"You made some friends." Finnick said as we stepped onto the elevator.

I scoffed. "They just liked the way I looked tonight."

"You were very pretty." Tyler says quietly.

Finnick smiles to himself. "Still are." I punched him in the arm. This made Finnick smile even more. "Don't start something you know you can't win Cresta." Finnick says playfully. I try to keep a straight stubborn face, but I can't contain my smile when Finn starts tickling my sides.

Talika, Mags, Tyler's stylist and Ezzré are already waiting for us when we get back to our floor.

"Oh my darling Annie! You were just fabulous tonight dear!" Talika shrieks. "So beautiful. So grand an entrance!"

"She's right Annie." Ezzré adds. "You stole the show."

I look nervously down at my feet. "I only looked pretty. It's not how I normally look."

"But dear, no one knows that! That's the most wonderful part! You looked fearsome, yet elegant in your entrance. The camera's loved you. Loved you!" Talika's voice is really starting to piss me off. "Oh and Tyler, dear, you were precious out there!"

A guard shows up from the elevator suddenly. He looks only at Finnick. Finnick seems to hang his head sadly, but nods to the guard. He turns to me. "I have to go. I don't think I'll be back until late." And then he's gone. I hear Mags sigh softly. She looks very upset. I go over to her. We sit down on the couch and talk for a while. Well, I talk, and she listens. She mumbles every now and then and gives me some hand signals that I understand. After a while, she pulls on my dress. I forgot I even had it on. She wanted me to change into something more comfortable. I honestly forgot I had it on. I nodded to her and disappeared into my room. Although it was dark out and getting late, there was still a massive crowd out in the streets chanting different tributes names. I thought for a moment that I could hear my name, but I must have been mistaken. They must have been shouting the District 2 girls name; Athena. Close to mine, and more likely to win. I overheard my prep team before they left that I was in the races for the top female tribute choice on the betting tables so far, Athena and the District 1 girl being my competition. Personally, I could care less.

I go back to the main room for a light dinner. I'm not that hungry, but I know that I should eat something. I haven't been that hungry since my name was pulled from the bowl.

Tyler is already wolfing down food. He's grown quite a taste for Capitol food I supposed. It's a comforting sight to watch him eat and talk and smile like he doesn't have a care in the world. It suddenly makes me miss Brooke a whole lot more.

After food, I go back to my room and sit on my bed. The velvety covers are so comfortable I could probably fall asleep just sitting here. I turn the window back to the ocean view. It shows a midnight sky with a full moon on the waves. They crash against the shore and I'm sure I can hear the gulls quieting for the night. I can feel the soft breeze in my face. Then, something actually does touch my face. I jump in surprise and turn around. Finnick stands before me. Same as he looked when he left, but his hair is somewhat messier. My stomach drops, he was off doing "business" again. He gives me a smile, I return it, but I can't bring myself to mean it. He sees this and his smile drops too.

There's a bad vibe in the air, until Finnick changes the subject we both know is on our minds. "You've got some requests for an alliance already."

No way. "Seriously? Just from looking pretty?" I gape.

He smiles. "First off, you always look pretty, and second yes. Two people have taken an interest in you."

"Who?"

"District 8 male tribute. I think they said his name was Xavier. And the District 1 male tribute, Jem."

"You mean tall, blonde, and handsome?" I ask. Finnick smiles at me and nods. I stand there thinking it over.

"You don't have to decide right now you know." He says.

"I know. District 1 I'm not too interested. He's kinda creepy and has a short fuse. District 8 I'll consider more."

Finnick nods. "Almost exactly what I was thinking. You almost never want to trust 1 and 2. Personal experience." I nod. I wasn't exactly planning on trusting them either. It would be nice to have an alliance, but with the right people. And there's no telling how that alliance will break up. "Well," Finnick starts, "I'll let you get some sleep. Training starts tomorrow." Oh joy.

"I don't need my prep team for that do I?" I ask. Finnick laughs, sensing my discomfort.

"Hate them already do you?" He asks. I shrug my shoulders. "Don't worry, you won't see them again until the interview." He then walks over to me and hugs me. "I'll see you tomorrow." He whispers into my hair, and then he's gone. Leaving me alone to my thoughts and the false ocean breeze to lull me to sleep. Which it does eventually. My dreams are still unkind. I wake up in a cold sweat more than once, but Finnick isn't there. This frustrates me more than it should. I don't need Finnick to sleep. Do I?

