I plead with the Peacekeepers for just one minute. One minute alone, to myself. They aren't bad people, and so they agree, but tell me to hurry up. As soon as the door is shut, I bury my face in my hands, and I don't even try to stop from crying. I don't care if my eyes will be red afterwards. I really don't care about anything anymore, just keeping Katniss alive. I guess the tears are coming from the realization that I just saw my family for the last time, and that my days on this earth are now numbered. There is also something gnawing at me, and I realize that I will have to end someone's life in the arena. I will have to kill, there is no avoiding that. Death, in itself, doesn't cause the steady flow of tears, but combined with the rest.

My minute is up, but it's okay. I have regained my composure. I stand up, and flatten out my wrinkled sleeve that I used to dry my eyes. A peacekeeper takes my right arm, and another one takes the left, while a third leads the way outside, gun in hand. When I get outside, there is a single black car, with very dark windows, so that you can't even see inside. There is the flag of District 12 on one side and the flag of Panem on the other. A peacekeeper opens the door for me and pushes my head inside as if I was going to try to escape.

I'm sitting on the right side of the vehicle. I can't see who is driving, there's a dark window between the front of the car and the back. I look to my left and realize that Katniss is sitting on the left side. She is looking out the window, with no clear expression on her face. She just looks, bored, of all things. She has her elbow rested on the side of the car below the window, and the side of her face is propped up by her left hand. She stirs, and I turn my head back immediately. I don't have anything to say.

District 12's only train station is tiny. It should be. District citizens are not allowed to leave the district, for "safety" reasons. But, some Capitol residents like to tour certain districts, and the train is the only way there, but no one comes to visit District 12. There really isn't much to look at. District 4, fishing, is on the west side of the country and it borders the Pacific Ocean. There are plenty of things to see and do there. District 2 is a huge, luxurious district that is pretty close to the Capitol itself. I heard it boasts the best skiing in the country. District 1 and 3, luxury and technology, are also good sites to see. District 1 is just above District 4, also bordering the ocean. District 3, on the other hand, sits way across the country in a place that used to be known as New York. Basically, the only times District 12's train station sees any use is for The Hunger Games, and that's about it. It's a long, but narrow, wooden shack, and very small. There is a small ticket booth, but for most of the year it is unmanned. It's only opened for the mayor when he has business to take care of in the Capitol, or for the Hunger Games.

The train station isn't nearly big enough to hold the swarm of reporters and photographers that are waiting there to interview us and take our pictures. I can tell Katniss doesn't want to deal with it, and honestly, I don't either. We are escorted out, more peacekeepers are at the station for our security. We decline to comment and try to get out of the way of the camera as much as possible. We already have interviews in the Capitol before the games, I'm sure Panem can wait until then. Fortunately, it's a short walk from where the car parked to the opening of our train.

I've never seen a train like this before. On the outside, it's a long, silver, polished piece of excellent craftsmanship. It looks like a huge silver bullet. It even has automatic doors. There are windows, but they are small. The doors open, and Katniss and I, along with Haymitch and Effie Trinket, are led inside.

The inside of the train is even more magnificent. The red carpet is extremely soft, the silverware is polished gold, and the main room's furniture is made of delicately crafted wood. To the right, is a long hallway, with 5 bedrooms. I get a quick glance inside the first room, it's still nice, but it's pretty small, and has 6 bunks attached to its walls. Immediately I think this is where Katniss and I will sleep, but then they keep going. We get to the middle of the hallway, and to our left, there are two doors, side by side. "These are your rooms. Peeta," Effie says to me, "You're on the left."

Effie opens the door, and I'm amazed. I've never even imagined anything like this. There is a big flat screen television on the right wall, with black leather couches in front of it. Directly in front of me, is the biggest bed I've ever seen. It's got a nicely crafted wooden headboard, pure silk white sheets, and a red velvet blanket. The pillows are the size of my body. I instantly want to run and jump on it, but I resist. Then, I look to my right. There is a frosted glass wall, as wide as my small bedroom back home, spanning across the entire room. Through the open frosted glass door, I see inside. It's a huge bathroom. The shower sits at the left corner, and it's big enough to hold five people in it. I see a big panel of different buttons next to the shower head, and I want to take a closer look, but I'll wait until they leave. To the right corner, is another small room, I'm guessing that's where the toilet is. And in front of me, there's a vanity, with a wooden dresser next to it.

"You like?" Effie asks. "President Snow always makes sure his tributes enjoy the best accommodations."

