Chapter 2 – The Training
My body was never washed for so long and by so many kinds of gels, soaps, milks and God knows what else. They shave my face with some special gel, which will stop my beard from growing, so I would not have to shave it again. They also wash my hair about five times, they cut it and put some shampoos and conditioners into it. My prep team is made from three people. A women Marge with blue hair, another woman Mindy with orange skin and bright yellow hair and finally a man called Bobcat, who is following the latest fashion (inspired by animals) and wears a bobcat ears, he has tattoos on his face, so it resembles the animal and he also has whiskers. He looks a little creepy. But I get used to him. When they're done, they send me to a room right next to their little beauty studio. There is Haymitch waiting for me.
„So what did you want to discuss? I need to be elsewhere soon, so be quick. " he insists. Okay I'll spit it out immediately.
„Well, I wanted to make a deal with you." I say. He looks at me suspiciously.
"Let me guess." he says sceptically "You want me to choose you over her and you are going to tell me all your amazing skills and why are you better then her." he says and to my surprise he sounds a little annoyed.
"No." I say simply. He seems surprised.
„What kind of a deal you want to make then? " He asks.
„I would like you..." I hesitate and take a deep breathe "...to choose Katniss as your favorite. Choose her over me. Do anything to get her out." he looks at me in awe. I guess he wasn't expecting this.
"What?!" he asks like he thinks he heard me wrong.
"You heard me well. When we're in the arena, don't care about me. Do everything for her. Use all the money and gifts for her." I say and look for his reaction. He still seems shocked.
"Why would you do that?" asks Haymitch still shocked.
"Because..." I hesitate. My heart is running like it wants to jump out of my chest. "...because I love her." I admit and a blush creeps up my face and I have to look down.
"Oh, damn it!" he exclaims and he looks angry. He puts his head into his hands and mutters something. I guess this has never happened to our mentor before.
"I want to use it to protect her. To help her survive." I continue. "I was thinking that if I would reveal my love for her during the interviews, it would be good for her wouldn't it? We would be interesting and maybe they would favor us wouldn't they?" I ask.
"Yeah, yeah, that's a good idea. But first let me ask you one more question." he says and his eyes lock on mine. "She doesn't know about it? Did it happen just now?"
"Well, no and no. I fell in love with her when I was five." I admit. I see no point in hiding it from Haymitch.
"Why didn't you tell her then?!" he asks shocked "You had all eleven years to do so!"
"I'm a coward. She just makes me so nervous, that I couldn't tell her. She was a hunter and I was only a townie boy... I was afraid that if I would say something like that to her, she would shot an arrow through me right there..." he laughs in response.
"I don't blame you, she has a lot of temper. Well, you don't have to do anything about it now. As you already said, leave the bomb for the interviews, that will be perfect. It could help in the arena too. If you would make a romance with her in the arena, that would get a huge number of sponsors. Of course it would help if she would fall in love with you too. But I'm afraid, she will need a lot of convincing." he says thoughtfully. "For now, just make a good show. I have to go now." he finishes and taps my shoulder with his hand. Few minutes after he closes the door they open again.
There is a woman. She has long black hair, extraordinary green eyes and normal looking a little tanned skin. You would not recognize she's from Capitol. I would guess district 4. She smiles at me.
„Hi Peeta." she starts „I'm Portia and I will be your stylist." she extends her hand and I shake it firmly.
„Well as you already know I'm Peeta and I'm grateful you will help me." I say as we sit down.
For a while we talk about the games, about importance of the first impression and she says that they want to make us special today. Different that the other tributes from 12 in past. I can't imagine what they can do with coal miners, but I don't protest.
„You're a baker's son am I right?" Portia asks with interest.
„Yes I am. Why?" How could this help us?
„So you're not afraid of fire are you?" she asks quite too innocently. Well I'm not afraid of fire, but I respect it, because I know what a damage it can do.
In half an hour, I'm walking with my prep team towards the elevators in simple black unitard that covers me from ankle to neck, with fluttering cape made of streams of orange, yellow, and red and shiny leather boots. I also have a matching headpiece in my hair. They plan to set our costumes on fire. Great!
Portia ensured me, that the fire is synthetic and it will not do any harm to us, but I'm still worried. By the elevator we meet with Katniss and her prep team. Her clothing is identical. They put some makeup on her and she really looks amazing. Her face looks darker and as she scowls above her barbecue faith, she looks really terrifying with those dark shades on her face. Surprisingly as we arrive, she seems relieved to see me and even smiles a little. I nervously smile back at her. On our way down, everyone is chatting about our fire show enthusiastically. Except the two of us of course.
Down in the room, which looks like stables, Cinna (Katniss's stylist) and Portia direct us into our chariot and carefully arrange us and the drape of our capes, before moving off to consult something with each other. I can see the other pairs of tributes, nervously going around and their prep teams arranging them. Some of them laugh at us and our stylists. I guess they will change their minds, if everything goes well and they set us on fire without killing us. Suddenly Katniss leans closer to me and whisper.
