I sighed as I awoke to find Hero had returned to his room, but thinking about it, it was probably a wise move. The last thing we wanted was our mentors ranting about how obvious we were about our relationship. I sighed again and swiftly showered and dressed in my training uniform, yawning as I entered the dining area. Tiara and Penelope were already seated, but Dazzle had yet to make an appearance. I knew that he loved sleeping in even more than I did.
"Nice of you to join us," said Tiara shortly. "Sit."
I glared at her before slowly taking a seat. I grabbed a slice of warm, golden toast and thrust it into my starving mouth.
Penelope winced at my greed, and I shot her a wide, open-mouthed grin to repulse her even more. I just loved being so funny sometimes. Dazzle joined us, rubbing his tired eyes before winking at Penelope, who blushed as she realised she'd been staring at him.
"So, the Private Sessions are taking place this afternoon," Tiara began, closing the newspaper she'd been pretending to read.
"I'm aware," I replied, flicking a crumb across the table at Dazzle. Dazzle grinned and flicked it back, and so a game of crumb-flicking commenced as Tiara launched into a massive, unnecessary explanation.
"Would you stop being so childish?" Penelope snapped whilst adding another spoonful of sugar to her tea.
"Oh, would you look at the time?" I said, mocking dissappointment. "It appears as if Dazzle and I might have to do something useful instead of listening to Tiara inform us of what weapons we have to use, because we clearly wouldn't have had an idea without her wonderful mentoring."
Tiara stared daggers into my back as Dazzle and I got up and left, and I fought the urge to blow her a kiss. Probably wouldn't be a clever thing to do.

The final morning of training wasn't as eventful as yesterday's, fortunately, so I could focus on getting some last-minute practise before meeting the Gamemakers this afternoon. Today, Opal announced that we'd be facing the Gauntlet, a daunting obstacle course that consisted of ascending platforms that rose up to a landing. The idea was that us Tributes were to try and reach the end of the Gauntlet with the fastest time possible whilst avoiding the trainers below, who swung padded clubs. I smiled slightly, it seemed like a challenge.
We lined up in district order, meaning I was to go first. Oh, joy. I eyed up the first platform, and prepared to show the Gamemakers above that I could move.
"Go!" Opal boomed.
I leapt forward into a fast, elegant run, pounding my powerful arms in order to gain speed. I sprang in a rather feline fashion onto the first platform, jumping high in order to avoid a trainer who swept his club across in an attempt to trip me. I continued onto the next platform, and the next, and I noticed that the platforms got steeper each time. I was about halfway when a trainer suddenly clambered onto my platform with two clubs, one of which was tossed to me, and due to my quick reflexes I thankfully caught it, and lunged. I evaded her attack, and jabbed the handle viciously into that sensitive spot in her lower-back. The trainer let out a pained cry, winded, and fell clumsily to the rubber matting below us. I almost winced, that looked like it hurt. I quickly continued up the Gauntlet, dodging each trainer with ease, before reaching the final platform, where a trainer sprang out from nowhere and hit me in the ankle. I stumbled and almost lost my balance, before landing a brutal kick on the trainer's hand, causing him to yelp and drop his club. I winked at him cheekily before bounding onto the landing platform, where Opal clapped me on the back.
"A wonderful time of twenty-three seconds!" she exclaimed. "Well done, Shine!"
I grinned heartily at her before returning to the line to see Hero.
"How was that?" I asked him, smiling flirtatiously and turning to watch Dazzle.
"OK," Hero replied bluntly, deliberately trying to annoy me. I frowned. Oh, Hero, I never tire of your moodswings.
"Fine," I grumbled, marching over to the axe station. "You do better."
Turns out, he did better. Hero beat me by a fraction, his time being twenty-two seconds. I scowled as he sauntered over with a huge, shit-eating grin that I wanted to slap straight from his face.
"Loser," he chanted childishly, making an L-shape with his fingers and thrusting it in my face. I swiped his hand away and scowled at the ground, refusing to meet his mocking eyes.
"Big deal," I grumbled. I may have been overreacting, but winning was a big thing for me, in case you hadn't noticed. Losing wasn't an option for the Onyx-Platinum's, something that'd been carved into my brain since I could toddle.
Suddenly, Ashlar began to scream with laughter, and my head snapped up just in time to see Gwenith from District 9 get swept up by a trainer's club, and plummet downwards until she face-planted the mat with a sickening squelch.
I instantly burst into giggles, leaning into Dazzle as he too roared with laughter.
"I hope you have decent stylists!" Hero exclaimed. "You're gonna need 'em!"
Barric, Gwenith's partner, who was currently trying to console her, shot Hero a murderous glare, but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
Hero seemed to grow in size beside me, and I could almost feel the testosterone in the air.
"Calm down," I said softly, regaining my composure and laying my hand on Hero's shoulder. The Careers were already gaining a reputation of being too vicious. It wouldn't be long before the Gamemakers decided we had too much of an advantage over the others. I couldn't risk our safety.
I tensed, backtracking rapidly. Our. It occured to me with a wave of panic that it was no longer my safety that mattered to me, but our. Ashlar, you eithed loved her or you hated her. She was rather unstable, manic and fiesty, but who couldn't be? In truth, she did get on my nerves, but I admired her passion. Dazzle, my only friend. Looking at him now, taunting the others waiting for their turn, I realised how important he was to me. We were so, so alike. I probably felt this way because I saw a lot of myself in him. And Hero. Need I say more? This boy had become the most important person in my life, beating even my father, in a matter of days. The beauty from District 1 was mooning over the beast from District 2. Who'd have thought? I couldn't believe I'd thought something selfless. It was a shocking change of character. The Games must be changing me, and hopefully for the better.
Bay and Cordelia, who I'd learned preferred to be called Lia, wandered over. They'd both gotten OK times, not as good as the rest of us, but still OK. I thought they might be the first to go among the Careers, but I reminded myself to never underestimate my opponent. It was possibly the most important lesson you learnt at the Academy.
"Hi guys," said Lia in that gentle, wispy voice of hers. "Did you see Gwenith's accident?"
"Yes," replied Ashlar, her tone contrasting strongly against Lia's as it was fierce and abrupt. "It was fucking hilarious!"
Bay frowned, clearly irritated by Ashlar's cruelty, but wisely chose not to say anything. I raised my eyebrows at him and smiled as if to say 'learn to live with it, bro'.

