Now introducing

" How did Cato convince you?" Aspen blurts.

I turn towards him, " He didn't have to."

He looks interested, " What do you mean?"

" I always wanted to stick with you. Your then one who broke off with one." I say quietly looking to make sure no one was listening.

His face falls. " Sorry.. now we need to make sure we kill you little follow-"

" -Allies..they're your allies to. I'm telling you Aspen it's a very fragile line your on. One thing.. and your done..dead even. We can't afford to go solo anymore." I whisper urgently.

" Right..sorry." He mumbles.

" I guess he does have some common sense." I scoff. " He wanted you to rejoin me to."

" And severe jealousy." Aspen added. " I think he always had something to say about you."

" It's understandable." I say bitterly.

I have a feeling Cato will be saying way more once we come back.

Kaylaya!

It was my turn. I get up, not bothering to look at Aspen and walk down the hall with the person who called my name.

" There you are! good luck." The lady said, with that I was booted onstage, everyone was screaming if not louder then when they screamed for 1. I walked out confidently, Caesar had his hand outstretched but I went for a hug instead, he was really short so I towered over him.

" Oh my! Look at this amazon! Isn't she grand? Kaylaya how are you?" He asked while we were sitting down.

" I'm great Caesar. How about you?"

" Grand! Grand! How are you feeling about the big day tomorrow?"

I take a deep breath, smiling out to the crowd " You guys better go to bed early tonight, we'll be leaving early."

The crowd laughs. Why are they laughing?

" Good thing it's recorded, we need all the beauty sleep we need to keep up with a yours Ms.Musak."

I just give a cute laugh, how nasty.

" Are you scared for tomorrow? Or what are your feelings?" Caesar asks leaning forward.

I smirk confidently " I feel excited. I really want to get some individuals out of my life. I trained real hard for this."

" I little birdie told me you one of the best one's two has seen from training, is that correct?"

Good, they don't know I actually didn't train in the academy.

I can feel Cato's look through the screen waiting for what I will say.

" Yes I think I am to. I'm flattered to whoever said that."

" You don't know? She doesn't know who said that folks!" He yelled doing his signature loud laugh. " Mr. Cato said it... We've all seen the chemistry you two have, I think we can all agree Ms.Musak and Mr.Hadley are the new faces of two right!"

Girls screamed at the mention of Cato's name it actually made me laugh.

Caesar really needed to say that? but anything for drama right?

Did Cato actually say that?

I laugh lightly, reminding to have my smile." Calm down ladies, I'm very flattered again, especially if it came from Cato.. he's been a very tough mentor but I think it's been worth it. We make a good couple- I mean team- Both of us in the arena this year would've been really cool to see."

WHY did I say couple?

Caesar smiled ' I think you are right. We see the way he looks at you, along with some of the other gentleman here, how do you like the attention? "

Cato doesn't look at me like that... as a piece of meat yes...as competion yes.

" I want it to stay as professional as possible. All I'm focused on is winning, but there is one I guess I kinda like."

The crowd goes crazy, cheering, screaming.

" I think we know which one you talking about."

I just smile and lean back in my chair a bit. " I'll give you more details once I come back."

He gives me a pout but agrees.  "One more question and it's kinda one we said before but, What are your favored weapons and as a little birdy told me, your pretty good at the simulations in thr training center."

My light smile turned into one maybe a little to cocky as I looked at my camera and out to the crowd. " For all who wanted to know how I got the score I did, there you go. But the weapons I guess you need to see, Maybe you all will need to wake up earlier to satisfy your hunger to know." 

Ceasar moves his feet in place a huge kiddish smile appears." Such a tease isn't she! Well thank you Kaylaya and we hope to see you back here soon."

And with that I walked off stage. Aspen was already there ready to go on. He looked at me wide eyed I guess he was impressed or shocked maybe at all I said?

" Look at that girl!" Johanna said hugging me. " they loved it"

" Thank you I think that sold them."

" That it did." Cato said behind me, he was leaned up against the wall watching the tv. I give him a look walking up to him leaning on the wall next to him.

" Let's see what he'll say." Cato said sorely.

" He'll do fine."

" He seems to not like all the boy talk. I'm flattered you think we'd be a good couple." He says looking over to me with a smirk.

