Chapter 3

"So you were trying to make us look like 'star-crossed lovers'?"

"Yes." Alex looks at Coin with a sigh.

"What do you want us to do?" Alex asks Coin and Boggs, "You want us to do what Kat and Peeta did or..."

Coin bites her lip knowing Alex and Peeta loves each other. She doesn't want to blow it for them. But then again, this can give them supporters.

Alex walks into the training centre and stands at the front of the line with Rue. Since Alex is smaller than Rue, Alex is in front of her. Then Katniss is behind Rue and so forth on.

Just then Plutarch walks in.

"Oh great, I get to deal with three returners." Plutarch mutters as Alex looks at him amused.

"Hello to you too Plutarch." Alex greets, "It's nice to know Rue, Kat and I are not forgotten."

Plutarch rolls his eyes knowing Alex too well.

"Welcome to the Training Centre tributes of the 76th Hunger Games!" Plutarch smiles at everyone, "I am the Head Gamemaker; Plutarch Heavensbee."

Alex raises her hand, making Plutarch sigh.

"Yes Alex?"

Alex smiles innocently at him.

"What's the arena like this year?"

"It's a cross between last year's and the year before." Plutarch answers, making Alex nod.

"Ok. So we have to hunt for the water again? Or is it the birds, monkeys, lightning or the poison fog?"

"You want me to tell you the similarities?"

"Ya."

"No." Alex rolls her eyes.

"At least I got an answer." Alex shrugs her shoulders.

"Just ignore her. Alex likes interrupting me."

"HEY!" Alex fakes hurt, "What? Am I not allowed to talk?"

"Not when people are talking." Alex rolls her eyes.

"Ya, ya, ya. Can I climb the net now?"

Plutarch ignores her.

"Now, the trainers are going to show you how to use weapons, build fires and how to climb the net, which is like a tree."

Alex mouths along with Plutarch because he said the same thing last year and Crane said the same thing her first year.

"When I think about you, I think about seventeen
I think about my old jeep, I think about the stars in the sky
Funny how the melody sounds like a memory,
Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night.
Springsteen.

I bumped into you by happenstance,
Probably wouldn't even know who I am
But if I whispered your name I bet, still be a spark.
Back when I was gasoline, and this old tattoo had brand new ink,
And we didn't care what your momma thinks about your name on my arm.

Baby is it spring or is it summer,
The guitar sound or the beat of that drummer
You hear sometimes late at night on your radio.
Even though you're a million miles away,
When you hear Born In The USA,
You relive those glory days so long ago." Alex sings.

Alex smirks seeing Plutarch's glare.

"What? It's the current song stuck in my head Springsteen by Eric Church. Can I climb the net now?"

"Whatever." Plutarch rolls his eyes and walks away. Alex claps her hands together before running to the net and begins to climb.

Rue and Katniss shakes their heads laughing quietly.

That's Alex for you. Katniss thinks, looking up at the net to see Alex sitting on top swinging her legs.

That's a new way to piss off Plutarch. Rue smirks inwardly.

The two girls walk to the net and begin to climb up.

~K&A~

As Alex watches everyone train, Alex keeps a watchful eye on them.

So the guy from 1 is amazing with the spears. The girl from 1 is like Glimmer.
The guy and girl from 2 are replicas of Cato and Clove.
District 3 guy and girl can be killed in the bloodbath. Alex thinks.

"So each person is the replica of the 74th Hunger Games. Now to not follow in that path again, Kat, Rue and I cannot pull what we did then. Yes, we will team up, but we have to do it secretly." Alex whispers to herself as she sits on top of the net. She puts her elbow on her knee and rests her chin on her fist.

"What?" Alex rolls her eyes, not fazed that James climbed up and is now sitting beside her.

"This year's Hunger Games is repeating the 74th Hunger Games. The girl and guy from 1 are like Marvel and Glimmer. Marvel was amazing with spears. Glimmer was amazing with bow and arrows yet whatever was handed to her, she was good with. The girl and guy from 2 are exactly like Cato and Clove. Plus the four of them are Careers and without a doubt be forming an alliance. So that will mean they will get the guy from 3 to be their pet and kill him later on."

James looks at Alex impressed.

"So that's why you like the net. You can watch everyone and..." James starts.

