A/N: SORRY! Guys, I am super sorry! Although, with all the drama, holidays, and this being the chapter I wanted to avoid most, well, still super sorry! Don't worry though! I'll have almost all my stories updated very soon! Also I'm thinking of doing a TMI one. At the end of the chapter there will be an author's note on some of my ideas and I would really appreciate if ya'll could pick which one you like! New name! Good or should I go back? Ok, enough rambling, on with the story!

Disclaimer: do not own this amazing series that has taken over my life. Suzanne Collins does.

I rub the sheets between my fingers. It's silk with weird patterns all over it. It's delicate in my hands. I find it odd though. How can something so simple yet, pretty be in the Capitol? I don't know.

I remember back at home, that when I was a little kid I always wanted to fall asleep late and wake up late. Although for the last couple of years I've been sleeping late, but waking up early. Now, though, I barely get two hours of sleep. I look out the window and see the sun is already awake. Oh well, there's no time to catch up on sleep now. I go take a shower and put on the clothes they chose for me today, for training.

Today I'll have to be with my fellow tributes in normal clothes, while preparing to kill each other. The clothes I have are black pants that are tight on the thighs. A long-sleeved tunic that is the color of red and purple. Finally, comfy leather shoes. I run a hand through my hair and consider it okay.

I decide to spare a few minutes by playing with the window. I zoom in on people and make fun of whatever they're doing. I catch one women dying her daughter's hair in the middle of the street. Who would want a daughter with green hair? I'm too caught up laughing and making comments that I didn't even notice Haymitch. "Enjoying that, boy?" I hear him say and I immediately stop playing with the window. "Come one let's go eat breakfast. I bet Katniss is already there," he says with a wink. I feel color flood my cheeks and Haymitch guffaws.

We walk down to the dining room and see Katniss is already there eating. Haymitch and I tell her morning and put food on our plates. I take a slice of melon, sausage, eggs, and hot chocolate. Haymitch just takes some stew. I notice Katniss is wearing the exact same thing as me, except in girl-form.

She doesn't seem to like the idea and suddenly that trusting feeling from last night is gone. I really need Katniss to trust me. How can I save her if I don't have her trust or even the slightest bit of friendship?

I shake the thought from my mind. I don't care, with trust or without I will save Katniss. I look at Haymitch and see him take a big gulp from it. "So, let's get down to business. Training. First off, if you like, I'll coach you separately. Decide now."

"Why would you coach us separately?" Katniss asks.

"Say if you had a secret skill you might not want the other to know," Haymitch replies.

Katniss and I cross looks and I speak up. "I don't have any secret skills. And I already know what yours is, right? I mean, I've eaten enough of your squirrels." The sentence makes her take a confused look in her eyes. It's true, though. My dad always buys her squirrels and we all eat them. my mom doesn't like that we bought them from Katniss. She said we should buy food from the seam but I know that it's just that my dad loves Katniss' mother.

"You can couch us together," Katniss tells our mentor. I nod.

"All right, so give me some idea of what you can do," he asks.

"I can't do anything. Unless you count baking bread," I say. It's the truth. I can't use a weapon like Katniss.

"Sorry, I don't. Katniss. I already know you're handy with a knife," he says to Katniss.

"Not really. But I can hunt. With a bow and arrow." she replies.

"And you're good?" he asks.

She considers it a moment and then replies, "I'm all right."

"She excellent," I say. "My father buys her squirrels. He always comments on how the arrows never pierce the body. She hits everyone in the eye. It's the same with the rabbits she sells the butcher. She can even bring down a deer."

Katniss looks like she's surprised. I am too; I never knew how much I actually think about her. I guess over the years I've always wanted to know more about her, other that she can hunt and sing. "What are you doing?" she asks me, trying to figure me out.

"What are you doing? If he's going to help you, he has to know what you're capable of. Don't underrate yourself," I reply.

"What about you? I've seen you in the market. You can lift hundred-pound bags of flour. Tell him that. That's not nothing," she snaps at me.

"Yes, and I'm sure the arena will full of bags of flour to chuck at people. It's not like being able to use a weapon. You know it isn't," I snap back.

"He can wrestle," she says turning to Haymitch. "He came in second in our school competition last year, only after his brother."

