We're on the train to the Capitol. Axel and I are sitting at a mahogany dining table. We're served a light green salad in clear crystal bowls. A strange smelling purple-ish liquid in crystal glasses. I look at my reflection in the glass, Mirror Annie is staring back at me once again. She smiles, like she's taunting me. She's telling me I won't win. I'm just a weak little girl.

Axel and I do not speak. We are not friends.

A middle aged woman and a young man walk through the doors and sit across from us. The woman has tired eyes and greying hair, she seems... Melancholy. As if she's become tired with watching the Games every year, only to see her tributes die bloody deaths. She looks up at me with a hopeful look in her eyes. She's counting on me.

The young man can't be much older than 20. He has a handsome face, structured cheekbones, brown hair that seems to reflect gold under the light. I know who he is. He's Finnick Odair, District 4's heartthrob victor. Every girl I know is madly in love with his good looks and accomplishments. But I don't see what's so special about him, he's just another pretty face who had a bit of luck. If anything, I think he's stuck up and egotistical.

Finnick smiles charmingly. "Have we got a pair of winners this year?" He asks, looking me up and down. He barely pays attention to Axel, who seems to be distracted by the blurring trees out the window.

Mags is busy fussing over her salad, so Finnick does most of the talking. "So. What can you do?" He looks back and forth and me and Axel. Axel opens his mouth to speak. "Swords. Firearms. Knives. Anything, really." He's a trained Career, while I'm a weakling. Finnick looks in my direction and waits for me to speak up. "I-I can swim." I say. That's my only talent. It hardly even counts, since nearly everyone in District 4 knows how to swim. "I can hold my breath for a really long time. I'm fast. But that's it." I looked down and fiddle with my fork, pretending to be busy eating. I'm not hungry.

"This isn't a swimming competition, darling." Mags speaks up for the first time. Her voice is muffled, her mouth is full of salad. She wipes the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "You need to learn how to handle weapons, otherwise you'll get slaughtered out there."

I know she's right. We all know she's right. Axel smirks at me, knowing he's got this in the bag. But Finnick eyes me wearily, with what could easily be mistaken as concern. But I know better than to trust him. All he wants is a winner, he doesn't care about my life. Mags is staring at me as well, as if she's expecting me to say something. I say nothing and keep my head down. I'm used to stares, of course. Stare all you like, I think. Staring and criticizing isn't going to help.

They stare anyways, they can't read my thoughts. After a few moments of silence, the tension defuses and Axel begins a conversation with our mentors about the Capitol's training center. Mags does most of the talking now, but she tends to go off topic and her mind wanders easily. Finnick just nods and give one word answers. His eyes are focused on mine, like he's studying me.

I'm used to people staring, but his stare is different.

Everyone else stares through me, but his eyes bear into mine. Like for once, I feel like I exist.

I break my gaze and push my chair back loudly. "Excuse me." I mutter. And I leave the compartment to have some time to myself.