Well, he should, I think to myself. He's sending us to die for his entertainment. But I don't lie when I say, "I can't wait to sleep in that bed."

Effie grins politely, and tells me. "I'll leave you to get used to it. Supper is in an hour." She shuts the door behind her.

The first thing I do is fling myself up onto that bed. I lie on my back and think about taking a nap, but then get up because I remember the shower buttons. I run to the bathroom, shutting the glass door, and strip off my clothes. Immediately I get in the shower, and the top row of buttons read not only hot or cold, they have temperatures. I press the button that says 95 degrees, and it's the perfect temperature. The water doesn't even come out cold at first. Immediately I'm hosed down with the perfect temperature of water. The buttons underneath it have different water streams. I press one, and the water rains down on me. I hit another button that says "Pulsate", and immediately the water shuts off, then on again, every second. Then I hit one that says "Oscillate." The water spins in circles. The buttons below that dispense soap and shampoo directly out of the shower head, I don't have to do anything. Then I rinse it off and step out. I take a towel off the rack, and read it's tag. "100% Egyptian Cotton" I don't know what Egyptian is, but it feels amazing. Then I look at the clock in the main room, and realize I've only got ten minutes.

After getting dressed, I don't wait for Effie to collect me, I go into the dining car, and there is a nametag on the table with my name, so I sit there. I look around, Katniss will be sitting directly across from me, Effie next to her, Haymitch next to me. That's if he manages to wake his drunk behind up and get out here. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't show. I remember him telling me at the train station that he couldn't wait to take a nap. Then Effie and Katniss arrive. Effie asks me where Haymitch is, and I tell her, "Last time I saw him, he said he was going to take a nap."

Effie dismisses this when she says, "Well, it has been an exhausting day." I want to tell her that he is not exhausted, just drunk, but I bite my tongue. I don't want to get on this man's bad side.

We have several different dishes brought to us in courses. I've always had enough enough to eat, but I've never tasted food like this before. It was amazing. The smell, the taste, even the look made my mouth water. I didn't waste any time, and neither did Katniss. Effie made some remark about how last year's tributes didn't have any manners, and I knew that it wasn't because they had no manners, it was because they were probably so afraid it would disappear that they scarfed it down as soon as they could. After Effie makes this comment, Katniss immediately throws her napkin to the side, and drops her fork. She immediately starts shoving food in her mouth with her hands, then wipes her face on the tablecloth. I want to laugh so badly, but I force myself to keep quiet. However, the look on Effie's face was hysterical.

Effie takes us into another room that I hadn't noticed before. It's larger than our bedrooms, with the same couches, and a bigger tv. We sit down, and we are told that we'll be watching the reapings on the tv. Most of the tributes are fairly decent sized, especially the tributes from districts 1 and 2, who train for this their whole lives. Those districts think being a tribute is an honor. I nearly lose my supper when I see district 11's female tribute. She is only twelve, and so tiny. It's sick that she has to participate in these games.

Then, we watch ourselves being reaped on television. I thought the night would never be over. I am anxious to go to sleep and exist in a world where twelve year old children aren't sent to die for entertainment. Effie makes a comment about Haymitch not knowing how to represent our district. "He was drunk," I said, laughing. "He's drunk every year."

Then Katniss speaks to me for the first time ever. "He's drunk every day." Okay, so maybe she just added on to my comment, but that has to count for something. Effie is slightly annoyed by the fact that we are laughing. "Yes, how odd you two find it amusing. You know your mentor is your lifeline to the country in these games."

What she says is true, and I stop laughing, and a worried look comes across my face. He comes in, drunk as hell, and asks if he missed dinner, to which Effie says, "Laugh away!" Before nearly skipping out of the room.

Katniss and I pick up Haymitch's sorry ass and half-lead, half-carry him back to his room. I offer to help him get cleaned up. Katniss accepts the offer, but looks at me like she's trying to figure me out. She doesn't trust me. I know she doesn't, but then, I don't really have a reason to be upset about it, since she's never spoken to me and probably hardly remembers who I am.

"So, why did you send the girl away, want some secret pointers?" Haymitch asks me. At least, I think that's what he says, he's so drunk I can barely make out his words.

"Her name is Katniss. And no, I just have a proposition." He leans toward me, already half naked, and it kind of creeps me out. I'm glad I'm the one in here and not her, she'd either be really creeped out or just flat out punch him in the face. I smile at that thought. He needs a fist in his face right now.