"What use is that? How many times have you seen someone wrestle someone to death," I say disgusted. Can't she get it? I can't do anything! It's no use arguing anyway, she's going to win.

"There's always hand-to-hand combat. All you need is to come up with a knife, and you'll at least stand a chance. If I get jumped, I'm dead!" she shouts. Just the thought of her sentence brings stabs of pain to my heart. She's too strong, though.

"But you won't! You'll be living up in some tree eating raw squirrels and picking off people with arrows. You know what my mother said to me when she came to say good-bye, as if to cheer me up, she says maybe District Twelve will finally have a winner. Then I realized, she didn't mean me, she meant you!" I burst out.

"Oh, she meant you," she says with some dismissal.

"She said 'She's a survivor, that one' She is," I say repeating my mother's words with such hurt.

A wave of confusion crosses her eyes. She must find it impossible how a mother can already throw away her son to the Capitol. She looks up me and she sees the hurt in my eyes. She knows I'm telling the truth. Her eyes suddenly go distant and then she speaks like she's a little girl, "But only because someone helped me."

I look down at the roll in her hands and I remember her in the rain, dying. It's one of my worst memories but I can't show her I'm hurt so I just shrug. "People will help you in the arena. They'll be tripping over each other to sponsor you."

"No more than you," she replies.

I roll my eyes and look at Haymitch. "She has no idea. The effect she can have." I run my nails down the wood on the table. I refuse to look at Katniss. She really has no idea. She has no idea that she is making me die for her. That's the effect she's having on me. I also see it in other people. Everyone admires her. She has the guts to go out in those woods for her family. She can't help affect them. Although, to me, she's caused me so much it's like she has me wrapped around her delicate finger. I'm just like her mother; a goner.

I risk looking at her and she's glaring at her roll. She thinks I insulted her? How can she think that? I was hoping that it would actually boost her confidence. Now I know, all that work to gain her trust, was useless.

After a moment Haymitch finally speaks, "Well, then. Well, well, well. Katniss, there's no guarantee there'll be bows and arrows in the arena, but during your private session with the Gamemakers, show them what you can do. Until then, stay clear of archery. Are you any good at trapping?"

"I know a few basic snares," she mumbles. I have to fight to roll my eyes.

"That may be significant in terms of food," he replies. "And, Peeta," I look over to him. "She's right, never underestimate strength in the arena. Very often, physical power tilts the advantage to a player. In the Training Center, they will have weights, but don't reveal how much you can lift in front of the other tributes. The plan's the same for both of you. You go to group training. Spend the time trying to learn something you don't know. Throw a spear. Swing a mace. Learn to tie a decent knot. Saving showing what you're best at until your private sessions. Are we clear?"

We both nod.

"One last thing. In public, I want you by each other's side every minute," orders Haymitch. Katniss and I start to protest, but he slams his hand on the table. "Every minute! It's not open for discussion! You agreed to do as I said! You will be together, you will appear amiable to each other. Now get out. Meet Effie at the elevator at eleven for training."

On the corner of my eye I see Katniss bite her lip and storm back to her room. Even when she's that far I can still hear the door slam. I know that it's meant for me.

**##**

I go meet Effie at the elevator and see that Effie is the only one there. We wait there for about five minutes. There's no talking really. Then, we see Katniss coming biting her nails, but I think she realizes she's biting them because she stops. We get on the elevator and it takes less than a minute to get down to the training room. The training room is below the ground, so I'm surprised we got there so quick.

The elevator slides open and we're greeted with a big gym stashed with weapons and obstacle courses. It's not ten yet, but we're the last one that arrived. That's District Twelve for you; always the last in everything.

The tributes are in a circle and you can practically feel the tension. Someone pins a cloth square on my shirt with the number 12. When we join the circle, the head trainer Atala, steps up and tells us the schedule. People who exceeded in each skill will remain at their stations. We all can go wherever we want freely. We are not allowed to fight with any of the other tributes. There are people who will help us if we intend to do combat.

Atala reads the stations that are open, and I'm frightened because I barely know how to do half of them. Compared to the career tributes… I'll be dead the first day, then how will I be able to help Katniss?