"Up up up!" I swear to the holy heavens I will murder her if it means not having to go to the games. Talika rips the comforter from my body and a blast of cold air hits me. I hiss involuntarily at her, and have to blink twice when I open my eyes. She's dressed almost exactly as I was last night for the tribute parade. Except she has two inch gold fake nails, blue shimmering lips, and 6 inch heels compared to my more modest ones. "My dear you are all the rage! Your outfit has skyrocketed through the Capitol, why everyone is wearing you!" She grabs the remote and changes the peaceful morning tide to the streets of the city. There, I stand up and look out. Almost a sea of blue and green outfits similar to mine. This is really creepy. "But enough of that, come come! We must get you ready for training, and you must eat my dear. In a few days, you may go back to your ways in your district and have nothing to eat." She says happily and prances away. Thanks for the reminder. I go to my closet. Ezzré has left me a garment bag labeled "Training" so I open it up and take out the outfit. A top and bottom, with shoes of course. The top is plain navy short sleeve shirt with a silver "4" on the back of my left shoulder, and the front of my right shoulder. The pants are cropped at the knee and are navy with silver detail down the side. The shoes are black and plain, but light for easy movement. At the bottom of one of the shoes I find a small note.

Annie,

The outfits used for the training sessions are usually somewhat related to the outfits they'll give you for the games. This material is light and waterproof. But also heat reflective. Don't tell anyone about this, but I expect some kind of wet land, jungle, mountain terrain or beach setting for your games.

Sincerely,

Ezzré

Well this was helpful. I'm sure the other tributes of 1 and 2 got similar notes from their stylists. But I wouldn't want to get Ezzré in trouble just in case I'm not supposed to know. I reach for a hairband from my bedside table and pull my hair into a high pony. My hair looks fuller now thanks to my prep team. Wavier, and if possible, almost a deeper shade of brown. Even in the pony, my hair reaches down to my mid back. I may have to ask for it cut before the games.

At the breakfast table, Tyler is in his outfit and eating a helping of eggs, sausage and toast. I just reach for some eggs and juice. Mags looks at me odd. "I'm not that hungry." I tell her. She gives me a stern look, but waves it off. Something is missing from the table. A certain someone who has the essence of a God. "Mags, where's Finnick?" Mags just shakes her head sadly. I understand. But I don't want to. I want to scream at her. But it's not her fault. Rather, I excuse myself from the table and wait in the living room.

When Tyler is done eating, he and I both take the elevator to the basement with Mags. There, we take an underground tunnel to what looks like a small waiting room. From there, is a metal door which opens as we near it. Mags ushers us inside and gives me a small smile. Tyler is shaking slightly. I give him a smile and we walk in together. My school back in District 4 had a small gym. The gym was used for training those who wanted it and for school activities when we had any. Right now, they would be gathered in to watch highlights of last night if they missed any. During the games they move a giant T.V in there for people to come and watch together. What we walk into here, is like our gym back home, only much bigger and grander. Stations set up everywhere; survival skills, combat, archery, an obstacle course and lots of other things to do. Only Districts 1, 2 and 3 are here so far. I guess we're arriving in order.

"Annie." That fake charming voice calls out. I look over to see Jem walking towards me, a smile on his face. "How did you sleep?"

I plaster a fake smile on my face. "Just fine. And you?"

"Excellent. I dreamt about us." Oh dear. "We were the last two in the games, unfortunately for you, I won, but you know, there can only be one victor. But before I killed you," he leaned in closer and whispered. "We had some fun together." He winked at me as he pulled back. Ew ew ew! But I smiled right back at him.

Then before I could stop myself I flirtatiously asked, "What kind of fun?"

He just grinned at me. "Maybe when we get to the games I'll show you." A shiver ran up my spine, and not the good kind. The very very very bad kind. But I smiled on. "I trust you got my request last night."

"As a matter of fact, I did." I tell him.

"And?"

"And I have to think about it." I tell him truthfully. "Plus I'm not sure the other career girls like me."

He smiles wickedly. "They're just jealous that you beat them out for best female entrance last night at the parade. Don't pay attention to them. It's me you'll want on your team at the end. They'll just stab you in the back, literally."

"And what would you do?" I ask challengingly.

He sighed lightly. "I would make sure you died as painlessly and quickly as possible."

That's reassuring.

"Attention everyone!" A woman steps up on a mat in front of us.

It comes to my attention that everyone else has gotten here while Jem and I were conversing.

"In approximately two weeks, 23 of you will be dead. 1 will remain as the sole victor. Many of you will wish to go straight to weapons and combat, but don't ignore the survival skills, as an infection can kill as easily as a knife."

