The next morning Quinn rolled out of her bed to the sound of her bedroom door closing. She rubbed her eyes and looked at the dresser that was in the room. On top of it sat clothes that had just been set there. She got up from the edge of her bed, and slowly went and picked up the shirt. It was black with silver along the hems. The material felt much more comfortable than the last time was there. It wasn't as tight, and it was a lot less restricting once she put it on. She knew that some tributes wouldn't be in training, simply because they didn't see much use in it.

Quinn made her way out of the bedroom and into the dinning room. Ciruss, Kelsey, Mayslee, and Orion were already seated at the table.

"Look who decided to finally join us," Kelsey smiled as Quinn sat down next to Orion. Orion had taken his piercings out, and he wore an outfit similar to her own. Quinn couldn't help but remember the big deal he had made in District Thirteen about taking out his piercings because they weren't uniform. But this was different.

"Sleep okay?" Ciruss asked, "Its going to be a long day for both of you." he explained simply.

Quinn sighed as she reached for a piece of bread and the butter dish. "So what's the plan?" she asked.

"Don't show off to much," he stated, "Just scope out the competition. Try to make friends with Twelve, they will be favorites in the arena." he told them.

Quinn let out a long huff of air, "That won't be easy. Katniss hates me."

"Make her not hate you."

Orion and Quinn walked towards the gate, neither of them said anything at first. They only listened to what they could hear from the training center. It wasn't until they actually stepped into the big room that they said a word to each other.

"Nervous?" Quinn asked, looking up at Orion.

He looked around for a moment, "What am I supposed to do? At least you know what you're good at."

"Orion, you made it from Three, to Four-- back across the country to Thirteen." she reminded him, "You can find something you're good at."

"Unless there's a station in here with guns, I don't have much of a chance." he stated in a hushed whisper.

"Just do what Ciruss said," she replied, "Look for tributes you want as an ally."

He looked like he was about to say something, but then stopped himself and nodded before looking around at the training tributes. Then the two of them wished each other luck, and decided to go different ways to observe more tributes. Quinn already knew who she wanted though. There was almost no point in browsing for other allies-- she wanted Finnick and Mags. Quinn looked around the training center but didn't see them at first, but then her eyes found the spear and trident station. Finnick held two tridents in his hands, probably judging the size and weight-- because one was visibly shorter than the other.

Quinn didn't hesitate to walk towards him. He didn't see her at first, but after he set the shorter trident back on the rack and he turned to train, his eyes saw her nearing him. A smile spread across his face as she stopped in front of him.

"Come to learn from the best?" he asked, smirking as he reached for the shorter trident. "Just your size."

Quinn shook her head, "At least not today, Finnick." she replied, "Just...observing."

He nodded a bit, "See anyone you like?" he asked, "Any good allies?"

"You and Mags." Quinn replied simply, "That's all really."

"Ten looks promising." Finnick stated, motioning to Ophelia Hunter who was practicing her handy work with climbing.

Quinn shook her head and quickly dismissed it, "I'm not making an alliance with Ten." she scowled.

He raised an eyebrow, puzzled at first. But slowly he made the realisation as to why she didn't want Ten. But he didn't say anything else about it, and he looked around the training center.

"Looks like Seven's got their eyes on pretty boy," Finnick said, using his trident to motion to the other corner of the training center. "Who wouldn't? He'll probably have sponsors willing to send him food every day." he said as Blight, from Seven talked with Orion, and Johanna Mason talked from the small platform, practicing with her axe.

"Like I said, we're just looking today." she stated, looking back at Finnick. But in the pit of her stomach, she was nervous. What if Orion did leave her for an alliance with someone like Johanna? She could be extremely convincing from what Quinn had seen on TV.

"Anyone particularly high on your list to check out?" Finnick asked.

Try to make friends with Twelve, she could hear Ciruss telling her to do that again. So Quinn looked around the center until she caught sight of Peeta Mellark.

"District Twelve," she replied.

Finnick raised an eyebrow and nodded, "Good luck with that one. You were a Gamemaker last year."

"Don't remind me..." Quinn said softly as she turned and walked away to leave Finnick to train. Peeta was sitting at the knot tying station, perfect, she thought. She could give him some pointers and maybe get on his good side. From the way Katniss had looked at her, with anger and disgust in her eyes-- if she could get on Peeta's side, if Peeta trusted her...Quinn could get on Katniss' good side. At least on a mutual level with her.

The rebels need her though, she thought to herself as she walked towards Peeta. She was trying to get an alliance with them just for the possible sponsors...and that made her sick with herself. But they had to have been doing the same? Making alliances just to live longer...

"Peeta," Quinn announced her presence as she stepped up to the station with one between them. "Having any luck?" she asked as she pressed a few buttons on the screen and then glanced at Peeta.

He shrugged, "I've had better luck, I guess."

"Haven't we all?" she replied, "It's a shame though, about your wedding." she said to start conversation.

He let out a sigh and nodded, "Yeah, it is." he stated, "Quinn Maverick, right?"

Quinn raised an eyebrow, "I think you're the first one who wasn't sure." she said, forcing out a bit of a laugh.

He chuckled.

"You and Ten look a bit alike." he said, defending himself. "So why aren't you up there this year?" he asked, motioning to the nest of gamemakers with his eyes.

Quinn followed his eyes, and stared up at them. Plutarch Havensbee stood up-- not really being a part of whatever festivities were going on with the others. His eyes floated around the training center, pausing on a few tributes. She quickly turned her attention back to the knot tying in front of her. It seemed like it had been so much longer since she was, a few years-- not just one.

"It wasn't for me." Quinn confessed, "Never was..."

"You said you thought it would be interesting to see the games from the other side." he stated, quoting one of her interviews before the games the year before.

Quinn sighed heavily and looked up at him, "It was a convincing story, wasn't it?" she sighed, "In all honesty, Peeta. It made me sick being one of them."

Peeta didn't say anything else. "Do you think you and Snow running away has something to do with you two being the favorites?" he asked after a long, tense moment of silence.

Quinn nodded, "I think it has everything to do with it."