I'm sorry for not updating quicker but I was at my friends house for the night ;)

Dray's POV

I was just finishing my breakfast when Katniss and Peeta come in.

"You're kind of late." I say. I know I sound rude, but today's going to be a busy day. I heard the Capitol changed around the schedule and are packing everything in today. That just means the Hunger Games start early.

"Yeah, I know." Katniss says and I notice the slight gash right above her eyebrow. I give her a look but she doesn't return it. Peeta seems uneasy and just sits at the table, twiddling his thumbs. I look at Haymitch and see him give Katniss some sort of an understanding look. Maybe that fighting was them last night…

"Okay, change of plans." Haymitch begins from the other side of the table. "You are going to be training with the weapons first." I kind of figured. "So Dray, you better be quick in finding a weapon you can use." Haymitch orders me and I just roll my eyes.

"Also, stay away from anything you are really good at. Save that for the Gamemakers." Katniss says and gives a cheap smile at Haymitch. Peeta just sits there, looking guilty. Ray and me sit there, in silence and all three of our mentors get up.

"Well, get to it." Haymitch says and we follow them to the elevator. "Just hit this button and it will take you to the training area." They leave and I hesitantly hit the button. I get a falling sensation and the next thing I know we are seeing other tributes throwing knives, practicing archery, and other deadly things.

"Well, you heard Haymitch, let's get to it." Ray says and hurries off towards the hiding station. I look around and scavenge for anything that I'm good at. I find the target practice with the swords and test it out. They have dummies lined up and you have to try and hit them while they move. I know I'm gonna suck at it but I try anyway.

I grab a sword and look for the nearest dummy. None seem to be moving but then one pops right in front of me and my instincts take over. I'm slashing and jabbing…and I'm succeeding. It turns out I'm good with a sword and I'm just about to hit more when I remember what Katniss said.

Stay away from anything you're good at. I cover up with my mistake by missing a few and I throw down my sword when two people from District 3 start looking at me weirdly. "Looks like I'm no good." I kick the weapon and walk over to the knives. I'm good with swords, but not knives. I couldn't even hit the target with one of the blasted things. I throw a semi tempertantrum and walk off with even more Districts staring at me.

I find Ray at the knotting station and join her. I sit right beside her and pick up a rope.

"So, did you find anything that you're good at?" Is the first thing she whispers to me and I start pulling my rope into random loops.

"Yeah, it turns out I'm pretty handy with a sword." She stops tying her rope and looks up. "What?"

"Well at least you're not completely worthless." She gives me a smile and puts down her rope and gets up.

"Where are you going? I just got here!" She turns around and gives me a look as if to say, wow you're stupid.

"Training's over." She rolls her eyes and walks away. We quickly eat lunch and report I report to Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch.

"Okay, Dray, you will be working with Katniss first." Haymitch instructs us.

"Isn't Peeta working with Katniss?" Ray asks and Peeta flinches a bit. Katniss shakes her head and my sister and me just look at each other. She shrugs her shoulders and we go our separate ways. I head off with Katniss and she orders me to sit down on a chair.

"Okay, I'm not going to be strict with you, but the Capitol likes it when you have a good posture when in your interview." She grabs some books and puts them on my head for some odd reason.

"What the hell are you doing to me?" I wine and Katniss just gives me a dangerous look.

"It's an old method. When you walk, the books shouldn't slide off your head. If they do, you don't walk 'properly' and trust me, this will give you sponsors." She tells me to stand up and I begin to walk, careful not to let the books glide off my head.

"But I don't want the sponsors, I want Ray to come back instead. Besides, I don't have a chance in the arena." I tell her and she lets out a sigh.

"You need to have confidence in yourself if you want to help your sister." She says strictly and I furrow my brows.

"How would you know." I mumble. I continue to walk and Katniss begins to talk.

"Do you remember when I volunteered for my sister?" Oh yeah, I heard her sister died though.

"Yeah." I quit walking and take the nooks off my head and put them back where Katniss got them.

"Well I felt the same way you did. I didn't want to witness my sister die in a Game that's not meant to be played with. I couldn't think, I couldn't focus right when her name was called. So the only way I could protect her was volunteer." Katniss hangs her head and I see that cut above her eyebrow. It looks deep.

"Oh." I all I can say because right now, I'm speechless.

"So don't give up Dray." She puts a hand on my shoulder and I can't help but put on a little smile for her. "Looks like you should go practice with Peeta and Haymitch."

"Why are we practicing if we still have to show the Gamemakers what we can do?" I ask.

"Personally, I don't know. This year's schedule is confusing." She shakes her head and I go find Haymitch and Peeta. That practice went along really quick. It was mostly Peeta who helped me because Haymitch gave up and started drinking. Figures.

