Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while! I hope you like Meridina's strategy! Tell me your views on whether or not you think it will work (It won't affect the story any, I just want to know!). I hope this chapter surprises you in a pleasent way!

My alarm wakes me up far too early. For once I wasn't having any nightmares. I must have stayed up until two reviewing natural remedies on my new Tab. I groan and rub my eyes. Why did I set my alarm so early? The clock on my bedside table says 7 am. I promised Jack I'd be down by eight.

I take a quick shower and throw on an identical outfit to the one I wore yesterday. I shovel down some cereal and fruit. I leave a note with one of the Avoxs so the others won't worry when they find me gone.

I almost fall asleep in the elevator on the way down. Jack isn't here yet so I sit down to wait at the edible plant's station. I wait so long that I do fall asleep. I wake up to a voice whispering "Are you awake?"

"Yeah, uh-huh." I say. I stretch and yawn. My watch says 8:30. Oh no! I overslept! I look around desperately for Jack, but he's still not here. Where is he? I wonder.

"Over here." The voice says. It surprises me because it appears to be coming from behind me, but when I turn around there's nobody there.

"Hello? Where are you?" I ask nervously.

"Right in front of your nose." Jack says, materializing from behind one of the trees at the camouflage station. He painted himself into a tree while I slept. I've got to admit he's pretty good at it. His entire body is painted to look like the Pine tree he was standing behind.

"Not bad. Better than I could do." I praise.

"Thanks, but if you don't mind, I'm going to postpone our training session a little to change my clothes." Jack says, heading toward the elevator.

While he's gone, I fly through the edible plants test again. When he comes back, I show him how to do it. The first time he does terrible, so the second time through I take time to explain what each plant is, and what their affects are. The third time he does much better but still lists some poisonous plants as edible.

I leave him at the edible plant station and return to the knot tying station. I renew my efforts to make the trap that can impale what it catches. After a few tries Jack joins me.

"You're not putting enough pressure on the branch so it's not being released with enough force. You might want to try using Yew instead of Pine, it can bend farther without breaking." Jack suggests. I do as he suggests and find that it works. We tackle a few other traps and snares. Jack points out my flaws and how to fix them. The kid really has a way with traps. He even thinks of a few new ones.

We call it quits at about 11:15 and just in time too. Again Jewel and Velvet are the first to arrive, and the other Careers aren't long in joining them. We don't wait for the other Tributes to arrive but head straight to the archery and spear throwing stations.

My archery is too good to pretend I'm bad; I'll look like I'm missing on purpose, which I am. Instead I work on spear throwing. Jack joins me, and to my utter annoyance so does Cecilia. Cecilia does better than me because she can put more strength behind the throws. Again I make sure I'm off center by just a bit. Jack gives me a look that says he realizes I'm missing on purpose. He himself is hitting the targets off center, though for him it's not on purpose. He's putting quite a bit of power behind his throws and more times than not, the spears almost go clean through the dummies. I don't suggest that he move farther back because Cecilia is watching us. But after a while he moves back anyway.

I notice out of the corner of my eye that both Sus and Cole are headed toward the ropes station. I realize now is my best chance to talk to them.

"Hey Jack! You may be good at tossing axes but can you climb?" I ask.

"Of course I can!" He replies, confused.

"Race you to the top of the climbing ropes then!" I shout. I dash toward the ropes and look back to check if he's following me. Luckily he is. I dash behind the ropes and almost collide with Sus.

"Sorry!" I say. Just then, Jack dashes around the corner and into me. What happens is a domino effect, Jack trips and falls on me, I fall on Sus, and Sus falls on a very bewildered Cole who has just appeared from the opposite side. We all fall in a heap. I pick myself up and help jack to his feet. Cole gets up on his own but Sus remains sitting. Sus looks terrified but I don't know why. Oh yeah, we're Careers, big scary killing machines. No wonder she's frightened, I would be too in her case.

Cole looks like he's about to run for it, so I cry, "Wait! I just want to talk to you!" He steps back warily and the look he gives me is full of doubt.

"What are you talking about?" Jack asks.

"I want to talk to all of you. That's why when I saw Sus and Cole heading over here, I dared you to follow me over here too. You have to admit it was a pretty slick move to get you over here without alerting the others." I explain.

"Yeah, but that still doesn't explain why you want to talk to us." Jack says.

Sus must have realized we don't mean any immediate harm because she crawls slowly to her feet. I can tell that both she and Cole are curious.

"I might as well get it out in the open. I want us four to be allies." I say. I've shocked them, now I've just got to explain. I continue, "I had an idea a few nights ago. At first it was just going to be Cole, Sus, and I, but I've decided to trust Jack too. The plan was that I would pretend to join the Careers and then later meet up with you."

"Why would you do that? Why not just join the Careers and kill us?" Cole asks doubtfully.

"Because I hate the Careers, except for Jack of course. I don't know what it is, you three just appeal to me." I explain.

"Then why join the Careers at all?" Sus asks.

