District: 1

POV: Orion Starks

Gender: Male

Age: 18

"48, 49, 50, 51, 52" I counted out load to myself as I did as many pushups as I could before my visitors arrived. My chest heaved as I breathed between each one. After a while of doing pushups I began to feel the sweet ache that exercise brought pectorals and triceps. By the time I hit sixty five I felt my bare chest become slick with sweat. My shirt on the other had remained dry, crumpled up in a bunch on the floor a little ways away from me. I hated working out with a shirt on. I always found the extra loose layer dangling off the body to be distracting.

I loved working out. That was the whole reason I got into Hunger Games training. Physical activity gave me an outlet to blow off steam, relax, or put my aggression into. When I got into Hunger Games training, I quickly decided that I loved it. I loved working out, learning how to use weapons, and learning how to fight. It made me feel strong in a world that made me feel powerless. Eventually the feeling of strength stopped being just a feeling and became a physical state of being. By this point I realized my potential and I put most of myself into my training. I trained as much as I could and I quickly ended up being top of my class for the training facility in my district. It felt good being special, and Hunger Games training made me feel that way. I gained a lot from Hunger Games training, except for the desire to volunteer. I had never originally intended to volunteer for the Games, but here I was, doing pushups in the justice building after just volunteering to compete.

By the time I reached seventy eight, the door to my room in the Justice building opened up. I immediately got up off the ground and grabbed my shirt. I wiped the sweat off of my face with it before putting it on. I turned around and saw a peacekeeper escorting my mother into the room. She limped slowly towards me, using her cane as a support.

Ever since I could remember my mother has needed her cane to walk. She has always had a difficult time walking. She was born with a lame leg and therefore always had a hard time walking. During her child hood, my mother had to watch as all of her friends got to run, play, and train for the Hunger Games, and do all of the things she was told she could never do. When she was thirteen years old she decided that enough was enough and she would not let herself be beaten by her disability. She began to train for the Hunger Games too. She put every fiber of her being into making herself Hunger Games material. Over time she learned to throw knives and hold her own in self-defense. One of her friends who ended up winning the Hunger Games said that my mother was her inspiration for training, volunteering, and eventually winning. My mother never intended to volunteer and she never did, but the fact that she proved that she could do what everyone said she couldn't was what mattered to her. Her story has always been an inspiration to me.

As soon as she reached me she wrapped me up in an embrace. We held each other in our arms for a moment before separating ourselves from each other.

"Sweetie, I'm fine with the fact that you volunteered but couldn't you have at least told me that that's what you were going to do ahead of time?"

"I'm sorry mom, it was… a spur of the moment decision", I said. I wasn't completely lying. The decision to volunteer was rather spur of the moment. I did have a reason for doing it though that I would never tell her, or anyone in my district for that matter.

"That's ok," my mother said gently, "I have seen you train and I am very confident that you have what it takes to win."

"Thanks mom," I responded, "You'll be fine here alone while I'm gone right?"

She smiled, "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. We have enough money saved up to pay for food and rent for a few weeks, and if I run out I'm sure some of my friends will be generous. Plus you are going to have enough to worry about in the arena."

I smiled and nodded my head. In all reality though I knew I would worry about her. She was always the reason I never intended on volunteering for the Hunger games. I never had qualms about the fact that I would have to kill the other tributes and I never was really afraid for my own life. I was afraid of what would happen to my mother if something happened to me.

My family has been poor since before I could even remember. My mother never could find work because no one wanted to hire a cripple. My father was a lazy alcoholic and therefore could never hold a job for very long, and that was when he was even around. There were many times when no one would see him for days before he would come home extremely drunk or hung-over. My mother could sometimes do odd jobs to make up for this but she could never make enough money to keep the family going. The responsibility of providing for my family fell on me. At the age of fourteen I started out doing odd jobs, like cleaning weapons at the training facility, or moving furniture into rich peoples' houses. Now that I was eighteen I was able to hold a full time job and make money to provide for my mother and me. If I were to die in the games my mother would have a very hard time providing for herself and she would have no one to take care of her when she got older. With her handicap she would need someone to watch over her in her old age. My deadbeat dad sure as hell wasn't going to do it so once again the responsibility went to me.

A peace keeper opened the door and stepped into the room.

