I knew I recognized those eyes! I've only seen videos and pictures of Rue from my parent's games and their Victory Tour. Rue had such distinct brown doe eyes, which my Dad had captured perfectly in the painting of her. "Did they capture you after..." I say, referring to after the revolution. She nods her head in response. "I'm so sorry," I say. She shakes her head again and gives me a smile. "You should go before you get in trouble," I tell her. She crumbles up the piece of paper and gives me a slight bow before walking out of the room.

I can't imagine what she's going through right now. I'm the daughter of Katniss Mellark, the woman who made Rue's death mean something. Showed Rue wasn't just a piece in their games. Maybe she was assigned here for a reason, to unnerve me? Or is it just plain coincidence she's my attendant?

I eat the food she brought me, then get ready for bed. It takes longer for me to fall asleep tonight. Between Azalea, my family, and Jay all crowding my thoughts it's nearly impossible for me to sleep. Why am I letting myself become closer to Jay? He's probably thinking of different ways to kill me right now. I should stick with Xavier all day tomorrow, I can trust him. We only have two more training days, and I cannot spend them tying friendship bracelets with Jay.

My body eventually forces itself to sleep. When I wake up, I have no tears, only the fuzzy memories of another nightmare. It wasn't as bad as they have been lately, so I get out of bed, more content than other days, and get dressed into my clean training clothes. Safa knocks at the door, calling me to breakfast. I decide to leave my wavy hair down for today, then brush my teeth. I walk out of my room and into the dining room. Daton, as usual, is already there with three plates, along with Safa, and Xavier. This morning's meal is a poached egg with pork on the side.

"Willow," Daton says. "Where'd you get that bracelet from?" Shoot. I forgot to take the bracelet off after we got back. "Jay from 4 made it," I reply. "For you? Or did he just decide to make friendship bracelets for all the tributes?" He asks. "Just for me, I guess," I say. He looks at me strangely before taking another bite of food. "Well, good news for you then. Jay's mentor told me he wants you as an ally," Daton explains. "Alright, I'll think about it during training today," I say.

Training is nearly the same as yesterdays. Today, though, I spend more time on knife throwing than archery, and more time on edible insects than plants. I'm careful to avoid Jay, only catching a glance at him every once in a while. But, lunch comes around, making it even harder to avoid him.

I load up my plate with some beef and broccoli covered in a sweet sauce. I sit next to Xavier, Lily, Jaden, and Ty like yesterday, and we start talking about some of the other tributes. "I've heard rumors of a romance starting between some tributes," Lily says. I tense up slightly, has Jay been spreading a rumor about us? "Who is it?" Xavier asks. "My guess is Brian from 1, and Bella from 2. They've been together non-stop. He's been teaching her too," Ty says.

Good, I'm happy no one thinks Jay and I are forming anything but an alliance. That would be bad, right? Almost on cue, Jay sets his tray next to mine and sits down. "Hello everyone," He says. We all greet him back, then go back to our discussion. "Willow," He whispers in my ear. "How about I teach you how to use a trident, and you can teach me how to shoot some arrows after lunch?"

There's no harm in that. What if the arena is a giant ocean? "Alright," I reply before going back to eating. As promised, Jay teaches me how to throw a trident, and I end up knocking out a dummy with one. I teach him how to shoot, and he's not terrible, but he's not very good either. If push came to shove, he could kill someone with a shot. "C'mon, let's go to combat," He suggests. I follow him across the gymnasium to combat. I won't even lie to myself, being with Jay makes this whole thing feel more fun. Well, as fun as the Hunger Games can get. Xavier is already there, next in line after the girl from 2, Jay goes behind him, and I go behind Jay.

Xavier has been on our school's wrestling team for as long as I can remember, so I know he could've skipped over this station. Xavier ends up winning the match in mere seconds, Jay is quick as well but not as fast as Xavier. I, on the other hand, am not very good at hand-to-hand combat. I lose the match, which earns me some mocking laughter from the career girls. "It's okay, Willow. You're still a better shot than they'll ever be," Xavier says to comfort me. I look over and see Camilla, the girl from 1, at the archery station. She misses every shot, sending the arrows to the wall behind the dummies.

"Hang on, I want to go shoot for a bit," I tell the boys. I walk over and wait until Camilla is done. The trainer sees me and brings out a basket of cloth bags filled with some sort of weight for me to shoot. Once Camilla is done, he explains what to do. He's going to throw those up into the air, and I have to shoot them. Easy enough, it'll be like shooting down a bird in the woods. He starts with one at a time, then two, then three. I lose myself in the shooting as I imagine the cloth bags as birds, and manage to take down seven in one go before realizing my quiver is empty.

I turn around to see nearly everyone staring at me, some in awe and some in hatred. I awkwardly set my bow and quiver down and walk over to the edible plant station.

