Just a quick little update. Review, and leave constructive criticism please!

The next day, the tributes trained as planned. What the Game-makers failed to realize was that the structure of the games themselves was being concocted before they even began. The rise and fall of the hyped emotions of the tributes cleared a distinct path - the makers were too preoccupied worrying about unimportant business, therefore not noticing what rightfully should have been. It was suggested by a meek, timid young man in his early twenties that each tribute train individually. But alas, he possessed no power and his ideas were disregarded. Point across, the tributes continued clearing a path, even as the path wasn't most prominent at the time.

*.*.*

Blake was beginning to become paranoid at Lettie, but couldn't quite direct his train of thought at her. Mollie was shining a dart at the same location she'd stood yesterday, as the day before.

His mind raced with options and questions, motives and concerns. He knew one way or another he wanted to talk to Mollie - at the very least - or maybe get into a conversation that held some meaning. If they all were to die, she should at least know how he felt. And besides, all the way over here, Blake could piss Ethan off with ease - and cease to face the fear of getting beaten from Mollie's boyfriend. A beating wasn't what had him worried anymore. Certain death - a little bit.

He drew in a breath, but couldn't bring himself to it. He waited another ten minutes, glancing around the vast, dark gym.

Then, ever to slightly, he shuffled his feet across the floor, inches at a time. Although Blake had known Mollie for years, she probably didn't know him. He was always afraid to talk to her, always nervous and too much of a coward. As he maneuvered through the equipment, his heart burst into flames. It skipped a beat, and made up for it in the next passing seconds. Racing, soaring. A rush of adrenaline like a stream of oil catching fire; his heart burst into flames.

He'd waited so long for this moment - he'd always wanted to get up the courage to talk to her. And what better moment. Actually, there weren't any more moments - none to spare.

He stuttered her name like it was his last word. Blake spoke with longing, but was Mollie really smart enough to notice?

"Mollie?"

She cocked her head to the side, brushing the hair out of her face. "Blake, right?"

He nodded and swallowed.

"What's…up?"

"Hey…" he managed

"Stop trying to waste my time," she declared like she was onto him for something.

"I…like…you," he quietly spewed a drop of spit onto the cement. This had gone a lot smoother in his head. But also in his head, he'd had enough time. Now he was out and all he had left were actions and words and hopefully the remainder of the world could understand. Maybe they would. Maybe she would.

"Excuse me?" she asked in a semi-awkward turn, facing him as well as her poison darts. Obviously they were only filled with food coloring.

"I like you," Blake spoke clearer, gathering his thoughts. Although he looked like a fool standing in front of her. Maybe she wasn't up for this sort of drama. Blake's world was a deep pool of maybe's - tidal waves thrashing against the walls and persuading them to collapse.

Mollie didn't know what to say. She wasn't blushing - it didn't appear as she even cared. She wasn't going to remember his words, his face. She recognized he was from her district, but left it at that. Unless he proved to be a serious competitor, his actions were mute.

Her lack of caring response was what Blake dreaded the most and he contemplated turning away.

Mollie wasn't the type to not care and she hated hurting feelings. Inside, her heart still clung to a sense of childhood innocence. She cringed. "Wait," she sighed inaudibly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I said."

She clenched a small fist. This was getting nowhere.

"I mean that I…really, really like you."

"Ok. Um."

"Since I was a little kid."

A tiny, forced smile did nothing to brighten the awkward mood. Neither really knew how to act.

As most semi-mature relationships went, when someone thought someone else liked them, the first tended to like them back. It was the general way the human brain worked. The first person started to notice the second, and soon began to point out their good features. The process soon continued. It was generally the way relationships worked out.*

It was the way Blake hoped that Mollie would soon like him back. Alas, the process took time. And there was none.

For Mollie, all of this was just awkward. "I'm sorry Blake, I have a boyfriend. I think it's really sweet that you like me though," she smiled a little more sincerely, but it faded.

"You mean Ethan?"

"Yes…" she didn't know whether to be creeped out or flattered. She supposed she and Ethan were inseparable at the least. Therefore, Blake had probably seen them together more than once.

Blake couldn't help himself. "He's not your boyfriend! You don't even like him! The only reason that you two are together are because he rescued you from poverty or something! That doesn't mean that you love him!"

"I owe him my life," she squeaked.

"You don't love him! That's not love! Your forcing yourself into this twisted relationship, it's just plain stupid!"

"Love isn't stupid," she whispered through glassy eyes.

"You don't love him!" he bellowed, loud enough for the guards to hear. One of them advanced forward and took him arm.

As they dragged him away in fury, he noticed Mollie had dropped the dart, whereas it shattered to the floor. A tear streaked down her face. What had he done?

*.*.*

This had been Kanina's second day in training. She'd barely done a thing, just thrown a few knives and practiced with a bow and arrow. She'd really wanted instruction, but didn't know where to turn. There were supposed to be instructors at every station guiding the tributes and showing them the proper way. But the bow and arrow station remained vacant.

Kanina supposed it'd be wise to find somebody. Maybe they'd forgotten, or you just needed to ask. But Kanina had always had trouble asking for help.

She pondered what strategy she wanted to use in the games. Maybe she'd run for it. Maybe she'd join the careers. But the latter seemed unrealistic and Kanina's future was vague. What she truly wanted was an alliance - someone to struggle through the hardships with, though it didn't seem likely at this point.

She beckoned with her eyes to everyone who passed. The stress was getting to her head. She would settle for anyone.

A particular girl with cat shaped eyes and straight hair in a flawless tight bun seemed to sense Kanina's desperation.

She flowed over to wear Kanina was hunched in a chair. She looked up at the girl.

"I'm Elizabeth. But no-one calls me that. They call me Liz. Well, actually, everyone calls me Kat," she'd obviously told this story before.

"I'm Kanina."

"You look kind of lost over here," she suggested lightly.

Kanina murmured something.

Kat crouched down in a swift motion. "Would you want to be in an alliance with me?"

Kanina looked up, a light in her eyes. "Yes," she nodded, trying to hide the desperation.

"You have to swear on your family's life and yours that you'll honor it. If we're the last one's, we split up. We never turn on each other."

"Ok, I swear," Kanina nodded. "Who is this 'we', just us?"

Kat thought for a moment. "I say we ask Scarlette, too. The bigger the numbers, the more likely we'll make it."

"Why Scarlette?"

"I've been thinking about it. None of us are very powerful - alone. You agree."

Kanina looked around, and subtly gestured to Gretelda. "What about her," they spoke silently. "I've seen her. She looks nice."

Kat shook her head. "I saw her with the instructor earlier. She knocked him out."

"With what?"

"Hand to hand combat."

"Well hey, if this is going to work, we need all the power we can get, right? And it can't hurt asking her. So why not?" Kanina insisted.

"We can't let her know our plans. What if she says no?"

"I don't want anyone to be alone in the arena. Not like I thought I was going to be."

Kat sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ask her. If this jeopardizes anything, she dies first, got it?"

Kanina sneered. "Go ask whoever. Scarlette, Maya. What about that Aqua girl?"

"Are you crazy, she's a total career!"

"What about guys? Lets pick the cutest ones," Kanina teased.

Kat crossed her arms and tried to smile. She wanted to hide. "Go ask Gretelda."

Kanina did as instructed.