"You're gonna go with being…mysterious." Really. Why mysterious? I don't ask and just wait until we show the Gamemakers what we've got.

"So, did you find out what can you do?' Haymitch asks me, a bit tipsy.

"Well I'm pretty good with swords." I say timidly. Haymitch cocks an eyebrow and takes another sip from his liquor.

"Could you at least not be drunk when we're in the arena." I plead because I don't feel comfortable with having a drunk taking care of Ray's sponsors.

"Here we go again." Haymitch grumbles and me and Ray have to go.

"So, how did it go?" Ray asks and I give a sarcastic laugh.

"Just great, Haymitch turned to liquor in the middle of our session." Ray giggles and we sit and wait until the other Districts are called. It takes minutes until Ray is called.

"Ray Templeton, District 12." Ray gets up and I'm left all alone with nothing but the empty air to talk to. Eventually Ray comes out, biting her lip.

"So how'd it go?" I ask and she just walks away without a word.

"Dray Templeton." I hear a Gamemaker announce my name and I walk in the room. The training room is damaged and has knives stuck in the walls. I wonder what Ray did?

"Show us what you can do." Another Gamemaker asks and yawns. I quickly searched for the swords and pick up the shiniest one. A few dummies are in the room and they start to move. I stab and slice at them with great speed, I didn't even know I was capable of doing it.

I side step and jab at them until they are nothing but a pile of scrap. The Gamemakers nod their heads in approval and I bow and walk out, proud that they paid attention. I hear they hardly ever minded the District 12 tributes.

Peeta comes up to me and asks me one question. "How did it go?" I shrug and walk passed him. I'm more focused on Ray, who is standing by herself looking sheepish.

"What happened back there?" I ask her and she just stands there looking at her feet.

"I sucked basically." She says and I comfort her the best I can.

"Oh come on now, you probably did better than me." I smile at her and it at least gets the side of her lips to perk upwards.

"Okay, you guys are gonna see your scores and head right down to your interviews." Katniss instructs and we just shake our heads. We go into a room and wait for District 12's scores to pop up. The girl from 1 got a seven. The boy from 2 only got a five. And the rest don't stick out until District 7. That boy, he got a ten, a ten! And Rue's little sister, she got a nine. The moment we've been waiting for pops up and Ray's face shines with delight.

"I got a nine!" She yells with delight and everyone congratulates her, even Haymitch. My name comes up and I can feel my stomach drop. I don't want to see my score. But my hopes spring automatically up when the score flashes onto the screen. A ten.

"You're not the only one with talent." I smirk at Ray and she just smiles. I too get my share of congrats and we get dressed in our interviewing clothes.

My prep team does the same as they did for the opening ceremony. The circle me, getting rid of anything that's dirty. Finally, Portia decides that's good enough and fits me into my suit.

"There, hope you like it." She moves and I'm again looking in the mirror. I'm wearing a black suit with thin, slight lines that glow orange when light hits it.

"Thanks Portia." I say and she just gives me a weak smile.

"It's my job." She lets me go for my interview and I hope I don't make an idiot out of myself on the stage.

"Will Ray look the same?" I ask her and she shakes her head yes.

Ray's POV

I sit in my chair as District 7's girl goes onto the stage. I haven't paid much attention to her at all really. She just didn't seem that much of a threat to me. She and Cesear talk for a while and her buzzer goes off.

"Well what a great interview. Let's hear it for District 7's Allea Carker!" The crowd let out some cheers. I'm too nervous to pay attention because I know I'm going to screw up. I sit there, literally shaking in my seat.

"Jeez, relax Ray." Dray says from the seat next to me. "It can't be that bad. Look, Rue's sister." He points to the screen and it gets my full attention.

"So, Amaryllis," Cesaer begins but Amaryllis stops him.

"You can call me Amary." Cesaer shakes his head and finishes what he was going to say.

"Your sister, Rue, was in the Hunger Games also, how does it feel to be in her shoes?"

"Well I'll admit, it's not easy." This gets the crowd chuckling. "But you get passed the feeling."

"Are you thinking about making any alliances? Like maybe with District 12 like your sister?" Amary thinks for a while and gives Cesaer an answer.

"I don't know, but all I know is I will win this, for my sister." The crowd lets out a big cheer and her buzzer goes off.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, District 11!" The crowd lets put whoops and howls until it's Dray's turn to go up. Dray walks onto the stage and sits down in the chair.

"Well, it's a pleasure to see Katniss and Peeta's male tribute." The crowd lets out a couple of cheers. Man, they started a rebellion and these people still love the star-crossed lovers. "A ten. Wow. What did you do to give you that high score?"

