Jace and I are masters at plant identification. The trainer manning the station quickly realizes that we are advanced students (Jace being from 11 has plant knowledge that matches if not surpasses my own) and starts showing us plants unique to certain districts. The way he talks about the different herbs is beautiful, like they're his children. He is familiar with them in an almost intimate sense. I could stay and listen to him all day, but Jace and I need to move on. There is no question now as to whether or not we will be allies in the arena, and we agree that we should be prepared to defend ourselves against both nature and the other tributes.

Awren has been spending his training time with the pair from District 5. The five of us meet up to practice with throwing knives -something that none of us have ever seen before- and I learn that the girl Awren ran to comfort is called Cynth. Her older brother, Daz, is tall and quiet. He's awkward with the throwing knives at first, but the fiery anger in his eyes and steely rage in his set lips makes him look like he's been throwing them all his life after a few minutes.

When Cynth's turn with a target comes, however, Daz refuses to let her try. She kicks and yells at him, screaming, "You want me to die! I'm going to die!" Then she runs from the room. After exchanging glances with Daz, Awren chases after her. When did he get so close with this girl? I think, but I guess friendships form faster when you know that in two weeks at least one of you will be dead. I look over at Jace, and she raises half of her mouth in an expression that says, "What can you do?"

Quin has been off on his own for the training session, and I've watched the worry and hurt from his snapping at her evaporate off of Jace's face. Naturally, it's been replaced with more stress and ferocity caused by the training, but I can't imagine the load on her mind when he was constantly lecturing and looking down on her. Actually, I think I can, I think bitterly. My argument with my mother a few hours earlier weighs on my heart. She can't understand this. At least she'll get to go home when this is over. But I don't know this for sure, do I? Even if she does go home to 12, what kind of a life will it be? What if she leaves again but there's no one to take care of her?

My panicked meltdown has me on the verge of furious tears when there's a boy's hand on my shoulder. "Awren?" I ask.

"Not quite," chants a baritone voice I'm not familiar with. I whirl around to face my comforter, mommy-issues temporarily forgotten. I find myself being spun dance-style into the arms of the boy from District 7. "Who's Awren?"

I don't answer right away. I'm too busy taking in this face that chose to pester me during training. Compared to Jace's wide, trusting eyes, this boy has narrow, gleaming sparks of mischief flanking his nose. His mouth tips up on one side in a malicious smirk. "He's... Um, he's the boy tribute from my district." Flustered, I locate him with Cynth learning how to make a fire and point.

The boy's smirk widens into a flashing grin with glinting, fang-like teeth. "That boy came from 12? They sure do breed 'em friendly in the Seam, don't they? Ain't many like that in District 7." He pulls me so that his lips are just outside my ear and whispers conspiratorially, "Between you and me, they don't have many girls as beautiful as you in 7 either."

"Will! Would you stop harassing the outlying districts and focus on training?" A harsh, mocking voice carries over and I am released.

"Right you are, Frid," he raises his hand in a smart salute (a gesture of respect and reverence that is only supposed to be made during the Panem Anthem), spins on his toes, and skips away. I am left baffled and even wearier than I was before.

"Prim?" Jace's voice washes over me, smoothing away the irritating boy from 7. I wish I could just sink into the floor and melt away. But I can't. So I turn to Jace, fake a friendly smile, and throw knives with such ferocity that the trainer walks by and tells me to "save it for the arena."

Training breaks at 12:30 for lunch I get the feeling that none of us are used to eating a noon meal, because no one looks ready to end training. Still, we dash up to our assigned floors and join our mentors for lunch. Guess who also eats with us? Our loving parents of course! Or not so loving as the case may be.

As soon as we reach The Penthouse Awren runs to his father. I wonder what the parents have been doing all day. My fellow tribute is swept up into an enormous hug by his burly father, and proceeds to tell him everything about the morning. I can see the pain and sadness behind the pride and affection glistening in Mr. Santo's eyes. I look to my own mother for some sign of similar love, but all I get is the sight of the side of her head as she turns away from me. It's a good thing I'm about to die, I think miserably, because there's no way I could live with her for any longer.

For lunch, I am served a large cheesy flatbread with small coins of spiced meat tossed on top. This is accompanied by a large, leafy salad that includes many vegetables I've never seen or heard of before. It would be a great meal, except for the unrelenting and inescapable lack of acknowledgement I am receiving from my mother. Better bundle up Prim! It's a chilly day in Mother-ville!

As always, Effie makes up the bulk of the table chatter, but today Awren is uncharacteristically talkative. He tells them about Cynth and Daz, and how Daz just wants to protect Cynth but in doing so is making her miserable.

"And Prim made a friend too!" he is saying. Suddenly, all eyes are on me. Even, I look up to check, Yes, even my mother is looking up now.

"Her name's Jace." I say. Unlike Awren, I don't feel particularly close to anyone included in this pow-wow and don't want to start telling them anything personal. When did Jace become personal? I wonder, but I guess that I have so little left to call my own at this point. Now that even my life belongs to the game makers, don't I deserve to keep a friend to myself?

"There was a boy too, though right? The one from... Uh, wasn't he from seven? I thought I saw you with him, right? Is he nice?" Awren can't leave me alone. I'm sure he means well, but right now I would face a thousand careers tributes just to get him to shut up.

Now however, I really have everyone's attention. "That was Will," I say, careful not to let anything that happened show in my answer. I am emotionless. "He's not a friend."

Effie looks disappointed. "District 7 is a very strong competitor in the Games!" she informs us. "You would do well to stay on their good side, young lady."

I let a sarcastic smirk settle on my face, but as Effie sees this, she pipes up again. "I'm not kidding. And especially with the boy tribute, this Will. A little romance is ALWAYS popular in the Games..."

I excuse myself, and go throw up my lunch.

I tried to make it happy guys, but it's not a happy story. Expect future development with Prim's mother, and of course the budding training room romance ;) Thanks for the reviews y'all, I do my best to incorporate the things you guys are asking for, and if you're not seeing something, that's probably because you hit on something big, and it's coming soon. Lots of love! ~~~Fancyclopedia