Hello, here is chapter 2! I hope you like it! Reviews would be greatly appreciated!

CHAPTER TWO

The anthem of Panem blares out, and as it ends, Lewis and I are whisked away to the Justice Building and split into two different rooms. We still haven't said one word out loud to each other. I plonk myself into a cushiony sofa, probably the last moment of peace I'll have for a long time. The beauty and elegance of the room, though obvious, was bittersweet. This was the first and last time the remaining tributes stayed in their district, before boarding the train to the Capitol and confronting their deaths. The last room of District 12, the first glimpse of luxury, then the flamboyant Capitol lifestyle and then a horrific death in the arena. My first visitor was Ethan. We didn't say anything, but fell into each other's arms.

"Hey, Tal. Don't cry. You'll be on camera soon." He says, as he feels my chest begin to shake, on the brink of tears. His comforting made me want to cry even more. The little boy I always thought of him as, growing up, looking more and more like Dad everyday. He pulls away from me and rolls onto the sofa next to me.

"Thanks. God, I can't tell you how glad I am that you're not here too."

"I know. I'm glad too. Try not to die, eh sis?"

I let out a strangled noise, halfway between a laugh and a sob.

"I'll try. But I make no promises." I point warningly at him. He laughs. I love my little brother's laugh, so innocent. I still think he's about seven in my mind, but he's double that, near my age.

"Seriously though Tal, how are you going to survive this?" he asks.

"Well, Mum's been giving me some lessons."

Ever since I turned twelve, Mum became paranoid that I would be reaped, so she started to take me hunting, so I would at least know how to handle weapons if the worst happened.

"Don't tell Dad." I say as an afterthought. He would go mad. He hates her handling weapons because fears for her life even now, because of the Games. I'm not sure why, it's not like she's going to impale herself with an arrow. But then again, they're so in love, it's kind of sickening.

"Why didn't she take me as well?" he asks.

I purse my lips. I truly don't know the answer, I cover it with a joke.

"Probably because you're already so macho and strong." I coo, poking his bicep, then being genuinely surprised when I feel solid muscle. An impish grin crosses his face.

"Yeah, Dad took me for some training as well."

I laugh properly this time.

"Probably why Mum never took you and Dad never took me."

"Yeah. Figures. What did you learn? Mostly all I did lift sacks of flour and paint myself. Dad gets really into the painting. I did a few weapons, but not much."

"Bow and arrow. Duh. Snares, also duh. Oh, and I am amazing with spears." I say with a grin.

"Oh my god! Could you, like, impale someone, no, a group of people with a spear at the same time?" he makes pathetic hand gestures of this act, but resorts to simple analogies at my blank expression, "Like a skewer? That would be so bad-ass."

"Ha ha. Are Mum and Dad coming?"

"No, you'll see them both on the train."

"I thought Mum was gonna stay and look after you?"

"Uh, no! You think Dad would let Mum stay home with Gale? No. They're both coming with you, and I get the joy of being babysat by Gale, Tessie and Haymitch."

"Haymitch isn't coming?"

"Hell no! He can barely stay awake for an hour a day, let alone help you survive."

"I'm gonna miss you so much." I say, and suddenly pull him into a bonecrushing hug, as the door opens. I glance over his shoulder and see a Peacekeeper, signalling our time being over.

"Yeah. I'm gonna miss you too. If you tell anyone this, I'll deny it, but I think, even for a stupid older sister, you're pretty awesome." My heart thumps at his words. Tears well in my eyes. He walks up to the door, where the Peacekeeper stands, who begins to usher him out.

"One last thing." He says. He turns to the Peacekeeper and holds up a finger and mouths one thing. The Peacekeeper lets out an exasperated sigh, but gestures for him to say it.

"Talia. Please don't make out with Gale's son. As your brother, that's the last thing I want to see. Kill someone and dig out their intestines if you want, but please, no face munching."

He grins devilishly, then allows himself to be hurried out.

"BYEEEEEEEEEE." I hear his loud, drawling goodbye. I scoff at his words. There will be no face munching on my part. I fall back on the sofa, exhaling. That could be the last time I see my brother. I hear the door open again. I look up. It's Gale.

"Hey Gale." I say, sitting up.

"Hello Catnip Junior. Haven't seen you in a while." He walks towards me, arms outstretched.

Oh god. Is he going to hug me? Apparently yes. I stand up tentatively, and partake in what might have been the world's most awkward hug, not like the natural hugs I shared with Ethan minutes ago. I pull away, but he still has grip on my arms, and he looks into my face.

"God, you look like your mum. Except your eyes. They're-"

"100% Peeta Mellark." I say, smiling into his face. Slightly mean, I realise, but because of him, I nearly wasn't born.

He releases my arms and looks down. Damn, I feel bad now.

"I could say the same about Lewis." I say, trying to cheer him up.

"What?"

"I mean, he looks like you, but has his mother's eyes."

"Oh. Yes, I guess so."

"I've just been to see him. He's pretty shaken up."

"Is this the part where you tell me not to kill him?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't. But if he faces a slow, torturous death, I would rather you cut in with a quick, relatively painless one." He mutters.

My mouth falls open. How can he talk so freely about his son's death? But, Mum did say he was always brutally honest, and did things for the greater good. Like killing my aunt Prim.

"But what I wanted to really ask you, is to be nice to him." He continues.

"I'm not following."

"I figure, your Mum will be civil, your Dad, maybe not as accommodating, considering the resemblance. But, maybe, you two could be friends?" his voice is hopeful.

The Peacekeeper arrives again.

"Uh, I could try." I say quickly.

"Good. Maybe this friendship will go like mine was supposed to."

My eyes widen as I get what he said. He looks a little startled too. Maybe he wasn't supposed to say that either.

"Anyway. Good luck!" he says quickly, then hurries out of the room, even before the Peacekeeper tells him to go.

It occurs to me then. Does everyone expect me and Lewis to have a Hunger Games romance like my parents did? Or is Gale just still bitter about how Dad got Mum? Does he still sit around at home crying with a homemade printed t-shirt saying 'Girl on Fire + Boy with Bread= Burnt Bread' ?

The door opens again. It's Haymitch, slightly more sober than earlier, but not by much.

"Hello sweetheart."

"Any advice?" I ask, already knowing what his reply will be.

"Stay alive."

I roll my eyes.

"Seriously, though. I don't want to die."

"You have two wonderful mentors, who are also your parents. They'll help you. And they will call me if they royally screw up."

I laugh, and approach him for a hug. He smells like liquor and body odour, so I quickly, but t tactfully pull away.

"If all else fails, become the Starcrossed Lovers 2.0, worked for your parents."

"Yeah. But it also provoked an uprising and war."

"Only 'cos they actually had feelings for each other. If you're just faking, just kill him at the end and cry for a bit. You get the idea. Good luck kid."

The Peacekeeper opens the door. He sighs, holding a half empty bottle, obviously made to guard by Haymitch.

Haymitch smiles at me, then walks out, snatching his precious alcohol on his way.