Weird title, right? Well, today is Day Five in the arena, but first, we're going to catch up with Annie and Brooke and see how they've been doing!

Chapter Twenty-Four: Public Disturbances of Delight and Horror

Brooke POV: It's been a whole five days since Alexis went into the arena, and nearly a week since we began the campaign to get my parents to sponsor her. She just has to come home, she has to.

Yesterday, when she was mauled by that wolf mutt, Annie and I were crying nonstop; I was sure she was going to die. All that hard work for nothing, and my parents had nearly given in too. Thank goodness she's okay. Well, okay-ish.

I haven't seen much of my parents at all actually, since they kind of kicked me out for starting what has basically become a riot outside their house. The crowd starts about a half block away and goes right up to the front door. I've been visiting every once in a while, begging them to give in, but for the most part I stay at Annie's. We fish, we cry, we watch the Games. We've been taking the Samphire, Alexis' old family boat out almost every day to help feed her parents and Annie's; since both of them have basically become robotic. They barely talk and they never leave the house. It's all we can do to get them to keep eating.

"Hey, Brooke! You're up!" Annie smiles, cracking open the door to her bedroom. "I was about to head out and fish, wanna come?" She forces a grin, I can tell because it's more of a grimace than a smile. We've been trying to keep things normal and keep our spirits up, but it's hard.

I sit up in the bed Annie and I share and rub my eyes. "Nah, it's okay. I'm going to go check on my parents today. Want to meet me there after?"

She nods. "Sure. I'll see you in a couple hours." The door closes and I hear the chimes at the front of the shop echo as Annie exits.

I get dressed slowly, being careful to pick out something nice and "proper for someone of my class", as my parents would say. I finally decide on a silk green shirt and a simple black skirt with a blue leather bag. My mom would call it "casual, but proper". Normally I wouldn't care, but if it means getting Alexis to win, I'd wear anything. High heels even, if my parents asked. Or pink.

I leave Annie's room and pass through the shop on my way into town. I'm about to leave when something catches my eye. It's a net, one of Annie's creations, draped across a section of the aqua blue wall. I gasp, it's perfect. Alexis already has spears and tridents, but no net. If she had a net, she'd be near unstoppable, I'm sure of it. And Annie definitely won't mind if we sent it to her. I carefully pull it off the wall and fold it up, tucking it into my bag. I don't want Mr. and Mrs. Cresta selling it off.

The bells chime as I leave the shop and I step out into the cool air. A chilly sea breeze sweeps past me as I make my way into town. It must be freezing out on the water, poor Annie.

It doesn't take long before I reach the Victor's Village, and a crowd is already starting to form. These past few days have blown me away completely, nearly half the district has been helping little old me and my friends. I always knew District Four was my home, but this has changed the meaning completely. I push my way through the group, but for the most part they let me through easily. I walk up the steps to my old home and knock three times, loudly.

"Mom, Dad, it's me!" I call through the open window. "Let me in!"

I hear my dad's feet stomp down the stairs. The lock clicks and the door swings open. I yelp as a strong hand grabs me and pulls me inside, shutting the door swiftly behind it. The lock clicks shut again, and I look up to see the towering figure of my dad. Bulging muscles, windswept golden hair, he's basically the older version of Finnick, though perhaps less handsome. There's a reason he won the Games.

I stand up slowly, shaking off a bit. "Nice to see you too, dad." I grumble. He cracks a minuscule smile, then goes back to his trademarked frown.

"Serves you right, after what you've done, setting half the district against us." He replies.

"Look, they will all go away as happy little clams if you just help out my friends in the Games!"

"You sure about that? They seem to have a lot of pent up anger towards the victors."

"I'm sure of it. I promise." Honestly, there's no telling what that crowd will do, but I'm not telling my dad that. I just want my friend back.

I can tell my dad's about to argue when a cold voice comes from the doorway. "Oh, let her have it! I'm tired of these stupid district people outside, I haven't been out in days!"

My mom slides into the room. She was beautiful and deadly when she won her Games, and hasn't changed much since. You can barely tell she's aged at all. Despite all that, I run into her shocked arms and hug her, tears sliding down my face. "Thank you so much, Mom!"

She pulls away, a fake-looking smile plastered to her face. "No problem, sweetheart. Anything for you."

After I set up a riot outside your house, you mean. I think to myself, but I say nothing.

"Honey-" my dad starts, but my mom cuts him off.

"Oh, what do you care? At least she's finally showing some interest in the Games for once!"

My dad mutters something under his breath, then turns to me. "Just go to the Justice Building and tell them to take the money from our safe."

I take this an excuse to leave and run out the door. "Thank you!" I yell after me. I burst out on the street, startling all my wonderful helpers, most of which are just setting up outside the house. "We did it!" I cheer. "We did it!"

The crowd roars in happiness and I somehow get in over all the yelling, "TO THIS JUSTICE BUILDING!"

I feel myself being lifted up above the crowd, onto the shoulders of several people. I laugh and cheer along with everyone else as we march towards the Justice Building.

I'm dropped off on the steps and enter the building by myself, the pure noise of the group pushing me in. I swear, the Peacekeepers are going to call us out for being a "public disturbance" soon. I'd better hurry.

I pull out the net from the shop and lay it out in front of a very shocked looking worker. I'm guessing they weren't expecting that much noise today.

I clear my throat. "I'd like to send this to Alexis Lace in the arena. The money is in the Mallek's safe."

The girl at the desk frowns at me. "Do you have a key?" she asks skeptically.

I gulp, but draw myself up to my full height and give her my best "I'm so much better than you" stare. I feel back for doing it, but what choice do I have? "I doubt that will be necessary. I'm Brooke Mallek."

The girl's eyes widen in shock. "I'm so sorry miss!" She grabs the net off the desk rather hastily. The Mallek family isn't the mayor's family, but we're pretty up there. Usually unfortunately, but not today. "I can personally guarantee we'll be seeing this in the Capitol by tomorrow morning."

I nod. "Thank you." It takes all my willpower to not jump up and down in excitement right then and there, but I manage to make it outside before I scream out of pure delight. Alexis will come home. The crowd cheers and I'm swallowed by the mass of people. It's been a long time since I was this happy.

"Brooke!" I hear someone cry. "Brooke!" I make my way towards the voice and find it's Annie. I wrap her in a huge hug and yell, "We did it! I sent her the net!" I look into her face, expecting her to be as delighted as I am, but her expression is scared and worried. The smile slips off my face. "What is it?"

"Brooke," a tear slips out of her eye. "we have to get back right now. They say something awful's happened to the Volunteer camp!"

I'm not sure how much I'll be able to upload in the next two weeks because we're going to be kind of busy for the first one and I'm going on vacation (without wifi...GASP!) for the second week, so hopefully I'll be able to get out another two or so chapters before the end of august but I already have every thing planned, mostly, right up until Claudius Templesmith will announce the victor. I hope you'll like as much as I do!