Running With The Careers- A Hunger Games Fanfiction

Chapter 5- Private Training

"Up Aaliya, Up Aaliya, Up, Up, UP!!!" sings Stacy Bridgeton in opera.

"What the heck are you doing in my room!!! It's 6am!!!" Her singing was like a nightmare, like a possum singing in a giant silver wig.

"You need to get ready!! You have private training today!!" Stacy sings.

"Stacy." I say trying to keep my cool. "Training doesn't start till 12." I lose it. "It's only 6am!" I scream on the top of my lungs.

"What's wrong!!" Brady yells running into the room. "Oh Stacy woke you up too. Come on Stacy," Brady says and starts to push a singing Stacy out the door.

When Brady finally gets Stacy out the door I run up and hug him. "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!! You saved my life!" I say. Brady laughs and gives me his crooked smile.

"Go get dressed. We have to meet with Finnick and Tiana about private training," Brady says. With that he heads out the door.

I throw on an identical outfit as yesterday. I braid my brown hair up into a bun and head out the door. I walk down the hall and find everyone in the dining room. I walk over to the chair beside Brady and sit down.

My plate is overflowing with different meats, eggs, and crazy assortments of fruits. "Eat up guys. You have a big day today," Finnick says as he shoves a spoon full of eggs into his mouth.

"In your private training today I suggest you show off. Skills your best at. Your training score could mean life or death in the arena. Stronger score means you will get sponsors. Low score you get no sponsors and die from lack of supplies," Tiana says and takes a bite of fruit. "What do you think you're best at?"

"Well I think I'll use knives like Clove taught me. I'll probably spear a couple dummies with a trident. Maybe shoot an arrow or two" I say.

"Good plan, Aaliya. What about you, Brady?" asks Finnick.

"I'll probably stick to a scythe. Maybe throw a few spears."

"Also a good plan." replies Tiana.

For the next couple hours we continue talking about training ideas and possible scores. Stacy showed up about half way through and blamed Brady for messing up her wig earlier.

"Ok guys. It's time to head down to the training center. Good luck," Tiana says.

Brady and I thank her and head down to the first floor. We have to wait in the lunch room until our name is called. We sit next to the tributes from District 3. We are served a giant lunch but not many people eat, too nervous about what is about to come.

Tributes are slowly starting to be called in. First from District 1, then District 2. Each tribute would get fifteen minutes. First the girl then the boy. The tributes never returned once they were released. They probably all went back to watch the training scores on tv.

"Aaliya Camron," a robotic voice calls, summoning me to the room. I head inside after receiving a hug for good luck from Brady. All the Gamemakers sat up in a balcony feasting on some sort of pig. "You have fifteen minutes Ms. Camron. You may start," calls the same robotic voice.

I decide I will make the show interesting so the Gamemakers can't help but watch. I grab a trident from the stack of weapons and head over to the giant net. I am most comfortable with a trident so I decide to make that the most interesting. I climb up the net, trident in hand to seek out my first victim. I see a dummy and leap off the net. I hit the dummy with so much force it falls over. I stab the blade of the trident into the foam in the place of the dummy's heart. That gives me a thunderous applause from the audience.

I head over to the knife station and grab a serrated knife. I take my chances and spin into the throw. Thankfully I was having a lucky day for the blade sunk into the dummy's brain. Next for my final shot I head over and grab a bow. I turn back to the target and line the bow up over my head. I pull back the string and hear the arrow crash into the target. I turn around and see I hit the bullseye.

"Thank you. You are dismissed," a Gamemaker shouts. I head to the elevator with a smile on my face. That should have got me around a score of five.

Brady meets me in the elevator soon after. "How do you think you did?" I ask him.

"Pretty Good. You?"

"Pretty good," I say and smile. When we arrive on our floor we head to the lounge. We sit on a velvet couch with Finnick, Tiana, Stacy, Katrina, Goldie, Heels, and Pinkie. They must have been able to tell by our smiles we thought we did pretty good because they don't ask any questions.

The tv turns on and the Panem anthem plays. Then Caesar Flickerman's face appears and he begins to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is what you've all been waiting for. The training scores of this year's Tributes!!! Lets begin. First from District 1, Glimmer with a score of 8."

I can practically hear Glimmer screaming at what she thinks is a terrible score. Next the boy from District 1's picture shows up.

"From District 1, Marvel, with the score of 9." So that was his name. Marvel. I like the sound of that.

"From District 2, Clove with a score of ten!! Also from District 2, Cato with the score of 10."

"From District 4, Aaliya, with a score of 9." A smile lights up on my face. A nine, that's really good. "Next, Brady with a score of 8." Wow. We both did great. I begin to zone out now. The only tribute to score higher than 10 was Katniss Everdeen who got a score of eleven.

Everyone starts to congratulate me and I smile. My score was one of the best. The games start in three days and now, I'm ready.

A/N: Guess what guys?  Next Monday is the the bloodbath chapter.  Only one chapter left before the games officially start.  I'm so exited to share that chapter with you guys!  Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and like always, next chapter coming Friday!