Sorry for long wait, no power. But Glad that I am back to write. In this chapter you'll notice I was failing a bit in the dialogue with "Said, Proclaimed, those things" so I hope it is good enough to read. Enjoy though. Like always Subscribe to the forum to see exclusive stuff and spoilers, or updates. And Review :) By the way (This May or May not affect some tributes) I am changing the teaming around for the beginning of the Games. Since now that I realized, Alden will be joining the careers. The forums will tell you about it as well.

NOTICE:* I am still waiting on responses from some people since they haven't been responding from PMs for awhile. If your reading this please respond, especially Annabella, Christine Spencer, TNMT Nerd, and Chrissie Dekourson.

A POLL IS UP*

Alden James Stamos

Alden's Themes-

Anger and hate against one we love steels our hearts, but contempt or pity leaves us silent and ashamed.

-Edgar Rice Burroghs

Made a wrong turn once or twice. Dug my way out, blood and fire.

Bad decisions, that's alright. Welcome to my silly life.

Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood!

Mister "No way, It's all good", it didn't slow me down

Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated!

Look, I'm still around...

- Perfect by P!nk

My mind can't settle on the fact that the reapings is tomorrow or on the fact that this is the anniversary of my parent's death. Ten years, I keep telling myself. Ten years. No one mentions my parent's names, no one mourns them. That's how I like it. I don't need any reminders on how they died or that they miss me. I have a new family and that's all I need. I was taken into care by my best friend Niall and his family. It's almost like they are my parents but I know that they still don't understand what I go through.

After this year I will only have one more year to go through then I can be done with the misery of being drawn to be reaped. Surprisingly though we, meaning our district, don't normally volunteer unless they had won the tournament at the two Academies. We believe that we see who is reaped and then if they are too weak to make it in someone would volunteer to take his or her place, meaning the victor of our tournament. We always win because of this trick. Strong, arrogant players win not weak, scientific players. When you play the games you don't play to win, you to play to live. At my Academy we are taught nothing but the Hunger Games. I wanted to focus on the actual Games itself, not how to play but the creativity that goes through it and the feeling of it. After all, many people take this course instead of watching past clips of people dying and the top players who have killed the most people in the games.

My head is beating with pain. I remove the bandage from my forehead, keeping my platinum hair away from the dried up blood. I glance at the person who did this to me. He looked like he was only a weak trainee but obviously he was more than that. I guess I overestimated him in the training course. I look to Niall who has already knocked two guys unconscious. I know Niall is better than me but he still considers we are equal. We've both have gotten the same score number in the past training rounds. This round was fist to fist, and of course I lost a point against the small frail kid but I will win next round since it is melee weapons. Our blacksmiths craft wooden replicas of actual weapons so then we won't get seriously injured if we are hit by one. When they make contact on your skin it just feels like a slap or an exhausted punch. At home I practice with actual weapons on fake dummies that are used to look like an actual tribute.

Niall's parents are very rich so they can spend money on anything they want. It is almost like they won the Hunger Games. I truly don't know anything about his parents past since I don't bother to ask them.

My eyes side back onto Niall. He is covered in muscles but behind his muscles he is a really generous sweet guy. Well actually he's more than that to me but whatever he would never feel the same way. He is tough when it comes to hand to hand combat. Niall says he was born to fight in the games. I doubt anyone was born to kill other tributes. This is his last year and he wants to finally be the tribute. I shudder with the fact that Niall volunteer this year. I plant a cool ice pack onto my forehead. The coldness soothes the throbbing and the pain quickly escapes the gouge.

I would never understand how that kid got to me. If I'm not in my game phase I will surely fail these tests. I notice Niall has already finished his round of winning once more. He has only lost one match so far which was survival with only two items. Who could blame him? I didn't make it either in that task.

"Hey Alden, did you win?" Niall asks me as he plants his self right next to me. He has jet black hair which is shorter than usual. Not many have black hair in District One. There are mostly blonde and brunettes here. His icy blue eyes don't even match the normal brown or hazel eyes that our District has. Certainly you could say he belonged to District Twelve or maybe a different District other than the careers, but everyone knows his family, even the Capitol.

I sigh to his question. "Well according to my gouge from that little pest over there, I lost this round."

"Aw, you'll win next one. You probably doubted that small fry could even hurt a fly." I roll my eyes. "Chris tells me you and me are tied for first."

