Ophelia hadn't spoken to Cato since the two nights prior when he'd caught her in the training rooms. She definitely hadn't told Gale either despite his persistent questions and check up's that Cato hadn't been bothering her. She had gone down to practice both last night and tonight.

She was almost disappointed yet again when the sarcastic cocky blonde hadn't made an appearance.

Heading into the lift to get herself to bed before twelve she had totally relaxed her body. She'd been getting better. As much as she could at least and finally she got to rest.

The lift sounded before she'd reach her own floor opening at level two. Something that made her heart skip a beat.

Cato.

He looked near surprised when he'd seen her. Stepping into the lift in silence. He had been shocked, he'd been deliberately heading down to train after twelve to avoid the girl knowing she went down around ten for just over an hour and a half. He had been doing very well the last two nights though tonight she was late. He could hardly look at the girl anymore without thinking about his hands on her damn hips. In fact during their tribute training he had to make a conscious effort not to look at her hips. Even Clove had smacked his arm at one point telling him to focus and trying to work out what he'd been so distracted by. Ophelia. He'd been distracted by Ophelia.

He stood near the front of the elevator whilst Ophelia rested against the bar along the back. Holding it with both hands spread out behind her.

He could be heard clearing his throat once but never speaking. Ophelia had decided to open her mouth when the doors reopened causing her to clamp it shut immediately. Gale. Why was Gale getting in the elevator at the fourth floor? It hadn't really been time for questions when she caught the furious look in his eyes as he looked between the two of them. The brunette stepped into the lift and planted himself behind Cato and in front of Ophelia purposefully to avoid any further conversation. She's hoped it would go upward to floor twelve before going down to the basement level for Cato.

The tension in this elevator could be cut by a butter knife.

Ophelia let her head fall back against the glass and closed her eyes while she sucked in a breath. She's waited seconds before reopening her eyes to see both boys staring ahead at her. Looking between the two awkward she'd mutter, "what?" Cato didn't respond, he would only face the doors again as the elevator started upward, thankfully. Gale only continued to stare at her disgust present as he did. Ophelia had always been on the more timid side which often led folk —especially men— to assume she was a walk over but boy was she far from it. An over exaggerated sigh left her before she spoke to Gale, "out with it then?" This had Cato listening over his shoulder.

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Don't play dumb with me Gale" she pushed her half forward and off the glass, "what is your problem?" She fumed sick of having his constant judgement over the past near week, "what have I done today?"

Cato's snicker only added fuel to the fire while Gale stood silently staring more bewildered now than irate like he had been. His mouth fell open but no words had followed, that had been until Cato looked over his rather broad shoulder to say, "she asked you a question"

Gale turned to Cato taking a step forward a step that he likely imagined would be intimidating but was far from it with Cato's height advantage, his looking down would intimidate anyone and yet Gale still stuttered a threat, "mind your business—" his voice came out at a lower volume than he'd expect, clearing his throat he'd continue while Cato turned to face him crossing his arms, "this is nothing to do with you" Cato would only laugh which made the whole thing more infuriating to Gale.

Just then the doors pinged open on the twelfth floor and Gale immediately pushed out. Ophelia made her way out, stalled by Cato's fairly large hand around her upper arm. His other hand held one of the doors open while he leaned down to whisper, "next time keep your boyfriend on a leash—" when he paused he'd hear the shaky breath she sucked in, "otherwise he'll be dead before he even makes it to that arena"

Part of her knew she should've defended Gale but she couldn't. For more reasons than the obvious.

Gale had walked into the penthouse, straight to his bedroom, slamming the door behind and scaring Haymitch awake from his nap on the sofa.

"Jesus, what's his problem?"

"Boy from district two"

Haymitch straightened himself up letting a half assed laugh escape him at Gales pretty boy temper. So damn dramatic. He didn't have time for all the dramatics hence why he liked Ophelia. Haymitch knew from the jump Gale wouldn't win, sure he looks the part but he didn't have it in him. His emotions would get the best of him and Haymitch knew it. Ophelia on the other hand, perhaps she wasn't a fighter and maybe she wasn't as physical strong as the others but she was smart. Brains gets you everything in there and before, knowing how to play up to the public, knowing how to keep a low profile. That'll keep you alive.

