I sit in the lounge cart with Effie doing my makeup, we wait for Haymitch and Alexander to arrive but after a few minutes Effie sends me to find Haymitch. She says that my face looks more beautiful than ever but when I look at my reflection I don't even recognise myself.

I find Haymitch at the back of the train leaning on the railing, looking out with a pint of beer in his hand.

"You know sweetheart this has got to have been one of the most stressful train rides I have ever been on."

I just laugh. He turns to me and jumps,

"What?" I ask

"I didn't recognise you, here." He passes me a towel,

"Go rub that makeup off your face before she turns you into a doll."

"Okay." I say obediently and start to rub the makeup off.

With the makeup gone he starts talking again.

"I love your dress, give us a twirl!"

I spin around in a circle and Haymitch laughs,

"Wait till loverboy gets a load of this, he will have his tongue hanging out of his mouth literally!"

"Will he?"

"It's just a saying but he will think you look amazing, no doubt about that."

"Oh well, I will just have to ignore him." I brush Haymitch's comment aside much to his pleasure.

"Remember to go out there with a big smile, treat the Capitol people like they're are you closet friends. Laugh with them and smile with them, imagine that being reaped is the best opportunity in your whole life and most of all act strong. You understand?"

"..." I don't know what to say as the realisation hits me full in the face again.

"Come on we need to get our suitcases, we will be arriving soon." Sensing that I don't want to say another word on the subject he changes it for me and leaves.

We get our suitcases and wait in the lounge, but Alex still doesn't arrive. Everyone is calm and acts like he doesn't even exist, so I think to myself that maybe it's time to go and find him. I go to get up and Effie asks me where I am going to, I reply that I am going to find Alex but she tells me to sit down and let Haymitch get him. Effie walks over looking quite concerned, she sits next to me and takes my hand.

"What's wrong Effie?"

"Nothing, I just need to have a little chat with you."

"Oh, well okay then." I answer cautiously.

"Have you ever fallen in love or had a boyfriend?"

"No, why?" I ask suspiciously.

"Well Haymitch and I thought of a strategy."

"Yes, I am listening." I reply to her unusual tone of voice.

"We think you should do what your mother did… be in a relationship with the other tribute, just for show of course. We have already talked to Alex about it and we asked him to stay clear until we told you, he thinks it's a great idea!"

"Well why you couldn't of told us together?! And obviously he would like the idea!" I shout, completely annoyed that I was left out of their conversation when my life is hanging by a thread and that they would go to him before me.

"It isn't that easy you see telling you ideas at the same time-"

"I don't care; I am not putting on a show that will backfire on me!" I pronounce clearly as the train pulls up at the Capitol.

Effie doesn't look back at me.

"Alright everyone we are here!" She squawks, trying to lighten the mood.

Haymitch and Alex walk out into the lounge,

"Hey sweetheart!" Alex says and comes over for a hug, but I walk away. Haymitch sniggers to himself in the background but as soon as Effie turns around he makes an over-exaggerated huffing sound.

As we get ready to leave the train, we hear shouting from the Capitol residents, Alex waves out the window as they all line up waiting for us to get off. Alexander walks up to me and grabs my suitcase,

"Here let me take that honey."

"Don't call me that!" I shout, "And I can take my own suitcase thanks!" I snatch it back and stand up straight beside him.

"Please children" Effie says "As soon as we get off your personal feelings go behind closed doors… The cameras will start rolling soon. Even if the hunger games haven't started!"

"Yes!" Adds Alex, "So let me take your suitcase."

I decide that if he carries on being like this I will whack him over the head with my suitcase and Haymitch can see it in my expression so he says,

"Alexander, I will take your suitcase and Effie you can take Charley's!"

"Okay..." Effie replies uneasy at the thought of carrying something.

Author's note: Thank you all for reading! I know I've said this before but it may seem like nothing has changed in the first book but a lot will in the second, when I edit it. Thank you for listening to me drown on - Now onto nicer things :) I watched The Hunger Games again tonight and my heart still beats fast! Every time I watch, listen or read you can guarantee that my heart is going ten to the dozen! Comment if you feel the same! :)