After her speech, we all split up. Tyler apparently had already made friends with the District 3 and District 12 boys. They all went to the obstacle course. Jem and the other Careers went to weapons and combat. The District 7 and 9 girls were at the fire building station. The District 5 boy is at the archery station. Everyone seems to be occupied with something but me. I wander around a bit more, before I dare go over to the Careers, I find a small station tucked away in the corner. Coils of rope, thread, string and other things lay out on the table. My heart leaps a bit, and I can't contain my smile. I immediately grab the rope and begin to weave it. Twisting, turning, braiding and tying it together reminds me of home. I guess I got carried away, because soon enough a shadow stands over me. District 8, Xavier.

"Are you coming?" He asks in a soft voice.

"Coming where?"

"To lunch. The bell rang 10 minutes ago." I quickly stand up from my corner and look around the gym, it's completely empty.

"Oh. I didn't realize what was going on I guess." I replay. He smiles.

"That's ok. I admire people who get lost in their work. What exactly are you making?"

I hold up my product. "A fishing net." My family back home makes fishing nets and hooks. I guess I grew up with rope.

He nods in approval. "You could use that to catch people." Then he walks away. The thought of catching someone in this horrifies me a little. What was meant to be a reminder of home and what I know how to do best, has now become a weapon, and it's terrifying. I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't think I can. Except maybe Jem, I'd like to give him a swift kick to the balls.

I follow Xavier into the lunch room and everyone looks at us. Especially Jem and the Careers, he doesn't look happy. My suspicion is confirmed when after lunch he pulls me aside.

"What are you doing with him?" Jem spits in my face.

"He came to find me because it was lunch time. I wasn't paying attention and didn't hear the bell, so we walked in together."

Jem still doesn't look happy. But he walks away. I go back to my ropes and sit in my corner; playing the mysterious girl I'm supposed to, but in reality, I don't feel like talking much to anyone.

After training, Tyler is bouncing off the walls. He tells Mags about the friends he's made and he wears a smile all night. I would too, except Xavier and Jem are the only ones I talked to and nothing much resulted from either. Plus I'm not sure how Mags would take me talking to District 1. I know Finnick would be angry. Wait… where is Finnick? Mags seemed to sense my searching and just shakes her head and says "Boy gone."

He's gone the whole night. I haven't seen him once today; it's feeling more and more like it did back home where I wouldn't see him for a few days because he was in the Capitol. Now I'm in the Capitol and I still don't get to see him.

I tell Mags about my day when Tyler went to sleep. I told her about the oncoming advances of District 1 and the short brief conversation with District 8. She seemed to take an interest in this strange combination and left for a moment. When she came back, she motioned for me to get up and follow her. I did so. We walked down the hall to the Tribute Memory Wall that I had discovered on my first night here. She clicked on her own image and highlighted a certain portion with her finger.

Mags Ederin alliance: District 1 – Yale Proxy, District 5 – Quinn Mayer, and District 8 – Gregory Bryn.

So Mags had an alliance with the District 1 and 8 males. But also the girl from District 5, but it shows that the girl did not last long. Yale practically sacrificed her to save himself, and that's when Mags and Gregory broke off from him. Gregory made it to the final 4, but Yale ended up killing him and the District 11 male who was left. But he was so injured that Mags only needed to wait for him to die. In the whole games, Mags never killed anyone. She was the first victor in history to win without killing. She injured people, but never fatally.

"So did you want me to make an alliance with them?" I look up at Mags.

She smiles and points to her head and says "Idea." That night, Mags and I talk it over. Become a Career, but secretly partner with District 8. I know Mags would never admit it out loud, but her favorite part of the games is plotting against District 1.

"What will Finnick think? He told me not to trust District 1." I ask her.

She waves me off. "I'll handle boy." She mumbles. I turn to go to bed then. But first, a shower would be nice. I have tried to avoid the shower as much as possible because it scares me, but I can't go more than 24 hours without one. I step into it and turn on the water on the lowest possible setting. It shoots out at a boiling temperature. I jump back a bit, but slip and end up falling on my butt. I can imagine Finnick smirking at this, so I just won't tell him about this little incident. I manage through the rest of the shower in scalding then freezing water. Is there no medium to this thing?

Once clean enough for my standers, I step out and look for a hair dryer. Trying to avoid using that Capitol body dryer on the floor, it freaks me out. I find what I'm looking for, but it has about nine different settings. All of which need to be on while it's drying my hair. Can't anything here just be simple?! I give up and use the body dryer. I heard Tyler giggling about it at breakfast yesterday. He must like it. I turn it on, and WHOOSH! Instantly I'm dry. I seem to have a shimmer to my skin and a fresh wind swept look to my face and hair. Everything here is about appearances isn't it?

