It turns out that Preston and Jason were together yesterday for mandatory training, but hadn't talked at all.

"I'm glad to know that you're not planning how to kill me now," Preston laughs.

Jason looks at him calmly. "Well I'm still planning how to kill you, once we split up we are going to have to kill each other."

Preston drops his fork, Ayler chokes momentarily on what he's eating. The clatter of Preston's fork against the tile makes the rest of us jump and turn heatedly to Jason, who looks up placidly.

He shrugs, hunched over his tray. "Plus, you said the number of kills we get in the arena decides who gets what weapons, so it's stupid not to plan how to kill people."

"Who gets what weapon is decided only by our kills at the Cornucopia and sponsor gifts. Once the bloodbath's over they don't count for anything," I elude.

"Oh," Jason says, finally showing a smidgen of emotion. "Yeah... alright, that makes sense, okay."

I can't be sure if he thinks it makes sense for the same reason I do. I don't want anybody arguing over kills, or feeling the need to get rid anybody in the group who gets on their nerves in order to get ahead in our standings. Hopefully if the motive of that crucial advantage isn't there, it will keep murderous rampages to a minimum. In the past, there haven't been precautions like this and tributes have killed all of their allies in their sleep.

William solidifies my ideas further. "We're in this group to help each other out and up our chances of getting to the end. Tributes on their own barely ever make it past week one."

Solemn nods pass around the table, all except for Preston, who's busy taking a subtle glance at the group of three tributes on the other side of the room.

Almost all of us have finished our meals and the gamemaker from yesterday comes in to tell us that we're to start our mandatory training. Everyone in the room stands and starts to move towards their stations, leaving their trays for the servants to clean up.

I intercept a nervous-looking Preston to see if he's alright. "Hey, sorry about Jason. He was kind of harsh, but I don't think it was meant to be aimed specifically at you. I think he's just one of those people-"

"Yeah, it's alright, I was being stupid."

I just shrug, he was being a little soft for the circumstances, but I'm pretty sure we all cry before we fall asleep; no one's in any position to shoot anyone down for trying to be friendly.

He makes another glance at the group of three, who are looking towards me and him. Now that our group has spread out, it becomes clear that before, when I thought they were glaring at our group, they were actually just scowling at Preston.

I lower my voice. "What's up with those guys?"

Preston looks surprised that I noticed. "Oh, well they're nothing. I mean, they asked me to be in an alliance before you guys, and I said I might, but I'd rather be with you guys. I'm not working with them at all though, I'm one hundred percent loyal. Honently."

As glad as I am that he's so loyal, that's a shot to the heart. I've been planning this since I was thirteen and I'm going against what I've said, but a guy who barely knows me can swear his loyalty. For a second I feel bad, everyone here trusts me wholeheartedly. This is the Hunger Games though; I'm going to be doing worse to people than lying to them.

I try to laugh earnestly. "Don't worry, it's okay, I trust you."

His eyes light up a lot hearing that.

"Do you even know them?" I continue, trying to gather information. Just because they're a smaller group, doesn't mean they don't pose a threat. If there's anyone we should try to target, it should be them.

"The bigger girl from Five's name is Tsoma… Uh, I don't know the others' names but we could check on the board."

I stop him before he turns to look. "No, that's alright, we know their Districts. It looks like the boy is her District partner, the other girl's from Twelve, and that guy from Three."

Wait a second- the guy from Three is Trawl. Oh hell no.

Now it's my turn to glare at them. Their clan of three has sprouted a fourth branch in the form of the guy who just told me he didn't want to be in an alliance.

Preston was there when I told William about what Trawl had said to me and now looks at me with pity. "Man, I'm sorry… wow that guy's a piece of work."

Engaged in a full spurt of fury, I don't bother responding to Preston. Tsoma, who must be the leader of the group, it talking to Trawl, using an excessive amount of hand gestures. She points at me from across the room and Trawl turns to look, then nods back at her. I wish I was close enough to hear what they were saying.

All of a sudden, Trawl takes a step back. He shakes his head in the way one would to indicate 'no' and turns to walk towards his training station. Tsoma just stands there, arms frozen out in some ridiculous position. The boy and girl circle around to stand in front and console her. I think I just witnessed them getting rejected.

I start laughing, clapping a hand on Preston's shoulder. "Did you see that? He turned them down too!"

