetheart." He grunts and continues to eat, I roll my eyes at him as I sat down. We eat in silence for a while before Haymitch leans back in his share, some of his food is still left on his plate but he gestures for the Avox to take it away, I almost break down. "Now, both of you. What are you good at?" He asks, and the way he looks at us makes me feel exposed, as if he was looking for the deepest corners of my core. Danny breaks the silence. "Nothing." He says, looking down ashamed. I frown and turn around to look at him, a hand rushing to push the hair off his eyes.
"That is not true Danny, and you know it. Remember all those times I took you hunting? You are very good with traps and knots. You are the best I know." I say , even though I know Gale is better, but he has had more time to practice. Ever since the first time I gave a rope to Danny he knew immediately what to do with it, and he was always making up new traps, helping me and making my job easier. "What about you, Katniss? Why don't you tell him you are good hunting?" He asks defiantly. Haymitch raised his eyebrow. "I've heard something about that, so it's true you actually sneaked out of the District?" I blush and nod.
"Not just that, but she is the best archer in the world," Danny interjects before I can even open my mouth to reply to Haymitch's question. "She always brings fresh meat home and she shoots the squirrels right in the eye, that's what dad says. She can kill a bird that is flying miles up." His eyes widen as he exaggerates my talents the way kids do. I smile softly at him and blush deeper. "That's not true, I'm just fairly good with the bow and arrow." I insist and Haymitch nodded, Danny looks annoyed. "Okay, today you have to prove yourselves as worthy opponents, but pay close attention to my words, okay? I said worthy, not perfect, and not the best. Keep a low profile and stay away from the knot and archery station. Leave that for the individual sessions. Most importantly: stick together. Am I understood?" He says and we both nod.
Haymitch takes a drink of his mug, which I highly doubt is just coffee, but if I had to be perfectly honest I would had to admit Haymitch was clean and presentable. He is for sure going out to talk with some sponsors. He stands up and speaks without even looking at us, so I look away. "Great, then you are off in ten minutes. And sweetheart?" He remains silent until I look up at him again, until he is sure he has my complete attention. "Don't take your ring off."
As we walk inside the Training center it becomes obvious we are the last tributes to enter, even though we are not late. The moment we fall into the circle the other tributes have formed all of their eyes fall on us, and they don't leave us as the Capitol Woman sets the rules. The intimidating male tribute from District Two has his eyes set on Danny, and I frown when I notice Danny's scared expression, stepping in front of him protectively. Minutes later we are released and the tributes disperse. I looked down to Danny, trying to give him an encouraging smile. "Where to, boss?" He isn't able to resist his smile, for sure remembering how he had taught me how to bake a cake for Peeta's birthday and I had called him boss ever since then. "I don't know, the plants station?" He asks after his eyes have wandered around the different stations and I nod, heading off to the aforementioned one. Judging by the plants they were showing us I was able to infer they would be throwing us in a forest-like arena, and I found myself hoping they would. We took turns deciding where to go, never spending less than half an hour in them, carefully avoiding the ones Haymitch had forbidden, but I often glanced longingly to the bows and arrows.
During lunch we sit together in the table in the corner. The careers join two tables and eat together, Danny shots them scared looks once in a while. So I tell him a funny story about one time Prim was sure my dad and I were friends with a fairy in the woods and he laughs, his laughter echoes around the cafeteria and I smile when I notice all eyes on us again, they are for sure wondering how it is possible that the tributes of the weakest District are having fun.
The thing went on for a few days, Haymitch asked how we did and I told him not to worry since we had followed his instructions. It was alarming how easily we fell into routine, even when there was not a routine at all. Just some things happened every day, I woke up wishing to be in District 12, but embraced the day before me with a calm exterior and a preoccupied mind. I made Danny eat as much as he could without being sick in an attempt of making him gain some weight and jogged with him every day before actually starting training, trying to make our physical condition better. Once I sent Danny to sleep every night I watched the interviews with the old Victors. Dying to see an interview of my family, of Peeta, I often fell asleep on the living room and somehow ended up back on my bed.
Finally the night before the last day of training I saw them. They interviewed my mom, who said she was proud of me and my bravery. Prim told an anecdote about me singing for her that made me tear up, but I don't really start crying until Danny's and Peeta's father came out, he said he was nothing but positive about having his son back, he trusted me blindly and he was proud to call me his daughter. And then Peeta talked about me, about us. "She will be the best in there, she is so good she has decided not to win even when she could easily do so. I just really hope she knows she carries my heart with her." I freeze the picture, looking at Peeta's features and allowing myself to cry some more before going back to my quarters and cry myself to sleep.
The next day the training went on as usual, but the end has an unexpected twist: the boy from District Two approaches me and taps my shoulder. "I have an offer for you." I narrowed my eyes before turning to Danny. "I'll catch up with you, tell Haymitch I'll be there in five minutes." He nods after a moment and leaves my side reluctantly. The boy smirks at me. "Does he always follow your orders like a pet?" I scoffat him. "I don't have time for this, what is your offer?" He crosses his arms, flexing his enormous muscles. "Fine. It seems like you are quite popular and for what I've seen it seems like you are not that bad with weapons. We'd like you to become part of our alliance."
I'm sure I did a good job hiding my surprise, but for some seconds I don't know what to say. I know what the rest of the districts outside of 1, 2 and 4 thought of the Careers, how despicable they were to our eyes, the kids that hunted to kill. I could almost hear Gale's voice in my head talking about how much he hated them, those who chose to see the Games as that: games. Still I know that if I reject them I'll become their first target. So I nod and shake the hand the boy is reaching out to me. "Just one condition, you don't dare touch the boy. Let him die on his own."