We get in the elevator, and the tributes with us are all quiet. The games are tomorrow morning, the last step before the games has come and gone. We get off the elevator, and we are all alone. The others must still be in the long line of stylists, mentors, and prep teams.

"That went well, huh?" I say, trying to sound casual, knowing she is mad at me.

"Yup," she says coldly.

"Ally, talk to me. I didn't mean to make you mad. He asked a question, and I answered it honestly," I say as she starts to walk away.

"I'm not mad that you answered it or that you're gay. I'm mad that I found out with everyone else!" She yells, and because my luck in life is just excellent, she screams it as the elevator doors opened as she shouted and Jackson comes running out to make sure we are ok.

"What's wrong," he says and looks at me, and I point to Ally, and he turns to her. Michele, Portia, and Gloriana are right behind them; the rest must still be coming up.

"Nothing, but he lied to me or didn't think I needed to know this important part of his life," she snaps at Jackson, who steps back, having never seen her angry.

"Ally! I didn't tell ANYONE for a reason. You know our father; you know the people in our district. Most of them don't care, but some of them do. Jonah's parents figured it out after he died," I snap back and push on, "I spent the last year alone in the dark trying to survive; I didn't want to bring anyone into it."

She looks sad and says, "I wish I had known. I could have been there for you more than I was. Callum and Evan would have been there for you. All the stuff we keep from Dad anyway, it would have just been one more thing. Plus, he loves you...he might have been ok."

I laugh without wanting too, "Ally, there is a good chance I am not his son, and he knows it. He has always known. That's why he hits me more than the others now that mom left. Why he doesn't mind when I get between him and you when he has been drinking," I get that last part out just as I start crying and fall to my knees. The day has finally beaten me back. Gloriana puts her hand over her mouth; Portia, Jackson, and Michele look on, concerned. The elevator dings and Portia turns around to slow Felix, and the prep teams down as Ally takes my hand, and Jackson helps me up, and we go to Ally's room. She sits next to me, and we start crying and talking, and I explain what Callum told me about my real "father.".

She wipes a tear away and says, "you didn't see his face when you walked off Kyle. he does love you even if he isn't a good person. I'm sorry about Jonah. I wish I had known, but I know now," she kisses me on the side of the head, and we head out to dinner.

The mentors are in a corner talking when Portia rushes over, "go wash your face with cold water; it will make it less noticeable that you were crying. the prep teams have big mouths sometimes, and I don't want that ruining your image after tonight."

I turn around and hear them all cheer for Ally and ask where I was going. I wash up and come back to a standing ovation and wave them down. They are already eating, so I start on it myself. The prep teams are in the living room cause the dining room is full, but we will join them for the second showing of the interviews.

I sit down and turn to Jackson, "how did it look?"

He smiles and says, " you did great, you were honest, humble and ...and," he looks around for another word.

Portia chimes in, "captivating, I have to be honest. I had never heard the viewing square be so quiet when the two of you were talking."

I smile and look at Ally, "you were great; you didn't seem nervous at all."

Michele raises a glass and shouts, "To Felix and Portia, the best stylists in the game," and everyone repeats her.

Gloriana raises her glass, "to Kyle and Ally, the best tributes we could have asked for this year. I'm so proud," the Capital citizens repeat it with gusto, besides Portia, and the district 10 citizens mumble it. We talk more about the other tributes; Topaz, Romulus, Aurora, Titus, Jillian, and Lily are the other ones that made an impression, it seems.

As we get through dinner, Michele turns to Ally and me, "the prep team will leave after we watch the interviews, and then we will talk about the plan together. Go enjoy it and have some cake."

We watch the interviews, and we really did blow it out of the water between the two of us—my honest revelation and Ally's equally honest reaction. The prep teams hug us goodbye and wish us luck in the games. We sit down with our stylists and wait for Jackson and Michele to come back; Alejandro sits down and stays with us. He seems to be feeling better, but he looks tired.

Jackson and Michele sit down, and Michele starts right up, "ok, so tomorrow morning, Portia and Felix will travel with you to the arena. we Will all stay here." she gestures to the other mentors and Gloriana, "but we will be working the sponsors, and at least one of us will be in the control room as long as you two are still in."