"It's time to go now Mrs. Starks," He said with a cold clipped tone.

My mother gave me one last hug before she left.

"You're a sweet boy Orion and I love you. Be safe my son." After saying good bye my mother left the room with the peace keeper.

I thought about what she said about me being a sweet boy. She was dead wrong. I was a nice caring guy to her and my friend, Ezra. In front of everyone else I acted aggressive and harsh. Many people were intimidated by me and those who weren't I made a point to intimidate. Sweet boys don't get into fights in the rough side of district one. My neighborhood in and of itself was not where sweet boys were bred. When most people pictured district one, they pictured the mansions and the rich luxury business owners, and fine goods artisans that inhabited them. This could be considered the majority of the people in district one considering that was the district's assigned industry. There was however another side of the district that most people overlooked. The unofficial name of the area I lived in was called The Blemish. Most people called it that because they thought it was like a stain on the mostly beautiful district one. This was where all of the poor of my district lived. It was my home. There were a lot of rough characters in my neighborhood so I needed to look tough. I have acted tough for most of my life. I don't regret any of the things I have done but I can't accept it when my mom says I'm a nice guy.

I pulled off my shirt, dropped to the ground and started doing pushups again until the door opened once more. I switched to a sitting position and faced the door. I waved to my best friend, Ezra, as he walked through the door. I pulled my shirt back on as I stood up.

"Dude, what the fuck," Ezra said to me with a worried look on his face.

"Hey don't even start with me," I said, "you didn't want to go and you know it."

What most people in my district didn't know was that neither Ezra nor I wanted to participate in the Hunger Games. Even Ezra's parents expected him to volunteer. They often joked that we would both end up fighting to the death on the stage for the honor to participate. They couldn't have been more wrong. I couldn't volunteer because I had an obligation to my mother. Ezra on the other hand was deathly afraid of participating in the Games. After watching the Games on TV for years, he confided in me that he didn't want to die like that or kill other people. He was embarrassed of the fact that he was afraid to do it so he never told anyone but me. We both still did Hunger Games training but that was more to enjoy ourselves and blow off steam. Neither of us actually wanted to compete. Apparently we weren't the only ones. For some reason or another, our district had no boys outright volunteered at the reaping ceremony earlier today. Because of this they actually had to perform a reaping for the district one male tribute. Ezra was reaped. I knew how terrified he was to go into the Games. I knew that without the confidence, a level head, and a killer instinct he would never win the games. Even though IU had reservations about competing in the Games, I wasn't afraid of them. I figured I could win anyway so I stepped up and volunteered so that my best friend didn't have to go.

"You know you don't have to do this," Ezra said.

"I already did," I said with a small laugh, "and there's no going back now"

A look of guilt slid over Ezra's face like an old drape. "Look if you die out there I'll never forgive myself," he said.

I leaned up against the wall. "Heh, you do realize I can't lose even if I tried. I'm the best this district has to offer when it comes to fighting."

Ezra paused for a moment. "What about that hot blond chick from our district who volunteered? I've seen her train and she looks pretty tough," he said.

I laughed, "What? You mean little miss Mayor's daughter?" I continued to laugh, "Nah she's not going to be competition. Those rich kids don't have what it takes. They might have technique from training but I have that too along with some things they don't have."

"Like what?" Ezra said.

"The only thing rich kids know about fighting is what other people have told them about fighting. Guys like you and me though, we got experience. I've been fighting since before a lot these kids even knew they wanted to participate in the Games."

Ezra looked at me for a moment. "You really think that's going to be a difference maker?"

"Of course I do Ez. Trust me once these kids get into a real fight and see blood and broken bones for the first time, they'll choke."

Ezra looked unconvinced so I continued. "I'm going to win these games Ez, and if anyone else gets in my way I will cut them in half like they were apples."

As I said this the door opened and a peacekeeper walked in to escort Ezra out. I reached for Ezra's hand to shake it but instead he pulled me in for a hug.

"You're the best, you know that?" Ezra said as he hugged me. We let go of each other and he turned and followed the peacekeeper out the door. Once they were gone I took off my shirt. I crumpled it up and tossed it to the corner. Then I dropped to the floor and continued my pushups.

