Chapter 5:

The crowd goes crazy when they see us. Our costumes have clearly outdone everyone else. We definitely have the best stylists this year.

I can't help it, I get caught up in the excitement. I start waving and smiling at the crowd, and they're going crazy. I even blow some kisses at people, and they are all frantic to catch it. Soon, everyone is chanting 'District 7'.

I catch a glimpse of myself on one of the screens and realize that I really do look fantastic. And I also notice that Kendall and I are getting the most air time.

We soon pull up to the City Circle and wait for the remaining chariots to arrive. I can see that the Careers from 1 are giving us dirty looks because we are taking the attention away from them. This just makes me smile more. President Xavier walks out to give a speech about the Dark Days, the second rebellion, and the Hunger Games. Then it is time to head into the Training Building. The cameras show all of the tributes but linger on us longer than the rest. And then, we are inside the building away from the crowd.

We jump off the chariot and are met by Logan and Camille. He turns off our shirts and gives me hug. "You were great, Lauren. You shone tonight; literally and figuratively."

We walk towards the elevator, and I realize that Kendall isn't with us. I turn around and see him talking to the girl from 5. I don't like her, and I don't want Kendall talking to her. I go to stop him but Logan puts his arm around me and leads me onto the elevator. I sigh and push the button for floor 7.

The doors open and I'm ambushed by Cresselia. She holds me in a tight hug to the point where I almost can't breathe. "Oh you were great Lauren!" she says. "But where's Kendall?"

"Last time I saw him he was flirting with the girl from 5," I say with some resentment. There just is something about her that I don't like. I feel like she would be quick to stab you in the back if you were to become allies with her.

This only makes Stefan laugh at me, which results in a glare from me. "C'mon Lauren, let him enjoy himself during his last few days. Besides, it might be useful for you two to have some allies." I don't think he meant to, but his words brought tears to my eyes, like every time I think about how many days he has left.

Logan, of course notices this before everyone else. He pulls me into a hug and tries to comfort me. "Shh, it's going to be ok," he says as I cry onto his shoulder.

I hear Cresselia talking to Stefan quietly in the background, but I couldn't quite make out all of her words. But I could clearly hear her say "why would you say that?"

The elevator dings and Kendall steps out. "What's wrong? Why is Lauren crying?" he says right away when he sees me.

Before I could say anything, Cresselia responds. "Stefan is just an idiot and said something that upset Lauren." Hmm, maybe Cresselia isn't that bad. She did just stick up for me against my mentor.

Thinking ahead, Logan says, "Hey why don't we go watch the reruns of the opening ceremony? We can see how pretty Lauren looked." This made me cheer up slightly.

Everyone starts walking towards the living room. "Thanks Logan," I quietly say to Logan. He really is a nice guy, and he is probably the only person from the Capitol I will miss in the games. He really is sweet, nice, and hot. Wait, did I just say hot? Snap out of it Lauren, you can't start falling in love with your designer for the games. Besides, you have a boyfriend back home. He's also the one you promised to marry if you win the games.

I shake my head lightly to clear my head as I sit down. This is not the time to be thinking about stuff like that. So I focus on the chariots.

District 1 tributes are covered in gems. But that's not surprising because they supply luxury goods.

District 2 tributes are wearing some kind of warrior outfit. I guess their stylists were trying to work on the fact that the main military base of Panem is in 2.

District 3 tributes are wearing white suits with wires all over. Ugh, I would hate to be from the electronics district.

District 4. Oh. My. God. They are only wearing nets. Nets with fake fish attached to them. Those poor kids.

District 5 tributes are wearing science coats and carrying fake chemicals in vials. That is so overused. Can't anyone think of something new for the science district?

District 6 tributes are dressed as doctors. Another unoriginal thing for the medicine district.

Then Kendall and I come out. We definitely outshone everyone else with our great costumes. I look at myself and I can't believe that the beautiful person standing on top of the chariot is really me. I think of what everyone back home is thinking about me: James, Alessandra, Rosalinda, and Chris.

Then the District 8 tributes come out in some unflattering smock of different fabrics sewn together. Wow, their stylist really couldn't come up with something better for textiles?

District 9, the coal district, comes out in the usual coal miner's outfit. At least they aren't naked and covered in black dust like some years.

District 10 comes out as cows. I can't help it, I start laughing. It's just sad that they are being forced to parade in the Capitol dressed as cows.

Then lastly, District 11. They dressed the cute 13 year old girl as a flowering apple tree and the boy is a farmer. I have to say, it looks pretty good.

"Alright there you have it," says Cresselia. "Now I suggest you two go get some sleep. You have training tomorrow at 10, but I want you up earlier to discuss your strategy. Good night."

I get off the couch to go to my room, but give Logan a hug real quick before I leave. "Thanks again for everything so far." I say and he responds with a small smile. I walk down the hallway to my room but before going in I wait for Kendall with my arms crossed. He sees me and can tell right away that I'm not happy.

