Fire is Catching

Chapter 6: Training

CHAPTER 6: TRAINING

The next day is training. I decide that I'd better go so I can fight to protect Everdeen. But I am still fashionably late. Georgina is mad at me for not seeming to care about coming home to Lilyanna, but I shake her off and focus on training.

I show up just in time to see Domino vomit wine onto the floor. Lovely...

Everdeen is at the knot station alone, and Peeta is chucking spears with Brutus and Chaff.

I choose to go to the knot station, because Brutus makes me angry. Sitting down next to Everdeen and picking up a rope, I pay attention to the instructor's words.

When he stops talking to let us do the work, I say, "I figured I'd do the non-weaponry stations this year. I practice killing people all the time at home."

She looks at me as if she doesn't know whether to laugh at me or hate me.

"It was a joke." I explain awkwardly.

I thought that was funny....? Was that not funny?

Everdeen goes back to tying her knots and I try again. "What's it like to have a sister?" She looks taken aback by my question. "I never had one."

Her face goes through four emotions in a matter of seconds-confusion, fear, realization, and acceptance. "You're protective of her." She says slowly. "And you have fun together."

An awkward silence follows and she asks, "Do you have any siblings?"

"Nope." I reply. "My dad was killed by the Peacekeepers trying to escape the district and leave me and my mom alone."

She nods with understanding, and I know I've hit her on a personal level. Probably too personal. Now I must leave.

I survey the Training Center. Peeta is now at the knife throwing station with Cashmere and Gloss.

I head over by them, because knives are my choice of weapons.

Gloss steps in front of me, fake intimidation on his face. "Alexandria Winter. What a pleasant surprise."

"Gloss." I say coldly.

Peeta is looking between the two of us, ready for a fight to break out.

"Guys, you're scaring him!" Cashmere cries. She looks at Peeta. "Sorry, these two knuckleheads aren't mature."

Gloss pulls me into a light headlock and gives me a noogie. "How is my little Alex?"

"Amazing. I'm about to die in an arena." I say sarcastically. Peeta laughs. We all start up a conversation, but I do take breaks to hit the target in the center a few times.

***

At lunch, Peeta, Cashmere, Gloss, and I push the tables together to make one big one. Peeta goes to fetch Katniss and I sit next to Blight and Cashmere.

Chaff farts a lot at lunch, and I enjoy some luscious fried chicken and green beans with a delicious roll. Everdeen actually talks in sentences, and Peeta is really enjoyable. We talk about Cecelia's kids, and when the subject of Lilyanna pops up, I actually open up and talk about her.

After lunch, I throw some more knives, visit the edible plants and insects station, and fight with swords. It helps to release all my excess tension.

***

Over the next few days I've tried everything, and became closer to the people I am going to eventually kill.

"What should I do in the private session?" I ask Georgina at breakfast. We've made up, and she apologized for saying I don't care about Lilyanna. I apologized for not seeming to care about Lilyanna.

She shrugs. "Something rebellious. Be you, I suppose."

In the room, while we wait to hear our names called, I chat with Finnick and Mags. Mags tells me she's going to nap so soundly they'll have to carry her out. I smile, wondering what I can do. Domino goes before me and I make faces at Blight until I hear my name.

"Alexandria Winter."

Sigh. My turn. I enter the training room and look around.

"Miss Winter?" Plutarch says. "You may begin now."

I smirk. I grab a bunch of knives, and move them into the center of the floor. Then I look at the targets, and go close to them. Taking out a few knives, I stick one on the target. I continue to do this, until I make the beautiful outline of a Mockingjay. I'm no artist, but I'm really good at being a smart aleck.

"You're dismissed, Miss Winter." Plutarch says.

I smirk triumphantly up at him, and see a faint sense of admiration in his eyes. "I know." I say snarkily.