Chapter Four- Pair of Fighters
After the ceremony and the many "Ooo!" 's and "Ahh!" 's, I go to my room and remove the black suit that has been charred and is somewhat smoking. I go under the covers in my under clothes, thinking about the tributes and what their stories are. One of them is from 12. Another person from home to kill. I sigh and shut my eyes tightly, trying to fall into a sleep.
Images from other Games and the decapitated bodies, people being ripped apart, blown up, shot in the eyes and head, sneak into my dreams and I jolt up, sweating. I look around and it seems that it's about 10 o' clock in the morning. I stretch my arms out, shut my eyes tightly, and yawn. I get up, itching my butt, and head to the bathroom. I do a quick 5 minute shower, brush my teeth, and head down the hall to eat breakfast. Once I get there I see Adam, Effie, and Courtney eating pancakes, eggs, and some different drinks. I sit down and order a waffle and mocha. I'm looking at a very shiny glass chandelier when Adam sets his bright red wine down, wipes his mouth, and looks at me and Courtney seriously.

"Here's the plan. I want you guys to go into training today and get as much practice in every section as possible. Make allies with-
"I don't want allies." I say as I cut him off.
"I don't care if you don't want allies. You will do as I say and you wi-
"I said I don't want them."
Adams face becomes red and he throws a wobbly fist and I catch it in my hand. He grabs a butter knife from the plate next to mine and slices at my face, but he fails to get me as I duck down and throw him back. Adam grabs a plate but is unable to throw it at me as Courtney throws a fork at it, breaking the plate. "Well, looks like we got a pair of fighters this year." He says with a grin. I roll my eyes and eat my waffle as it is brought to me with my chocolaty mocha. I add two sugar cubes and begin to mix the mocha, glaring at Adam. "Well. It looks like its time," Effie says as she checks her watch. "Let's go." Effie begins to lead us to the elevator and starts to board it with us when Adam holds her back. "They'll look like idiots if you go down there with them," Adam says with a wink. "Have fun," Adam clicks a button and the door shuts. Me and Courtney make next to no talk during the elevator ride. Quite awkward actually. When the doors finally open we walk out to see we are the second to last ones. The only District missing is District 7. The training instructor begins without them because we are running out of time. She introduces herself as Atala and she shows us each section. Atala releases us and I head to the close combat section, not having any talent in that, it may be good to have some idea of it. I get to fight the instructor and he shows me some moves like the headlock and the scissor kick. He also shows me how to snap someone's neck. After about half an hour of this, I go to the ax section so I can practice a bit more. I grab a golden ax then run up to a silvery gray dummy that has some weird stickers on it. Spinning, I slice its head off in a diagonal line and I place my ax in the dummy's right breast. I grab the handle of the ax and kick the dummy off of it. I toss the ax in the air and it begins to spin but is caught quickly by another tribute. The District 7 boy I think. "Don't even try 12! Everyone knows Ill be getting the ax since Im from 7!" the boy begins with a cocky smile, "Stick to a shovel or something." The boy walks off and I grab another ax, bronze this time, and I throw it at the side of his head. The ax lands into a close combat mat and the boy turns around. "Watch your back, 12," he says with a tone of seriousness. Hmm. Two threats already. Not looking to great on my part. Eh, whatever. I turn to a spear throwing section and I jog over to it, almost tripping over a lone bottle of paint on the way. I reach the spears and grab a sleek, wooded spear and begin to toss it slightly and grasping it again. I push my arm back and run forward. I throw my arm forward, letting the spear fly at another dummy's forehead. I grin and walk away since I won't even use a spear. I walk over to the edible plants station and I ace it with ease. I yawn and look at the clock, seeing we only have 5 minutes, I stand up and walk to the door. I lean against the frame and look around. Soon enough Atala releases us to lunch and I sit by myself since Courtney has gotten quite close with the boy tribute from District 9. Stupid girl. You're not supposed to get attached. I sigh and eat my food quickly.
