The elevator dings as we reach the Penthouse, and the doors roll open. Katniss, in a matter of two minutes, has made a complete one-eighty of attitude. One minute, she was sociable and smiling, the next she reverts back to her groggy morning self. She's put on her unpleasant grimace, departing without a word to her room. It's difficult to believe that this is the same girl who completely made my day yesterday by praising my strength. Effie and Haymitch sit down at the table and sigh. Reluctantly, I join them, knowing this conversation can't be evaded.
"Peeta," begins Effie. "We saw you talking with the Careers."
"Well, you guys told me to mingle."
My two mentors look at one another, like two confused parents trying to conclude an answer to a quizzical child. Here it comes.
"Peeta, it's a great thing to be social, and it's even better to befriend Careers. But I want you to be careful." Haymitch says.
"You mean you don't mind it?" I ask, speaking the exact words on my mind.
"Not at all, in fact I'm all for it. But like I said, be careful. Everyone will be sponsoring them and if you guys ally, you'll prolong your survival in the arena. Besides, it adds dramatic appeal on camera. But be warned, they're not going to care when it comes time to eliminate you from the Games."
I swallow the lump in my throat, heeding his warning. "Alright, but... I've already allied."
"Well," sighs Haymitch, pouring himself yet another drink. "Why'd you do it? They must have offered you something."
"They didn't! I did it to protect Katniss!" I raise my voice. "She's the one who's going home anyway! My own mother even told me that! I'm going to die here!"
They just stare blankly at me. All of us know it's the truth, but no one wants to affirm it. Frankly, I don't know what hurts more; being rejected in my final hours, the fact that I'm even aware of my final hours, or that nobody has confidence in me. Effie cautiously stares over her shoulder to look down the hall, making sure that Katniss is nowhere in our vicinity."It's probably best she doesn't know. In that case, you two will need to train alone from now on." She whispers. "Now, it's been a long day and it's getting late, I want you to get to bed. Tomorrow is a big day!"
I'm certainly tired, so I don't object. I creep down the hall quietly, trying to overhear anything Haymitch and Effie are discussing. They seem to be purposely remaining silent, suspending their conversation until I'm out of earshot. But what can they say that I've done wrong? Everyone seems to be avoiding the fact that I'll be dead in a few days. Whether it's a Career that takes my life or not, I'm still damned to the same fate. I just found a way to stall it for a while. I crawl under the sheets of the billowy, goose feather bed in my room. It's still empty, making it hard to savor my last days. But I guess it can't be helped. I just wish I could somehow safely return home and lie under my own lonely sheets.
The third day of our preparatory phase comes much too quickly. While I'm still tired, I'm eager to find the Careers in the Training Pavilion. I figure I'll have to do a lot more than throwing a single weight or painting on my arm to support the strength they're convinced I have. My stomach sinks as I consider that Haymitch might have told Katniss about the Careers. I'm being anything but strong right now, cowardly hiding the allies I've found from her. I begin the daily ritual of pulling myself out of bed, washing myself in the uselessly complex shower, and finally putting on the demeaning bowler uniform. I walk down the hall for breakfast, where Katniss and my mentors are enjoying pungent plates of glazed ham and eggs. Although neither she or I say much to one another beyond "good morning", Haymitch and Effie fill the grim air with jabber of their own. Judging by every one's demeanor, I don't think they've told Katniss their opinion on us training separately. She still seems aloof, but no different than usual. I can't help but admire how beautiful she is, and how many people she will be able to return home for. A cunning archer with a strategic mind, I don't see how she could lose. The world would be such a dull place without her, or at least mine would be.
When breakfast is finally finished, we descend the elevator to the Training Pavilion, this time without Haymitch. A twisting inside my gut marks my anticipation to seek the Careers. My eyes begin scanning the large-scale room the second the door opens.
"Alright, Peeta," says Katniss, avoiding eye contact. "Meet me back at the elevator before dinnertime."
If she intends to separate, maybe Haymitch or Effie have already told her not to train with me. Nonetheless, I am relieved. Evidently, she still doesn't hate me, so either they didn't tell her, or she simply reacted to it well.
"Alright, stay safe." I say, warmly.
I watch as she walks away, her mocha colored braid bouncing on her back like a horse's tail. I can't help but feel broken, as I know I really don't have much of a chance of ever winning her heart. Still, I walk around the gym, making sure to avoid her as I prowl for the Careers. I move from room to room, station to station without a hint of luck of finding them. Before I can register what is happening, a blade is swiftly pulled to my throat, and I feel moist warmth down my the back of my neck. In shock, I hold my breath.
"Found you." says a familiar voice behind me. Cato removes the blade from in front of my throat, smirking when I turn around. His team of Careers is behind him.
"Well," I chuckle. "That woke me up."
"I figured you'll want to train with us today."
"Yes, that's exactly what I had in mind."
Glimmer walks up to my side, grabbing my arm. "How about we try our hands at sword wielding, hm?"
I jerk my arm away, but smile politely. Cato glares at her, his eyes telling her to assert herself and be serious. She seems to understand, staying silent for a while. The rest of the group agrees on the sword station, and begins migrating over. I follow close behind Cato, using him as a shield against Glimmer's attempts at seduction. While everyone picks their weaponry off of the wall, he abrasively hands me a sword.
"I'll teach you how to fight," he says, lifting the large, heavy knife with no difficulty. "Would you like that?"
"Yes, I would."