„What do you think? About the fire?" I see worries in her face too.
"I'll rip off your cape if you'll rip off mine," I whisper back quietly.
„Deal" she confirms and stands up straight again. "I know we promised Haymitch we'd do exactly what they said, but I don't think he considered this angle." she adds.
"Where is Haymitch, anyway? Isn't he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?" I ask. Is he lying drunk somewhere again? In such an important moment as this?
„With all that alcohol in him, it's probably not advisable to have him around an open flame," Katniss says in a serious tone. I look at her and can't help it but laugh out loud. For the first time since the reaping and it feels good, because it calms me down a little. Katniss laughs too. Her laugh is so beautiful, it's like angel music for my ears. I'm so taken by it that for a second I stare at her with a big idiotic smile on my face. „Oh, come on! Stop smiling like an idiot, this is serious situation! You're going to Hunger Games!"
The opening music begins. It's easy to hear all around the Capitol. Massive doors slide open revealing the crowd-lined streets. The ride lasts about twenty minutes and ends up at the City Circle, where they will welcome us and escort us into the Training Center, which will be our home/prison until the Games begin.
The tributes from District 1 ride out first. They look beautiful, spray-painted silver, in tasteful tunics glittering with jewels. District 1 makes luxury items for the Capitol. You can hear the roar of the crowd. They are always the favorites. District 2 gets into position to follow them. In no time at all, we are approaching the door and I can see that the twilight is coming. The tributes from District 11 are just rolling out when Cinna appears with a lighted torch.
"Here we go then," he says, and before we can react he sets us on fire. I gasp, waiting to be burned, but there is only a faint tickling sensation. Cinna climbs up in front of us and ignites our headdresses. He lets out a sign of relief. "It works."
"Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you!" he says with an encouraging smile.
He jumps off the chariot and has one last idea. He shouts something up at us, but the music is so loud that the only world I get is „hold". He shouts again and gestures to hands. Does he want us to hold hands?
"What's he saying?" Katniss turns to me and I stay in awe because only now I see how she looks with the fire on. Dazzling. The dark shades fits with the flames perfectly. She looks like some deadly queen of fire. She's gonna win every sponsor in the audience. After few seconds I realize that she was asking me a question and she's waiting for an answer.
„I think he said for us to hold hands." I say. And it takes all my courage to extend my hand and take hers into it. „Oh man! I'm holding hands with Katniss Everdeen! Now I can die in peace!" I think in my head and I have to put a lot of effort to control my face so there would not be that idiotic smile again. Her hand is small in compare with mine. It's bony and cold, but as soft as silk. It fits into mine nicely. Like it was created to be in mine. It's just a perfect hand I would say. Sorry for babbling... You'll get used to it sooner or later. We look back at Cinna for approval and he gives us thumbs up. And all of the sudden the horses move and we ride into the city.
The crowd's initial alarm at our appearance quickly changes to cheers and shouts of "District Twelve!" or "Peeta! Katniss!" Everyone in the audience is now looking at us, immediately ignoring the other chariots. I have no problem with people staring at me so I smile widely and wave and try to look cheerful. I feel that next to me Katniss is like frozen. I guess this is not her style. But after a while she relaxes a little. I see us on a great screen and I must say I'm surprised by how amazing we look. In the deepening twilight, the firelight illuminates our faces. We seem to be leaving a trail of fire off the flowing capes. We both look more attractive but still recognizable since we don't have tones of makeup on our faces. Breathtaking. Unforgettable.
After a while Katniss also has a big smile for everyone, she waves and it's so not her. I haven't seen her smile like this for a long time. But I guess she realized, we have to start fighting to get sponsors. For now I'm glad we're holding hands. It is the only steady point for me. She grips my hand very tight. In one moment I hear a boom of screams and exclaims in the audience on the right side. For the first moment I don't know why, but then I see Katniss blowing a kiss towards the other side and that's the reason. She's so amazing.
„Peeta and Katniss!" I hear in the audience and I'm surprised, how fond of us they already are.
We don't stop to smile and wave even for a second. They are showering us with flowers. Katniss catches a rose thrown from the audience, sniffs it and blows a kiss towards the thrower. Hundreds of people extend their hands to catch it. I'm not surprised. I would like a kiss from her myself. I think we both feel like a little drunk by our sudden fame. We smile and wave until we enter the city circle. Only now Katniss seems to realize how much is she crushing my hand with her own. She wants to let go of it, but I grip it tight.
"No, don't let go of me," I say. "Please. I might fall out of this thing." The truth is that I want to hold her hand as long as I can. It's so nice. She inspects me with her flickering silver eyes for a second and then she says „Okay." and she keeps holding my hand. We stop in front of the president mansion, he welcomes us, wishes us luck and we're driven in the direction of the training center.
When the door close behind us, we're immediately surrounded by our prep teams who congratulate us, Portia and Cinna put down the flames and Katniss finally let's go of my hand. My hand is like frozen so I have to massage some blood into it.
"Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a little shaky there," I admit to her.
"It didn't show," She says. "I'm sure no one noticed." she adds.
"I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. You should wear flames more often. They suit you."
Damn it! You said it out loud! What are you doing you idiot?! The only thing I'm able to do is a wide smile. I'm sure it is the idiotic one, which always appears on my face when I dream about her. On one hand I feel relieved that I'm able to speak to her but on the other hand what the hell I'm trying to accomplish by this?! She seems surprised first, but then to my shock and surprise, she smiles at me too, she stands on her tiptoes and plants a light kiss on the bruise on my cheek. Oh my! Katniss kissed me! She gave me a kiss! I can't describe that flush of happiness and warm feeling in my body, when her lips touched my skin. My heart feels like jumping out of my chest. It was so unexpected that I didn't know what to do so that idiotic smile remained on my face for a longer time. I regain my normal face as soon as I can, but I can't help but smile all the way to our floor. We ride the elevators to the twelfth floor, which is ours.
Effie seems enthusiastic about our success. District 12 tributes have never done such a coming. I wonder where Haymitch is. I hope he hasn't passed out somewhere. Effie keeps bubbling about how she was talking to everyone about us. The most funny thing she says is, that „If you put enough pressure on coal, it turns into pearls." I have to put a lot of effort to not laugh, but I assure her how clever that was. These Capitol people are so silly it's kind of cute. It's hard to hate them.
She leads me to my quarters. It's huge. I guess it's as big as one floor in the bakery. The bathroom is huge and everything is strange here. There is a number of buttons and levers. My shower is more a fight than taking a shower. When I finally find out how to regulate the temperature I accidentally hit some button and it start to flush bubbles all over me. Bubbles which smells like roses. So after a half an hour, I'm finally showered and I smell like roses. Great!
I go to the dining room when I meet Effie who was just going to fetch me, so she goes for Katniss instead.
Portia and Cinna are already there, standing on a balcony and looking at the city. I accompany them and admire the beauty of this view. I lock it in my mind for drawing it, but I guess I won't have any chance.
„You should see the roof garden" Cinna points out „if you want to calm down, go there, it's beautiful and calm." In five minutes he shows me the roof, which is a charming place. You can see all the Capitol from here. After a few minutes we go back.
When Katniss and Effie come, we sit around the table and the dinner is served. Right in that moment Haymitch comes. I must admit he surprises me. He looks clean, his clothes are nice and he even looks sober!
We eat and talk about our strategies. They are talking about our interview costumes. It seems that we will keep the flames as our symbol. Katniss will have some dress with flames and I will also have flames on my suit. This talk is interrupted by something strange. It happens when a redhead avox girl brings a cake. An avox is someone who was condemned guilty for bad crimes and their tongue has been cut out. They have to serve Capitol people in here. So this girl brings the cake which is on fire and Katniss seems all excited about it.
"What makes it burn? Is it alcohol?" she asks, looking up at the girl. "That's the last thing I wa — oh! I know you!" she exclaims and her eyes go wider as she examines her. The girl just shakes her head and goes away quickly. We all stare at Katniss as she turns around.
"Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you possibly know an Avox?" snaps Effie. "The very thought."
"What's an Avox?" she asks.
"Someone who committed a crime. They cut her tongue so she can't speak," says Haymitch. "She's probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you'd know her."
"And even if you did, you're not to speak to one of them unless it's to give an order," says Effie. "Of course, you don't really know her."
"No, I guess not, I just —" Katniss seems really lost, I can see that she was telling truth and she doesn't know how to hide it.
"Delly Cartwright." I say the first name which comes to my mind.
"That's who it is. I kept thinking she looked familiar as well. Then I realized she's a dead ringer for Delly." I say and look her in the eyes. She meets my gaze surprised. For a split of second she hesitates, but then.
"Of course, that's who I was thinking of. It must be the hair," she says.
„Something about her eyes too." I finish calmly.
"Oh, well. If that's all it is," says Cinna.
"And yes, the cake has spirits, but all the alcohol has burned off. I ordered it specially in honor of your fiery debut." he adds with a smile.
We eat the cake and move into a sitting room to watch the replay of the opening ceremonies that's being broadcast. A few of the other couples make a nice impression, but none of them can hold a candle to us. Even our own party lets out an "Ahh!" as they show us coming out of the Remake Center.
"Whose idea was the hand holding?" asks Haymitch.
"Cinna's," says Portia.
"Just the perfect touch of rebellion," says Haymitch. "Very nice." and he gives me a secret look and wink. What is that supposed to mean?
"Tomorrow morning is the first training session. Meet me for breakfast and I'll tell you exactly how I want you to play it," says Haymitch to us. "Now go get some sleep while the grown-ups talk."
We walk together down the corridor to our rooms. When we get to Katniss's room, I lean against the frame to assure she pays attention to me.
"So… Delly Cartwright. Imagine finding her lookalike here." I say and give her and inquisitive look. For a long while, she's thinking, hesitating. It must be something really secret to her. I remember the roof garden Cinna showed me.
