Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, I only own the characters I create like Lily, Brandon, Rue, and any others I create

Alliance

Lily's POV

I realized soon that I was crying again, I was whispering Rory and Anne's names over and over again. Wishing that they were here with me, that they could help me. But they can't, the Capitol took them away from me. I looked up to see concerned faces looking at me. Even Brandon looked slightly confused. Effie came over to me and spoke into the microphone she had.

"Why are you crying and speaking quietly?" she asked, her voice rising. I don't have to tell them this is my own personal grief. I took the microphone, ready to make my own personal rebellion.

"How many of you remember the previous two Hunger Games?" I asked the crowd. I saw them all nodding, great. "Well, two of the people I loved the most went into those Games and never came out. My best friend went in two years ago, his name was Rory Halls. He was the most amazing person I have ever met. He always took care of me, defended me." I looked at the hills again remembering the happiest days of my life were spent with him, then I realized what his last words were. Before the Reaping I received a Valentine from an anonymous person. It had the most beautiful poem on it. It was signed off, 'I will always be there for you, like I am now no matter what. I love you.' I broke down crying on the stage I was sitting down now. It was from Rory, he smiled when I showed it to him and he saw how much joy it brought me.

I could have sat there for an eternity crying over him, but there was still Anne. "Then last year," my voice was cracking now. "Anne Everdeen was chosen for the Games. She was smart. But she made a huge mistake, FALLING FOR A RETARD WHO DIDN'T EVEN CARE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER!" I yelled into the microphone. I was almost done anyways. "She was kind and loving towards me, I guess what I'm trying to say is that, I'll never heal from losing those closest to me. And when we watch the Games, think about the fact that all the families of those who go feel the same way. I loved them, and there's so much I wanted to tell them. One of which being that I was happier than I have ever been in my life when I got my first Valentine that said 'I love you'. And the boy who gave it to me died before I could even say thank you." I cried harder than ever now, releasing those feelings I've kept bottled up for years has finally taken its toll.

I gave Effie the microphone and she patted my shoulder, I saw her wipe a tear away from her face. She returned to the Reaping Balls, ready to pull out the final name for the girls.

"Sunflower Everdeen" she called, her voice cracking, I looked over to see she was sobbing. Sunny ran up the steps to me and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, I realized I had to be strong for her and Rue. I pulled myself together and sent her to her spot.

"Sunflower, hmm that's a nice name." Effie chimed, Sunny looked angry.

"I prefer Sunny" she said stubbornly, Effie looked surprised,

"Ok then Sunny, do you have a boyfriend? Everyone sees your beauty and wonders." Sunny looked angry, she had sworn off boys after she realized they were using her due to her being famous.

"Nope, don't want one either. Boys, most of them, are lying cheating scum or so I have experienced." She looked directly at the boys who had broken her heart.

"Ok then, onto the boys." I looked back to the hills and blocked out the boys names and questions, not wanting to know what they were saying. Instead I remembered Rory's interview.

'Rory Halls District 12' they called loudly over the speakers. My eyes were glued to the T.V. screen. My mom was at the Games this year. I made her swear to take care of Rory.

'Hello Rory' Claudius Templesmith spoke clearly. Rory just looked at him silently. 'Well then, do you have anyone special waiting for you at home?' Rory looked at the camera,

'Yes I do' was all he said.

'Who' Claudius asked,

'My best friend and the girl I really want to see again.' Claudius' eyes softened slightly,

'That's good, but what if you don't return, what will happen to her?' Rory looked at him,

'I don't know. She might not feel the same way about me as I feel about her.' I was screaming at the T.V. wishing I could tell him that I cared for him. But I was left helpless, left in District 12. Then the buzzer sounded and Rory walked away.

"Thank you, and good luck to the District 12 Tributes of the 92nd Hunger Games!" Effie yelled loudly. We were all escorted into the Capital Building. There were so many of us, they didn't have enough rooms, so we were all shoved into a large room where we would meet our family and friends.

