A Pact To Keep, A Game To Win

6

Over the next three days not much is broadcasted about the Games, they just put the reapings and tribute parade on constant re-run. Before noon each day they would interrupt classes to check in with the training. Tonight they will reveal each tribute's training score. This will give an indication to the other tributes what they are up against and to the sponsors as to who is worth their time and money.School was even lonelier without Madge; I hadn't realized how much I actually appreciated having another body sit next to me at lunch. The loneliness is magnified by the stares. Before all this happened I had been ignored, I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me; which suited me just fine. I wasn't here to make friends, I was here to learn what I was required to, and be done. My family's survival was much more important. Now with all the staring I was constantly being reminded that part of me was missing- people purposefully steered clear of me in the halls, as if getting too close would mark them for the next Hunger Games. Because what were the odds that the only two friends I had would go at the same time?I've had enough of pushing my mush around on the plate and pretending not to notice those around me, so I gobble down the tasteless paste; no matter how gross, I am in no position to be throwing away food. Rising to discard my plate I can feel eyes following my every move.Turning, I see a group of merchant girls staring and whispering. I glare back. "Can I help you?""No, just curious." A snarky blond with freckles spotting her face responds.Rolling my eyes, I brush past them, but I can still hear them. I whip around, my anger rising. "Could you speak a little louder? I didn't quite catch that.""It's nothing to concern you Everdeen." A curly redhead piped up."Sorry. Just with your constant staring, seemed like you had something you wanted to say to me.""No, nothing in particular. Simply curious how someone like you managed to be friends with the mayor's daughter and such a handsome boy like Gale Hawthorne."My eyes dart to each girl and then they catch the movement of two others approaching the scene. Peeta. And a pasty-faced, sweet looking girl, Delly, I believe that was her name.Delly spoke right up, holding her ground against the group of malicious girls. "Cut it out. You're just jealous."Peeta's sympathetic gaze is too much, it bore right into me. I can feel his pity and his sadness. There's something else in that gaze that unnerves me, much as it did at the bakery. Admiration. Impossible. I snap around in an angry huff and stride to the door. I make it out quickly, but not without colliding with Thom, who was just arriving for his lunch period. Great.I don't go back to class. I head straight for the fence. Not caring who sees me. Once I'm in the privacy of my woods I collapse on the hard ground. My scream echoes through the trees, disrupting the birds. I vent all my frustrations by hunting. Frustrations at Gale for being so darn noble, at the Capitol for taking him and Madge away, at those girls who have nothing better to do, at Peeta and Delly, at myself and at our ancestors who got us into this mess 74 years ago.I'm ruthless. Taking out anything that moves, arrows zip by my cheek in rapid succession. The vibration of the bow's string by my ear has a slight calming effect. The vibrant greens of the trees all blur together. I climb as high as possible to retrieve eggs from abandoned nests. The physical exertion feels wonderful, I slowly begin to relax, the tension and anger falling away. I don't leave completely unscathed however, I managed to catch my arm on a jagged tree limb. It's not a deep wound, nor is it bleeding heavily so I leave it.My game bag is overflowing, so I take my impressive haul to the Hob, but not without stopping at all my best merchant customers first.I walk into the Hob with the squirrels and other assorted game I intend to trade swinging in my hands. Marching across the dingy warehouse I can feel the stares following me. Not here too. Thrusting them at Greasy Sae she seems less than pleased."What?" She doesn't respond.Darius walks up with a similar expression. "Katniss...""Not you too?" I say, exasperated."Look you know I don't care about your hunting in the woods, and trading. Heck, Cray doesn't care either; he's probably one of your best customers. But you can't just bring in a haul like that and not at least try to be discreet about it. You and I could get into a lot of trouble. The Capitol has sent some new Peace Keepers out here. Seems that with all the attention the District 12 tributes have been receiving, President Snow figured they were missing something, like they weren't being properly informed of the goings on. They are suspicious now.""Girl you're lucky one of them new ones wasn't stationed at that door. There are a lot of other people at stake here, or have you forgotten that this is the Black Market?" What Greasy Sae says grabs my attention.Darius grips my arm. "What you just did there was dangerous. Not just dangerous but stupid. Don't do that again! If they catch you they won't go easy on you or let you off with a warning. They won't think twice about flogging you.""And then where would you be? That little sister of yours and mother need you." Greasy Sae stops chopping the greens in front of her and points her knife to emphasize her words.Darius was right. How could I have been so stupid? Because we've been ignored by the Capitol for so long I tend to take my easy little bit of freedom and independence for granted, I mean with the lack of harsh discipline there is not much to be scared of. We have it quite good compared to others. Greasy Sae was right too. What we did here on a daily basis was risky business; everyone here was just trying to survive. I could really have messed that up."I'm sorry. I know what's at stake. I won't do it again, I promise. Today's not been the greatest day.""When you live like this, none of the days are all that great." The old woman picked up the 2 raccoons- the