We arrive at the Training Centre later than everyone else, they stare at us as we hold hands so we let go of each others hands and give them a nod as a hello. Haymitch decides to give us a pet talk,
"Right you two, good luck and don't show them what you can do well… remember to be smart about berries and only one person can win this mini Hunger Games so Alex leave Charley alone you hear me?"
"Okay, fine! Have it your way"
"Good, right see you in two days children"
"We are sixteen we are not children!" Alex replies
"You're still a child whatever your age!" He cackles.
Todd and Leah walk over to us and ask Alex if they can take me away for a minute, I walk over into the corner with them and Leah starts talking.
"Hey do you want to be in the careers team for The Hunger Games?"
"What she means is would you like to?" Todd ads,
"What about Alex?"
"Don't worry we will add loverboy into this situation its just we want to ask you first and see if loverboy agrees!" Todd replies
"Um … I don't know"
"Don't worry we wont be mad … we just wanted to know what you would think!"
"Yes we will be mad!" Leah says louder
"Oh shut-up Leah and go away!"
She pulls a face at Todd as she walks away,
"I'm sorry but I will have to pass at that … No hard feelings?"
"Sorry I can't promise that" He sniggers
"What do you mean?"
"I can't promise anything…"
"Well I can see where you stand now, your nothing but a manipulative little boy who thinks he knows everything but when something doesn't go his way he throws his toys out the pram and has a tantrum!"
"May the best man win … which means I will enjoy killing you! But first you get to watch loverboy die slowly and painfully!" He cackles. Then he walks away as Alexander, Rochelle, Martin and Adam walk up two me,
"What was that all about honey?" Rochelle asks
"Nothing, nothing"
"Tell us" Adam answers
"It's nothing"
"Charley obviously something's up" Martin says
"Todd said that he will make me watch him kill Alexander and that it would be a slow and painful death … He also said that he would kill me afterwards only because I said that me and Alexander didn't want to join the careers pack!" I cry
"He won't kill us honey!" Alex reassures
"He threatened it pretty well"
"Nobody and I mean nobody messes with my girl!"
He starts walking over to Todd but I grab his arm,
"No leave it"
"Yes she's right, save it for the arena, and then you can beat the hell out of him and wipe that grin off of his face!" Martin ads
"Yes but what we really need to do is to play him at his own game, cut off his friends and then leave him to struggle in the woods. After that we can come for him!" Rochelle says
"That is a really good plan but what will happen after that… there will be five of us because the rest will be killed in the bloodbath?"
"We will get Todd and the Careers to kill us one by one so you two don't have to kill us and then you win!" Adam says
"We have been thinking about that this plan for a while I must admit." Rochelle ads,
"Make out that your fighting for us and Districts 5 and 11 will want you two to win!"
"Sure; do you agree sweetheart?"
"Okay but only for you lot"
"Deal" Rochelle says and everyone nods.