Picking Your Allies

Now we come to one of my favourite chapters to write; you know why? Cos what happens during an alliance offer can lead to REVENGE! Sorry, but you got to admit, everyone loves a bit of revenge. Enjoy the Chapter and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favour!

Scout Parker POV

After training, they send us to the lunch room but Whittier walks off with Dusty from district 4. I think I might love her. She's sexy, smart and strong. She's all I think about day and night- except, she hasn't really treated me the same as she did on the train lately. She's always with Dusty or Lupus. But she wouldn't go with either of them would she? I walk into the canteen where Whittier is already sat with the rest of the alliance. I don't know what to think of them; they all pretty much ignore me unless they want something. At least Whittier's different. I walk up behind where she's sitting and kiss her on the cheek.

"Hey beautiful" I say as smoothly as I can.

"Scout, what do you think you're doing?" she snaps in a startled tone.

"I- but you said-"

"Excuse me boys; I need to have a word with Scout."

She bends down and whispers something to them that makes them snigger. Well, Lupus sniggers; Dusty just smirks slightly. Whittier takes my hand and pulls me over to a corner.

"Please don't ever do that again" she commands.

"You mean kiss you? But- aren't we together?" I ask, scared to hear her response.

She registers my hurt expression and puts her arm around me.

"Oh honey, of course we are. It's just- I don't want us to show off our relationship in front of people, especially while we're here, to make sure you aren't just faking it for sponsors. I don't want to get hurt" she sighs sadly.

"I won't hurt you Whittier. I'd do anything to make you happy" I reply.

"Really? That's so nice of you. You're such a cutie."

She starts to walk away before I can respond.

"Ok, I'm just gonna go get some lunch now I guess" I call to her though she doesn't answer.

I always thought this would be horrible, but really, I'm lucky. Ok, so my mentor is always praising Whittier's skills and my escort ignores me in favour of mutually complimenting with Whittier but at least Whittier's my girl.

"Hey kid!" whispers someone from behind me in the line; it's Aurora, the district 2 girl who left our alliance.

"What?" I reply, trying not to let the other Careers see I'm still speaking to her.

"You better watch your back around her."

Nicole Jade Smith POV

I fluff my hair in the bathroom mirror; this is it. This'll show Cole; I never really intended to be a Career but I realised during training just how useful joining them would be. Not only would I get to be with other skilled hunters, it'll really piss Cole off. Truthfully, breaking up with him was probably for the best. I'll admit I loved him dearly for a short time. But he was just standing in my way; I'd never be doing this if we were still together because I'd be scared of upsetting him. Now, I couldn't care less. In fact, I hope he sees me doing this. Well, he probably won't but never mind. I push the bathroom door open and stroll towards the Career table. People start to stare at me; I like it when I make an impression.

"Hello Careers; so I heard you're looking for a new alliance member?" I take a seat at their table.

"That must have been a weird thought process" the district 4 girl mumbles sarcastically.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, sweetheart, the position's already been filled" the girl from 1 says in a condescending tone.

"By who?"

Without warning my chair is pulled out from under me and I have to grab the table so I don't fall.

"By me" snarls the girl behind me who I assume is the one who took my chair "Now get hell off of our table."

I stand up smartly and step aside.

"You're gonna pay for this; all of you. You're safe for now, but that won't last. Mark my words. You will be sorry" I warn them before storming off to the sound of their laughter.

I go into the bathroom and try to stop my angry tears falling. I won't be defeated by those nobody's. Because now I'm angry. Those Careers have no idea what they've started.

Juliette Ryde POV

"Are you crazy? That would never work!" Angel laughs.

"Why not? If I ate 3 days' worth of food in the arena, I would be set for at least a couple of days, if not all three" Ares explains.

"No you wouldn't; you'd puke idiot."

I wish they'd stop fighting; I mean, I have no right to stop them but I can't think straight when they do. Plus, we're supposed to be talking arena strategy but every time we get onto a subject Angel and Ares disagree on, they have argue about it. The last few days have been hard; my mentor can't stand me. He compares both of us to last year's tributes all the time, saying I'll probably die in the Bloodbath like Sevtamira and that Ares will probably go into a rampage and be stopped by 12 year olds like Jesse. Ares thinks the escort, Maxwell's mad but I think he's kind of fun although he gets distracted way too easily. I don't know how we'll do in the interviews considering he's barely helped us. I'm scared of the games but I know my chances are better now I'm in an alliance. Angel is a bit fierce, but she's on my side plus she's strong. Ares seems to think similarly to her which is why it's so weird that they don't get along.

"Fine, whatever; let's just move on. I think we need another alliance member" Angel suggests.

"Finally something we agree on" Ares agrees.

"So we have intelligence and agility" she gestures to me then herself "We just need some muscle."

"What about me? I'm pretty strong."

"I mean, numbskull, someone who's good with a sword. Now start looking."

I take a look at the people sitting alone. There's quite a few, even some that are quite strong looking.

"What about her?" Angel points to the district 9 girl who is looking at the floor sadly.

"No way, I don't want this alliance to be overrun with girls" Ares argues.

"What's wrong with girls?"

"Well you hardly set and good example and someone like Juliette wouldn't be strong enough. No offence Juliette."

"None taken" I reply cheerfully, though I am a little hurt.

"What we need is someone- someone like that."

He points to the district 7 girl who is glaring at the Careers while scraping her knife onto the metal table.

"I though you didn't want the alliance to be full of girls" retorts Angel, having to slam her fist down on the table to get his attention again.

"I meant weak girls" Ares teases her and you can see Angel resisting the urge to hit him.

"What about him?" I point over at the district 10 boy who is sitting alone writing something on his napkin; where did he get a pen from?

"Hmm, I'd make you about right there. He seems relatively strong" Angel gets up and Ares nods in agreement and joins her.

We stand beside him but he doesn't look up.

"Hi err-"Angel starts.

"Reedman; Reedman Phelps" the boy answers, still not looking up.

"Hi Reedman so we were wondering if you'd be interested in joining our alliance?"

He stops writing a looks up.

"Ok" he says.

"Wow, that was easy" Angel smiles.

"I have someone to get back to."

He screws up the napkin when he sees me looking at it and stands up.

"Can I ask you a favour?" he asks all of us.

"Go ahead dude" Ares replies.

"Never ask me who I need to get back to."

We nod and leave the canteen for afternoon training but I'm left wondering. What was Reedman writing on the napkin? Was he writing a letter or something? Maybe I shouldn't pry. But how am I supposed to trust him when he's keeping secrets?

Kind of a weird way to end my chapter I know but oh well. I did want to ask; do you get annoyed when some chapters are shortened? I don't do it because the character is boring. It's only because different situations take longer or shorter to talk about. Anyway, I'm gonna try and get up Training Part 2 tomorrow but the Training Scores probably won't be up until Monday. Just as a by the way, Santana Wolf's (District 4 girl's) creator, captain-random64 has a new SYOT coming out tomorrow so if you aren't a fan of his already, check it out tomorrow. She writes some of my favourite fan fics ever; look at the old ones too if you want. I created Emerald May whose in the 63rd and 100th Hunger Games, Ella Glass whose in the 68th Hunger Games and Ashlyn Miller and Cherry Lorrell in the 80th Hunger Games.