DON'T Blush.

" I meant duo."

He leaned closer, " Sure you did. Everyone would've been torn who to sponsor. They all loved me, especially the ladies." He says confidently.

" I think the only ones that you slept with here screaming." I spit.

He gives me a dirty look, looking back at the TV.

Now I smile slyly. " You know I'm touched you think I'm the best trainee that came from two." I smirk turning so I could lean my head on the wall looking smartly up at him.

He looked over to see me smiling like an idiot, " I need to make sure you look desirable."

" Oh, you and I both know I don't need that. Admit it, your impressed with your little techy."

" My little techy?" He questions looking at me up and down. I see something play in his head as he smiles a bit more looking at me.

I feel the heat in my cheeks, I guess that wasn't the best word choice, but I won't let him see I got nervous. I look up at him through my lashes " I mean, you are my mentor."

" A good one at that."

I scoff, " Far from."

" That's not what you just said in your interview." He corrects.

" I lied."

" Sure you did. Just admit it, I'm great."

" I'll admit that as soon as you admit I'm more skilled then you." I grinned.

" Yea, never." He says quickly.

I turn so my back is on the wall. " Yea, because you know you sucked."

He was going to say something smart, but Aspen walked on stage.

             —

" Welcome Aspen how are you?"

" A little tired but I'm doing alright, how about you Ceasar?"

" Fantastic, let's get right into it. How are you feeling about the games? Your part of the career pack correct?"

" I have good allies."

Good. He's keeping it general.

" Like your partner, you trained as well?" Caesar asked.

" Since I was 10, yes."

" And your confident with your skills?"

Aspen gave Caesar a look, " Of course, You'd be dead in matter of seconds Caesar."

He shifted in his seat, "I bet that is true. You and Kaylaya.. You two are the main threats correct?"

Aspen shrugged, " As far as I know, I guess we'll need to find out. I can guarantee we'll all give a good show."

The crowd roared.

" Unlike your partner, can you tell us what your weapon of choice is?" Caesar asks giving a hopeful look.

Aspen chuckles, " I choose life. What I use, Kaylaya uses, sometimes. I'd rather not be on the other side of her weapon."

" I see who's the boss!" Caesar exclaims. " You two are quite close right, you knew each other before she volunteered."

I shift, though it shouldn't be a secret It needs to be. It's a weakness.

Aspen is still smiling though it's not as much as before. " Everyone who trains are all friends. It's good to keep everyone close."

I felt relief, thank you Aspen.

" Last question, do you have a...special someone?" Caesar asks.

The girls yell. Making Aspen laugh.

" I do."

" Well who is she!" Caesar screamed bouncing in his seat making everyone laugh.

Aspen leans forward, " If I win, I'll ask her on television."

Caesar looks in the crowd. " Is that a good deal?"

The crowd cheers.

" Well Apsen, I hope you the best of luck! Aspen everyone!" Caesar says giving him one more hand shake.

Aspen walks off winking at a couple ladies, making one faint.

Seriously?

I guess that went well. As soon as he rounds the corner, his eyes were on me an Cato.

" Was that good enough?" He asks.

" Sounded fine to me, who's the special lady?" I ask, knowing the answer already.

" I'm looking at her." He says quietly.

I look between his eyes unsure what to say, Cato to was quiet looking between the two of us.

Awkward.

" Good job."

River snaked his hands around my waist looking at Aspen, his face hardening. " That was a good interview." River says holding out his other hand to Aspen.

" Thank you." Aspen says, smiling though I know he has any other emotion besides happiness. He looks down at River's hand shaking it. I see the friction already.

I'm in a real situation.

Finnick called River over saying he needed to rehearse what he was going to say. He gave me a small kiss on the cheek. " Good luck." I say before he walks away.

" I think I won't need it." He smiles.

I give him one more smile turning back to the boys rolling my eyes. I see he gets his cockiness from his brother.

Cato watches him leave, his eyes come back to the two of us. " Your sleeping with 4?"

I look up at him. " No!"

" Then what was that?"

I take a step closer, " Ok, first off shut up. Anyone can hear you, and second I was making sure I had a decent ally that wouldn't kill me."

