I cannot express how happy I am that it's finally the weekend. I swear, the week almost killed me.

But, that doesn't matter. What matters is that I am actually sticking to a schedule for posting the chapters for this story! That is an amazing feat all in itself. Mainly because time is a concept that I don't like or follow. In other words, I stink at sticking to schedules.

Disclaimer: Hunger Games is not mine.

The next day, I focused more on weapons than on survival skills. Finnick followed me around again too. He tried to teach me how to throw a trident, although I never did really figure it out. I showed him my talent for throwing axes and hatchets. In the back of my mind I knew it wasn't a good idea to show Finnick my strengths, but there was something oddly trustworthy and compelling about him. I couldn't keep any secrets from him.

At lunchtime, I sat at a table with Rowan and Axel, the boy from District 6. He was hilarious and spent the entire time cracking jokes.

After lunch, I was about to head over to the sword station for more experimentation when I felt someone poke the knotted pile of hair on top of my head. I spun around and almost ran into someone's rib cage. Looking up, I realized it was none other than Cyan.

"Hi," she said in a strangely perky voice. "I just wanted to talk and say how adorable it is that Finnick's been following you around. I would almost think he had a crush on you."

I flushed a bright red and immediately denied it. "What? No way, I mean look at him! He probably flirts with every girl he comes across." I waved my hand in his direction to emphasize my point. He was currently using his charming smile to turn Sash, the girl from District 8, to jelly.

Cyan laughed. "Of course he flirts with all the girls! That kind of personality comes with those looks, it's a package deal. I've just never seen him be stuck on someone as long as he has been on you." Then she shrugged. "Of course he's also wearing his 'mask' for the Capitol, so I guess we'll never know for sure…." Cyan trailed off.

The last part had caught my attention. "Wait, what kind of mask?"

"Can you not tell?" Cyan asked.

"I can tell, I just want to make sure," I said defensively.

"He's going for flirty, cocky, confident. It's the one role Mags said he could pull off flawlessly because he's already like that." Cyan sighed and looked down at her hands. "It's terrible to say, but for his sake I hope Finnick doesn't win."

My jaw just about fell open. "Why would you say that? You two are district partners. If you don't win, you should be hoping he does."

Cyan grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the other tributes that were close by. "I've heard terrible rumors about what happens to good looking tributes that win the games." She gave me a meaningful look and I swallowed in understanding. "I would hate for Finnick to have to go through that. In my opinion he would be better off dead."

"Who would be better off dead?" Finnick asked, popping up from behind me.

"No one!" Cyan and I both blurted.

Finnick stared silently at us for a few seconds before grabbing my arm and dragging me away. "Come on, I want another try at those throwing axes!"

00000

The next day was the last day of training. I spent more time than usual at the station with axes and hatchets, trying to make sure I had my aim down to a T.

Later that day, all the tributes gathered up to wait and perform for the Gamemakers. I sat in a corner with Rowan and Axel. They were having a conversation about survival skills. I would've joined in but the most I could manage to do was stutter.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my loose right hand and swung me around. Cyan was squatting there.

"Hi?" I had wanted it to sound friendly but it came out as more of a confused question.

"Hi," she replied. "So, has Finnick mentioned anything about allies?"

I was startled. This was not what I had expected to talk about. "Um, sort of. He kind of let something slip once, but I didn't really think much about it."

"We want you for any ally." Cyan kept her voice low and quiet. "Maybe your partner and his friend too."

"I don't think I want to have allies. I'd rather survive on my own."

"It would be a smart move to team up with us. If we can get everyone together, we may outnumber the Careers." Cyan looked up when her name was called. "Think about it." And with that, she turned to go to the other room.

When my name was finally called, I was shaking so badly I didn't if I would be able to hold an axe, let alone throw one.

I strutted into the room, doing my best to pretend I felt confident. My act faltered for a minute when I saw all the Gamemakers. None of them were paying attention. One had even fallen asleep in his chair.

"Alona Keene, District 7!" I called out. One of the Gamemakers nodded and motioned for me to continue.

I walked over to the rack of axes and hefted one of the bigger ones up. I turned towards the targets and threw it with all my might. It landed a little below where I had aimed, but that was okay. The Gamemakers didn't need to know that.

Next, I picked up a few of the smaller axes. I couldn't throw them all at once, so I put three of them between my legs and threw the other one. As soon as it had landed, I threw the next one, then the next, then the next. They all landed exactly where I had wanted them to.

I smirked and looked up at the Gamemakers. I expected them to be watching or taking notes. Instead, they were talking and laughing. My eyes narrowed in anger and I clenched my fist to resist throwing something at them. I spun around on my heel and stalked out of the room.

If they weren't going to pay attention to me, I wasn't going to acknowledge them.

I'm not completely happy with this chapter, and I can't exactly pinpoint why. Maybe it's how I wrote the characters or their personalities, or maybe it just went too fast. I don't know, but something seems off about it.

Let me know what y'all think!