3

Each chariot had done its final lap of the city circle and we now found our way into the training centre. The doors slam shut behind us, our prep team swarms us, huge smiles on their faces at our success, I glance around the room at the other tributes, stopping at the careers, who seemed to have grouped together. The boys from 1, 2 and 4 and the girls from 2 and 4 all glared at us, the girls had their hands placed on their hips, while the boys had their arms folded over their chests. However, the girl from 1 ran her fingers over her lips once more agitatedly playing with the gems stuck to her lips. Her eyes caught sight of me looking at her. She flashed me another smile, making my heart drum in my chest. The effect she had on me was incredible.

I still held Robbie's hand tightly; I could feel him shaking still in my grasp. I looked down at our hands and loosened my grip, slightly, before fully letting go of his hand fully. He looked at me, his brown eyes meeting mine. "Thanks for that back there" he said awkwardly "I was worried" his voice was soft.

"To tell you the truth Rob, so was I" I admitted quietly, with a slight smile, he turned his line of sight from me to the career tributes, I followed his gaze, turning my attention to them for the second time in the short period we had spent in this room. He looked at Caterina, and sighed dreamily. She saw him and gave him an awkward smile. Before turning on her heel and following her prep team and the boy from her district out of the room we were in.

The training centre will now be our home, until the actual games start, each pair of tributes along with their team has their own floor in the tower this is used specially for the tributes. The floor you are on depends on your district I.E District 1- floor one. If you are on a higher floor you have to take a lift up there. The lift flies upwards quickly, and it's made out of glass so as you are heading towards your floor you can watch the people below you shrinking.

My room is huge, and is filled with gadgets and gizmos, most of them I'll never get the chance to use; I can order any food that I want at any time that I want. I take a quick shower lathering both my body and hair in the scented soaps and shampoos. I dress in a black dress, that has black netting over it, the pattern in the netting is flowers, it's a nice dress, not too casual but not too dressy. I walk around the room some more, I am pulled away from exploring the room by a knock at the door "Dinner!" Called Bernadette, her high pitched whiney voice pierced my ears. Good I thought, I was hungry, and needed something to eat after the day's events.

Luckily when I got down to the dining room Erwin, Harley and Maria all sat at the table, in a line, while Robbie once again sat alone opposite them all, that was until I sat in the chair next to him. "Hello again" I said to him friendlily.

"Hey" he greeted with a wave, Bernadette sat on the other side of me, she glared at Erwin and for no good reason he hadn't done anything wrong. Once the six of us are seated at the table, a young girl with black hair, and pale skin serves us, she was so pale, that her skin was almost translucent. She walks around the table silently. "Thanks" I said as she reached me, her eyes flicked to mine, but she said nothing, she just looked down quickly, and served Bernadette before leaving the room.

"That was a little rude" I said snapping everyone's attention to me.

"What was?" asked Bernadette, pulling her face close to mine.

"Well I said 'thanks' but she ignored me" I explained, my tone of voice slightly hostile.

Bernadette smiled and chuckled slightly "No Jadelyn" she said I cringed at my full name, I really did hate it "She wasn't ignoring you, she can't speak, she's an Avox" I arched my eyebrow at her questioningly "They can't speak, they are people who have committed a crime, they have their tongues cut out" she turned her voice to a low whisper speaking only to me "She's probably a traitor" I felt a little bad at thinking and stating that the girl had been rude when she simply couldn't speak, all because the capitol had these stupid brutal punishments.

"Oh" I said, before looking down at my food, I could see Robbie out of the corner of my eye, stifling a laugh at my remark, I kicked him lightly in the shine with the back of my foot. Once we have eaten, the sky outside is dark, and it's late.

Bernadette is the first to stand "I'm going to bed" she chimes "And I suggest that you two do the same, we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow" she was smiling idiotically "You need to meet me at 10:00am for training" and with that she went to bed, leaving Robbie, Maria, Harley, Erwin and I sat alone in the quiet dining room.

Maria, Harley, Erwin, Robbie and I stayed seated for a while; no one spoke, or even moved, the room was quiet and still, the only sound we could hear, was, the clanging of plates and cutlery being washed in the kitchen, seeped through the doors. That was until Erwin suddenly dived from his seat.

"I'm going to bed" he chimed, nodding friendlily at Harley and Maria, he then turned his attention to me and Robbie "And I think you two should as well" he was gone before Robbie or I could even talk to him, it was strange for him to agree with Bernadette.

Robbie and I stood from the table "Night" Said Harley with a wave of his fingers and a smile, Maria did the same, before Robbie and I turned and left the room, walking down the corridor to our bedrooms.

"So that girl was rude" Robbie joked about my awkward moment with the Avox. I shot him a warning look that made him purse his lips to keep from laughing. "You have to admit, it's funny" he stopped walking and looked at me, his brown eyes holding a hint of a smile that was slowly spreading to his lips.

"Good night Robbie" I turned away from him and walked to my room, I strip to my underwear once again and climb in to the bed, I took a deep breath closed my eyes and tried to sleep, images of the day playing round in my mind.

My dreams had mainly been filled by the opening ceremony, how everyone looked, the feelings I had felt, it was strange that even in my dreams everything felt really, the nerves, the sounds the smells, everything. Although, it's morning the sky outside is dull and grey. I slowly move from my bed, walking into the bathroom, and stepping into the shower. I tilt back my head, letting the water run down my face, washing all the sleep away.

Once I am out of the shower, I dress in the clothes that have been laid out for me; a pair of tight black trousers, and a short sleeved maroon t-shirt, I put on the pair of heavy boots and looked in the mirror, the outfit was less than flattering. I walked down to the dining cart, I stopped in the door way for a few seconds; the only other person up, was Bernadette.

I walked passed her, to the table laid with food, I piled my plate high and walked back to the table where Bernadette sat.

"Good morning, dear" she greeted me happily, smiling at me.

"Morning" I replied, a lot less enthusiastic. I sat down opposite her.

"Are you ready for your first training session?" she questioned still smiling from ear to ear.

"No" I said honestly "Not really" I gave a small shrug as my breakfast was served to me, by the same girl who had served us last night. Bernadette seemed shocked at my lack of interest; she chokes slightly on her coffee before saying.

"That's not the right attitude to have Jadelyn" cringe why does the woman insist on using my full name.

"Jade!" I correct her before she has time to say anything else "I prefer Jade" I rephrase trying to seem more polite.

"Sorry" she said before continuing "Jade, that's not the right way to look at things, these training sessions could be the difference between surviving and dying" her voice was stern as she said this, her blue eyes locked on mine.

I sigh, before taking a bite out of one of the plump sausages that are steaming on my plate in front of me. I scan the room with my eyes and come across a big bronze clock on the wall. 9:00am, only an hour to go before training. Robbie walked through the doors with Erwin at his side; I noticed he was wearing the same as me.

He sat next to me, not bothering to get any food "You not hungry" I asked, pulling off a piece of bread and popping it into my mouth. He shook his head and screwed up his face.

"Not really" he admitted "I feel sick I don't want to risk eating" I nodded in understanding, and then continued to devour my food. We don't have much time to speak to Erwin once he comes back from the table, plate piled high with food.

"So" he starts "What types of things can you do?" he asked, his eyes darting between Robbie and myself, I shrug.

"Not a lot really, I guess I'm okay with knives and things, I may have used them once or twice" I said thinking about the times I had been forced to go looking for food for Taylor, mum and me. He nods at me.

"Well then save using knives until you are alone, don't let them see what you are best at" he explained, before turning his attention to Robbie "And what can you do?" he asked.

"Nothing" said Robbie sheepishly.

"That's a lie" it comes out before I can really stop it, Robbie's eye snap to me, looking shocked "You can do some things" a smile starts to form on his face.

"Like?" asks Sikowitz sounding bored already.

"Like…" I rack my brains for skills that Robbie has, "He knows stuff about food, and he is good with knots, things like that, and he's a lot stronger than he looks" I said. Sure the skills involving food and knots may not seem like much, most people in District 12 can do these things, but combine them with strength, when you're in that arena, it can make the world of difference.