Atala releases us; I see the careers go to the most frightening weapon. It amazes me how experienced they are with them. I look at Katniss, my partner in this I guess, and see that she's about to run to a weapon. I push her arm gently and she's startled when I do it. "Where would you like to start," I tell her calmly.

She looks around the gym and then turns back to me, "Suppose we tie some knots," she answers.

"Right you are," I say. We go over to an empty area where the trainer looks glad to have people. The trainer takes note that Katniss is not new to tying notes, he shows us one that leaves an opponent dangling by his leg from a tree. Katniss and I put all of our focus on this knot for about an hour until we both know how to do it well, then we move to camouflage. This one is my favorite. Swirling the colors together reminds me of making frosting back home. It feels natural when I put the berry juice and mud on my skin, the trainer in this station is very happy at my work.

I look at Katniss and see that she's looking at the boy from District Two throwing spears. She looks kind of worried so I try to distract her from him. "I do the cakes."

"The cakes? What cakes?" she asks.

"At home. The iced ones, for the bakery," I tell her.

She looks at the pattern on my arm and her eyes give me a hint that she's annoyed at something.

"It's lovely. If only you could frost someone to death," she says.

"Don't be so superior. You can never tell what you'll find in the arena. Say it's actually a gigantic cake-" I begin.

"Say we move on," she interrupts annoyed.

After that the next three days of training go by with no words. The only good thing is that we at least get some useful skills. How to starts fires, to knife throwing, even how to make shelter. Even though Haymitch tells us to be mediocre I master hand-to-hand command, while Katniss excels in edible plants, probably from the woods. Although, we still follow Haymitch's order to stay away from weightlifting and archery.

Through the training session Gamemakers take down notes and eat their fancy Capitol buffet. Although both Katniss and I notice that they're giving District Twelve more than their fair share of time.

Food is served on District Twelve's floor, but during lunch we eat with the other tributes. Food comes in carts around the room and you can serve yourself. Katniss and I sit together, and, because of Haymitch's instructions, we have to keep up a nice conversation.

It's hard to get a topic to talk about. Everything either reminds us of home or the Capitol, but one day I have a plan. I empty the basket that holds the District breads. I explain each bread. What district they're from and why they look like that. "This one is from District Four. See how it's fish-shaped and is tinted with seaweed? It represents the District's flavor," I say pointing to said bread. I explain each district to her and when I'm done I put the loaves back in the basket and say, "And there you have it."

"You certainly know a lot," she says.

"Only about bread. Okay, now laugh as if I've said something funny," I tell her and both us give a good enough laugh. This is both killing us. It's obvious Katniss doesn't want to do anything with me, so what's the point? It's been kind of awkward since she slammed that door. Although, I have to keep it up per Haymitch's instructions, so I do. "All right, I'll keep smiling pleasantly and you talk."

"Did I ever tell you about the time I was chased by a bear?" she asks me.

Of course she's the one with an interesting story. She's been out to the woods, while I've been stuck in the bakery. "No, but it sounds fascinating," I reply.

So she tells me. "Well, I was just wandering through the woods when I spotted a beehive on one of the trees. I knew my mother and sister would love the honey."

"As would you. Your sister, her name is Prim, right?" I ask her.

She nods her head and continues the story. "I was about to get the hive until a black bear appeared."

"So did you run or challenge it?" I say.

"I challenged it of course! Although the bear slashed its claws at my right arm and gave me this," she tells me. She pulls up her sleeve and I see four scars about two inches away from her shoulder.

"Ouch, that looks like it hurt. I guess you didn't get it did you?" I ask.

"Of course I got it! Katniss Everdeen doesn't go down without a fight!" Good to hear I think. "And, yes, it did hurt, but my mother healed it. I only have the scars now. So, that day, I traded some squirrel to your dad for some loaves of bread and we had bread and honey for about a week." I give her a real smile to show her that she can win and she will. Slowly, one of her own rare smiles creeps on her lips.

One day while we're practicing with spears I noticed the little District eleven girl, Rue I think, is watching is. "I think we have a shadow," I whisper to Katniss while she throws her spear.

She looks over to Rue and some hurt goes through her eyes. She picks up a spear and gives it to me. I throw it and say gently, "I think her name's Rue."

