A/N: I think it's been weeks since I updated this… shit sorry guys L I got caught up in my Lost story, which was supposed to be just a distraction but turned into something more (While I'm talking about it why don't you all check it out :P I'm accepting freighter OCs ;)) and then I wrote my cousins Inception birthday story (Who knows when that will be updates, of course check it out and leave reviews :P)… so yeah neither of those are really good excuses, but I'm leaving work on Wednesday so more free time! Which translates into MORE UPDATES! So anyway I just wanted to let you all know I'm so sorry and I'm trying something new with this chapter. The reaping part will be sort of a memory, I'm going to be focusing more on after the reaping, because these two Tributes have an interesting relationship

Everleigh Lancast sat silently in the white room of the Justice Building. The District seven reaping had just happened. And it was just her luck that she was called.

Everleigh wasn't a fighter, and this day couldn't have gotten much worse. It was raining when she woke up, down pouring. The rain had traveled from District six, where it had just rained last night. Everleigh had hopped it would hold off to at least after the reapings, because at least then while she watched the poor tributes being called she would be dry. Of course like everything that day so far, she wasn't watching the reaping from the crowd. No, she was watching it from the sopping stage in her soaking red dress, next to the unusually peppy Capitol girl as she called off the next Tribute. Ever stared at her reflection in a growing puddle by her feet. Her oval chocolate eyes were swimming in the pool of tanned skin that was her face. Her full lips wobbled around in the water's reflection and her curly brown hair was flat on her oval head. She was so caught up in how horrid she must look on TV she almost missed the name being called. She wished she had missed the name. That would have made things easier. If she hadn't heard the name, a cry wouldn't have escaped her lips, she wouldn't have looked right into the camera will a look of fear. She might have preserved some aura of mystery and dignity around her. But instead she hears the name.

"Zane Jennet!" Cried the Capitol woman. Zane Jennet was extremely handsome, 5"11 tanned 17 year old boy. He was wearing tennis shoes, blue jeans and plain grey t-shirt that stuck to his body, his clear muscles protruded from the shirt. His coal black hair was also pinned against his head and his dark, almost black eyes stared right at Ever. That boy, Zane Jennet was her boyfriend. She expected him to go over and hug her, or at least give her a look of comfort. Instead Zane stared straight ahead into the camera, it was as if he never knew her. As if their relationship never happened, he paid absolutely no attention to Everleigh. She forced herself to hold her jaw together, in fear that it might drop because of the lack of recognition

As Ever remembered this mornings past events she shook with silent tears. She blinked the tears from her chocolate eyes. The white door opened quickly, Ever looked up, she expected to see Zane, but it wasn't him, it was her two sisters, Teylor and Sunny. Both of them came walking in, their hair dripped on the soft plush carpet. Teylor was 19, the oldest, kind of like a second mom to Ever. She was so happy once Teylor had turned 19 and couldn't be called anymore for the games. That meant that she only had to worry for Sunny. However she'd be worrying for only a few days longer.

"Hey you two…" She smiled. Teylor took in a deep breath before walking over to Ever.

"You know that if I was still 18, I would have volunteered…" Teylor explained. "You have no idea how much it killed me to watch you up there. I wanted to do something, I really did. But I couldn't."

"I understand. But I need you to know something, both of you," She added as Sunny moved to the back of the room. "I'm not a killer."

"No, of course not. I know you're not," Teylor exclaimed.

"No, I know you know. But that's not exactly what I need to tell you. These games are designed to make people pay for disrespecting the Capitol, and what better way to punish each other than making them kill each other right?" Ever waited until realization dawned on both her sisters' faces. "There's a reason why the careers win ever year. It's not just because they have been trained, it's because they're okay will killing. I'm not okay with killing. I don't want to have to kill anyone… I know how that limits my chances of winning. But I will do anything else to come back home."

"But you will come back right?" Sunny asked as she moved closer to Ever. Ever gave a small smile back,

"Like I said, I'll do almost anything to come home."

"But you have Zane to protect you, right" Asked Sunny. Ever smiled as an automatic response. Inside her heart pounded. She remembered the cold reaping, how Zane refused to look at her at all. Maybe he was afraid to show weakness, it had to be for their sake. If he looked strong nobody would mess with them right? Even as she thought it Ever realized how ridiculous that sounded.

"Right," Everleigh laughed, "I'll always have Zane… you two should probably go now. The Peacekeepers will be coming back anytime now."