"What's with you talking to the girl from 5 earlier?" I ask in an emotionless voice.

His face shows he is confused about why I'm angry. "You mean Angela? I was just talking to her. She's actually really nice when you talk to her."

"Yeah well I don't like her. Something about her just seems like she'll stab you in the back at some point." I was starting to get frustrated that he wasn't seeing my perspective with this.

"You don't even know her so how can you say that? And I think I'm going to be allies with her, so if you still want to stay with me then you will have to deal with her," he says with a smirk.

"Urgh, fine! But it's your death then!" I say and slam my door in his face. I was so frustrated that I just took of my costume, threw it on the floor in a pile, and crawled into bed in my undergarments.

I don't know how long I slept for, but I woke up sometime during the night. I tried to fall back asleep but my mind was thinking about too many things; everyone at home, the girl from 5, Angela, and then Logan. At some point I gave up on falling back to sleep and took a shower to get ready for the day. I grabbed the clothes that had been placed on my bed and put them on. It was definitely something Logan picked out.

I walked out to the dining room and served myself breakfast and watched the sun rise over the Capitol. Soon everyone was out, but I ignored Kendall.

Stefan came over and immediately got right down to business. "So, how do you want to be trained? Individually or together?"

I think of last night and I automatically say, "Separate." I don't even let Kendall discuss it with me.

"Alright, it's decided then. So today in training I want you try out all of the stations except your strong point. I don't want the other tributes to see what you are capable of. So that means no ax station for you, Lauren." I was extremely disappointed by this, but Stefan does have a point.

The next two days pass by quickly. I spend time at each station except for axes, and my fingers were itching to get ahold of the fancy axes. I learned which plants are edible, how to set snares, tie knots, make fishing hooks. I even worked a bit with spears and the bow and arrows, but it didn't go that well. My knife throwing is pretty accurate though. At some point I was at the same station as the friends from 8, Gabriella and Lucius. I guess I kinda made an alliance with them, or at least agreed to work with them if the situation arises.

But now, it's the last day of training and it's time for the private sessions. I can't wait to get my hands on those axes. I wait impatiently, and finally it's my turn. I walk in and head straight towards the axes. Oh, the wonderful axes they have. I pick up a double sided ax. I also grab some knifes. I stand in the center of the room and throw the knives right at the dummies, landing perfectly in its chest. Then I throw the ax at it and decapitate it. I grab another ax and I jump, go into a roll, and throw the ax at another dummy, and the ax landed right where the heart would be. After this move, some of the gamemakers clap, and the head gamemaker thanks me and dismisses me.

I feel rather confident about how I did and head up to my floor. Stefan and Cresselia are both waiting for me. "Well, how did it go?" Stefan asks.

"I did exactly what we planned. Most of them looked rather impressed," I say.

"Good, good. Now, you have a couple of hours before they announce the scores so you're free to do whatever you would like," Cresselia says. I decide to go take a nap.

I wake up from someone shaking me, and I expect it to be Cresselia. But instead I open my eyes and see Logan. "Hey Lauren," he says with a smile. "It's time for them to announce the scores."

I get up and walk with Logan into the living room and see that everyone else is there. "It's about time she woke up," Stefan says quietly in an annoyed voice.

"Nice to see you to Stefan. Glad to see that we are a bundle of sunshine today." Ha, that should wipe the smirk of his face. It's so much fun being sarcastic to him.

The seal of Panem appears on the screen and we all stop talking.

District 1 girl: 9. District 1 boy: 10.

District 2 girl: 10. District 2 boy: 10.

District 3 girl: 5. District 3 boy: 5.

District 4 girl: 8. District 4 boy: 9.

So far I'm not surprised about the scores; the Careers always get between 8-10, and the District 3 tributes look relatively weak.

District 5 girl: 9. I knew Angela has the potential to be like a Career, and this just proves it. District 5 boy: 5. I feel bad for the poor boy from 5, since he's only 12.

District 6 girl: 6. District 6 boy: 5.

Then my face is on the screen. And then the number 10 is flashing. Holy crap! A 10? That's as well as the best Careers! Then Kendall is shown. He managed to get an 8. I raised my eyebrows at him, but quickly turned back to the tv to see the rest of the scores.

District 8 girl: 7. District 8 boy: 7. I'm happy for Gabriella and Lucius for getting good scores, it might mean that they can survive longer.

District 9 girl: 6. District 9 boy: 4. Now that's just pathetic, getting a 4 for a score.

District 10 girl: 6. District 10 boy: 7.

District 11 girl: 7. I'm not sure how that small girl got such a high score. Then lastly, District 11 boy: 9. He is definitely going to be one to watch out for.

Cresselia and Stefan are congratulating Kendall and I on our scores. Logan gives me a big hug and a smile. We then head into the dining room for dinner. After I head to my bedroom to take a shower. And before I go to sleep, I go to Kendall's room to find out what exactly he did in his private session.