So, I guess you were a little disappointed with Chapter 8, not sure if it was it's lenght or subject, because I only get 3 reviews on it

I hope you'll like this one better, Private Sessions! Interviews will be in the next one, so pleaaaaaaase keep reading.

By the way, thanks to Primrose314 for helping on the previous chapter, I appreciate :)

Chapter 9

"So" starts Brutus, clearing his throat "What have you guys planned once in the arena?"

"Killing useless tributes" I answer helping myself beef soup

Astra rolls her eyes at Brutus with an I-told-you-that-was-going-to-happen-I-knew-it look. I sigh heavily and put my spoon back on the table with a metallic noise.

"What did I do again?"

"Tell her Cato" she says in an acute proud voice.

I don't know what's wrong with her. I didn't do anything to hurt her, even when I wanted to –if we forget the time I tried to pierce her hand but that was nothing- and she hates me whatever.

Ho, and at worst, it isn't like I'm giving credit to anything coming from her.

Cato grumbles something, head down, playing with his napkin.

"Opening your mouth to talk is efficient, most of the time" I inform

"I said we had to kill threatening tributes first" he repeats loudly, separating each word this time.

His voice is cold, his glance is harsh. He's never been like that before. Not with me. Maybe that's surprise that makes me stand here like an idiot, saying nothing but frowning. I guess he's still mad at me because of the door episode but I never thought he would be that furious. He stares at me like he's looking at other tributes.
"That's what being a Career tribute is based on. I thought you knew that"

Tipping his head to the side, he stares at me with an innocent look, like he didn't know what his words meant. He's implying I'm ignorant, arrogant and that I don't deserve to be a Career tribute. There is no point in saying that; I know I'm better than all the other tributes, better than the Careers from Four, why is he saying such things?

"Back up Boy" I hear Brutus grumble "You don't want to fret her, do you?"

I should move. I should throw a knife at him. I should scratch this satisfied look of his face. But I don't move, because of a simple thought. I'm not angry. I'm hurt.

I defended him in front of Glimmer, I lost part of the faith Brutus has in me when saying he was not an idiot. I feel my heart shrink a little in my chest. Is that what pain is like? I don't know. The only thing I can think of is tighten my jaws, hoping this will go away. But he is right there in front of me, looking so victorious. I've already seen this smile, but I can't remember when.

I just don't understand. Why is he doing this? I try to read his face but I can't. It's like he's one of these huge rocks there are sometimes in the Games; impossible to break through.

This look on his face, he had the same that time he told me he would break me. The first time we argued, when he was threatening me. And with that I remember what my father once answered when I asked him about the Games.

I was eight or maybe nine. We were watching the Games in our living room and one of the Careers just got killed by the four others. They were laughing, just like my father at the pale face of the guy. One suddenly said he was glad he was dead; he was such a pain to carry. But during the whole time before, they were acting normal with him. I remember asking my father about this.

"Why did they pretend to like him instead of getting rid of him during the Bloodbath?"

That seemed sensible. At four against one, even if the guy was strong, they could have killed him right in the beginning.

"It's human nature. Raise other's hopes and then force them to surrender. It's much more enjoyable you know, build so you can break"

Build so you can break

I get up roughly, my chair falling to the floor. I can see Brutus spreading from me, and Astra smiling widely. Ugly bitch. I don't care what she thinks of me right now. All I know is I don't want to be in this room anymore.

Closing the door behind me, I realize how weird the scene must have looked like. But I don't care; I don't care about anything right now unless this thought that doesn't want to leave me alone.

He won. I thought I was the one in control, but I was so wrong. He was playing with me, the whole time, and all his little tricks lead me to partly trust him.

Trust someone? What a dumbass Clove. They all want you dead.

I just collapse on the floor. I've been trapped so easily and I didn't even notice I was being fooled. How could that happen? I outsmart him, I outsmart everyone here; how could I've been such a fool? That was a mistake. A huge mistake that I might pay dearly once in the Arena.

I hear Brutus knock on my door.

"Private session in twenty minutes, training floor, you better be ready!"