"Have you been on the roof yet?" She shakes her head. "Cinna showed me. You can practically see the whole city. The wind's a bit loud, though." She inspects me cautiously, but then seems to get my point because she asks.
„Can we just go up?"
"Sure, come on," I say and lead her to the garden.
As we step into the cool, windy evening air, we both catch our breath at the view. The Capitol twinkles like a vast field of fireflies. We walk to a railing at the edge of the roof and look straight down the side of the building to the street, which is crowded with people.
"I asked Cinna why they let us up here. Weren't they worried that some of the tributes might decide to jump right over the side?" I say.
"What did he say?" She asks.
"You can't," I say. to prove it, I hold out my hand into seemingly empty space. There's a sharp zap and I jerk it back, because a small electric shock shots through me. "Some kind of electric field throws you back on the roof."
"Always worried about our safety," she says sarcastically.
"Do you think they're watching us now?" She still seems worried that someone will hear the truth about the avox girl.
"Maybe," I admit. "Come see the garden." I suggest and lead her there.
On the other side of the dome, there is a garden with flower beds and potted trees. From the branches hang hundreds of wind chimes, which account for the tinkling. Here in the garden, on this windy night, it's enough to drown out two people who are trying not to be heard. I look at her expectantly, waiting for her story to come.
"We were hunting in the woods one day. Hidden, waiting for game," she whispers.
"You and your father?" I interrupt her.
"No, my friend Gale. Suddenly all the birds stopped singing at once. Except one. As if it were giving a warning call. And then we saw her. I'm sure it was the same girl. A boy was with her. Their clothes were tattered. They had dark circles under their eyes from no sleep. They were running as if their lives depended on it," she whispers. She pauses for a moment, probably thinking about something.
"The hovercraft appeared out of nowhere," she continues "I mean, one moment the sky was empty and the next it was there. It didn't make a sound, but they saw it. A net dropped down on the girl and carried her up, fast, so fast like the elevator. They shot some sort of spear through the boy. It was attached to a cable and they hauled him up as well. But I'm certain he was dead. We heard the girl scream once. The boy's name, I think. Then it was gone, the hovercraft. Vanished into thin air. And the birds began to sing again, as if nothing had happened." she looks scared of that memory. I can see the fear in her eyes.
"Did they see you?" I asked.
"I don't know. We were under a shelf of rock," She replies and only now I realize that she's shivering.
"You're shivering," I say quietly, I pull off my jacket and wrap it around her shoulders as a true gentleman. I have nothing to lose. I have only a few days of my life in front of me so why not to try to be friends with her, what do I know, maybe she will like me too.
"They were from here?" I ask, while securing a button at her neck. She nods.
"Where do you suppose they were going?" I ask.
"I don't know that," she says. "Or why they would leave here." she adds after a while.
"I'd leave here," I blurt out. Only then I realize that's not a good thing to say in Capitol. It was loud enough to hear above the chimes. I laugh to cover it. "I'd go home now if they would let me. But you have to admit, the food's prime."
"It's getting chilly. We better go in," I say. Inside the dome, it's warm and bright. But her friend Gale keeps bugging in my head. Is he only a friend?
"Your friend Gale. He's the one who took your sister away at the reaping?" I ask in conversational tone.
"Yes. Do you know him?" She asks.
"Not really. I hear the girls talk about him a lot. I thought he was your cousin or something. You favor each other," I say, trying not to reveal how much I'm scared that she will say he's more than a friend..
"No, we're not related," she says quietly.
I just nod. "Did he come to say good-bye to you?"
"Yes," She says and now looks at me, examining my face. "So did your father. He brought
me cookies." This blows my wind out. My father went to say goodbye to her?! Gave her cookies?! Why?!
"Really?" I say nervously „Well, he likes you and your sister. I think he wishes he had a daughter instead of a houseful of boys." It's true. I guess he would like to have at least one daughter. And it's also true that he likes both Katniss and Prim. Maybe it's also because of their mother. Katniss seems surprised by my sayings.
"He knew your mother when they were kids," I add, searching if she knows about what once happened between them.
"Oh, yes. She grew up in town," is the only thing she says. So she doesn't know about it I guess.
We just arrived at her door. She takes down my jacket and gives it back to me.
"See you in the morning then." she says and looks me in the eyes. I'm still kind of hypnotized when she does look into my eyes intently like this.
"See you," I say and head down to my quarters.
