I hurry back once the chariots make it back to the Training Centre, but Haymitch places his hand on my shoulder to slow me down."Give them a moment."

Katniss and Madge are talking to a girl from Nine, Demeter, and a girl from Ten I think is called Elise. Still keeping an eye on them, I allow Haymitch to lead me around to talk to other victors instead.

We walk towards the District Five chariot to Jules, Amber's mentor from last year, who's talking to Chaff and Seeder from Eleven.

I know Chaff by sight because I've spent years watching him pass a bottle back and forth with Haymitch on television. He's dark skinned, about six feet tall, and one of his arms ends in a stump because he lost his hand in the Games he won thirty years ago. I'm sure they offered him some artificial replacement, but I guess he didn't take it.

The woman, Seeder, looks almost like she could be from the Seam, with her olive skin and straight black hair streaked with silver. Only her golden brown eyes mark her as from another district. She must be around sixty, but she still looks strong, and there's no sign she's turned to liquor or morphling or any other chemical form of escape over the years.

Jules is brunette with brown eyes, rather short, only a few inches taller than me, really, and must have won around the time I was born, seeing as she looks to be around forty.

First Jules, then Seeder hug me before we even exchanges greetings.

"Their families?"I whisper and they both smile."They're fine."

I breathe a sigh of relieve, exchanging some pleasantries with all three victors, but that's about all the time we have before Capitol attendants are firmly directing us toward the elevators. I get the distinct feeling they're not comfortable with the camaraderie among the victors, who couldn't seem to care less.

Effie and the stylists have already taken Madge and Katniss upstairs, so I end up entering an elevator with Haymitch, Olive, and Johanna Mason from District Seven. I didn't get to meet her on my Victory Tour, so I figure she must be somehow linked to the brewing rebellion, or atleast that Snow views her as a possible danger. Before I can say anything, Johanna adresses Olive."Nice costume. I like the gold." She pauses just long enough for an oddly flustered Olive to stutter out a 'thank you'."My tributes were ridiculous. Again. Trees, for shouting out loud. They never even bother anymore."

Then she turns to me."Of course, your sister hit the stylist jackpot."

"That we did,"I reply, smiling. But by then, she's already of the subject."You have your alliance figured out yet? I don't know why I bother, the two we have this year are hopeless."

"Not selling them very well, Mason,"Haymitch says with a grin. Johanna smirks back at him."As if you'd believe me if I make them out to be fighters, Abernathy. Might try to set Willow up with Elise, who knows. But I don't think I can get her into one of the real alliances."

The real alliances, that's what they call the tributes who actually have a fighting chance. Most years, it's only the careers.

"What about you?"Haymitch asks Olive. The girl frowns at him, suddenly defensive."What about me, old man?"

I can barely stiffle a chuckle and Johanna doesn't even bother."You're not with the Careers. So you going to try it by yourself or what?"

Olive gives half a shrug."Worked for you, didn't it?"

"Because I was underestimated,"Johanna says casually."You're from Two. They saw your siter last year. On your own, you're dead meat. Cashmere's girl is itching for your blood."

The girl from Two doesn't seem bothered by this."Just like Diana, then. And if you don't mind, I'll worry about Two before I even consider worrying about One."

"Well, our tributes haven't set their alliance in stone yet,"I cut in as the doors open on Olive's floor."Just so you know."

"She could win, normally,"Johanna remarks as the doors close again. I don't have to ask what she means. Olive is on Snow's list right up there with Katniss."Then again, you weren't supposed to win either, kid."

Once on our floor, we walk into the dining room, where everyone else is already waiting. As if on cue, two avoxes enter the room. Katniss's eyes widen in horror at the sight of Lavinia, but I have no time to wonder about it before the second avox steps out of the shadows hiding his face.

Darius.

)o(

school is killing my heart help me

dunno if next week is doable for me in terms of updates, as it is the day before finals ugh