A/N: Okay, so I left the actual A/N at the bottom haha. Soo read the chapter, then read it! :D

When she woke up on the third day of training, Mira thought over the week. Being chosen for the Hunger Games, and only her neighbor saying goodbye to her, not even her father. She hadn't been too disappointed, though. She'd almost expected it. Then, arriving in the Capitol and telling Katniss and Peeta her secret. Unease rose in her stomach as she wondered again if she had made a mistake in telling them. She couldn't see how they would ever use the information against her, but she wouldn't put it past them. Training had been mediocre at best. She still didn't know what she could possibly show the Gamemakers in her private session, which happened to be today. She had acquired a few survival skills, but none she especially excelled at.

She was pulled out of her mind's world as Effie called her to breakfast, saying again what a "big big big day" it was going to be. She sullenly dressed and walked down the narrow halls to the spacious dining room. She was pleased that she had gained some weight in the time she had gorged herself on the rich food. It couldn't possibly hurt to gain some more though, so she loaded her plate high with beef stew and leafy greens.

She took her accustomed place across from Peeta. They had fallen into a pattern of where they sat. Peeta and Katniss sat side by side, as did she and Gale, though there was no affection in their proximity. Gale always sat across from Katniss, leaving Mira across from Peeta, something she did not object to. Haymitch and Effie, when present, would sit at opposite heads of the table.

She stared absently into space as she slowly ate the delectable food.. Katniss had not spoken to her since she had revealed her secret, though Peeta had a few times. Just in passing though, as if to be polite. She didn't think much of it, though she wanted to. Peeta was in love, she had to remind herself continuously. She had managed to numb her heart somewhat, so that every affectionate glance or gesture from him to Katniss didn't rip her heart as badly as it would have.

So lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize that Haymitch was talking to her until he repeated himself for a third time. "Sweetheart! Wake up! What are you showing the Gamemakers?!" he was shouting.

"Oh! Sorry, what?" She hadn't paid attention to his words after "sweetheart", because her eyes had drifted to Katniss and seen extreme annoyance flash across her face for a split second as Haymitch used the term. When she glanced back though, Katniss's face was impassive, almost bored.

"Gamemakers. Today. What are you showing them?" Haymitch said slowly, anger barely suppressed under the stringent calm of his voice.

"Um, actually, I don't really know yet," she said quietly, and busied herself with her food.

"Great. Wonderful. And you? You have any idea?" Haymitch grunted in the general direction of Gale.

"Yeah, I knew what I'm doing." he said.

"Well what is it?!" Haymitch thundered, obviously out of patience for the day.

"Archery, and I'm setting a trap."

"A trap for what? There's not live animals in the training center."

"Just a trap."

Annoyed beyond reason at Gale's lack of cooperation, Haymitch abruptly stood up, muttering about drinks. The atmosphere around the table relaxed slightly, until he bellowed back, "Katniss! Peeta! With me!"

Starting slightly, Peeta looked at Katniss, and when their eyes met the both started laughing. Haymitch's behavior when not drunk was something that needed work. Peeta listened carefully to Katniss's silver-bell laugh, memorizing the music it created. To him, it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

But then Haymitch hollered, "NOW!" interrupting Peeta's moment.

"Shall we?" Peeta laughed, offering his hand. "We shall," Katniss laughed as well as she took it. They walked briskly down the halls, leaving the wretched hearts of those lost in unrequited love behind them.

Peeta towed Katniss along the maze of halls, feeling her warm hand in his own. He wished all time was like this, just he, just her. But of course, that was too much to ask for, because at that moment they found Haymitch and Katniss started loosening her grip, the moment long enough.

Haymitch ignored them as they walked into his quarters. Unsure of what to do, Katniss sat down on the edge of the bed and Peeta stood next to her until Haymitch turned from the wall he was standing against.

"That boy is going to be the death of me," was all he said. Peeta thought he was serious, and so was amazed when Katniss laughed once beside him.

Katniss knew by the exasperated gleam in Haymitch's grey eyes that he was serious, but not entirely. She knew how he felt, mostly from experience. Gale was... endearing. And frustrating. And dangerous. All at the same time.

"That's just Gale, Haymitch," she sighed.

"I know sweetheart. Which is why you love him!" Haymitch bellowed. Seeing Katniss's shocked expression he quickly barked his loud laugh and said he was only joking, didn't they have a sense of humor? Katniss and Peeta laughed unconvincingly with him, unsure of their assumption that he was sober.

Eventually the forced hysterics were too much for Peeta, and he demanded, "what do you want Haymitch?"

"It's a little early for this, but I'm assigning your roles for training those two in presentation."

"The interviews, then?" Katniss inquired.

"Yes. Instead of the way Effie and I split it last year, I'm not taking part in it. Instead, they will each have three hours with Effie for presentation, and then five hours with you two."

"Wait, they're going to be coached together?"

"No no no of course not. What I meant was each of you will take one of them for your one on one coaching sessions."

"So, who's coaching whom?" Peeta asked reluctantly.

Haymitch smiled and took a bottle of clear liquid out from under his pillow. "That's up to you kiddos," he said, and laughed again.

* * *

Peeta tried to shake off the unnecessary nerves their conversation had created in him. Why should he be worried about training Mira?