gamiest critters I brought in. "I'll take these, give you two good sized chunks of paraffin. Then cart all that," she points at the array of dead animals on her counter, "off to someone else. I've work to do."Sighing, I agree. A disappointing trade but I know Hazelle could use some new paraffin."Wait. Are you still collecting for Gale?""Yes, though it's slow going.""Well, here." I drop six coins in her hand- half of what I got from the butcher. As I walk away I make a mental note to mention the collection next time I trade with the merchants.I still have a good number of fish left and two rabbits when I finally leave the Hob, along with three loaves of day old bread. Even once I divide it up, as I promised Gale I would, there is enough to make a pretty decent meal.I make it to the school in time to get Prim. I sneak around back by the door for students in my year so as not to make Prim suspicious. She can't think I condone skipping out on school.Coming around the corner I stop in my tracks. Peeta is standing a few yards away in a large group of people, his friends I assume. He's laughing at some joke the lanky boy beside him just told. They clasp shoulders, playfully giving each other a shove. The girls next to them, the same girls from lunch, squeal while attempting to avoid being bumped by the boys in the process. Peeta suddenly snaps upright, as his eyes connect with mine, even across the distance I can feel their impact. All the laughter leaves his face. Noticing his mood change the lanky boy follows his gaze, jabbing him with his elbow. I look away and locate Prim."Prim! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" Quickly crossing the dead, yellowish-brown grass, I grab her hand.She looks at me with confusion. "This is where we always meet. I was beginning to wonder where you were."Of course this is where we meet and I was running late, but I'm in no mood to be ousted by my little sister. "Well you weren't here when I last checked.""But Katniss...""Come on!" I snap, steering her away from her friends."Why is your arm bleeding?"I don't even check it. "It's not bad. Now come on!""Katniss!" I don't halt at the sound of the male voice, I pick up the pace. "Wait!" I keep us moving.Prim on the other hand turns her head. "Katniss, stop! That boy is calling you." She digs her heels into the dirt. "Stop!" She says with more force.Regrettably I turn to face Peeta, who actually ran to catch up. Blue eyes twinkling, he shines a dazzling smile at me and then at Prim."Hi.""Hi! Who are you?" my sister; friendly to everyone."My name's Peeta Mellark. My father is the baker.""Really? I love his bread... when we can afford it. The cakes in the window always look so good. I'm Primrose Everdeen, but everyone calls me Prim. You can call me Prim too if you want.""Well it's very nice to meet you." He shakes her hand. "You wouldn't happen to be the Prim who sells my father the delicious cheese?"Prim blushes as a shy grin creeps along her face. "Yes, I am. I make it myself; I have my own goat, Lady."Now it is my turn to stare, mouth agape, in awe of the easy, and rather bizarre, conversation between Peeta and my sister. I can't even form whole coherent sentences in front of him, and here Prim is chatting away like they are old friends. The credit can't go to her alone. Peeta has such a friendly, gentle way about him. No wonder I always see him surrounded by a group, he has a way with words that instantly puts people at ease. It makes him instantly likeable. The fact that he's won over my sister and is genuinely nice to her has just earned him my respect- though I am still guarded about his intentions."Well, Miss Prim, you have quite the talent for making cheese. Tastes better than the stuff my mother buys at the store, I can't wait for the next batch."If this were anyone else saying those words I would scoff at them and roll my eyes, but for some reason I know he is being completely honest, he really does think that."Thank you!" Prim smile could not have been bigger as she looks up at me.I snap my mouth closed and dare to give Peeta small smile to convey my thanks to him."So, was there something you wanted to talk about? I take it you didn't chase us down to discuss cheese.""You caught me." He gleefully smiled, which soon turned serious. "I wanted to apologize for what happened at lunch.""That wasn't your fault.""What happened at lunch?" Prim asks. I ignore her question."I know but I didn't prevent them from saying anything. You have to know everyone doesn't think like that. Like Delly said, they're just jealous.""What reasons could they possibly have for being jealous of me?""Because you're so independent and skilled, what with hunting and the Hob and all. People at school admire you for that. Those girls just want attention."I raise my eyebrows, stunned. People admire me? That is entirely laughable. I don't believe him, yet he's never given me a reason to doubt him."Well they sure have an interesting way of showing it. Must be one of those differences between town and the Seam."Awkward silence fills the space between us. Prim, who I forgot was standing there, looks back and forth, from Peeta to me."Umm, come on Prim." I grab her hand again. "We have to get going or we'll be late and I have to stop by the Hawthorne's on the way home."Peeta's head perks at the mention of the Hawthornes, he looks disappointed. "Oh, I won't keep you any longer then. Prim, again, it was an honour to meet you. Talk to you later Katniss." He began to walk back to his impatient and baffled friends."Bye Peeta!" Prim waved. He waved back.Talk to me later? Ever since that first encounter when I was eleven, starving outside the bakery, I had always been too embarrassed to speak to the boy with the bread. Now in spite of the fact that we had never spoken, he was talking to me like it was the most natural thing in the world. And since we were speaking now, there was nothing preventing me from paying him back. I still had no clue how I was going to do that."Come on. We have to hurry. There's a mandatory broadcast tonight."