The crowd let out a huge gasp as Riley hit the floor. Her dress tore as she rolled sideways, her eyes closed and her elbows bleeding. I held my breath, unable to believe what had just happened.

"What the hell did you tell her to do that for?" I hissed at Roberta. All the other chariots had stopped, and the Capitol music no longer boomed through the speakers.

"Don't be such a worry wart. I put padding in her dress to stop any damage. And I taught her how to dive so that she wouldn't hurt herself. She knew the risks. And look, she's sitting up! She's fine."

Riley was sitting up, but she certainly didn't look fine. I had to remind myself that she was an excellent actress. She blinked, seemingly dazed and then, as though on cue, she began to cry. I had grown accustomed to hearing those wails in the short time I'd known her. I had to admire her performance. And who can ever forget a girl who literarily stops the show?

A dark ominous figure was approaching her. With hair as white as snow and snake eyes that pierced anyone they saw, there was no mistaking that he was the President. He bent beside her, but she didn't stop crying. The President summoned a Peacekeeper with a papery white finger, before getting to his feet.

"The ceremony will continue. Get her out of here," he said, his tone completely authoritive. Hastily, the Peacekeeper scooped up Riley and made his way towards me and Antonia. I jogged to meet him in the middle, thanking him as he transferred her limp body into my arms. When the Peacekeeper was out of sight, Riley stopped the flow of her crocodile tears and grinned at me. Her lip was split from where her face had scraped on the gravel.

"That was so much fun!" she said, hugging my neck. As I put her down, she picked up the tatters of her skirts, revealing two scraped knees to match her elbows.

"It's a shame though. Sorry about the dress, Roberta," she said somewhat politely.

"Not to worry. At least you provided some entertainment for this dreary event."

"Entertainment? It was stupid and reckless. She could have seriously hurt herself!" Antonia exclaimed. Roberta raised an eyebrow.

"This is a nation where the Hunger Games are entertainment. I think Riley's display was preferable, don't you?" Roberta replied. Antonia shrugged and rolled her eyes.

"Come on. Let's get dinner. I don't fancy eating with that brat Otto."

We rode in the elevator to the seventh floor, Riley whooping in delight as we shot upwards. I smiled at her childish heart, wishing she could cling to her innocence. That's the thing about the Hunger Games. They take away your childhood. They make you grow up too fast. It's a game you can't win, really. I wondered how the Games would affect Riley.

We invited Roberta to dine with us, and we settled down around the large table in the living quarters. There was a fine selection of meats and vegetables, but Riley was mostly interested in the puddings. She ate a small portion for her main course, then helped herself to mini cheesecakes topped with mint, orange sorbets and rum truffles with the number 7 iced on them, popping food endlessly into her mouth.

"For goodness sake," Antonia moaned "Riley, eat with your mouth shut."

"She's right," Marcia said, swanning into the room as though she owned it, "You eat like a pig. Close your mouth."

"You're not my mother," Riley said, but quietly so that Marcia didn't hear. Antonia did though, and scowled.

"Riley, why don't we get you to bed? You've had enough excitement for today," I suggested through gritted teeth. I didn't want an argument breaking out.

"I'm perfectly fine," Riley said with her mouth full. I ended up scooping her out of her chair and half carrying, half dragging her to her room. When she realised I was insistent on getting her to sleep, she leapt on to my back and I gave her a piggy back the rest of the way. It was better than having her run amok around the building.

Riley's room was lovely. I'd never seen the tribute's rooms before, but they were nicer than my own quarters. The room had a beige and white colour scheme, with a curved white couch in the centre of the room facing a huge television on the wall. There were white blinds that could be lifted to reveal a view of the whole Capitol, and a large double bed that I was sure could accommodate at least six people. Riley jumped off my back and ran straight for the bed, kicking off her heels and bouncing on the mattress. She stopped for a moment and looked at me expectantly.

"Well? Aren't you gonna join in?" she said. I shook my head shyly.

"I don't think so, Riley."

"Come on! Have some fun with me!" In a flash, she was on the floor and at my feet, untying my shoelaces. I laughed as she yanked my leg and pulled the first shoe off. Following her lead, I took the other shoe off and she took my hand.

"Fun time!" she cried, dragging me onto the bed and beginning her bouncing again. I found myself joining in, jumping higher and higher. Once I shot up so high, my hand reached the ceiling, and I watched Riley trying to compete with my height. I laughed at her when she couldn't get high enough, and she grinned, grabbing a pillow and hitting me with it. It exploded in a poof of feathers, and they tickled my skin as they floated onto the duvet. Riley stopped jumping and giggled at the mess she'd made.

"Oops," she said, covering her mouth. I laughed breathlessly, worn out by the jumping around and feeling a bit dizzy. Not only was the duvet covered in feathers, but it was speckled with blood from Riley's knees. I tutted softly.

"Go and get changed. I'll clean up some of this mess. Then I'll tend to your wounds," I said. Still full of energy, Riley leapt off the bed and found a pair of pyjamas in a draw. She left a trail of blood as she padded into the bathroom. I couldn't do anything about the blood, but I scooped up the feathers and threw away the ruined pillow. Riley came back looking smug about the mess she'd made.

"You're getting the blame for this, not me," I warned her, but I was smiling "Sit down. I'll bandage you up. Can you stay still for five minutes?"

She shook her head, her little pink tongue darting from her mouth cheekily. I sighed, finding some bandages in the bathroom and getting to work. To my relief, Riley sat relatively still whilst I patched her up.

"You're a little horror, you know that? I've never had this much hassle from a tribute before," I said.

"Not even Antonia?"

"Not even."

"I guess I'm a lot to handle. I'm one of a kind."

"You can say that again."

"I'm one of-"

"Don't."

"You're boring. Had anyone ever told you that? Loosen up a bit, eh? Loosey goosey," she said, waving her arms around madly as though to demonstrate the concept of "loosey goosey" to me.

"Yeah, yeah. Get some sleep now, yeah? You tire me out, Whirlwind."

"Whirlwind?" she asked inquisitively, slipping under the duvet.

"Yeah," I said, blushing "It's a nickname I thought of for you."

"I like it," she replied decisively, "It's better than Freckle Face."

"How inventive," I said sarcastically.

"I know, right? The kids at school had such vivid imaginations, huh? I'll show them. If I get home, they'll have some respect for me."

I looked at Riley. Stripped of makeup and fancy clothing, it was easy to see she was just a kid. Her smile held so much innocence and hope for the future. I patted her head softly.

"I hope you get home, Riley."

"Isn't that favouritism? What about Otto?"

"Otto isn't you. He doesn't have a kind heart. He doesn't have a clever mind. And despite his façade, I don't think he's half as brave as you. It takes courage to believe in yourself. It takes courage to jump off a moving chariot, though perhaps a little stupidity too. You're brave, Riley. And I admire you," I said.

"How touching," Riley replied, snuggling into her pillow sleepily. I smiled, and began to head for the door.

"Should I turn out the light for you?"

"No!" she cried sharply. There was an urgency to the way she said it, her eyes pleading. I frowned, confused.

"I don't like the dark," she said softly. I nodded slowly, finding it hard to believe that someone like Riley feared the dark.

"Everyone has a fear," she said, reading my mind "Tell me, Arrian. What's yours? What do you fear most?"

I took a deep breath "Myself," I replied "Goodnight, Whirlwind," I muttered. With that, I left the room, terrified of how much information Riley's influence could make me spill. And despite usually trying to keep myself distanced from my tributes, I found myself realising that now that I'd formed a bond with her, there was no going back. The Whirlwind was taking the Capitol by storm. And I wasn't about to stand in her way.