DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of THG characters or the book.

"Dessity?"

I took a bite of my sandwich and turned towards James, "What?"

"Today's the day."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, today is our sixth day of training, and that means – from what Felicity has told me - that tonight we are going to have an interview with Caesar Flickerman."

I set my sandwich down, "You mean the Huger Games talk show host?"

James nodded, "Yep."

I swallowed, I tried not to look nervous, over the week I had practiced with the bow, and daggers, I had excelled, and I convinced Miri that I was more confidant.

James' face fell, "That means that I have to get "pampered" again."

I laughed, "Me too."

James smiled and sat down next to me, it felt so natural to have him next to me, like I had known him forever. I smiled back stupidly as James started to lean in, I closed my eyes and –

"Lunch break is over!" I heard Felicity call from somewhere in our apartment.

I jumped back into reality and looked down at my sandwich, "Let's go."

James nodded and his voice shook, "Yeah, um… ok."

I stood up, handed my plate to an Avox girl, and then I wiped the bread crumbs off of my training suit. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, and I told myself that I couldn't go soft again, I couldn't fall for James.

"Ready?" James said, he was standing in front of the elevator.

"Yep…" I smoothed my hair back and walked over to the elevator.

(Later on)

"Dessity!"

"What?"

I could barely make out the words that Miri was saying, but it sounded something like, "DUCK!"

I swooped down lower just as something went flying over my head, I turned and glared down at Miri, "REALLY?"

She blushed, "Sorry, I lost grip of the dagger!"

I sighed, "I guess I wont get to try and shoot an arrow from the air."

Miri shook her head, "Whatever, just try it."

I nodded, took a deep breath, reached into my quiver, grabbed a arrow, loaded it, and then I was there again. In my own little world, about to shoot a deadly, but delicate arrow, I can't explain the power I felt as the string slowly slipped past my fingers. There was a thump, and I looked down, my arrow had punctured the dummies head, right on target.

"Nice shot," I heard James say behind me.

I turned around and saw James with a spear, I could see his wings tense up as he concentrated on flapping; finally he threw his spear at the dummy I had shot. The spear went straight through the dummies chest, I could feel anger rising inside of me, and it finally burst.

"Why don't you go show off somewhere else, on a dummy that isn't already being used as a target!" I yelled at him.

He flew backwards in surprise, "Dessity – "

"Go – go away!" I yelled.

"Dessity what –"

"I said go, you're a distraction," I couldn't look him in the eye.

I could see the hurt through James eyes in my mind; I was shaking as he slowly flew away from me.

I heard Miri grunt, and I looked down at her, "What?"

"You just lost your chance with that boy," Miri was clearly humored.

"I never was – he – I – we never –"I felt hot tears well up in my eyes.

"You never what?"

I reached for another arrow, "Never mind."

(Later on)

I gasped as Crinso tightened my dress, "Too tight, TOO TIGHT!"

Crinso smiled, "You have to look your best, the dress looks wrinkly when it's loose."

I sighed, Parksitch was pulling at my hair and putting sparkly things in it as Mellok and Starlit were fussing over the wrong color of lipstick.

"And… there," Crinso stepped back, "It's perfect."

I looked down at the dress, I was surprised, it wasn't white… or black, it was a dark purple, with sequence that circled the blouse, and sparkles that adorned the skirt.

"Wow Crinso… this is – " I turned to look at him but Parskitch pulled my hair.

"Stop, I need to put the pearls, and gems in just right, stop moving around!"

I groaned, then a felt a prick on both of my wings, "Are you putting pearls on my – "

"It was to be a surprise!" Starlit pouted.

I pushed Parskitch away with a small smile, "I want to see my wings."

Parskitch sighed, "Your hair and wings are pretty much done anyway."

I slowly walked over to the big mirror, I saw a girl with curly dirty blonde hair that had pearls and gems in it, she was wearing a purple dress that sparkled with every movement, and most of all… she had wings. It took a me a second to realize that this was actually me, with the sparkly wings and the flavorful dress, I was baffled.

"Are you ready to go?" Crinso asked behind me.

I nodded, "Yep… I mean… of course I am."

I turned around and hooked arms with Crinso, who was smiling proudly at my dress as he led me out to the lobby and out of the training centre. When we got into the train I met James, who almost died when I walked in, I tried my best to ignore him. Felicity came in about two minutes later and smiled at us, she motioned for us to sit down, which meant that we were going to talk.

"Now, here's the plan… we don't want you to be known as the two bird kids… we want you to be known as the Star crossed lovers with wings…" Felicity stopped to let what she just said to sink in.

"Wait – what?" James said.

"This tactic has been used many times, it helps you get sponsors, and it helps you get people on your side."

I sat back in my chair, great, I had just said that I would never let myself fall for James, I had practically screamed at him at training… and now they wanted me to act like I loved him.

"So… we just say we love each other… and end of story?" I asked.

"Let's hope so, that will make it easier," Felicity said.

"Thanks for telling us ahead of time instead of just announcing that we were in love," James said.

I rolled my eyes, then I stopped and smiled at myself, just one day of being stronger and more like a fighter and I was already doing pretty well.

"James, you will get interviewed first, and then you will Dessity," Felicity nodded.

"Got it, now are we ever going to leave?" I asked.

Felicity smiled, "Why – we're almost there."

I couldn't look at James, no, maybe I did love him for real, but I couldn't let him know that, I would get soft again, so soft that I would be mushy. So I just looked at my skirt and traced the sequence.

"We're here!" Stella came out of nowhere.