Cato plays with one of the rings on his finger, " Soo... Your leading him on just to kill him?" he says quietly.

I shrug. Cato nods, " Huh... I wonder where you got that from?"

" I wonder."

Cato looks at Aspen, " I bet that's a kick in the chest watching him all over Kaylaya."

Aspen clenches his jaw looking at Cato before at me. " It's not pleasant, But I'll be sure to get a couple swings in before he's dead. Whatever to survive right?"

I feel a little guilty, I don't want to upset Aspen. He's the last person I'd want to hurt. I nudge him, " If it makes you feel better I'll save him for you."

He fine line of an expression turned into him smiling, " You would do that for me?" He jokes.

" Of course I would."

Cato pushes himself off the wall, " Come on. I want to go back to our room to watch the rest of these."

" Don't need to tell me twice Hadley." I agree following behind him.

We made it just in time to get changed and listen to the last half of Prim's interview before River's.

She was charming and funny, she told them about how she knows all it seems, and how she's keeping some yet to be said until the arena.

Rivers, he bragged about his skills and how he trained his whole life, and how it is being brothers with THE Finnick Odair.

I cross my legs looking at the screen bored, " I think half his personality is being Finnick's brother. He acts just like him." I scoff shaking my head.

" your telling me." Aspen adds.

Cato stayed quiet just giving us a look.

" So River, another little bird told me you and Kaylaya have a little something, do you care to share or do you want us to be in the dark?" Ceasar joked.

I sit on the edge of the couch peering at the TV " Who told him that?!"

I look over at the boys, they both shrug. I lightly slapped my hands on my legs leaning back again on the couch. " I'm going to punch whoever this little ' birdie' is. This makes me look intentionally weak." I mutter.

" Well Ceasar I shouldn't say much otherwise I might not make it back." River jokes. Smart kid.

The crowd laughed, but egged him on to say more. I take back what I said.

He continued " But I will say this, she's something I think we have never seen before, her skill, knowledge, bravery and believe it or not her kindness. I'm lucky to know such an amazing girl and along with me trying to win I will try my best to make sure she is by my side at the end." The crowd again went crazy.

" River Odair everyone!" Ceasar yelled happy with the excitement.

I heard a loud scoff behind me. I turned to see Cato and Aspen looking equally as pissed.

" All for sponsors." I add. " And I guess saying my name is helping with that."

" That's weak." Cato chuckles.

" I agree." Aspen says.

" All I'm saying.. He's going to have as many sponsors if not more. You need to get rid of him fast." Cato mentions.

" Any recommendations would be nice."

He looks up at the ceiling sighing. " Go hunting. Get some distance away from the others, or majorly hurt him. Let the games finish him off."

" Don't you think he'd catch on to that?" Aspen asks.

Cato shrugs, " Depends on how convincing our little techy can be with him, and how much you can contain yourself." Cato says looking at Aspen then at me.

" I know how much you like putting on a show." Cato said giving a smirk. " You need to convince him like your life depends on it."

My face falls to a scow, " Thanks for the pun. We'll see how everything plays out."

" And if things don't go as planned?" Aspen asks still looking at Cato.

" Then.. Make sure in that bloodbath you grab a bow. And later, if things don't go as planned you need to swallow your pride and run. If you see him again or any others shoot them. Whether it's a kill shot or to cripple them." Cato instructs. " I'm not worried about you Aspen running, it's her."

He points to me. I glance away from him sighing, " If it's me and Aspen.. we could take him-"

" Here we go... and if he injures any of you? That can kill just as easily. I'm telling you Kaylaya... If he catches on I can guarantee he will come after you, along with 7. They know you two are the strongest, they'll kill you before they kill eachother." Cato articulated.

He now looks so much more serious, " I'm really asking of you Kaylaya. Please listen this one time."

I huff. " I will."

" I'm serious."

" I am to."

" Good. Because it's just not your life on the line."

He knows mentioning Aspen will really make me listen. I know he is indeed, very serious.

Now Colin and Lilli were on. They took more of the charming route, being all funny and sweet. They talked about winning together or not at all.

The people ate that right up. But it was also a disadvantage. Now they have a weakness. Something I sure will take advantage of.

Though they didn't really say anything I'd thought would really stick out, besides telling me how to kill them.

