At the gym(Gala, Kyanite)

[Jack Lexington]

Two long weeks after the final battle a lot has happened: I've made friends with Tyren at the hospital as well as the pub, I've told Gala to 'get lost' and most of all I told the same thing to Kyanite twice which resulted in us breaking up. When I hjeard about her getting sick though we actually had a talk about our 'relationship'. What the outcome of that was I'm still not sure though.

The talks with Tyren as well as the lost battle have made think about the career program a lot. What's the point of it all if I still can't bring the victory home? Some might say any sort of victory in the earlier rounds would be satisfactory. I'd like to disagree on that one. Tyren told me he'd give up being a career because of nearly loosing his life.
I'm on the same trip because I was the one who nearly made him loose his life. He's a real good guy and I almost killed him...just for 'fun'. This wasn't something we were forced to do but signed up for.

Today I'm going to take that back. I'm going to undo that signature.

Most of the cuts and injuries that I've sustained during the battles are healing nicely. Now they're just red scars that cause some discomfort and make me walk awkwardly.
The only serious ones, that will linger on for a while, are my two dysfunctional fingers and the broken upper arm that still hurts too much to use. Even if it didn't I wouldn return to training.

Still I'm walking into the training center today and head straight for the main 'office', which is just a room above the changing rooms, that is used to do administration.
On my way in I can't help but notice the sounds coming from the gym.
Casually I walk...hobble....over there to sneak a peak.
Maybe it's Gala, who I still need to talk to.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Gala Thomas
Age Thirteen 3/4
District Two

"I can go camping..." Gala protests with desperation flooding her voice. Usually her attitude would grow angry by this point, raising her chest and chin to support her point. Every year, just before the winter ends, all the Thomas sisters travel within a legal camping grounds. Of course little Gala's always recovering, or just participated, from trouble and/or lies they grow furious over. Still she's always managed to bring out her sweet sister card, pulling her way to the trip. It's all worth it as it the only time of the year they all seem to forget about their normal lives and all love one another to the extreme...

"No you can't." The oldest has her face squashed inward with disappointment, her arms staying crossed upon her chest. "You're right side's completely crippled!" She complains, gesturing to the little one's casted right leg and arm. "And we can even trust you!" The part stings, but it's true Gala's extended her lying ability greatly. Didn't mean she's untrustworthy though, not in her mind at least.

"That's not true!" A bit of spunk enters within the next protest. The last thing she wants is to be stuck at home alone for a few days, even more so then missing out on the fun of camping.

"Really, because when's the last time you were serious?" The older sister rolls her eyes, shaking her head back and forth as if guilt didn't fill the little one already. "We don't even care if you sneak out to go to the gym anymore, okay Gala?" How kind of an offer, as the permission was going to change anything. Being stuck at home alone was of course going to result in her sneaking out. "Just don't follow us. We'd like to actually have fun." Isn't she just the kindest sister of them all. As much as her words burn, Gala's face stays frozen in anger. "And try not to get yourself killed." With that she walks out, knowing her word choices are powerful enough to even effect the hardest of the girls.

A forced smile spreads across the youngster's face as a mug shatters against the the door her oldest sister left from, the numerous chunks of all sizes spreading across the floor. Even though the girls are just now collecting their stuff and exiting the front door none of them are alarmed by the break or go to check on the one they're leaving behind. "Screw you guys." Gala mumbles as she witnesses them all packing the truck and getting in themselves. Even her identical sister goes along with it, a smile plastered to her face because she wasn't banned to staying.

Once their transpiration takes off Gala's upon her feet with a packed bag of clean gym clothes. She did manage to visit the gym since the pregames, and actually received a small lesson from Kyanite as they both needed a stress reliever...now the older female might be the only one left that cares about the small wanna-be career. She still hopes greatly that Matthew's demand for her to find a new trainer was all out of anger. The thought constantly crosses her mind, but she always disregards it quickly. It was out of anger, she goes on to convince herself. Today she's determined to find out, having an instinct that Matthew will be there today. Without concerns over the girls returning because they've forgot something she makes the long, crippled journey.

The real ones or fake ones? Gala stares at her options, remembering exactly how Kyanite's voice sounded as she offered a lesson. The little one didn't want to admit to Matthew's threat, that she may no longer have a trainer. It was assumed between the both of them practice with Matthew may take a bit with his need for recovery, so Kya was kind enough to step in for the young, hyper career who was going to explode if she didn't get her hands on a weapon. That time she was smart enough to pick the fake weapon, with no desire to risk hurting someone like Gwen did that one time. Now, within an empty gym that only has anger racing through it, she could careless. Though she wouldn't admit it, she pictures accidentally hitting Gwen in the shoulder. The real knifes have a lot more weight to them though, and the knife simply slides under the dummy, only causing more anger to enter into Gala.

