A/N: *I know it is has been forever seen I last updated. I'm apologize but I have had a hard time lately. One of my family members has been diagnosed with cancer and has been going through chemo and it is had been really hard for everyone. I have been working on the story off and on when I get time. This chapter is longer than most and I actually broke it up into two chapters. You won't get the chariots in this chapter, but before you start throwing tomatoes, you get to see the personalities of a couple of the tributes that will end up being important later on in the story. Enjoy! Xoxo*

As I lay in bed, I let my mind wonder. I didn't want to kill Bryson. I really did not want to be the one that had to kill him. I also don't want to die. It would be easy to just not put up fight in the Cornucopia and go easily. If I died, the only person it would be easier on is me. My sisters and mother couldn't survive. Moira could only do so much. Mom was at an all-time low. Moira would have to raise our sisters alone, while helping mom.

What about Gage? My mind started to wonder. Would he miss me? I pushed it from my thoughts. I could ask him to help my girls, I'm sure he would. From all the footage we watched today, it really was the easiest way to go; dying in the Cornucopia was fast and almost painless. The longer the Games went on, the more painful and horrifying your end would be. I made a vow to myself not to be the brutal killer at the end, who played and toyed with their other prey as so many did. If I was going to be one of the last tributes in the Arena, I didn't want to be one of those crazy, blood-thirsty tributes.

When I woke up, Bravo and Calypso were shuffling around pushing various clothes around my room. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up. Bravo was holding up something that had blue scales on it.

"If that's what you're putting me in tonight, I'd rather go naked." I stated.

"Well good morning sunshine." Bravo stated. "The sequence on it will make your eyes really pop out."

"Look, I've seen the whole 'fish' thing done. In fact, that's all the designers seem to do for my district. Look, do whatever you need to do, but don't make me look like a fish tonight." I told the two of them. Calypso smiled.

"You may want to get up, Sleeping Beauty, if you don't want to look like a mess in front of all the other tributes." Calypso told me. As comfortable as the bed was, I knew she was right. I crawled out of bed.

"Damien and Gage told us that something happened last night and you'd need us this morning to fix you up. Let's see it, then." Bravo said. I pushed my chin up so he could get a clear look at my throat.

"Oh my," Was his response.

"Don't ask," I said before they could question how I got it. The two of them worked their magic on me.

"Here are your regulation training clothes." Calypso said, handing me a dark grey pair of leggings, a black tank top and a grey, zip-up jacket. On the right hand side of the jacket it had the Panem seal on it. On the left hand side, as well as the right side of the sleeve there was a bright yellow 4. I'm guessing Bryson had a similar jumpsuit. I slid them on and assessed myself in the mirror while Bravo was doing my hair. You couldn't even tell that Cordelia wrapped her hands around my neck and dug her fingernails into it last night.

I watched in the mirror as Bravo slicked back my hair into a ponytail. He braided a small section and wrapped it around the elastic band that held my hair in one place. He stuck a couple of pins in it to make it stay.

"There she is, the golden girl of District 4." Calypso said. There was a knock at the door, Damien came in.

"I hope you are ready, it's time to eat then go to training." He stated. Bravo put some finishing touches on me and the four of us went out the door. Damien led us to the breakfast area.

"Don't do anything to provoke Cordelia." Damien told me. My eyes went wide. How could he tell me not to do anything to provoke her?

"Excuse me, I'm the one going in the Games, should you be telling her not to attack me?" I fired back. He glared at me as we arrived at the breakfast area.

I was right, Bryson was in the same grey suit with yellow details. I sat down in the open chair, to my left was Bryson. Damien purposely sat next to me, making sure Cordelia was the further one away from me. You could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"How did everyone sleep last night?" Bryson asked, innocently enough.

"Funny you should ask. Ow," I started. Damien pinched my leg. I swear if everyone was going to keep attacking me, I was going to snap and kill someone before the Games even started.I was glaring at Damien. He shot me a look that told me I needed to keep my mouth shut. I looked at Cordelia, who said nothing. I couldn't read her expression.

"What?" Bryson asked.

"Funny you should ask," I paused. "Because I fell asleep watching that old footage last night," I finished. Out the corner of my eye I could tell Gage was starting at me.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked Bryson, ignoring everyone else.

"Good, I can't believe at how soft the bed is." He said.

"Yeah," I said, nibbling on a piece of bacon. The prep team talked about the party they were at last night, that I clearly had no interest in. Gage had tiny circles under his eyes.

"So, Gage, why do you look so tired?" I asked bluntly.

"I actually didn't get a lot of sleep last night." He replied.

"Why's that?" Bryson asked. I was glad it came from him and not me. If it had, I already know Gage would have shot me one of his 'don't-bother-asking-I'm-not-going-to-tell-you-anyways' looks.

