A/N: Wow, the response last chapter receive was too amazing for words! You guys have been so great, and all the reviews were so heartfelt, I could actually hear your excitement in your words. Thank you for continuing to read this story. You have helped so much! Enjoy!

Chapter 10

My prep team fusses incessantly around me, about the honeymoon episodes, about the upcoming reapings, and how these games will be the most exciting ever. Good thing I have learned to shut them out. I examine my face in the mirror. Is this the same girl from a week ago? Was it really only eight days that I was sitting down as my prep team got me ready for my wedding?

I can't recall my feelings very well because everything in regards to that day was such a blur. But I can tell a few things are different. For one, Peeta was speaking to me, we were still on good terms. Of course, back then I hadn't hurt him as I have recently and I don't know how to fix it. I remember that as Haymitch walked me down the aisle, I was hoping he wouldn't speak, he wouldn't say a bad joke or try to say something meaningful, while today I want him to talk to me and tell me what to do with Peeta. At least, when it comes to us he always seems to know what is best, while in my case, whenever I make a decision on my own, only disaster follows.

It brings me to question whether I was right to do what I did...

Well, that's not important right now. I won't be able to talk to Haymitch until tonight and there are bigger problems at hand. Like the twenty four children who will be chosen to fight to death. Somehow thinking about this makes my problems seem so childish, so insignificant. Because at least, I know after today, I won't have to say good bye to a loved one forever, like the families of the tributes will.

The weeks ahead of us will be unbearable for the country and I will be held responsible if I don't bring someone home with me. I know at the end of the day there is only so much a mentor can do but I know I will always wonder if I could have done more. If it drove Haymitch to drown himself in alcohol and has driven so many other victors down worse paths, what makes me think things will be any easier for me?

Thank God at least I have... oh, wait... I don't... he's not speaking to me and I am not speaking to him either. Now I wish I had fixed things before. Why did I let a whole week pass by without trying to make things better? Why did I wait until the very last minute? I don't know what I'll do with myself if I have to face this alone.

And now I am more resolved than ever to figure this out.

My prep team is now done with me and Cinna comes in to take over for them. And I wonder if now that Cinna will have a new tribute to dress, will he still dress me?

I ask him and he replies:

"As if you had a choice" he says as he buttons me up and I laugh.

"I didn't know victors got to keep their stylists" I say, relieved to know Cinna will be sticking around. He feels as much family as Haymitch and, dare I say it, Effie do.

"They don't" he says matter-of-factly.

I turn around and give him a confused look.

"What do you mean? So you actually like me?" I ask mockingly.

He laughs and my heart rejoices. I realize it's been a while I don't hear laughter. And being here with Cinna I can almost forget what we're getting dressed for.

"You couldn't get me to stop designing for you if you tried, girl on fire" he says with a soft smile.

I smile back.

"Good" is all I say but it's enough for him to know how happy I am to hear that.

We're finished now and heading towards the main square where everyone is already waiting, the dread on their faces is heart breaking and I remember I must have looked that way a year ago. And now I am here on the other side, the safe side. It almost seems unfair. But then I remember all the Capitol has done to me and I wish I was still among them, in my mother's old dress, hoping neither Prim or I would get chosen.

This time Haymitch isn't as fully drunk as last year, and I like to think that Peeta and I being here has affected that. After all, he is no longer an official mentor. Peeta and I are. He is coming along with us, to show us the ropes and help us since we are both first timers. It's kind of him to do so. I don't think I could do this without either one of them.

We are sitting next to each other hearing the Mayor read the same old speech we all have memorized and no one wants to hear anymore.

Then it is over and Effie stands up to do her job of picking out the papers with the unfortunate children's names who will participate this year.

And now I would rather be back at the speech part. No one was getting sentenced to death then at least.

Effie walks in her tiny steps towards the microphone and begins.

"Now the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 75th annual Hunger Games, the Third Quarter Quell. As usual, ladies first!" she says as cheerfully as she can and walks over to the big crystal bowl with the names.

I thought the amount of paper slips would be less since the children belonging to families with clean slates will be safe but I guess there aren't many of those. Specially not since the new Head Peacekeeper was assigned.

Her small walk to and back seems eternal, aside from the fact that she can only take small steps in those heels.

She is once again in front of the microphone and she takes her sweet time to read out the name.

"Azalea Mortimer" she says loud and clear and everything and everyone falls silent. You only hear the wind howling in a sinister way, almost if it knew what a tragic moment this was.

I search the crowd of pale, poker faces until my eyes land on a blonde delicate thing that has fallen to her knees and starts sobbing uncontrollably.

I recognize her now. She is about a year older than me so we were in school together. I never knew her personally but I didn't need to, to know she was from town. She always dressed a little better than all of us, and her light hair and fair skin set her aside from the kids from the Seam.

Now I wonder how her name got in that bowl. She should have no reason to steal or break the law. Most merchant's kids didn't. She must have a special meaning for the Capitol. I bet that bowl was full of little papers with her name on it. It wouldn't be the first time a reaping is arranged.

She takes a few deep breaths and swallows her sobs as she straightens up, lifts her chin and tries to walk towards the small stage as dignified as possible.

She stands by Effie, incredulous, and I remember feeling the same way when I volunteered for Prim. Even though we all knew we could be reaped, it's never easy to accept that you are. You could see it on their faces every year.

"And now for the boys!" she says and repeats the same agonizing steps as she chooses the boy whose life will be changed forever.

"Gerrit Whittaker" she says and we almost immediately see the boy, though he is hardly a boy, start to walk in large decided steps towards us. No hesitating, no shock. Almost as if he knew he would be chosen or, if I didn't know better, that he was glad. He is from the Seam, I can tell, by his olive skin and dark hair.