Not Mira... said a little voice. True, if he was honest with himself, he was much more nervous that he would have to train Gale. He knew that Gale loved Katniss also, everyone did. And he knew that Katniss preferred Gale in many ways.

But, as apprehensive as he was toward training Gale, it was nothing compared to how he would feel if Katniss had to. The thought of Katniss spending five hours alone with Gale was worrisome, at best. Depressing as well. Peeta felt he could never measure up to Gale, and was afraid to try, lest he appear desperate.

So instead joining the others for dinner after the tribute's private session, he lay on his bed, trying to decide whether he would rather face extreme intimidation and self confidence deprivation or jealousy and depression. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted nothing to do with it.

He abruptly thought how selfish he was being. What did it matter what he felt, when there were people's lives on the line. He knew instinctively that Katniss would be a bigger help to Gale than he would. Still, he had to tell himself that his feelings weren't important a hundred times before he could make up his mind.

Unhappily, he sank into oblivion, haunted by dreams of Katniss in the arena, Katniss with Gale, and himself unable to reach her.

Gale drummed his fingers again and again on the hard table, feeling the silky table cloth under his fingers, the vibration they created each time they cuffed the wood. His whole body was thrumming with left over adrenaline from his private session. He was fairly pleased with himself, thinking maybe he would get an eight or nine at best. The little group around the table was excited. Haymitch was drunk, but still coherent. Peeta had remained in his room, claiming he felt unwell, which had improved Gale's mood even more.

But now, as everyone sat laughing lightly around the table, Gale couldn't bring himself to join in the festive atmosphere. His mind had, of its own accord, begun to mull over his private session, picking out mistakes and details that could have been deducted from his score, depressing him and reminding him why they were here.

He had also noticed that Katniss was unusually quiet, and he could tell her mind was else where. He didn't think too much of it, though, because to do that would be to open up another route for pain and insanity in his already crowded mind.

Instead, he excused himself and went to his room to contemplate in private.

By the time he and Mira had been the only ones left in the lunch room, he had grown unreasonably anxious. He could tell Mira felt the same, but offered no consolation. When his name was called, he almost ran through the doors. He tried to call his plan to mind, but couldn't.

Rather than allowing himself to panic, though, he strode to the archery station. He carefully picked his weapon, remembering that the bows and arrows were more rigid than the ones he used back home.

In lieu of shooting it right away though, he strung the bow and then walked to the spear throwing station. He could tell the Gamemakers were eying him, wary of what he was doing. Ignoring them, he picked his two targets carefully. He threw the spear with all his might and without looking to see if it hit its mark launched the arrow at the next target.

There was a collective gasp as the Gamemakers looked at his targets. Both had flown backward with the force of the hit, and had been skewered directly through the heart.

He had laid a few other traps, and demonstrated how they could be set off with training dummies, but he knew his score would really be based off the archery demonstration.

Unaware of how exhausted he was, he was almost surprised as he realized their floor had become quiet as everyone went to bed. He was about to fall asleep when there was a light knock on his door, and he groaned.

Katniss let herself into Gale's room quietly. She half-hoped he was asleep, because she didn't know why she had come. She should have gone to Peeta instead, but her feet had lead her here.

She almost turned around when she saw the lump under the covers, sure that Gale was asleep. But something kept her rooted in her spot, and a small smile played on her lips as cold nostalgia washed through her. She longed for their easy friendship now more than ever, and felt bitterly selfish for it. Gale needed a friend more than she did, so why couldn't she be that for him?

Gale looked so much younger in his sleep, all the hardness and anger wiped off his face. Katniss thought that maybe this was how he had looked before his father had died.

She let herself look at him for a few more moments, and just as she was about to leave Gale's voice drifted from the bed. "Are you just going to stare at me all night, or did you have something to say?"

She stopped with her hand on the door knob, and without turning around said, "I didn't want to wake you,"

"Well you didn't. What's up Catnip?"

She turned and found him sitting up on the bed. He patted the space beside him, and she reluctantly sat down. "You tell me."

"Nah. I'd rather just sleep," he said.

"You will try, won't you?" Katniss asked, barely keeping her voice steady. As the time flashed closer and closer to when Gale would leave, the thought of losing him had become more real, and more unbearable than ever.

Gale looked at her for a long time. Katniss was afraid he wasn't going to answer, until he took her hand in both of his. "Of course, Katniss. Why wouldn't I? Where is this coming from?"

"I don't know," she sighed. She stood up suddenly, saying, "Get some sleep, Gale," and walked out of the door, leaving Gale staring confused and helpless to do anything but watch her swing it shut behind her. As he lay back in bed he wished he knew how to decode Katniss's actions, and fell to sleep, knowing his dreams would be troubled, and focused mainly on her.

A/N: Okay, first of all, thanks so much for all the reviews on the last chapter! You were all so nice! :) Apparently, I have set a pretty high standard for myself this time, so I hope this lives up to it! I realize it was a little slow, with nothing actually happening, and mostly just characters thoughts. Next chapter though, you'll hear Mira's training and all the training scores, since Gale left before they were shown. I'm also hoping to get to the interviews next time, so I can start the actual Games soon after haha, but no promises ;) Any way, please please review! I have to know if people like the story, or what I can do to make it any better! Thanks for reading!

-mockingjay (: