Some of our friends are already outside, milling around, chatting quietly. Just the other day, we were all talking excitedly. I suppose it's just being nervous. I can sense a sort of chill in the air. It is warm though. A few of our friends are over by the slag heap, and they wave us over.

"Hey Gale. Hey Cae," Lisandra says solemnly. I don't honestly know why it is such a solemn occasion. We should be excited. Shouldn't we?

"Hey," Gale says, nodding. He too is much more solemn then he was on the walk over.

Alma, the oldest of us all, leans back against the slag heap. "Did your parents talk to you?" She doesn't address anyone in particular, but I feel like it's directed at me.

Gale speaks after a moment of silence from the group. "My mom did. Says to come and ask her any questions I want. Dad wasn't there, not today."

"My parents say to be grateful, that I'll be way more grateful for everything, after I see the whole thing," Lisandra says.

Other people say things like that. I just think of my parents strange reaction. It isn't like the others. Maybe they're just different. I know they were in The Hunger Games, but I don't think they were involved in it an awful lot. I mean if they were, wouldn't they talk about it more? I think they would. No, maybe they're just scared that I'll be scared. Maybe.

Soon the teachers come out and tell us to line up in alphabetical order. We do so, pretty quickly. We all are eager to know what this is about. Why our parents are so afraid. They go down the line, ushering each person in. There are no trading spots. They have boys and girls in separate lines, so even though my last name comes first, I'm basically parallel to Gale, there being more girls than boys. We smile nervously at each other, hoping to get decent seats. Gale is ushered in first. I wonder where he's being placed. Probably in the middle. He's awfully good at school. I stand in line, wondering where I'll get put, until the teacher taps me on the shoulder and leads me inside.

The inside of the auditorium is pitch black except for a few lights. I concentrate on following the teacher. I can see the big screen looming over the room. There's a quiet kind of hush around the room with students trading what they know and what they think will happen. Finally the teacher stops and I almost trip. I stumble a bit. I look at the row and seat she's gesturing to.

Middle row, middle seat.

I gulp and make my way there. I'm confused. I look around for Gale and I don't see him. Not at first. Then, his big waving hand catches my eye. Now I'm really confused. He's all the way in the back corner. This is wrong. Our spots should really be switched. But the seating chart is always very carefully planned. The middle row only has five seats. On the right side of me is May Undersee and to the left of me is Pola Croshes.

The lights all go out. The screen starts to glow. And in letters that grow is The Hunger Games. And then the words go on fire.

The presentation has started.