A Quell of Heartbreaks Chapter 7: Training: Day 1, a hunger games fanfic

Maysilee

*Beep! Beep! Beep!*

I'm awoken by the alarm clock at 6 am I get up and sigh. I was right, it was a restless night. I woke up a dozen different times and each time it took me what felt like forever to get to sleep because I couldn't stop thinking. Thinking about home, training in the morning, the Games, and about Haymitch.

He's been cropping up in my thoughts lately. It's obviously because I've been hanging around him a lot these past couple of days, I tell myself. But I can't help but wonder…is it more than that? Whenever he walks into the room I immediately become self-conscious, it's like I want to impress him or something. It seems like I have a crush on him… I can't though! We're going into the games together; he'll be out for my blood so that he can return home to his family. But as this thought runs through my head I know it's not true. Haymitch doesn't want be to die, he just wants to return home. Just like I do, and I certainly don't want him dead. I don't want any of us to die. That's the Games though and I'm going to have to get over it, like it or not, if I want to make it back home.

I sigh again; I'm going to have to figure out exactly how I feel about Haymitch. I can't keep ignoring the fact that he keeps popping into my head. The fact that I might actually have a crush on him scares me and I try not to think about it as I change into the clothes left for me for training.

After I get dressed into some black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a pair of running shoes I head to the dining room for breakfast.

Lucy and Rosale are already at the table and they are talking about the style in the Capitol as I sit beside Lucy.

"Good morning Maysilee" Rosale says. "I was just telling Lucy all about the newest style trends. If one of you girls were to win you could have diamonds inserted down your arms! You'd be the envy of all of Panem!" she adds enthusiastically.

"Wow that sounds an interesting style." I reply. Great; so if I win the game I might have to become the doll to the designers that come up with these freakish clothes and styles here in the Capitol. Doesn't that sound like the perfect award! Rosale seems to think so.

Jarod walks into the room as Rosale starts explaining another trend and she because excited as she bids him a good morning because now she can describe some of the trends for guys too. I can tell by the look on his face that this is the last thing he wants to be talking about and he seems to be saved because after a couple of minutes Haymitch walks in.

My heart quickens when I see him. Perfect, I groan inwardly. That just reassures what I'm dreading. And to make matters worse; he chooses to sit beside me.

I'm saved from having to say anything to Haymitch because Damon chooses that moment to arrive.

He seems a little drunk as he sits down and says, ""Wow Haymitch, got here before me today. Guess you didn't want me to kick your butt then, now did you?"

Uh oh, this is very likely about to start an argument. But to my surprise Haymitch doesn't say anything.

"So today, all I want you to do is train. I don't really care what you do. Figure out what you are good at so you can use that for your private training session for the game makers. Now do I really have to explain what your private training session with the game makers is?" Damon pauses to order some wine. It's only eight in the morning. My heart sinks; the odds of making it out of the Games just keep going down as the days progress.

"Well, take your time. You don't have to be down at the training center until nine. Atala will explain the training center to you when you get there. You will train for a few hours and then eat lunch down there with the other tributes and train some more until they release you. Then you will come back here for dinner and we will give you some advice on what to do and what not to do whilst you are there. Now are there any questions?" Rosale says.

Damon's quick to shoot Haymitch a looks as he says, "She means, are there any questions that are worth our time and effort to answer? Meaning no stupid questions."

Really? It seems like he's trying to start a fight with Haymitch. He's supposed to help us prepare for the Games, not tear us down every chance he gets. I'm starting to really dislike my mentor.

Haymitch seems not to care about fighting with Damon because he replies, "Well I was going to ask what type of training equipment they had down there, but now I'm going to ask what your definition of a stupid question is?" Haymitch is obviously not going to let Damon bully him. Good, I think. One of us has to stand up to him, and I doubt it will be me. I don't like fighting with people, even if I don't like them.

