I finished my story with a small sob. I quickly stopped, because I can't be seen as a weakling. But I want to cry, let it all out. I tried not to think about her but sometimes the memories snuck in. Like now, for instance.

Sky just hugged me, and I took a moment to collect myself. I noticed the girl Careers smirking at me, so I sent them my meanest look, and they turned away. If looks could kill….I WOULD win the Hunger Games.

Well…. Let's keep going.

I nodded my head at the clock. "Lunchtime."

….

I get some Capitol food, which instead of being the most luxurious food you can find anywhere, it is only high class food. Meat, cheese, bread. But decent and filling all the same.

Once I've grabbed a tray and filled it with some food that looks good and fresh to me, I start toward the table where Nik is sitting. He smiles and waves me over, and I give me a small smile back, but in my way there I'm stopped by the girl tribute from District 4.

She literally steps in my way, blocking me and I almost drop my lunch on her. Then she sort of glares at me. I saw her smile at her reaping, but since then all she has done is scowl, glare, and growl at people.

"Are you Kayleen?" She asks in a surprisingly nice sounding voice.

I nod. "You're….. Lauren?"

"Lydia," she corrects. She studies me, looking me over like my stylists did.

"You're District 12, yet you don't look that bad. Skinny, but also muscular," she notes with a pointed look at me.

I shrug again. "I am bottom class, gotta make some money somehow."

She nods. "I didn't ask for your life story."

Yeah. Because that was definitely my WHOLE life story. I would yell that in her face but she would hurt me, I'm trying to make as little enemies as possible here. So I just nod again.
"Why are you here? I know you volunteered, but nobody in 12 EVER volunteers. Except for their ONE victor," Lydia added with a sly smile. "You think you'll win?"

"Probably," I say with no concern in my voice. Her eyes narrow.

"Well I'm here because I wanted to be, I was called but I would have volunteered next year anyway, for my family, my dad was a stupid teenager, had a kid at 17. Went in at 18. Died. Wasn't even close to winning, he got like 6th. I came here to show that my family isn't weak, like him. I will win, and bring pride to my family, since that bastard obviously forgot to," her eyes are flaming with rage now and I take a small, soft step back. She doesn't even notice as I walk away.

…

"What did she want?" Nik asks me, his eyes angry.

"I look at him in surprise. "Nik, calm down. And she just ranted about how she was here because her father died in the Games and he was a loser and she wants to win to "bring pride" to her family."

Nik snorted. "There are a lot of ways to getting pride, and frankly, I don't think the Hunger Games should be one of them."

I nod in agreement. "Yeah well not like we really wanted to team with her anyway."

Sky plops her tray down, Noah following suit. "Hey guys what's up?"

"Hey Sky, Noah," Nik smiles at them and I nod in greeting.

"So what are you guys talking about?" Asks Sky.

"Girl from Two told me her life story," I tell her and start eating, I really AM hungry.

Sky cracks a smile but Noah looks upset.

"Noah what's wrong?" Nik asks him. I think he has a soft spot for Noah, maybe because he's younger? But only a year younger than Sky and I.
"I just wish I wasn't going to die," Noah says softly and I realize this is the first time I've heard his voice.

Sky wraps her arm around him. Doesn't bother telling him he'll be okay, he has a very low chance of making it out. Just comforts him and his breathing becomes normal, and he calms slightly.

"Nicole would thank you a lot for calming me down," Noah breathes softly to Sky.

She smiles slightly. "Wish I could see her again. But I won't be going home."

"C'mon guys, you're such downers!" I interject.

Noah shrugs. "We're just not going to lie to ourselves."

"If you tell yourself something will happen, it will EVENTUALLY happen," I counter. "So if you tell yourself that you're going to die, you'll die but if you think that you might win, you JUST MIGHT get out of these Games alive…."

"Well that's easy for you to say, you're actually decent," cuts in Nik.

I look at him in shock. "Yeah right."

Sky and Noah nod in agreement. I just look at them in shock.

"Really?" I ask again. They nod. I just shrug.

"Well that's your opinion," I say indifferently.

"Kay if you think you're going to die," starts Nik with a grin.

"Then you actually will die but…" continues Sky with a smile.

"If you believe that you can win," pipes up Noah with a smile.

"You just might get out of these games alive," they all chorus together and I actually laugh.

God I can't believe….. I wish the Games didn't exist. But I can't do anything…..

I can't save Noah, I can't do anything about that bitch Lydia, and I have to kill people?!

"Calm down," I tell myself and take a deep breath.

"Earth to Kay…" Nik says gently, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"I'm fine, continue," I say, in a bored tone but he doesn't notice.

He continues talking to Noah and Sky, but Sky isn't really listening. She mouths "I'm sorry" at me again but I shake my head. She must think I'm remembering Cammy.

That isn't why I'm….. wait, am I crying? I feel under my eyes and a few tears have leaked out. I quickly wipe them away, and start eating. Eating chicken in some sort of gravy, gathering up the remaining gravy in the bread made with actual flour.

Sky starts talking, a smile gradually coming to her face as Noah and Nik listen. I try to look like I'm listening, it probably didn't work though. Throughout lunch, I just eat and stay quiet.

So I lied a little! Posted a quick little chappie before I left on to go to the beach!

So I know it's short, but I'll try to post something longer next week. Okay? Don't kill me. (that means you Johanna!)

So yeah, thanks to all the peoples who reviewed, and please do review, if you haven't already. And if you have reviewed, review more. :D

Kate