"You're right…" Teylor paused. She didn't know what to say. "I'll see you…eventually." As Sunny left the room Ever stood up and grabbed Teylor's arm.

"I need you to promise me something."

"Anything Ever," Teylor said slightly confused.

"When watch the games. When it shows me and… and it looks like I'm not going to make it. Distract her. Distract Sunny. I don't want her to see me die."

"You don't know that they'll show you're death. I mean sometimes you never know whose dead until the night."

"That only happens when the careers massacre the others. You know that. Promise me Teylor. Promise me you won't let her see me die. I don't think I could ever… move on… if I thought she saw me suffer." Teylor glanced at the door then back at Ever.

"Okay. I will, but you have to promise me something." Ever smiled and looked down,

"What"

"Don't let Zane hold you back."

"What?" Exclaimed Everleigh. Her brown eyes widened in shock.

"You know what I mean Ever. I know you think he's all you have, especially now. But he's not. And you should know he wants to win as much as anyone else. And he will use you Ever. He will use you until there's nothing left. You need to be prepared to leave him. You are just as much of a weapon as anything else in that arena to him. Understand?"

"You're being insane Teylor! Can you just go?" Ever asked as she turned around. There was silence and then the patter of footsteps as Teylor left. That really was it. Zane was all she had left.

Zane sat and waited. He knew nobody was coming, he told his friends not too. Zane waited on an off white couch for the Peacekeepers to escort him out. He was tempted to go over there and just tell him to take him to train now. Why should he prolong the inevitable? He was going to win. Sure, the Ever problem was just a small mishap. She would do anything for him, it was brilliant really, her love for him. In all honesty though, Ever would most likely just hold him back, she proved it after the reaping.

Zane watched as Ever was called. He was surprised nobody even considered volunteering. Maybe he didn't truly care for Ever, but even she didn't deserve this. He felt bad for the male tribute. If they considered allying themselves with her she would slow them down. Zane ran his fingers through his coal colored hair as the rain continued to pour over the population of District Seven. The rain was supposed to empty out over District Seven. Apparently it really was doing just that. District Eight would have cloudy skies at the most. Well aren't they lucky? Zane thought with distain. The peppy Capitol woman caught his eye as she made her way back to the microphone to call the next Tribute.

"Zane Jennet!" She called. Zane didn't even hesitate as he shoved his way through the crowd. His brain was racing through situations of how he could die because of Ever in the games. He stood tall next to the woman and stared straight into the cameras, as if daring anyone not to take him seriously. He saw Ever out of the corners of his eye, pleading, no begging for some sign of recognition. He had bigger worries than how she felt right now. Like was he going to keep her around or leave her to die? As the woman finished up her speech Zane decided on keeping her around. At least for now, if for nothing else she'll make a good human shield.

When the Peacekeepers finally came to collect Zane, he couldn't have wished it were sooner. This whole process was unnecessarily drawn out. As he walked to the train holding a black umbrella he noticed no reporters,

The rain must be too much for them. He thought as he climbed onto the Tribute train. He was lead to a small room with a TV; it wasn't a bedroom, more like a meeting room. The previous district reapings were playing. Zane smirked at the weak looking boy from District Six as the door to the room opened. Everleigh came running in. She threw herself on to him and hugged him desperately. He just sat there; the District Eight reapings were starting. The Capitol representative was making her speech, but he could barley here her over Everleigh.

"I was so worried about you!" She insisted as she sat next to him, her eyes were locked onto his profile.

"Don't be, I'll be fine." She waited for a reassurance about herself, but Zane gave none. Everleigh watched as Zane's eyes glued themselves to the television. The first tribute had been called. Her name was Cyrah Blaine. She had long black hair and fierce eyes.

"She looks tough," Ever commented.

"Yes, she definitely does." Zane would have to check this girl out later. She looked like she could make a good alliance; well anyone would make a better alliance than Ever. Cyrah Blaine, that was a name he would have to remember. Zane witched the television off just as the announcer was about to call the boys name. He stood up without a word and approached the door. He awkwardly turned around and glanced at Ever. "I'm going to bed. You should get some rest too; you have to look strong tomorrow. To make up for the reaping. The games haven't even started and you've already given both of us a disadvantage. Thanks for that," he quipped as he stalked out of the room. Ever watched as he left. She had already caused him trouble before the games. What would happen in the games? As she walked to her room on the train, Ever started to let the tears fall. According to Zane this was her only chance to cry. She was going to let it all out.