I woke up just before dawn the next morning. I hadn't slept well, so I took a shower to wake myself up. I knew I didn't need to wake up for several more hours but I was anxious. I dressed in jeans and a red tank top with a light black jacket, and I braided my hair down my back.

I didn't know where I should be, so I walked to the back of the train. There was a huge window that covered three of the walls on the back of the train instead of door. I guess the train was moving too fast to stand on the small platform right outside. I stood looking out the window for around an hour, content with looking at the flat landscape in silence while I reveled in my thoughts.

How can Prim survive? Peeta can't feed her forever and I know Greasy Sae made the same promise to Gale. I hoped my mother would be able to make some money because if I don't come home my mother will be the only person Prim will have left.

My only comfort was that if Gale won instead of me they would never die. He would make sure of that.

"You couldn't sleep either, huh"

I about jump out of my skin, and I whipped around so fast my toe slammed into the side of the wall because I'm not wearing any shoes. "Damn it!"

I looked up and saw Gale chuckling. "It's not funny," I growled.

"Yes it is," Gale said.

"You're horrible, you know," I remark, but my voice is light and not harsh. I turn back toward the window and see the landscape start to get rocky.

After a moment I say, "Why would you do that Gale?"

"Hmm?"

I turn to look at him. "Why would you volunteer?"

He doesn't meet my eyes. Instead he turns his head to look out the window and whispers, "I don't know."

"What if we both die?"

"One of us will make it." Gale turned his face to me. "We have to."

We stand in silence and watch as the terrain begins to incline and become rockier as we enter the mountains. After a while I turn away and walk back down the hall, Gale right behind me.

"Well there you are!" Effie squeaks. "Early risers, good, good! We have a big, big, big day!"

Breakfast was grand, with hot chocolate, toast, syrup, and chocolate covered strawberries. I got my first real view of the capital while I was sipping my cocoa through the window. The buildings were tall and bright with lights and people crowding up against the railing to try to get a glimpse of us.

I take my cocoa and lean my shoulder up against the wall near the window. I watch the mass of bodies wave and cry out to me, trying to get me to respond. But I don't, I hold to much hatred in my heart to open up to these people till it's absolutely necessary. And based on Gale's expression he feels the same way.

"You're not helping yourselves," Haymitch said without looking at either of us. "All you're doing is making my task a lot harder."

"Any what would that be?" I say, even though I already know the answer.

"To keep you two alive."

The moment I step out of the train, I'm swept away into one of the largest buildings I can see. There three people with colorful hair and skin rush me into a grand bathroom. Then they wash my hair with some special products, and they wax all the hair off my body and shape my eyebrows into perfect arches.

They escort me into a simple room and tell me to have a seat and that my stylist would be there shortly.

I take a moment and inspect my body. My skin is soft and smooth, my hair shiny, and my nails are perfectly shaped into soft ovals. I feel almost naked, setting aside the fact that I'm only wearing a robe. It feels like the Capital has peeled layers of skin off my body and has left me unnaturally bare.

"Hello Katniss," my stylist says as he walks in. "I'm Cinna." He has me stand as he inspects me but lets me keep the robe. "Perfect," he says. "You have just the right form for your costume. District Twelve will be the star in the Parade this year."

The Parade is when all the tributes are dressed in elaborate outfits and carried through the streets on chariots. The parade is the first chance we get to attract sponsors. I can't help but wonder what costume District Twelve will be sporting this year. The costumes are based off every Districts industry. Since our industry is coal, I would guess we would be dressed as coal miners once again.

"What's the theme?" I ask.

"Fire," Cinna says, and he flashes me a smile.