Mentors

13

(Thank you all for 3k reads I'm so excited)
Katniss pov

Early in the morning we meet Haymitch and get mentoring advice. He is mentoring us to mentor. How pathetic does that sound?
"How do we scare the boy into taking this seriously?" Peeta questions.
"The thing is, you should let him be. If he doesn't wish to listen to you, he can have fun with immediate death."
We enter the dining room where they sit with Effie. The looks on their faces as she babbles about how to act on stage, it's hilarious. But quite upsetting.
"Thank you Effie, we can take it from here." I cut in.
I take a look at Raina, there's a bruise under her eye. I bend down to her height and examine it with my fingers lightly.
"What happened?" I ask gently.
She looks across the table at Kolton for a split second, and then looks up at me.
"I tripped and hit my face on the corner of the table." Right away I do not believe all those words.
"We will talk later." I tell her.
After breakfast and a little more mentoring, I decide that it is later.
"Raina, can I speak with you?"
"Sure.."
She brings me to her bedroom, which was mine for the last games.
I take a seat on the edge of the bed, and she sits beside me.
"Oh. I remember this room. It's really neat you know." I pick up the remote that changes the background of the wall.
"I didn't know it could to that. It's extraordinary." she replies.
"It is, but I think Peeta could paint a better moral than that." I state.
"I've always wanted to see one of his paintings." she sighs.
"Trust me, when I get you to win the games, you can see all of his paintings."
"For real?" her face lights up.
"Of course you can. Now tell me, what really happened to your face?" I ask.

"I don't know if it was an accident or not, but he tripped me and I fell. He didn't apologize, but I just got up and walked away. I don't care, but I don't know what's up with him, he's clearly awful. I was the one who was chosen by my parents to be in the games. He volunteered."
"I wouldn't worry about him. You make friends in training, and I'll have them become your allies."
"Really? You think I can make friends?" She smiles.
"Well, you made friends with me, and I'm stubborn. I am sure you will be just fine in training." I assure her.
"Thank you." She hugs me.
I can't describe how much she reminds me of Prim. I will do anything in my power to bring this child home.
"I should ask Effie or our prep team to put some makeup over this bruise before I meet the tributes." she suggests.
"That's exactly what you shouldn't do, I think you should let them see, and wonder how you got it." I smile.
"I should go, give you some time to yourself for a while." I step out into the hallway and find Peeta, who seems impressed with something.
"Can I help you mister?"
"And you're the one who thought mentoring would be difficult." he wraps his arms around me from behind, his hands finding my waist.
"Trust me, doesn't seem like this will go smoothly." I lean backwards into his embrace and close my eyes for a moment. Peeta sways from side to side for a while. Making this the most relaxed I've been.

Before Peeta and I enter the dining hall for supper, we overhear an argument between the tributes.

"Just about everyone deserves a happy ending. Especially them. Why can't you just keep your remarks to yourself for once?" Raina pleads.

"Happy ending? You can't be serious. Where is our happy ending, Raina? Where? We are the ones being sent straight to slaughter. While they can sit back and watch it all happen."
Raina stands up and walks over to him.

"To your knowledge, we were the ones who sat around watching them last year, and the consecutive years before that. We weren't able to do anything to help them. Katniss and Peeta are here to help us. Or they're here to at least help me. They defied the Capitol and brought home two victors. I can finally show the Capitol what hell they put these tributes through, I'm going to show these crazy wig people that they don't own me and I'm not a piece of their tedious game. So you're ether with me or you're not. I don't care what your choice is."

We wait a moment before walking in. To make it look like we weren't listening. I always end up just eavesdropping
"Hello Raina. Kolton." Peeta greets them, sitting at the table next to Effie and Haymitch, who have just decided to walk in also and join us.
"How are you holding up?" I ask Raina.
she just slightly shakes her head.
A familiar face walks in the dining hall, and asks to bring Haymitch into another room.
"Katniss, Peeta. You remember Plutarch, don't you? From your engagement party?" Haymitch asks, before leaving the room.
"Nice to see you again." I say.
"Same to you. Hope to see you around." he smiles, escorting Haymitch out of the dining hall.
"Why is he here?" Kolton asks me.
"I wish I knew." I answer honestly.

A/n here is a short chapter for you! So, why do you think Plutarch wants to talk to Haymitch before training begins? I would like to see your thoughts in the comments!
Have a happy and safe new year🌚
-j