A/N: So I want to thank laughingismyhobbie for giving me my first request! Also for all the beautiful reviews that always make me smile! I hope you enjoy this! Peeta's POV for when he tells Katniss the effect she can have on people. Requests are always open.

I wake up to the sound of someone stumbling down the hallways. Probably Haymitch. I don't think I've been alive to see him completely sober. I roll out of the bed and head to the shower, just turning on some water to rinse myself off. No point in messing around with the thousands of buttons on here until it ever becomes necessary.

I head back into my room and I find that a burgundy colored shirt and black pants have been laid out on my bed. I pull them on as quickly as I can, and head to the dining room, where Haymitch and Katniss sit at the table. I have to admit my heart skips a little in my chest when I see Katniss, and I can't help but think of how amazing and beautiful she looked last night during the opening ceremonies.

I tell them good morning, and start with my breakfast. The rich food is still taking a little while to get used to, since we never had anything but stale bread back home. I eat slowly, trying not to think of the training that we'll have to do later today. I still can't quite grasp the concept that I'm in the Hunger Games, fighting against the girl I love.

After a while, Haymitch clears his throat, and by the way he looks at Katniss and me, I know that he's going to talk strategy. I brace myself for the worst.

"So, let's get down to business," he says, after a drink of alcohol. "Training. First off, if you like, I'll coach you separately. Decide now."

"Why would you need to coach us separately?" Katniss asks, and my stomach squirms a little at the sound of her voice.

"Say if you had a secret skill you might not want the other to know about," Haymitch says.

Katniss looks at me briefly. "I don't have any secret skills. And I already know what yours is, right? I mean, I've eaten enough of your squirrels," I say, not wanting to spend any minute of my last days away from her.

Katniss nods. "You can coach us together."

"Al right, so give me some ideas of what you can do," Haymitch says gruffly. Oh, man. I've been dreading having this conversation with someone. Better to be honest about my 'skills', I guess.

"I can't do anything. Unless you count baking bread."

As I expected, Haymitch tells me he doesn't. He turns to Katniss with a little interest in his eyes. She shows promise, at least. "Katniss, I already know you're handy with a knife."

Katniss looks slightly embarrassed, and her cheeks show the faintest sign of blush. "Not really. But I can hunt. With a bow and arrow," I hear her say with some pride.

"Are you good?" asks Haymitch. I fully expect Katniss to tell him she is. This isn't the time to be modest about what you can do.

"I'm alright," she says. I can't believe this. She shouldn't doubt herself so much. She's going to hate me for it, but I decide to speak up for her. Let Haymitch know she has a chance.

"She's excellent. My father buys her squirrels. He always comments on how the arrow never pierces the body. She hits everyone in the eye. It's the same with the rabbits she sells to the butcher. She can even bring down deer," I think I hear a note of pride in my own voice, though I'm not sure why.

She leans towards me suspiciously. "Why are you talking me up?" Because I want you to have a chance in that arena because I couldn't bear if you died. I've loved you since I was five. Yeah, that conversation could turn out well.

"What are you doing? If he's going to help you, he has to know what you're capable of. Don't underrate yourself." That's better. It won't have her thinking I'm in love with her anyway.

"What about you," she says, and for a moment I almost laugh. "I've seen you in the market. You can lift hundred-pound bags of flour. Tell him that. That's not nothing," she snaps.

OK, how do I respond? Let's go with humor. That way I won't be as likely to mess up and tell her what she is to me. "Yes, and I'm sure the arena will be full of bags of flour for me to chuck at people. It's not like being able to use a weapon. You know it isn't." That was good and safe. I nod to myself inside. Katniss turns back to Haymitch.

"He can wrestle. He came in second in our school competition last year, only after his brother.

Like that will help. "What use is that? How many times have you seen someone wrestle someone to death?" Dang, this girl can be really infuriating.

"There's always hand-to-hand combat. All you need to do is come up with a knife, and you'll at least stand a chance. If I get jumped, I'm dead!" she screams at me.

"But you won't! You'll be living up in some tree eating raw squirrels and picking off people with arrows. You know what my mother said to me when she came to say good-bye, as if to cheer me up, she says maybe District 12 will finally have a winner. Then I realized, she didn't mean me, she meant you!" I yell back at her, trying to keep the pain out of my voice. How did Katniss even bring all of that emotion out of me? She has this effect on people…

"Oh, she meant you," Katniss says, and I find myself having to tell her the truth.

"She said, 'She's a survivor, that one.' She is," I tell her, not able to keep some of the pain out of my voice this time. I can tell Katniss notices. Her voice becomes noticeably softer, but she says something that totally catches me off guard.

"Only because someone helped me," she tells me with a meaningful look. Because I gave her bread when we were kids? What, did she really expect me to just sit there and watch her starve?

"People will help you in the arena. They'll be tripping over each other to sponsor you," I tell her. She must know this. She must know the effect she has on people. She can make people fall in love with her with just once glance. Aren't I living proof of that?

"No more than you," she says and I sigh. How can she not know?

"She has no idea. The effect she can have," I say to myself, running a hand through my hair. I suddenly become aware that I said that out loud. Oh well. She'll have to find out sometime. No one can be so oblivious to the way they make people feel. She glares at me, until Haymitch breaks the uncomfortable silence.

"Well, then. Well, well, well. Katniss, there's no guarantee that there'll be bows and arrows in the arena, but during your private session with the Gamemakers, show them what you can do. Until then, stay clear of archery. Are you any good at trapping?" I hear her mutter something about knowing a few types of snares.

"That may be significant in terms of food," Haymitch tells her. He turns to me. "And Peeta, she's right, never underestimate strength in the arena. Very often, physical power tilts the advantage of a player. In the Training Center, they will have weights, but don't reveal how much you can lift in front of the other tributes. The plan's the same for both of you. You go to group training. Spend some time trying to learn something you don't know. Throw a spear. Swing a mace. Learn to tie a decent knot. Save showing what you're best at until your private sessions. Are we clear?" I nod assent. I can live with that plan.

"One last thing. In public, I want you by each other's side every minute," Haymitch adds. Katniss starts screaming at him, but he growls right back at her and slams his hand on the table. "Every minute! It's not open for discussion! You agreed to do as I said! You will be together, you will appear amiable to each other. Now get out. Meet Effie at the elevator at ten for training." With that, Haymitch stands up and goes back to his room, slamming the door.

Katniss and I get up too, and for the first time I notice that we are dressed exactly alike. I don't really mind, but this whole friendship thing is really starting to bother Katniss. She stomps back to her room, slamming the door like Haymitch. I shake my head. Whether she tries to or not, Katniss is going to dazzle everyone. She just has that effect.

A/N: I hope that's what you wanted laughingismyhobbie! I tried hard for you! If anyone else wants me to write a one-shot, tell me in a review or e-mail me what character you want and what scene, and I'll write it for you!

~MJ272