I strip down my clothes, wash my face and get some pyjamas from the closet. I go to bed, but I can't sleep for a long time. I keep thinking about everything that happened. About the opening ceremony, about the games, but mostly about Katniss. How we held hands all the time during the ceremony and mostly how she kissed my cheek after it. Why would she do that? Than I'm back in thinking about her story with the avox girl. It was a weird story. And this leads me to thinking about Gale. I always thought he's something like her cousin. Or more hoped. I guess they met somewhere in the forest, because I haven't seen them together before she started hunting. But since that time, I saw them together very often. Going to hunt, going to hob, selling squirrels to my father. They must be really close. My question is, does she love him? If yes, I have a big problem. In these thoughts I fall into unsteady sleep. I wake up few times during the night, but most terrible is, when I wake up in the morning, hearing screams. I'm pretty sure it was a girl. I'm pretty sure it was Katniss. I hope it was only a nightmare. I would like to go and check on her, but I guess she would not open the door. So I keep lying in bed for like another hour. Then I give up sleeping and go to take a shower. Again I end up being attacked by rose bubbles. Well at least I smell nice. There is a pile of fresh clothes waiting for me on the floor. Black pants and green shirt.
I meet Haymitch on my way to the dining room and when we enter in, Katniss is already there. Sitting by the table, dipping pieces of roll in hot chocolate. I can't help than smile over that, because that's what I did just yesterday morning, when she came for breakfast.
"Good morning" I smile at her. She just mumbles her answer to me, she seems annoyed. I'm not surprised if she was hunted by nightmares.
We eat the breakfast quietly, not talking very much. Katniss seems as nervous as I am. We have three days of training ahead of us and we're going to meet with the other tributes today. That makes me nervous. Everyone will know how bad I am and that I absolutely don't know anything about fighting with any weapon. I'm kind of hopeless.
"So, let's get down to business." Haymitch says after taking a long sip out of his flask.
„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 about," says Haymitch.
We exchange looks with Katniss.
"I don't have any secret skills," I say amused. "And I already know what yours is, right?" I smile at Katniss. „ I mean, I've eaten enough of your squirrels." I add and she looks surprised a little.
"You can coach us together," Katniss says and I nod.
"All right, so give me some idea of what you can do," says Haymitch.
"I can't do anything," I say hopelessly "Unless you count baking bread." I joke.
"Sorry, I don't. Katniss. I already know you're handy with a knife," says Haymitch.
"Not really. But I can hunt," she says. "With a bow and arrow."
"And you're good?" asks Haymitch. She thinks for a while.
"I'm all right„ she says quietly like it is nothing. I have to put a lot of effort not to laugh over that.
„All right?" I interrupt her. "She's excellent! My father buys her squirrels. He always comments on how the arrows never pierce the body. She hits each one in the eye. It's the same with the rabbits she sells the butcher. She can even bring down a deer." If she doesn't want to admit how good she is, I have to do that. It's for her own good. She looks angry with me though.
"What are you doing?" she asks suspiciously.
"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 defend. Even though it only makes her angrier.
"What about you?" she snaps. „I've seen you in the market. You can lift a hundred-pound bags of
flour, tell him that. That's not nothing." She looks really scary and dangerous when she's really angry. The look she's piercing me with could kill. But her arguing only makes me angry too.
"Yes, and I'm sure the arena will be full of bags of flour for me to chuck at people. It's not like being able to use a weapon. You know it isn't," I shoot back and give her an angry look.
"He can wrestle," she turns to Haymitch and it sounds more like an accusation "He came in second in our school competition last year, only after his older brother." I'm surprised she knows so much about me, but I don't have time to think about it.
"What use is that? How many times have you seen someone wrestle someone to death?" I say in disgust.
"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's almost screaming now and with this saying I'm startled. It's true. If she gets into hand combat with someone, she has no chance with her little body. But I know better than that.
"But you won't! You'll be living up in some tree eating raw squirrels and picking off people with arrows." I can't hold my nerves any more. Does she really think so low about her skills? „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 dismisses me.
"She said, 'She's a survivor, that one.' She is," I say angrily.
Suddenly when I say this, she looks startled, surprised and for a short moment I see her eyes are scared. She calms down so suddenly it surprises me.
"But only because someone helped me." she peeps and downcasts her eyes. I have to think a moment about this, until I remember that day. That day, when she and her family almost starved to death and I gave her our bread. She really remembers it? I can't look into her eyes so I look down too.
"People will help you in the arena. They'll be tripping over each other to sponsor you." I say quietly. I know it, with the entrance she made, I'm sure the sponsors didn't notice anyone else. If she gets a good rating (which I don't doubt by the way), she will have a lot of sponsors.
"No more than you," she says and looks at me. Oh my, have you ever seen someone as modest as her? Or is she not aware of her power now? I look at Haymitch and shake my head.
"She has no idea. The effect she can have." She tries to look at me, but I avoid it. She seems irritated by my words.
After about a minute of this, Haymitch says, "Well, then. Well, well, well. Katniss, there's no guarantee there will 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 mutters. I resist the urge to laugh and make fun of it again. A few? I bet she knows at least a dozen!
"That may be significant in terms of food," says Haymitch.
"And Peeta" he turns to me „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. Save showing what you're best at until your private sessions. Are we clear?" says Haymitch. We both just nod.
"One last thing. In public, I want you by each others side every minute," says Haymitch. We both start to object, but Haymitch 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 and you will appear amiable to each other. Now get out. Meet Effie at the elevator at ten for training."
