No double update guys, I will hold the same offer on this chapter though.

I believe in nargles too: to answer your question, the person who submitted Flux, didn't say he was autistic, but there wasn't much detail on his personality other than that he was quiet, so I had to use my imagination. I think in my mind though, I had him as one of those people that seem a little bit autistic, but haven't really been diagnosed. I'll let you decide whether you think he's autistic or not because I just guess it depends on the way you picture it. But thanks for leaving a review.

Hope you guys enjoy the chapter, and remember if you want a double update either tomorrow or on Saturday (again depending on how much homework I get tomorrow will determine which day it will be on) leave a review, if I get 5, there will be a double update sometime in the next couple of days.

Chapter 35

Only District 2 left now. Then the Capitol, then I can just settle back down in 1. Well, until the next hunger games. I can't wait until it's over, just a couple of days left. Hopefully I won't be that bad, District 4 wasn't, and I backstabbed both of their tributes.

Both of the families look like they've recovered well, we sit in silence, not an awkward silence. I comfortable one.

"It was clever." Alex's dad says. "Using his crush against him." He clearly understands that careers use weaknesses against people. Alex's crush on me was an obvious weakness. I never gave anyone a chance to use my weakness against me. Everyone knew what it was: Carter. In the end it was Carter who used it against me, but lovingly. He knew only one of us could come out, I wanted it to be him, he wanted it to be me. At home when we had arguments, I normally won, this one, I guess he was more stubborn. I should have protected him though. I should have tried.

Alex's POV

"It's your big day." Dad grins, waking me up. "How are you feeling?" He pulls my blinds up, letting the warm sunlight stream into my bedroom.

"Great." I grin, getting up. It's the day I've been waiting for. Reaping day. It's my last, but this year is special, this year I am the one volunteering. I've always looked up to the volunteers from 2. They're so strong and powerful. They never go down without a fight. When I was 5, for my birthday present my dad sponsored the female tribute a knife because she ended up losing all her weapons when half the arena flooded. The knife ended up saving her life and it made her win. She was so grateful to us she still gives us some of the money she gets from winning. It makes us one of the richest families in 2. We were pretty rich before, but now we live in luxury. Well, not compared to the Capitol, but by district standards, we're incredibly rich.

Lots of people think careers volunteer for the money. I'm not. I want the fame, the glory. I can't wait to get into the arena.

"Go and have a shower while I sort your breakfast for you." Dad says, and I head to the bathroom. Soon I am in the kitchen drinking a fruit drink thingy. It's quite expensive, but it's really healthy and is high in energy, which'll help when I'm training later.

"See you later then." Dad says once I've drunk it all. It was my favourite flavour today: mango and passion fruit. It's really unusual and is way nicer than any of the other food we get in 2. We have pretty much all the food the other districts have, we just also get a few extra stuff like that because of the training centre, and 2 gets the most privileges because they get most of the peacekeepers from 2. It's not a bad option being a peacekeeper really. The only thing is, you're not allowed to marry or have kids. That's what puts most people off.

"Yeah," I grin "After the reaping, in the justice building." I've never been to the justice building before, but it's where the tributes say goodbye to their family and friends. I walk along the path to the training academy. It's not far from where I live, so I get there 5 minutes later. Autumn's just got there too, I can see her going through the doors. She's going to be the female tribute.

"Hey." I say, catching up with her.

"Oh, hi." She turns around to face me. "You ready for today?"

"I was born ready." I grin "You?" She

"Of course." I walk with her to her locker, she dumps her bag in it, before taking a hairband off her wrist and tying up her long, red waves. It goes down to about her waist, and I'm surprised she hasn't cut it yet. It gets in the way a bit when she's training.

"What are you going to do today?" I ask her.

"I just want to do some running, get my physical health up, you know?" She smiles, going to the treadmills.

"I think I'll join you." I say, and step on the nearest one. We both start setting it up to the right pace for us and start jogging. Her hair starts to thump on her back, and it starts to fall down. She pushes it out of her eyes. "You should probably get it cut." I say.

"I know, my parents can't afford it though." She says cautiously, almost as if she's scared I'll make fun of her.

"Come with me." I say. I haven't seen my mum in years, but Autumn, well she's one of my closest friends. I know it's silly considering we're both going to volunteer this year, but we've agreed that there's going to be no hard feelings against each other in the games, and we're not going to have any regrets if we have to go against each other.

"Where to?" She asks. My mum left my dad when I was 3, and I've never really forgiven her. I do see her occasionally though. I do know she's the owner of one of the biggest hairdressers in 2.

"My mum's place. She'll give you one for free."

"But you hate her." She says.

"Exactly, she'd do anything for me to forgive her." I say "So a free haircut for my mate is nothing."

"Are you sure?" She asks, stopping the treadmill.

"I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise." I say.

"As long as you don't get into a screaming argument with her while she's halfway through cutting it" Autumn laughed "I don't want her to only cut one half." We both laugh at the idea.

"I volunteer." Autumn shouts later at the reaping. Her hair is now in a pixie cut, it looks really cool on her. She is then asked her name.

"Autumn."

"Now for the male tribute." Finally it's my opportunity.

"I volunteer." I've been waiting to say those words my whole life.