We nod, "ok so what should we do," I ask.

She turns to Jackson and Alejandro, who nodded, and she continues, " so tomorrow you'll go up the tubes to the cornucopia, and that's where the supplies are located. Food, weapons, anything you might want. Now they put a hold on sponsor's gifts until after the anthem is played the first night, so you'll have to hold out until then. Any questions so far?"

We shake our heads, and Ally takes my hand, "ok. the supplies are there to lure you into the bloodbath. Ally, you need to avoid that you're too small to survive. We don't know what the arena looks like, but whatever you see there, Ally, you need to make sure you run directly behind you, ok?"

Ally is quiet but says, "ok."

Michele starts up again, "now Kyle, you're going to have a tough time because the careers and Titus will be gunning for you. You need to grab a backpack at the very least and go in the direction Ally runs. That's the plan; Ally runs out. Kyle gets the supplies. Get away from the bloodbath. Once it's over, the career pack usually goes hunting. Once you hear the cannons start, run another twenty minutes or so. When you're resting, check out the backpack, you'll need water and food in that order. Keep moving away from the center of the arena. If you survive the bloodbath, your odds of winning jump dramatically, and sponsors will be easier to court. What questions do you have?"

I hold my hand up like I'm at school, " what if I can't get the bag? Is a weapon, ok?"

"Yes, but the backpack should be a priority. Should one of you not make it out of the bloodbath, the plan is the same run and don't stop. Find water. Find food. Avoid sheltering in caves until you know what kind of mutt you're dealing with; we will be working on getting those deals closed." She takes both of our hands, "I believe in you both; between the two of you, I think our plan will work. Now get to bed. You both need the rest."

We say good night to Portia and Felix, but we will see them tomorrow.

Gloriana is in tears; as an escort, she won't be seeing either of us unless we are a victor, "goodbye, for now, it will be hard in there, but you have my heart," she sighs.

I fight to keep a straight face, so I pull her into a hug with Ally, "thank you for escorting us, Glory," I whisper, and her tears start in earnest again, and she leaves.

"Good job," says Michele with an angry smirk. I see Jackson is smiling as well.

"Go to bed, you two," Michele says again.

We go down the hall, and I hug Ally tight, "I don't know if we will see each other before the arena, but we know the plan, and we've got each other. We can do this."

She nods and agrees, "we can do this."

I tell her good night, and I shower off and get into bed. I realize pretty quickly I'm not going to sleep right now. I put on some clothes and go up to the roof at least I can see the city one last time....he probably won't be there. Once I'm on the roof, I realize I'm not alone, and my heart beats a little faster.

Romulus turns around, "Hey," is all I can get out.

He walks over to me and kisses me. He pulls away, "I'm sorry about Jonah; your interview was amazing; you should be proud."

I kiss him again and say, "Honestly, I didn't know what I would say until it was out of my mouth. I'm just happy it's out there," I say.

"Me too, Brutus has us write letters to our parents just in case, and I told them in the letter. At least they will know," he says.

"Or you can tell them in person, if you win," I add.

He smiles, "you never know what will happen. Better safe than sorry, I can't stay up here too late, sit down and cuddle with me, please, one last time before we become enemies."

"You're my friend no matter what, plus we have to take out Titus first, remember," I say and kiss him as we sit down.

We hold hands, and he leans into me, and I wrap my arms around him. "I wish this were real, that sounds stupid, but I do," he says.

"Me too, Rommy," I mutter.

"Never call me that again, or the Titus deal is off," he snaps.

I laugh, and we kiss for a few minutes. "Let's go to bed," he says.

As we walk to the stairs and elevator, Romulus turns and says, "good luck tomorrow. I'm rooting for you and your sister if it can't be me," he leans in and kisses me one last time and disappears when the elevator door opens. I take a deep breath and head to back to bed, and this time I fall asleep and think about Romulus and Jonah, both great guys both going to be taken from me, but that's my life, it seems.
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