Hey, Everyone!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Make sure you hug your mother, or give her a call, or go visit! Today's the day you share the love!

And, also, Happy Birthday, Dad, I love you, too!

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Training Winchester Style

"What about getting sponsors?" my brother asked.

"There are a couple tips that I failed to try," Winchester recalled, "that I can certainly recommend: make yourself memorable and make alliances on the battle field."

I nodded. "What do you mean, 'make yourself memorable'?"

"You're going to have to do some extravagant things to get these people to pay attention to you. Make them notice you, then make them like you, and you will survive longer. That, I can guarantee."

"But there's no guarantee that we'll win," I sighed.

"But we still can try," Jeremy protested, eying me. "We have to try."

I sighed and turned away from him completely. I couldn't face him, thinking off all this.

I absent-mindedly tugged at a couple pieces of seaweed in my hair.

"Well, I think the whole, 'being memorable' thing is already working for you guys. We have to enhance it a little more, though," Winchester commented.

"How is it working?" Jeremy asked.

I gave him a kind of look that made Winchester laugh. "We're the brother and sister of District 4. I think that's pretty memorable."

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Miss On-Top-of-Everything, I wasn't thinking about it that way."

"Step one," Winchester said suddenly. "Always think of everything in every possible way. That's what makes your opponents so deadly, and what can make a simple tree branch your best chance at survival."

I nodded.

"Look, I know this must be rough on you guys. Work together. Make it count," Winchester offered us a weak smile. "It's the best we can do right now."

I nodded again.

"We love you, bro," Jeremy said, their eyes locking. "We won't blame you if we die. We're not trained. They are."

Once again, I could only nod.

"We're going to get through this, don't talk like that," Winchester replied. "Somehow."

I looked out the window.

Dusk was settling in.

"I'm going to head to bed," I stood up.

"Me too," Jeremy stood up and followed me out of the boxcar.

We found my room without too much difficulty.

"We're going to make this work," Jeremy said as a goodnight.

"Yeah, sure we are," I replied. "Goodnight, Big Brother. Love you."

"Love you, too."

I slid my room door closed and sat down on the nice bed.

It was nicer than what I had at home, but not by too much.

The sheets were softer, however. I liked that.

I changed and crawled under the covered. I wanted to think of peaceful thoughts to help me sleep, so I naturally tried to think of home.

But images of Jeremy were the only things filling my head.

"I'm going to die," I whispered to myself.

I looked up at the roof of my room. "If any higher power is listening right now, please, have mercy, and make it me."

Let him win.

Let me die.

I woke up tired and frustrated.

I showered and dressed in the bathroom attacked to my room, and made my way into the dining car.

I walked in on Daphnia fixing her make-up and Winchester telling some great jokes to Jeremy.

He burst out laughing as I sat down next to him.

"Hey, Dyla, what's new with you this morning?" Winchester smiled.

"Oh, nothing. Just motion sickness," I said sarcastically.

"Dear, you can't even tell this train is moving," Daphnia finally looked over her compact with me.

"I know, it was a…you know what, never mind." I sighed.

"Well, what's wrong?" she asked.

"We're. Both. Going. Into. The. Hunger Games! I really don't see what's to like about this situation!" I snapped.

"Oh, the competition is fierce between you and your brother, eh? Well, don't worry, one of you will out-live the other!" She said with a smile.

I wanted to throw the dining table at her.

Instead, I bit down hard on my lower lip and ignored my urge to lash out at her stupidity.

I didn't want to "out-live" my brother, I wanted him to live.

"Okay, we'll be arriving at the Capital soon," Winchester said. He folded his crape in half and bit into it, jelly leaking out the back end.

"So, what do you want us to do?"

"I want you to be a little friendlier. Be a little more…sad, about your situation. Don't beg for sympathy, but don't reject it, either. We want them to like you as much as remember you," Winchester replied as he wiped his hands on his napkin.

"Well, we're going to be arriving soon, so I suggest you get dressed, dear," Daphnia said to me.

I decided not to mention that I already was dressed. To my standards.

"What do you suggest I wear?" I supplied.

"Something nice, not too fancy. Maybe a simple dress?" she offered. "I like what you showed up in."

"I'm not wearing a dress until I need to," I muttered as I left.

I ended up wearing a navy blue blouse and black jeans. My closet had come fully stocked. I stared at the shimmery high heels and thin, strappy sandals. My eyes drifted to the sandals I'd worn here.

I grabbed the strappy sandals and pulled them on my feet.

I was fastening the straps when Jeremy knocked on the door and said, "Come look at this, Dyla! We're pulling into the Capital. It's gorgeous, you have to come see!'

He disappeared from the doorway.

I ran after him and met him at the window.

The Capital, I thought. I can't believe it.

Back in that whole, end-it-with-thoughts groove, eh, Kimmie? Alright, fine, let it be so.

Thanks for Reading, and please HUG YOUR MOTHERS!

And, like I said, Happy Birthday, Dad, love you, too!