So even though I did not get a single review for the last chapter yesterday, I decided to post up another chapter today anyway because of the long way I'd put none of you through through winter. (No one asked me to update during those months.) Enjoy!

I'd gone to bed around 8 or 9 last night, so I was up and ready by 4 the next morning. I've never been much of a sleeper, ever since Dad died. Sleep was just an excuse to run away from all your problems. To be a coward. That's what I think. Anyway, Effie left a neat pile of clothes for me to wear today, as she was sick of my sweats and tanks, so I didn't even have to select what to wear. All I did was wash up, put on the dumb "professional" outfit, and headed out.

I looked to my right and saw Floyd and Faye being led out of their rooms by, whaddya know, Vivia and Anthul. Geez. Talk about "thirteen."
"Thirteen" is an expression people from back home use. It means lucky and unlucky at the same time. District 13 had been blown up years and years ago. They'd been unlucky to, well, explode to bits and pieces, but they'd escaped sending their children to the Games.

So at four o'clock in the morning of the first day of this year's Games, I was getting thirteen's spells. For the first time ever, I got to see my tributes face-to-face right before they were led to the helicopters. I'd have the chance to say a proper good luck to them. However, I was also encountered by Anthul. Lovely.

"Morning, Vivia," I said, pointedly not addressing Anthul. "Floyd and Faye, when you get to the arena, as soon as the countdown is over, it's best if you run away from all the chaos and blood at the Cornucopia. Trust me on that. The items will be tempting, but they're just to lure you in for a sick bloodbath."

"What did you do, Katniss?" Faye asked.

I froze. "Uh, I - I made the stupid mistake of going in. I nearly got stabbed." I didn't mention that the backpack and its contents helped me survive.

Faye glared. "But you didn't."

"Faye, take some advice from your mentor. She's trying her best to help you," said Anthul.

Nope. Not gonna work. I still refused to make eye contact with him. I don't know why I was being so rude while shunning him out. Apparently, I don't have the ability to shun someone out politely.

"If you truly do not want to go empty-handed, then make a deal with yourself. Allow yourself to go in only about twenty feet or so, pick up whatever you can, and then ditch the scene," I compromised. "Just don't stand still when the buzzer goes off. Do something. But I'd still prefer it if you just run away immediately."

"Fine. Whatever," Faye grumbled.

Nothing, said Floyd.

I studied him carefully. He had bags under his eyes and seemed pale. I rubbed his shoulder. "Listen, Floyd. When you get there, look for water. Water will be at low ground, so don't stay there too long. The higher you are, the more you can see. The lower you are, the more you can be seen." He gave me the slightest nod.

I turned my attention to Faye, despite her scowl. It could pose a threat to my own. "Faye, do what your father would do." The words hit home.

"Katniss, it's best if we go now," said Anthul. I took a step back and took one last look at my tributes. Honestly, I'd placed a target on myself this year without Haymitch. I'd gotten to know them too much. If either of them, even Faye, died at the bloodbath, I'd be absolutely devastated.
"Good luck guys. Stay alive," I said, quoting Haymitch. A few moments later, they were gone.

"Well, well, well," said Effie, making me jump. My senses had really gotten rusty lately. "That's the most emotion I've ever seen from you, Katniss. Who knew you had a heart?"

"I'm lucky it wasn't punctured twenty years ago at the Games, Effie. If I'd been killed, would you be as popular as you are now?" I countered. "And screw these clothes." I ripped off the black lace pants, white silk top, and bright orange coat with poofy shoulders and threw them at her, standing shamelessly in my underpants and the bra I was advised to wear today. "You know what? Screw this too." I took off the bra and whipped it against the wall, going in my room without any top at all. I slammed the door, leaving Effie with her jaw dropped in shock.

Ooh! Sassy Katty! Tell me what you think in the reviews! (Oh? Had I just UNINTENTIONALLY hinted you to do something? OOPS! -insert girlish laughter-)