Sorry it's quite short, I'm just glad I've got through the districts on the victory tour. It feels like forever. It also means that this story's almost at its end. Only two more chapters probably. At the start of each chapter now though, I'm going to say thank you to a couple of people individually for the reviews you left me. I'll start with earlier reviews in this chapter.

Singlewave I'm starting with you. You were the very first person to review. I think to ever review on any of my stories, so a big thank you to you. You left a couple near the start, and I wasn't sure if anyone was reading any of my stories because I wasn't getting reviews, but you helped me carry on writing, and as of now I have 35 reviews on this story, meaning this story alone has more reviews than all my others added up. So a huge thank you for those two reviews, you haven't left any since the 2nd chapter, so I don't know if you're still reading this, but if you are, thank you, and please leave me a review to let me know you're still reading. I love it when people stick with me from the start.

My second thank you today is Abby:

You only left me one review and a tribute but I still feel you deserve a special mention. The review you left was pretty short, but it was lovely. I really needed it as well. I was having a really bad day and was really upset about something, and it just made my day. It was just one of those small things that you can't stop smiling about. That day, you brought sunshine to my darkness, and for that I feel you deserve a special mention. So once again thank you.

Also just before I add this chapter I just want to mention that I'm going to start a SYOT about what the games if there had been a capitol games after the rebellion. I've messaged a couple of you who've left reviews already, and if you do want to, I ask you send two in, a male and female, so they can be from the same 'districts' just so my life is easier when I'm grouping them. If you're interested, leave a review or PM me and I'll send a copy of the form.

As usual hope you enjoy.

Chapter 36

The female tribute's parents are wearing quite shabby clothes and are thin. They don't look like the typical career's family.

Autumn's POV

I go straight downstairs when I wake up this morning. I don't want to waste any training time. My hair is in a huge knot and my mum sighs.

"I wish we could get it cut." Hairdressers are expensive, so I can't go much. I can't even remember the last time I went. I'm lucky I don't get split ends though. We don't struggle that much for money, I mean I take tesserae for the three of us, but I live in a career district. If I get reaped, someone'll volunteer for me. Well, except this year, I'm the chosen female tribute for 2, so I am the one volunteering. That's why we're quite poor, my parents pay for me to train at the academy, so I can win and we don't have to worry about money.

"Well, see you." I say, in my training t-shirt, leggings and trainers a while later. I sling my bag with deodorant, change of clothes and water bottle in on my back and walk across to the training centre, it's a good half an hour walk from my house and when I go through the doors Alex appears behind me, panting slightly because he ran to catch up with me. Alex and I have been friends ever since he saw me at my first day at the academy when I was struggling with throwing knives. The next day he saw some kids laughing at my shoes at school and yelled at them. We've been friends ever since. He's only a year older than me, but it often feels like we're the same age.

"Hey." He smiles.

"Oh, hi." I'm slightly surprised, he's normally here earlier than me. "You ready for today?"

"I was born ready." He grins with arrogance. "You?"

"Of course." He follows me as I walk to my locker, and put my bag in. I then tie my ridiculously long hair back.

"What are you going to do today?" He asks me.

"I just want to do some running, get my physical health up, you know?" I reply, I've been concentrating on physical health recently, they'll have all the weapons I want in the Capitol so there's not much point focusing on that.

"I think I'll join you." He says, he always does. We both set the treadmills up and start jogging. My hair soon falls into "You should probably get it cut." He says. You think?

"I know, my parents can't afford it though." I say, I'm a bit nervous about telling him about my financial situation.

"Come with me." He says. I don't want to take his money, my hair's not that bad, I could probably get my stylist to cut it in the Capitol.

"Where to?" I ask suspiciously.

"My mum's place. She'll give you one for free." He can't do that. He hates her because she left him when he was young.

"But you hate her."

"Exactly, she'd do anything for me to forgive her." He says "So a free haircut for my mate is nothing." Basically he's taking advantage of her. That is a very Alex thing to do.

"Are you sure?" I ask, stopping the treadmill.

"I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise." He says. This is why Alex is my friend, he's so nice.

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

"Hey Alex." His mum seems surprised to see him. "Who's your friend?"

"Autumn. Can you give her a haircut? Her family struggle for money, so she hasn't had one in years?" He says, he doesn't sound happy about seeing her. I feel bad about making him feel like he has to speak to him.

"Of course." She smiles "How do you want it?" I shrug.

"Maybe a pixie cut." I say.

"That'll look wonderful." She says, she sounds way to enthusiastic. "How are you these days?" She asks Alex.

"I'm fine." He mutters "I'm volunteering this year."

"You always loved the games." She says. "What do you like doing Autumn?" She asks me, pointing me to a seat and picking some scissors up.

"Training." I say "I'm volunteering too."

"Oh." She's obviously surprised.

"I volunteer." I shout as the escort takes the female slip out of the reaping bowl.

"What's your name?" She asks me.

"Autumn." I say. I try looking for Alex in the crowd. I don't see him until he shouts.

"I volunteer." He looks proud.