The Boy from District 12

Author: Vasira Snow

Chapter 3: Training and Singing?

Peeta and Madge sat in the training arena, watching some of their opponents. The Careers had already banded together, and seemed to enjoy showing off their skills to the others.

"How long do you think we will last in there?" Madge whispered to Peeta. Peeta shrugged.

"I don't even want to think that way, we should be asking ourselves how we can survive in there and still be ourselves," Peeta replied. After a moment, he stood up and headed over towards the strengthening balls. He had decided to show off his own strength, showing the careers what he was capable of would definitely gain him some awe in their eyes.

Madge watched as Peeta picked up a one hundred pound ball in one hand with ease, and grinned as she watched him hurl the ball towards the target as hard as he could. She caught the small smirk that formed on his face as he turned around and eyed the careers.

Peeta grinned when he saw the astonished looks on the career's faces, and then headed towards the camouflage station, he needed to be proactive. Peeta had always enjoyed art, just as he loved to bake and decorate the cakes in his father's shop.

Katniss braided her hair down her back, as she hummed to herself.

"My dear Katniss, may I have a moment before you head out?" came her father's voice. Katniss turned around in her seat to look at President Snow.

"Yes father?" Katniss answered.

"Remember in the past, when you used to sing for the Victor at the Reapings?" President Snow asked.

Katniss nodded, "Yes, and then mom didn't want to hear me singing anymore," she said. Her father nodded.

"Well, the game makers and I have been talking... and we think it's time for you to start singing for the victor's again... starting with the Victor of this game," Coriolanus told his eldest daughter. Katniss just stared at her father.

"Well, what do you think of that?" he asked.

"Why all of a sudden am I wanted to start singing for the Victor's again?" Katniss questioned.

"It's what the fan's want," Coriolanus replied, "We've received some requests to have you start singing again, it seems your voice used to help soothe the families of those

who did not make it." Katniss stared at her father, still.

"Alright, sure. I did enjoy having my part in the games, I will be honoured to take up that part again," Katniss grinned. Coriolanus grinned, and pulled his daughter into a hug.

They heard a hissing sound, and they both looked down to see Buttercup. Buttercup was not a fan of anyone in the family, except for Primrose. He especially hated their father. Katniss believed that despite their mutual hatred for one another, buttercup even hated her father more than he hated her.

"PRIM," Katniss screamed, as she pulled away from the President. "WHAT?" was Prim's yelled reply.

"Why can't you keep an eye on Buttercup?" Katniss asked, as she entered her sister's room.

Peeta and Madge were now back on the twelfth floor, sitting down at the dining table waiting for dinner to be served.

"How was today?" Effie asked, as a drink Haymitch stumbled half asleep into the room. Peeta rolled his eyes at their mentor, as Madge answered.

"Peeta impressed the career's, when he showed off his strength," she said. Haymitch eyed Peeta as he sat down, Peeta stared back.

"I thought I told you two not to show them your strengths before the arena?" he said. Peeta scoffed.

"I thought you said you were going to stop drinking until the games were over, or we both died in the arena," Peeta retorted.

"Oooh, fiesty... that promise start's once you two enter the arena, we never said I had to start now," Haymitch said. It was true, when Madge, Haymitch and himself had made the pact the night before they hadn't said that Haymitch had to stop drinking before the day the Tributes were to enter the arena.

"They were staring at me, like I was a piece of meat, well, they were staring at both of us like that, I was sick of it," Peeta replied.

"Well now they know what you are good at, they will be strategizing your death now," Haymitch said. Peeta let out a laugh, as the Avox's entered the room carrying dishes full of food.

"They were already plotting out both of our death's before I showed them what I can do," he said. Madge frowned.

"Peeta..." Madge started, Peeta shook his head.

"No, these games are sick and twisted, I know I'm going to die in there, I just want to be able to stay myself, and being myself means when I'm sick of the look I'm getting by the people plotting my death, I show them what I am capable of, it's the only way I could think of to get them to stop staring at Madge and myself the way they were staring," Peeta said, angrily.

"They were already plotting out both of our death's before I showed them what I can do," he said. Madge frowned.

"There's no reason for you to not be yourself, Peeta, how are the games going to change you?" Madge asked.

"Turn me into a ravenous murderer? Just to offer one option," he said. Effie let out a small squeak.

"Okay.. okay.. how about we all get some food in our tummies.. calm ourselves down... we can talk more about this after dessert.. hey, I don't think anyone other Tribute's get dessert... and you do," she said, plastering a huge smile on her face. Madge smiled, and Peeta just reached for some potatoes.

Hey everyone, thanks for reviewing... I hope this chapter is to all of your satisfaction, also I am sorry for updating my stories late this week... last night I was preoccupied with Diablo 3... =D

to l... I totally didn't think of having Peeta volunteer for a kid, that would have been an amazing plot twist, wish I had thought of it now that you mention it, haha