"Damn you!" She yells, reaching for another knife that lays besides her. With a heavy sigh she gives another attempt, it gets a little more air but doesn't even hit the dummy once again. How'd Kyanite make it seem so easy planting one of these things in a tree that stands yards away? Another try that has an even worse result due to the alarming noise of the door opening. After watching yet another knife slide across the floor, she turns her baby blue eyes towards the intruder...

[Jack Lexington]

Another metallic clonk fills my ears when I poke my ehad into the gymn. Some girl is standing with her back towards me trying to hit the dummy. As soon as I see her petite figure and the casts that cover half of her body I know it's her: My trainee. She should be somewhere on a ncie comfy couch, yet she's training her left arm.
"You're determined." I praise her while I hobble over to the dummy and shove my left hand in the pocket of my plaid winter jacket.
I wait a little just standing there but off her a smile.
The last time I saw her she visited me in the hospital, helped me and then got kicked out as a thanks. I guess that was a bit jerkish.
"You doin' alright?" I wonder.

What's mostly on my mind is: How do i tell her about my dropping out of the program when the little one is so determined. She's on the exact opposite of the spectrum as I am.
"I need to talk to you, Gala."
As I lean my head to the side to watch the expression on her young face I become serious. This is going to be hard because I'm basically letting her down once again. Before she had made mistakes but since then she's proven herself more than worthy so I don't know how to break it to the girl, whom I've become quite fond of.
"Got a moment?"

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

At first Gala's unable to resist a smile that slides to her face at the sight of Matthew, just it always used to because this meant the start of training. Now though it's a lot different, and within seconds she remembers so and her grin fades into a sunken frown. Another couple of seconds and she evens out her expression, after all her trainer could be returning to her, regretting what he said before and realizing his mistakes...of course she has to have a little hope that this is the reasoning for him showing up. "You're determined." This brings in a little optimism back into the youngster, even when they were on the best terms Matthew's not one for compliments.

"I try," Gala gives a weak half smile as she stares at her trainer, her eyes probably pleading for good news. All of his words are right with starting with a praise, then even asking how she's doing, but the tone of his voice clearly isn't happy. With a shrug she goes to retrieve the three knifes scattered among the floor. Everything sucks. Her sisters are more distant then ever, Kyanite's all depressed, and her trainer ditched her. Somehow she knows that sharing that stuff isn't going to change any of it. "Yeah, why not?" She answers after a bit of thinking, she returns the knifes back to the weapons shelfs with no desire to show Matthew how he's not missing out on dumping his fail trainee.

The words "I need to talk to you, Gala" just sounds horrible as Matthew's tone drops even more. This isn't going to be good, obviously. After everything that's happened today, does she really need to be let down even more? Is he simply going to restate is position of leaving her as a trainer? Got a moment? As if she actually has a choice, and for the first time she regrets sneaking off to the gym...well it's not really sneaking off anymore.

"I guess." Gala mumbles with another shrug, her light eyes darting to the floor where they stayed glued as if she's in trouble and awaiting a lecture.

[Jack Lexington]

Judging by the hesitation in the girls voice she knows what's coming.
"I guess." She says but doesn't actually look at me. I already feel bad enough as it is but seeing her like this makes things twice as bad.
So I wait until we're standing right opposite of each other and I can touch her arm lightly.
"Thanks for coming to see me at the hospital. I know I didn't really seem to appreciate it then but I do now." Whoa. It almost seems like I'm finally able to express some feelings.
Gala brings out the best in me while I can't seem to manage to do the same with Kyanite.
"I need to tell you something."
This is when I start shoveling my feet and become uneasy. I also look away from her npow when I continue.
"I'm going to quit the program here."
Whoa, that slipped out pretty easily but now that this crucial bit of information is out in the air I feel the need to quantify.
"It's got nothing to do with you. Just me and the games." I'm not going to share more of what happened inside of me during the fight against Tyren that brought me to this decision. Most people will think it's because of Mark but he'd be the reason to train harder.
"That also means that I can't train you any more, little one." I use the endearment to let her know that this is actually hard for me. I enjoyed training her and how well she was doing...well for a 12 year old.
"Don't be mad." Nice try...who wouldn't be mad.
"I mean I think you can find a better trainer. I sucked at all that sensible shit anyway." What I'm referring to is my inabilty to relate to girls in depth.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

What's expected is simple, once again Matthew's going to state his need of leaving Gala as trainer. This time will probably be a lot kinder with no build up from him being stuck in a hospital bed. Still all the words are the same and contain the bad outcome, no matter how presented. Unexpectedly a confession of being happy that the little career visited him in the hospital escapes. Despite the rough emotions going through her young mind it brings a small grin upon her face. She did feel as though he'd be glad that she went, even if he didn't express it then. Without acknowledgment her role in life became cheering up her only two friends, and she manages to pull it off in the worst of times.

