Clove is hitting targets left and right. Never have I seen anyone throw knives so fast, or so lethally. She does not miss a single mark. When she finishes, everyone, even the instructor, is looking at her with mouths gaping open and wonderstruck expressions. Clove just gives a cocky smirk, but there is a deadly glint in her eye. She knows that after that display, nobody will ever underestimate her, even if she is half the size of the other girls.
Nobody wants to follow that, and we all pale is comparison after Clove. All I can think is that District 2 will have winner this year. And that if it's going to be me, I'm going to have to up my game.
"Where did you learn to throw like that?" I ask her as we move to the next station.
She shrugs. "There's training academies throughout District two. I went to the best one," she states simply before joining the others at archery. I know there are centers to train, but I never went to one. There were none near my home and my father wanted to train me himself. I like to think he did a good job, considering I've beat quite I few of those academy snobs. For some reason, I didn't peg Clove as the academy type.
The five of us lunch together, and I notice that Fire Girl and her matching district partner eat together too. They talk and laugh, and it makes me sick. They've been practically inseparable since they got here. I mean, they held hands during the tribute parade, for goodness' sakes.
"So what are we going to do about Thresh?" Tara asks. She seems very keen on plans.
"Well," says Clove, "I was thinking we could recruit him as an ally. You know, keep your friends close, enemies closer kind of thing." Nobody mentions that that's what we're all doing anyway.
I notice everyone is looking towards me, waiting for a response.
"We can ask him. We'll see what he says and go from there," I decide, and the group nods in agreement.
"NO!" is all Thresh answers when we approach him during training. He's currently slashing away at practice dummies with a long, cruel curved blade. He doesn't even stop to look at us.
"Come on," Glimmer says, her voice dripping with honey. "Who knows? You might even enjoy it."
Thresh seems unaffected by her words, but I'm stuck thinking that maybe her skill with weapons isn't all I should be looking out for when it comes to Glimmer. I can tell she'll be popular with the Capitol.
After a couple more attempts, we decide it's futile and give up on him. It's his loss.
After training, our little group walks to the elevators before saying goodbye. Glimmer leans in close to me and puts her lips to my ear.
"Bye Cato," she whispers. "It was very nice to meet you."
She gives me a mysterious smirk before sauntering off after Marvel. What was that all about? I can't help but stare after her as she leaves, feeling rather confused. For a second, I think nobody saw, but I was wrong.
"So, your girlfriend seems nice," Clove says sarcastically once Glimmer's out of earshot.
"What are you talking about?"
"You and sparkles," Clove answers, rolling her eyes. I try hard not to burst out laughing. "What's going on there?"
"Nothing. If anything, she's practicing her angle for the Games," I say, remembering what Marvel said. Most people have angles for the Games: sexy, sweet, mysterious. I think they even teach them at the academies. "Besides, why do you care?"
She shrugs. "Just curious."
"So, allies as scary as you thought they'd be?" I ask. I get a death glare in response.
"No. But it looks like they've made you their leader."
This time I really do laugh, and she smiles again. This time I smile back. "Yeah, I guess they did." And I can't wait to tell Brutus.
Brutus is happy with my progress, and pretty much tells me to keep doing what I'm doing. Over the next couple of days, I learn that Glimmer is good at hand-to-hand combat and knife fighting. She likes to think she's good at archery too. Marvel likes his spears, and Clove likes her knives, but they both can handle pretty much anything. Tara is agile and loves the obstacle courses, and is about average in everything for a career.
Glimmer flirts with me all the time, and I do my best to ignore her. I have to admit, she's gorgeous, but there's no place for that here. Besides, when I win, I could have anyone back home.
"Did you see her? I thought I was going to vomit right there in the training room," Clove rants on the way to our floor after the second day. When we are alone, she makes no attempt to hide the fact that she loathes Glimmer.
I can't help but laugh at her disgust. "Of course I saw, I was the one she was leaning on!" I exclaim. "So, are you ready for the private sessions tomorrow?"
Now Clove laughs. "You know I am."
"Do I even have to ask what you're doing?"
She smirks. "No. Do I?"
The doors elevator doors slid open and our mentors are waiting for us. Clove and Enobaria take the living room, while Brutus leads me to a room I've never seen before. It looks kind of like an office. Books cover three walls, and there is a desk in the middle. Brutus and I sit down at either side.
Brutus dives straight into business. "I assume you have a plan for the private sessions tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I was planning on showing off with the swords. Maybe throw some spears," I answer.
"I suggest showing them as many things as you can. Impress them. Show that the odds are in your favor," he advises. "To maintain your leadership position within the alliance, you will need to score very highly. All five of you should be in the eight to ten range. I'd aim towards ten."
"But aren't the scores out of twelve?" I ask, confused.
"Yes, but the Gamemakers rarely give out elevens, and getting a twelve is impossible," he explains.
Oh, I'm going to get that eleven. With that score, I'll have hundreds of sponsors betting on me. Besides, I'm sure that's what my father's expecting. I guess I'm just going to have to show off.
"Now, for the interviews, you have to convince potential sponsors that you are going to win," Brutus states in a voice that's all business.
"I am going to win," I cut in.
"Good. Now just make everyone else as sure as you are. You're a cocky kid, so play that up. The Capitol audience will love it." Brutus smiles at me, and I think he believes I'm going to win just as much as I do.
"Right. So, basically just act like I'm not even worried."
Brutus nods. Good. I won't even have to act.
My mentor continues, "Also, throw in a bit of lethalness. Brutality will back up your confidence."
"So what I'm hearing is, act like normal?"
I earn a laugh from the past victor. "I guess so."
Dinner goes by quickly. Clove and I talk strategy for storing the supplies after we take the cornucopia, and our mentors occasionally give us some pointers. With things like this, they tend to train us together. We are allies, after all. For now, A tiny voice in the back of my head says.
Once again, I'm able to ignore it. Although I won't be able to ignore it for long. We're going into the arena in two days, and deep down I'm hoping I won't be the one with the unpleasant task of kill her. To be honest, I could easily kill off the others, but for some reason she seems different. Stop being stupid, Cato. You can kill her, just like the rest. It's no different. Now that that's settled, I fall asleep, thinking about tomorrow's private sessions.