I smile blissfully. I really want first place but that would guaranteed me a spot to volunteer this year. "I can't face you Niall. I could never punch you. You're a," It takes me a while to end the sentence because I don't think he is just a brother to me. "A brother to me Niall."

Niall gives a short laugh which means to me that I would have to punch him. "You're going to have to though. Just imagine me as that little small fry who gave you that," He points to my wound. "Hey remove the ice pack. Let me see how bad it looks."

"Fine."

I take the ice pack away from the wound for Niall to inspect it. I don't have a mirror to look out so I am counting on Niall to tell me how it looks. "Ah what did he use to hit you with?"

I remember a small blade in his hands but it was only to be made for cutting food. "Like some sort of knife." I respond.

"Surprised no one caught him." He checks the outer edges of the cut. Niall grabs a basin with a wash cloth in it to wash the blood off of my forehead. The cloth is warm and the water splashes on both of us. I can't help but smile at him. He doesn't see it but I know he can tell.

"There, it now looks like a cut with a bruise."

"Thanks, but what a great way to look like at the reapings. Surely I will be laughed at." I say.

"Hey don't worry if anyone does, I will give them the same thing." He exclaims. We both laugh and smile.

The teacher, Mr. Wishwater, calls us all in to get our results for the last round. "Well great work everyone on this round. Tons of knockouts were made," Wishwater winks at Niall who smirks in a response. "And the people who will be making it to the final round are Niall, Alden, Darmen, and Chris. Get your wooden swords and prepare to be matched." He yells and orders the four of us to head to the final stage. I feel proud to make it this far but also a little mad since I will most likely have to duel Niall. I don't wish to volunteer either but I keep telling myself to go far in these tournaments.

After a few minutes of resting, we are gathered around Wishwater to be matched. "Okay first round will be Alden, who will face Niall." I sigh. I look at Niall who pats me on my back.

"Don't worry. I don't cry if I lose."

"Ha funny Niall." I sarcastically say.

I go to my bench to place a bandage onto my forehead. I know Niall won't actually hurt me but he will wear me out. Niall has already settled himself in the ring swishing his sword around.

"Alden you ready?" Wishwater asks me as I am getting into the ring.

I wish I could say no but I tell I am ready. Wishwater starts counting down to one. Niall is slim and bulky. With his muscles he will obviously beat me but I won't even try to win. "Five, four, three, two, one. Go!" He screams.

Niall hesitates to make the first move. Instead of waiting, I swing my sword aiming for his head in which Niall immediately evades. I can't see anyway of knocking him off his feat. I don't want to hit him but I will have to if I want a good grade.

Once Niall has gotten me nearly pinned to the chain wall, I grab his wrist to flip his body onto the mat but he is smarter than that. He swings his arm that I am holding onto, and catches me off guard. I nearly tumble to the floor before lifting myself back up again. With only a few minutes left I kick him into the stomach causing him to fling his self to the chain. I pick up my sword and swing at his head. It makes a loud smack and I almost feel bad for doing this to him.

He falls to the floor. His arms shake and his head is scorching red. I think he might be crying but he is actually laughing. "Nice one Alden but you still have one thing to learn."

I loosen my grip on the sword. "What is that?"

"This," Niall's left leg launches at my ankle. I lose my balance and soon enough I am on the ground.

"Okay, okay boys. Niall wins this round by one point. Alden would have one but he didn't because of his lack of balance. Great work you two," I feel proud, sad and mad at the same time. Mad because I still didn't impress Wishwater or Niall. I am sad because I am out and proud because I didn't hurt Niall that bad.

I am exhausted and warn out. I decide to go home to get some rest before the day has ended.

The morning had come so quickly that I forgot that it was the reapings. I don't remember anything from last night after I had gotten home. I am starving which means I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. I sit onto the couch in my room. I'm all dressed and ready but I don't feel like moving.

I go to my nightstand and pick up my picture of my family. I sit back down and stare at my family. I can't help to think what monster could have done this. Whenever I ask, I get no response. I always think about my parents. I have memories that stick to me. They use to treat me as though I was the best thing that came out of them. I remember their bodies on the floor with glass shattered around them. It was a nightmare I never thought would come true.

I trace my mother's face. I have my mother's eyes, storm cloud color. My dad has blond hair just like me. The only thing I don't see that they don't have who I am inside. I've been meaning to tell Niall since today is his last day. He will be volunteering, not anyone else except whoever is the female tribute.