I'm all the talk at dinner when we get back. Apparently, multiple tributes want me as an ally now. "What'd you do? Takedown ten of those things at once?" Daton asks me. "Nope, only seven," I reply. "Alright, between Xavier's wrestling skills, and your shooting, you both have your pick of the litter. Who do you want as allies?" He asks Xavier and I. "I want Lily and Jaden," I say. Ty is alright, but he doesn't seem eager to form any alliances. "And Jay," Xavier adds in. "So you guys decided you do want the career," Daton says. "Yeah, Jay is a good guy," Xavier says. "Well, I'll tell the mentors tomorrow morning. Now, we need to talk about your private training sessions tomorrow."

The private training sessions are when us tributes have the chance to show the gamemakers what we are capable of. Each tribute goes in one at a time, starting with 1 and ending in 12. "Now, Willow, you're doing archery?" Daton asks. "That's the plan," I respond. "What about you, Xavier?" He asks.

"Uh, probably knife throwing," Xavier responds. "What? You could totally do hand to hand combat," I tell him. "I've gotten better at the knife throwing, everyone already knows I can fight."

"Okay, both of you have it all figured out, that's good," Daton says. "So, tomorrow during regular training, don't throw knives or shoot any arrows. The gamemakers will be watching all of you tomorrow, so save your assets for the private sessions."

Xavier and I nod silently in response. We finish our meals, then head to our rooms. "Jay seems to really like you," Xavier says as we walk. "We're just playing alliances, it's nothing I promise," I reply. "I never said there was anything," He says. Damn it. He tricked me. I scowl at him earning a laugh. We say goodnight, then separate into our rooms.

That night I dream of Jay. He's not chasing me with a trident like a few nights ago, but he's hanging out with me like a friend. No games, no training, just hanging out like normal kids. I wake up happy again before remembering where I am and what will ultimately happen to us. He's eventually going to die, so I can't be thinking of him like that. He's nothing but a possible ally in the games. I pull the sheets off my body as Safa calls me to breakfast, get changed into the same outfit as yesterday, and leave my hair the same.

Breakfast is a small buffet for us to pick from. I load my plate with only a pancake and two strips of bacon, then sit down next to Xavier. "Don't have much of an appetite?" He asks. I nod back, today is nerve wracking. "You'll be fine, Willow, just don't shoot the gamemakers like your mother did," Daton says. I laugh slightly, remembering Mom telling me about the guy who fell into the punch bowl. Xavier seems to notice my anxiousness and says, "Don't worry, they already love you."

He's right, I'm going to give the gamemakers a good show by just being in that arena, it doesn't matter how good I am in the private sessions. I wonder how they'll make sport of my death? Maybe I'll die in a fire like my Mom almost did. "Daughter of the Girl on Fire dies in a fire!" I catch myself chuckling at the thought, how funny would that be. Geez, I really am going crazy. "What are you laughing at?" Xavier asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, nothing, just something funny in my head," I reply. We finish eating, then head down the speeding elevator to the training center. I have to avoid Jay at all costs today, I can't have the watching gamemakers think we're in love or something. That would just put both of us in danger. Like Daton has suggested, I stay away from the archery station and tend to stay at the survival stations. Specifically, knot tying and shelter building. I meet Isla, Jay's district partner, at the shelter station. She's really nice and shows me how to weave a blanket out of jungle leaves.

I float around the different, forgotten stations such as the fire building and camouflage areas. Lily is still painting away on her arm, which I guess is more of an escape from reality than training. She teaches me some different flowers to draw, and I repeat them on my arm. I'm pretty good if I do say so myself, but not as good as her or my Dad. Jaden walks around the different stations along with me for a bit, occasionally running back over to look at what Lily is painting.

I'm bored by lunch, I haven't picked up a single weapon all day, and I'm itching to shoot at a target. I grab my food and sit next to my usual group of Lily, Jaden, Ty, and Xavier. Jay joins a few minutes after I do, as routine, and sits next to me. "So," He says. "What are you guys going to do for the gamemakers?"

"I'm going to throw some knives," Xavier says. "I'm going to paint," Lily says. "Probably gonna climb the rock wall," Jaden's small voice adds in. "Well," Jay says. "I'm going to do the basic trident throwing. What about you, Miss Mellark?"

"What do you think? I'm obviously going to throw spears at the gamemakers," I joke, quietly so the attendants watching us don't think I'm serious. They all laugh slightly at my joke before I speak again. "I'm going to shoot some arrows at those stupid cloth bags."

"You'll blow them all away, Willow," Jay says. "Hopefully in a good way," I reply. The speakers turn on and call Brian from District 1 to the gymnasium for his private session. He struts confidently with a smirk out of the room, with Bella following him with her eyes. "I wonder what those two have going on," Jay whispers in my ear. "Probably playing the lover game like my parents," I reply back. Since the games have started up again, many tributes have tried to fake love to win over the crowds. But, because they aren't the best actors, most people don't believe them, and the tributes die before they get the chance to convince them otherwise.

"Yeah, I'm so over people faking their love," Jay says. "Me too," I reply. Eventually, Jay gets called in for his private session. Before I know it Xavier, and I are the only people left in the cafeteria. "Willow," He says. "Don't stop yourself from becoming close to people." "What do you mean?" I ask. "With Jay, Lily, even me, you're refusing to become anything other than teammates," He says. "We're all just going to die anyway, I don't want to make this any harder on myself than it already is," I respond. "I know," He says. "But, I know who you are, Willow. You don't talk to anyone at school, sit by yourself, and never speak during class…" He pauses before saying, "No one deserves to die alone, Willow."