District: 1

POV: Kalissa Kerri

Gender: Female

Age: 18

"All I'm saying is that he's kind of hot," my friend, Chance, said emphatically. She held her hands up in a defensive gesture.

I rolled my eyes at her. "This is the Hunger Games, not speed dating," I said. My friend Tanya laughed.

"Leave it to Chance to try and fraternize with the enemy," Tanya said.

"I didn't mean it like that, I was just saying," Chance replied in a feeble attempt to defend herself.

Chance and Tanya were my best friends so it was natural that they would come and visit me after I volunteered for the Hunger Games. I was glad to have them with me. It would be a while before I could see them again. It was also nice to have a fun relaxed moment with my friends before the awkward, albeit, satisfying confrontation with my parents that was to come.

"So how many days do you think the Games will drag on before you can win them?" Tanya asked. I smirked.

"I don't really know but I'll try and make it fast don't worry," I responded.

"Good! That's what I like to hear," Tanya replied. She smiled, "Maybe when comeback we can throw a party for you worthy of a Hunger Games victor."

"I'll be looking forward to it," I replied with a smile.

"I dunno," Chance said with a serious look on her face. "That guy Orion looked like he could put up a fight. Did you see his muscles?"

Tanya glared at Chance with frustration. "Will you give it a rest with that guy?" Tanya said. "Jesus, you even remembered his name?"

Chance blushed as she looked down at her feet. I couldn't help but smile at Chance and Tanya's banter. I was really going to miss them when I left. Really though I knew it would be worth it when I came back. I felt quite a mix of emotions. I was excited and nervous. I also felt victorious, and not because I would be competing in the Games. My victory was over my parents.

Tanya interrupted my thoughts. "Don't worry, I'll keep our little traitor in line," she motioned her head in Chance's direction.

Chance's jaw dropped for a second as she gasped in offense. "I am not a traitor! I'm not rooting for Orion; I just think he's hot!" Tanya and I laughed at Chance as she said this. "You know Ill be rooting for you Kalissa, no matter how many hot guys are in the Games this year."

I couldn't help but smile. Chance always rooted for the tributes that she found most attractive. Tanya and I always teased her about it. I knew though that she would be rooting for me. Chance and Tanya have been my friends for longer than I can remember. They have been with me through everything I have gone through. They stood by me even as my situation with my parents affected me, and made me act difficult at times. I was kind of sad that the two people who had been with me through everything could not be with me while I fought in the arena. The sadness dissipated quickly though as I resolved to just enjoy what time I had with them.

Chance, Tanya, and I continued to talk and banter for a while until a peacekeeper entered the room.

"Alright girls, times up. You can see her on TV later," he said brusquely. I gave him a cold stare as he led my friends out.

"Asshole," I said under my breath as I heard the door shut.

I then smoothed my hair out and sat down on the bench in the back of the room. I stared at the door with a smug grin. I wanted my parents to see it as they entered the room.

I wiggled my toes with excitement. I had been waiting for this moment all day. Ever since the big fight I had with them last night, this moment was all I could think about.

My parents and were not on the best of terms. It did not start out this way though. I used to get along swimmingly with my parents. When I was a small child, we used to spend a lot of time together. They were the people I cared for most in the world. I remember my favorite times as a kid were when my parents used to read me bedtime stories every night before tucking me in to bed. My dad would always conclude this by singing me a song to put me to sleep. I was so sweet and naïve back then.

Eventually however things changed. My father decided one day that his deepest desire in the world was not to sing his daughter to sleep, but to be the Mayor of District One. Of course my mother was in support of the idea. After all, it would give her something new to brag about to her stupid pretentious friends. After he made his decision to run for mayor, everything became about his political career. They had no time for me anymore. In my father's absence I had to sing myself to sleep every night. I taught myself to read out of necessity because no one would read me bedtime stories. Eventually singing myself to sleep turned into crying myself to sleep, and the bedtime stories just stopped being important to me. It was sad and lonely in my house. The only time I ever got to spend time with my parents was when they had an event that I was needed for. Such as meeting campaign sponsors and attending dinner parties. During these events though, I could barely recognize my parents. They weren't the warm loving people that used to make me laugh as a child. They were stuffy and arrogant, and told jokes that I didn't understand. They made me meet tons of old people that I didn't know. I felt like an accessory of theirs, like I was a necklace, or a tiara.