There is a knock at my door, probably Niall's parents. "Come in."

The door opens widely revealing it was Niall. "Oh hey Niall." I don't mean to sound rude but the way I am talking I sound sad and pathetic.

"You mad that I am volunteering Alden?" He asks, walking towards me.

"No not really." I lie. I can't say I am mad at him that he is volunteering, then I will get the same message my parents would tell me if I would volunteer.

Niall sits next to me looking at the picture of my family. We don't speak but we just stare at each other and the photo. "Alden you know your parents would be proud of you."

"I know, I know. I hate it. I'm not who they would have wanted." I shriek. Niall is surprised at what I had said on not being who they wanted. But it is true. Dad would have wanted me to be the ladies man, and my mom would have wanted me to marry and rich girl and have a family. That will not happen at all.

"What are you talking about? They love you know matter what."

"No not the way I would see it. They are dead, gone but I'm still here keeping myself hidden inside." I chuck the frame at the wall. It creates a loud bang and splits itself into halves splitting myself into twos. I see no way of restoring the picture so I leave it there to just be a memory.

Niall still is just sitting there taking it all in. He doesn't know who I am or what I am.

"Alden you can tell me anything. I'm like your brother like you said."

"Well that isn't true."

"Whatever that is biological wise. We don't care for fake Capitol Scientists." He tells me. Since a child we hated the Capitol and hated anthing that came from it. Scientists told us otherwise.

I keep shaking my head, still not ready to tell him. "Niall I can't tell you because you'll think differently about me."

"No I won't. If you stole something of mine we can make up."

"That's not it Niall."

Niall is angry. I can tell from his voice. "Alden just tell me. I won't think differently at all unless-"

"NIALL I LIKE YOU!" I yell. There is a long pause between us. Tension is high and no words come out of Niall. "More than that Niall." I bury my face into my hands. I hate myself and that's all I am feeling. Hate. Hate. Hate. Niall still doesn't answer, I check to see if he is even there. He just sits there taking everything I just said in like always. "Niall?"

"Alden, I… I, you know that I'm straight and-"

"But that makes no difference. I wanted to tell you because I thought I might never see you again." I confess it all to him knowing what next are more mistakes to follow.

Niall changes his personality and clicks into a person I have never seen. He jumps up, face boiling. "You're just lying. You want me to like you, in that way, so I wouldn't volunteer. I know that you are devious but I never though you would do this you your own best friend… to your own brother."

"That's not true Niall!"

"Yes it is Alden. I won't accept your way of getting me to not volunteer just for you to volunteer and steal it from me." He walks out clenching his fist in agony and pain. I've never seen him like this. It's like another nightmare turned into reality.

Tears flow through my eyes. These aren't sadness tears but hatred tears of your own self. Just like that I lose another person to my own fault.

Sky Maintal

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you, go on

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you, go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

- My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion

Petal. I whisper to myself. I dig my knees into his soil. The gravestone of Petal is so magnificent that it could have been mistaken for a Capitol's grave. Its roses are scatters around it with purple flowers rising up to the tall peek of the white stone.

"Listen Petal I know you are listening to me from up there and I just want you to know that…" I break into tears. I cradle myself on the ground, soaking my auburn hair. Whatever I was going to say get's lost into the abyss of my tears. It's a never ending thought that Petal wouldn't have been killed if it weren't for me.

"Petal, please forgive me for what I had done. I'm sorry that the fight broke out between us. When I saw you volunteered I fell into tears and then into a million more tears when I saw you get killed by the Alanna girl." A voice from behind me immediately makes me jump off the ground.

"Sky, he has already forgiven you."

I turn around to see my friend Sylvia. Her blond hair could have been seen from a mile away but I just hadn't noticed her.

I walk towards Sylvia who opens her arms wide enough for me to grasp her. "He will never." I whisper into her ear. My tears fall onto her shoulder as they have done to my hair as well.

With no words coming out of either of our mouths we head out towards the streets. Neighbors have already gathered out in the Justice Building for a speech from the mayor. They have already arranged the set up for the reapings.

The mayor is a fat oaf who only comes outside to make big announcements so it must be something special. Mayor Oak has a curled beard which forms some type of shape. His hair, or should I say he has no hair. Nothing but baldness covers his top spot. Large hoops for earrings are drilled into each of his ears.

