Hello! Sorry it's been a while. I hope you like this chapter. Also, I posted a poll on my profile, would mean a lot if you voted, I'm really interested in what you think. Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWELVE

The anthem blaring out wakes me after a little while. The others remain asleep, but I've always been a light sleeper. I slide out of the sleeping bag to see who's died. I crawl out of the cave, the biting pain in my ankle gone slightly. I peer over the top of the bush, so I have a clear view of the sky, but so no-one will be able to see me. They show the same pictures as they showed with our scores, the ones on the chariots. The faces of dead tributes appear. I'm glad the anthem stopped, giving them a proper silence. I don't know them, but I believe death is a horrible thing to happen to anyone, and to face it requires extreme courage. I put three fingers to my lips and extend it outwards, which is the sign of respect in District 12, to honour their bravery. Altogether there were eight casualties, both from 8 and 11, the boys from 3, 5 and 10, the girl from 9. One dead Career, the girl from 4. The seal appears in the sky, and then it fades to black, leaving me in darkness. Hands come from behind, but I don't scream because it could only be one of my allies. A pair of glasses is slipped onto my face. The whole sight in front of me is illuminated, as if I was in broad daylight.

"How many?" the person behind me, who's voice I recognise to be Lewis' asks.

"Eight." I reply, turning to face him, his eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses as well.

"Do want to come outside for a bit? We can see anyone who comes near with these on."

I pull myself out of the cave, helped by Lewis.

"Still, be quiet." I whisper, as we stand outside.

It is freakishly quiet, the only noise is the gentle breeze rustling through the trees. Unnervingly peaceful. I expected the whole games to be bloody, ruthless murders, one by one until the most sadistic one remains. Not like this. But will it always be like this? Always be surrounded by my allies, my friends, and Lewis. He's more than an ally and friend, he won't be here for long. I could die at any minute. I feel water running down my face. Tears.

"I'm scared Lewis."

"I'd say you were an idiot if you weren't." He wraps me in a fierce hug, which makes me start to really cry. I wish I could stay here forever, him holding me. I wish I was back home, with my family, and Lewis there too. He shushes me and starts swaying gently. I calm after a while.

"We should go and get some sleep."

"Lewis?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him softly. "For everything." Then I crawl inside the cave again, using the glasses to find my way back into the sleeping bag. I take the glasses off and place them nearby. I feel the warmth of Lewis' body wriggle in next to me. He kisses the top of my head as I wrap my arms around him.

"Goodnight. And you're welcome."

I zone back into semi-consciousness, hugging a thick, warm blanket as I hear Lana's giggle.

"Look at them!" she whispers.

"I don't want to wake them up." Whispers back Haley's voice.

"So sweet." Lana replies.

"If you don't want to wake them up, Rowan and I will." Says Levi's voice.

There's a scraping noise and then a loud, incessant banging as Rowan bellows:

"Hey lovebirds! Rise and shine! It's the afternoon you lazy bums!"

I open one eye and look reproachfully at him. I wonder why he's looking at me so strangely. The blanket I'm holding moves. I remember it's not a blanket. I retract my arm quickly and scramble madly, getting tangled up in the sleeping bag, my ankle not helping. I make contact with flesh.

"Shit, Talia!" Lewis yells.

"Ouch. You just punched your boyfriend in the face. You've got issues." Rowan says.

"I'll punch you in the face in a minute."

"And ruin this piece of sublime beauty? A grave mistake, powder-monkey."

I grunt at him, and manage to get out of the sleeping bag.

"What's the plan for today?" asks Lewis.

"We're going hunting." Says Haley, slinging the bow over her shoulder.

"People or for food?"I ask suspiciously.

"Food primarily, but if a Career pops up, then why not?" Rowan gives his hammer an experimental swing as he mentions the Careers.

"My ankles feeling better, can I come?"

Rowan opens his mouth to respond, but the words come from Lewis.

"No. You shouldn't risk it."

"Fine. I'll sit here and try not to die of boredom."

"I'm staying here as well. Someone has to keep on you two." Lana says, with a inconspicuous wink at me.

"Isn't there anything you can do to make it heal faster?" I plead her.

I hear a thump.

"It came from outside. I'll go see what it is." Haley says, crawling out of the cave. She comes back holding a small bottle attached to a silver parachute. She tosses it to Lana, who catches it with one hand. She examines the bottle, uncorks it and then sniffs it.

"Looks like your wish has been granted. Bone mending medicine. More than strong enough to help your sprain. It should heal instantly."

I take a small sip, considering that it might come in handy later on in the games. I feel instant relief wrapping around my ankle.

"Thank you." I say aloud, truly grateful that a passing comment to Lana has made sponsors in the Capitol spend their money on me.

"Does this mean I can go hunting with you now?"

"Nooooo."Lana moans. "I said I wouldn't go so we could have some girl talk."

Lewis coughs. "Not to burst your bubble, but I'm not a girl."

"Could have had me fooled." Lana snorts.

I give her a playful shove. She mockingly tuts at me.

"Touchy, touchy Talia. Someone's a little protective."

I feel myself blush, and stare at the ground.

"Well. This is sufficiently awkward. We're gonna go now." Rowan starts to leave.

