…

"Jenik! Kayleen! It's time to go back to our apartment, the Training Center is closing!" Chirped Kilee from across the room, clicking over in her high heels.

I groaned. "Kilee, you're embarrassing us in front of our friends."

Sky, Nik, and even Noah snickered as she turned a little red. Then another voice joined us.

"Sky-Lar, Noa-Ha?" A woman in her late fifties strode over to us. She had light blue skin, more piercings than I could count, and probably more that I couldn't see. Her hair was a dark blue-green, almost a teal color, and her eyes were crimson, practically blood colored.

Sky rolled her eyes. "It's Sky-LER, and No-AH."

"Whatever children," she replied. Then she turned to us.

"Ah Kilee! So nice to see you!" The woman beamed. She had the thickest Capitol accent I had ever heard.

Kilee smiled at her. "So nice to see you ma'am." She turned to us.

"Kayleen, Jenik, this is Cora. Cora, this is Jenik, Kayleen."

She nodded curtly at us and Jenik nodded back. I just stared at her. Her eyes narrowed at me before turning back to Kilee.

"So Kilee, how are your tributes this year? Hmm?" She asked Kilee and started walking towards the elevators. We reluctantly followed, annoyed that we were basically given babysitters.

"Oh!" Kilee clapped her hands in delight. "I think we've got real winners this year, we haven't even had a chance since Summer won. All underfed, dirty kids. And you, Cora?"

Cora shrugged a little. "Nothing special, the girl might make it decently far. I doubt the boy will even make it out of the bloodbath."

Like we weren't walking right behind them, listening. Noah stiffened at her words and Sky sent a killer glare her way.

"Don't even try, I can arrange to have your family killed. Just. Like. That," Cora threatened, snapping her fingers with the last three words.

Sky stiffened and dropped her gaze, but tightened her hug around Noah. Cora smiled, satisfied, and continued talking to Kilee. Kilee looked a little upset though….

Maybe we were lucky to get Kilee after all…..

We stepped into the elevator, the six of us, and Cora pressed the '7' button, and the elevator shot up to the seventh floor, silent except for the slight clack of gears.

When we reached the floor, the door opened with a slight 'ding!' and Cora got out first.
"Come on children, Sky-Lar, Noa-Ha!" Cora said sharply and they rolled their eyes but followed her into the apartment, which I noticed, was not as nice as ours. We had the penthouse, 12th floor after all.

Kilee put on a smile and waved as the door closed, leaving the 3 of us alone in the elevator. Then she did something that really surprised Nik and I.

"I hate her!" Kilee squealed. "She has no respect at all, for anyone, she treats everyone like they're below her, like trash, and I guess some people ARE deserving of it, but not me! Not the tributes that are actually skilled! I saw the girl hit the target with a bow and arrow, and the boy hit the center with the knife. She has no right to treat them that way!"

She seemed to realize that we were right there, and she blushed.

"Wow that was a little cruel, I-"

I waved her off. "Nope she deserves it. Seems like a bitch to me." Nik nodded in agreement and Kilee blushed.

"But still, I-"

"Don't even bother," Nik cut in. "She doesn't seem like a person deserving of an apology."

Kilee shrugs unhappily. "She's my mom."

My eyes widened. "Seriously?"

Nik pressed the '12' button as casually as he could, but anyone could see the surprise on his face.

"Yeah she won't let me call her Mom she's so condescending, but I shouldn't insult her. After all, she IS my mother," Kilee said with a sigh. I felt….. kinda bad for her. Of course, my family life wasn't exactly great either…..

I just shrugged and turned away. Jenik patted her shoulder.

"Well even though we're all starving to death in District 12, at least our parents aren't as bad as yours," Jenik said, sounding neutral.

"You wanna bet on that?" I mouthed at him and he shook his head 'no', bringing a small smile to my face.

Kilee just nodded, not saying anything.

"Well just… ignore her as best as you can," I said lamely and got out as the elevator let out a small 'DING', indicating that we had reached our floor.

"We should….. eat dinner," Kilee said, straightening up and assuming her normal self before following me into the apartment.

Nik nodded and walked into the dining room, where he took a seat at the table. Kilee sat across from him, and I sat next to him. Soon, Summer joined us.

"So how's the hammer working out for you?" She asked Jenik with a smile.

Jenik smiled back. "Good, I think."

I snorted. "You think? You did incredible with it!"

He shrugs, while Summer looks interested. "Really? What was your score?"

"9, 9, and 10," he answers, knowing she knows the order for categories.

She wolf whistled. "Wow Jenik, that's awesome!"

He smiled. "Yeah. Thanks."

She smiled even bigger. "I just had a gut feeling!"

I had never seen Summer this happy. Neither had Jenik. He looked really surprised.

"Wow Summer, never seen you this excited!" Jenik smiled.

Summer suddenly stiffened, like being happy was a bad thing.

"Maybe I'll be this happy if one of you wins," she said stiffly, causing Jenik to wince and me to avert my eyes.

Let's start dinner shall we?

I hit 30 reviews! :D

As promised, here is your chapter, don't expect anything from me again for like a week though, gotta give me time to write of course!

So thanks to all my reviewers! You guys are the reason I write!

Thanks for reading my story, hope you like it and all that shit. :D

And a hint for the next chapter, it's a POV we haven't seen before...

BACKSTORY TIME! :D

Kate