ing　way　more　than　our　share　of　airtime。　The　darker　it　bees；　the　more　difficult　it　is　to　take　your　eyes　off　our　flickering。　When　the　national　anthem　plays；　they　do　make　an　effort　to　do　a　quick　cut　around　to　each　pair　of　tributes；　but　the　camera　holds　on　the　District　12　chariot　as　it　parades　around　the　circle　one　final　time　and　disappears　into　the　Training　Center。

The　doors　have　only　just　shut　behind　us　when　weˇre　engulfed　by　the　prep　teams；　who　are　nearly　unintelligible　as　they　babble　out　praise。　As　I　glance　around；　I　notice　a　lot　of　the　other　tributes　are　shooting　us　dirty　looks；　which　confirms　what　Iˇve　suspected；　weˇve　literally　outshone　them　all。　Then　Cinna　and　Portia　are　there；　helping　us　down　from　the　chariot；　carefully　removing　our　flaming　capes　and　headdresses。　Portia　extinguishes　them　with　some　kind　of　spray　from　a　canister。

I　realize　Iˇm　still　glued　to　Peeta　and　force　my　stiff　fingers　to　open。　We　both　massage　our　hands。

¨Thanks　for　keeping　hold　of　me。　I　was　getting　a　little　shaky　there；〃　says　Peeta。

¨It　didnˇt　show；〃　I　tell　him。　¨Iˇm　sure　no　one　noticed。〃

¨Iˇm　sure　they　didnˇt　notice　anything　but　you。　You　should　wear　flames　more　often；〃　he　says。　¨They　suit　you。〃　And　then　he　gives　me　a　smile　that　seems　so　genuinely　sweet　with　just　the　right　touch　of　shyness　that　unexpected　warmth　rushes　through　me。

A　warning　bell　goes　off　in　my　head。　Donˇt　be　so　stupid。　Peeta　is　planning　how　to　kill　you；　I　remind　myself。　He　is　luring　you　into