The rest were average.

Then they were done.

Tomorrow by this time the first day would be over.

Some of these kids will be dead.

Someone I know might be dead.

There was tension. It's clear Aspen and River like me. I know it was partly my fault, I need to make sure I get them as separated as possible.

" You guys better get to bed." Cato says finally. " Actually Aspen you go. I need to quickly talk to Kaylaya."

Aspen gives me a look, " I'll come to your room." I say giving him an assuring look.

He nods, walking down the hall.

I go to sit closer to Cato, " Yea?"

" You really need to get your ass in gear."

" I will Cato.."

" No Kay.. I mean really."  He pauses. " I mean if you want to run..run. Hide if you need to."

I feel worry. He never sounded this serious before. " We're two.. we trained-"

" I know you trained, Aspen trained, I trained... I'm telling you, this attitude that we all have is one thing that can kill us. It almost killed me, so instead of just going straight in fighting..survive more then fight."

" You want me to..?" I ask confused.

" I want you to use that techy brain of yours." He admits.

" Now you want me to use this brain?"

" Yea, you both got yourselves into a place where your going to need it." He shifts nervously, it made me nervous. " I told both our dads I'll keep you as safe as possible. And I really don't want to bring you back in a body bag, I sure as hell don't want to attend your funeral."

Now he looks like a kid, more like a concerned friend. Though we are far from friends.

" I'll get myself in gear."

" Good...." He looked like he wanted to say something, something smart. He looked at me now with his smirk, although he now was looking down.

" Something you wanna say?" I ask.

" I was going to ask if you wanted a kiss for good luck?" I chuckle, but looking at him longer I think he was serious.

" I have to admit, it's almost impressive how much you've tried to get me."

He shrugs. " I thought I was being laid back."

I smile coming a little bit closer." I'll tell you what Hadley.. If I win I'll give you more then just a kiss."

His brows shoot up. " Really?"

I shrug,  " Yea, why not... But until then.. I guess I can give you a preview."

Before he could react I gave him a little peck on his cheek walking away. I think I saw him blush but now way I was turning back now. " Better get yourself in gear to get us to win!" I yell down the hall.

I feel accomplished.  After these last couple weeks I got the last 'say' in.

I get to Aspen's room, now all my confidence disappeared.

He was sitting on his bed nervous. " what was that about?"

I sigh laying on the bed, " He basically told me I wasn't allowed to die."

He laughs, " Ofcourse he would say something like that."

I laugh a little to before we just look at eachother. " I just want to say-" Aspen begins.

" -Aspen. Don't." I warn.

" Kay.. There's always that possibility."

I shake my head, " That's not very 2 of you to say. I don't want to think like that."

" It's life." He says bluntly. " If something happens in there, it could be a sudden death. There's not such thing as a peaceful death in there where we can t talk until I just pass on."

I take a breath. I guess he was right, now I'm terrified.

Looking at the boy in front of me, my best friend he could be gone. I could be gone, both of us could be gone.

I just didn't always realize this until now.. No, you can't think like that Kay, we're coming back.

" Now like I was saying..Kay.. I'm glad your here. And I really am greatful for having you as my friend. I remember the first day of training we partnered up and you had your little know it all attitude..from that moment I knew we were going to be inseparable..."

I had tears in my eyes as he went on. I really didn't want to hear all of this right now, but he was right just as a precaution.

".....And I hope once this is all done we can still be like what we were before." He looks at me hopeful.

" Ofcourse we can. We can be stupid rich together."

He smiles, " Anything you want to say?"

I think, I could think of a lot but like I said thinking like we are going to die, will give us closure making us being ok with dying.

And I'm not dying.

But I need to be real.

" I to just want to thank you for sticking with me all these years. I had you, but if I could go back.. I'd give up having multiple friends to have you again. Your my twin flame."

He wraps me in a hug. " I love you."

I hug him back. " I love you to. Do you mind if I sleep here.. I just don't want to be alone.."

He scoots over in the bed. " Yea."

We cuddled for the rest of the night, I just wanted to be as close to him as much as I can.

Tomorrow starts the games.. tomorrow people will die.

Tomorrow I'll be killing to get the boy I truly love the most home.