"Cato Hadley" Haymitch slurred slightly, stretching his name out, "He is Capitol favourite already and you've not even had your interviews" he smiled up to the straight lipped girl, "though I'm sure you'll impress with that bubbling personality, sweetheart"

Ophelia let herself fall onto the couch near her mentor and let out a scoff, "the interviews are worse than the games" that caught the blonde's attention, "sucking up to the Capitol?" She laughed, "it's pathetic" and they both knew that two boys in particular would suck up.

Gale and Cato.

Gale would see it as a competition to beat Cato, because if he couldn't beat him in the arena at least he could get the Capitol's favour.

"Maybe" Haymitch partially agreed, "but it's the Capitol's favour that gets your necessities sent in"

Ophelia shook her head before closing her eyes and resting backward against the sofa, "and don't I need it" she huffed to herself hoping Haymitch wouldn't pick it up, though he would. She'd pick up on his confusion when she peeled her eyes open to see his slightly tilted head, like a confused puppy dog, "I'm not exactly entertaining or likeable, am I?"

Even with her question being rhetorical Haymitch still sat forward and cleared his throat, "I think so" her brows furrowed for less than a split second so that Haymitch would nearly miss it, no one had ever found her likeable really so something like that coming from someone like Haymitch was strange, "I do understand, I was the underdog in my games" he nodded leaning forward to grab a glass which to Ophelia's surprise had held water and she was certain that was the first drink he'd taken since she'd met him that hadn't been alcoholic. She could however see him being the underdog, "I didn't exactly get many sponsors until we were down to the last ten or so" he shrugged before running a hand awkwardly over the side of his neck, "all because of her"

"Who?" Ophelia had been quick, interested more than anything. Her and Haymitch had only bickered and so this was strange but welcomed by her.

"A close friend I met in the games, who'd have thought" he laughed to himself wishing he had indeed been sipping something stronger, "an ally, really it was—"

Ophelia had never seen Haymitch nervous nor rambling.

"You know—" she interrupted, "it's okay to make friends in the games, what was her name?"

"Maysilee" he smiled at the memory of the blonde girl, "I called her May" he let himself fall back further into the sofa unsure why he was opening up in such a way but here he was, "the Capitol thought we were uh—" tugging at his collar he painfully finished his sentence with, "romantically involved" he nodded "the Capitol love a doomed love story" making Ophelia's blood run cold, "I didn't exactly have a mentor at the time but we were strongly advised 'no feelings'" he'd force out a sad laugh.

"No feelings?" Ophelia's heart broke a little for the near shell of a man before her, "who the hell said that?"

"Stylist in my games"

Ophelia then scoffed, "whoever they were they sound like a dick"

Haymitch let out his first genuine laugh of the night. Yea, they were a total dick, he remembered thinking the same himself at the time. Though with no mentor he took any advice he could get.

"In a way he was right" Haymitch would eventually speak, his words surprising her, "caring for anyone in that arena is useless, only one survives" he reminded her as if she'd forgotten, "if you fall for someone like I did—" that would be the first time he'd admitted that out loud, "you'll only break your own damn heart" he huffed before facing the girl again, "let's step away from that soppy mess—"

"How on earth do I get sponsors?"

Ophelia wanted to hear more but pushing it would do nothing for him. He'd only clam up and refuse to open up to her again and really Effie and Haymitch were the only people she had. As horrendously sad as that sounded.

"Play up to Caesar during your interview" Haymitch stood and watched as she would follow, "he likes to go tit for tat, to play around, poke the bear" he opened the refrigerator pulling out some packaged meat and tearing it open before squashing a slice into his mouth and offering Ophelia a slice which she would decline, "if you have fun with Caesar, the Capitol will take to you"

"What if I can't?"

"Pretend"