A Different Side- Glimmer (Hunger Games)

Chapter 9

Clove glares at them, which relieves me. Marvel and I aren't the only ones who can't stands the tributes from 12.

I glare too, and I see the Career boys are as well. Perfect. We look like a clique, like we're together.

A tall, muscular woman named Atala starts speaking. All the tributes are next to their pair.

"In a few days, twenty three of you will be dead. Only one will survive," she starts. She continues by explaining which stations she recommends, how most of us will die, and things like that. Glitter told me to listen to her, but I kept focusing on Katniss and Peeta. Besides, Glitter was acting so beyotch-y lately.

Finally, we're all perimitted to start training. Clove smirks.

"Check this out," she utters, walking to the knife station. An assortment of the weapon is layed out on a metal table. She gracefully scoops them up and loads them into her belt.

She pushes the red "on" button for the knife-throwing training to begin. Black standees with the shape of a human painted on them light up, signaling the thrower, who in this case is Clove, to hit the target.

She takes a knife from her belt and it flies right onto the bullseye, which is the dummy's chest. More lights flash, and she throws a knife into the coresponding dummy.

"Not bad," I say sort of sarcasticly when she's done.

"What can you do?" she smirks back. Time to show my skills.

Clove is good, for sure. I needed to show her I was good with weapons, too. I scan the room and came to the archery station.

I gentley lift the silver bow that hung on the rack. I slide the quiver filled with arrows onto my back and stepped away from the dummy.

I pull out an arrow and notch it to the bowstring, aim, and fire. It sails into the dummy's chest, just like Clove's knives. I shoot another in its head, one in another dummy's chest, and the last one accidently misses and pierces it in the groin.

Clove laughs. "Nice," she grins, and I roll my eyes. "But seriously. You're good."

"So are you," I reply. I turn around to hang the bow back up but almost run into another tribute. I almost say, "watch it" but quickly stop myself when I realize who it is.

Cato.

He nods at me, and I smile. I hope I'm not blushing. "Hey," he smiles. "I'm Cato."

"Glimmer," I say back.

"Nice shooting," he slyly complimants.

"Thanks," I smile, a little too sincerely. But how can I help it? I'm feeling sparks. "Do you shoot, too?"

"Nah," he says, shaking his head. "I'm much better with a sword."

"Really?" I smirk. "Show me."

"Well, I don't know if I want to do that," he almost laughs. "You could use that against me."

"I would never."

He smiles, and this time he looks sincere. "Alright," he gives in. Clove looks at me like a friend would when you're talking to your crush.

I roll my eyes. I do like Cato, and he seems to like me too. But I know this is unhealthy. We could never be together. Only one of us can live in the Hunger Games.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when Cato picks up a sword. He's surrounded by blue human-like maniquins.

He begins to fight. He must be so strong... swords are extremely heavy. He chops off a head. Then an arm. Then a whole abdomen.

I silently "Oo" and "Ah" at Cato's performance. He puts the sword back and walks over to me.

"What do ya think?" he asks.

"Amazing," I breath. Stop it, I think to myself. Remember, there can only be one winner.

"Whoa, check out your boy," Clove announces to me. Marvel's throwing spears like crazy, each one landing in a different dummy's heart or head.

"That dude's awesome," Cato comments.

"Yeah, but not very good-looking," Clove says. "He's got a monkey face."

I can't help but giggle. I hope Marvel doesn't hear us. "Yeah. But he's alright. We're forming an alliance..." I start.

"Yeah, he told me," Cato says. "I'm totally in for it." He winks at me. Here come the sparks.

"What alliance?" Clove asks. I lean in and whisper into her ear. About all the details in our alliance against Katniss. Oh, and Peeta.

"God, I hate her," she complains through her teeth. "I just want to stab a knife into her head."

"Who?" Marvel asks. He's done with his training.

"Girl on Fire," I whisper. We can't let this get out just yet.

"Oh."

"It's against Peeta, too?" Clove asks. "He could make a good ally." Cato points to the climbing rope, which is behind us. Peeta struggles up the netting, then falls. I laugh at what a weakling he is. Of course he won't make a good ally- he's from District 12.

Katniss walks up to him. She whispers something into his ear and points to us. Oh, what does the Girl Who Can't Afford Fire think about us?

Clove and Marvel glare at them, but Cato and I slightly smirk, challenging them. They notice us and freeze. Then I make out Katniss's words, "Do it."

Peeta picks up a training ball, and is pulled down by its weight. We each giggle.

Then, he does the impossible. He throws it. Right over his head. Not only does it fly above him, it flies across the room. It almost hits us, and slams into the rack of spears Marvel was using.

I'm impressed. Maybe Peeta will make a good ally.