My bed brings sleep. Surprisingly though, no dreams, no nightmares, and no waking up in a cold sweat. Just deep restful sleep. Get it while I can I suppose.

In the morning, I find a fresh training outfit, this time, rather than navy and silver, it's plain old black and white. My shoes are the same though. Once again, down at breakfast, Tyler is already there and eating. Everyone gets up early out of habit in District 4, but Tyler's family were fishermen, like Finnick's, so they get up the earliest. Mags is there, she smiles at me as I grab my toast and juice. Finnick is still missing.

I wait for Tyler to finish and we head down to the training room for the day. This time, District 12 is in the elevator with us. The boy I learned from Tyler last night is named William. He's Tyler's age, height, and they even look similar. Only William's hair is a darker brown and his blue eyes are more like a cloudy day rather than the ocean like Tyler's. The girl keeps fidgeting with her outfit. Her hair pulled back into pig tails.

"Annie." Tyler's voice pops up. I look down at him. "This is Will. I was telling you about him last night remember?"

"Yea I do. Nice to meet you Will." I reach out my hand. Will blushes extensively and takes it.

"You're very pretty." He says turning even pinker.

I smile down at him. "Well you are not so bad looking yourself." He smiles. I turn to the girl. "What's your name?"

She looks up at me, her penetrating icy blue eyes reach mine. "What does it matter? No one will remember me anyway."

This took me by surprise. "Your parents will. Your friends will."

"I don't have any." She moves to hide her face in her blackish hair.

The elevator stops and she practically runs off. "Rae's an orphan." Tyler says from behind me.

"Her mom died when she was born, giving birth to her." Will says. "Her dad died in a mining explosion a few months ago, a week before her 14th birthday. It killed a lot of dads. Her older brother was in the games five years ago. In the 65th. He was killed by your mentor Finnick." Well shit. No wonder she doesn't want talk to me. "She isn't good at making friends. And the only two friends she ever had died. One of starvation a couple years ago, and one in the games last year." I remember watching those games, with victor Johanna Mason. The District 12 girl stepped of her platform too soon because she was having a panic attack. She was dead before the countdown started.

"That's awful." It's really all I could say.

William looks up at me sadly. "District 12 is awful. Rae is just unlucky. She has been her whole life. People shy away from her when they see her. Now this. As depressing as it is, she's right. No one will remember her."

The training room fills faster than yesterday. People have already started to make groups.

I seek out Rae, and find her with the District 3 girl at the rope station. I move to go talk to her, but something holds me back. Today I was supposed to mingle with the Careers and "make friends". Jem spots me moving toward them and smiles a very white smile. He says something to the group and they all turn to look at me.

"Annie." Jem says sweetly. "Meet the Careers. My counterpart Dominique." He gestures to the blonde haired, blue eyed, big boobed girl who actually towered over all of us. She's much taller in person. "And Athena, and Maverick from District 2." He points to the girl with short dark hair, olive skin and dark brown eyes, and a man with giant muscles, olive skin as well, but almost white hair and blue eyes. "Everyone, this is Annie." I wave a little hello. Dominique laughs and Athena smiles a snake like smile. Maverick takes time to look me up and down, then nods in approval.

"So what are we doing today?" I ask.

"We," Jem gestures to everyone but me. "We are going to dip into the survival skills then back to combat after lunch. You are going to work on combat and weapons all day to improve your skill. What do you prefer?" He asks pointing to the wall of weapons.

"Which weapon do I prefer?"

He nods.

"The knife." I say coolly. I've never thrown a knife but I know how to use it.

"Very well. Get the lady a knife." He says. They hand me one the length of my forearm. I look at it quizzically. "Something wrong?" He asks.

"I prefer a smaller one." Jem looks a little frustrated. "Bigger isn't always better." I tell him. To this he smiles. Grabs a knife more my size and sends me to target practice.

The instructor shows me how to stand, how to position my arm, and how to follow through. I try once. I completely miss the target. I hear a groan behind me and spot Dominique watching me. She looks me in the eyes, shakes her head and walks away. I work on this knife all morning, and then, right before lunch, I stick the knife in one of the targets.

"Yes!" I cheer to myself. Then realize what a fool I probably just looked like. I try again. I hit it again. And again and again.

"You've got the hang of it now!" The instructor says gleefully. I try a larger knife, and hit the target, but with less accuracy. "You should probably take a break." He says.

"Why?"

The instructor looks at me oddly. "Doesn't your arm hurt?" Now that he mentioned it, my arm was getting sore. I nodded to him. The lunch bell rang then. I leave to go eat, and am actually fairly hungry this time. I grab a ham cheese sandwich and a water bottle. I sit down at a table currently unoccupied. The Careers aren't here yet. Odd.

