Author Note: Sorry if this chapter is a little boring. I struggled writing this chapter and considered skipping it, but I felt goodbyes with family and friends were necessary.

Goodbyes & Train Rides

Stiles Spiller POV

My goodbyes are quick and simple. Everyone I say goodbye to knew I was volunteering, and they are proud of me. I'm escorted to the train, applause all around me as I climb on. I'm bursting with pride, and I can't help but to wave and flash a few smiles before the train pulls out of the station. I turn to see Penny Coleman shaking her head.

"Arrogance normally gets tributes killed, ya know." She says to me. I smirk at her.

"I have confidence, not arrogance. Confidence gets tributes sponsors." I say to her. Before she can reply Eliza steps into the room.

"You two getting to know each other?" She asks. "Why don't you go get ready for dinner and we'll talk then!" She still talks very loudly. It gives me a headache. I find my room and wash up. Then make my way to the dining room. It's crowded, with seventeen of us sitting around it. I made sure to quickly strict up a conversation with Desmond Harrigon. Last years' victor. He was amazing, ruthless, and won over the crowd with his signature sword throwing skills. I wanted him as my mentor. He's my age, he's shorter than me, and not as good looking. I'll soon steal the spotlight off of him.

Topanga Lynn POV

I'm escorted into the justice building and led into a room with a large couch. I quickly sit on the couch and curl into a small ball and let a few tears out before anyone comes to visit. I hear the doorknob turning and quickly brush the tears away as I stand up. Mom rushes over to me, Tilly in her arms. She hugs me. I breath in the smell of her hair as I hold back tears.

"I'm so sorry, mom." I say. She cries softly. Tilly suddenly realizes something is wrong.

"What's happening?" She asks. We break our hug. I take Tilly in my arms.

"Nothing, Tilly. Don't you worry about it ok. Just make sure you tell mom you love her every single morning and every single night until I get back, ok?"

Tilly nods her head, "Where are you going sissy?"

"Just away for a little while, Tilly."

"I can't come with you."

"No." I say to her, tears suddenly filling my eyes again "No, Tilly. You can't come."

"Why?" Tilly asks. Mom takes her back into her arms. She pulls me in for another hug.

"Please win," she breaths into my neck. "Please come home, Topanga."

"I'll fight like hell." I say. Peacekeepers enter the room. I give Tilly one last kiss on the cheek before they make my family leave. Gabby rushes in once they leave. She jumps on me and smoothers me with a giant hug. I hug her back.

"Kick their asses." Gabby says to me as she lets me go.

"Of course I will." I say.

"During training, find something you are best at ok. Don't try to master all the weapons, ok. Just pick one that you can use, master it, and use it non-stop." She says quickly. I nod. She hugs me then quickly leaves so I don't see her tears. Soon after I'm taken to the train. We have two previous victors. Both male. I sit across the table from Jared as our mentors pile food onto their plates. Jared and I make eye contact, both of us wondering what the green mushy stuff is.

"So, what are your plans?" Asks Cruise Natural. He won the game seven years ago. I shrug. Cruise looks at Jared, who shrugs as well. "Wow, got us some winners here." Cruise says sarcastically . I glare at him.

"Aren't you a shit storm on a sunny day." I say to him. Gloria hears me and tisks, Jared gasp, but Cruise and Westyn Light burst into laughter. Food flying from their mouths. I cringe in disgust.

"Perhaps I spoke too soon." Cruise says. He finally looks at me properly, taking in my full appearance. "Should I go with tough smartass or ditzy princess?"

"I'd see how she does during training first," Westyn says "If she can fight, tough smartass, if not, ditzy princess."

"Excuse me?" I ask sharply.

"You, Topanga, have the temper of someone who hates life. But you have the face and body of someone who enjoys it. Basically, your personality does not fit your appearance. To the audience you can only be one. A princess, or a fighter. So which one will you be?" He asks me. I cross my arms and glare at him. He laughs and continues to eat.

Billi Link POV

Once inside the Justice Building I realize just how bad my decision really was. I haven't had training as much as the other kids in the Career groups, Mother hated the idea of us training. Mother, she'll be devastated, she already watched one of her children die and barley survived that. Will she be able to stand another child entering the games.