"Well, asking what my definition of a stupid question is, qualifies as a stupid question." Damon spits back.

Rosale laughs. "Now let's all be nice to each other!" She says. "We have the games to prepare for, you know!"

I'm glad she's intervened but I think Haymitch was asking a valid question quick I think should be answered. Plus I'm kinda mad that Damon's being so rude.

"So, what kinds of equipment will they have for us in the training center?" I ask.

"They will have weights, weapons, knots tying, camouflage, climbing, edible plants, and some others like that. They cover the basics for survival in the arena. It doesn't make for a good show when all of the tributes die because they don't know how to build a fire and make a shelter." Rosale answers. "Well it's eight thirty now. You should head down to the training center soon. We don't want to be late!"

With that we get on the elevator and making our way to the first day of training.

When we exit the elevator I notice that we are the last ones to arrive. A lady that I assume is Atala blows a whistle and commands us all to assemble into a line in the middle of the training area to hear her instructions.

"I am Atala, the director of the training center. There will be experts for each station and you may move around as you please. However, you are forbidden to start any fights or attack each other while you are here in the training center. There are assistants here if you wish to practice with a partner. I am now going to read a list of the stations that are available to you." She then goes on to read a very long list of all the different stations. I'm surprised by the large number of them; some of which include archery, edible foods, fire starting, shelter making, and rock climbing.

She blows her whistle again to single that we are now able to head to the stations. Being able to make a fire seems important so I make my way over to that station where two other tributes are already starting. The instructor shows me where the supplies are and quickly demonstrates how I am to start a fire.

After a half hour I finally get a fire starting with some flint. I decide to move on to another station but I plan on returning to this one before training is done in the next few days so that I can learn to make a fire without flint.

I glance around and decide that my next move should be to practice with some weapons. They are all foreign to me so I pick up a random weapon to try out.

Soon I find that I'm dreadful at using a sword and I can't throw a knife to save my life. Which ironically, is what I might need that skill for. I do find that I am decent will the blow gun though. Before I can practice more with it we are called to lunch.

I fill my plate up with foods I never eaten before and then go to a table that non of the other tributes are sitting at. The Careers, the tributes from district one, two, and four, seat together but I'd rather not risk making friends with these people. It just makes it that much worse that I might have to kill them and that they might kill me.

Soon after I begin to eat Haymitch walks up and asks, "Is it alright if I sit here?"

I nod and he takes a seat. I couldn't just tell him no, I would feel bad. Plus what was I supposed to say? Sorry, but I think I might have a crush on you so I'd rather we didn't hang out. No, that wouldn't be a very good idea.

"So how's your training been?"

"Fine so far. I'm just trying to get some of the basics taken care of first. What about you?' I reply.

"Ok, I guess. It's hard to take my mind off of what I've been thrown into, what we all have been thrown into, when I'm training for the Games. But then again, I do feel more relaxed here than when I'm with the Capitol people."

I know what he means. Even though training forces us to think of the Games, we are still able to escape reality a little bit. "Yeah I know what you mean." I pause then add, "So what do you think of the other tributes?" I know I shouldn't add on to the conversation when it might just confuse me more about my feelings toward Haymitch but I just can't help it. I feel like I can talk to him about anything.

The way he says 'we' makes me wonder if he means me and him together, like in an alliance. I think about asking him but I'm too scared to and we finish our lunch in silence.

I spend the rest of the day between the edible foods station and the shelter making one. When we are told to stop for the day I put down the shelter I was weaving out of long plant steams and head to the elevators. When I get there it is already full. To make things worse, one of the Career smirks at us and says to another tribute, "Press all of the buttons, will you?"

As they head up the elevator stops at every floor, even if the tributes for that floor are down here waiting for the elevator to come back down. Jerk, I think. I really hope he doesn't become victor.

Finally the elevator reaches the ground floor again and the rest of us pile inside. I see Haymitch and go to stand by him.