After that verdict, we go back to our rooms. I hear how she slammed the door loudly. She's angry, that's clear. I don't blame her. Haymitch makes us to be friends by force, which is not helping me. But what can I do. Now I have to think about what she said about me. She said she used to see me on a market. And she knew about my wrestling. I have never seen her watching the matches though. Is it possible, that she was watching me too? She surely remembers that day, when I gave her the bread. But the way her behavior changed when she mentioned it hints me that she feels bad for it. Or is she ashamed? Or sorry for me? I have no idea. I wonder what else she noticed about me. She's such a secret to me, this girl with game. That's how I used to call her sometimes.
Five minutes before ten I head towards the elevator. Katniss appears about a minute after me, looking anxious and even biting her nails. We step into the elevator without a word and ride down to the training part of the center. The actual training rooms are below ground level of our building. With these elevators, the ride is less than a minute. The doors open into an enormous gymnasium filled with various weapons and obstacle courses. Although it's not yet ten, we're the last ones to arrive. The other tributes are gathered in a tense circle. They each have a cloth square with their district number on it pinned to their shirts. They pin a big 12 to our backs and we join the others.
As soon as we join them, the head trainer Atala begins to explain the training schedule. We are free to travel from area to area as we choose. Some of the stations teach survival skills, others fighting techniques. We are forbidden to engage in any combative exercise with another tribute. There are assistants on hand if we want to practice with a partner. I can't help than looking at the other tributes now. They all seem scary and I'm sure all of them can use some weapon. Especially creepy are the careers. Those are districts 1,2 and 4 usually. Well-fed and trained, volunteered to go here. I'm usually disgusted by them. There are some smaller ones like the boy with the cripple leg and the little girl from 11. I can't help but feel that Katniss was sorry for her during the reaping.
When Atala releases us, all the careers head to the weapons, most deadly ones. They are half professionals with most of them and it scares me. How on earth will I be able to protect Katniss from these lethal opponents?!
„Where would you like to start?" I nudge Katniss because she seems to be deep in thought.
"Suppose we tie some knots," she says annoyed.
"Right you are," I say and we cross to an empty station where the trainer seems pleased to have students. Knotting class is not the Hunger games hot spot. He's excited about Katniss's skills in tying knots and he shows us a simple, excellent trap that will leave a human competitor dangling by a leg from a tree. We concentrate on this skill for an hour until both of us have mastered it. I don't have to say that it took me longer than her. Then, to my excitement, we move on to camouflage station.
I start swirling a combination of mud and clay and berry juices around on my skin, weaving disguises from vines and leaves. The trainer who runs the camouflage station is full of enthusiasm at my work. This is not a very popular and crowded station either. I'm proud that this is something I'm better at than Katniss.
„How do you do this?" Katniss asks a little suspiciously.
„I do the cakes." I say with a proud smile.
„The cakes?" she's distracted by a boy from 2 who is just throwing spares. His arm is deadly precise.
„At home. In the bakery. The iced ones." I explain and she finally looks at me. For a while she expects my arm, which looks like leaves in the forest now.
"It's lovely. If only you could frost someone to death," she says with annoyed voice. It offends me a little.
"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 breaks in.
The Gamemakers appeared early on the first day. Twenty men and women dressed in deep purple robes. They sit in the elevated stands that surround the gymnasium, sometimes wandering about to watch us, jotting down notes, other times eating at the endless banquet that has been set for them, ignoring the lot of us. But they do seem to be keeping their eye on the District 12 tributes. Several times I've looked up to find one fixated on me or Katniss. They consult with the trainers during our meals as well. We see them all gathered together when we come back.
So the next three days pass with Katniss and me going quietly from station to station. We do pick up some valuable skills, from starting fires, to knife throwing, to making shelter. Despite Haymitch's order to appear mediocre, I excel in hand-to-hand combat, and Katniss sweeps the
edible plants test without blinking an eye. We stay clear of archery and weightlifting though.
Breakfast and dinner are served on our floor, but at lunch the twenty-four of us eat in a dining room off the gymnasium. Food is arranged on carts around the room and you serve yourself. The Career tributes tend to gather around one table, as if to prove their superiority. Most of the other tributes sit alone. No one says a word to us. Katniss and I eat together, and since Haymitch keeps dogging us about it, we try to keep up a friendly conversation during the meals.
It's not easy though. I'm usually easy speaking person but it's kind of hard to talk with Katniss since she is such a quiet person. We don't have much in common, so I'm not sure what should I talk about with her. So I'm just trying to cheer her up or coax some deeper stuff from her. One day, I empty our breadbasket and point out how they include types from the districts along with the refined bread of the Capitol.
"And there you have it," I say, scooping the breads back in the basket.
"You certainly know a lot," Katniss says.
"Only about bread," I say. "Okay, now laugh as if I've said something funny." I smile. We both give a somewhat convincing laugh and ignore the stares from around the room.