I pranced into the gym, and gave the Gamemakers my most winning, confident smile. "Ladies and gentleman, my name is Shine Onyx-Platinum, but of course, you already know that," I announced brightly, giving them a cheeky wink at the end.
Many chuckled, some just leaned forward eagerly. I grinned and sashayed over to the axe station. Prepare to be wowed, you revolting Capitolites.

Later, once the Private Sessions were over and done with, Dazzle and I sat with nervous anticipation waiting for the scores to be announced with Tiara, Penelope, Flossie and Magenta, Dazzle's stylist.
"First, Ms. Onyx-Platinum, who gave our Gamemakers quite the show," said Pierce Flickerman with a smile, the presenter of the Games who hosted the Interviews. He was old now, bordering on ancient, but he had a natural talent for the cameras and could do his job extremely well. "With a score of... 10."
I grinned broadly, relief surging over me like a tidal wave. "Good job, Shine," said Tiara quietly as Penelope and Flossie shrieked with excitement.
"Next, Dazzle Argentum, with another wonderful score of 10," Pierce went on.
"Nice one, Dazz," I whispered to him as Penelope relished in the opportunity to smother him with hugs.
"Champagne! Bring us champagne!" Flossie squealed. I shushed her firmly, eager to hear what scores the rest of the Careers got. Ashlar earned a 9, which was decent, and I crossed my fingers as Pierce got to announcing Hero's score, willing him to do well.
"Hero Travertine, with an excellent score of... 11!"
I gasped and began to clap delightedly, much to the surprise of my team. I blushed slightly as Tiara pierced me with one of her deathglares.
Cordelia and Bay both earned scores of 8, which wasn't too bad. To my frustration, so did Clio, Flax and Angus, whilst Wagen earned a fucking 9. The only other score worth noticing was Amber's, the crafty girl, who earned a 7. I vowed to watch what she did at the Cornucopia, but I'd already guessed she'd instantly flee. She was too smart. Way too smart.
Part of me screamed to go and congratulate Hero, but I couldn't handle the grief I'd get from Tiara if I left now. So I used my brain before my body, for once.
"Tiara, why don't you invite the Career districts down so we can celebrate together?" I asked sweetly. "You know, to honor this year's Career alliance."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea!" Penelope gushed before Tiara could answer. "I'll send for them right away."
I gave Penelope a huge peck on the cheek before racing into my room to change. Tonight would be a night to remember, that's for sure.