"Okay, so you're going to be showing off your skills to the gamemakers today" Amelia says slowly.
My heart starts to beat faster. The games are just days away.
"What do we need to do?" Cato asks.
"Choose your best ability and show off. Clove, I'd reccomend knife throwing. Cato, sword skills."
"Okay."
"So what will we do for the day?" I ask.
"Well you can go with Lalon to get measured again for your interview dress, then we will talk about how to act in front of the cameras."
I roll my eyes. As if I needed to know how to act in front of cameras. I just needed to be myself.
Lalon took me to his room and he measured my chest and waist. He kept up his irritating persona all the time, and by the end I was sighing with relief. Now I just had to see Amelia so she could 'show me how to act in front of a camera'.
She taught me how to sit properly, like how a lady of the Capitol would sit. Straight backed, arms in the lap. I complained until she let me go.
I sit on the roof with Cato, our backs against the warm brick.
"I don't want to be in these games." He says.
I look at him, surprised. "Then why did you volunteer?"
"Because I didn't realise I'd be in the games with you. That one of us would have to die. And I saw your face when that other boy was chosen. I just didn't think."
"Well... Think about Katniss and Peeta. Either they'll both die or one dies. I'm betting on both. You'll win." I tell him, looking out over the city.
"No. I won't let that happen. You'll be going home to Skye and your mum."
I look back at him sharply. "I don't stand a chance. I'm small, and quite weak. I'm only good at tying knots and throwing knives. If I don't get any knives I'll be completely hopeless. You are good with a sword. You're strong. You don't need to be able to light a fire as long as you can make a shelter. You have the best chance out of all of us. We don't stand a chance in the games with you."
He looks at me, mouth slightly open.
"Face it, Cato. I'm going to die. I know it, everyone else knows it. Why don't you?" I say and look back to the spread of the city and let the sun beat down on my face. I close my eyes and try to stop the tears that are pricking at my eyes like tiny needles.
"I don't want to die." I whisper.
Only silence answers me. Then a hand slowly strokes my arm, and stops at my hand.
"Clove. I may be strong, and I may be skilled, but so are you. You do stand a chance, don't put yourself down. You have the survival skills, unlike me. I'd just run after people and not realise I need to find shelter and water before it gets dark. Without you, without any clever, sane person, I'd be dead within the first day. I'm nothing in the games without you. I will fight for you, whether you think you have a chance or not. Don't put yourself down. Be confident. You can do this, I know you can. Trust me."
I open my eyes and the first tears fall.
"I do trust you." I say. "I know you will fight for me. You always have. Remember that time when you stood up to that huge 18 year old at school and gave me your lunch? Remember when I broke my wrist when I was ten and you took me to the hospital and they put it in a cast and you sat with me until my mum came to get me? That time when my friend hurt herself and I couldn't lift her, so you did? You always have fought for me. I do trust you. I always have. Since the first day I saw you. And now one of us is going to die. But that person won't be you." I say, tears streaming down my cheeks. "I will be confident. I can show those other tributes I have a chance. I will try. But right now... Right now I can't do that."
