Adair's POV

I hear my name called, and it seems like my blood is freezing. I'm going to participate in the Hunger Games. I'm going to die in the Hunger Games. 

I walk up to the stage, and shake hands with the girl, Amethyst. She's pretty, with her light brown skin and darker, chocolate brown hair. 

Her green eyes set off the look, making her look sort of like a forest nymph. 

If we weren't both going to die, I'd ask her out. Not that she'd say yes. 

I've heard about her before, and her family are sort of recluses. Her especially. She doesn't have any friends, as far as I know. 

I would be her friend, if she let me. 

My father visits me in the Justice Building. He says my mother wanted to, but couldn't stand knowing I'm going to die in the games. I believe him. That sounds like my mother. 

My younger brother and sister visit me too, and then my best friend. 

We all cry, and I know my eyes will be red by the time I reach the train platform, but I don't really care. 

I wonder if Amethyst had anyone visit her. Probably. I saw her mother walk into the visiting room. Or at least I think it was her mother.

On the train, I wander around for a bit before finding the sitting room, where Amethyst is. She sits in a pale green chair, with her feet in front of her, ignoring the footrest. She has her arms wrapped around her knees, and looks too deep in thought she doesn't notice me until I say hello.

I sit on a darker green chair next to her, and she either refuses to acknowledge my existence or doesn't notice I'm there. 

"What do you think our strategy will be? For the games?" I try to make some small talk. If we could be friends, that would be amazing. 

She looks up at me, her gaze seeming to linger around my eyes. I wonder if she's noticing that I was crying. Her eyes are noticeably not red.

"There is no 'our' strategy. Only one tribute is going to survive." I try to hide the hurt in my expression. I knew she was antisocial, but I guess for some reason I thought she was just shy. Apparently, that's not the case.

"Alright, fine. You don't want to talk about that, I get it. But just trying to make small talk- what d'you think the costumes'll look like this year?" I try again, hoping that maybe if I just keep trying she'll warm up to me eventually. 

It doesn't work. She looks like she's going to throw me out the window, which I've got to say is a bit extreme.

"Trees. Like every single year since the beginning of the Hunger Games. Plain trees." She looks away from me, but my eyes stay on her face. Does she mean to be this rude and indifferent, or is that on accident?

"Well, uh, okay. Who visited you in the Justice Building, anyways? During visiting hours? I thought I saw a woman enter- was she your mom?" I know it's sort of a personal question, but I am really curious about who that woman was. 

She glares at me, though I see tears pricking the corners of her eyes. I want to tell her that it's okay, she can cry, I won't judge, but she doesn't seem like the type who'd appreciate it. 

"No one visited me in the Justice Building. Not one single person. My family's all dead except for my mother, who hates me. So back off," I'm struck by this, and sit there for a moment longer as she gets up and stalks off into the hallway. 

No wonder she's so rude and introverted. Her family is dead. I couldn't imagine not having anyone who cared about me. 

Except...

I work extra hard in training, showing the gamemakers how good I am at using a sword, and get a 10. I'm secretly hoping Amethyst will congratulate me, but she stays in her room every chance she can get and barely talks during meals. 

I'm starting to think she's trying to be the capitol's least favorite, especially when she acts mysterious and gloomy during her interview. I go as charming, and I'd say I pull it off pretty well. 

And then it's the final day. Later today, at sunset, we'll be transported to the arena. There they control the sunlight, and so it can be midday when in the capitol it's sunset. 

I'm walking down the hallway towards Amethyst's room. I want to talk to her, one last time. See if she'll be my ally, though I know there's a low chance. 

I knock on her door, quietly. If she's asleep I don't want to wake her up. 

She opens it. She looks normal to me, excluding the dark circles under her eyes that look like bruises. She probably hasn't slept in days. 

"Hi, Amethyst," I say, trying to be friendly. She doesn't respond.

"Can I come in?" She hesitates, but opens the door wide. She still doesn't speak. I don't know if it's because she doesn't want to talk to anyone, or if she just hates me.

I sit down on her bed. I expect her to sit down next to me, or even take the comfy chair on the other side of the room, but she stands awkwardly by the door, leaning back on it.

I look around her room, which isn't any different than mine. Then I turn towards her. 

I ask a question I didn't think I'd have the guts to ask. I only came here to ask her if she wanted to be allies, but now I want to know if she'd want to be more. 

"If we weren't in the Hunger Games, would you be my girlfriend?" The words sound foreign coming out of my mouth. 

I sort of expect her to agree wholeheartedly. But of course, nope. 

She shakes her head so fiercely it seems like her brain is sloshing around in her skull. 

And the simple movement feels like a spear being driven into my heart. And I know that's dramatic, and maybe I shouldn't've asked before I got to know her, but still. It hurts. 

She opens the door behind her, holding it open in what might seem like a polite way, but in this situation it's not. 

"Feel free to leave now." The harshness of her tone seems to add to the whole situation in a bad way, and I try to hide my sadness and embarrassment as I walk out the doorway and down the hallway. 

I pass Johanna, who winks at me and shoots me some finger guns. I don't even smile back, I'm not in the mood. 

The countdown is at ten now. Only ten seconds left. 

I watch Amethyst. She looks ready to run towards the cornucopia, and I want to warn her so badly. But she wouldn't listen to me. In fact, she'd probably be more likely to do it. 

The cannon sounds, and everyone runs to the cornucopia. I hesitate slightly, lost in my thoughts, and lose my chance. 

I internally curse myself. If I don't have supplies, I won't be able to stay alive. 

But I see Amethyst fleeing from the horn of plenty with a backpack slung over her shoulder and a battle-axe that seems too big for her trailing along behind her. 

I chase after her, hoping she doesn't think I'm someone else and attack me. I still think we can be allies, even if we'll never be partners. 

I catch up with her, which isn't hard considering she's burdened with extra weight while I'm not. 

I tap her shoulder, and she turns and looks at me with a murderous look on her face. 

Her ax swings towards me, and the last thing I feel before it slams into my skull is betrayal. 

Betrayal, and hurt.