Training Day Five

POV of Stephan

I woke up early so I could have some alone time with Finn. As I slowly walk to his bedroom to get him up I think about how the games are going to change my life forever yet again.

Then I think about how it is going to change the lives of everyone I know, no matter what happens. If Tess wins that means the Blacks lose their children, and Tess loses 2 friends. If Angel wins the Hawthornes and everyone back in 12 lose Tess, Angel loses her brother and her parents lose their son. If Finn wins he lost his sister and the girl he loves, and once again 12 loses Tess. I hate this! Why did all of them have to be in my first games as a mentor? Why did all of them have to be in it at all? Why did Angel and Rue have to be reaped? That's what caused all this bullshit. I hate the games more now than I did after I won. To be honest I NEVER thought that could be possible.

I become selfish again as I think about how Angel has helped make my nightmares disappear. Without her they will be coming back. Most likely I won't sleep much when they're in the arena. Partially because I want to do everything I can to save them, but also because Angel won't be by my side. My nightmares will be back and more than likely they will be worse than ever.

Reaching Finn's door I know he's not awake so I don't bother knocking. I open the door to see him sprawled out on his bed with the cover knocked off of him. Thank god he's wearing shorts. I think I would have flipped him off the bed if he wasn't.

Slowly I walk over to the edge of his bed and sit down. I look at him for a moment, knowing I only have a few days left with my closest friend from back home. I feel myself getting emotional and I block it out. I need to focus on keeping him alive instead of losing him. I place my hand on his shoulder and gently shake him.

"Finn, Finn wake up. It's Stephan." I whisper.

His eyes open about halfway. He looks at me in a daze for a moment before realizing its morning. "Hey Stephan." He yawns as he sits up stretching. "What time is it?"

"7:00."

"Are you kidding me? I don't have training until 9:00. I don't need to be up until like 8:00."

"Well I wanted to see my best friend before he rushed off to train for his death." I trail off towards the end, and it goes silent for a moment.

"Alright, what's for breakfast."

"It's the Capitol, you can have anything you want." We both laugh. "Now get dressed." I pat him on the shoulder as I get up and walk towards the door.

"Stephan. How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Go into the games with the girl you love."

"Just get dressed…." I say as a close the door behind me. I didn't want to talk that right now. It still hurts so much to think about how the only girl I've ever loved died, when I promised to protect her. Now Finn is going to have to go through the same thing to save his sister. I would hate to have to make that decision. I would choose family of course, but it would be so hard.

As I reach the dining room I see that it's empty. I make my way to the table just as an Avox girl comes walking through.

"Me and Finn will be having breakfast now, if that's not too much trouble."

She bows her head letting me know she understands me, and goes back into the kitchen to inform cooks. Just then a groggy Finn makes his way in.

"So you never answered my question, and I really could use your advice."

"I know, but it's still so hard to think about." I pause for what seems like hours before I look up at him. "Finn, you have the hardest decision of your life to make. You have to either watch your little sister die or the girl you're in love with die." I pause again. "Watching someone you love fade away pulls at every emotion you have, well except happiness and excitement. You feel your heart in your head and breathing feels like it's making everything worse instead of better. And then seeing their face smiling down on you from the sky makes you want to join them. I don't really know what else to tell you Finn, other than cherish the time you have left with her. It will give you something to hold on to."

POV of Rose

I have decided to train with 3 main weapons; an axe, a bow and throwing knives. Since I'm already a pro with an axe I spend most of my weapons training practicing with the other 2. I'm starting to get pretty good the throwing knives. The bow, well I can hit something every time, just not always what I'm aiming at.

Elm has better luck with the bow than I do. But that's not saying much.

I can't believe the training week is almost over. Soon we'll be in the arena fighting for our lives and friendships go from advantages to handicaps. I still don't know what I am going to do with Elm. I don't want to kill him or for him to be killed, but I want to go home more than anything. If I don't….I don't want to think about what will happen.

As I wait in line to use the bow I think about seeing my family again. I'm both excited and nervous. But most of all I feel a bit guilty. When they come to see me I will have been well fed, while they are all starving. At least they'll get to eat at the party. There will be more food in one room than they've seen in their whole lives. It exciting and depressing. I miss them so much.

I am happy that if this is the last time they'll see me in person they'll be able to eat as much as they can stand and I will be healthy. I am no longer starving, and for one night they won't be either. That's what really matter.

POV of Peeta

"So you see because of her relatives Tess is more than ready to compete this year. She has all of mine, Katniss' and Haymitch's skill, plus some skills from her family back home. Her mother and grandmother are both world class healers back in district 12." I say to President Snow's daughter. Since me and Katniss won when she was our age she has been one of 12's biggest sponsors. She doesn't run out of money, because if she does all she has to do is go ask daddy for more. I think this may be one of the reasons Snow favors us so much.

"Please Peeta, tell me more."