The group of kids across the room looks flattened, it's only Tsoma who dares to look up from her feet and gives me the most intense look of loathing I've ever seen, directly in my eyes.

I can't help but turn around to cut off her gaze. Almost everyone's already at their stations. Preston looks anxious to go, so I say my goodbyes and walk over to the swords station where Marie Lynn and the rest of my group wait.

I was at the sword station earlier, but I'd like to learn some more of it. Not only should it prove useful, but it's thrilling and my last girlfriend, Sheryl-lyn, thought it was astonishingly charming.

"Hey coach," Marie Lynn appears out of nowhere behind me.

I jump, whipping around, meeting her anything-but-serious posture and let out a sigh. "Glad to know you only want to use your way of talking, rather than go back on your deal."

She frowns. "When you say it like that it makes me sound cocky."

"I don't know you well enough to say if you're cocky."

"And that's exactly how I'm planning it," she smiles.

"Hmm… maybe I should take that back…"

She laughs. "You got your boys together?"

"Yeah, Preston, Ayler, Jason, Dai Lao, and William," I list off.

"That's everyone?"

I nod. "Yeah, we couldn't get Trawl or Jarratt to join."

She shakes her head and me and explains that Jarratt isn't the type to want to join me. Oh that's right, he's her District partner.

I ask if I should worry about him and she shakes her head no. "He's not stupid enough to hunt down a group."

That's a huge relief. Even though I'm picking up on the basics of some weapons pretty well, Jarratt's got quite a few pounds of muscle on me.

She brings the conversation back to our group. "So you're sure you're not going to ask anybody to be with you guys last minute?"

"No, I'm fine with who we've got," I say. "How's this going to work between the two of us, though? I can't exactly talk to you in the arena."

"Sure you can. Whenever you're the only one around, if the group goes hunting or you're keeping guard at night – you're going to keep guard at night, right?"

"Oh hell yeah."

"So whenever you're on your own, I'll come talk to you."

That's a bit creepy. So she's just going to follow us around and wait for me to be alone?

I pretend not to be surprised. "And we're just doing this to get sponsors right?"

"What?" She looks dumbfounded. "No, what would be in it for me, then? I can get sponsors on my own."

Okay, yeah, cocky. Just a tad.

She presses on. "I need your help at the Cornucopia. I'm going to be a big target after training scores, if you get your guys not to go after me, I'll help you out. I know some of the guys in your group are shady as heck. If any of them get out of hand and you can't get rid of them, I can do it for you."

It's tempting. Dai Lao's social ignorance scared me a bit today, plus Jason could destroy the group if he set his mind to it. However, for the moment, I don't want anybody gone. The deal's starting to look somewhat one-sided. I take a step back, seriously considering dropping out.

She sees my reluctance and keeps going. "Or, I could help you target anybody that you're worried is going to come after you."

That's more of an interesting preposition. Not only did I just get the world's deadliest glare from Tsoma, but Trawl is starting to worry me a bit as well. Marie Lynn isn't a bad fighter, she could take them out for me, or at least help me to do so.

"Plus, we can share tips and observations inside the arena. Oh and you're going to get sponsors for being a double agent," she shrugs, as if that isn't the amazing offer that it is.

I'm feeling comfortable again, this is the type of thing I was hoping to hear. "Can you kill Tsoma's group for me? And Trawl?"

"I can try."

Wow, I feel ugly. I just ordered the death of regular kids, solely because they didn't agree with me. I didn't think this would be a place I'd have to go, but the more I think of it, the more inescapable it seems. It still doesn't feel right though, I already feel guilty and nothing's even happened. I'm not used to feeling guilty just because of my thoughts. These don't feel like my thoughts, as if my mind has been swapped out.

"Don't worry," Marie Lynn reads my reluctancy yet again. "There's no cameras here, I won't tell anyone you're homicidal. The only ones who might hear you are the gamemakers and in that case you should talk a little louder."

None of the gamemakers are looking at me; I think they think of the mandatory stations as a bit of a vacation opportunity.

I force a laugh, just so that I don't look too uptight.

Marie Lynn smiles at me. "I have to go talk to Eileen now. I told her I think you're an arrogant prick and she'll be wondering why I talked to you for so long. We won't get a chance to talk again before the games. Good luck, don't skewer yourself."

Off with their heads!