Against All Odds

Karma Is A Real Bitch

For the rest of the afternoon, Clove insists that I train with her. We leave Cato to his sword training, and head to the knife-throwing stations. Clove begins to teach me how to throw knives, and I conclude that she must be extremely confident with her skills, because I sure as hell would never teach another tribute how to shoot a bow properly. I mean, they could kill me with a bow! After a bit of training and practice, I can throw a knife rather decently. Not nearly as good as Clove can, but decent enough to defend myself.

"Aren't you afraid I could learn to throw knives and then kill you with one?" I question her, raising my eyebrows.

"No, it's not like you'll ever be able to throw half as well as I can," she points out smirking. I roll my eyes.

"Typical career attitudes," I mutter under my breath.

"You know I can hear you, right?" Clove says without looking or sounding the least bit fazed.

"Yup. In fact, I really am quite glad if that!" I snark back.

"You know, you really got some spunk!" Clove remarks. "More than Glimmer the sparkly tribute has, anyways..." I nod, mentally noting to call her that the next time I run into her.

"Where IS Glimmer anyways?" Clove looks around, and suddenly rolls her eyes. "Typical, she's stalking Cato and annoying the shit out of him.... Again...."

To my amusement, Cato looks over Glimmer's blonde head, which is literally partially buried in his chest, at us. He glares violently at me, then mouths something to Clove, that I manage to make out as 'Save my ass now, Sparkly bitch is killing me". Clove looks at me slyly.

"Think we should help?"

I look back at Cato. Personally, I think he really deserves it. Karma can be a real bitch, you know!

"Eh... Why don't we let this... Play out for a little longer? We'll help him when he really needs it," I suggest. Clove nods, her sly smirk widening. We continue watching Cato and his attempts (failed, of course) to fend Glimmer off. He literally looks like he's going to chop her head off with his sword when she gets into the way of his sword fighting round with a dummy. Clove and I sit and silently laugh as we see Cato say something and make a threatening gesture with his sword. Unfortunately for him, it only causes Glimmer to latch onto his waist and snuggle her head into his chest further. Cato scowls in annoyance. Of course, I can't blame Glimmer since Cato is quite good looking- wait what the hell? I do NOT think that Cato is remotely attractive. And even if I do (which I don't), he has the unattractive personality of a dead slug wrapped in a dirty plastic bag. Clove's hiss of disbelief brings me back to the present. I notice that even while sitting, Clove is tossing her knife up into the air, and catching it by the handle. Of course, careers never waste any training time. I look up, to find Cato putting down his sword and heading over to- the camouflage station? What the hell is he doing there? Everyone knows that careers never do any of the nature stations. In fact, careers are strictly about weapons and killing. I continue to watch as Cato takes a seat next to Peeta and says a few things. Glimmer takes a seat next to Cato, who immediately scoots visibly closer to Peeta.

"He must be pretty desperate if he's willing to put up with Lover Boy to get Sparkle bitch off his case!" Clove remarks.

"You guys call Peeta Lover Boy?" I question, furrowing my brows.

"Ah... Slip of the tongue," Clove says in a fake delicate voice. And I can see that the subject matter is closed. It's alright, I know I will find out why later, when she's least expecting it. A gasp draws both of our attentions back to the current situation. Cato is working on camouflaging his arm into a bush, with some of Peeta's help. Glimmer, on the other hand, isn't doing anything; just ooo-ing and ah-ing over Cato's "beautiful camouflage ability". Cato seems to have the urge to rip her blonde head off, and crush her under his shoes. I take a bit of pity on him. "Come on, let's go help him. No one, not even Cato, deserves to have to deal with Glimmer!" I say, jumping to my feet. Clove gets up as we'll with a laugh, agreeing whole-heartedly. We waltz over to them slowly, taking our time, just to irritate Cato further.

"Ah! Cato! Fancy running into you here!" Clove half drawls, half exclaims, pretending to sound surprised and excited. Cato scowls deeply and gives her a murderous look. "I'm about to train with some of my precious knives, feel like joining?" Clove asks, raising her eyebrow.

I remember that Prim used to always envy people who could raise just one eye brow. As soon as she found out I could, she would practice day in, day out, trying to do it. And I would try not to raise one eyebrow around her, because she would grow sad to remember that she couldn't do it.

"Knives? Eh, I suppose I'll join you....." Cato shrugs casually, obviously trying to pretend like he isn't desperate for relief from Shimmer. Wait was her name Shimmer or Glitter? Ohhhhh right it was Glimmer.

Glimmer lets out a slightly high pitched whine as Cato gets up to leave. "Catooo, don't just leave me here! Can I watch you train? You're sooo talented!" She giggles annoyingly.

"No!" Cato bursts out. "You can NOT watch us train!"

"But we'll be in the same alliance!"

"So?"

"Don't you think it'll be better if I get to know your skills better?!" I almost laugh. This is the only remotely smart thing Glimmer has ever said, and even now, that line is pretty stupid. What do alliances really mean if you're set into an arena to kill people? Backstabbing is something that will happen to about 99 percent of all alliances. And more like 99.99% of all career alliances. But then Cato retaliates again, and I stop overthinking the concept of an alliance.

"No, because Clove and I have been training for this our entire lives, together. You can go watch Marvel or something. Or better yet, go to your room and take a nap. At least that way you won't be up in people's faces, annoying the shit out of them!" Cato finally seems to snap, as his last final drop of patience runs out. Being the smart person I am, I intervene before Cato can crush Shimmer's head on the nearby wall.

"Let's go climb on the climbing net!"

"Yeah, sure!" Both the distrct two careers fake their excitement as we all run away from Glitter.

When we finallt got away, we all stopped behind the climbing net.

"So, let's climb!" I suggest.

"No," Clove and Cato say in unision. Their sudden change in attitude about climbing is shocking.

"Why not?"

"Because it's stupid," they both respond.

"If you beat me, I'll tell Glimmer that Marvel is interested in her, and that he has a hot body," I try, deciding that striking a deal is the best way. "It'll get her off your case!"

"Fine..." Clove looks suddenly delighted, but Cato grumbles in dissatisfaction about how stupid climbing is, and how if he sees anyone in the arena, he'll slash their head off instead of climbing a tree. However, I know that he knows he has to do it, or else it will seem like he's weak, and backing down. I smirk. Oh boy, this is going to be fun.