Chapter 12 – A Narrowing Field
The next few days were similar to the previous ones. Two group dates each day. Watching the edited results on television with Effie, Fulvia, Cressida, and Plutarch each night.
Every evening Plutarch commented that the show needed more excitement to keep the viewers watching. Because they were several days ahead in filming, the request took a few days to appear on the television screen.
Cressida was pleased the next morning when an unscripted argument broke out between Marvel and Gates regarding the efficiency of solar watches when they visited a store that sold the famous Luxo watch, designed by Marvel's grandfather. The two men almost came to blows.
But Cressida couldn't count on unplanned theatrics, so she created some of her own. When they visited the Capitol's electrical facility so that Tesla could show off his superior knowledge of that industry, Cressida explained that she wanted one of the men to fake being electrocuted so that Katniss could be shown comforting him.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the men. None of them wanted to deliberately play the fool on national television. After a few moments, however, Cato stepped forward and agreed to it.
Cressida set up the scene where Cato accidentally touched a supposedly live cable and crumbled to the ground. Even Katniss had to admit it looked real. Cato was a good actor.
"Now run to him Katniss and see if he's alright."
Katniss slowly walked over to Cato.
"Are you okay?" she asked stiffly, looking down at him lying on the ground.
"No, no, kneel at his side," Cressida directed. "Touch his face."
Katniss gulped. She didn't want to touch him at all. Immediately she turned her head and glared at Gale. Why hadn't he volunteered? But she knew why. Gale would never offer to look deliberately stupid. Cato had volunteered because he wanted the extra time on camera with her.
She knelt down next to him. "Are you okay?" she asked, awkwardly, grimacing inwardly as she put her hand to his cheek.
"I'm fine," Cato muttered. "But a kiss would go a long way in making me feel better."
His arms came up to the back of her head and he pulled her down toward him. Immediately she put her hands on his chest pushing away from him, but not before got a peck in at the corner of her mouth.
Katniss wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, a frown settling on her face.
"Hey," he yelled. "What's wrong with you?"
"Cut," Cressida shouted. "Let's start again from the part where you kneel down and ask if he's all right. Cato, you shouldn't be the one initiating the kiss. You're supposed to be weak from the injury. Katniss can lean over and kiss you instead."
"What! I'm not kissing him," Katness shrieked.
"On the cheek," Cresida explained.
Katniss scowled. But she wanted to get this done in one take because she didn't want to spend her afternoon kissing Cato.
Still, they ended up doing three takes because, in Katniss' opinion, Cato deliberately messed things up.
When they were done filming the segment, Cato came close and whispered into her ear. "You're mine Everdeen. Count on it."
Katniss jumped back as she felt his breath on her ear. She bumped into Finnick.
"Sorry," she muttered to the victor.
"Looks like you have second admirer," Finnick purred.
Katniss eyed him carefully. If Cato was one admirer, and she couldn't even understand why he was interested in her, who did Finnick think was the other? Had Gale talked to him about their friendship? Or was Finnick referring to Peeta? After all he had been the one to deliver the letter to her.
And where was Gale? He was her best friend and he'd been avoiding her completely on the group dates. Was he still angry at her for getting him involved with the show, or was he jealous of her friendship with Peeta?
More orchestrated drama ensued the next morning. Cressida told Katniss to fake an ankle injury when a group date visited a small working farm in the Capitol. Marvel and Wheaton each took an arm and helped her get seated. Thresh got her a glass of water while he explained the particulars of farm life, a subject he knew well.
When the next rose ceremony took place, Katniss was instructed to say goodbye to Marvel, Tesla, Wheaton, and Thresh. It took a couple of hours to film, but by the time it was over there were only four contestants remaining, Cato, Finnick, Gates and Gale.
After the rejected men left, Cressida directed the rest of them to the roof of the Training Center where a hovercraft was waiting to take all of them to District 4. Apparently the next couple of days would be spent taping at Finnick's beach house.
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The sun was just going down when they landed in District 4. Everyone piled in two cars while the drivers made their way down streets lined with palm trees. Katniss found herself sitting between Cato and Finnick in the back of one car. Cressida was riding in front with the driver.
Gale was riding in the other car along with Gates, Effie, and Castor. Katniss wondered if he had been told to stay away from her so it wouldn't be obvious that the show was fixed. Maybe that's why he had been avoiding her. But it seemed silly because she suspected that all the contestants knew the outcome had been predetermined. But she couldn't think of another reason to explain why he'd been avoiding her.
She found herself leaning into Finnick to avoid touching Cato.
"Getting cozy, are you?" Finnick purred.
Her cheeks grew pink. Her hand reached into her pocket and her fingers nervously ran over the crinkled note Finnick had passed to her days ago. She'd taken to carrying it in the pocket of whatever she was wearing. Rubbing her fingers over the paper gave her hope that things would work out. She reminded herself again that could end this game any time if she chose.