I should take offense to this comment, I'm not lonely; I just prefer to be alone. But, I don't because he's right. "I'm not going to die alone, you'll be there. Right?" I ask. "Of course, you're my ally," He responds. "You just have to let me become your friend."

"Xavier Reed, District 12," The man through the speakers says. "Report to the gymnasium for your private session."

"Good luck, Xavier," I say. "Good luck to you too, Willow," He responds before walking out to the gymnasium, leaving me alone. Being left alone with your thoughts is never anything good, especially at a time like this. Anxiety creeps its way into my chest and all throughout my body. I want to live for my family, but I've seen what the games do to people firsthand. Mom still wakes up screaming at night, Dad still has to fight his way through false memories created by Capitol torture.

If I am to win these games, I'm going to be a Capitol pet for the rest of my life with a head full of trauma. If I die, my family will be destroyed. "Willow Mellark, District 12," The speaker says. "Report to the gymnasium for your private session."

I stand up and make my way into the gym. When I walk in, I see up at the top are the gamemakers. Looking down at me is Tesla Halo, head gamemaker. She's young, probably mid 20's, has almost black skin, and wears green eyeliner complimenting her dark eyes. She wears a matching lipstick and Capitol suit. "Miss Mellark," She says, her voice ringing out through the room. "You have 15 minutes to show us what you can do,"

I nod up at her and make my way to the archery station. There, the trainer waits with the basket of cloth bags. The group above me is watching me like a hawk, both for their jobs, and out of fear I'll shoot them. Unlike the gamemakers during my parent's games, mine aren't drunk but are attentive instead. Again, probably because of my Mom. I sling the full quiver of arrows over my shoulder and grab the bow.

I take a moment to stretch the newly strung bow out, so it doesn't slip out of my fingers. Once I feel ready, I nod towards the instructor, and he throws the first bag into the air. The arrow grazes the top of the bag before hitting the ceiling. Something's messing me up. Get your head on straight. I attempt to calm myself down in my head. He throws a singular one again, I hit it dead center. The trainer throws two up, I shoot both in the center. He throws three, then four, five, six, seven, eight, and finally nine is when I can't go any farther. My arm is sore, my fingers are bleeding, and my quiver is now empty. I beat my own record and my Mom's. I'm slightly proud of myself, but I know this will put an even larger target on my back. Tesla looks into my eyes and nods her head. "Very good, Miss Mellark. You may leave now," She says. I set my bow and quiver back where I got them, then walk back to the elevator.

Okay, my private session wasn't as ]interesting as my Mom's was, but hopefully I left an impact on them. I walk straight into my room, wanting to rest so desperately. I can't lay down for long, though, as Safa only takes minutes to knock at my door. "Dinner!" I stand up from the bed and make my way into the dining room. Both mine and Xaviers stylists are there along with Daton and Safa. Tonight's dinner is some sort of salty fish soup with seaweed bread. I remember Jay telling me about that bread. It's saltier than the dry kind in 12, but pairs well with the soup.

"Alright," Daton says. "How'd you two do?" I look to Xavier, and he takes the hint to speak before I do. "I threw some knives and wrestled a trainer. I think I did pretty good," He says. "Good, what about you, Willow?" Daton asks. "I shot those cloth bags until my fingers started to bleed," I respond. "Nice! How many did you get this time?" Xavier asks. "Nine," I reply. The table cheers for me, and Xavier flashes a happy smile. "Fantastic!" Seraphina exclaims. "Why don't we celebrate with a cake!" Angel, Xavier's stylist, says.

My Dad doesn't make cakes often, as he usually saves it for special occasions. Just a few days ago, he made one for Iris's first reaping. Just a few days ago? It can't be, it feels like forever since I've been home. I wonder if they even ate the cake, or if they just tossed it away. The cake brought out is chocolate, covered in sliced strawberries and edible gold glitter. The television turns on to show each of our scores.

"Good evening Panem!" Maxwell appears on the screen. "Our tributes for the 14th annual games have just completed their training sessions. Our gamemakers have thoughtfully scored each of them after careful observation. Let's take a look, shall we."

For each of us, they show our picture, name, then flash the scores. Brian from 1 scores an 11 and Camilla gets a 9. Jerry, the boy from 2, earns a 9, and Bella gets a 10. Isla has gotten a 7, and Jay manages to receive a 10. I'm not shocked, he's fantastic with a trident and almost as good with combat as Xavier. Jaden gets a 4, which isn't very shocking, and Ramona earns an 11. Lily receives a 5, and Ty manages an 8. These scores don't really mean much, just provide some insight on who is most likely to win these games.

Xavier gets a 10, a very high score for District 12. "Good job, Xavier," I say. My picture and name flash onto the screen before he can reply. I look at the number glowing next to it.

12.

I got a 12.