"Mind if I sit?" A deep voice asks. Xavier.

"Go right ahead." I reply with a smile.

"Annie Cresta right?" He asks.

"That's me."

"Xavier Dion." He holds out his hand. I shake it. A very firm grip. "We weren't properly introduced yesterday. I apologize."

"Oh, it's fine. Nice to meet you."

"And you."

I take a moment to really get a good look at Xavier. He's tall, built, but there's a soft side to his features. Defined jaw line, a head of auburn hair, medium skin tone, large brown eyes with hints of gold and flat stomach with clearly outlined abs under his shirt.

"Your mentor is Finnick Odair right?"

I take a bite of my sandwich. "Yep."

"Finnick the Famous Fuck from Four?" He asks. "I've heard the rumors. That's what they call him."

My stomach drops a little. "He's not like that at all." Ok, maybe that's a lie. But I can't tell him the truth. "He just has a lot of lovers and girlfriends. But he's not at all cocky or happy about it."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up." He backs off. "Do you know him, uh, personally?"

"Not in a sexual way if that's what you're wondering. We were best friends before his games. Then he changed. I guess I still get aggravated when people call him things that I don't see him as."

"That's understandable." He picks at his food a bit. "So, you and the Career's huh?

"They wanted me for my looks." I say to him. Which is true. Well, Jem wanted me. "I don't think they do anymore now that they've seen my fearsome skills."

Xavier laughs. "I was watching. You got the hang of it toward the end."

"Please, if it was moving or alive, there is no way I'd hit it."

"Don't doubt yourself Annie. Everyone is stronger than they think they are." And with that he was gone. However, someone staring at me caught my eye. Jem was glaring at me from across the room. He was making me uncomfortable, so I got up, grabbed my water and my garbage and moved toward the door to leave. He grabbed me and pulled me out of view of everyone else.

"What do you think you're doing!?" He angrily whispered.

"Being friendly." I reply softly.

"Annie you're being so stupid! He's our biggest competition right now. You can't just-"

"Jem wait." Says the soft, yet venomous voice of Athena. Jem turns around and there I see both District 1 and 2 girls. "Maybe we could use her to our advantage."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Use her to get close to him. Have them become an alliance, when she's really with us if you want her so bad. Then we can lure them into a pretend trap, but Annie goes free with us and we take him out." She whispers. Then she adds even softer, probably not meant for me to here, "and if it happens that Annie gets hurt, so what? One less to worry about."

I can practically hear Jem smile. They turn back to me where I stood, pretending to be more interested in the wall than their conversation.

"Alright 4, here's the deal." Athena walks up to me.

"Her name is Annie." Jem buts in. But Athena just glares at him.

"Annie." She hisses through her teeth. "We want you to be a Career. But for the games, you'll be in an alliance with 8 over there." She nods toward Xavier. "We'll leave you to live during the bloodbath, and if he gets away, which we're assuming he will, then after 2 or 3 days you lure him into a trap and we'll get him. Sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan to me." I nod in agreement.

Athena smiles. "We'll arrange the trap for the Cornucopia. When we get lifted into the arena, Jem, Dominique, Maverick, and I will lift up either 2 or 3 fingers signifying how many days until the trap. Just look for one of us and then, until that day, you and 8 are on your own."

Satisfied, Jem and the girls move away from me. It sounds like a good plan. But when does that mean I'll be able to get away? What about Tyler, I need to protect him. What will Finnick say to the plan? Probably yell at me. Oh well.

Once back in the training room I find Xavier at the survival skills trying to make a fire. I look over to Jem across the room. He's watching me intently. I nod to him, then go over to Xavier. I spend the rest of the day with him, following him around and learning more about him. He has two younger brothers back home and an older sister. No girlfriend. No mom either. Started working in the factories when he was 15, been working ever since. He turned 18 just a week before the reaping. His favorite color is blue, and his weapon of choice is a sword. I tell him a bit about my life too. About my dad, Brooke, and my family's fish net making business. I even tell him about when Rod Scale came to say goodbye to me. All he could do was laugh.

"Poor guy." He said between breaths. I smiled. Pretty soon, Tyler and William came over to join us. They both were at the archery station for a while. They complained of how hard it was and that they couldn't hit a target. Then out of the corner of my eye, I spot Rae staring at me. When I catch her though, she looks away immediately and goes back to watching how to purify water.

My heart aches suddenly. If I get too attached to these kids, it is going to be very hard on me to deal with everyone dying. I don't know how I'm going to do this. Just 3 more days of freedom; then everything will turn red.