Reading: Catching Fire

A new summary up through page 238.

The tributes are being prepped and Katniss still hates this process. The stylists are an emotional mess crying over her. Her costume this time around appears simple. It's a tightly fitted black jump suit that covers her completely from her neck on down With a change of lighting the suit gives the idea that she is a "a glowing ember straight from our fireplace." This year they're trying to intimidate the other competitors. No smiling, waving, or cutesy stuff this time during the parade.
While waiting for Peeta and Haymitch to arrive for the parade Katniss catches the eyes of a male tribute named Finnick Odair. He's basically a legend. He won the 65th games when he was 14. He was a Career from District 4. She makes him out to be absolutely gorgeous. He's "tall, athletic, with golden skin and bronze-colored hair and those incredible eyes" (they're a perfect sea green). Sounds dreamy right? He survived his games by being able to fight with spears and knives and a trident. Basically he's today's version of Justin Beiber --YUCK!!-- all the girls have been swooning him since he turned sixteen.
Katniss admits that she's never found herself to be attracted to him. The two a flirting like crazy. But when Peeta shows up Finnick makes a strange comment. He tells her "sorry you have to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that must be for you." Wow jerk. Peeta asks what Finnick wanted and she tells him that he wanted to know all of her secrets, which is true. They going backing and forth teasing each other about how they would be if only one person won.
They get ready for the parade by themselves because the stylists aren't anywhere to be found. Katniss wonders if they're supposed to hold hands during the parade again this year and Peeta assumes that the stylists have left it up to them. They decided to hold hands.
The crowd in the arena goes wild and the two act like nothing has phased them. They notice that other stylists from other districts have copied the idea of illuminating their tributes. After the parade they meet up with Haymitch, Cinna, and Portia who are talking to the tributes from District 11 (they're Haymitch's friends). Katniss asks about Thresh and Rue's families and they assure that they're still alive.
A tributes attempts to talk girl talk with Katniss and she fails....epically. In the elevator the girl unzips her costume entirely and talks to Katniss and Peeta while she's stark naked. Talk about an interesting conversation. Peeta claims every one of the tributes are acting like this because of her presence. He says that they're playing with her because she so pure, like she wouldn't look at him when he was half dead and half naked during their games. Being the sweetheart that he is he tells her that "for the Capitol you're pure, for me you're perfect." Oh man he's still a sweetie!
Katniss sees the same redheaded Avox girl from her first time in the games, only this time she's paired with a redheaded Avox boy. She instantly recognizes the boy. He's Darius, the old Peacekeeper from her District. Katniss believes President Snow has strategically made Darius her new Avox.
In her room Katniss spends her time picturing her old house in District 12. At dinner Katniss purposely knocks over a dish of peas in order to get close to Darius when Effie yells at her and tells her it isn't her job to be cleaning them up. When they watch the recap of the ceremony Katniss doesn't want to be anywhere near Peeta.
Katinss goes to bed and is trying to get Darius and Gale out of her head. Meanwhile she's battling another nightmare. When she gets up for the day the "team" begins to discuss their strategy. Katniss doesn't want to talk about it at all. While she's getting ready someone is pounding on her door. It's Haymitch and he's ordering her to the dining room asap!
She gets to the dining room and finds Peeta and Haymitch, he's wearing a solid gold bangle patterned with flames on his wrist. Haymitch reminds them that they must stay in love during their training today and that they need to make friends because in order for them to survive the competition they're going to need more allies. He believes that they will be the first targets because everyone else is already friends. Haymitch wants them to join the pack of Careers this time (that includes Mr. Gorgeous Finnick!!). But then he gives them the option to create their own pack.
When all the tributes are together Peeta and Katniss split up hoping to cover more ground when it comes to getting to know other people. Of course Finnick meets up with Katniss during their training. The tributes work their skills and mingle amongst each other. The tributes talk about the uprisings going on in the districts.
This year the Gamemakers are separated from the tributes by a force field thanks to Katniss's actions last year. Two tributes, Wiress and Beetee, let Katniss in on a secret that there is a "weak spot" in the force field. Katniss seems to consider these two in her alliance and she wonders if she'll be able to get Seeder to join their alliance.
Katniss and Peeta catch up finally over lunch. Katniss likes the District 3 victors (Wiress and Beetee) and Peeta says that the other tributes think the 3's are a joke. A tribute names Johanna, the one who was in the elevator naked, has nicknamed the 3's Nuts and Volts. Katniss doesn't care and she still wants the 3's as her allies.
Peeta catches on that she's upset and she's distracted by Darius. Peeta suggests that he and Katniss could fend for themselves again without an alliance. Peeta votes for Seeder and Chaff joing their potential alliance.
Katniss compared the tributes with the ones that died during her game. Katniss gives up on making friends and turns toward archery as her stress release. After training the team (Katniss Peeta Haymitch Effie) eat. Haymitch reveals that over half of the victors' mentors have been suggesting that their tributes team up with Katniss and Peeta. They don't promise to aline with anyone though.

What will happen next? Who will make the duo's alliance? We'll see.