Sylvia and I walk to see what the oaf needed to say. "Well thank you for coming here. Thanks to the Capitol they have allowed us to see a sneak peak of the arena since they know there will be volunteers they do not wish to waste our time with videos then.

I can't believe the Capitol is allowing this. Mostly they would only tell us this will be a dramatic year but they would never show a preview of the arena. The screen above Oak shows words saying 'HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHTH HUNGER GAMES' then it cuts to black showing a raging firestorm burning one end place. Then a bright sun rises up and then fades to black. After this a clock is shown ticking. I don't understand this but once the clock stops ticking there are cannon sounds off in the distance.

The clip ends and the Mayor claps meaning he is only trying to seem excited for the games. The rest of us are still trying to cope with what the Capitol is telling us. I see no way of telling but I need to know since I had promised after years of saying this that this year will be the year I volunteer.

I need to avenge Petal by winning then I will return home act like I have earned something. Sylvia tells me it is stupid of me to put myself into the games but I have to complete something in my life.

I walk away from the Mayor who gives another monotonous speech once more. I don't want to go back home. I don't want to see Petal's grave either. If I go to his grave I will cry and hate myself. If I go back home I will have to face my mother. She is a slug. Her name is Judith and hates herself for no reason. I think it is because she lost her brother but still she cuts herself in her room.

I can't stop it and I don't want to. It is fun seeing people in pain but not seeing Petal in pain. They train us at GeorgiaAcademy to have no mercy, and to be adored by the Capitol. The academy even has its own modeling club. I joined it because all I need to know is how to look sexy and to be the 'everyone loves' person.

If I hadn't learned this then I might not make it with out sponsor gifts. This is one of Petal's flaws. His academy taught nothing but studies and fighting. I already know who has one, Niall, so I can expect him to be my lucky love life for the Capitol.

I can hear Niall storming out of the door. His body is chiseled in muscles and his hair and eyes are like the Capitol's. I smirk at him even though he doesn't notice. He almost looks like he is frustrated.

I walk towards him. He now sits on a bench out on the street. Cars don't pass here since this is a private staying and only the people who live here are allowed through. "Ah, Niall can I talk to you?"

"Not now Sky." He holds his head up from his hands. His face is red.

"Well you look kind of mad. May I sit?" I ask him. Obviously I sound too polite and not able to impress him.

He heaves a sigh out. "Sure, okay, fine. Just… never mind."

Niall is defiantly frustrated but I can't help to think why.

"Um, might I ask why you are so mad and frustrated?"

Niall looks at me almost too embarrassed to even look straight. "Have you ever had a guy like you before?"

"Well I'm a girl so yeah." I tell him. I can tell he is hurt even more.

"I meant same gender."

"Uh, no." I say. I look at him oddly. What guy would have told him that? Niall looks away now even more embarrassed. "Do you like him Niall?"

Niall stops moving and hesitates. "I don't know." His tone is more low and almost a lie voice.

"You must know. It is a simple yes or no question."

"It isn't that easy okay!" Niall yells. His loudness scares away a few birds who are settling in a tree above us.

I look at his hand which is resting on the bench away from him. I decide to take that hand and hold it. His hand feels cold and dry. Niall doesn't move but I can tell he is thinking of something or should I say someone.

"Well we should go now. The reapings will be starting."

"You can go. I'll be there in a few minutes." He proclaims.

I walk away from him slowly before stopping in the middle of my tracks. "Before I go Niall, if you do love him or like him… tell him. I should have done the same too with Petal so I don't want you doing the same as well."

I leave before thinking of what I might be if Petal was still here.

Alden's POV

What have I done? What have I done? I keep telling myself. I am about to lose a best friend and the same person to the Capitol. I made the biggest mistake possible. Even though the reapings have already started and everybody is about to see who is going to be reaped, I am just standing there thinking about my mistake.

Our escort, Kenneth, is about to pick a name out of the Male jar. The female has already volunteered and she looks daring and slender. Obviously this girl will only be in it to win but what will she do with Niall.

"Niall Hoult!"

I look up to see Kenneth yell a name from the envelope. I am shocked. He was going to volunteer but now he doesn't need to anymore. Is it luck or was it rigged for me to do something.

I think of something to get him out but now that I see it there is no other way. Niall has a family and a life to live but I have none of that. The only way to protect Niall is to volunteer for him. As Niall steps onto the stage I yell the two words that will save Niall from dying. "I VOLUNTEER!"

There are gasps and questions that are coming out of the people that surround me.

