Games 13

Rue...and Peeta...that was unexpected...those were pretty much my thoughts as the two apparent lovers realized my presense.

"Oh, Prim!" Rue's face flushed a deep pink as she hugged my neck, "you're awake...and you saw that...but you're awake!"

"So...uh...when did you hook up with my fellow District 12 tribute?" I inquired with a small smirk, just to tease my best friend. That was also to hide the millions of questions bubbling and bouncing around in my head, threatening to spill out of my mouth.

"Well, he found me a couple of days after you left," she explained, "he's nice and considerate...and we just...I dunno...happened."

Peeta smirked a little himself and wrapped an arm around her gently. She looked so small compared to his built sixteen year old figure, but I knew she was in good hands. She was as safe as she was with Thresh, and if Katniss could love him, so could I. Maybe not in the same way, but maybe like I'd loved Thresh.

"Thanks, Peeta," I smiled to him weakly, offering my hand, "you kept her safe for me...I'm forever grateful."

"We're allies...besides, I've always loved her," he grinned a loopsided kind of grin, and I couldn't help but giggle.

He was my big brother already. And Rue's lover.

Peeta and Rue...Rue and Peeta...

It just didn't sound, look, or taste right in the mouth. How? HOW?

Well...I knew how, but HOW? She was soft, innocent, and pure-hearted. He was the boy with the bread with a muscular build and a great sense of humor. They could work, and obviously they were, and yet...

Katniss and Peeta sounded better. MUCH better.

We all certainly got a surprise a couple of days later.

"There have been some special changes concerning all remaining contastants," a Gamemaker's voice boomed at all angles, and the hidden speaker in our cave made me jump all but out of my skin, "there shall be two victors, no matter what the district. So may all odds be ever on both of your favors!"

And then it was over. The whole annoucment took less than a minute, but it was going to make a lifetime of difference in two people's lives.

"So why do you think they changed the rules, even though it's not Quarter Quell?" we three were sitting in a little circle, eating berries as we discussed our new plan to get rid of Cato.

"Maybe because of Peeta and I..." Rue looked convincing, but her eyes told me that she was planning, "or...well...you and Cato."

"Cato and I?" no. Way.

"Yeah. Maybe they think you two could be star-crossed lovers, too," Peeta tossed up a berry and caught it in his mouth easily, and I almost hurled.

Cato and I being star-crossed lovers...the Capital's imaganation was unlimited.

"Well, anyway..." Rue boosted herself up with her hands and brushed them off on her pants, "let's get outta here. We have to keep moving."

Primrose and Cato...Cato and Primrose...

That just sounded wrong.

"You okay?" Peeta looked back at me and asked this question every five minutes, it seemed, and I finally had to sigh.

"I am fine, Peeta," I promised, squeezing his outstretched hand as I caught up, "my leg just is sore, but it's fine."

I didn't resent him or his concern, but I didn't want to be spoiled. This was The Hunger Games, after all. I had to fight, too, win, and come home.

For Katniss.

Besides, there wasn't anyway in heck I'd go anywhere near Cato unless I was going to gut his heart out with my new knife.

Rue and Peeta kissed. A lot. I wanted to go home so bad at this point.

I wouldn't ever fall in love, anyway. I wasn't any good, after all. Katniss was the real brain and beauty, and everyone loved her. No matter what anyone said about me lasting this long in the Hunger Games, Katniss was still the girl on fire. And everyone loved her and the boy with the bread together.

They were toast.

The boy with bread and the little flickering small girl on fire made soggy bread.