Growing Flower

Chapter 6

Oh what a day! Peeta has worked us to the bone. Making us work out or strategies and strengths. Considering Rye and I are his and Katniss's children, we should probably have great skills, too. Peeta has gathered us in a room to discuss the Training Center.

"Ok." My father began."I want you two to try to make friends with the other tributes."

I kinda zoned him out, considering after our entrance at the parade and the jealous tributes, I'm not even sure I want to think about another tribute. "

How do we do that?" Rye asked. I sighed, knowing he would try to make friends with our enemies.

"Try different stations than your normal skills. That way you'll meet different tributes, learn new things, and maybe start a conversation."

He looked at me when he said that. Why? Don't ask me. He thinks I'm not the social type, which, in all honesty, I'm not.

"For example, Jas I want you to try spears and knives. Maybe you can start talking with a Career." Oh brother. That's probably not gonna end well. But, I keep my mouth shut. I just nod as a fold my arm over my chest, not wanting to try and make alliances.

"Rye you try knot tying. Maybe you could find a useful companion."

I couldn't help but give a slight giggle. Knot tying? That has to be the stupidest station! Companion? Peeta's practically setting Rye up in a trap, this is the Hunger Games after all. Rye shot me a glare which just made me laugh again. Peeta rolled his eyes.

"Ok you two. Go get ready." I nodded and jumped to my feet, wanting to get away from these two.

I walked down the hall to my room. I found my Avox tidying up my clothing. I smiled slightly at her. I walked to my bed and found a black jacket with red and silver lining and borders. On both shoulders and the back was a silver number twelve sewed into it. I quickly put the thing on and looked around for my Mockingjay pin. I scrambled around the room looking in the drawers of my dresser, in the closet, and the bathroom. My avox handed it to me. Most found it where I wasn't looking. "Thanks." I said smiling slightly. She only nodded and went back to cleaning. Honestly, I felt bad for her. I know she's punished for something she did, but how bad could it be. I helped her clean by making my bed and tidying my clothes. She tried to stop me from helping but I dismissed her gently. She sighed and went to clean the bathroom. I watched her. I over heard Effie calling her Lily. Pretty name if you ask me. Lily watched from the bathroom door and bit her lip. I know cleaning is her job but I like Lily so I'm helping. She nodded to me as if saying she was done and exited my room with my dirty laundry. Now I bit my lip, hoping nobody saw me helping her, since the door was open. And because I like her, I don't want to be responsible for her punishment. I quickly exited my room as I pinned the Mockingjay to my shirt. I walked down the hall to Rye's room. I knocked on his door.

"Rye!" I called impatiently. Like five minutes later he finally opened the door.

"Ready?" He asked me.

"Why else would I come to get you?" I said under my breath. He shrugged.

We walked together to the elevator. Rye pressed a button while I looked out the glass. These elevators, I swear, could've been made like this to spy on everyone. The elevator finally stopped and we exited. Luckily, we're not the last district. The new ones, Zero and Thirteen are. But by the time the got here, our new head trainer began lecturing. Sylvia, that's her name, star to g explaining the station's and their significance. Then she went on about how we couldn't fight with each other until the arena and then we we're finally dismissed to start. I stiffly walked to the knife throwing where, no surprise here, was the Career girl, Spear, from Two. I watched Spear as she threw three knives at the same time and how they hit the target dummy square in the chest. Not bad, but with a bow, i could hit the chest and head. Spear turned to me. I froze, afraid for a moment until she smiled that smile again.

"Hello Jasmine." She said to me. I was expecting ice in the voice, but I found it soft and gentle like a hunter about to kill prey.

"Uh hi." I replied coolly. Spear continued smiling and rolled her eyes.

"Expecting a different response?" She asked me as she threw another knife. I looked at the ground. I didn't exactly want o answer, considering this girl was a Career. "Just because I'm, a Career doesn't mean I'm gonna hate or hurt you."

Please. This is probably her strategy. "What a entrance you two made a t the parade." Spear said with a smile. "Brillant costumes."

"Uh thanks."

"I'm pretty sure that wasn't your stylist's idea. i mean after what happened to her mentor..." She looked at me as she threw another knife.

"Yeah..actually it was my idea." I said looking at the ground.

"Your pretty smart, uh kid?" Spear turned to me, grinning.

Was that another way for me to gain her trust or a real compliment?

Spear raised an eyebrow since I didn't answer. "Well I think you are." She turned back to the station.

I bit my lip and sighed, starting a conversation. "Your good at throwing knives." I complimented her.

"oh yeah. I've trained since I was probably younger than you." She threw another knife at the dummy's skull. "Are you good with knives?" she asked.

"No not really. It's the uh the bow I'm good with." I said catiously.

"Really? " She looked at me with bright green eyes. "I've always wanted to learn how to shoot one."

"So you don't know how to use all weapons?" I said surprised.

"No just the bow and the trident. Maybe I can teach you how to throw knives and you can teach me to use a bow." Spear smiled at me, and I actually considered this as a sign of real friendship.

"Sure." I stepped towards her and the knives.

"Show me how you'd hold it." Spear folded her arms as she watched me.

I picked up one of the knives, watching her over my shoulder. Then I remebered that we're not aloud to fight until the arena. I realaxed and turned to the target. I held the knife ready to throw it.

"Good but hold it by the middle of the handle." I moved my hand up a bit. "And make sure when you throw it you use a flick of the wrist, like this." Spear held a knife like a did and flicked her wrist as she threw it, making yet another perfect target. I did the same and threw it, hitting the dummy in the head.

"Good job! Wow, usually when I teach other kids, they don't even make itto the target." Spear praised me.

I smiled slightly. "Guess it's 'cause I do target practices."

Spear nodded. "Probabably. " She went over to a spear. She picked it up and eyes it.

"So," I worked up the nerve to start a conversation. "Do you like being a Career?" She turned to me with her bright green eyes.

"Well," She began as she ran her thumbs over the tip of the spear. "It's alright. I mean you have to be expected to win and bring pride to your district..." She sighed and threw the spear at a different dummy. "And yur supposed to uh be the killer." She turned to look at me with serious eyes. "To tell you the truth, I don't like it. And I don't want to kill anyone, especially you." I looked at the ground as she continued. "Well at least two can win. Maybe I can win with you or I can kill everybody else and let you and Rye win."

"So you won't kill anyone?" I asked.

"Oh no, I will, I mean if I want to survive. I just don't like being a Career. I rather be from an outlying district like yours." Spear sighed. "Ok." She perked up. "Teach me how to use that bow!"

As we walked to the bows and targets I smiled fully for the first time since I became a tribute. I may have just made my first ally.