"Do tell," he says.

"You can only get one of us out of there alive, and it's going to be her, you understand?" I say, sternly.

"What?" He says, in disbelief. He shakes his head and tries to focus on me. He's actually trying to listen. "Why?"

"I care about her more than you know. And she has a family who needs her. She has more to live for. And I don't want to live in a world where she doesn't exist." Haymitch laughs and puts his hand on my shoulder. "Aw, poor sap is lovestruck!"

Now I really want to punch him. "Can you focus? Listen, I need you to train us, sober. I need you to train her to survive and I need you to train me to protect her. Got it?"

"Whatever you say, kid." He passes out. I help him over to his bed and give up on helping him shower. Screw that. He can shower sober in the morning. "Good night." I say, walking out of his room.

I'm pretty much in a daze after waking up. I don't sleep very well so I wake up very early. I lie awake in my bed reminiscing on my life, and devising different ways of keeping Katniss alive in the games. When I realize it's close to breakfast, my mouth waters and I head to the dining car. Effie is with us, and Haymitch is half-sober. Katniss isn't here yet. "So!" Haymitch announces, "It seems Peeta already knows who is going to win."

"Shutup Haymitch!" I don't trust Effie. She's nice, but she is from the Capitol, and refusing to follow the Capitol's rules in the games-that is, keep yourself alive- is unheard of. I don't want him giving me away. I try to regain my composure and act like everything is fine when Katniss walks in. She looks at the steaming cup of hot chocolate before her, wondering if she should drink it. I've only had hot chocolate once before. It was winter, two years ago, and my family had been invited to the mayor's house for the Reaping day celebration. Hot chocolate was being served. I remember tasting it and thinking that's the definition of luxury.

"They call it hot chocolate," I say, "It's good." I watch her take a small sip, then chug the rest of it down, and I wonder how it doesn't burn her mouth.

I have no idea what happened to Effie. I just noticed she wasn't here. This may be a good time to scold Haymitch for being a drunk bastard. I was just about to say something, but then Katniss beat me to it. She sets down her cup, stares directly at him, and says, "So you're supposed to give us advice?"

"Here's some advice, stay alive." Ugh. What a tool.

"That's very funny," I tell him, wanting to show him that a punch in the face would be funny to me. And before I think about it, my fist is already on its way to his face. I can't stop it, but then he puts his glass of liquor in front of his face, and I smash it to bits. Katniss' jaw drops. I add, "Only not to us."

When I thought I'd made a good point, Haymitch lashed back at me, punching me in the jaw. I fall back on my chair and hit the floor. Then Katniss gets up, and, draws a knife! She plants the knife into the wooden table right between Haymitch's fingers, and the way she looked at him, I mean, if looks could kill… Then she becomes afraid, and sits back. Haymitch sits up straight in his chair and looks at me, then her, then back to me, then back to her.

"Well, what's this? Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?" I pick up some ice to put to my face, but Haymitch stops me. "No, let it bruise. You'll let the other tributes think you already got into a fight before the arena." Well, look at that, Haymitch is giving me advice.

"That's against the rules." I know, I sound like a nerd when I say it, but I can't take it back.

"If you get caught," he replies. "If you don't get caught, even better." Actually, that's kind of genius. Then he looks at Katniss. "Can you hit anything with that knife besides a table?"

I watched in awe when she launched the knife into the seam of the door. Damn. She never ceases to amaze me.

"Stand over here, both of you," Haymitch tells us. She does as he asks, so I follow as well. He looks both of us up and down, circles us, and I'm wondering what the hell he's doing, when he says, "Well, you're not entirely hopeless." Wow. Thanks.

"Seem fit." He goes on. "All right, I'll make a deal with you. You," he says, looking at me, "Don't interfere with my drinking, and I'll stay sober enough to help you." It wasn't what I wanted, no way. Once he started drinking, he doesn't stop, I don't know how he is going to stay "Sober enough", but I don't want to complain. At least we have some help.

"Fine." I say.

Katniss immediately begins asking about the games, like most tributes would; But Haymitch starts with the whole grooming thing. I guess each of us gets a stylist and a prep team when we get there- the looks help get the sponsors. I don't know why I didn't know that before, Capitol people are shallow. Of course they only sponsor lookers. He tells us that we may not like what they do to us, but we're told not to resist. At all. It kind of makes me wonder what in the hell they are going to do. I hope our hair and skin aren't dyed some weird vibrant color like some of the Capitol citizens. I don't care if that's what's "in", I think it looks ridiculous.

