Last night was crazy. My prep team, my escort, even Dallas were suprised about the positive feedback they were getting from the Capitol about me. They stayed up all night laughing, screaming, talking about that. I don't know why, but my escort even offered me a drink which I was 100% about the presence of alcohol on it but I refused. I tried to stay awake, smiling, trying to be nice, but damn I was tired as hell and soon I went to bed.
Next day was training day. I couldn't analyze the other tributes during the parade, so I told myself I'd spend a good part of the first training day doing it. Dallas was at the living room doing tricks with a whip, showing them to Ebony and the escort.
- Oh, Atticus! Our big boy! - he shouted when I arrived. - You know how to use a whip too, don't ya? - he asked me. - Be sure to show that on training. Everyone will be scared of you! - he laughed, and started with the whip tricks again.
- Yeah, s-sure - I answered, scratching my head. - I was still to tired to even think about training. And I didn't think it would be the best idea to show everyone what I could do, I'd save that for the Gamemakers.
I went back to my room when I realised I was still wearing my pyjamas.
I had to wear this really cool t-shirt with a 10 on it and some training pants. Already late, I ran down to the training centre - and I was the last one arriving, again. The trainer didn't loose time waiting for me and was already explaining some stuff about survival techniques, which I decided to pay attention since it could actually save my ass.
The big guy from 4 wouldn't stop looking at me and it was starting to annoy me. I looked at him and moved my lips saying "the fuck you want?" and a grin was formed in his lips. I turned my attention to the trainer again.
When she was finished, I left the group and started walking around the training centre.
Until I felt someone pushing my t-shirt from the back.
I tried to say something, but when I noticed I was already against a wall. The guy from Four was holding my neck, with an evil grin on his face. That monster was almost 2 meters high. When I tried to punch him in the face, he stopped my hand with almost no effort and started laughing.
- Enough, Atlas. - someone said. The guy from Four, which now I knew was named Atlas, turned back to see a tall, but no Atlas-tall, blonde guy, which t-shirt told me he was from 1.
- Oh c'mon Earl, the fun was about to start - he turned back to me again. - and lil' ginger here was asking for it.
- Save that to the Arena, - Earl answered, smiling at me. But there was this bad vibe I was feeling about him.
Atlas finally let me go and joined Earl, and both got back to a group of Tributes - probably the career pack.
- Idiots - I murmured, as I walked away.
Three days of training wen by fast. I've learned some good survival techniques, like camouflage and making traps. But I've also discovered how absolutely terrible I was using blades. So pretty much, I was screwed.
Atlas tried to provoke me various times during training, but Earl was always with an eye on him. I've also discovered that the girl from 4 was no Career, but a mere trawler, who was sacredly protected by all Careers. And damn, she was beautiful.
I got back to 10th floor every training day tired as hell. I almost forgot how I'd have to show my skills to the Gamemakers the next day. Oh shit, I had no idea what to do there. I end up going to sleep anyway, hoping my mind would be fresh the next day.
But it wasn't. I got to the waiting room, where I sat between the girl from 9 and Ebony, and had to wait ageees before my turn. I still had no idea what to do there, though.
When Ebony came back, I heard my name finally being called and to the training room I went. Everything was a mess, God. It took me a second to notice the Gamemakers up there.
- Well... hello - I said, with a goofy smile on my face. Gosh, I really had no idea what to say or what to do. I searched around the room and decided to grab a whip and a rope. I made the whip hit the floor for the noise to wake the Gamemakers up and searched for those humanoid targets I could recall seeing at the training centre.
I made a knot with the rope and laced some target heads. What else could I do with a rope and a whip? It's not like they had animals at the training centre or something. I kept doing the same thing over and over, plus some tricks with the whip, but the Gamemakers didn't seem interested anymore. Whatever. Without saying anything else, I left the room.
I got to 10th floor tired as always, and went straight to my bed. I was really mad at the Gamemakers, and scared of Dallas' future reaction when he sees my results, so I didn't even dare to have dinner with them. Thankfully, they didn't bother to go check on me.
I did eat something, though. I waited for them to leave the living room and stealed the leftovers. I end up falling asleep right there, at the dinner table.
- Atticus dear, you gonna miss the training scores! - was the first thing I've heard that morning. And I couldn't give a fuck about the training scores.
But Dallas and my escort dragged me to the couch, and almost falling asleep again, I heard the annoying voice of the Capitol interviewer coming from the television.
Earl's score was the first one showing up. He had gotten an eleven. The other girl from his District got a ten, and so did Atlas.
Most of the other Tributes got something between 4 and 7. After the District Nine miserable 5, it was my turn. Dallas and my escort were looking at the television as if they wouldn't accept any score under Ten.
But I only got a seven. Dallas looked at me, angrily, and asked me for an explanation. I shrugged.
- I just didn't know what to do.
Surprisingly, Ebony had gotten an eight. It made me think a little bit, I had no clue about what she used to do back in Ten. For what I know, she could have been an butcher or something.
No one bothered me anymore about my training score, probably because it was the Interview day and they had other things to focus on. And so did I.
Having a not-so-good score on training, I would have to do my best at the Interview.