She was beginning to get relaxed when Cato leaned over and blew his warm breath onto the back of her neck.
Katniss' jumped in her seat and let out a squeak.
She turned toward Cato. "Stop it," she hissed.
"Getting a bit jumpy are you," Cato smirked.
Katniss scowled at him.
"Are we almost there?" she asked Finnick.
"It's just up ahead."
Katniss leaned forward, looking past Cressida and the driver through the windshield at a large white clapboard house surrounded by a covered wrap-around porch. Beyond the house, the sky was aglow with vibrant red and orange streaks.
As soon as everyone had exited the cars and walked up the broad staircase that led to the porch, Finnick took charge. Although he was a contestant, it was his home they were staying at.
He led everyone to the back of the house where the porch opened out onto a large deck, which overlooked a sandy beach. A serving table sat on one side of the deck filled with platters of salads, fruits, meats, grilled seafood and even cheese buns. Another table held bottled drinks.
Finnick encouraged everyone to make a plate and sit down and eat. Katniss filled her plate, taking a cheese bun and eyeing it suspiciously. She wondered if it was one that Peeta had made for Finnick's friend.
She maneuvered herself so that she was sitting next to Gale at the long table that sat on the other side of the deck.
Across the sand was the ocean, it's blue waves lapping loudly onto the shore. As the light faded from the sky, colored lights were turned on illuminating the deck.
To Katniss the whole setting seemed like an enchanted fairyland.
"This is spectacular," she said to Gale, bumping his arm to get his attention.
He nodded. "It is."
A slender, brown-haired woman with bright green eyes came up to the table where everyone was eating. "Does anyone need anything more?"
"This is Annie," Finnick grinned as he introduced her to the table.
Katniss looked at the woman. She looked familiar, but Kantiss couldn't figure out where she would know her.
"Annie was a winner of The Hunger Games, too," Finnick said.
Katniss remembered her then; Annie Cresta had won the Games the year the arena had been flooded and the other competitors had drowned.
Annie's face turned slightly pink and she exchanged a knowing glance with Finnick that made Katniss think the couple had a serious relationship.
Conversation at the table flowed as the evening went on and the men went back to fill up their plates a second time and to get more to drink. Even Gale grew chatty as the evening progressed. At one point he made a comment and then bumped her elbow. "Isn't that right, Catnip?' he said.
"Yes," she whispered, angry with him for revealing her nickname.
Cato was paying attention and immediately said, "What did you call her?"
"Catnip," he repeated. "It's her nickname back in District 12."
Katniss scowled. Gale needed to stop talking now. She didn't want Cato knowing anything about her life in District 12.
Finnick noticed her mood change. "Why don't I have Annie show the ladies their sleeping quarters," he said.
"That would be lovely," Effie said, standing up. "It's getting a little chilly out here and it's been a long day."
Katniss, Effie, and Cressida followed Finnick into the big kitchen with its white cabinets and extra large stove where Annie was cleaning up in the kitchen.
Finnick kissed her cheek. "Annie, show these ladies their bedroom."
Annie smiled at Finnick and turned to the others. "Follow me," she said.
They followed her out of the kitchen past an indoor dining room, large living room and a set of stairs to the second floor. "You'll be sharing the large room at the end of the hall."
She opened the door to reveal a room with two twin beds and a small seating area that included a sofa and two upholstered chairs.
There was a door in the corner of the room that Annie said led to the bathroom.
Their luggage was sitting on the floor near the beds. Effie had packed for Katniss and she handed her the bag. "You can have the bathroom first."
Katniss carried the small suitcase into the large bathroom, which had a separate shower and bath. Her eyes flew to the large bathtub. In District 12, she and Prim and her mother bathed in a tiny tub that they had to fill with water that had been heated on the stove.
Quickly she removed her clothing, wondering for a moment if there were cameras in this bathroom, but guessing probably not. She climbed into the tub and turned on the water. A bottle of soap sat on the edge of the counter and she poured a capful into the water. Big white bubbles began to form. When she turned off the water, she was completely covered with bubbles.
She sat against the back of the tub and took a deep breath. This was probably the most relaxed she'd been in days. After a long soak, she got out of the tub, dried off, and put on the nightgown Effie had packed for her.
When she left the bathroom, the conversation immediately ceased and Effie looked up at her.
"We were beginning to wonder about you Katniss," she smiled. "You were in there for such a long time."
"You can have it next Effie," Cressida said. "I'll brief Katniss on our shoot for tomorrow."
Katniss sat down in Effie's chair and Cressida told her that tomorrow they'd be filming a fishing segment on Finnick's boat. Later, in the afternoon she'd be filmed walking on the beach separately with each of the men. "You couldn't find a more romantic setting."