He joins the girl tribute and Effie and we hear her announce them.

"Well, shake hands, you too" she says and as they do, I see a flash of recognition flash between their eyes, and their shake is like a silent agreement.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Effie says and we are all taken inside. Before I can say anything, Peeta beats me to it.

"Was I the only one who noticed it?" he asks if we should know exactly what he is talking about. And we do. We both nod but say nothing more. It isn't safe. But Haymitch's furrowed eyebrows tells me this is more serious than I thought.

I am troubled because the things I want to discuss with Haymitch only pile up. At least one of them I can do at anytime I am alone with him while for the other one I have to wait until the train stops and we can step outside.

But for now we wait. We wait until the tributes say their good byes. I see a small family with matching light hair and skin go in the room where the girl is. I recognize the man I assume is her father as the owner of the flower shop, not exactly a thriving business. Could they have been in more need than we thought?

A large man with about another four overgrown children go inside to see the boy tribute. By the kid's faces you can see they cannot be more than teenagers but their bodies would suggest otherwise. The father is just as menacingly tall and there is a look of vengeance in his eyes. I catch my breath when just before he steps inside his land on mine by no mistake and they linger on me for just a few seconds before he closes the door.

A shiver runs through my body and I, by pure instinct and habit, reach out and take Peeta's hand and grasp it tight. I get a strange look from him but I barely acknowledge it. The man's eyes replay on my mind.

Just what exactly is going on? I dread and anticipate the answer.

The possible explanations swarm my head until I feel dizzy.

We are finally on the train, and walking to the dining car where the tributes expect to officially meet us.

I walk in first and Peeta and Haymitch follow.

We take in the kids in front of us.

Azalea moves her eyes from her hands on her lap to us and back a few times while Gerrit never takes his eyes off me and I can't rip my eyes away from his gaze either. I feel that if I do I am giving him some advantage over me, as crazy as that sounds even to me, since I am the mentor here.

Peeta breaks the ice.

I am relieved. I remember Haymitch's welcome to us when we first met him and he was no Prince Charming.

"Uh, hello. We will be your mentors, Katniss and I. We will do what we can to prepare you but you must know you and you only can guarantee your survival" he starts but Haymitch interrupts him.

"Don't give it to them so sweet. They need to understand what they are in" he says stopping Peeta by placing the back of his hand on his chest and coming to where they are and sits across from them.

"First, embrace the probability of your imminent death" he says and makes a pause for that to sink in. The girl flinches at his blunt words but the boy doesn't even blink. "And know, in your hearts, that there is nothing I can do to save you" he finishes. Good old Haymitch. You can always count on him to tell it like it is. He spares no one's feelings. I think that's why I like him, for his straight up honesty. I know it helped me survive.

Peeta goes and sits next to him and I sit on the remaining spot, next to Peeta.

"I know neither one of you volunteered for this but now you are here and no one and nothing is going to get you out of it. So from today, ask yourself before you say or do anything: Is this going to help me live or drown me deeper?" he says fiercely.

Peeta and I watch. We didn't think he was going to take such an active role in this but I'm not complaining.

"Tomorrow the real training begins. You will learn how to get sponsors and etiquette. You will need both to come home" he points at them before they can complain. "Gerrit, you will train with Peeta and Azalea, you will train with Katniss".

For the first time since she was chosen, she opens her mouth.

"I'd rather train with Peeta" she says, trying to sound demanding.

My jaw tightens and I give her a deadly look before I say:

"Girl with girl, boy with boy" I say each word slowly so she sees I am not going to budge. "That's the way it is and it is going to stay like that".

"Uh, actually, Katniss, there really isn't a rule about it" Haymitch says. "If Gerrit has no complaints to train with you..." he continues but I interrupt him.

I slam my hand against the table as hard as I can and spit out:

"I have complaints!" I yell at Haymitch. There is a pause and everyone is quiet, looking at me wide eyed, Peeta more shocked than anyone, maybe a little frightened at my outburst. "Peeta trains Gerrit" I add, no doubt in my voice.

I see Haymitch's shock turns into a wicked half smile and I want to slap it out of his face. Why is he supporting this?

To all of our surprises, Gerrit speaks:

"I don't mind" he states. "I doubt lover boy here has anything to teach me anyways" he says as he turns his head sideways and looks at Peeta. "I won't need to slowly die by a ditch waiting for a girl to come rescue me to win. I have other methods in mind" he adds and I see Peeta stand up and reach over as Haymitch holds him back.

Woah! Where did that come from? Did kind, sweet Peeta just try to fight the tribute he will be coaching, who, might I add, has about a foot and a hundred pounds on him?

Thank God Haymitch caught him.

"You need to calm down boy!" Haymitch spits out at him. Peeta is both a little ashamed at being yelled at mixed with fury. His chest rises and falls rapidly and I have to blink a few times to believe what is in front of my eyes.

Haymitch moves his hair out of his face and looks harshly at Peeta.

"Now you've done it!" he points his finger at him. "Now you really will be training Azalea and Katniss will training Gerrit" he looks back and forth between us. I open my mouth to complain but one look from Haymitch makes me think better of it. My nostrils flare and my mouth is one thin line.

I stand up loudly pushing my chair away and walk off to the last car.

I am angry for so many reasons that I can't decide which one to think about first, but before I can choose, Haymitch and Peeta walk in and Haymitch is more like dragging Peeta. He lets him go abruptly and looks between us.

"What the hell was that?" he says in a low threatening tone.

This isn't how I pictured having this conversation...

A/N: Bit of a cliffhanger huh? :D leave me your thoughts and I will be getting back at you guys with an update soon! ;)