"Out late partying?" I joked.

"Actually, I went to four different parties last night." Gage said. I was stunned. Gage never went to parties. He had once told me he thought they were too stuffy and that women threw themselves at him, in the most disgusting ways. I tried to play off my confusion and shock as curiosity.

"Why would you go to that many parties?" Bryson said, with obvious distain.

"I have a job to do. The more parties I go, the more money I can get for the two of you. That means we can send you more things and hopefully keep you alive longer." He said, shoveling more food in his mouth.

"Oh, well, thank you." Bryson said. Gage was sacrificing to save us. I couldn't look at him, I knew I had been short with him over the last couple of days and here he was trying to help. After eating a fair amount I was just playing with the food leftover on my plate.

"If you two are ready, shall we go to the Training Center?" Lionel asked.

"We shall." Bryson answered, getting up. I followed his lead and got up. Damien and Gage made sure Cordelia and I didn't get close to one another. Whatever, it's not like I would attack her again (that is unless she attacked me first). Our team crammed onto the elevator together.

"Any advice?" I asked them.

"You want to get in good with the Careers."

"Start at separate stations. Meet for your third one and discuss."

"Go to the plant station, it'll tell you what the arena will hold and it'll give us a huge hint how to prepare." I looked at Damien.

"That may be the smartest thing that's come out of your mouth." I told him.

"That's how I won." He said, shrugging his shoulders. I faintly remember Gage telling me that Damien won because so many other tributes died because of eating poisonous animal-mutations and plants. Bryson slid his hand into mine. How was I going to protect him? I remembered the vow I made myself last night.

"You don't have to get together at a station unless you both end up there. Meet back together at lunch." Gage said.

"Go learn to do something you don't know much about. You don't know when you may have to use it." Cordelia stated. I took all of the things they said in. The doors opened and I stepped out of the elevator. Bryson took his hand away from mine as he too stepped out. We started to walk down a hall. We turned right but I noticed that Gage and Lionel weren't following us. I stopped.

"We're not going in training with you." Gage said. My heart sped up; I had always done better when he was there, with me. If I knew Gage was with me, I would be more relaxed, more able to showcase my abilities or in this case hide some of them.

"We will be watching you though." Lionel added. I nodded my head and turned back around. As Bryson and I followed Cordelia and Damien, I slid my hand into his. It was just nerves, I knew he was feeling anxious and terrified and just so overwhelmed, just like me. I knew that's why he had grabbed my hand in the elevator.

Damien stopped outside two blue double doors. He turned around to face us.

"This is it." He started.

"You are Careers whether you want to believe it or not. People know you are dangerous; they know you both have training. I know you each have your own strategy but you have to remember people are always watching you. I won't check in with you at lunch, but I do recommend you two talk then." Damien said.

"We'll see you when you finish training at two." Cordelia said.

"Why so early?" I asked, curious.

"We have to get you ready for the chariot rides." She stated. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't want to look like a damn fish. Can you please make them understand that?" I asked. Bryson chuckled.

"What? Do you want to look like a fish?" I asked him.

"I see your point."

"It's time," Damien said. I squeezed Bryson's hand before letting it fall. Damien opened one door, Cordelia the other.

"Here we go," I said, looking to Bryson. He met my glance and then we walked forward.

"How do you want to play this?" He asked me, as we walked. Other tributes were coming to focus. I tried to correct my posture the best I could.

"I don't know about you, but I'm the best damn thing here." I said, a smirk playing on my lips. He laughed. When we arrived in the middle of the room, where the other tributes were, I know exactly what we looked like: two confident young tributes, arrogant and calm about the Games, so much so that we were actually joking.

I immediately noticed the guy from 1 checked me out. I remembered his name was Gunner. I didn't hesitate to look him up-and-down.. If based on looks alone, he could easily win this. He was easily a solid foot-plus taller than me. I'll admit it, he was gorgeous. He had a chiseled jaw line and prominent cheek bones. I'd have a crush on him if he was from 4. He smiled at me.

There came a scoff from the girl next to him, with the stupid name, Glitter. Really, who names their kid Glitter? I wanted to punch her parents just for naming her that. She had walnut-brown colored hair that was long. Her large-hazel eyes took their time sizing me up. She showed no sign of her opinion of me, on her face. She really was ready for this. I wish somebody else kills her before the two of us tangle. It would be a nasty fight if the two of us met, I could tell just by the look she was giving me.

I have to admit, it was really awkward having us all just stand there. Seeing as how Bryson and I showed up late, all eyes were on us. The boy from 10 was even bigger in person, than he was in the footage. If I thought Gunner could win it based on physical brute strength alone, this kid could give him a run for his money. The girl from 3, who was putting on an 'I'm-smart' attitude, looked like she had a trick or two up her sleeve. You can never count anyone from 3 out, give them anything with technology, we all may as well be as good as dead. I turned to Bryson.