Katniss nodded sleepily.
By the time Effie got out of the bathroom and Cressida was going in, Katniss was dozing off in one of the twin beds.
She woke up early the next morning when the first streaks of light crossed the sky She went into the bathroom and dressed quickly. Effie was snoring in the other twin bed and Cressida was curled up on the couch with her mouth hanging open. Katniss left the room. She planned to go outside and sit on the deck and stare at the waves as the sun rose.
When she walked through the kitchen, she interrupted Annie and Finnick. Both had wet hair and were wrapped in towels, and hugging.
"Excuse me," she said, embarrassed. Annie jumped back and Finnick looked up and laughed when he saw the surprised look on Katniss' face.
"It's a good thing there are no cameras around," he joked. He kissed the tip of Annie's nose and left the room.
Annie wrapped the long towel around her body securely.
"Did you go for a swim?" Katniss asked.
"Yes," Annie said as she puttered around the kitchen, opening up the refrigerator and pulling out food items for breakfast. "Finnick and I like to go swimming first thing in the morning when we can."
"Is it true there are no cameras in here?"
Annie laughed. "It's true. Finnick oversaw the building of this house himself. He wanted a retreat where he wasn't being spied on."
"Do they spy on all the victors?"
"Oh yes, but Crane's not as bad as Snow." She directed Katniss to a grouping of items she'd gathered on the counter. "Do you think you could make some of those cinnamon rolls?"
Katniss looked at Annie carefully. Did she watch the live feed when Katniss and Peeta had made them?"
"How did you know…?" she began.
Annie smiled. "It's one of the perks we victors who live in the districts get – access to Capitol television programming. I love watching the cooking shows."
She handed Katniss a large bowl, a measuring cup, and a spoon, and Katniss began making the dough for the rolls.
"You and Peeta make such a cute couple," Annie continued. "In fact, Finnick and I were just talking about it this morning. I can't understand why he isn't on this show."
Embarrassed, Katniss focused on the dough. She set it aside to rise, while she found a second bowl in a cupboard and began to make the icing.
"I didn't really get to know Peeta until The Match Game," Katniss explained. "Gale is my best friend back in District 12."
"Is he still?" Annie questioned. "Or has Peeta has gotten between you two."
Annie's comment hit Katniss like a slap in the face. Could she be right? Ever since the show had begun, she couldn't stop thinking about him. The only conversation she'd had with Gale since the show had started had been mostly about Peeta.
Annie handed Katniss a rolling pin. Katniss took the rising dough from the bowl, sprinkled some flour onto the counter and rolled it out. When it was flat, she dropped chunks of butter and spoonfuls of brown sugar across the dough, topping it with cinnamon just like Peeta had showed her.
She rolled the dough into a snake-like tube, and then cut it into one-inch thick wedges. Annie gave her a greased baking sheet and she placed the round wedges on it to cook.
When it was in the oven, Annie poured a cup of tea for each of them, and the two women walked over to the small table that was in the corner. A television was hanging on the wall, and Annie turned it on.
"One of my favorite cooking shows is on now," Annie said.
A woman with pink hair, the exact shade of Fulvia's appeared on screen. She was dressed in an outfit that had four jutting wings, making her resemble a large butterfly.
"Our special guest today is Peeta Mellark, all the way from District 12, to show us how to make cheese buns."
Katniss gasped, when she heard his name and her eyes widened when the camera cut to Peeta. He was dressed in a white suit. He looked nervous, but he was smiling. The camera turned to the audience and several women in the front row were blowing kisses to Peeta and screaming his name.
"Well, he's certainly got a following," Annie said as she sipped at her tea.
Katniss nodded, feeling oddly resentful about the women screaming his name. Did he enjoy the attention he was receiving? She watched as Peeta walked over to the counter that faced the audience and began to show the pink-haired hostess the steps involved.
He's really good at this Katniss thought, admiring his easy banter with the woman as he made the dough.
"Watching television, while you have hungry guests?" Finnick teased Annie as he entered the kitchen. He was dressed now, although his hair was still wet.
"You get dressed," he murmured. "Katniss and I will finish up in here."
Annie jumped up from her seat and left. Finnick walked over to the table and glanced at the television.
"Guess you're not the only new television star in the Capitol these days," he stated, before turning it off.
Katniss' cheeks grew pink. "I think I'll check on the cinnamon buns."
She pulled the tray from the oven and set it on the center island to cool. Finnick pulled out a pitcher of orange juice from the refrigerator, along with a large bowl of sliced fruit to set on the counter.
Katniss frosted the cinnamon rolls and set them on a large platter.
"Finnick, can I ask you something?"
"Ask away."
"Why are you on the show? It's clear you and Annie…"
Finnick interrupted her. "Why did any of the men agree to be on the show? One or two may have been looking for a wife, but most have someone back at home. I'd guess they were looking to generate some publicity for themselves or their business."
