Chapter 19

           Iclapmyhandsovermymouth,butthesoundhasalreadyescaped.TheskygoesblackandIhearachorusoffrogsbegintosing.Stupid!Itellmyself.Whatastupidthingtodo!Iwait,frozen,forthewoodstocomealivewithassailants.ThenIrememberthere’salmostnooneleft.

           Peeta,who’sbeenwounded,isnowmyally.WhateverdoubtsI’vehadabouthimdissipatebecauseifeitherofustooktheother’slifenowwe’dbepariahswhenwereturnedtoDistrict12.Infact,IknowifIwaswatchingI’dloatheanytributewhodidn’timmediatelyallywiththeirdistrictpartner.Besides,itjustmakessensetoprotecteachother.Andinmycase-beingoneofthestar-crossedloversfromDistrict12-it’sanabsoluterequirementifIwantanymorehelpfromsympatheticsponsors.

           Thestar-crossedlovers.Peetamusthavebeenplayingthatangleallalong.WhyelsewouldtheGamemakershavemadethisunprecedentedchangeintherules?Fortwotributestohaveashotatwinning,our"romance"mustbesopopularwiththeaudiencethatcondemningitwouldjeopardizethesuccessoftheGames.Nothankstome.AllI’vedoneismanagednottokillPeeta.Butwhateverhe’sdoneinthearena,hemusthavetheaudienceconvinceditwastokeepmealive.ShakinghisheadtokeepmefromrunningtotheCornucopia.FightingCatotoletmeescape.EvenhookingupwiththeCareersmusthavebeenamovetoprotectme.Peeta,itturnsout,hasneverbeenadangertome.

           Thethoughtmakesmesmile.