I apologize for not updating ): I've been really busy lately and didn't have the time to update, so to make up for it here's a long chapter! Thank you to the readers who always review. Honestly you guys are awesome for sticking around and putting up with my cliffhangers :D
Evan's mother's appearance has changed. She doesn't look like the lady I met at the department store five years ago. Throughout the years, wrinkles have formed at the edge of her eyes and the bags under her eyes have become more noticeable. It's hard finding something to say, in fact I don't think I should say anything to her, but finally she breaks the silence.
"Look at you. Just five years ago, you were looking for reaping outfits with your mother when I first met you. Now you're all grown up and have just volunteered to participate in the games." She is smiling nervously.
She might not be a person who has a way with words, and in a situation like this it makes things more difficult. I nod in agreement.
"It's funny how time flies by so fast."
"Amethine, I really know in my heart that you won't do anything harmful to Evan. I'm confident that you won't hurt him, so just please prove me right when I see on the screen that you still treat him like a friend. Please don't be the one responsible for his death." She pleads with her eyes.
Nodding, I say, "I won't hurt him, don't worry. In the arena, I'll laugh and tell jokes with him just how we would here. Nothing will happen to our friendship, that's a promise." I solemnly state.
Relief washes over her face. "Thank you. I have just finished talking to Evan. I told him the same thing I'm telling you right now."
I knit my eyebrows together. "You talked to him about the things you're telling me right now?" I ask and receive a nod in response.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want either of you getting hurt. And it's only fair, to tell you both to look out for each other because of the friendship you share."
The door swings open and the Peacekeeper steps in. "Time's up" he informs sharply.
Evan's mother nods her head and turns back to me. "Take care. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor." she pulls me in for a hug. Hugging her back, I pat her gently on the back.
"You take care, too." She responds with a smile-a sad one-and walks out of the room.
When she's out of earshot, I look at the Peacekeeper.
"Any more visitors?" I ask.
"No. It's time to board the train." He gestures towards the hallway we have just entered. We walk through and he guides me outside where a car is waiting. Evan, Morraina, and I get in and immediately Morraina starts chattering away.
Evan is not the person I want to sit next to, so I choose to sit next to the opposite window. He sits at the opposite end while a very annoying Morraina sits in the middle. When we arrive at the train station, a sea of Capitol reporters beg me to smile, but instead I give a smirk and ignore them. They snap pictures of Evan as well and Morraina escorts us into the train. Once inside, the luxurious setting leaves us speechless. Everything from the desserts and fruit on shiny tureens to the plush seats amaze me.
We meet our mentors: Cashmere, Gloss, Beryl, and Axin. Cashmere and Gloss are siblings and won a year after the other due to their speed and skills with a knife. Beryl is famous for her long, three inch sharp nails which she used to win her games by clawing the last tribute to death. Following her victory, her nails were altered with metal and ended in sharp points. Axin won his games by strangling tributes with his bare hands.
They'll be in charge of the items that are sent to me when I'm in the arena and even if I don't plan on impressing them or becoming the favorite, I have to at least get on their good side. If they don't like me, there's a possibility that they won't send me anything at all. My life won't depend on sponsor gifts, but in tough situations they will.
"What is your weapon of choice?" Gloss asks me.
"Spears."
"Not the usual weapon for a girl. What else are you good with?"
"Anything really,bow and arrows, an axe, a mace, throwing knives. You name it; I've been training for more than ten years." I say firmly. This catches all of the victor's attention.
"Good, we have something decent to work with." Axin states, impressed.
"What about you?" Beryl questions, looking at Evan who has been quiet.
"I'm great with a sword, and not too bad with an axe." He answers.
Cashmere nods her head in approval at the both of us. "Now let me tell you guys something. When we arrive at the Capitol, you'll both be taken to the remake center to prepare for the tribute parade. Every hair on your body will be pulled off and every blemish will be removed. You are to not scream, fight, or protest. Understand? The nicer you are, the more they like you." She instructs.
"I don't care if they don't like me" I her know.
"Well, you should. If you aren't nice to your prep team, they'll dress you up as a homeless clown in front of the entire Panem. You make a good impression, you'll be the best dressed tribute in the games." Beryl says.
She has a point. My prep team will have the authority to either make the citizens of Panem fall in love with what I wear, or laugh hysterically and make ridicule me nonstop. Evan and I are told to stand while they circle us like hungry sharks observing our every move. I just stand and stare straight ahead while they exchange a few comments to each other, finally after all the observing, Gloss speaks.
"Loveable. Easy to get along with." He refers to Evan. Guess this is when they decide what interview angle will work best for us.
"I agree with the loveable part, but we don't want to make him look like a sweet career. How about loveable, but sarcastic?" Axin offers. The other mentors agree with a nod of their heads.
"For her, I think she should play a mischievous, ruthless killer." Beryl gets to me. Thank god my mentors know their stuff. I let out a sigh of relief.
After some discussing, we're served lunch. Mashed potatoes, roast beef, and string beans pile onto my plate and I dig in right away. The food my mother prepares taste great, but this Capitol food is just fancier. When everyone's plate is empty, our mentors take us to the den car where we will watch the reapings.
Avoiding Evan, I sit in between Cashmere and Axin. When it begins, Caesar Flickerman, dressed in lime green this year, and Claudius Templesmith appear and greet everyone. They talk about how it's time for the 66th Huger Games. Finally, after a lot of chattering, they show the district reapings.
Our district is up first and I watch as Morraina walks over to the girls' reaping bowl, speaking of Morraina, she has decided switched to annoying mode. Again.
Occasionally, she would say "I look so good!" or "My wig is a little crooked there."
We watch as Morraina doesn't have time to finish reading the girl's name when another girl tries to volunteer. The camera focuses on the stage when the girl tries to let out an 'I volunteer' but the camera turns to me when I state it faster. I walk up to the stage confidently and look straight ahead in the distance. Morraina doesn't have time to announce the male tribute when Evan volunteers.
Evan looks at me as we watch him walk up to the stage, but I keep my eyes glued to the TV. The other districts don't catch my attention except the careers, who will be potential allies. Usually, the tributes from the wealthy district team up in the games.
The tributes from district two don't really look intimidating. The boy Caiden is tall and skinny, but has some muscles. The girl Vinera seems fit, like me and she wears a bored expression on her face. The tributes from district 2 will put up a hell of a fight. The training in their district is strict. My father once told me that their training starts at eleven in the morning, and ends at eleven in the evening.
Unlike my district, the head trainers are the ones who decide who will be volunteering. They may have more time to train, but I have much more experience. Out of all of the people in the entire training center in district one, I am one of the few people who have trained the longest.
The tributes from district four don't look too bad. The boy Sebastian has broad shoulders and stunning green eyes. The girl Marina is the shortest out of all the careers. She's about 5'1 and has flowing chocolate brown hair.
The other tributes from poor districts are mostly bony from lack of food, and none of them look interesting. After watching the reapings, I feel exhausted. The clock reads five o'clock, and the train is still moving. Morraina said that we'll probably arrive in the Capitol in two days.
I get up from my seat and ask an Avox to show me my room. When she does, I am amazed by what I see. The bed in my room is big, but it looks like I'll be sleeping in a triple king sized bed. At the push of a button, the closet will help you with the clothes. There's a big screen that delivers food in the blink of an eye. You speak into the mouthpiece and the food comes out ready to go. After admiring my room, I get into my bed and fall asleep immediately.
I want to give a special acknowledgement to BeatsInAllegro for giving me the idea of how training is in district two. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review! I promise I will try to update more frequently, and also please tell me what you think.