Sikowitz smiles "Well the same goes to you, Robert, save the things you are good at until you are alone, just stick together, and you should be fine" he stands and then walks away, leaving us alone with Bernadette, who keeps flicking her eyes to the clock.

It's only 9:45 but Bernadette makes us head off the lift, the journey down takes less than a minute, despite the training room being below the ground floor. We are the last to arrive there, even though it's not 10:00 yet we are the last to arrive. The room just in front of us is filled with various weapons and obstacle courses; I see that everyone is wearing the same as Robbie and I. They all stand in a circle; all of the careers are bunched together with their backs to us.

I notice Caterina straight away (It's hard to miss her when her hair is that bright) I look at her body from head to toe; my eyes linger shortly at her hips before moving down to her bum, before I snap my eyes away from her. Robbie and I join the circle- after having our district number pinned to our shirts. Once we are in the circle, the head trainer, a thin small manly woman named Debbie comes into our view. She explains how the day will work, what the different stations are, and how we can go from one to another if and when we choose.

There are combat skill zones (although you not allowed to go into combat with any other tribute until the games begin, the experts are there to help you with that). I let my eyes scan the room, taking in all the faces of the other tributes. It's the first time we are all on the same floor, dressed casually, I notice that Robbie and I are still getting dirty looks from the career tributes. All but one, Caterina, this is mainly because she isn't looking at anyone, she is looking down at her feet, and fidgeting awkwardly with her fingers.

We are realised and the careers speed of to the weapons sections, despite her height Caterina reaches the weapons before any of the others much to their dismay, she heads straight for the bow and arrow, it looks huge in her small hands. She loads it quickly, and fires an arrow straight through the middle of the target. She smiles proud of herself, she steps further back and loads the bow again, although she seems more content on impressing herself, the other careers seem to be showing off, and trying to intimidate us.

Robbie takes a deep breath and looks at me "What do you want to do first?" he asks.

"How about, camouflage" I suggest,

"Surely girlie" he nods and puts and arm forward, motioning for me to lead the way. We didn't stay at the camouflage station for long, as I found it dreadfully boring and Robbie couldn't get the hang of it. We then moved on to shooting, I practiced with the bow and arrow for a while, now that Caterina had moved onto something else, I struggled with the bow and arrow though. I could hear laughing coming from one of the other stations, I turned to see five of the career tributes, They boys from 1,2 and 4 and the girls from 2, and 4, the girl from 1 however, wasn't with them, she was at the other end of the room, flying through the edible and poisonous plant test. I sighed, and looked at Robbie "I'm going to the knives" I said, before throwing the bow and arrows at the floor.

"No we're not supposed to" he argued "Erwin said"

"I don't care what Erwin said, their laughing at me" I walk away from Robbie, and go to the knife throwing station. I stand facing the target and pick up one of the small knives, I feel the cool blade in-between my index finger and thumb, I take a deep breath and hurtle it towards the target, hitting it straight through the middle, I do this a few more times, never missing my target. I look over to the careers and smile at them smugly. They all stay silent and walk over to the girl from 1, who was far too involved in the test to notice what had happened.

The next few days are slow, Robbie and I do the same mundane activities for hours on end, the best part of the day is lunch, which is served in a huge dining hall and all twenty-four of us eat together. The food is arranged on tables and carts that are gathered around the room, you serve yourself.

There are very few people in the dining hall by the time Robbie and I arrive, naturally the careers are already here and sat noisily around one of the tables, at the far end, all the boys on one side of the table, and the girls sat opposite them, each pair from each district sits facing each other. Robbie sits at the table near them; he saves this table, while I get my food.

There's so much to choose from, thick soups, stews, fresh salads, meat, and an array of freshly made bread from each of the districts. Everything looks amazing, and I am spoiled for choice, I contemplate, which foods to try, my silence and thought is broken, by a soft, high pitched voice ringing from the side of me.

"If I were you, I'd try the bread from District 1" the voice suggests, I turn to see who it belongs to, and I see Caterina, stood smiling at me "I hear it's nice" she jokes, picking up two rolls of the bread she is recommending, she places one on her plate and hands the other to me, I take it, without questioning. I look at her for a while, not knowing what else to do, the look on her face says she is slightly alarmed. I pull myself together to speak to her.

