1: Welcome to 2

I ducked, just barely missing Zane's punch I spin around getting a hit in. But before I know it his glove was in my face.

" Agh." I groan giving him a dirty look.

" Come on, you could've dodged that!" He yells. " Again."

I sigh getting back in my stance, knees slightly bent, head up, arms out. Focused.

I wanted to be done, I've been up since 4 perfecting the perfect punch and dodge.

I need to be done.

He was just turning around the get back in his stance, I kicked the back of his knees making them buckle.

Zane trips turning, when he does I hit him in the face. " There got my good hit in." I breathe heavily.

I think he actually wanted to punch me in the face. I hear my dad chuckle from the corner, " That should be enough for today. Good thinking sweetheart."

Zane stands up, looking in between the two of us. " Fine." He says shortly. " I want you to work on being quicker. Do the exercises I showed you."

I smirk, " Yes sir." I look to my Father, " Can I go now?"

" Hurry before Cato comes back, he's supposed to be dropping something off for Marie." Zane says.

Don't need to tell me twice.

I go to get dressed in their bathroom taking the bag I had jogging out the door.

We actually made good timing I was just out of eye reach from the Hadley's when I saw Cato walking with some of his friends towards the house.

I try to look away from him, I looked like I was sweating just a bit, my hair was slightly damp but you'd need to really look to realize that.

" Morning Kaylaya." One of his friends said giving me a grin. I don't know what his name was,but I think he was the one I ended up with last night...

Aspen drugged me to a party, he said I needed some fun. I don't do much, I basically train, and shadow my mother, there's barely anytime for fun.

But I do let myself loose once every so often. Last night was one of those nights.

I drank a little no much, not drunk-drunk. Just enough to end of sleeping with him. I left right after.

I lift my brows just ever so slightly, " Hi."

Cato looked at me, his expression didn't seem amused. " Come on." Cato said to his friend. We made eye contact for just a second before I walked away.

I heard him say something though I didn't make out the words.

I don't know if I would want to know what he said anyways.

                        —

My name is Kaylaya Musak.

But everyone that knows me calls me Kay. It's just shorter and not as formal as what Kaylaya sounds like.

I'm the daughter of Kane Musak- 2's head Peacekeeper- he served the Capitol for awhile before he found my mom here in 2 and decided to settle down.

My mother is one of the top doctors here in 2, both of their high status brought my parents together.

I'm their only kid. I'd like some siblings, having their expectations on me all the time is tiring, it'd be nice to have someone else to talk to.

I mean, I have Aspen. He's basically my brother. We met early on and were inseparable ever since. We met when I was still in the academy short years later I got pulled out.

My father and Zane Hadley thought they weren't pushing me enough so they took it upon themselves to train me. It's been like that ever since.

Though it put a huge damper on my social life.

No one is allowed to know they're training me.

Training is supposedly illegal in Panem, but the Capitol over looks the career districts and our academies.

But that's the thing.. If you train, your supposed to train in the academies.

Not with 2 of Panem's greatest Peacekeepers.

So they always had me keep to myself so I wouldn't tell anyone, besides Aspen and a few others.

They also drilled in my head.. if anyone asks. I'm a techy. Everyone knows I'm lethally smart, they just think I got pulled out because I'm to smart to fight in the arena, instead I'll make mutts to kill kids in the arena.

I think Aspen feels bad all I do is train, so he does purposely bring me places just to be a kid once in awhile.

Leading me to drink and... do other things. Hence Cato's friend.

A lot of people want me supposedly. According to Aspen, but I guess I'm very intimidating.

Just how everyone wants Cato.

The difference is.. I barely get with anyone.

Cato has someone new everyday.

And if I do get with someone.. I try to keep it secret I normally don't speak to them unless they speak to me, it's always very short and general.

And why does it matter if I was at the Hadley's when Cato was there?

Simple.

If Cato knew his own father was training me to be a peacekeeper he'd lose his shit.

He needed to go through the games to get that title.once his dad steps down.

All I need to do is show them what I got and I can get in.

Our parents want us to follow directly in their footsteps.

When I was younger, me and Cato were friends. But as soon as I got pulled from the academy is when our fathers didn't let us talk anymore.

We just have the mutual respect of knowing we need to follow our parents.

Though I've technically known him my whole life.. I really don't know him.

Our parents are best friends, but if they do get together, either me or Cato are normally missing.

I don't know if he likes me or not.

I'm not sure If I like him or not either, from what I know and hear from everyone-including his own father- he's a dick.

                        —

I look back at boys briefly, Cato now was in that guys face telling him something. He looks over his shoulder back at me.

Cato Hadley, a freak of nature. Zane wanted him to go in the games, to get an instant spot for peacekeeping. So he trained, and hard. He volunteered last year, no doubt we knew he'd come back.

I was even impressed watching him fight. Everything that he did was flawless, it even scared me a little bit. Seeing him kill brutally, then seeing him feet away from you.

He's the same person. I never comprehended we live with a lot of murderers. Him being one, my parents love him. There was a couple times my mother said we'd be a perfect match, though my father or Zane closed the topic before it even started.

Now, he'll be the next mentor this year. If your a mentor, you train the kids at the academy. You select the careers for the next year, or until you have a victor then you retire and they start where you left off.

I bet he loves all the attention he gets from the girls. For breakfast: a squeaky blonde, Lunch: the bold brunette, dinner: that one raven hair girl with the tattoos.

Cato has his own house in Victors village, but ironically he's a mothers boy so he likes to stay at his original house a lot more. I wonder what would happen if he ever found out I trained with his dad.

He'd probably make my life a living hell. The one thing I know with Cato..he gets even. HE was really upset when his district partner died. He saw it. And he made sure they gave the Capitol a show with the boy from 11.

He had no chance against Cato's rage.

—Every morning I walk Aspen to training, so that's where I'm headed. Aspen's family was an average family for 2. His father is a mason, while his mother is a seamstress.

They live comfortably. Aspen does odd jobs for whoever is in need. He's just helpful like that, I know he would love to win the games who wouldn't want all the riches and fame?

Though that's only one part of being a victor. The rest depending on the person isn't as glamorous, Zane told me that.

Kalaya's dress

The air is always brisk here in 2, I mentally slap myself for not packing a dress with sleeves but it's still the morning, it'll warm up soon enough.

Everyone knows who I am, most say good morning or just stare at me. Regardless I just smile, my mom taught me a smile never could get you in trouble, though it could have many meanings.

I reach Aspen's house a couple blocks down from mine, He was waiting outside already looking around, when his eyes met mine his smile grows.

"Morning." He breathes, he seems a little intense.

I smile, " Morning."

" Going to work by your mom?" He asks.

" Yea. They wanted me to again." I sigh, " So excited."

" Did you train?"

" Every day, today Zane really put me to work, he was kinda making me mad though. Highlight, I punched him though I think he wanted to hit me back."

He chuckles, " I don't understand why they are so hard on you, Peacekeepers just use guns not..everything else."

I shrug, " The more I know, the higher ranked I can be. Don't you know me and Cato are going to be the best Peacekeepers in Panem?" I joke.

Aspen curved his mouth in a smile looking at me.We started walking, normally he would be talking my ear off about anything but today he was quiet.

I looked at him several times, though he didn't notice he was looking at his feet as he walked, deep in thought. So much so he almost ran into a small kid running past.

" Oh..sorry." He says mumbling to the kid.

" Are you ok?" I say slightly laughing.

" Yea! Yea..."

I stop giving him a knowing look. " Speak."

He stares at me for a couple seconds, I crossed my arms cocking my brow. He takes a breath," Well, it's picking today for the careers. I'm one of the picks." He says nervously.

He might be a career? I knew he was good but not..career good.

" Ohh... you didn't tell me?" I ask annoyed.

" I didn't know how you'd take it. I didn't want to worry you if it was nothing, I didn't even know myself until Cato came up to me."

I nod slowly. " I see. Maybe don't be as..good?"

He scoffs squinting his eyes a little at me, " Kay, if I get picked..and win I'd be set for life. I could but anything I wanted, I could get anything for my family. I'd never need to work. I don't have my life laid out for me like what you do."

I knew I struck a nerve. He can get upset very easily, especially when he's stressed like this. I know he's right though.

" Sorry. Your right, I'm just worried."

" Well, if it makes you feel better, it's quell. They're having 2 win this year, one girl and boy doesn't after the district."

" Oh, really?"  I felt a lot better.

" Yea, this would be the year to volunteer. So even if I do, we have that. That's if I get picked."

We arrive at the academy, kids all around, talking, laughing, play fighting, being kids I guess.

" Meet you here after?" Aspen asks.

" Yea. We can get some food from the pub or something."

" Great! I'll see you later." He was just about to walk away, " Wait!" He turns around. " Good luck." I smile.

He smirks, " Thanks."

I walk through the kids, Aspen goes to one of the groups waiting. Though I wasn't paying all that much attention I did see a group of boys staring at me. I see Cato's friend saying something to them.

They all scoff, he's probably telling them about us.