"Pick out what each person is good at, which person is a treat and which one to watch out for." Alex finishes.

"What about me?" Alex looks at James from the corner of her eye.

"You are neutral. You are a threat yet not fully. You are not like the Careers, but you are near that level." Alex answers honestly.

James inwardly smirks. He knows how to kill Alex.

He knows Alex will go for the bow and arrows. He knows that's her strongest weapon. At the same time, he has been watching her closely when he watched her in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games.

What James doesn't know, Alex has a plan to screw everything over. But not screw herself, Rue or Katniss over. Just the other tributes and the Gamemakers.

~A&K~

It is the end of the training and it is the day that everyone shows the Gamemakers their stuff to get scores.

Alex is currently pacing in the hallway as James sits on the bench. Alex lifts her hand to her mouth and begins to bite her nail. She is worried on what she can do to get a good score.

"James Smith. Please come in." James gets up and walks into the room. Alex sighs and drops herself on the bench, pulling her knees to her chest.

What am I going to do? What weapon do they want me to show? If it's the bow and arrows, how am I going to improve my skill?

Alex doesn't even notice James walk out of the room and walk by her.

"Alex Russo. Please enter." Alex gulps and gets up. She takes a breath and walks into the room.

There Alex looks for skill/weapon she is supposed to work with.

On the stand is... a spear, a bow and 3 arrows and 2 knives.

Alex smirks inwardly.

I can work with that. Alex thinks.

"Alex Russo." Alex nods as the Gamemakers go silent.

"Carry on." Plutarch nods in returns.

Alex picks up the spear and looks at the single target. She pulls her arm back and throws. The spear hits the target in the chest. Alex grabs a knife and throws it next.

The forehead.

The final knife... the left eye.

Alex picks up the bow and an arrow.

The chest.

Next... forehead.

Final one... the arrow slices her first arrow down the middle.

Alex puts the bow on the stand and waves at the Gamemakers.

"See you later." And just like that, Alex walks out.

~K&A~

Boggs and Coin bursts out laughing with Katniss, James, Effie and the District 12 guy.

"I can't believe you just acted like it's an everyday thing." Effie smiles at Alex after Alex finished telling them what she did in the room with the Gamemakers.

"Well, I always put on a brave face. I was terrified in the hallway because I didn't know what they wanted me to show them. Plus I am terrified for after tomorrow. Tomorrow is the interviews then the day after we are going in the arena." Alex answers.

"Hello everyone. Caesar here. Now we have the scores for each tribute. The lowest is 1, the highest is 12. Here we go..." Caesar announces after everyone can see him on the TV screen. Alex moves so she is resting her head on Katniss' shoulder. Katniss wraps her arms around Alex's shoulders.

"District 1's Steven. His score... 11." Alex looks at Katniss.

"District 1's Erica. Her score... 11."

"District 2's Dave. His score... 11"

"District 2's Samantha. Her score... 11."

Alex takes a breath watching everyone's scores come on.

"District 11's Rue. Her score... 10." Alex raises her eyebrows with a smile.

"District 12's Alexander. His score... 10."

"District 12's Katniss. Her score... 11."

Alex claps her hands for Katniss and gives her a hug.

"Great job!" Katniss smiles.

"Thank you little sister." Katniss kisses Alex's forehead, tightening her grip around her shoulders.

"District 13's James. His score... 11." Alex looks at James slightly impressed yet worried.

"Finally, District 13's Alex. Her score..." Caesar's eyes widen in shock, "12. No one has EVER gotten that high of a score."

Alex's eyes widen in shock.

She looks up to see Effie's, Boggs' and Coin's eyes widen yet with big smiles on their faces.

"Congratulations Alex!"

"Thanks." Alex whispers suddenly feeling breathless.

Alex sees James and Alexander shoot her glares before getting up and leaving. As the adults leave Alex looks at Katniss.

"I'm a huge threat Kat. Everyone will be after me." Alex whispers letting her fear show. Katniss shakes her head and hugs Alex close to her.

"I will protect you like I always do and will do." Katniss promises.

"I need to talk to you privately. Rue as well." Katniss nods and gets up. She grabs Alex's hand and the two girls leave the penthouse and heads to Rue's floor, just below them.

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