Luke was left, the next hour or so after Finn left, sitting with Opal. She wasn't the best company, but she was the only other person Luke knew. Although he wouldn't exactly parade around telling people he knew her, because he'd like to keep their sort of friendship a secret. Let's just say Opal wasn't the most entertaining girl around.

"And then my mom said that I am a sure winner, especially between the two of us. I'm sure to gain more sponsors because I am gorgeous and have a great personality. You on the other hand are as dry as a stick and the black hair-blue eye thing is so cliché…" Opal didn't know how to stop talking once she started and Luke could really care less about what she was saying. Even though her mother did tell her that she would beat Luke anytime, she had also told Luke that her daughter probably wouldn't last too long. And Luke saw where Xenia was coming from. Opal was not fighting material.

"Opal I really don't care," Luke said quietly, knowing she wouldn't hear him. And of course she didn't and just continued on talking about everything and anything. Luke was actually thankful when the man in a suit showed up to take him away.

Luke was so happy to be away from Opal's constant chatter that he actually smiled to see all the Gamemakers watching his every move. Luke had both a blessing and a curse when it came to the Gamemakers. They saw a lot of potential in the boy that they would surly have their full attention on him, but they also expected a lot out of him. A lot they expected, a lot they were going to get.

Before Luke went over to the weapons and other stations, he decided to run laps around the gym. Not only would it awaken his muscles but it would also show how fast he was. Although most people thought the Gamemakers only cared about proficiency with a weapon, Luke knew they also wanted to see the tributes speed, his stamina.

After running five laps in five minutes, Luke came to a stop. He was slightly panting, but barely. The Gamemakers noticed that and wrote something down on their clip boards. Luke flashed them all a smile and then jogged over to the maces. He grabbed one of the heavier ones without ease and smashed the dummy over the head with it, causing it to explode. That made Luke wonder what material it was. Instead of pondering Luke continued to smash the rest of the dummy until the entire body exploded after three large hits.

The Gamemakers whispered to each other and then nodded to Luke, dismissing the boy.

Jai sat all alone in the lunchroom, sometimes looking over to where Lilli sat. She was also alone, all of her Career buddies already long gone. Once in a while Jai would look up to see Lilli looking at him with guilty eyes. He would look back down immediately, forgetting he saw anything.

Jai sighed and laid his head down on the table. He still couldn't believe Lilli just left him. He thought that they had connections. He had helped her enough times already that he thought they were already allies. Jai guessed that help only goes so far.

Jai glanced up at Lilli again, seeing that she was looking at him again. She had tried to explain a couple nights before that she was only with the Careers for safety. She had seen what had happened when Finn and Cow Boy denied their offer, and she really didn't want someone after her so soon. Jai smiled a fake smile back at her and told her it was okay. It was a lie he had been telling himself ever since she joined the Careers. He was okay, he was going to be okay, and everything was okay. Sure, Cad and Ezekiel were great allies but Jai could see them running off together as soon as something threatened one of their lives. They were a team, and Jai was just a tag along.

But then again, the twins had seemed to be looking up to him the past couple days. They had asked him where he wanted to practice, what he wanted to do. And they had watched his every move, trying to hit the target just like he had. It made no sense to Jai, why would they look up to him? But maybe they weren't looking up to the small boy; maybe they were just learning his moves so they would know the best way to kill him.

Jai sighed again and looked at Lilli; she was still staring at him. He wanted to tell her to stop, he didn't need her pity, but he didn't get the time. Instead a very bored man called his name, taking the small boy away.

...

In the gymnasium, Jai felt extremely small. Sure, he usually felt small, but it was worse then. Being all alone in that giant room while a group of people watched your every move kind of made you feel that way. Jai gulped and headed to the first station. It was the archery station, something he wasn't horrible at. He slowly picked up the bow and one of the arrows, his shaking hands making it hard to put the butt of the arrow in the right position. Once he got it, he nervously shot without looking. Sadly, Jai's arrow only hit the outer white of the target.

That's okay, there's always the next station, Jai thought to himself and jogged over to the swords. Again, this wasn't a weapon he was bad at but he wasn't good with them either. Jai weighed the sword in his left hand and then swung it around a little. He knew it wasn't very impressive from the bored faces of the Gamemakers. Jai gulped as he headed towards the knives. Now he was good with these. His siblings used to make him place this game with knives. It had to do with throwing knives and stabbing close objects and cutting rope. Jai smiled at the memory.

The Gamemakers were a little more impressed as they watched Jai jump around the room stabbing, jabbing and cutting various objects. Jai hoped that they would enjoy it enough to give him a score over five, but it was pretty doubtful. But there was nothing more for Jai to do, so the Gamemakers dismissed him.