"All right, I'll keep smiling pleasantly and you talk," I say and give her a smile. It's wearing us both out, Haymitch's direction to be friendly. I would really like to be friends and I'm really trying, but it's so hard with her. Because ever since that evening argument, there's been a chill in the air between us. But we have our orders.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I was chased by a bear?" she says.
"No, but it sounds fascinating," I say and pay attention to her story. I keep laughing and asking things so we look like friends. Well it's not so hard for me since I would like to become her friend.
The second day I noticed something strange. It seems like we have an admirer. It's that girl from 11. She's the twelve-year-old. Up close she looks about ten. She has bright, dark, eyes and satiny brown skin and stands tilted up on her toes with her arms slightly extended to her sides, as if ready to take wing at the slightest sound. She's like a little bird.
„I think we have a shadow" I say quietly to Katniss while she throws her spare.
She picks up another spear while I throw. "I think her name's Rue," I add softly.
"What can we do about it?" she asks and I'm surprised by her harshly tone.
"Nothing to do," I say back. "Just making conversation."
Back on the District 12 floor, Haymitch and Effie grill us throughout breakfast and dinner about every moment of the day. What we did, who watched us, and how the other tributes size up. Cinna and Portia aren't around, so there's no one to add any sanity to the meals. Not that Haymitch and Effie are fighting anymore. Instead they seem to be of one mind, determined to whip us into shape. Full of endless directions about what we should do and not do in training. I am more patient, but Katniss becomes fed up. I don't blame her, it's tiring and annoying. When we're finally released the second night, we walk toward our rooms together and even I feel annoyed.
"Someone ought to get Haymitch a drink." I mumble annoyed by their questions this laughs a little, which makes me smile. But then she scowls again.
"Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around." she says annoyed.
"All right, Katniss," I say tired of the day and disappointed that she doesn't want to be my friend. After that, we only talk in front of people, which makes me feel sad.
On the third day of training, they start to call us out of lunch for our private sessions with the Gamemakers. District by district, first the boy, then the girl tribute. As usual, District 12 is slated to go last. We linger in the dining room, unsure where else to go. No one comes back once they
have left. As the room empties, the pressure to appear friendly lightens. By the time they call Rue, we are left alone. We sit in silence until they summon me. I rise.
"Remember what Haymitch said about being sure to throw the weights." she says and I'm surprised by that and the worried look in her eyes.
"Thanks. I will," I say and smile slightly. "You . . . shoot straight." I add and turn around to go to the room.
When I walk in I know that the odds are not in our favor. They've been here too long, the Gamemakers. Sat through twenty-two other demonstrations. Most of them had probably too much wine, because they sing some drinking song and it's quite off the tune too. They want to go home more than anything. But even though I have no other choice then do what I planned. I threw few weights, I lifted also the heaviest ones, but I have no chance to make an impression with that. After like fifteen minutes, they dismiss me and I go out and towards the elevators. I guess I won't get a high score, but what does it matter. I'm going to die either way.
When I arrive to the floor, Haymitch, Effie and the stylist were waiting in the living room so I accompany them.
„How did it go?" Haymitch asks and everyone looks at me. I don't want to admit how hopeless I am yet.
"It was okay I think." I mumble and they all smile and continue in their conversation. We all wait for Katniss to come back. It takes twenty minutes until the elevator opens, but something about her expression is telling me it's not good.
„We're here Katniss." Haymitch calls. „Come on and tell us how did it go."
She turns to us for a second and that's when I can see her scared face. She turns on her heel and runs to her room. We can clearly hear her sob.
„What the hell?!" Haymitch says and together with me and Effie we go to her door.
„Katniss what happened? Open the door!" he says and knocks. The only response are her sobs.
„Come on Katniss, it couldn't be that bad." Effie sings in her Capitol accent. „Open the door." she tries.
„Go away! Leave me alone!" she screams between her sobs. Haymitch and Effie give up and they go back to the living room. I sit next to the door and listen to her sobs. It is painful to hear her suffer like that. I would like to hug her and sooth her. I wonder what upset her so much.
„You know I'm a good listener." I say calmly. „If you would let me in, I could help you. It'll be okay." I try it my way. There is silence for a moment.
„Please go away Peeta. Leave me alone." she pleads and starts sobbing again. And so I do. I go back to my quarters and go out only when Effie calls me for the dinner.
After five minutes finally even Katniss comes. But her mood is still the same I would say. Her head is down, she avoids looking at anyone and she doesn't say a word. The adults start some little talk and I stay quiet examining her. Her face is red and her eyes puffy, she has cried for a long time and I'm sure it's because of the session with the gamemakers. What could she do? Right in that moment, she looks up at me. I give her a quizzical look, but she just shakes her head and she looks back at her fish soup.
When the main course is served, Haymitch finally gives up waiting.
„Okay, enough small talk, just tell us how bad you were." he says and look at the two of us.
I decide I start to make it easier for Katniss.
"I don't know that it mattered. By the time I showed up, no one even bothered to look at me. They were singing some kind of drinking song, I think. So, I threw around some heavy objects until they told me I could go." Haymitch only hums in approval and turns to Katniss.