And then I just get up and give the door the punch I've been holding on for several minutes. I hear a crack and see the print of my own hand pressed in the door's wood. It's less than an inch deep but you can clearly see my bones' form where I punched harder. Only then I look at my hand. There are splinters entering my skin.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Brutus bursts into the room. First he looks at the door, then at me.

"Clove…" he sighs

I don't care what he'll say. I'm ready to show the Gamemakers what I'm up to. I push Brutus to the side but he catches my arm before I reach the door

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Waiting for my session. I'm in a fury now, I better be maintaining it. So I could show everything to the Gamemakers you know!"

I pull my arm out of his grasp and get into the elevator straight to training floor, the first under the surface.

I'm the first one here. It looks like a dark cafeteria. There are just rows and rows of metal benches and I notice numbers on their backrests. District numbers I guess. That means I'll have to bear Cato. I hope he won't be there soon. For now, I just sit, my hands clinging on the iron armrests of the uncomfortable seat.

Seeing the little District Two booklet fixed on the armchair next to me keeps bringing Cato to my mind. I just can't stop thinking about the harsh look he had while speaking. We were very far from our through-the-door-chat before he tried to burst my door.

Speaking of the devil, here he comes, with Marvel and Glimmer. It's crazy how I don't want to see them. In fact I don't want to see anyone as they're still alive. And with them comes the comforting vision of Cato's dead body again. My fists clench even tighter as our eyes meet briefly; he instantly turns his head back as he sees me.

"So, what are you guys going to do?" Glimmer asks sitting.

"Ho you know sing a romantic song and dance for the Gamemakers" replies Marvel sprawling next to me.

I stare at him for a few seconds. What a jerk. It seems like he's not taking this thing seriously. We're in the Hunger Games, humor is not going to get you out alive.

Glimmer sighs heavily but Cato grins, taking the seat on my right. I'm now surrounded by an annoying joker and a hateful district partner. I'm glad I'm not here to socialize.

"Come on, cheer!" he insists "We all know what we're going to do, don't we? We all have a special weapon since we're seven and honestly, have you seen Glimmer with a sword?" he falsely mutters, leaning towards me "She's terrible"

"Shut up Marvel!" she barks

For once, I agree. I just feel like hitting his head against the wall, and he's way too near for me to contain myself much longer.

He stays quiet and finally, all the tributes are here and Marvel is called to perform. What a relief.

I can see all the other little tributes wringing their hands, biting their nails or nervously taping one foot to the ground. They're all pathetic. I'm not even stressed. I'm skilled, my knives never betray me; I honestly don't see something to be worried about. But I guess when you're a thirteen years old incompetent, you have something to fear of the Gamemakers.

Glimmer is called and then Cato. Before passing the door, he gives me a last look, which I can't determine was full of resentment or emotionless. Maybe it's better.

And then, it's my turn to go. I enter the room without a last glance to the other tributes. It looks like our training room, but smaller, with a table on the left side, behind which Gamemakers are chatting a bit, plates in front of them. The whole Panem knows being from the first districts is an advantage as, after an hour and lots of useless tributes and knowing the winner is not likely to be in there, the Gamemakers barely pay attention to District Eleven or Twelve. For now, they're all watching as I grab a set of knives.

I breathe in, looking at the four targets. They're not the same we use in training sessions. For now, two are laying on the floor while the two other are supposed to be hiding behind posts. I hear a mechanic noise and I guess more dummies are being installed. Well, that promises a good show.

Suddenly, the target on my left lights and come from behind its hide. I throw a first knife at it, quickly, accurately then change direction to the dummy behind me; one by one they all light up to show me which one I have to shoot for.

Easy as breathing. I don't miss one of my shots; they all lead the target's center rows. But I feel like I didn't do enough. Most of the tributes are not able to hold a candle to me but still. So before leaving the room, I unsheathe two more knives and throw them at the same time. A thud confirms they both hit the target.

Both bull's eye.

I smile widely as I go back to District Two's apartment. Brutus is waiting for me, eager for details. Cato must have already told what he did and the thought suddenly pops in my mind of how satisfying getting a higher rank than him would be.