Lilli felt so guilty for joining the Careers. Not only because she left Jai, but because of what she would end up doing to everyone. The Careers were vicious killers, always out for the blood of their fellow tributes. Although Lilli knew killing was a major part of the Games, she really wanted to avoid it. She had hoped that joining the Careers would get her out of murder, but they seemed to have another idea. They had all planned out who would kill who. It gave Lilli nightmares when she thought of her fellow allies. They seemed to not care about anyone else at all. Lilli guessed that was a good thing, it would be easier to kill them, but she couldn't help but feel bad for everyone. They were all thrown into this mess for the same reason. They all had families back home and futures they were supposed to live. Lilli sighed as she looked around at the last of the other tributes.

There were only five of them left in the lunchroom and Lilli was the only one alone. The District 12 tributes stuck together, always touching each other and stealing kisses. The District 13 tributes, both whom frightened Lilli, sat far apart but still talking. Lilli felt so alone sitting in the same room as them.

She also felt awkward sitting with them; remembering how and when the Careers wanted them to die. They had planned that they would kill the District 12 boy after the Capitol tributes got rid of the girl. The Careers knew that the District 12 tributes had some giant grudge against the Capitol kids, and wouldn't stop until their blood ran. The Careers didn't think they'd be able to kill Salvius and Cressida though, but Lilli thought otherwise. Doom seemed strong and Lilli knew she'd cower in fear if he came after her. Lilli shivered at the thought.

And then there were the mysterious District 13 citizens. The twelve year old girl, Noni, seemed to be easier to rid of than he counterpart. Nicholas was freaky, his lanky figure seeming almost snake like. He looked sneaky, manipulative and utterly terrifying. Even sitting with the small girl, a smirk evident on his face, he looked petrifying. The Careers hadn't really discussed how they would kill him, they seemed almost as frightened. And who could blame them?

"Girl, their summoning you," Nicholas' deep voice sounded from behind Lilli. Her eyes widened at the sound and she jumped forward out of her seat, her heart pounding in her chest. Nicholas smirked at Lilli and then pointed behind her where an impatient man stood waiting. Lilli blushed and ran over to the man, following him into the arena.

…

Lilli kept her head high as she pranced gracefully around the gymnasium. Most tributes took the private training session as a time to show off their skills to the Gamemakers, but Lilli saw it as a different opportunity. Sure, they were analyzing the tributes skills and strengths but Lilli knew they were watching for something else. They were watching for their attitude, their defiance, and their brain power. So while Lilli was going to show her skills with a bow and arrow she was also going to give them a glimpse into her mind.

Lilli didn't like using weapons, especially the one she was best at, but the Gamemakers liked it when the tribute had a favorite weapon. Sadly, for Lilli, the bow and arrow was also Katniss's weapon. Lilli grimaced at the thought of the traitor, but picked up the bow anyways.

It was lighter than the one she had ever used before, probably made out of a special alloy, but it didn't throw Lilli off. Instead she loaded the bow and aimed at the target. Before she shot, Lilli glimpsed over at the Gamemakers. All of them were looking forward at Lilli, looking bored as they waited for the small girl to shoot. Quickly, before anyone could react, Lilli turned her position to be pointed up at the roof. She quickly shot the arrow, hitting a light bulb just as she hoped she would. The bulb exploded, sending chards of glass everywhere. Lilli smirked and looked over at the Gamemakers. They looked just as bored as before, as if they were expecting a move like that. Lilli's heart sunk as they dismissed her. So much for brainpower.

"I guess I'm next," Doom smirked as he lay back in his chair, pulling Josie along with him. Josie looked up at him with her sly smile as she leaned in to kiss the boy. So far, Doom had been enjoying the Games. With Josie by his side (and in his bed) he forgot about Sarah… almost. She was still in his dreams, her face in pain as Doom told her he didn't love her. Sometimes he'd have nightmares about how she must've felt when she was watching the parade and Doom and Josie's kiss.

"How long do you think that girls gonna be in?" Josie asked her partner and tilted her head up at him. Doom shrugged.

"Dunno. Can't be too long; doesn't look like much of a fighter." Josie snorted at Doom's comment.

"She's with the Careers, babe. Can't be bad," Josie pointed out. Again Doom shrugged but this time pulled Josie in for a kiss. Doom didn't want to admit it, but he was getting annoyed with Josie. She always acted as if their relationship was real, as if they "loved" each other. She would talk about their futures as if they would both make it home to District 12. And she tried to act as if she was right, when truthfully a girl like her could never be right. Most girls couldn't be right when arguing with a man, except Sarah. She was an exception for every sexist thought that went through Doom's head.