My family enters the room. Blake rushes over to me and pulls me in a hug. I blink. I expected him to be angry at me. I look over his shoulder and see Father, Mother, and Bryon standing by the door. Mother is crying into Father's shoulder, I can't see her face. Blake lets me go and Bryon comes over to hug me next. I'm glad he didn't bring his wife.

"Win." He says into my ear. I nod. He lets me go. Suddenly mom is pulling me into her embrace, I didn't even see her come over. Her hair fills my face and I hear her sobs next to my ear. I pat her back, suddenly mad at myself for doing this to her.

"It's for Brock." I say. "I decided to play for Brock. He was brave. I'd hate to disgrace him by not being brave as well. If I allowed a volunteer it'd only show how weak our family is. Brock fought hard, I want to show people that is wasn't for nothing." I don't know where the lie came from, it just felt like the right thing to say, so I said it. My family seemed to understand, as if it was the right thing for me to do. I can't help but feel a weight lift off my chest in knowing that they are excepting of my decision.

My family is taken away and a couple of my friends from school come to see me. I was thankful for that, I didn't want to leave the District with the last thing I say being a lie. I'm escorted to the train, where I meet our previous victors and Seth Downey. I finally take in he's appearance. He's like a brick. He's arms are strong. He's a little on the short side but he is stocky. He's definitely done a lot of training.

Lex Grovestin POV

"Lex!" Mama enters through the door first, followed by my brother and Dad. Dad is angry.

"There is no way they can send you into that arena. It's unfair!" He's right, but rules are rules. Even with an injured hand I must go. "Is there any way to get a another tribute? Or to get your hand fixed before you enter?" He knows the answers to the questions already, but he's so upset and angry he asks them anyway. I hug Stephan longer than anyone. He's so small. I'm glad it's me and not him.

"I'll see you when this is all over, ok." I say to my family. Mama holds back tears. "I promise you I'll see you when this is over."

I'm taken to the train. Lila tells me and Shay to get showered and ready for dinner. I do as she says absentmindedly . My head buzzes. This is really happening. I'm really on a train headed for the capital. I'm really one of the twenty-four children reaped. I'm really going to have to go into the arena and fight for my life. I'm sitting at the dinner table, I don't even remember showering, or getting dressed.

"Who will be our mentor?" Shay asks. It's a good question, but I don't really care to hear the answer. I don't want to be here, I don't want anything to do with this. I realize there are tears in my eyes, I wipe them away quickly, hoping Lila and Shay don't see them. If they do they don't draw attention to it. Eventually one of them will ask what happened to my hand, everyone will want to know. Perhaps the question will come up in my interview. I was seven, I was really sick and had to stay home from school, dad took me to work with him for about ten minutes. I was told to stand right next to him and not touch anything. But I didn't listen, I saw a bright yellow wire and grabbed onto it. My whole hand burned, I couldn't let go of the wire no matter how hard I tried. I remember trying to scream but I couldn't, my whole body shook. Dad helped me, but my hand was already in bad condition. Halfway up to my elbow my skin was burnt. My fingers were melted together, there was nothing doctors could do for them. Now, eight years later, my hand hasn't grown, so it's small and limp, my fingers still one big lump on the end of blackened skin.

Zila Monument POV

I don't expect anyone to come see me off. That's why I'm so surprised to see Ms. Tyflynn. She hugs me, and tells me that she loves me. She has never told me this before, she barley speaks to me. But I tell her I love her back. Two of the girls come to see me, the other fourteen-year-old and little Cilia. I smile at them, not expecting them to care enough to come. Cilia walks up to me with something in her hand. She places it in mine. It's a small silver necklace. There is no charm on it, it's just the chain. I smile at her.

"What is this for?" I ask her.

"So you have something to hold when you miss home." She tells me.

"I can't take this." I try to hand it back to her but she won't take it. Instead I put it on, she smiles slightly. "Thank you." I tell her "I will wear it all the time."

After we say goodbye I'm taken to the train, I hear someone yell for Phillip, they sound devastated. There is no one to yell my name. That's ok though, there is less for me to leave behind than other tributes.