She bites her lip. "What can we do about it?" she asks a little too harshly.

"Nothing to do. Just making conversation."

Each day, when training is done Haymitch and Effie badger us through meals about what we did, who saw us, how the other tributes were. They seem to make us in shape. They give us advice on what do and etc. in my mind I want to just blow out at them, but instead I am patient. Unlike Katniss.

When we go to bed the day we saw Rue I mutter, "Someone ought to get Haymitch a drink."

She makes something that has a snort and laugh at the same time, and then she stops. "Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around," she begs.

"All right, Katniss," I say tired of this. I'm getting too caught up in acting like friends that I'm actually trying to be her friend. After that we only acknowledge each other in public.

The third day is our private sessions. Being the boy from District Twelve I'm second to last. All the tributes stay at the dining room. After they enter they don't come back. After Rue leave Katniss and I wait there with no talking. When they call me and I rise I hear Katniss blurt out, "Remember what Haymitch said about being sure to throw the weights."

I look at her and it looks like she didn't want to say the words. But instead I just tell her, "Thanks. I will. You… shoot straight." Shoot straight? Of course she'll shoot straight! What an idiot I am! She nods and I enter the gym. My heart is pumping in my chest and I forget, for a moment, where I am. I give my head a little shake and go over to the weights. When I look at the Gamemakers, I see that no one is even looking at me. They all have their arms on each other's shoulders and singing a drinking song. I think it's a drinking song?

This gets me mad but I don't have the audacity to show it. Instead I put all my anger into throwing the weight. With each throw, wherever it lands I imagine it's one of their heads. I'm not even paying attention that I grab one that's too heavy. I try and throw it but it slips and almost hits my foot. Luckily I have the sense to jump out of the way. I look over to them and they're looking at me. Oh, so now they look at me? "You may go now Mr. Mellark," one of them tells me. I nod and go to the elevator. I hit the 12 button and as the elevator goes up I think. It's doesn't matter what score I get. This isn't for my survival. It's Katniss'. If she doesn't survive, neither do I.

A/N: If you didn't survive Peeta, a lot of girls wouldn't either D:! He is soooooooooooo amazing isn't he? *sigh* I love him! Well, who doesn't? Again, super sorry for the long wait! For all you Harry Potter fans who read this, have you ever seen 'Harry Potter in The Hood?' it's Hilarious! I also don't know why but 'Teenagers' by My Chemical Romance (: D) and 'Hot Mess' by Cobra Starship gave me a lot of inspiration on this chapter! Ok, now please tell me which one of these summaries are your favorites. I really want to make a TMI fanfic but I need to know which one is the best idea! Here they are:

Number 1: "I never thought I was talented enough. I never thought anyone could love me. And I never thought my brother would die for me and because of me, when he was the biggest supporter at my dream" this one is like a TMI version of that Raise You Voice movie with Hilary Duff.

Number 2: 'Princess Clarrisa's father always told her that he knows best. Her mother always told her your heart knows best. She never predicted for her heart to lead her to a poor street boy, that she couldn't help fall in love with." This one is a little bit like Aladdin I guess.

Number 3: I don't have a summary for this one but it's like a Beauty and the beast one.

Number 4: Again, no summary, but it's going to be Titanic TMI version.

Well, those are all for now. These are all AU! Also, in these stories my characters will be OOC! Please vote! You don't have to read The Mortal Instruments to vote! Please vote though!

Going to go see Beauty and the beast this Thursday at Fox Theater! :D Super Excited! It's my favorite Disney movie!

New name! Keep or Delete? :)

Also, I gots a twitter! My twitter name: Bakergirl16. Yep, that's me! I bake ;) ! Just like Peeta Mellark! Remember Harry Potter fans! Check out 'Harry Potter in The Hood'! You will laugh, I promise! My youtube accounts are :Soralover14 and Thehungergamesgirl14! Woah, Too much Pep! Sorry it's the snow! I think?

Oh, and also sorry about the mistakes in my story. Hee-hee! I am always in a rush D: I am sorry! It's always my fault! Oh well, Thank you for reading! I will have my other stories updated very soon! Remember PLEASE VOTE!

Updated Day: January 11, 2011 :)