A/N: Thank you everyone for all the feedback! :D I was so happy to read about it all! I always get so nervous when I post a chapter, hoping you guys will like it and it is so rewarding to know you did and even if you didn't I am glad to hear it because then I know what I could improve (: So whenever you wanna share your thoughts with me, please do, I will appreciate it so much! Enjoy!

Chapter 22

"That will never happen" Coin states bluntly and roughly. I take a long look around the table to see if anyone else will vouch for me but their lips are sealed. They seem too scared to stand up to Coin. "You're more helpful here as the mockingjay than out there getting yourself killed, we have plenty people for that. This isn't the Games. You were up against children. This is war."

"What if I were filmed fighting just one battle? Won't that be encouraging? It'll show I'm not just acting for the cameras like I have been before. It'll reassure everyone I am really in this" I try to sound as convincing as possible, imagining what Peeta would say in this situation. He is the persuasive one, not me. I see her eyes narrow as she considers what I've said and I can tell she sees some sense in my point.

"What if you get killed? What then?" she asks.

"I won't. I know how to fight. I may have only fought in the games but I was against experienced killers, may they have been kids or not" I try to reason with her. I feel confident that I am making progress and I hope Peeta would be proud of me.

"I can't be responsible for your death. If you die, it'll be even worse than if all you do is act. It'll only cause chaos and havoc" she says regaining her composure and standing by her initial logic.

I sigh impatiently and I am about to open my mouth again when I hear someone speak from behind me and before I turn around I recognize the hasty, irritated voice.

"I'll be responsible" Johanna Mason speaks up from behind me, resting on the side of the door. Her expression is a combination of defiance and boredom. "I'm about to start my training anyway. I'll let her tag along and take her with me on our first mission- keep her precious little face pretty and alive for the cameras" she adds with a mock smile.

I have to mask my shock as not to dissuade her from her offer, as confusing and questionable as it is. Why is she helping me?

I look back at Coin, hopeful for her approval. She raises one eyebrow, obviously as suspicious as I am by Johanna Mason's very generous offer as it is so unlikely coming from her. Coin rests her chin on her left closed fist, contemplating the proposal.

"You gotta watch out for her more than for yourself. If she dies..." Coin is threatening Johanna when she interrupts her.

"Yeah. Yeah. I get it. She dies- I die. Whatever" she dismisses Coin with carelessness, turns around and starts walking away then stops dead on her track, turns her head around and gives me a deadly look.

"Monday morning training starts. Don't be late. I'll help you but I won't be your mommy" she points her finger at me and narrows her eyes before stomping away.

I watch her go speechless. I am relieved and terrified at the same time. I am glad I will get my chance to go get Peeta but I am frightened because Johanna Mason isn't the generous type and she made sure to let me know she wasn't happy about helping. So why did she do it then?

I'll have to wait and find out.

I didn't even know other mentors besides Haymitch and I were here and I certainly hadn't seen her once in all these months. She must have arrived a few days ago in the hovercraft that came in.

Monday morning comes around and I am up early to be in time. I am so caught up on figuring out Johanna's shady intentions that I completely forget that Gale and I were supposed to go hunting so when he knocks on my door five minutes to nine I think it is Johanna coming to rush me.

"I'm almost ready" I mumble out as I try to finish brushing my teeth.

"Good! Weather is great today" he shouts from outside and the shock of hearing his voice reminding me of the plans I had completely forgotten about makes me spit out all the toothpaste on my mirror.

Damn!

Now I'll really be late.

I grab a towel and wipe it away as best as I can while rinsing and run out of the room, almost running headfirst into Gale and past him.

"Woah! What's the rush?" he asks running behind me.

"I can't hunt today" I say as I try to braid my hair as I run down the long hallway.

"What do you mean? What better do you have to do?" he asks and I hear the confusion in his voice.

"I'm starting on the training that begins today. So actually I can't hunt anymore for the next 3 months" I explain without stopping.

"Wait, wait, wait! What?" he asks and grabs my arm to stop me and turn me around to face him. "Why did you enroll? You don't have to. Your job is here. And how did you get Coin to agree to let you risk your life like that? Since when do you want to fight anyway?" he bombards me with questions.

I sigh impatiently and shake my arm out of his grasp.

"I don't have time to explain. I'm going to be late" I snap at him and take off again.

"You don't have time? Really?" he asks chasing after me. "Katniss Everdeen, who is always late to everything on purpose, doesn't have time to explain because she is going to be late? Who's gonna care? Everyone lets you do whatever you want anyways. Now stop and explain to me what the heck is going on" he continues as he chases after me.

"Gale! I can't be late for this! I promise I will explain everything later!" I growl back at him, running out of patience. "Johanna Mason made this happen for me and I can't risk losing it! Now please let me be and I'll explain later!"

His face transforms at the sound of Johanna's name and he doesn't say anything for a second. And it is so shocking that as late as I am I stand there and wait for him to say something, anything.

But he doesn't. He just shifts the weight of his body unto the other foot and looks down. When he looks up his face looks betrayed and I sigh heavily because he is jumping to conclusions and I really don't have time to deal with him right now. I open my mouth to speak but he takes off and hits my shoulder with his as he walks past me and I am provoked to stop him and punch him but I see Johanna standing a few feet away smiling smugly in our direction.