„What about you sweetheart?" he asks and I'm surprised by the softness in his voice. Obviously even Haymitch can feel, that it has to be something bad, when she's so upset. She takes a deep breath and here it comes.
"I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers." she mumbles. Oh man, why doesn't it surprise me? If they were ignoring her just as much as me. As I imagine it I have to put a huge effort not to laugh. Everyone just look at Katniss in shock.
„You what?" Effie asks in horror
"I shot an arrow at them. Not exactly at them. In their direction. It's like Peeta said, I was shooting, trying my best and they were ignoring me and I just . . . I just lost my head, so I shot an apple out of their stupid roast pig's mouth!" she says defiantly.
"And what did they say?" says Cinna carefully.
"Nothing. Or I don't know. I walked out after that," she says and it scares me a little. She really is a rebel kind of person.
"Without being dismissed?" gasps Effie.
"I dismissed myself," she says annoyed and it makes me smile a little. She's a fighter that I must admit. She will not let them control her and that's what I like about her.
„Well that's that." Haymitch finishes and pay attention to his roll.
"Do you think they'll arrest me?" she asks.
"Doubt it. Be a pain to replace you at this stage," says Haymitch.
"What about my family?" she says. "Will they punish them?" Again she confirms my theory about how loving person she is. She's going to die in a few days and the only thing she cares about is if her mother and sister are safe.
"Don't think so. Wouldn't make much sense. See they'd have to reveal what happened in the Training Center for it to have any worthwhile effect on the population. People would need to know what you did. But they can't since it's secret, so it'd be a waste of effort," says Haymitch. "More likely they'll make your life hell in the arena."
"Well, they've already promised to do that to us anyway," I say my thought out loud.
"Very true," says Haymitch and I think that Katniss seems a little better. After a while Haymitch starts to chuckle.
"What were their faces like?" he asks and looks at Katniss. I look at her too. She smiles slightly.
"Shocked. Terrified. Uh, ridiculous, some of them. One man tripped backward into a bowl of punch." she says and laughs. Haymitch guffaws and we all start laughing except Effie, although even she is suppressing a smile.
"Well, it serves them right. It's their job to pay attention to you. And just because you come from District Twelve is no excuse to ignore you." Then her eyes dart around as if she's said something totally outrageous.
"I'm sorry, but that's what I think," she says to no one in particular.
"I'll get a very bad score," Katniss says hopelessly. I give her an encouraging smile.
"Scores only matter if they're very good, no one pays much attention to the bad or mediocre ones. For all they know, you could be hiding your talents to get a low score on purpose. People use that strategy," said Portia.
"I hope that's how people interpret the four I'll probably get," I say and I really mean it "If that. Really, is anything less impressive than watching a person pick up a heavy ball and throw it a couple of yards. One almost landed on my foot." to my surprise, Katniss gives me a huge grin and wink and starts eating with all hunger she has. I'm glad she's feeling better.
After dinner, we go to sitting room to watch the scores announced on television. First they show a photo of the tribute, then flash their score below it. The Career Tributes naturally get in the eight-to-ten range. Most of the other players average a five. Surprisingly, little Rue comes up with a
seven. I don't know what she showed the judges, but it must have been impressive.
District 12 comes up last, as usual. My face comes up on the screen and I'm anxious to see the number. To my shock I get 8! I'm excited about that and everyone is happy for me. Only Katniss is sitting with her hands griping the couch tightly, anxious expression on her face. We all look at the screen where her face is projected now. There is a second of dead silence and then a big 11 appears on the screen. Everyone congratulates her excited.
"There must be a mistake. How . . . how could that happen?" she asks Haymitch.
"Guess they liked your temper," he says. "They've got a show to put on. They need some players with some heat."
"Katniss, the girl who was on fire," says Cinna and gives her a hug.
"Oh, wait until you see your interview dress."
"More flames?" she asks.
"Of a sort," he says mischievously with a smile.
Finally she turns to me with a relieved smile on her face.
„Congratulations!" I smile back at her. „You're officially the most lethal tribute of this year." She just playfully punches me with her fist and to my big surprise she hugs me tight. It's so nice to feel her little body pressed against mine. As she hugs me I run my hand over her back and I touch her braid. Her hair is soft and it smells beautifully. Like pines and forest. Suddenly, like if she just realized what has she done, she pulls away and has kind of a shy smile on her face.
„Good night" she blurs out and hurries back to her room. I slowly walk back to mine and again I must have that silly smile on my face, because I'm thinking how beautiful it would be if she would love me back. Well during the interview I'll reveal my secret. We'll see if she will like me or kill me. I would bet on the second one. I go back to my room and fall down into bed. Tomorrow is another day of training – for the interviews for a change and than... As Effie would say, the day after tomorrow will be a big, big, big day.
Hi! I hope you like this fanfiction. I don't own Hunger Games, it's property of Suzanne Collins. I'm happy for every favorite, follow and review :) Thanks a lot! :)