"Wait!" Lana says. "Lewis, go hunting with the boys, Haley you stay here."

"But-" Haley protests.

"Remember Haley? We're going to talk to Talia."

"Oh right. I'll stay."

Lewis stands up. He looks at Rowan and Levi. Rowan has his hammer tucked into his pocket, and Haley gave Levi her bow. Lewis picks up a knife and tosses it from hand to hand.

"You can borrow my spears if you want." I blurt, not meaning to. I don't really want him to use them. I want to be the first to use them.

"Really?"

No. "Yeah. You got them for me. You can use them. For now." I quickly add.

"Thanks." He picks them up, and puts the strap around him, so the spears go diagonally across his back.

"Be careful." I say.

He nods, then the boys leave the cave. Lana and Haley turn their heads towards me in unison.

"Oh no. Is this the part where you both try to kill me now I'm unprotected?" I say.

"No, stupid. We just want some girl time." Lana says.

"Girl time?" I'm dubious.

"Yeah. Talk about stuff." Haley does nothing to help my confusion.

"What kind of stuff?" I'm suspicious.

"Clothes, shoes. Boys." Lana's brown eyes have a mischievous glint. "Let's start with our newcomer. So Talia, what's really going on with Lewis?" she stage-whispers.

This is the kind of conversation that girls at my school have at sleepovers, I hear them gossiping about them at school. I've never been to one, I'm kind of a loner back home, spending all my time with Ethan and one or two close friends. But I'm achingly aware of the cameras that will surely be on us, loving our 'girl talk'. I try to ignore them, and just think that I'm telling my friends about a boy that I like. I lean towards them secretively, even though I know all of Panem can hear.

"After the interviews, we had a talk about, you know, stuff, and we both admitted that we like each other that way."

Haley giggles.

"And?" Lana prods me.

"We kissed." I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Lana and Haley squeal.

"I knew it!" Lana exclaims.

"So, have you kissed anymore since then?" Haley asks.

"Yeah." The blush is back. "Before we left for the arena and last night."

"Last night?" Lana is becoming hysterical.

I nod.

"When?"

"You were all asleep, the anthem woke me up, and I went to see who had died. I obviously woke him up getting out of the sleeping bag, then he joined me outside, and I kissed him goodnight."

My friends smile.

"So sweet."

I'm embarrassed though, I wasn't lying or exaggerating, but I feel like I'm acting for the Capitol, providing them entertainment, more than my death would. I decide to get revenge on Lana.

"How about you Lana?"

"What about me?" her eyes widen.

"I've seen the way you look at Rowan."

She blushes to the same colour as her hair. "Well, he's gorgeous, funny, what's not to like?"

"Can't argue with you there." I say, holding my hands up.

"Hey." Lana points at me, desperately trying to pull a straight and serious face. "Stick to your man."

I end up laughing at her failed attempt to be serious. It strikes me how much I'll miss her when she dies. I mean, I like Haley, but I'm much closer to Lana. We both try to poke Haley into saying she likes Levi, so that all of us have a boy to talk about, but she denies firmly, and go back to laughing as Lana starts to ramble on about Rowan's hair. The boys arrive back, holding a dead bird and two dead rabbits. Lewis hands me back my spears. They are clean, except a tiny smear of dried blood on one of the spearheads. I wipe it off with my sleeve. I notice Lana talking to Rowan on the other side of the cave. I catch her eye, and wink exaggeratedly, nearly getting caught by Rowan himself. Lana frowns at me, then smiles widely at Rowan and goes on talking, giving me the finger, almost unnoticeably. I chuckle to myself. I then go and help Haley get the rabbits ready for cooking. She does most of it, as I find myself to be quite squeamish as she skins them of their soft fur, blood spattering onto the ground. I pick a few twigs out of the bush that conceals the cave entrance and fashion a spit. It's right by the gate, enough inside not to be noticed by passersby, but outside enough not to suffocate us all to death with the smoke. It's a slow process, not being able to have a large fire, and it's getting dark. Finally it's finished, and Haley quickly slices the poor bunnies into six equal portions. We all eat hungrily, and I ignore the fact that it's rabbit, and enjoy the tender meat. We all long for more afterwards, but console ourselves with dried fruit. The anthem blares, and I peek outside at the sky. No-one died today. It's completely dark now, and a chill has swept into the cave. We all lie in our sleeping bags to stop the cold air. Having an also ice cold Lewis next to me doesn't help at all, no matter how much the others complain that we should be warmest of all when I complain that I'm cold.

"God, Talia could your teeth chatter any louder?" Rowan grumbles.

"Sorry, I'm cold." And getting short tempered.

"You know, I remember hearing that you warm up quicker if you're not wearing clothes. Maybe you should try that if you're so cold." Lewis says.

"You wish." I scoff.

"I do wish." Is the reply.

I kick him with as much force as you can muster when you're trapped in a fabric sack with someone.

"Ow!"

I can hear Rowan snicker.

"Goodnight everyone." I say firmly.

They mutter/mumble/groan/wince their goodnights.

Sleep comes much easier knowing that no-one died today. But I can't help but think if this is making up for the deaths at the Cornucopia or building tension to a big event.

Seeing as this is probably (one of) the longest chapters, will you review?