Niall is speechless. His mouth is opened slightly and he is taken down the steps by two peacekeepers. Niall doesn't look angry, mad, or sad. Nothing can describe how or what he is feeling. The two peacekeepers lead Niall to the eighteen year old section. I am confronted by the same peacekeepers. They look the same way as everyone else, confused and speechless. I don't understand how it is such a surprise to see me volunteer. Am I just that type of guy?

I guess it is weird seeing someone volunteer to take a champion's place.

The two peacekeepers grip my arm tightly to the stage. They are walking faster than I am so they tug me by my forearm to get me moving. The girl stairs at me in awe with a blank expression as well. She knows that I live with Niall and she probably knows who and what I am.

"Well that is interesting. According to this Niall had one the Academy tournament and-" I interrupt Kenneth from him flipping through his binder.

My hand is on his binder and Kenneth stared at me.

"Who the damn cares anymore?" I tell him. I bet the others could hear me as well but like I care anymore. I will be murdered just like my parents were.

Kenneth shakes himself awake and continues to speak. "For District One, who will be honoring us, we have Alden James Stamos and Sky Maintel. Kenneth whispers in our ears to hold hands and wave. Sky and I do so. Her hand is warm and soft. Her pulse is beating rapidly meaning she is nervous or scared. All I can say is this is my final goodbye to my home and Niall.

We are escorted to our own personal rooms for our goodbyes. Since we are late and the train is waiting for us we are only allowed one final goodbye.

Of course I am greeted by Niall's parents. They are teary eyed but the thing that catches me off guard is how Niall showed up. He doesn't speak or look sad. Niall's mother hugs me and tells me that I will do great in the games.

"Get them good Alden. Win it!" Niall's father happily says. Niall stays in the back of the room, waiting for his turn to say his goodbye I bet. Niall's mother looks at Niall and then to me and tells her husband that they should give them some alone time.

They leave the room leaving only Niall and I. "Niall look I'm sorry but you need to-"

"Save it for the Capitol. I have something for you," He reaches into his pocket to grab a silver bangle. I smile. It is the one he gave me for my twelfth birthday. "This is your token. Remember me by it."

"How did you know I was going to volunteer?" I take the bangle from him, placing it around my wrist.

Niall moves close towards me. "Because of what I said you were going to do. I don't think you like me at all still, I just feel… betrayed by you."

"Don't be. Whatever you do watch the interviews." I tell him. I might be devious but the only way of winning back Niall is if I tell Panem. It might make me sound stupid but Niall might accept the fact that I am what I told him.

"Okay. I will but if you die, I have a perfect place for your grave."

"Well that is a scary thought." We both share a laugh and smile at each other. Niall reaches for me and hugs me. He is slightly taller than me and defiantly bigger than me and we let go. It feels great to know Niall and I might have a chance.

"Thank you Alden."

He leaves the room with me to embrace the emotion that I have clogging up inside me. Will I be the one to make another mistake by telling Panem? Or is it the only way for me to get back to Niall?

With that I leave the room to find Sky waiting by my door.

"Oh hi."

"You're the one that Niall was talking about." Sky say cheerfully.

"What are you talking about?" I may sound stupid asking this when I already know the answer.

"I was talking to Niall before the reapings and he look frustrated. He was telling me how a guy liked him and he didn't know if he does too. Also he sounded like he would be embarrassed to say yes and… I over heard you and him from your goodbyes." She explains. I guess I have to be more careful when I talk, now that a secret of mine is out but who is she going to tell. I'm already planning on telling the whole Capitol, my district, and the rest of the districts.

"Don't hate me because of it please."

"Don't worry Alden, I have secrets too." She slightly touches my lips with her fingers. What did she mean by that?

I am sorry that Sky didn't get to show her true potential because the good thing is she'll be getting tons of chapter writing from the Capitol and then to the interviews along with Alden. And don't forget the little Thor and Sky which won't be hitting off until the carreer pack. Be sure to look for more info on that.

I hope that I am writing Alden right. He was my main focus in this chapter because I've never done a character like him before. I am sorry if I changed anything about Alden and Sky but I think everything fit where I wanted to. Alden might also discover something about his parents so I am sorry if I will reveal who killed his parents even though SeekerDrconiss told me Unknown. But this is a major thing that will side with the next sequel of this.

Well thank you for being patient and expect the next chapters to be a bit shorter and possibly quicker.