I stood up and James immediately rushed over and took my hand, we walked over to the door, and when we got out I jerked my hand away.

Felicity led us to a door and motioned for us to go inside, "When you walk in you will officially be backstage."

I walked through first, with James, Stella, Crinso, and Felicity trailing after me. I could see the other tributes back there, Miri was wearing a blue dress, and her hair was styled up in a bun, also that small blonde girl that Miri had helped the other day was there, she ran over to me.

"Your name is Dessity right?" She asked in a high pitched voice.

I nodded, and she smiled, "I – I'm Dawn Sage, Miri – Miri over there is going to help me."

"What do you mean?"

"I just wanted to let you know – to let you know that I'm an ally," and then she walked away.

"So you're the bird girl huh?" I heard someone else say.

It took me a few moments to realize that someone was talking to me, I blinked and noticed a boy with brown hair.

"Hi – I mean yes – it's Dessity," I smiled.

The boy winked, "Well… don't listen to any of the careers, I bet their just jealous of your wings."

I blushed, "Thanks – and – I won't."

"By the way – I'm Aden," He nodded as he walked away.

I started to walk over to Miri, when a voice came over a loud speaker, "HELLO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Haha how are you? Haha, well tonight we get to meet this years tributes, I'm Caesar Flickerman, and help me welcome Emma Lander from District One!"

The crowd roared as a girl with black curly hair swiftly walked out onto the stage, "Hello Ceasar, how are YOU?"

Caesar laughed, "Very, very, good, you know… I'm glad to be here!"

Emma gave a small fake laugh, "Me too Caesar, me too!"

"Now, tell me a little bit about your District," Caesar smiled.

Emma batted her eyelashes, "Well, in my District I'm pretty used to the fancy clothing that I'm wearing, to me they're just normal clothes!"

"You must be very fashionable!" Caesar gave a cheeky grin.

"Oh shush – yes I am actually, but the real thing that pops out about me are my fighting skills," Emma smiled at the crowd and winked.

"Oooooh, looks like we have a fighter!"

Emma smiled sweetly, "I also just wanted to put in… I am going hunting for birds in the arena."

"Good source of meat," Caesar smiled.

I knew that Emma didn't mean actual birds… she meant me… and James.

"Thank you Emma Lander!" Caesar said in a singsong voice as Emma walked off of stage.

Mason Cartly from District One went on next, he was serious but funny, I wasn't to crazy about him. Janan Cors and Sapphire Raremity from Two went next, it was obvious that they were careers. After that was Three, Carter Wepple and Daylyn Arch, both supposedly fast runners. Four was next small blonde Dawn Sage went before Josh Gran, who was a harsh looking career. Five had a tiny thirteen year old girl named Diana Jane, who had red curly hair and green eyes, she looked scared to death, she was also the total opposite as John Bright, also from Five… who wasn't so… bright. Daren and Stella Harpp went on next from Six, they were brother and sister, probably twins, they were both tall and they both hard curly dark hair. Lila Jord and Jared Rock went on as well, (From Seven) then came Twilight Ross and Maren Leigh, Maren talked about Twilight a lot, he wanted to protect her. Nine was next, after that was James' turn to go up, Nine consisted of a twelve year old and an eighteen year old, the twelve year old was a career.

"Now, I would like to welcome up… James Mellor!" The crowd cheered.

James looked at me before he went onstage; it was a look of longing, a look that I wanted to ignore.

"Hello James, you look like a pretty well groomed man, tell me… do you have a lady waiting for you at home?" Caesar asked.

James smiled, "No – actually I have a lady waiting backstage for me."

Caesar gasped, "What is her name?"

"Dessity Clark."

"Why – she's from the same district as you, star crossed lovers everyone!"

James laughed, and Caesar continued, "Now… we're all begging to know about your… wings."

James smiled, "I don't really remember how I got them…" he was lying, "but I have them, and it puts me higher then everyone else."

"Thank you James Mellor, now… we all want to see the bird princess… I want to welcome Dessity Clark!"

I took a breath and walked out onto the stage, James passed me as he walked backstage, and he did the worst thing ever. He grabbed my hands and leaned in and gently kissed me before he started walking again.

"Oh!" Caesar smiled.

I walked over to the chair and sat down, "H – hello Caesar."

Caesar smiled, "How does it feel to be a star crossed lover?"

I swallowed my fear, "It's… a sickening feeling… I mean I just love him so much, and now…"

Caesar nodded, "It's hard isn't it?"

I nodded, "Yes, very, I cherish my time here with him, he is – is –" I stumbled, "he is everything to me."

I was so glad that this was all acting, everything just seemed so wrong.

"Thank you for coming out here Dessity, now… go to him," Caesar raised his hand and motioned back stage.

I nodded and let a fake tear run down my cheek as I ran back stage and jumped into James' arms, knowing that the camera's were still on me.

"Good job," Felicity whispered as the crowd broke into cheers.

I pushed James away and walked over to the door, "Can we go?"

Felicity nodded, "Yes, let's go."

James gently took my hand and whispered something to me as we walked out and boarded the train.

"I'm sorry… but I love you."

This time a real tear fell from my eye, he loved me, but I couldn't afford to love him. The words kept whispering in my head as I sat down, "Star crossed lovers… I'm sorry… but I love you."

Dang… the games are so tough on Dessity, at first when she first arrived in the Capitol she and James KNEW they were for each other, but as Dessity started to get stronger and not timid… she knew that she couldn't love him, because he was her weak spot. Makes ya think huh? R&R!

~Stargazer12256