Katniss nodded grimly. She'd figured that out very quickly.
"But what about you? You're a victor. You don't need publicity."
"You're right," Finnick said. "I don't. But victors are beholden to the new Capitol administration in many ways, especially if we want to continue to receive the stipend that comes with winning The Hunger Games. Sometimes it's easier to play along to stay in their good graces."
Katiss frowned. She knew all about playing along. She was already tired of it.
Finnick continued, "Katniss, you have to understand that everything the Capitol does is for money. The television network is interested in ratings of course, but only because high ratings go hand-in-hand with generating a profit. The Hunger Games were extremely lucrative for the Capitol's coffers. Because of the mandatory viewing rule, advertisers paid exorbitant sums to get their commercials aired on The Hunger Games show.
"In addition, there were all the side industries that profited from The Hunger Games like the toy manufacturers who made victor dolls and toy weapons, the amusement consortium that leased the arenas and gave tours afterwards, and the fashion industry that made its livelihood off clothing styles worn by popular tributes or victors, to name just a few. Then there was the entire underground economy of gambling and betting on the winning and losing tributes.
"You might say that The Hunger Games was a main industry of the Capitol, much as fishing is the main industry of Four, or coal the main industry of Twelve. When President Crane got rid of the Games, he threw out a major source of revenue.
"The Match Game is another attempt to generate income through the only way the Capitol knows – exploitation of the districts' population."
Katniss' mouth dropped open. She was amazed at the things Finnick had said. She knew there must not be any cameras or hidden microphones in his house or she expected Peacekeepers would come in and arrest him immediately.
She didn't get an opportunity to ask him more because slowly people began to trickle into the kitchen to get some food. Some stayed in the house to eat, while others moved outside to the deck to sit down and watch the waves pound on the shore.
Katniss took a cinnamon roll and a glass of orange juice and headed out to the deck. She noticed Castor was already filming the casual breakfast.
She sat down next to Gates and listened while he chatted about some a device that could turn seawater into fresh drinking water by eliminating the salt from it. She had to admit that Gates was probably the smartest man she'd ever met, but oh, he was so boring.
After everyone had eaten, Cressida ordered them into the cars. They were driven to a dock, and taken onboard a boat that was steered a mile out to sea. Everyone was given fishing poles and they spent the morning standing along the edge of the boat with their line in the water.
Katniss enjoyed the relaxing past time. It was hunting on the water to her. She caught Gale's eye; he smiled and she knew he was enjoying it as much as she.
Gates seemed more fascinated in the construction of the fishing pole and spent most of the morning making modifications to it. He never put the line into the water once.
Cato got sick from the rocking of the boat and spent most of the time vomiting over the side.
Finnick was a natural. He was the only one to catch any fish, and he caught several. There was an area at the back of the boat where the fish were cleaned and Katniss joined him as he showed her exactly how to do it. Castor filmed the procedure.
"You're not very squeamish are you?" Finnick asked.
"No," she laughed. "I'm a hunter. I skin and prepare game all the time."
After the boat had returned to the dock and everyone had eaten lunch at the beach house, Cressida directed them to the shore so Castor could film Katniss walking on the beach separately with each contestant.
"These are just long shots to establish the beach setting. No microphones," she said. "So walk out to that big rock, turn around and walk back."
Katniss was wearing dark green shorts and a striped tank top. It was breezy and she was glad she'd worn her hair in a long braid, otherwise it would have been flying everywhere in the wind. Her feet were bare and she dug her toes into the sand, enjoying the wet sensation on her skin.
Gale was the first to walk with her to the large rock that stood 200 yards ahead.
"Hold hands," Cressida yelled.
Katniss reluctantly reached for his hand. It felt large and calloused in her palm. She waited for Gale to say something, anything, but he was quiet.
"What's going on Gale?" she finally asked. "You've been avoiding me for days now."
His face bore a look of remorse. "You're getting down to the final contestants," he began. "You'll have to make a choice soon."
"I know," she muttered, thinking that she'd have to say something soon – risk whatever consequences the Capitol threw at her and Peeta, or simply play The Match Game out to its logical end.
"You see the problem is…don't choose me."
She'd been staring down at her feet, watching them sink in the wet sand as she walked. She froze when she heard Gale's plea. He was her best friend. Ever since she'd signed the contract to star on The Match Game she'd counted on him to rescue her.
She looked up at him, shock on her face. "What do you mean?"
"Katniss, we've been friends for the past seven years, good friends, but really only friends. I have had a life outside of hunting with you."
"Who is she? Katniss asked angrily, as the full impact of what Gale was implying hit her.
"Well, over the past few years there's been too many to remember, but for the last couple of months there's only been one girl. And, well…she's the one for me."
"Who Gale?" she shouted.
"Madge."