"That guy was a jerk!" I protest. I feel comfortable enough around Haymitch now that I feel I can speak my mind.

"Yeah," he agrees, "he better watch out in the arena. He just made a whole lot of enemies."

"Yep. Especially two powerful ones from district twelve!" I joke.

"Who? Lucy and Jarod?" he asks.

We both start laughing. The feeling is great and we are both still laughing when we reach our floor. As we step off the elevator we head towards our rooms.

When I make it to my door I smile at Haymitch and say, "See you in a bit!"

"Okay, see ya!" he smiles back brightly.

Haymitch

I didn't get that much sleep last night. I remember seeing 12:12 and 1:11 and 2:22 and 3:33. I think I finally fell asleep around four. I just kept thinking about the conversation that Maysilee and I had. I really enjoy talking to her. The one person that I can actually talk to without thinking of excuses to leave, and one of us, if not both of us, is going to die soon. And the hug. She hugged me. I tell myself she did it out of comfort. That she was trying to console me and her at the same time. Or maybe she was just a hugger and wanted to hug me goodnight. But part of me just thinks that maybe she likes me. And that she likes talking to me, just like I like talking to her. I don't know.

Rosale knocks on my door to wake me up. I'm tempted to ignore her. And see if Damon really does come to kick my butt. I bet he would. But I think it's against the rules. To have a mentor beat up on a tribute. I could get him in trouble. But that wouldn't do me or Maysilee any good in the arena. I mean, it wouldn't do any of the District Twelve tributes any good in the arena.

I take a quick shower and see the clothes that have been left out for me on the counter. A pair of black sweats, a black t-shirt, and some running shoes is what I am supposed to wear at the training session today.

I get dressed and head out to the dining room for breakfast. As usual I am the last one there. Well except for Damon. He probably went to my room to go kick my butt. Or he is still drunk in bed. I take my usual spot next to Maysilee.

I load my plate up with food and start to dig in. The food is amazing. An omelet, bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns, orange juice, coffee, and a lot of things I don't even know the names of.

Damon staggers in. He sees me and is surprised.

"Wow Haymitch, got here before me today. Guess you didn't want me to kick your butt then, now did you?" He says. He sits down and starts eating some bacon.

"So today, all I want you to do is train. I don't really care what you do. Figure out what you are good at so you can use that for your private training session for the game makers. Now do I really have to explain what your private training session with the game makers is?" He tells us. Then he calls the waiter over to order some alcohol. He's already getting drunk and it's only eight in the morning. What is up with that?

I open my mouth, but Damon interrupts me. "She means, are there any questions that are worth our time and effort to answer? Meaning no stupid questions." He says looking at me.

"Well I was going to ask what type of training equipment they had down there, but now I'm going to ask what your definition of a stupid question is?" I say. Oh how I love getting under his skin. I don't know why, I have never liked Damon. In fact, I have always hated him. He's always drunk, running around town, and wasting all of his money. I've grown up in the Seam so I don't waste anything. In my family, we eat all of the food, and only buy stuff that is imperative for us to live. I have never bought something that I wanted for myself. Just stuff I need. And this quality time spent with him just makes me hate him more.

"Well, asking what my definition of a stupid question is, qualifies as a stupid question." He retorts.

Rosale laughs. "Now let's all be nice to each other!" She says. "We have the games to prepare for, you know!" Well, Damon and I are still glaring at each other.

"So, what kind of equipment will they have for us in the training center?" Maysilee asks for me.

We are in the elevator, on our way down to the training center. The elevator is a little crowded with Rosale, Damon, Lucy, Jarod, and Maysilee all stuffed in there with me. I guess they never considered the fact that there was going to be a Hunger Games with double the tributes when they made the elevators.

I hear a ding and the door opens. We file out one-by-one and make our way down the hall to the gymnasium where the training takes place. Rosale opens the door and ushers the four of us tributes in and shuts the door behind us. Apparently Rosale and Damon are going to be watching elsewhere.

