The next two days of training went smoothly for both Terrance and Wiress. The trainers were taken aback at Wiress' ability to use of some light weapons such as a bow and arrow, a sling-shot, a light sword, and some knives. Wiress calmly explained how she learned the physics behind each one from observation. They smiled and nodded at her explanations. Terrance was working with heavier weapons. They spent the last day working on traps as they knew they could probably do better with those and survival coming from a non-career district.
"Wiress Caprenter!" One of the gamemakers called.
"Go get 'em, Engineer!" Terrance said giving her a thumbs-up. She smiled at him before walking into the training room. She made a rather complex trap and then tossed a dummy into it before using a bow and arrow on it. She then divided some plants into poisonous and edible before building another trap and then spearing the 'opponent' and then cutting it with some knives. She was dismissed and high-fived Terrance as she sat down.
Terrance focused on heavy weapons and traps. He used Wiress' advice and tried to think about it as a physics lesson. He could tell the gamemakers were impressed that tributes from Three were doing well in training. When he was done, he looked up and said in a whisper, "There. That's for you, sis." He was dismissed and both he and Wiress tried not to laugh as the well toned girl from Four glared at them before strutting into the training room.
"Terrance Ironsmith. Eight." Terrance cheered and high-fived Beetee and Wiress. "Wiress Carpenter. Nine!" The crowd was audibly shocked. "District Three looks like they have some extraordinarily clever tributes this year!" Caesar Flickerman said as the crowd cheered.
"Great job, you two. Great job - I'm so proud of you!" Beetee wrapped both Terrance and Wiress in a hug.
"Thanks, man." Terrance said grinning. Wiress smiled and took Beetee's hand. They watched the rest of the training scores with Terrance writing notes every so often.
"Well! I'm off then!" Eustacia said hopping up from the couch. "My, I'm certainly attending a lot of sponsorship parties for you this year! Isn't this fun?" She spun around and looked at her charges on the couch. "Mr. Tesla and Miss Carpenter, what on earth are you two playing at?" She stared at their clasped hands that were on Beetee's lap.
"I - we- I was a bit nervous." Wiress stammered.
"Well, don't be! Goodness, I'm sure you'll have sponsors now!" Eustacia squealed before flouncing out of the living room.
"You two seriously need to be more discrete." Terrance muttered. "Beetee, do you need to talk with me about anything?" Wiress disentangled her hand from Beetee's and scooted more toward the edge of the couch to give Beetee and Terrance some alone time.
"No -" Beetee said thinking. "No, I think you did very very well, Terrance." He paused. "Just like your sister." He smiled. "You'll go far."
"Thanks." Terrance said.
"We can talk about interview strategies tomorrow. Both of you." Terrance and Wiress knew it was their cue to go to their rooms.
Wiress lay in bed thinking. She knew her grandmother, Julie, Melissa, and the teachers at the Engineering Academy would be proud of her score. She briefly wondered how much of a threat the Careers thought she posed. But she knew that she had worked hard for everyone at home. A knock on a certain part of the wall indicated Terrance had put in his ear plugs. She smiled as she went to Beetee's room.
"Hey, beautiful." Beetee said from under his blankets.
"Were you resting long?" Wiress asked.
"Yeah. And just pondering how I was so lucky to get to know such a smart beautiful young lady such as yourself." Wiress smiled before joining him and sharing a few kisses.
"Beetee - how can I pretend to be someone I'm not during my interview?" Wiress asked as Beetee rubbed her arms.
"They can dress you up how they like, but your mind will shine through." Beetee whispered. "Go in knowing that someone has seen you and loves you exactly as you are. Right here right now." Wiress smiled.
"The way I love you." Wiress whispered before kissing her mentor with all the passion in her heart. They smiled at each other knowing they would have a good few hours purely to themselves until Eustacia came back from her party.