"Well, how did you manage?"

I watch my mentor, raising an eyebrow, playing overconfident, training for my interview tomorrow.

"How did you think I managed? Well of course. I promise they won't forget me soon"

"What did you exactly do?" Astra harshly asks "You know Honey, you're not the first one to be skilled with knives"

"I double shot the lasts one. In bull's eye" I over articulate, giving her a deadly glance.

"Well, that's not so impressive" she sneezes "Your district partner chopped three dummy's heads off at the same time."

"Clearly, the other tributes will get in line to have their heads chopped off" Brutus growls.

From then, it all stars to go in a mentor war, the two of them arguing on which one of their tributes is the greatest. When they're eventually done yelling at each other, they both drop on separated couch. Just then the anthem starts playing on the television.

After a little Caesar Flickerman announcement, Marvel picture shows up, soon followed by a big shiny 9. Well I guess having him around won't be such a pain. Glimmer also gets a 9. I can feel the tension rising in the room as they put up Cato's photograph. Astra seems to stop breathing and grips her ho-so-great-tribute's hand. The disgusted look on his face is priceless. Then a 10 prints over his face, making his mentor scream with excitement, mine clenches his fists harder. I turn back and mutter:

"I did better. Sure"

He nods and breathes. At least he trusts me, and he's right to do it. I can't be the last one of the Career, that's simply impossible. I will be the better one.

It's weird seeing my face on the screen but the only thing I'm paying attention to right now is the number that will show up on it.

A 10

Brutus screams too and I can see Astra scowling. And before concentrating on the screen again, I think I saw a pale smile on Cato's lips, but before I can be sure about it, it has vanished.

Grades succeed, one by one. Some are okay, some are pathetic, but Cato and I stand clearly on top.

"My baby's the best, my baby's the best!" Astra keeps on babbling. She's pitiful too.

"Well hun… Thanks?"

The thought of him being Astra's baby doesn't really please Cato for what I see. And I can't help but enjoy it. I'm so glad she's not my mentor. I'm watching her clasping her hands and swing on the couch like today was the most beautiful day of her whole life. She seems to suddenly forget I get the same grade that her baby unless I'm three years younger.

"Guys, focus!" Brutus screams

I report all of my attention to the screen, a little late. That guy from Eleven just got a 10. He just placed himself as high as two Career tributes, beating the others.

I turn round to Brutus. Killing be won't be as easy as I thought. We'll have to get rid of him, quick.

"You're still first Honey!" Astra pinches Cato's cheek. I hardly contain my laughter. She's acting like he is three and he can't do nothing about that unless he wants to lose all of his sponsors. But he's visibly angry; I can see it in the way his hands are pressed together, like he was trying to break them.

The boy from Twelve got a 8. Not so bad, but I guess he was lucky. Maybe the Gamemakers were actually bored and were looking for something entertaining. Then comes the girl. The one who volunteered, the one who was on fire, the one who just had an…

"11!" I shout. I get up instantly and direct all my sudden hate on Brutus "How did that bitch get an 11? There must be a mistake, she's lame, she's total lame! How did she manage? Did she sell her body or something to get such a high score?"

"Calm down, Clove, calm down" says Brutus pressing on my shoulders to make me seat.

"I'm certainly not calming down! I'm not getting surpassed by a stinky waste!"

"Listen! Take care of her soon enough, right? Kill her at the Bloodbath, on the first night, any chance you can get to settle the score, ok?"

I growl but finally sit, blood boiling in my veins.

Watch out Firegirl. You just signed you death sentence.

Here it is!

Much more longer and probably more interesting. I understand you got a little tired of long descriptions where, well there weren't lots of things happening but I felt like they were necessary.

Anyway, please review this one !(I'm begging)

50 reviews for next?

I still love youuuuu! (Yeah, that was a bit dramatic)

Edit: You won't believe me but this chapter was finished yesterday. I was all sad and grumbling when I found out I had no reviews and only then I realized I forgot to post it! Well done me!