Of course it's only something to bring a little light into Gala before tearing it down. Why beat around the bush and prolongate the truth? He should of just gotten it over with, but instead made her believe the talk wasn't going to be bad. Immediately her expression shifts with the dislike of Matthew's following words. Quitting the program. It's been months of training the little one, and certainly years of commitment on his end of being a career. The part Gala's truly unable to process is why coming in second place is making him quit! Yeah he didn't win, but he made it further then the rest.

For once Gala finds herself at a lose for words. Was there a way to convince him that he's wrong? As if she could be that much of an influence. She's only his young trainee...past trainee. Not Kyanite, or Tyren, someone with strength and ability to hold that power to convince someone. It's not her fault...yet she's the one losing her trainer. Find a better trainer? Going by Matthew's standards the only one greater then him is Mark. As if Gala would allow such a thing, though she's pretty confident that nor would Matt. Still everything simply sucks, and she's unsure what to do.

"I don't want another trainer." Gala mumbles as if she's regressed to a younger state. She does the best she's able to cross her arms with one of them being casted. Already she's simply seen as only a girl, it only seems logical that an argument will be blamed upon her gender. "Why can't you just be my trainer anyways? I didn't do anything wrong..." She tries with negotiation. If he's not her trainer, that most likely means they're not friends either. Why would a tough excareer be friends with a little weak career? It's as embarrassing as losing the pregames. "Please..." She voice trails off as her eyes beg to not lose one of her only two friends.

[Jack Lexington]

The small smile quicklz fades from her zoung face when she hears what I have to tell her. I knew this beforehand and I knew how disappointed she'd be, which was why I couldn't approach her any sooner.
"I don't want another trainer." I nod and look at my shoes.
"I know, Gala. I don't understand why but I know. They won't let me train you if I'm not part of the center any more." I try to reason with her.
Maybe it's time to actually tell her why I'm quitting the program. After all she's been there the whole way and back for me. She's as good as friends come.
""It has nothing to do with you or Mark, if that's what you're guessing. I'll tell you why I'm quitting." I pause seacrhing for the right words that will allow her to understand my thoughts.
"You watched the fight against Tyren." I search her face for a quick nod.
"I was doing really well even when he shot me but there was one curcial moment at the end of the fight when I..." how can I say this without looking guilty?
"When my spear tip cut so deep into his neck that the blood just came gushing out like nothing else." I remember that moment vividly, how I pressed my hands onto his wound but people pulled me away from him. It was pure horror.
"He easily could have died."
My breathes are becoming somewhat strained when I continue and I can't meet here eyes anymore.
"I almost killed a good guy for nothing. Why would we come so close to something like that when we don't need to? I mean I don't mind the training or some easy fights but when you use deadly weapons against good people...it doesn't make any sense!"
I'm firm about this. It's the truth.
"That's my take on it...I mean look at you and kyanite. You two are friends. What's the sense in beating each other crippled?"
I shrug and sling my bag back over my good shoulder.
"It's up to you what you want to do but I can't train you...not here."
Am I hinting to train her elsewhere? But for what? The pregames? The real games?

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

He knows? After all of Matthew's hard-work of not understanding anything about the female race, he actually admits to knowing that Gala doesn't want another trainer. Why he's able to, he doesn't quite get, but the general sympathy is enough. Despite the anger and sorrow controlling Gala's expression, a small glow enters her eyes with the little bit of hope. "That's not fair..." Gala's still only able to mutter her words and avert any eye contact, this whole emotional talk is just not her thing. If anything the yelling's better then these stupid feelings. She wants to ask him to become a professional trainer, and that way he's still fully allowed here despite his lack of being a career anymore. But she knows that an unfair favor because Matthew has higher dreams then teaching some twerps.

The next part completely takes Gala by surprise as she'd never predict having Matthew opening up to her. Trust must have formed over the time though, because he offers up the full explanation of why he's truly quitting. It's nothing to do with losing the last battle, but actually his fight with Tyren... Eye sight has always been an issue for Gala though she avoids the doctors like they're the plague. Matthew got too close to actually killing Tyren in his second to last match. Out of everything she wasn't expecting that as the reasoning, but then again she couldn't understand why anything would push him as far as quitting the career program. But his opponent's a good person, and that was clear after Gala stumbled in to find Tyren gently at the side of Matthew's bed after his last fight. The scare of almost killing one of the few good people within district two would probably have Gala questioning the program as well. But could she ever lose that much control?