This goes on for 3 more days and soon enough we have our private sessions with the Gamemakers where we can show them our greatest skills and we hope they will allow us to have a weapon we can use to our advantage. I wake up earlier than Effie, Courtney, and the other tribute whose name is Storm according to a girl from 4. Adam has his head on the dining table and a glass of wine by his head. I sit down silently and stare at him, saying a silent, "Thank you" as an Avox brings me some fruit with sugar, a waffle, and some bologna. I eat about five circles of bologna and Adam raises his head slightly, moaning. "Morning sunshine," I say with a grin as I chew my last circle of bologna. Adam rises up quickly and accidentally knocks his glass of red wine over the nice spread on top of the table. I give a chuckle and he groans at me.
"Jamie…When you go to your private session, please don't make a fool of yourself," he says with a frown.
The smile fades from my face and I roll my eyes. "I won't. Maybe you should keep your eye on Courtney. She's getting too attached to Dayne," I say as I rip a piece from my waffle with my teeth.
"Who?"
"The tribute from 9."
"Oh. I'll try to talk to her."
I nod my head as finish my fruit and I stand up, brushing my hands on my pants. "Well, off to the tribute breakfast," I say as I stretch my arms. Adam nods and I leave the room and to the elevator. I stand onto the metal plate and click some button I remember Adam clicking then the door shuts and I slide downward. I look around as Capitol citizens walk around beneath me. The door opens and I slowly walk out and to the dining room where half the tributes are already gone. Oops. I see Courtney and Dayne and realize why they weren't at breakfast.
I begin to order all kinds of food, ranging from a light pink soup to blue stew. I begin with a small roll of hot bread and lamb stew. My eyes begin to roll as I take a first bite. It's like nothing I've ever had in my life. It's…it's…it's delicious. I have about one bowl of pink soup, one bowl of light green stew, a cup of lavender colored juice, and another bowl of lamb stew. Once I believe Im done, an Avox puts hot chocolate in front of me and waits for something. "Is there a problem?" I ask as I look around. Courtney leans over and tells me it's time for dessert. I've only had dessert once in my life, and it was a small thing of chocolate. My eyes meet the Avox's and ask for a chocolate cake of any kind. Im brought a small foam looking cake and I cut it in half. Hot, steaming chocolate spills from the middle and I gape. I begin to dig into the cake and stuff myself. After that, I start to order delicacies such as another foam cake, cheesecake, strawberries dipped into white chocolate, steaming, soft cookies, and two cups of chocolate.
Only after my two cups of hot chocolate do I notice that the tributes are all gone but me and Courtney, who is called down right then. Soon after, I get called down to the training room for my private training for the Gamemakers, and I slowly stand and walk over to the elevator. I click the last button on the panel and the elevator doors slide together and I begin to descend. Butterflies fill my stomach and I play with my fingers nervously as I begin to think of what I will do for the Gamemakers. I could maybe shoot? Maybe use an ax? Oh, or I could…..um…..climb around? I start to look around and wait till the doors will finally slide open. It feels like hours till the doors open again and the Gamemakers seem bored after watching twenty three other tributes. I walk forward, bow, then go over to the bow and arrow station. After years of getting food for my family, helping Clay's family, and getting herbs and meat for Greasy Sae, I easily shoot arrows into the forehead of 2 dummies. Deciding this isn't enough, I grab an ax and stare at a dummy that has an arrow into its forehead, just like the other one, and I focus on the arrow. I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. The insult from the District 7 tribute comes back to me. "Stick to a shovel or something!" I begin to burn up and when I open my eyes, I quickly throw the golden ax at the arrow, hitting it from the back and splitting it in half. I smile in success and look up to see about ¾'s of the Gamemakers smiling. The others are eating from the almost empty buffet. I am dismissed and I literally skip from the room, smiling.