Priscilla's meeting with Platinum sounds like it went a lot better than mine.

She's so small… She's an orphan… She's not designed to kill people. And yet, she's still going into these Games with me. This is a fight to the death, though. I can't be making any friends. Alliances, yes. Friends, no. That's one thing that I think went well for Elijah. Had he won like he deserved, he wouldn't be as depressed as this guy. Platinum made friends, and that's why he's so upset.

Then again, my best friend used to cry over scratches on Estella. He was too soft to be Ok as a Victor. That doesn't mean I don't want him alive, though. I would have him win over Platinum any day of the year, because I think he deserved it more than any of them.

My point is that, while Platinum was off hunting with his friends, Elijah talked to no one. He had a brief conversation with the little girl from Four, but only because he had a sponsor and didn't know what it was. And besides, she talked to him first. I think that was smart of him.

Later, Esperanza gathers us together to watch the reapings.

"Now now, make sure you watch very closely, and pick out any possible allies or competition!" she says. At the Academy, they had told us to take written notes for the best results, and Priscilla has out a tablet and pen already. I notice that I don't have one and wonder who gave that to her.

She looks over at me and then she scribbles down some words in her notepad.

"Can I borrow some?" I ask. Priscilla smiles slightly and says, "Wow, volunteer. I thought you'd be more prepared."

She hands me a new tablet and a pen.

"Wow, Priscilla… Thanks…"

"I live in the Academy, Nate. Don't count me out."

But when I catch a glimpse of her notes, I read: Nate McIalwain, D2: Definite ally.

I dunno how I feel about that. Suddenly the Capitol anthem blasts and I almost jump out of my seat.

"Heeeelllllooooo Capitol!" Octavian Spencer's voice rings out. Esperanza sits down in a chair and gushes, "Listen listen, you two!"

"The Hunger Games is back, and this year is guaranteed to be a spectacle! The 24 young men and women were selected just this morning, and today is the presentation of all of them to you!"

I lounge back on the couch and click the pen so frequently I get dirty looks from both girls.

"So let's go to District 1!" he says.

On the screen is the large but fairly pretty town square where the reapings are being held. Their escort is very quick about picking the names. I don't bother to pay attention to last names, but I scribble down the first names of their tributes.

Azure and Cutter: District 1

Neither of them can be a year above 16, but they're at least 14 or 15. The boy, Cutter, looks younger than the girl, Azure. She's wearing a very fluffy dress and she twirls her golden hair around her finger nervously, frowning. I write by her name, Seems ditzy.

The boy has short, choppy blonde hair and he isn't frowning but he certainly isn't smiling, either. He looks strong enough, but I still feel like I would have the advantage over him in a fight. I write by his name, Ally at most, no threat.

"Ah, District 1, the District of luxury. And what a fine pair we have there. Let's take a look at District 2!"

Priscilla and my reapings come on next. It doesn't look nearly as somber on television as it felt in real life. Priscilla's name is called and she looks like she's going to cry. Sitting next to me, the girl looks upset. Then they call Talon's name and he starts his walk up. I hate hearing my voice on television because it sounds different than I think it should sound. But I volunteer as tribute and push past Talon, running on the stage.

The 12-year-old stares up at me, brown eyes forming tears of shock. But the Peacekeepers allow it and he runs back to the group of 12-year-olds and runs into the arms of his best friend.

When it cuts back to Octavian, he looks shocked. "Would you look at that!? It appears we have a young man so proud of his District that he would volunteer to represent his home in our lovely Games! It's spectacular to see someone so excited to fight for the glory!"

Esperanza squeals. "Nate, you did such a good job! Everyone loves you already, I'm sure!"

Priscilla scowls at me from across the couch. She must be jealous.

"Oh, yes, and, uh, Priscilla, you were good, too," Esperanza adds, sounding less-than-impressed.

"What a show from District 2! Now let's go to District 3!"

When I look at the paper for the girl, it's spelled B-o-e-h. Boeh. What a when the escort pronounces it, the name sounds like, "Bay." Spelled Boeh, pronounced bay. That's weird. I write down the name and look at the girl. She has to be 17 or 18, and her obnoxiously large green eyes look everywhere at once. Looks insane, I write beside her name. Her District partner, Axis, also looks 16 or 17, and he's tall and scrawny. I simply write looks smart. Possible ally.

Melanie (4)- 16-18- Possible ally

Flounder (4)- 13-14- Dead Day 1

Volt (5)- 16-18- Possible Ally

Joule (5)- 17-18- Almost threat

Trolley (6)- 12-14- Dead Day 1

Steel (6)- 14-16- Possible threat

Juniper (7)- Has to be 12- Dead Day 1

Birch (7)- Looks older than 18- THREAT.

Spindle (8)- 12-14- Dead Day 1

Mitt (8)- 17-18- Possible Ally

Clara (9)- 16-18- Seems sweet, no threat

Jonathon (9)- 12-13- Dead Day 1

Laura (10)- 13-15- Possible threat

Buck (10)- 17-18- THREAT.

Holly (11)- Probably 12- Dead Day 1

Christopher (11) 12-14- Dead Day 1

District 12 is last, as always. It's still hard for me to remember that District 13 isn't there anymore and it's terrifying to think they were blown up.

The girl from 12 looks 17 or 18, but looks so starving she might as well be dead right then and there. I have some worries that she might eat up at the Capitol and learn a weapon, but somehow I doubt she could beat me in a fight if I had a good weapon. I'm not exactly the best with a bow but I can use it, but I really like swords. I've seen Priscilla practice with knives at the Academy, and thinking about it now is a little scary to me. The boy is picked next. Yes, he's 18, yes, he's pretty scary, but that's not the worst part.

He's an Archer.

I knew there were a lot of them, but I just now realized what that would mean for someone that was taking tesserae for his family.

I'm going into the Arena with an Archer.

Which means that I'm going into the Arena with the brother of the boy that killed my best friend.