Author's Notes: Guess who's finally updating the last finished chapter her 13-year-old-self wrote?

*sigh* That means I'll have to start writing the next chapters. T.T I am a lazy person.

Anywhore -yes, I am saying that here because of this person- A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO Cloud-Lover26 FOR BEING SUCH A TROLL AND REVIEWING EVERY CHAPTER! You don't know how much it means to me that you're still reading (and reading exactly the day after OR the day I post a new chapter. =)))

Not gonna keep you guys any longer! Enjoy! ;)

(P.S.: I do not own the Hunger Games. If I did, I would STRICTLY make certain Effie's HAIR was PINK; not her DRESS. Thank you, Lionsgate.)

IV. Flames

"You look terrified." Cinna, my stylist, notices. Of course who wouldn't be terrified? I'm about to be set on fire in front of everyone in the Capitol!

Once we stepped down from the station a few hours ago, Haymitch told me and Gale to follow whatever our stylists tell us. No buts. It was easier when I was being stripped of my body hair, but being set ablaze with an experimental can of non-burning flames? Cinna's a nice guy and all, but I think there's a mad man hidden in his brain.

I spot Gale in the crowd of tributes. He's wearing the same black unitard, fiery colored head dress and matching cape as I am. I have a feeling he already knows what about to happen because even if he's acting nonchalant, I can see sweat drop down his face.

"You okay?" I ask him.

"I'm guessing you know what'll happen out there." He said in a hushed voice. I nod and give an exaggerated gulp. "I'll rip your cape off if you rip mine."

"Deal." I say. Maybe we'll avoid the worst of the burns. But even if we get them off on time, we'll still have a few minor burns. And the Capitol will throw us in no matter what our condition. "I know Haymitch said we should follow Cinna and Portia, but did he consider this?"

"I think he's allowing it. Where is he anyway?" Gale says.

"I don't think that's advisable. With all that alcohol in him, and Cinna's can of synthetic flame just sitting there, well, I don't think we'll be the only things lighting up." I say.

Suddenly, we're both laughing. It's the first time I've seen him laugh. I guess we're both so nervous about the Games and being turned into human torches that we're not acting sensibly.

The doors open and District 1's chariot is being presented to the people of Capitol. Music's blasting in our ears as Gale and I boarded our chariot with coal black horses. The chariots go round the City Circle where they will welcome us, then they would play the anthem, and escort us to the Training Center, which would be our home/prison until the games begin.

The tributes from District 11 are rolling out when Cinna appears with a lighted torch. "Here we go." he says, and our capes are set ablaze without uttering a word. I wait for the heat of the flames to hit my neck, but all I feel is a faint tickle. Cinna lets out a sigh as if he's been holding his breath. "It works." Then he tucks his hand under my chin. "Remember, heads high. They're going to love you!"

He jumps off the chariot and signals me and Gale to do something, but the music's drowning him out.

"What is he saying?" I ask Gale, who looks amazing in fake flames. Not that I want to set him on fire or anything.

"I think he said to hold hands," he says. He grabs my right hand with his left, and I don't object. We look towards Cinna if that's what he wanted us to do. He just signals a thumbs up and a smile.

The citizens of Capitol were still shouting our names as we entered the Training Center. Cinna was right. They did love us. About five minutes after we got down from the chariot, I noticed Gale was still holding onto my hand. He lets go and we both massage our hands.

"Thanks for being steady back there." I say.

"I was steady? I'm still shaking like a leaf right now. You were steady." His voice sounds a bit shaken up, but his stance was normal. I wonder if he was just doing that to trick me or to make me laugh.

Ever since we got onto the train in District 12, I've been trying to figure out what his motives were. Was he going to do what Johanna Mason did two years ago? No, he's been appearing strong from the get-go. I bet he's trying to manipulate my mind and gain my favor so that he could be a two-faced ally. If that's what he's going for, then two can play at that game.

We ride onto the elevator to our floor and we watched the recap of the ceremony. Cinna was right. Our flames got more than our share of air-time. I was anything but unforgettable.

"Who's idea was the hand-holding?" Haymitch asks as Gale and I started to look at Cinna.

"It was Cinna's idea." Portia says.

"Perfect. Just the right touch of rebellion. Nice work, Cinna." Haymitch says in a satisfied tone and pats Cinna on the back.

Rebellion? I mean, I hate the Capitol and all, but I didn't think we'd initiate a sign of rebellion. That's when I noticed that the other tributes were staying as stoically away from their tribute partners as possible. Pretending as if the other isn't there at all. Only Gale and I were holding hands.

I guess we are starting a tiny bit of a rebellion.

The anthem ends and so does the ceremony. An Avox girl steps in and gives us all a mug of warm milk with some spices in it. Out of sleepiness, I muttered, "I know you!" I thought it was soft enough for everyone not to hear, but they did.

"That's silly! How would you know her?" Effie says.

"Avoxes are traitors who's tongues are cut off by the Capitol." Haymitch, the only one who's drinking alcohol at the moment, says with a bit of drunken grief.

Now I really regret saying that. "No, it's just..."

"Delly Cartwright! That's who she looks like. Must be the hair." Gale interrupts me. Delly is a pudgy, blonde girl who smiles at everyone in school. Even me. She's a lot different from the Avox with red hair in front of us.

"Yeah, I guess so. It's the eyes too." I started to agree with him. I know he's seen her, too. She was captured when I was hunting and Gale was hiding in the bushes a few feet away from me. I was able to make eye contact with her before the hovercraft took her away, so I guess she knows me too.

"Oh, well, if that's the case, then we should all go to bed. Tomorrow's the start of your training." Effie says with a yawn. I guess she's tired from telling everyone that we were pearls from coals, which aren't true.

We all manage to go to our rooms, but before I closed my bedroom door, Gale walk by and goes to the stairs leading to the roof. Why would he go there? I followed him and I saw the magnificence of the roof's garden.

Gale's staring at the cars and the screaming people down below. Shouldn't they be sleeping? I'm pretty sure the other districts are.

"You couldn't sleep either?" There goes my cover.

I slowly walk up to him. "Well, it's just, the Avox girl still sends shivers down my spine. You know she doesn't look anything like Delly and I know you were there when she was captured. Didn't you see her being hoisted up in a net while her friend was stabbed in the back with a spear?" A tear starts falling from my eye. Great. Now I've given him a reason to think I'm weak. I shouldn't have done that.

Gale surprisingly gives me a hug and wraps his jacket around me. "It's okay. I was there, and I saw the guy get stabbed. That's why I'm up here and not sleeping yet." He wipes the tear from my face and lets go of his grip a bit too abruptly. "I guess we should get back to bed now. Are you okay?"

I shake my head and give back his jacket. "Thanks, but I think I'll stay here first. Try to get the shivers out." He doesn't oblige and goes away.

Why is he being so nice? He knows that we're gonna face to the death in the arena. Is he still doing this as part of his strategy? He's trying to kill you! Either way, it's gonna be hard to kill him in the arena. In fact, It's gonna be hard to kill anyone there.

I remember Peeta, how much I miss him. Was our last morning together just a few days ago? It seems so long ago. I wish he was here, so I can at least get a feel of home again.

But I'm glad he's back at home, taking care of himself and my family instead of being here and prepping for the torture that lies ahead. At least he'll be around to make sure Prim doesn't take the tesserae when I die.

I just wish I can go back see them again, and not here where it's a living hell.