"I wonder if they'll have us jump through hoops." I told him.

"Maybe, then after that, make us swim a lap and do it again." He replied. The two of us were mocking the training we had back home, at school. In school, once a week, this is how they would train us for the Games. We both smiled and chuckled at it.

"Welcome Tributes!" A voice boomed in the room. I looked to my right to see Artimus Potestas. He is the Head Gamemaker this year, which means he is the person responsible for whatever hell awaits us.

"This year, there will be twists and surprises at every corner for the Games. We are excited to have you all here and eager to make this the best Games Panem has ever had. Over the next several hours you are free to use as many stations as you choose. There will be a bell that sounds for lunch, after you are finished eating, you will come back here to train more. Welcome to the Training Center." I wanted to rip the hoop earring out of his eyebrow. If I killed the Head Gamemaker, could the Games go on? I pondered the repercussions I would face, as he walked away in a blood red suit.

"I'm going over to play with the axes. What about you?" Bryson asked. I thought it over. We didn't need to stick together; we could talk about it at lunch. Where would I go for my first station?

"Snares," I concluded. I knew how to set up simple ones but I wanted a better knowledge.

"See you at lunch?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.

"See you then," He replied, walking away. I walked over to the snare station. I was the first one there. The 'expert' was impressed with my basic training. I silently thanked Gage for that. This expert guy taught me a couple of more advanced things to try. I was sitting Indian-style on the ground, twisting and turning wires to the best of my ability with just my hands. I was concentrating so much, I had heard someone come next to me, but didn't realize it the flower-girl from 6. The expert showed her the basic skills of how to make a snare. She was quick with her hands, and studied everything.

"You don't look like a morphling addict, but I could be wrong." I was straight and to the point. This was the girl who acted scared and innocent in front of the cameras, but her eyes gave her away. She was already a player in this game, as soon as her name was called. I wanted to rile up a response from her to see what she was made of.

"You look like the typical tanned, stuck-up, princess from 4, but I could be wrong." She retorted. I smiled. We sat together, not speaking, working on our snares. She learned fast and quickly excelled past me. When her partner from 6 came over I left.

I went over to the first aid station and brushed up on a couple of skills. Since I was always getting scrapes, bruises and injured, Moira learned to take care of me. When she wasn't around, or I was in a pinch, I patched myself up. I didn't spend much time at all at that station.

I went to the archery station next. I missed a lot of my marks. I tried to imagine Gage being there, whispering to me, and making me laugh. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I shot the arrow, it didn't even land on the target. This was probably the worst that I had ever done and I was failing at it. Not only that, but I was on display for everyone else to watch. I pulled back the string and released the arrow. It missed the mark completely. I was getting really frustrated.

"You're holding it wrong." A male voice said. I looked to my left and saw the boy from 8.

"What?" I asked, curious.

"The guy told me to hold it like this." I told him.

"Do you want to listen to some idiot that's probably never killed anything with a bow and arrow, or do you want to let me help you?" He asked. His eyes reminded me of my father's, they were a dark grey color. He was half a foot taller than me. He came over and repositioned my arm so it was lower on the string part. He brought the bow so it was almost at my eye-level.

"Now pull back, aim, and let go." He instructed me. I did what he said and hit the center of my mark. I looked at him.

"That's all you need to do." He said, like it was no big deal.

"How long have you used a bow and arrow?" I asked him, curious and completely intrigued. I watched him hit a dead-on bull's-eye.

"Since I was eight; by the look of things, you've just started?" He asked.

"Not my first time with it. I wish I could say I was faking this, but I'm not." I admitted, making an excuse. I grabbed another arrow.

"Bring the bow up to your cheek. Line the arrow up with your eyesight." I readjusted myself and let the arrow go. I hit the yellow center part of the target! I smiled.

"Liam."

"What?" I asked, looking at him. He hit another perfect mark.

"My name is Liam," He told me.

"Tatum," I replied. He shot another perfect mark.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked him, intrigued. He shrugged his broad shoulders.

"I guess, because if we go in that Arena and you have to use that bow and arrow, I'd rather have you shoot to kill then only harm whoever you're aiming for." Liam paused.

"It's more humane that way." I was surprised at his response. His words echoed the very ones I had last night. He loaded another arrow.

"I completely agree." I said, loading up my own arrow. It was a direct hit. I decided I had spent enough time at stations I was actually learning stuff in, not to mention Liam had thrown me off my guard. I hadn't expected someone to think like I had. Just because we were being forced to play the Capitol's game, didn't mean we had to be brutal, blood-thirsty killers.

"Ever think how easy it'd be to just die in the Cornucopia?" He asked. Okay, this was scary. He was stealing my thoughts. I stared at him. He sighed and hit another mark. I stood there speechless.

