Tsunami POV

"So... are we enemies now? Or allies? Or what?" Riptide asked. We sat on opposite sides of the table in the dining car, eating our preferred dishes. For mine, sushi, and for his, salmon.

"What were we before?" I asked, trying to sound funny and kind. I think I pulled off the funny part, but I probably came across more weird than kind.

"I wish I could say honestly that we were friends."

"Then let's be friends." I suggested, blushing slightly, although my face was so red from the wasabi I doubt he noticed.

Just a few seconds later, our mentor, Riptide's dad, and my least favourite teacher, Webs Sanders, walked in. He was tall and skinny, with rectangular black glasses. Opposite of his son, who obviously got his mother's awesomeness.

"We have promising competitors this year, but also promising contestants." He said. "So I'm going to train you until you're begging for mercy, until you look like you've had a shower in sweat, and until you're ready."

I nodded awkwardly.

"Both of you, twenty pushups. Now."

The two of us, used to coaches and being ordered around, immediately dropped to the ground and started the pushups.

"Okay, that's good. Good job. Now, I'm going to get you, Tsunami, to go to your room and find a fancy dress. Do your makeup, we're arriving in the Capitol tomorrow, and first impressions are everything. Once we arrive, wave out the window. Smile and blow kisses." I sighed and disappeared off to my room. I didn't even know how makeup worked.

A minute later, a woman appeared at the doorway. I sighed and asked her where the dresses were, and she pointed at a closet.

Opening the closet, I looked for something to wear. There were three options: a dark blue dress with a band of pearls around the neck, a turquoise one that poofed out like a Disney Princess, and a overly revealing sea green dress. I put on the first one and tried to smile.

In the washroom, there was a drawer with an assortment of bottles and powders. I had to ask someone for help. When she was done, I had long eyelashes and blue lips and blue sparkles around my eyes.

Riptide caught up to me, and I almost covered my face in embarrassment, because I was sure he would laugh at my makeup. Before he could say anything, I said, "They made me wear this."

"It looks good." He said awkwardly. He wasn't wearing makeup. Why did I have to wear makeup?

When we finally found Webs, in a room at the far end of the train, he nodded approvingly and said, "We're arriving now."

I sat down and waited nervously for the Capitol.