As I'm writing this, I'm thinking: What is going to make this book exciting? The romance, of course. Be prepared to cry!! Apologies in advance, because I really don't know how a guy feels that much. If there's any guys reading and cringing at something I've written, please let me know! Because we are different in the way we think about things. Ceasar is more of a girly-girl, though, for those who haven't noticed. :P

I look around the training room. All around me, the teenagers are fighting with swords, bows and staffs. I'm not even sure where to begin, so I head to the art department, hoping for a slight reprieve. 

I end up using most of the time practicing decorating skills, of which I'm pretty good at. The mandatory exercises are fighting, in which I spent the majority of the time on the floor with someone's knife at my throat.

I look over at Leia occasionally. Her blond hair is flying over her shoulders in its long ponytail as she deftly disarms yet another opponent. Her knives fly through the air and hit the target dead centre every time. Maybe part of the reason that I spend my time on the floor is because I'm distracted. Her blue eyes are so focused that she doesn't look either to the right or the left when she's fighting. 

I spend the afternoon session watching her and strapping up my war wounds. She brushes past me when the training room is shutting and looks down with disdain. "What happened to you?" She asks, and her voice mocks everything I am.

"I... I'm taking a different approach to the games. If no one can see how I really fight, then no one will target me."

"And you can take them all out slowly?" She laughs. "I'd like to see that. Lucky there's one person that knows the truth." She waltzes off, undoing her hair. It falls down her back in maddening, glistening waves that make my head spin further. I should be concentrating on the games. Not letting my female district partner get to me.

I go into Genie's carriage and find her happy to help me out. She's always up for a chat, or helping me forget about the Hunger Games.

****

"So, tomorrow is your private sessions with the Game makers." Dexter says. "We have a new head Gamemaker this year. Seneca Crane. It's his first year, so no one is hoping for much. He'll still know how to kill you, so watch your backs." 

"Have you seen anyone you like so far? Or anyone you've thought about pairing up with?" Genie asks, tucking into her plate of food.

"District 3 and 4, of course. I don't like 1." Leia says. 

"The career tributes, being you, 1 and 4 usually ally together, though." Dexter says, mouth full of wine. 

"Uhuh." Leia shrugs. "But I don't want 1. Genus is too stuck up and Mao is just awful."

I hastily cover up a laugh with a dash to my water glass. Leia glares at me. "Something amusing?"

"No." I gulp. Them? Stuck up? Obviously she hadn't looked at herself lately.

"Ray and Leesh are great. I like them. Ray's a good hunter and Leesh is fast." Leia reaches for the fruit bowl. And Ken and Sara from 4 are worthy opponents, too. I think I'll have to destroy 1 first so they can't get in my way."

"I like your thinking. Careers seem to expect that they will form an alliance with the other careers." Dexter nods approval to Leia. "Ceasar? Thoughts?" 

"Um..." I shrug. "I thought Boggs and Cressida were a fair..."

"DISTRICT 12?!" Leia jumps up like she's been shot. Dexter puts his head in his hands with a deep sigh and Genie looks shocked.

"Well..." I falter. "Boggs was good with an arrow." I finish lamely.

"Forget it, Ceasar!" Leia snaps. "You're definitely not going to be one of my allies, but if you team up with 12, I swear, I'll..."

"Alright, enough now." Dexter pulls her back to the table as she sizes me up threateningly.

"I'll..." Leia still rants.

"I said enough, Leia!" Dexter pushes her down firmly. "Finish eating. Ceasar, she's right, but she's wrong. If you team up with 12, people will start to think that district 2 is a bunch of clowns. Having said that, you're free to do what you want to. It's your games."

He flicks his hand and then abruptly gets up. "At least one of you has a chance." He mutters under his breath.

***************

"Do you know what you're going to do?" I ask Leia as we wait for our private sessions. She gives me a withering look.

"I'll paint my arm and hope it camouflages. The real question, is what are you going to do?" 

"Genus Ellen." The speaker above the door sparks to life. Genus trots out onstage, and the door closes behind him.

"I might... start a fire, or throw a spear. I've been getting quite good at that lately." I say with a shrug.

"Riiigghhtt." Leia says slowly, with a smirk on her face. "You do that, Ceasar."

The next tribute goes in, and I seriously start to wonder what I'm going to do. I spent all night thinking about it. I can throw a knife reasonably well. I can also shoot with a bow and arrow - kind of.

I hear my name and walk in. The Game makers are on their platform above me. There's only about 2 who are really interested, which should make this a whole heap more interesting.

I purposely throw my knife to miss its target, and the game makers who were watching me immediately lose interest. Then, I duck behind a wall at the side, and count to 30. The room goes quiet, no doubt they wonder why I'm wasting valuable time. And then I start running from behind the wall, throw myself into a series of forward flips, then stand up and throw my knife at the dummy. It doesn't hit the centre, but it still hits it, and then I shoot it again with the bow and arrow, which hits the centre - it's a fluke, though, I'm really not that good.

A few of the game makers look impressed. Seneca is no longer watching, but that's alright. I don't want a huge score, but a 1 is my worst nightmare.

*******

"How did you go, dear?" Genie asks. I shrug, and Leia laughs outright.

"If you call skipping around the training room doing well, then he passed with flying colours."

"You have no idea what I did." I say, not angrily. Who could be angry at her?

"True. You probably took a seat up there with the game makers and tried to make friends with them."

"A perfect score isn't everything, Leia." Genie says, disapprovingly.

"No, but it sure helps." Dexter mutters.

"That's why I think that they should really show off the tributes before hand. So that not everyone has to rely on getting a good score." I say eagerly.

Dexter rolls his eyes slightly. "The Hunger Games is not a fashion show, Ceasar."

We pile into the living room to see our scores. I hold my breath. District 1 comes up, Genus with a score of 10, and Mao with a comfortable 8. I look at the TV through half closed eyes. Surprise, surprise, I get a 4, and Leia gets a 9.

"I thought I should have at least got a 10." She says. No one comments on my score, but I can tell what they're thinking. Still, we have the interviews to go. 'Oh, heck, the interviews! With Cornelius, the horrible old fool that harrasses everybody. This should be fun.' I think.