The Hunger Games; Peeta

~Scores~

Back on the District 12 floor, Haymitch and Effie grill us every night, about each moment of the day. What we did, how the other tributes were, who watched us. Cinna and Portia aren't around, so there's no one to add sanity to the meals.

However, Haymitch and Effie aren't really fighting anymore, they have merged into one, one team trying to get us out alive. When we are finally excused from the table in the second night I mumble to Katniss "Someine needs to get Haymitch a drink."

She makes a sound that is somewhere between a snort and a laugh, but abruptly stops.
"Don't. Don't pretend when there's no one around."
"Ok." I say. What I want to say is, I'm not pretending, I want to be your friend, I want to look after you, but of course I don't. And then we only ever talk in front of people.

On the third day, the afternoon is designated to people's private sessions. They pull us out one by one, until me and Katniss are the only ones left in the little waiting room. Soon they call my name, but before I leave she says something to me.
"Remember what Haymitch said about throwing the weights." As soon as she said it she looks confused, like she didn't mean too.

"Thanks. You...shoot straight."
She nods, and with that I enter the training centre. It's oddly unsettling being the only one in here.

The Gamemakers aren't focused at all. They barely listen as I state my name and district. Too preoccupied with their lavish eating.

I go over to the weights and pick them all up and hold them in a pile. One by one I throw them at the targets, from lightest to heaviest. But still, they don't notice me. I tell them "thank you for your time" and swiftly exit straight into the elevator.

In the elevator I throw my face into my hands. I screwed that up. They didn't even care. I was going to get a rubbish rating, and no sponsors to look after Katniss.

I wiped my face with my tunic when the elevator doors open I go into the dining room and tell Effie and Haymitch what I did. Neither of them looked unimpressed, so I guess that's good.

After about 15 minutes, Katniss comes in. She looks at none of us, head held high and stalls straight into her room. There's an awkward silence at the table, but then Cinna and Portia arrive and everyone forgets.

Effie goes to get Katniss for dinner and I'm locked in conversation about the betting and such.

Soon she enters the room, like nothing happened, but her face is red and blotchy like she'd been...crying.

She avoids everyone's eyes and takes tiny spoonfuls of a delicious fish soup. The adults start talking about the weather and suddenly my eyes meet Katniss's. I raise my eyebrows as to say "what happened?" And she gives her head a meek shake.

"Alright enough small talk." Comes Haymitch. "How awful were you today?"

"I don't know how it mattered" I begin. "When I showed up no one bothered to look at me, they were too busy scoffing themselves. I threw around some weights and then left."

"And you, sweetheart?" He says, turning to Katniss.

"I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers."
My roll falls out of my hand.
"You what?" Comes Effie's voice.

"Not at them... in their direction. Like let's said, they were ignoring me, so I just lost my head and shot the apple out of their stupid pig's mouth!"
She does not make it easy to protect her.

"What did they say?" Cinna says carefully.
"I don't know. I left after that." I smiled to myself. Mantids was stubborn and headstrong, but that's what makes her her.

"Without being dismissed?" Gasps Effie.

"I dismissed myself."

"Well that's that." Finishes Haymitch.

"Will they arrest me?" Her tone is surprising, like that of a little child who wants to know if they are in trouble or not.

"Doubt it. Can't replace you at this stage."

"What about my family? Will they punish them?" She sounds scared, and her voice is choking.

"Wouldn't make much sense. They'd have to say what happened in the training centre, but they can't because it's a secret. They'll probably just make your life hell in the arena."

Brilliant.

"They're going to do that anyway." I say quietly.
"Very true" Haymitch responds.
Then Haymitch begins to chuckle;
"What were their faces like."
A smile begins to play on her lips.

"Shocked. Terrified. One guy fell into a bowl of punch." Haymitch let's out a wide laugh, and everyone else joins in, except Effie- although she is suppressing a smile.
"Serves them right." Effie suddenly says. "It's their job to pay attention to you. And just because you're from 12 is no reason to ignore you." Her eyes dart around like she just said something outrageous.
"Sorry. That's just what I think."

"I'll get an awful score." Says Katniss.

"They only matter if they are very bad or very good. No one lags much attention to the mediocre ones, and you could be getting a low score on purpose." Portia says.

"I hope that's how people will infer the 4 I'm going to get." I say "is anything less impressive than a guy picking up some weights and chucking them? One almost landed in my foot."

Katniss flashes a smile at me, and begins to properly eat.

After dinner, we enter the living room to watch the scores. The careers got between 8-10's, and surprisingly Rue got a 7.

We come up last as usual, I get an eight, which is hugh enough for me to be on the better side! Then Katniss's face is on the screen, and then the number 11!

E-LE-VEN!!

With this score she'll surely get plenty of sponsors!

Effie squeals and everyone is applauding her and cheering and congratulating. I feel like a weight has been temporarily lifted off my shoulders.
"Guess they liked your temper." Haymitch says.

"Katniss the girl on fire!" Cinna says, hugging her. "Wait until you see your interview dress!"
"More flames?"
"Of a sort" he replies mischievously.

I congratulate her, and her me, producing another painfully awkward moment. I soon excuse myself to my room and tangle myself under the covers.

My last thoughts that night are if the bread loaves in the bakery.