"Oh, I think I will keep that a secret." Dray's approach is apparently mysterious.

"We can keep a secret." Cesaer pushes but Dray refuses.

"You are just gonna have to wait."

"Oh fine. Now, your sister, what is your reaction to her being reaped to?"

"I was petrified. I couldn't stand to see her die. So that's why I promised myself." The crowd murmurs with curiosity and Cesaer asks what's on everyone's mind.

"And what would that be?" He asks and Dray pauses.

"To protect her at any cost. Even if I won't be there in the end." People in the crowd start crying and Dray's buzzer goes off.

"Let's hear it for Dray Templeton!" The crowd claps so loud that it might've been the loudest so far. I'm next and I'm still shaking. I mount the stage and look out over the crowd. It's a very big crowd…

"Ray, why don't you take a seat." I realize I've been looking at the crowd. You idiot! You blew it already! I think to myself. "So, a nine." Begins Cesaer. Oh crap, what did Haymitch say I was going as? Think Ray think.

"Yeah, I'm pretty comfortable with it." Oh yes! Lovable!

" I would be too. So any allies?" He asks me. I just give him a smile and glance at the crowd.

"No, but I'm hoping to make at least one." I hold up my pointer finger when I say one. I keep my smile on my face as Cesaer bombs me with questions.

"I see. Now, do you think you will be able to come home?" He leans forward in his chair and the atmosphere is hanging on the one question. My brain is racking with trying to come up with an answer. Think of Dray I tell myself and a lightbulb clicks in my head.

"Well, apparently I am because of that promise my brother made." This gets the crowd going and I smile wide. "But, that doesn't mean I won't help him through the arena either. It'll be like a sibling war." What are you saying? That might've been the worst thing I've ever said, but that get the audience laughing. I hear a slight buzz over the laughter and relief rushes over me.

"That's it for tonight folks! Let's hear it for Ray!" The crowd stops laughing and starts clapping wildly. I exit the stage and am greeted by everyone.

"Not bad kid. Not bad at all." Haymitch says giving a slight nod. I smile and we walk to go to bed. We reach our rooms and Katniss stays back to tell us something.

"Remember, if you need anything, Haymitch is awake." She tells us but then thinks about it. "On second thought, wake me or Peeta up. I don't want Haymitch offering liquor to either of you." She quickly pulls us into a tight hug and I notice the gash above her eye. Katniss is about to leaves when I ask her a question.

"What happened last night?" I point to her cut and she lets out a sigh.

"Well, it was Peeta. He has these 'moments' becasue the capitol hijacked him. So sometimes he thinks i'm a mutt and tries to hurt me." Her expression goes soft. I can't believe Peeta did that... "Well, I should get going." Her face is still expressionless as she walks away.

"What's up with her?" I ask and look up at Dray. He seems petrified. "What?" I ask and Dray looks down.

"Ray, tomorrow's the games."

Katniss's POV

I sleep with Peeta tonight, again. I just can't deal with seeing them die. Also, they haven't had much time to practice like we had. It's all my fault. If I would've tried harder, we would've won the rebellion and none of this would be happening. Ray and Dray wouldn't have to see their own sibling die, Rue's sister wouldn't have the same fate as her sister.

Rue. Her sister Amary. I let out sobs, big ones, and Peeta is at my side in a heartbeat. It's funny, last nnight he was threatning to kill me and now he;s comforting me. I push the thought away because I know Peeta didn't mean it. I continue to cry.

"Katniss, what's wrong?" He asks me and I try to pull myself together to at least answer his question.

"I can't stand it Peeta. I can't stand watching Rue's sister dying. Why can't the Capitol just leave us alone?" I don't care if the devil himself is listening. I speak the truth.

"Katniss. You can do it. Maybe Amaryllis can win." I'm beginning to confuse myself. Who do I want to win? Amaryllis, Ray, or Dray? I can't decide.

"I don't know who I want to win Peeta. I just can't do it." I stop crying as Peeta wraps me in his arms. I automatically think of Haymitch. This is what he went through, only he didn't have anyone to comfort him. I push the thought aside and lie down on the bed, still in Peeta's arms.

I forget about everything right then and there. It's like Peeta is my liquor. I need him and he needs me. I fall asleep, and my dreams are filled with the ones I cared about. Prim, Rue, Finnick, and my dad.

I know, long chapter. Some with be long, some with be short. Also, I don't know if Rue's sister had a name already or not so yeah. Sorry if Katniss or any other characters were OOC. Next chapter is the beginning of the Hunger Games! Who is in your favor?