She stops him as he walks by her by catching his bicep in her hand.

"Don't sweat it Romeo. You can do better" she says seductively as her eyes travel up and down his body. To my pride he shakes her off and keeps walking without a word and she laughs out loud.

I approach her and I must contain myself from giving her a deadly look and a piece of my mind. I remind myself to that I can't mess this up so I take a deep breath and pretend I am acting for the Capitol once more.

So I wipe off any disdain from my face but show no warmth either. I will only go so far. I know she must have some hidden motive for doing this and I won't let my guard down. She has made it clear she isn't doing this out of kindness.

"You're late" she snarls at me and starts walking towards outside.

"Well I had a little situation" I say coldly.

"Little?" she chuckles. "You had a hunky, sexy piece of a situation back there" she says with the obvious intent of making me angry but I won't give her the pleasure.

We walk out and the grass is still wet with dew. I recognize other mentors on the field along with other new faces. They must have all come together. Some are stretching, some are talking and laughing and I see two ripping grass out of the ground and throwing it in the air with joyous expressions and I am confused. They can't be right. What are they doing here. Their faces seem so familiar. Could they be past victors that I may have seen in other games?

A husky, provocative voice whispering in my ear snaps me out of my trance.

"Those are the crazies from District 6. They'll have a rough time withdrawing the next few weeks. No drugs here. I wonder why they are even training" the voice says and I jump away to see one of the most famous victors standing a few feet away, shirtless, basking his bronze hair in the morning sunlight.

Finnick Odair.

I swallow remembering his daring closeness a few seconds ago and trying to make sense of it as I hear Johanna burst out laughing.

"Don't feel harassed. He's like that with everyone" she says and it's the first time I hear her voice sounding normal and pleasing.

"I didn't" I state coldly.

"That's too bad" he says and he lets his words linger then removes his flirtatious eyes off me and gives Johanna his attention.

"Glad you convinced her" he says to her and I look between them confused.

"Turned out it was easier than I thought. She actually beat me to it. She was already pathetically begging Coin to let her before I even found her" she explains, making emphasis on 'begging', her voice back her usual growl.

I am about to open my mouth to ask what they mean but a whistle stops me and orders us to pay attention to the man and woman who seem to be our teachers.

So we all turn around and face them.

They give us instructions and we follow them. We get no break or chance to talk, or in my interest, to ask Johanna and Finnick why they want me here.

We are covered in dirt and sweat by the end of the day and most of us have collapsed out of exhaustion a few times before the trainers come by and tell us we better get up and keep going or they won't approve for us to go into battle at the end of the three months' training.

I only need to hear this once before I resolve that I have to do this no matter how hard it is. I can't risk wasting these months and not being allowed to go to the Districts. I simply can't.

"Damn, girl, you must really want this" Finnick says, panting from the ground as he looks up at me still doing pushups.

I can't help a little chuckle as I see his fit body laying lifeless on the dirt while I am still going.

"I do" I reply and he stays looking at me. My arms struggle under the strain but I close my eyes and picture Peeta in the middle of open fire and I know I have to pull strength from somewhere, anywhere... I just got to do this. I will never forgive myself if I fail and I don't bring him back in time and something were to happen to him. And this gives me the power I need to complete that set as I hear the woman trainer- Achillea- scream at Finnick to get his pretty little butt up and keep going.

"She's a tough one" he says to me as she walks away. "I like tough" he says as his eyes land on my tensed body. I ignore him which causes him to laugh.

The sunset signals the end of our training of the day, which consisted mostly of building strength and resistance. We all drag our bodies back in the building to shower and eat dinner.

I am impatient to see Gale so I can explain to him everything and ask him for insight on the situation. Finnick and Johanna definitely want something from me. I just can't figure out what it is.

I shower as fast as I can and go into the dining hall to get my food. I sit at the usual table and eat slowly waiting to see when Gale will come in. Just as I see him walk in the doors I pierce him with my eyes, willing him to look at me but he doesn't.

I keep my eyes on him as he gets his food and I am so focused on what he will do next that I don't notice Finnick and Johanna sitting down next to me until I hear their trays clatter on top of the table.

I look at them confused, highly tempted to be rude and ask them what they are doing here.

"A picture will last you longer" Johanna says mockingly and I am provoked to shove my mashed potatoes in her face. They taste horrible anyways.

"What do you guys want with me?" I ask instead and I know already they aren't going to tell me so easily.

"The question is why do you want to train for battle?" Finnck retaliates with another question.

I sigh.

"That's none of your business" I say and I want to swallow back my words. That's the worst possible thing I could have said. This will only make them insist more.

Just then I notice Gale looking at me and he's got that betrayed, disgusted look again as he sees Finnick and Johanna sitting with me.

I want to shout out to him that I don't want them here but I stop myself from saying some other stupid thing that will only make things worse. So I look down at my food and breathe deeply to calm myself down.

"Uh-oh. I think Romeo is jealous" Johanna implies with a laugh.

I dig my nails in my palms as I close my hands in tight fists and grit my teeth together.

These are going to be three very long months.

A/N: So waddaya think? :D let me know!