The blazing metal flashed as they showed off. Training was useless—hadn't they all trained for years? Really, this was just the time for them to intimidate the others. An extra three days wasn't really going to be time for them to improve.

"Hey."

Her tall, cocky district partner interrupted Glimmer from her swordwork. She spun around. "Hey."

He smirked slightly. "So, how are you?"

"I was doing fine, but then you came over and made me rather annoyed with your senseless blabber. Yourself?"

"I'm just fine," Yet another smirk from Marvel, "but you've hurt my feelings."

"I'm so sowwy," she snapped back. "Would you like a cookie to make you feel better?"

"I think I'll be okay."

(She didn't let herself believe she was attracted to him.)

The night before the games, she was scared.

(She couldn't let herself believe it, she was indestructible, the beautiful-but-deadly Career.)

The day of the games, she had lost her fright—she was ready to destroy.

(Marvel being in her room helped, he was just as nervous.)

Clove from Two saved her in the bloodbath. The strong, dangerous one from 11—Thrush? —Had nearly decapitated her with a swing of his scythe, but quick like a snake, the girl who was half his size pushed him away. Glimmer stared. "It's not because I like you," Clove smirks, "But you're still worth saving."

(Oh, she knew he was lucky. If she had died… things would have been good for her family. And despite all the little rumors, escaping the bird from a cage, that was her first priority.)

The first night, she couldn't resist crawling into his sleeping bag. He was so warm and their bodies fit together to neatly—it all felt so right.

(She made sure that she left before dawn. She couldn't risk anything with Cato around. She hoped he died soon, although she knew that wasn't likely.)

She was practicing her aim with the bow she retrieved from the Cornucopia. The bow had never been her finest weapon, but she could shoot.

"Gimme that," He grinned, grabbing the bow from her pale hands. "I'll show you how it's done."

He was far worse than even Glimmer, shooting all around and even hitting Peeta, the quiet one from 12's tent. They giggled, dashing to get the arrow before he noticed, trying to be quiet as to not to wake the others. She knew she shouldn't get close to this boy, but it was too late.

An urge struck her, and she swung him around behind a tree and kissed him, not passionately like she had kissed all those other boys in District 1, but sweetly, lightly. He stumbled backwards. "Glimmer—Glimmer, we really shouldn't, and—"

"—I don't care," she grinned, almost lightheaded from the experience. A rustle came from the tent. "Okay, let's pretend the last twenty minutes didn't happen," she said, dejected.

They crept back into their tent, smiling.

(That was the last time, although they didn't know it.)

Glimmer was never a good shot, and unfortunately, she missed the stupid, vapid Girl on Fire. Great. Now they'll think I'm weak. She reached back to her quiver, getting ready, but Cato said to wait. She nodded.

"We can just wait her out," called Peeta, "she can't stay up there forever."

They made camp, built the fire, and waited. Glimmer was put on watch. But her eyes slipped closed.

(Mistake, Glimmer, mistake. She knew it in the back of her mind, but didn't quite realize it until…)

CRASH

BANG

SCREAM

Marvel stayed just feet away from Glimmer while she died. He knew it was too late to save her—he knew he was too much of a coward to save her—but had to stay. Seeing her beautiful body marred by the stings of the tracker jackers was nearly too much to bear. But he stayed to thank her for loving him, for being a friend, for helping him escape the reality of the games.

(She couldn't hear him above her own screams.)