The Mentor

3

I get to breakfast early, downing cup after cup of coffee. Effie is awake, but only just, her eyes puffy and half-closed. She too clutched a cup of black coffee in a cup patterned with roses. As I enter, she bustles past me to wake up Peeta.Haymitch walks in a few minutes later, his face still red from the previous night. I suspect he's still a little drunk. He sits down and immediately pours himself a glass of juice, adding something from a flask to the mix."The cameras will be at the train station," I say. "Don't drink too much.""Aye, aye, Captain."I nibble on a slice of bread as Peeta walks in, still in his pajamas."Good morning," he says to me with a glance at Haymitch."Come on, eat something," I say to him. I watch like a hawk while he's served by a Capitolian servant."Piper, stop it," he finally says as I sit down opposite him. "I'm fine."I brush a lock of blond hair out of his forehead, meeting his eyes."Piper, the Head Gamemaker Seneca Crana requests that you sit beside him at the opening ceremonies tonight," Effie says. "You can't turn him down, of course."I feel my eyes shadow over, and Peeta's dim. He squeezes my hand across the table, and I nod."Of course, Effie," I say in monotone."You know, Effie? If you lived in District 12, didn't wear six-inch heels, and had normal-colored hair, you could do something for me," Haymitch says. Effie's mouth drops open as he begins to laugh. Finally, she bustles from the room as Peeta blushes.Just as she leaves, Katniss Everdeen walks in, looking about as well-rested as I feel. She's taller than me, and more heavily built, though she still has remnants of the Seam starved look hanging around her."Sit down! Sit down," Haymitch says, waving the girl over.I see her eyes searching the groaning table. As she sits down, one eyebrow raises at a cup in front of her."It's hot chocolate," I say to her, and her eyes meet mine. They're calculating, but not in the way a Career's are. Just in the way of someone who's had to fight to survive for a long, long time.Katniss tries the liquid and then drains the cup. She then digs into the food, while I look on, trying to place where I've seen her before."I remember you," I finally say, and she looks up, still chewing. "Your father died in a mining accident."Katniss swallows. "I'm surprised you remember.""It was the same one that killed my parents. It's not something you forget easily." I look at her carefully. "Your father gave me the bow I hunted with. He was a good man."Her eyes widen with surprise. "I didn't know he gave away any of his bows."I shrug and take another sip of coffee. Katniss finished eating and studies us both, Haymitch and I."So, you're supposed to give us advice," she says."Here's some advice," Haymitch says. "Stay alive." He bursts out laughing, and I see Peeta's eyes darken."That's very funny," he says, and suddenly, his hand flies out, smashing Haymitch's glass against the floor. Red liquid sprays everywhere."Haymitch, don't –" I begin, but he's already swung for Peeta. His fist connects with his jaw, sending him from his chair.Haymitch reaches for the spirits once more as I spring to my feet. Katniss plunges a knife into the table between his hand and the bottle. Instantly, my hand reaches for her, holding my butter knife to her throat. She freezes as I stare at her. Then I flip the knife over in my hand and set it down on the table. Peeta picks himself off the floor and I slowly sit back down."Thanks, Pidge," Haymitch says."I should've let her stab you. Too bad instincts kicked in," I say, taking another sip of my coffee.Katniss and Peeta are both still on their feet, staring at us."Well, what's this?" Haymitch says. "Did we actually get a pair of fighters this year?"Peeta scoops up a handful of ice and goes to press it to his jaw, which is already bruising."No," Haymitch says. "Let the bruises show. The audience will think you've mixed it up with another tribute before you've even made it to the arena.""That's against the rules," Peeta says, and I laugh."Peeta, the Capitol doesn't care. They love the blood, the fighting. If you don't get caught, they'll lap it up," I say."Can you hit anything with that knife besides the table?" Haymitch asks Katniss, who wrenches it from the table. She throws it at the nearby wall, where it lodges firmly in the seam between two panels. I suspect it was a fluke from the look on her face, but she can still throw."Stand over here. Both of you," Haymitch says, directing them in front of him. He circles them like a vulture, checking their muscles and their faces. "Well, you're not entirely hopeless. Seem fit. And once the stylists get hold of you, you'll be attractive enough."Haymitch glances at me. "All right, I'll make a deal with you. You don't interfere with my drinking, and I'll stay sober enough to help you. But you have to do exactly what I say.""Fine," Peeta says."So help us," Katniss says. "When we get to the arena, what's the best strategy at the Cornucopia for someone –""Slow down," I say. "We'll be pulling into the station in five or ten minutes. Once there, Peacekeepers will escort you to your stylists. You're going to hate what they do to you, but don't resist.""But –""No buts," Haymitch says, retrieving his bottle. "Don't resist." He leaves the compartment, leaving me with the tributes."Will he actually stay sober?" Peeta asks me, and I nod."How do you know?" Katniss asks."Because I asked him to," I say. "And Haymitch will never let me down."We're plunged into darkness, and I sigh. We're close."I've got to go get ready. Some of us have expectations to live up to," I say. I touch Peeta's arm reassuringly and leave the compartment.In my room, I change out of my sleeping clothes to a black dress with tall black boots. I string a red pendant the size of a baby's fist around my throat and swipe red lipstick over my mouth.If I want Peeta to win, I have to bring him home, and for that to happen I need the Capitol to keep loving their songbird. So I'll wear the pretty clothes and the fiery makeup. I'll smile for the Capitol and answer to their every whim. Anything to bring Peeta back to me.The train rolls to a stop, and I walk back out into the main compartment. Effie has already gathered Peeta and Katniss there. Katniss looks nervous, but Peeta's grinning. When they see me, what I'm wearing, both of their eyes widen.This is when Peeta realizes that who I am here is not who I am in District 12. Piper the songbird can walk in high heels. Piper the phoenix holds the Capitol's heart."Stand behind me," I say to them. "Smile if you want, wave to the masses, but keep your head high."I take up my place in front of them and the door slides open. I hear the cheering of the crowds and I step out.My eyes are icy-cold as I forge out among the Peacekeepers holding back the Capitolians."Piper, over here!""Piper, look over here!""Can I get a picture?"I keep looking straight ahead, without turning to look at any of them. This isn't the time to smile.We reach the sleek silver cars and I step aside."We're separated here," I say to Peeta and Katniss. "Good luck."They get into the car, and I turn to see Effie helping Haymitch along to another car."Piper, aren't you coming?" she asks me, and the car Peeta's in peels away from the curb silently. I watch him go."Yeah, I'm coming," I say, and I step into the car after them.