" Watch this." Another one says looking at me.

I know a lot of the boys are horrible to the girls, Aspen tells me the stories. I don't know why if they're training to fight they wouldn't punch them.

They deserve it. If he touches me I'll punch him.

I heard him come from my back left, my dad taught me a listening technique for hearing in combat,, if you angle your head and neck just right, you can hear.

" Hey cutie-" I don't let him finish before my fist has hitting him right in the jaw, he falls on his knees gripping his jaw glaring at me.

" Don't you know it's rude to touch?" I ask, no almost yell. " Touch me again and I'll make sure you won't get back up."

I see Aspen and a couple other come over. Aspen punches him to, yelling to never touch me again. The other boys hold him while Aspen takes a couple more blows.

" Aspen I'm fine." I say going in front of him.

He looks at the boy then at me. He looks over my shoulder at the other guys " Let him go." He spits at the boy. " Do you want me to walk you?" He asks.

I shake my head, " No, I'll be fine. You go train." I assure.

I see some of the other trainers come, One of them being Cato, yea I need to leave.

So much for keeping whatever this is confidential.

The friend group looked shocked as I walked away. That kinda hurt, not going to lie. It feels different then the punching bag that's for sure.

Good thing I'm going to the hospital, my hand was bruising now.

I finally get to the Med, I wave to some of the nurses going to my mom's section, she was just finishing up with some guys stitches.

She looks up giving me a nod, we are't incredibly close, I'm way closer with my dad. My mother is a little high strung I guess but an expert in anything medical so I guess it's justified. It was my dads idea for her to teach me...so here I am. He says it will look good when I apply for a peace keeper.

" What are we working on today?" I ask.

" There's another patient coming in for stitches, watch and learn." She says dismissively. Good talk.

She happens to glance at my hands, the one day I need to hide something she decided to look at me.

She grabs my hands, " What happened?"

" I punched a guy."

She looks at me in disbelief," Why?!"

" He touched me, he wanted to show off to his buddies apparently."

" So you punched him?" She asked.

" Yea, what else would you want me to do?" I ask plainly.

" Go tell someone."

I chuckle, " Are you serious? I can take care of myself. Telling someone won't change anything, now he knows better."

My mother shook her head, she knows I am perfectly able. " Let me find something for your hand." She finds some type of Capitol medicine putting it on.

My hand felt better instantly, I'm always in such awe of the Capitol and what they can create, it's barely human.

The next guy came in, he had a huge gash on his shoulder. I think a knife wound, he looked like one of the trainers from the academy no doubt I've seen him before.

I watched my mom stitch him up so effortlessly. Her hands flew, making him get stitched up in record time the stitch was seamless.

" Now you try, theres a tear dummy in the back closet." She says not looking at me.

I got the small dummy out, taking out the stitches that were in there, trying it for myself. I try to focus, relaying how her hands worked copying for myself. I feel my mothers presence behind me.

" Not bad for your first time." She says giving a small smile.

I know it was good, she smiled.

I look at the time, Aspen will be getting out soon.

" I need to go pick up Aspen."

She nods, " I'll see you later then. The Hadley's might come over so please clean the house if they come inside."

" Yep." With that I was back out the door.

I got there just in time, everyone was just coming out when I arrived. He walked out with a whole group it seemed. He was all smiles, when he saw me he excused himself jogging over to me."Hey." He says. " Are you ok really?"

" Yes Aspen. It felt good punching one of them, maybe they'll learn."

" Oh I think he got taught a lesson." He said with his lopsided grin. He happens to also look down, right at my knuckles.

He grabs them, " I didn't think you hit him that hard, are you actually ok Kaylaya?" He asks concerned.

" Again. Yes. Mom put stuff on them, they'll be all healed by tomorrow."

He looked like he wanted to say something but he didn't.

" How was training?" I ask getting off the subject.

" Well they're picked." He says.

"Oh, who's the lucky stars this year."

" Lexus Roe."

" And for guys?"

" Your looking at him."

I blink a couple times. " You got picked?" I tried to sound excited though now I'm worried as ever, my best friend is going in the games?

" Yea, though there wasn't a lot of competition. That boy actually was the one to beat, thanks for the help." He grinned.

The one time I punch someone..

" So? He just said he didn't want to or did you beat him up even more then you did before?"

Aspen mentions us to walk, which we did. " Actually, Cato kicked him out for this year. He I guess watched the whole thing."

Cato watched?

" And he didn't come over to try and stop it?" I ask intrigued.

" I think you had a valid reason to hit him, the same reason why Cato kicked him out."