"If I tell you all of it then I have no more tricks left up my sleeve for when she's in the arena. And we wouldn't want that would we." I laugh. She chuckles too.

"I guess you're right. But with you, Katniss and Haymitch coaching her I know she'll be a fighter."

"Does that mean we have the honor of having you as our sponsor for another year?"

Her face turns red. "Of course Peeta, don't I always sponsor your tributes, even when they have no potential?"

"Thank you Felecity. Tell your father I said hi, but I am late for a date with my wife. And you know how she can get." We both laugh. I give her a quick hug before running off to meet Katniss. Little does she know I had some of the kitchen staff create us a romantic picnic on the roof top.

I reach the front door to see the car is waiting for me. I jump in. "Punch it, I'm late." With that the driver raced back towards the tributes' building. When the car finally stops I rush out and through the main doors. I don't even pay attention to the lines of reporters and photographers. I know there are going to be some juicy stories about why I'm rushing back. No doubt someone will question my faithfulness to Katniss, but worlds are just words. Besides the gossip gives us added publicity that will help Tess.

I slide through closing elevator doors to see a few of the other mentors, none that I am really friendly with. Slowly the crowd disappears, as floor by floor people get off. Finally I am alone. The elevator seems like it is going a lot slower than normal. Katniss is going to kill me, I'm so late it's not even funny.

When the doors open I see my lovely wife glaring at me. "You're late."

"I know baby, I'm really sorry. But I have a surprise for you." I reach my hand out to her. "If you follow me you'll find out what it is."

She smiles at me, takes my hand a steps into the elevator with me. Now off to the only part of the day I enjoy, alone time with the love of my life.

POV of Slate

My muscles have never hurt this much before in my life. Yeah I get a break during lunch and when its survival time, but still the training is intense.

I push myself harder than any of the other careers do, but that's because most of them don't know I am not going to be in their alliance for much longer. It's funny how it's been about 2 weeks and I am already a part of 3 alliances; Onyx and me, the classic career alliance and then Eric, Riley and me. The Capitol will definitely love me. I will make great television.

"Slate, what are you thinking about?" Onyx asks me.

"How me leaving the careers will make for some great entertainment." I laugh.

"It will be even better when we join up after they're dead. I would do anything to see the look on everyone's faces. It will be amazing."

"Well if everything goes as planned one of us will see their reaction when it's all over."

"I'm betting it's me." She laughs pushing me slightly.

"Maybe in your dreams." I laugh back. All of a sudden she goes silent and her facial expression changes. "Onyx, what's wrong?"

"What is it like?"

"What?"

"What is it like? Having someone back home that loves you."

"It's amazing, I don't know what I'd do without Jade. She's my world, and once I win I'm going to marry her."

"How do you know she'll still love you after she watches you kill people?"

"I don't, but I trust her and I believe our love is real. If I found out she didn't love me anymore I think I might give up and let someone kill me."

"Are you crazy? We're supposed to have a honorable battle at the end. How can I feel good about killing you if you just give up?"

"I would still try, for my family. But I don't know how I would go on back home. Seeing her, knowing she's moved on. It would kill me." I pause. "She's helped me so much since….."

"Since what?"

"Since my parents….they forced my sister to volunteer. She was against the games like I used to be. She thought it was pathetic that our district was filled with people so eager to die for the Capitol's amusement. They threatened her in every way they could, my so called father even beat her when she was 16 for not volunteering before another girl. So to make it end and to save me and my 2 younger siblings she volunteered. Just before the final 8, when every usually split up the tributes from 1 pinned her down as the boy from our district slit her throat. My parents weren't saddened by her death; they talked down about her because she was killed. Watching her eyes flicker with fear as the people she trusted betrayed her broke me. She was my best friend, my hero. Jade let me know I wasn't alone. She helped me through the months of crying and lack of sleep. Slowly we fell in love and have been together ever since."

Onyx stands there silent for what seems like forever before she finally utter 2 small words. "I'm sorry." With that she walks away, and I'm alone again. I can't wait for this to be over, to be in Jade's arms again, to escape the hell that is my parent's grip on me. I can't wait to be free.

Sorry it's taken so long. I got stuck on for a little while. Training week is almost over. I hope you all like getting inside Slate's head a little more, learning why his sister's death haunts him so much, and why Jade is so important to him. Please review and tell me if there is anything you would like to see and who your favorite character is. I haven't decided who's going to win yet so your fav could be the victor. Recommend me to friends please. This is my first fanfic and I love how many people read it, but I would love for more of our fandom to read it. Thank you. Once again I hope you like it. Well here are the alliances.

Careers: Diamond, Titanium, Onyx, Slate (for now), & Electra

Finn, Angel & Tess

Eric, Riley, & Slate (in arena)

Onyx & Slate (true alliance)

Rose & Elm

Scarlet & Crisis

Alone: Carter, Faith, Calla, Hazel, Joseph, Gigot, Ricky, Garnet, Iris & Falon