"You're wrong," Doom said nonchalantly. Josie sat up to look him in the eye, wondering why he would disagree with her. Josie was a pretty independent woman, and just as stubborn as Doom.

"Because you just are. End of discussion," Doom said and pulled Josie back in for a kiss. Josie tried to resist at first, making Doom's face flare with anger. She sighed and gave into the kiss afterwards, not wanting to make her partner any angrier. Doom smiled to himself as he kissed Josie's roughly; he could get anything he wants.

…

After five minutes into their kiss, Doom was called to the gymnasium. Once he got there, he got right to business. He had a lot to show the Gamemakers and wasn't going to miss out on the opportunity.

First thing he did was go to the knives. They weren't his favorite weapon but he sure was good with them. As he practiced and showed off with them, he pretended Katniss was the dummy he was stabbing. He stabbed the eyes, the chest and everywhere that he knew would hurt. It made him happy, in a creepy, sadistic way.

After he annihilated the "Katniss" dummy with his knives he jogged over the rope section. Usually the other tributes would practice making snares and other little traps, but Doom had another idea. He pulled two dummies over, one for each of the Capitol tributes, and garroted them until their heads snapped off. It didn't take very long and again the killing made Doom excited. He couldn't wait to kill actual humans, actually Capitol children.

Doom turned to look at the Gamemakers after he was down, only to see all of them with perplexed expressions on their faces. They looked proud of Doom, but also a little frightened. Just the way he wanted them.

Nicholas and Noni were the only tributes left in the lunchroom. Noni was prancing around the room with everyone being gone, saying the first thing that came to her mind when Nicholas shouted each of the other tributes names.

"Velour," Nicholas shouted with a smile on his face.

"Full of himself, arrogant, soon-to-be-dead loser," Noni shouted back.

"Doom."

"Arrogant, full of himself, soon-to-be-dead loser," Noni shouted with a giggle. Nicholas smiled a bit too before yelling the next name.

"D," he said, loving the way her name sounded coming out of his mouth. Nicholas never thought he'd fall for someone so fast, but D was special. She was smart, brave, strong and perfect. Nicholas only wished they had met under different circumstances.

"Beautiful, brave, soon-to-be Mrs. Michiko," Noni giggled and fell down in front of Nicholas in a bow. Nicholas was surprised with Noni. When they had first met, he thought she was an annoying, runt that would be better dead. After getting to know her a bit and getting past her nasally voice, she was a cool kid. She was still annoying as hell, but cool.

"Why thank you Miss. Noni," Nicholas laughed and put his arm around the girl to bring her in to sit with him. Noni sat down without hesitation, cuddling into Nicholas's side. Nicholas had to admit, he never expected to be sitting with a twelve year old girl at the Games.

"Doom Michiko," the man who had called everyone else said as he appeared in the doorway. Nicholas nodded and stood up.

"Good luck," Noni smiled to the older boy. Nicholas nodded back to her and followed the man into the gymnasium.

In the gymnasium Nicholas put up his black hood, as if to seem more intimidating. The Gamemakers all looked back at him with blank expressions. No one knew how to act around a District 13 citizen, and that's the way Nicholas liked it. Better they be scared than not.

Nicholas slowly walked to the knives, throwing them with perfect aim. Forever knives were going to remind him of D. The way she smiled, the way she moved and the way she was. Nicholas threw one last knife, hitting dead center where the heart was.

He turned to look back at the Gamemakers after that, seeing their expressed still the same as before. He didn't know if that meant they approved of his skills, or not. He wasn't too sure, so Nicholas walked over to the camouflage station to mix things up a bit.

Grabbing the red paint, he painted a short sentence onto the wall. He wanted to frighten the Gamemakers even more, hoping that they'd be afraid of Noni too. Once he was done, he stood back to read his handy work.

D 13 WILL ALWAYS LIVE

By the looks on the Gamemakers faces, Nicholas knew he had done a job well done. And with that, he stalked out of the room.

I know I know I lied! This chapter was supposed to be up yesterday but I lied! Instead of finishing it I went and saw 50/50. I know I'm horrible! But it up now :D Hope you liked it! Gosh I really like a lot of the minor characters! You don't even know what I have up my sleeve for them! HEHE

Points

Doom has 29, D has 21, Justice has 17, Lilli has 20, Luke has 29, Jai has 22, Cressida has 29, Finn has 23, Nicholas has 6, and Helen has 28.

Questions

How was this half of the Private Training?

How do you like Noni? What about Opal?

Is Doom too big of a jerk? (He may or may not get better ;D)

Now that we know all of their private training sessions, who's going to get the highest score? Who's going to get the lowest?

Next chapter will be another Katniss/Peeta chapter. After that it will be the interviews!