I don't respond, I just keep walking. Now I'm the one who was deep in thought, it's the hunger games. The deadliest games in history.

Though 2 is the most prepared, you still can die.

I don't want to watch Aspen die.

" Are you mad I got picked?" I hear Aspen say.

" What? No, no. I'm happy for you, like you said..when you win you'll be set for life." I assure him.

" I just don't want you to be mad."

" I'm not mad Aspen. Whatever you do, you know I'll support you."

We go into the pub, I offered to buy his food since he won to be a career.

We ordered some burgers, talking about my lesson today, " Yea, I know he was mentally undressing my mom when she was stitching him up. ." I say rolling my eyes.

" For the record, your mom is hot." Aspen says stuffing his burger in his mouth giving me a cheeky grin.

" Shut up, I'll punch you." I chuckle.

He rolls his eyes, " You love me to much."

" That's debatable."

He rolls his eyes before getting up, " Come on, I need to go home and tell my family the news and I bet you want to take a nap before your parents get home."

I get up too, " Yea, My parents are going out with the Hadley's tonight. They said I need to clean the house if they come inside."

Aspen walks me back to my house, " See you later?"

" Yea, Congrats by the way... It is a huge accomplishment."

A smile appeared on his face, " Thank you. And I promise I'll be ok."

I nod before going back in my house closing the door leaning on it.

He'll be ok. He has to be.

But you never know what could happen, even some of the toughest tributes get killed. Most likely by mutts, even Cato. He almost got mauled but the odds I guess were in his favor, just narrowly though.

I tidy up the house before sitting down to rest letting out a big sigh. I take a shower from the long day throwing on a tank top and sweats turning on the TV resting for the night.

Soon after, I hear a knock.

" Come in!" I yell.

It was the Hadley's, I see Mrs.Hadley peek in before opening the door fully all 3 of them coming in. Cato makes immediate eye contact with me.

I looked away quickly looking over to Mrs.Hadley.

" Oh Kaylaya! How are you honey?" Mrs.Hadley asks.

" Fine. My parents aren't home yet, they should be here soon though."

Just as I said that the door opens, My parents rushing in. " Sorry we're late. There was a emergency patient." My mom says.

" It's fine, we just got here. We'll visit with Kaylaya." Ms.Hadley says smiling sweetly at me.

I notice Cato looking around. I think this was probably the first time he's been to our house, normally we're always at theirs.

My parents went to get change, and there I was again with them. I adjusted my hands, pain shooting up making me wince.

" Are you ok Kaylaya?" Zane asks.

He looks down at my hands, his eyes widen. " What did you do?" He asks. I see the panic in his eyes, probably thinking it was from training.

This seemed to spark Cato's attention, he looks straight at me with a small smirk as he looks from his dad to me. " She punched a kid today."

Thanks Cato.

" I was walking and this boy decided to grab me." I clarify.

" So you punched him?" Zane asked.

" Yep.knocked him right down. Aspen decided to eat a couple punched in too."

He smiles, " Good job."

" It was that Nolan." Cato added.

I looked at him along with Zane, " Nolan Reedsberg?" Zane asked a little surprised.

" Yea, He got kicked out." Cato said, the last part sourly.

" Who's the volunteer then?" Zane looks annoyed.

" Aspen Ferg."

Zane looks at me, " Your Aspen?"

" He told me when he was walking me home." I looked at Cato, " Is he any good?"

" Yea, I guess." He says plainly.

" Good enough to win?"

He stares for a second, I couldn't read his expression it was blank but also interested? I think this is the first real conversation we ever had, it almost feels illegal talking to him.

I think he feels the same way.

" Cato will make sure he's fine. Right?" Zane said looking at him.

His eyes floated slowly from me to Zane. " Right."

Zane gives me a reassuring smile," He will make sure Aspen comes back along with Lexus, I can guarantee that. Your boyfr-"

Why does everyone think me and Aspen are together, or will be. We're just friends.

" Me and Aspen aren't.. Like that." I trailed off feeling awkward talking about my love life.

Zane makes an 'o' with his mouth, Cato smirked looking down at the ground before looking back up to me, looking back up at me glaring at him. I've never seen someone drop a smirk so fast.

" We're ready." My father yells down the stairs my mother following.

" Do you want to come along Kay?" Ms.Hadley asked.

And get drilled with more questions? No.

" No, I think I'm going to just stay here." I say sweetly.

" Make smart decisions hunny." My mom says.

I smile not saying anything.

" See you later Kay." Zane says.

The last one to walk out was Cato, he looked at my knuckles, making me subconsciously cover them, he looks from them to me before closing the door.