Over time this began to change my demeanor. I stopped crying and started rebelling. I really just wanted them to look at me again. I became so angry with them I began to do all of the things that they forbade me to do, or that made them look bad. I acted coldly with them and their guests. I partied most nights and made sure everyone was aware. I blatantly disobeyed them, every time they told me to do something. The fire was fueled whenever they would respond. Almost all of our conversations were arguments and those that weren't were cold and filled only with curt responses. We became strangers to each other. I kept everything in my life a secret from them, and they essentially did the same to me. I hated them, and I'm pretty sure they hated me.

Last night we had a huge argument. When I was little my parents made me promise them that I would never volunteer for the Hunger Games. Of course as a child I agreed that I wouldn't. Even through everything that had gone on throughout our lives, this was a promise I always respected. I did attend Hunger Games training, but that was because all of my friends did it and it was the cool thing to do. I also liked the way it agitated my parents every time I told them I was on my way to hunger Games training. I really had no intention of ever volunteering though, and they knew that. This was the one line I would never cross. That is until last night. My parents and I got into a huge argument when they told me they wanted me home right after the reaping for a dinner party they would be hosting at our house. Apparently there were some very important muckedy mucks that were going to be there. Of course I had made plans to go to a party with my friends to celebrate our last reaping. My parents commanded me to forgo the party for their dinner. It quickly erupted into a shouting match. I was so angry that I crossed the one line I never thought I'd cross.

I shivered for a moment as I could still hear the echo of my voice reverberating off of the cold, polished marble walls of my house. In my mind I remembered the looks on my parents' faces when I told them that I would not be coming home for their party because I would be volunteering for the games. Not a single word had been exchanged between us since I said that.

I looked up at the clock and then back down at my feet. They would be here any minute. I knew in my heart that they would come. Despite their faults, deep down, they were still human. I knew that as parents they would feel worried for me and so they would come to say good bye. Then maybe they would finally appreciate me. I couldn't wait for them to come in and cry and tell me to win so that I could come back to them and attend more boring dinner parties with them. I laughed to myself at the though. I felt powerful. This was the first time I have ever had a full leg up on my parents and it felt good. It would feel better once they finally showed up.

The ticking of the clock marred the perfect silence of the room ever so slightly. It sounded so slight and fine, like ice cubes clinking lightly against a glass. I looked at the door. It remained still as a grave. I stood up and started to pace. I really just couldn't wait for them to come in to the room. The wait was agonizing. I replayed what I imagined the conversation would sound in my head. I replayed it twice more, expecting the door to open any minute. Yet still, my only companion in the room was the small ticking clock on the wall above the door.

I sat back down on the bench, and wondered what was taking them so long. Just then I heard a sound other than the clock. It was footsteps. I straitened my posture and wiped my sweaty palms against my skirt. I was ready. I began to smirk as I heard the doorknob rattle. The door opened with a creak. I stared past the peacekeeper standing in the doorway. My eyes searched for my parents but I couldn't catch any view of them.

"Time to go," The peacekeeper said coldly. My heart sank as my brain finally registered what this meant. They didn't show up. They didn't even care. My throat felt like I had swallowed broken glass. I fought back a tear as I stood up. I forced myself to hold my head up high, even though I felt lower than I had ever felt before.

District: 2

POV: Acanthus Stearns

Gender: Male

Age: 18

I smiled and stood up from my seat as my friend marc walked into the room of the justice building. As he walked into the room I offered him a handshake. Before he could accept my offer however he sneezed loudly into his palm. At the prospect of dirtying my hand with my friend's mucus, I quickly withdrew my hand.

"Sorry," Marc said sheepishly. I chuckled to myself

"It's ok," I said in response. Marc knew how I felt about germs. He knew a lot about me. He was after all my closest friend.

"Hey I really appreciate you coming, despite your feelings towards the Games," I said to him.

"It's no problem. You're my friend and I respect your decision," he said. "Plus I would never let you leave without saying goodbye."

I smiled. Marc and I have always had very different opinions when it came to the Hunger Games. Marc was very much against them. I however respected them as a tradition of our district and our country. The Games have been a part of our history for over a century. This year would make one hundred and twenty four years of Hunger Games. Much to Marc's dismay, I volunteered to participate this year because I knew that it was my duty to continue the volunteer tradition of district two. This year I would be part of a one hundred and twenty four year legacy, and I was proud of that.