Then again both Kyanite and Gala fought as well. Sure they both had the longest debate on whether to go through with it or not, but in the end they actually chose to fight. Friends fighting, the capitol has cruel ways of undermining control. Gala ended up getting another broken bone and punctured lung out of that deal, though the guilt from that only had Kyanite leaving her at the hospital. Now everything's okay, though they simply ignore what they had done. Still the pregames and the actual hunger games are two different things. One doesn't chose to get reaped, and sometime that year holds no volunteers even in a district like two. If one of the twins were to ever be reaped, Gala needs to be on her A game to ever make it back. What happened at the pregames is no reason to quit, but everyone has their different reasonings. Already Matthew holds a great advantage against anyone else if he's reaped, and he only has a reaping or two to get through, he can afford quitting the program.

"I can't train you...not here."

What was that? Immediately Gala's eyes widen with a gleam of hope returning. Not here??? That meant he wasn't fully giving up on her. She can still have the secret of pride of knowing she's Matthew's trainee, and possibly stay his friend as well? "Really?" Gala questions with fear that she simply imagined those words to make herself feel better. She gets a feeling that it may not be the best idea to talk about this in the actual gym, unsure if there's someone strolling along that may listen. A tiny grin spreads to her face as her eyes finally go back to Matthew's after constantly avoiding his direction. "I can compromise." She assures with a nod of her head from excitement. Maybe she really isn't going to lose her only friends.

[Jack Lexington]

At my words her faces changes to a better mood but I'm not sure why. Have I implied that I'll train her elsewhere? Not in so many words.
"Really?"
"What really?" I ask her cocking my head slightly to the side.
It hurts me to crush that devotion she's feeling despite her physical state. She's just like me when I was her age. I was tiny but felt invincible. it's hard to crush that because she thinks so highly of me.
"I can compromise."
There. She's trying to wrap me around that little finger of hers.

"I don't know, Gala. I don't want to have any bad influence on your training. I'm not devoted to this anymore. I'll keep doing whatever I do but not at the center. I think it'd be better if you find a legit trainer, maybe a girl, who understands you better."
I know this will disappoint her, which I don't want because |I care for the girl.
"You can come by any time you want though." Did I just really say that?
I sigh heavily because this sin't easy at all.
"C'mon, Gala, don't be cruel. Let me go."Since when do I care what some 'girl' thinks? These two must have really softened my core. I must admit I'm not really disliking it all that much.

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Then it changes again, and the hope that Gala wasn't going to lose one of her only friends dissipates. Can't train her anymore, not here. That has to mean he's willing to be her trainer elsewhere! It just has to. With everything going on it's safe to say that Kyanite will always be there with the understanding and bond they've somehow formed, but she's also much older and has her life. Having two older friends balanced it out perfectly as Gala's often not able to participate in their events. She's already lost any chances of bonding with her sisters after the whole career and pregames stuff, but they weren't very high before anyways. That didn't even matter, she only wants her two friends as change never suits her well.

"A stupid girl won't be better!" Gala protests and even uses Matthew's famous motto of how girls are stupid and to be avoided. "Me and Gwen went with that Kay chick and look how well that went!" She's even able to come up with an example to why it wouldn't work. You can come by whenever you want. What's that suppose to mean? Does he want her as a secret trainee or not? "You said that you can't train me here..." She repeats her facial expression desperate to convince him. "Why not somewhere else?" Her voice goes lower with the simple prediction it may not be allowed, and she doesn't want to risk someone overhearing as they stroll by.

"Don't be cruel. Let me go." Matthew's just not going for it, and Gala's certain she can feel her heart drop to her stomach with disappointment.

That's it. There's no way to change his mind apparently. One friend down, now how long will it be until Kyanite's sick of the little wannabe career as well? "Whatever you want." Gala nibbles on the inside of her cheek as her eyes stay plastered to the floor. At least Gwen's the sensitive one that's more prone to the tears, because Gala's are constantly dry and remain that way still. "I should get back to training." She says in a soften voice. What was she going to do with a half casted body and no trainer to teach her? Sure she's capable of working out on her own but that's not going to happen for a few weeks at least. She'll figure out something to do, though she stays completely still as to not look like a fool in front of Matthew.

[Jack Lexington]

When I tell her to stop begging and just let me know the girl finally gives in. At least she acts like she does stating. "Whatever you want."
"Ya." I nod at her and watch the disappoinment wash over her young features.
I want to tell her that I'm sorry because I am. I hurt Kyanite and now her but what can I do? I guess I am an ass and never deserved their friendship in the first place.
So I don't tell her that I'm sorry but watch her turn and tell me she should get back to training.
"Yeah." Is all I manage to get out but when she doesn't walk away I know I'll have to.
"Gala, you're young. You'll find somebody, I'm sure."
Then I walk away, just a few steps.
This is starting to tear me up on the inside. That look on her face. The need to make it all better for her because I've let her down before. I feel like such an ass.
I walk until I'm almost at the gate before I turn back to holler.
"Come by my place one day."
It's all I can offer even though I'm not sure she even knows where I live.