Cato teaches me a few basic slices and jabs, which he insists will be essential in the Games. I listen intently, admiring his skill. Maybe it's his zeal for sport, or the way he's convinced me into his group of Careers, but something about this boy inspires me. It's strange, how yesterday morning I was convinced he was going to brutally beat me to a pulp, but after the banquet, he invited me into his circle, and now I wish we didn't have to die at each others' favor. I could easily see myself befriending him. Being in the Career group boosts my ego, makes me feel superior to every other Tribute. Yet, at the same time I feel very disconcerted, remembering Haymitch's words. If I did stand a breeze of a chance of winning the Games, I've just severed it.
Before I know it, though, I'm becoming fine tuned with this sword. Even using simple, basic moves, makes me feel like an adept champion. Cato is extremely skilled; his knife is versatile and his arm is strong, which will make for a deadly opponent in the Games. Seeing him fight with a sword scares me to death, knowing that if he eventually uses it against me I don't have a chance of surviving it. We stop fencing for a bit to observe the other Careers. Clove and Marvel are fighting vigorously, sweat falling like tears from their foreheads. Glimmer is cheering on Clove, looking more like an air-headed mascot than something to be afraid of.
"Hey!" Marvel yells, wiping his brow. "Let's go get lunch!"
I doubt Katniss will be eating lunch, as she's probably busying herself with training. I figure it's safe to go with them. I place my sword back on the rack, but Cato tosses his loudly down on the vinyl floor before we both join the rest. The Careers seem to travel as a pack. It's difficult to believe that they are hungry for each other's blood, because from far out they seem like inseparable friends. We walk to the Pavilion cafeteria which is about the size of my parent's bakery. Apparently, this is small under common Capitol opinion.
I skim the menu for something that sounds appetizing. All of this food seems so wealthy and luxurious to what consists of a meal back at District Twelve. Hamburgers, turkey sandwiches, even salads are a delicacy that even the wealthy workers in the Justice Building are fortunate to eat. Glimmer and Clove split a salad, and Marvel snacks on lavender-flavored potato chips. Cato ravenously demolishes a sandwich, and since I am worn from the fencing, I enjoy a hamburger.
"Hungry much?" Clove says, seeming to disapprove of Cato's rate of consumption.
"I'm hungry, damnit, leave me alone." he snaps.
She raises both her eyebrows and widens her eyes. "Fine."
"A big guy like him has got to eat." Glimmer interjects. Cato rolls his eyes, taking another large bite.
I decide it's best not to say anything, as everyone else is pretty preoccupied with their hunger. Clove and Glimmer finish first and pepper the silence with catty, gossipy comments about the other Tributes. Marvel sits quietly in thought. I just can't get over how much they don't really seem to care about their impending fate. There are twenty-four of us, and only one comes out alive. They don't exactly have the time to sit and build camp-like friendships during training hours. When Cato and I finish, we agree on visiting the weight station. We walk inside the room that reeks of sweat, and I find myself at somewhat of a stalemate. If I do my best training here, the Careers will learn my abilities and mirror them in the arena, using them against me. If I mask them, they might just kill me right off the bat since I'm not strong enough.
"I was never good with weight lifting. I guess I'm too scrawny." says Marvel, humbly.
Glimmer picks up a 10 lb. weight, which is not much of a challenge. "Oh come on! It's really very easy."
I am starting to detest Glimmer and Clove. I can't even begin on how much more personal integrity Katniss possesses. She's much more humble and prudent, unlike these wealthy girls who will likely die in the initial bloodbath of the Games, or they'll survive for a while, and constantly want supplies because they're so accustomed to having them at an arm's reach.
"I'll show you what's easy." I say, in a cocky tone, contrary to how I usually act. Maybe I'm just subconsciously trying to fit in.
I lay on a bench and press one hundred fifty pounds. The Careers look impressed. When I finish, Cato lays down on the bench and presses two hundred. Clove, Glimmer and Marvel hoot and holler, cheering us on. I find it a little weird that we're all training together, encouraging one another. All we're really doing is learning who will kill us, and how they'll do it. It's nothing to cheer about. Cato gets up, delivering the same curious yet taunting look that he gave me the first day of training. I accept his nonverbal challenge. I lay down and press two hundred forty, which presents itself as much more difficult than it looks. My veins pop and my forehead begins to sweat. Maybe I was intended to simply lift flour sacks after all, because now I'm trying to hide that I'm completely winded. For the next few hours, we all conduct basic workout regimens; running laps, push ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and the like. Before we visit any particular area, I make sure Katniss is nowhere to be found. Coincidentally, we always seem to be in a separate place at the right time. Cato is, as always, very adamant and competitive. His physique is already much more up-kept and toned than any of ours, but he seems to insist on out-shining us at every station. I enjoy watching him though, he's still motivating me. I didn't realize how much time had passed, but the dinner bell rings, commanding us all back to our individual floors tonight. I'm not hungry, but I remember that Katniss had asked I meet her at the elevator once the bell sounded. All the Careers walk away without a word of farewell, except Cato, who at least waves.
Once they're all gone, I meet with Katniss at the elevator. We make small talk, discussing what stations we visited rather than who we visited them with. I'm glad she hasn't seen me training with the Careers. I wouldn't want her to feel betrayed. Although they're much more entertaining to be around, I'm not in the alliance for them, but for her benefit. When we finally reach the Penthouse, I skip dinner and head straight to my room. Effie and Haymitch don't question it at all. I fall face-first on the bed as I replay the day in my mind.
I realize that I have no strategy for protecting Katniss.
Author's Note: Thank you all SO much for the criticism/praise. It really keeps me inspired to keep editing. I've got up to chapter 5 written, but I find new things all the time to revise and edit. Soon, I've got a plethora of ideas just waiting behind a time barrier to explode onto my paper! (or screen, considering it's the 21st century and all). Thank you and please keep reading!
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