-"Katniss, I know you aren't going to enjoy this but you need to make some allies." Peeta looks me in the eyes while saying this. I avoid his gaze and push his hand off of my shoulder.
-"I know. Stop acting like Haymitch, I get enough scolding from him, I don't need you to scold me too."
-"If I'm acting like him it's because he's right. I'm your mentor this year, so you listen to me this time." I turn around and step into the elevator, which had just opened for our floor. I see Haymitch a few meters away, expecting me to hold the door open for him. Instead I just push the elevator button for the training center and let the door slide before he gets a chance to come in. I know I'll get an earful about this later on, but I really don't want to deal with Haymitch right now. I'm tired of this ally talk. Although, I must admit, being alone in the arena with Haymitch seems just as unbearable. It's a lose-lose situation either way, but I'll never admit to Haymitch it's probably best to have allies. The elevator opens into the training center and I see that barely anyone is there. The careers are all here, as I expected. Other than them, I see only the tributes from district 3, Johanna Mason, who I unfortunately met on the elevator yesterday, and the district 5 tribute puking on the floor. So much for making friends. I decide to walk to the district 3 tributes, Beetee and Wiress as I remember Haymitch talking to them. They look quite pleased when they see me approaching them. I help them with their fire and they show me a force field blocking us from the gamemakers. 'I wonder how that happened' I think, rolling my eyes. As I walk away from them, I see Haymitch entering the training center.
-"Nice of you to wait for me." he says.
-"You'll be happy to know I'm making an effort to get some allies." I respond, and walk away before he can say anything else. After having Mags show me some fish hooks, I show her how to shoot. Well, I walk into the simulation while she watches me through the glass. I shoot the multiple pixelated figures easily, and I'm startled as I hear clapping from the other side of the glass.
-"What could you have done for over half of the tributes to submit a request to be your ally?" Peeta says, hovering by my side from behind the couch.
-"I just shot some arrows, it's not a big deal." I respond, not looking directly at him.
-"It is a big deal if Brutus wants you."
-"Well I don't want Brutus. I want Beetee and Wiress. And Mags."
Haymitch spits out his drink laughing.
-"Katniss come on, cooperate with us a little bit." Peeta says, while Haymitch guffaws in the background.
-"Well if she wants Mags she'll get Finnick too." Haymitch says after he stops laughing. Finnick was one of the last people I would want as an ally.
-"No. I don't want Finnick as an ally." I say, remembering when he pretended to hang himself during training.
-"Katniss..." Peeta says, clearly exasperated with my behavior. I stand up and walk to my room, I don't want to argue with them. Just a few minutes later, I hear a quiet knock on my door.
-"Katniss?" Peeta asks, after a few seconds of silence. After I still don't respond, he gently opens the door to find me lying on my bed.
-"Katniss I know you hate this." He starts. I still don't say anything so he continues. "But Haymitch is right. You need allies. And I think Finnick would be a very good ally. You would get Mags too, I know you want her as an ally." I stay still and don't say a thing. Peeta sighs. "I know you're stubborn Katniss but the least you could do is say something." Just as he's about to leave my room, I speak up.
-"Peeta, I...I know you're right. Don't tell Haymitch I said this, but I know we need allies. My options, however, are not the best." I laugh awkwardly near the end of my sentence.
-"I've spoken to Finnick before. He's a nice person, really. Not at all what the Capitol presents him as." Peeta tries to persuade me.
-"There's no point in trying to convince me Peeta. I have no choice." I say, a small smile appearing on my face for no apparent reason.
-"I can't believe I'm going to have to be in front of a screen watching you, not being able to protect you." Peeta mumbles, but not trying to hide his words from me.
-"I would rather you be safe here." I respond, looking at his deep blue eyes.
-"I wouldn't." He says, still not looking back at me.
-"Well there's nothing you can do about it now." I keep looking at him, my voice steady. After a few seconds of him not saying a word, I lift his chin up and press my lips to his. The kiss only lasts a few seconds, but it's different, because it's honest.
-"Please stay with me tonight." I say, acting as if what I just did is completely normal.
-"Uh yeah," he says, a bit stunned. "Always."
YOU ARE READING
The Other Slip
FanfictionWhat would have happened if Effie picked the other slip instead, the day of the Quarter Quell Reaping? This story explores this theory throughout the end of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Hope you enjoy! :)