A whistle blows and a lady us that we need to assemble in a line in the middle of the training space to hear the directions.

"I am Atala, the director of the training center. There will be experts for each station and you may move around as you please. However, you are forbidden to start any fights or attack each other while you are here in the training center. There are assistants here if you wish to practice with a partner. I am now going to read a list of the stations that are available to you. The stations are; weaponry, archery, sword fighting, rock climbing, edible plants, knot tying, shelter making, fire starting, camouflage, spear throwing, sling shots…" She says. The list goes on and on. While Atala is talking, I am looking around and trying to decide which stations I want to go to.

To be honest, all of them look interesting. We never get to do anything like this in District Twelve and we were certainly never allowed to have any weapons. And they all look useful, I could think of reasons which I would need all of them for. I could make snares to hunt or catch people, use the weapons, and I'm sure I'll need shelter at some point. I'll probably need to cook some food or keep warm with a fire and I'll need to make sure that I don't eat any poisonous plants. They all look important for my survival in the arena. But training for my death doesn't make me feel better.

Atala finishes with the list and releases us. I head over to where everyone else is not, the edible plants station. All of the Career groups, tributes in Districts One, Two, and Four, head over to the weapons. All of the others split up.

I sit there for about an hour learning what plant I can eat and what ones will kill me. Once I get them all down, I head to the next empty station, knot tying. Then, after that, camouflage. I keep doing that for a couple more hours until they call us to lunch. I find Maysilee sitting by herself at a table and walk over to her.

"Is it all right if I sit here?" I ask.

She nods and I sit.

"So how's your training been?" I've wanted to talk to her again all day.

"Fine so far. I'm just trying to get some of the basics taken care of first. What about you?' She answers.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. So, what do you think of the other tributes?" She asks

"Well they don't seem any different from the other tributes from other years. There are just more of them. We are really going to have to watch out for the Career pack. There are more of them to join the hunt." I tell her. She ponders this for a minute. I wonder if she is going to say something else. But she doesn't. It's nice to have someone to talk to though. Someone that I know and that's from home. We eat in silence.

When we are done eating our lunch, we dump our trays and head back to the training center. I head off to the sling shot and master it within ten minutes. I hit all of the dummies right in the eyes. The practice dummies, not the Capitol dummies.

I keep moving through the stations for the rest of the day. Finally, we are told that the training day is over and that we are to go up to our rooms.

I get to the elevator but it is full. All of the Careers are fitted into the elevator. One of them looks at me standing there and sees Maysilee and some others walking towards the elevator and has an evil grin on his face.

"Press all of the buttons, will you?" He says to the guy next to the panel with the buttons. He lets out a loud guffaw and the door closes. I see the elevator go to one, then two, three, four, five, six, seven, and it keeps stopping at every floor all the way up to twelve. He's really irritating me.

"That guy was a jerk!" Maysilee says indignantly. I can tell this guy really got on her nerves.

"Yeah," I agrees, "he better watch out in the arena. He just made a whole lot of enemies."

"Yep. Especially two powerful ones from district twelve!" She humors.

"Who? Lucy and Jarod?" I ask in mock confusion. Wow she is so easy to talk to.

We are laughing the whole way up to our floor. When the door opens we get out and walk over to her room.

"See you in a bit!" She smiles and says.

"Okay, see ya!" I smile back and head to my room.

Once I finally reach my room, I jump in the shower and turn up the heat. It's actually pretty relaxing after a long day of training. I could stay in here all night. But instead of thinking about how training was today, or how I was going to get back at that guy, or what was going to happen tomorrow, I am thinking about Maysilee. How she smiles at me and makes me laugh. How am I ever going to kill her? I know the answer to that. I couldn't. In fact, not only would I not kill her, but I don't think I could let anyone do that to her. Things just get more and more difficult every day.