I watch Haymitch grab his bottle and head back to his room, and the train goes dark. Katniss walks over to the window, and I just stand there, not really knowing if I should stay or go to my room as well. Then, the darkness passes, and I realize we were going through a tunnel. "Look," She says. I walk over to the window where she is standing. Outside, it's beautiful. Snow capped mountains every where you look, and it's true, they really are majestic enough to take your breath away. The smile on Katniss face turns to a frown, and then so does mine. Because we both realize, that because we are in these mountains, we are very close to the Capitol now. Then, the Capitol slowly comes into view. It's even more powerful looking than the mountains. The Capitol building is huge, and it's colorful streets are lined with fancy houses, parks, stores, and the president's mansion. I can't look away.

When we roll into the train station, there is already a very large crowd gathered to "welcome" us. At least, that's what they think they are doing. Really, we're like their little lab rats. Still, I do my best to give the people what they want. We need sponsors, after all. So I smile, and I wave, though inside, I just want to go home.

Katniss has the most confused expression on her face, and I could tell by her eyes that she is asking me, "Why are you being friendly to them?". I shrug, and tell her, "Who knows? Maybe one of them is rich."

This is a satisfying answer, as she nods her head in agreement. When we finally come to a stop, the people disappear from view. Thankfully. I am really not in the mood for pictures, or questions right now. I'm really not in the mood for people at all; But I know I'll be meeting my stylists soon, and I have to act decent to them. I have to save my energy for that.

Katniss and I are taken into what's called The Remake Center, where we are cleaned up so we look "presentable", was the word Effie used. If her definition of "presentable" is pale, with outrageous colors everywhere, tattooes, and fake hair, I'd rather pass. Still, I am calm, and I let them do what they need to without protest. First, three stylists, I don't catch their names, sit me in a chair, and one cuts my hair; not too much, she just lines me up, and cuts an inch or so off. I have to admit, when I look in the mirror, it's much better looking. My stubble on my face is waxed, and the pain is so excruciating that I can't even begin to imagine the amount of pain Katniss is in right now. At least they leave my legs and arms alone. Then, I have makeup put on. I know how it sounds, but it's not typical makeup, they tell me. "Oh dear lots of men in the Capitol wear makeup. Not to beautify themselves, of course, just to cover blemishes."

She uses something called concealer, and puts it under my eyes, and like magic, the dark circles I've had for awhile disappear. A scar on my chin is nearly impossible to see, and even the fresh bruise I have isn't as noticeable as it was.

After my hair and face are fixed up, I'm told to strip down and get in a tub they have. As soon as I'm in, I feel so relaxed. One of the stylists tells me that I'm soaking in coarse salt from the ocean, which relaxes my muscles and helps get rid of dead skin. My skin is actually much more vibrant when I step out. Then, I'm fitted with my outfit for the opening ceremonies tonight. The head stylist, whose name is Portia, explains to me her idea.

"Your fellow tribute's stylist, Cinna, and I have come up with complimentary outfits for you two. They are all black, but the material reflects light, to resemble a dark coal glistening in sunlight. We've also got a cape for you, that is made to resemble fire. And then, this," she says, handing me a headpiece. "This headpiece and cape, have a special compartment, that when activated, will release synthetic fire. But, to the citizens, you will look like you are on fire."

This could be a good or a bad thing, I think. A triumph or fail. On the one hand, it may help win sponsors. On the other, I don't want to draw too much attention, lest we be killed off quickly for it in the arena. Still, I smile and nod, just like I've been told to by Haymitch. He better be right.

I see Katniss again on the ground floor of the Remake Center. This is where we'll climb onto our chariots, pulled by coal black horses, shocker. This is where the opening ceremony will come from. Portia and Cinna advise us to get on top of the chariot, so we do, and we stand side by side, waiting. When the stylists are out of earshot, Katniss whispers to me, "What do you think? About the fire?"

"I'll rip your cape off if you rip off mine."

"Deal," she says, and she smiles, which makes me smile. Then I realize Haymitch isn't here. "Where is Haymitch? Isn't he supposed to protect us from this kind of thing?"

"Probably drunk somewhere. It's probably advisable not to have him around an open flame." At this point, I'm starting to wonder if Katniss is joking like I thought she was, or if she thinks it's real fire. I was about to open my mouth to ask, but then, I kept quiet, because the opening music began to play.