"And if I were you" I reply "I would avoid the bread from District 12, I hear it's just plain awful" she chuckles musically, and slides her teeth over her bottom lip biting it for a few seconds, her dimple surfaces slightly, caused by her actions, now that I am stood speaking to her, she seems more stunning than before.

"You're Jadelyn, right?" she asks pointing a finger at me. I like the way she says my name, I like the way her mouth looks when she says my name, but that doesn't change the fact that I hate my name.

"Jade" I correct her, with shrug.

"Hi, I'm Cat" she introduces herself. I notice her piling her plate high, for someone of her size, she can eat a lot. She looks over her shoulder at the table where the other careers are sat, we seemed to have drawn some attention to ourselves, the all sit, glaring at me, the boy from 1 seems particular annoyed. "Do you want to sit with us?" she asks sweetly, "Both of you" she includes Robbie "There's room"

She still stands smiling, holding her plate in her hands steadily so she doesn't drop it, I look at Robbie, who is sat watching us, and then back to Cat's 'friends' "I don't think it's a good idea, thanks anyway" I say shrugging.

"It's okay, well just know, that the invitation, lasts until, whenever" she smiles at me and balances the plate on one hand, "Bye, Jade" she says smiling, waving at me with her fingers, "Enjoy the bread" she adds, jokingly, before walking back to the table, to join her fellow career tributes.

I walk back over to Robbie, shortly after Cat had left me standing at the food cart, I sit down next to him and smile "What did she want?" asked Robbie, straining his neck so he could see her.

"Nothing really, she recommended the bread from 1 and then she invited us to seat with them" I admit with a shrug.

"Remind me again why we aren't sitting with them?" Robbie asked, standing before I could stop him, I raised to me feet speed walking to catch up to him. Robbie stopped dead in his tracks once he got close to them.

"Hello again" I said, prolonging the 'o', I gave an awkward smile and wave

"Hi" greeted Cat, cheerfully.

"I'm Robbie" he chimed nervously

"Hey, Robbie I'm Cat" she said putting down the piece of bread that she held in her hand, she motioned around the table "This is Beck, Ryder, Andre, Tara, and Tori" she smiled widely, shuffling up on the bench slightly, to make room for me to sit next to her, "Everyone, this is Jade, and Robbie, from District 12" I was amazed that she had remembered where we were from, the only reason I remembered the district she was from, is because she herself, is unforgettable.

The other girls faces seemed to change as she told them what district we are from, one of them scoffs, and plays with the food on her plate.

I waved at them all once, with an awkward smile on my face "Hi everyone" I said, not bothering to reel of the names one by one. The boy from 1, Beck, shifted in his seat, as Robbie looked longingly at Cat, and Tori the girl from 4 seemed to do the same. "Robbie just wanted to come over t…" I started but was cut off by Tori.

"You can't sit with us!" she screeched. She glared at me, her brown eyes cold, and hard. I knew why they had reacted like this, it's because we're from 12, the usually forgotten district.

"Oh" I said, quietly, letting her comment get to me more than I should, no one said anything, not even Cat, she just looked down at her feet, her expression said that she was too scared to argue with the girl. "We just came over to say 'Hi'" I explained with an apologetic smile.

"Well you've said it" snaps Tara, before turning away from me to face Ryder.

"Well, bye, Cat" I say sombrely, before walking back to the table, Robbie had previously sat at. I looked over my shoulder to see her jiggling her fingers at me slightly, with a sad expression on her face.

I sat down quietly, and bite into the bread Cat had handed me, she wasn't lying about it being nice bread, I couldn't stop my eyes from flickering over to the table where she sat, I couldn't help but feel a stab of pain and jealousy at the fact they were sat with her when I wasn't.

A/N: The first proper bit of Cade interaction, not much, but these things take time. I decided to add some one sided Bat into this fic. I hope you like this chapter, please read and review I appreciate all comments and opinions (good or bad)