"It'd be too easy." I said, dropping the bow and arrow. I walked away. I couldn't get him out of my head. There was another person here that was thinking the exact same things as me. We were being put in play to kill each other.

I walked directly over to the trident station. I picked up the trident and instantly felt more at ease. There was a grunt and something hit the floor, hard. I looked back at the hand-to-hand combat station. Gunner had leveled one of the trainers provided for us. I paid him no more attention and went back to my trident.

I wound my arm back and launched it as hard as I could. It hit the dummy so hard that the whole thing fell over. I walked over to retrieve the weapons. When I walked back to my spot, I realized I had just stolen away all of Gunner's attention. Good. Let them know I am a forced to be reckoned with. Let them know I refuse to go down easily in this. I hit every target thrown my way. I didn't care if anyone was watching or not. Why not show off this one aspect? If I hit the knife station later, I would purposely miss and seem naïve to a lot of it. Everyone from 4 was assumed to be good with tridents.

The pair from 2 came up. Onyx, like the stone and Leo, like the lion, I remembered. I kept my own pace. It didn't surprise me when they already knew how to hold a trident properly. Their district was the pet of the Capitol and they had access to anything they wanted, of course they were trained with every weapon. I ignored the pair until she launched her trident and hit the target I was working with. I sighed and turned to them.

"Alright, you have my attention." I told them.

"You're pretty good with that." He stated.

"I imagine you are too," I replied.

"We all have that one weapon that we specialize in." The girl stated.

"You tell me yours, I'll tell you mine." I said, smiling.

"I think it's pretty clear what yours is." He said. It looked like he merely tossed the trident and it hit the closest mark. Of course, he was good at it.

"So you know mine, your turn to share." The three of us retrieved our weapons.

"Sword," he replied.

"Leo," She snapped.

"What?" He asked shrugging it off. It was clear that Onyx wanted to be the leader of the two of them. She threw her trident but fell short of the middle target. I launched mine and smiled, knowing it would hit the target she was going for, dead on. We walked to retrieve them again. I picked hers up and handed it to her.

"Tsk, can't win 'em all." I told her in a friendly voice before picking mine up. Leo's dark blonde curls shook from his laugh. She marched back to the spot. I said to prove a point. There was one winner to this game, the rest of us were going to die. By throwing at her target and nailing it, I put the nail in the coffin; I am superior than you at using this weapon. By purposely using a friendly, light-hearted tone, it kept it so it wasn't a direct threat, more of a gentle warning. Yes, the Careers were going to be a pack, but they had to know I was dangerous.

"Are we going to do this?" She asked annoyed.

"Bryson comes with us." I declared, I said hitting the furthest mark. The bell for lunch sounded. I left the trident in the mark. Leo and Onyx started to walk away from me.

"Snares and spears," She called over her shoulder. I met Bryson in the middle of the Training Center and we walked to the cafeteria area. We grabbed trays and even though we were practically drooling over all the delicious food they had put out, reminded him that we could order food later. We still had to train. We grabbed plates and sat at a table by ourselves.

"Who'd you talk to?" I asked before shoving some type of noodles in my mouth with a white sauce over it.

"We're a lock with 1, and they want the two from 3."

"2 wants us," I told him.

"You going to chew?" I asked him, as he was just shoveling food in his mouth. He slowed down.

I moved my hand to itch my nose.

"I want the Liam, the boy from 8." I announced with my hand in front of my mouth.

"Why's that?" He asked surprised.

"He helped me at the archery station."

"Just because someone helped you shoot an arrow doesn't mean we should pair up with him." Bryson instructed me.

"It was more than that. When I asked him why he was helping me he said, he'd rather I know how to use a kill shot than just hurt someone. It's more humane that way." I stated. There was silence from my partner's end.

"Listen, you can make a pack with anyone else but I want Liam. I don't care, I want him." I stated. He didn't push it. My word was final in this. I would fight him on this. I hoped he understood why I wanted to bring Liam. There was a couple of minutes of silence.

"What stations did you go to?" Bryson asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Snares, first aid, archery and trident," I told him, I chewed a piece of chicken.

"What about you?"

"Swords, plants, and hand-to-hand combat," He said while in the middle of chewing a piece of bread.

"What's the plant station like?" I asked.

"There's a lot. I think I'm going to go back after lunch." He said. Oh man, I better pay attention, I thought.

"Guy from 2 loves swords, girl loves snares and spears." I told him.

"What? How'd you find that out?" He was surprised.

"Bryson I have my ways," I said, sitting up straight with a grin on my face. He raised his eyebrow.

"The guy, Leo told me. They came over while I was playing with the tridents. They figured out my best skill, so I told them it was only fair for them to tell me theirs." I explained.

"She definitely wants to be in charge, so watch for her." I told him.