My alliance joined me in a group. We knew our parents weren't coming, they were already aboard the train awaiting our arrival. I had Rue on my lap, Sunny on my right and Roy on my left. We weren't the best alliance but we all had skills. The first person to come in didn't surprise me at all. Christina ran through the doors straight to Brandon, I looked away and was shocked, there in the door way was my dad. He was looking at Brandon, his eyes asking the question, wasn't he with you last night? I could only nod at his question. His eye brows creased in frustration. I ran and gave him a hug. He smelled like the mines, I have refused to go into them since I first started school. They terrified me, especially since my grandpa dies in a mining accident.

"I thought you weren't allowed to visit me." I stated, looking at him,

"I wasn't supposed to, but I'm here." He said quietly, I called Sunny over and we all hugged for about five minutes.

"I have to get back before I get in trouble" my dad said angrily. I nodded and gave him one last hug before he left me, possibly forever. I looked back at everyone else, I walked back over to my group sorrow already taking its toll on me.

"Who was that?" CJ asked me curiously, I smiled at him.

"That was my dad, he had to get back to the mines." Roy nodded kindlybut CJ looked confused.

"Why does he work in the mines?" he asked.

"He didn't want to sit around all day, he wanted everyone to know he was strong." I smiled at the thought. I looked at the door, than Aunt Prim ran into the room crying. I looked at Sunny and we ran to meet her. I hugged them both vigorously wishing I could freeze time and live in this moment forever. But to soon the peacekeepers walked in and said that it was time to get on the train. I looked at Prim. She was a single mother who was losing her only daughter to the Games. I hugged her

"Don't worry, I'll protect her." I whispered in her ear.

"Don't try to be the hero all the time. You can't save everybody." That was the end of our conversation. We were escorted to the train by a large group of Peacekeepers. I looked up and thought I recognized the boy. He had gold hair and gray eyes. He looked at me sadly,

"Good luck Lily." He said under his breath, oh my god. I gasped, and he gave a sad smile

"Cory?" I asked quietly, and he nodded. Cory was Rory's brother, after Rory died in the Games Cory disappeared and now I know where he went. I began to walk quicker, the train was only a few yards away. But Cory grabbed my wrist, forcing me to turn towards him.

"I didn't choose this. And thank you for making him known again, everyone remembers the Victors. But no one remembers those who never left that arena alive." I was stunned all I could do was stare at him. Then I made a snap decision. I gave him a quick hug, and that was our only good-bye. I looked away then, we were at the train now.

There were cameras everywhere now. They were following our every mood and expression. I tried to keep my face as emotionless as possible, and I was succeeding. I grabbed Rues' hand and pulled her and Sunny with me into the train. I had them sit down on the bench away from the windows so the cameras couldn't get their photos.

"Go ahead cry." I told them quietly, "just do it quick before they can get more pictures. Tonight we'll have a sleep-over in one of the rooms. Just be sure to avoid the boys aside from those in our alliance so far." Just then I saw my mom, she was walking towards us. She looked at me sadly,

"Where are all the boys?" she asked confused, I looked outside and saw Roy and CJ trying to get into the train. While the other boys were… Posing for the cameras! I growled under my breath, but everyone heard. I walked outside the train, all the cameras were immediately trained on my face. I walked over to Roy and CJ, CJ was crying, hard. I took his hand and led him towards the train. Roy quietly followed us, I looked up and decided to say something that would piss them all off.

"Oh," I turned around raising my voice "by the way, if you flirt with ANY of the girls from the other districts, their male tributes will RIP YOUR HEADS OFF!" they all looked at me, surprised by my outburst, then to my surprise, yet again, wow this is getting annoying. Two of the boys, merchant boys, walked over to me and smiled at me kindly.

"Alliance" one asked. His eyes glinted as he spoke, I smiled at him,

"Sure, but I have the other girls inside so I need to go now." I walked up the stairs to the train still holding onto CJ's hand without looking back at the scene unfolding. I grew up in the spot-light. But I was never a fan of the Capitol and I would never pose for their entertainment.