To my surprise, I's Jack who answers, "Because of the supplies."

"I still don't understand." Sus says.

"The blood bath is because of the supplies. The Careers will take control of the supplies. If Jack and I are with the Careers we'll have access to the supplies. We can steal some of the supplies and destroy the rest. The Careers will be helpless without those supplies.

"Also, we can protect you. If we're with the Careers then we can prevent them from hurting you. We'll make sure you can get away from the blood bath. It'll help that you won't need to go in for supplies. If they get on your trail we can divert them, and if they get to close we can distract them. Plus, the Careers will likely camp near and control the main water supplies. We can sneak purified water to you when they're not looking." I explain.

"I guess that makes sense, but I hope you can see why we don't trust you." Sus says.

"Well this is news to me too so if she's playing us then the jokes on me too. From what I've seen though, Meridina hates the other Careers as much as I do." Jack adds. I'm glad he's supporting me since I did pop this on him unexpectedly.

"I think this might just work. It would mean going from having no chance to having half a chance." Cole says.

"Where's my proof that you won't double cross us? That you're not just luring us into an elaborate trap?" Sus asks.

"Well we'd ask you to trust us but I guess that won't work too well would it?" Jack asks, joking.

"This really isn't a joking matter!" I admonish him before continuing, "Maybe we can leave the water and food in a certain spot the first night. Then when you want to talk to us you can come to that spot. We won't ask you where your camp is and we won't ask. After that we can decide on a signal to say that we've left the other Careers and meet you at a predetermined location. The location and the symbol will depend on the arena so, we can decide on it later."

"That might just work. We can just hide from you if we don't trust you. At least this way we have an out if we want." Sus says.

"Well I'm in if you all are." Jack says.

"I do see many reasons why not, but I'm in too." Sus agrees.

"Fine," Cole agrees.

"Then it's settled." I say. I'm relieved that they agreed instead of thinking I'm crazy.

"We better get back. We've been gone long enough to climb this thing ten times." Jack says.

"Alright, and you two don't forget the plan. You've each got skills that will help you survive. We'll see you later!" I say, before following Jack back to the spear throwing station.

"What took so long?" Cecilia asks.

"Yeah, and who won?" Velvet adds.

"I won of course. All District 4 kids can do is swim. Shrimp here got tangled in the net on the way back down. I had to help her get untangled because she was blocking me from climbing down." Jack lies. None of them ask any more questions and we go back to training.

The rest of training goes quickly. Lunch's meaningless and full of laughter. I continue pretending I'm worse than I am when I'm around the Careers, and I continue to help Jack when the others aren't around.

The next morning I meet Jack early for survival training. I teach him about edible food, and he gives me pointers on my traps and snares. When the others arrive I fall into the same routine.

Lunch is different today. The talk is still meaningless and we continue to joke, but the atmosphere is more strained. Everyone is slightly nervous about the private sessions even if they don't show it. My score will decide how many sponsors I get. I've been hiding my talents so far, but this is my chance to shine. Consequently, we start betting on what scores we'll get.

"I bet I'll get the highest score." Brutus brags.

"No way, that'll be Velvet or maybe Vince." Jack says.

"I bet it'll be Vince." Jewel says. I have to try hard not to snort at that. She's made it clear that she fancies Vince. Even Cecilia has backed off and given her a clear shot at him. You can have him! I think.

"Well I think I'll do better than you and Jack." Cecilia says.

"That's probably true. I'll probably get the lowest score out of all of us." Jack says.

"Nonsense!" Jewel says.

"About me beating you or about Jack being the lowest?" Cecilia asks.

"Both!" Jewel replies.

"Jack's right about Cecilia beating you. He's wrong, however, about him being lowest. I'll be the lowest." I say.

"Well at least I'll beat you and Jack!" Jewel says.

"I think we can agree that Meridina will be the lowest and Jack will be second lowest." Velvet says irritably.

Just then, Velvet is called in to his private session. After that we all wait in silence for our names to be called. When my name is called Jack gives me a reassuring smile and squeezes my hand gently.

I walk confidently through the door. Thankfully the Gamemakers have only been here a short time and seen some impressive Tributes, so they still have enough interest to pay attention as I walk in.

I don't know what to start with and I stand in the middle of the room facing the Gamemakers. These people will decide our fate inside the games so maybe I should let them decide what they want to see.

"Excuse me, but what would you like me to do to prove I'm worthy of a high score?" I ask. They seemed shocked that I asked them instead of deciding myself. Then one middle aged man who is covered in gold and silver from his clothes to his skin, hair, and makeup, stands up to address me. I recognize him as Quazar Napaltin, the Head Gamemaker.

"A high score requires great talent, but I see that you are unafraid to shoot for the stars. A perfect score will require a perfect performance, and some originality." He says.

I nod, and for good measure, give a small bow. I take aside some of the trainers and give them instructions on what I want them to do. I place all of the equipment where I want it. I'm a performer on a stage and my career depends on the critic's review, I tell myself. I return to the center and give a bow. Show time!