"What do you think of your chances of winning?" Marc asked me.

I ran my hand through my hair before responding. "Well statistically the district that produces the largest amount of tributes is district two. Simple deduction would then have one look at my district partner and assess whether or not she'll be much of a threat. I've only seen her train a few times. She is good but lacks my level of training and experience, so I honestly don't believe she will be much of a threat. Of course there are plenty of unknown variables but I'd say my chances of winning are pretty high."

Marc looked a little bit more at ease after my explanation. Really everything I said was true. My chances were pretty high. I probably wouldn't have volunteered if they weren't. I like to know what I'm getting into before I get into it. For my decision to volunteer I made sure I did my homework. I've watched Hunger Games for years and I know Game statistics pretty well. I've also trained heavily for years for this. Now that I'm eighteen and trained up as much as I think is necessary, I was confident enough in my ability to volunteer.

Marc and I continued to chat for a bit before a peacekeeper came entered the room.

"Alright boys wrap it up," he said

"Will do sir," I responded politely. The peacekeeper smiled slightly at that. They like it when people are polite, and just do what they're supposed to.

"Well I better go," Marc said. I said goodbye as he followed the peacekeeper out the door.

I listened to the clock ticking for a minute before the door opened again. A peacekeeper escorted my parents into the room.

"Thank you Ray," my father said to the peacekeeper.

"No problem sir," the peacekeeper responded before leaving the room. My father is a retired peacekeeper. After he retired he got a job training peacekeepers. Currently he is the head trainer. He has always loved his job as a peacekeeper. If I didn't volunteer for the Games, my plan was to follow in his footsteps and become a peacekeeper just like him. This was fairly common for boys in district two.

My father approached me and shook my hand with a big smile on his face. "You know we're really proud of you son," he said.

"Thank you," I responded. I was really happy to hear my father say that. I have always looked up to my father a lot.

He scratched his graying temples. "Your mother and I know that you'll win. You're smart, you've trained a lot, and you got your head on straight." My mother nodded in the background as he spoke. My mother never really said much. The truth is I always thought she was kind of bitter. I always got along with my father better.

"I'm also pretty confident that I'll win," I told my father smiling.

"Just remember what you've learned, and come back safe to us son," My father said.

"Yes sir," I responded.

"Good," my father said back to me. "Now I got some business back at the training center and your mother has to nanny for the Bowhardt children so we better get going."

"Thanks for visiting me," I said to them.

"Good luck son," my dad said as he and my mother left the room. My mother simply waved quietly at me as she left.

I sat back down on the bench as I waited for my last visitor, the person I most wanted to see before I left to compete in the games.

I pulled open my jacket and pulled out the rose I had bought just for the occasion. I hoped that she would like it. I caressed it slightly looking for any signs of damage it might have received between the time I bought it and now. Fortunately there was no damage. I stared at it for a while as I waited patiently for the door to open. I wondered what was taking so long.

Finally the door opened slightly and my girlfriend Theodora poked her head inside shyly.

"Hey," she said as she stepped further into the room. My stomach did a leap when I saw her face. I stood up and walked over to her with the rose in my hand. She blushed as I handed it to her.

"Thank you it's beautiful," she said with a smile. I smiled back at her. I was very pleased that she liked it. She looked up at me with concern. "Are you nervous?" she asked me.

I brushed a brown lock of hair out of her face and behind her ear. "No I'm not. Don't worry I will win and I will come back to you. I'll just be gone for a week or so, but it won't be that long before we see each other again." She nodded solemnly.

"Promise?" she asked me.

I smiled and took her hand in mine. "I promise." I leaned in and gave her a kiss. We held each other kissing for a few moments. I ran my hands through her soft hair. It felt so good to have her with me.

Of all the people I would be leaving I was going to miss Theodora the most. She was everything to me. There were a lot of things I loved about her. She was beautiful, sweet, and dependable. I could always count on her being there for me no matter what. She was different than most other girls in my district. She wasn't wild or free spirited, and I liked that about her. I also loved the fact that she was polite. Courtesy is something that a lot of people my age don't practice, and it annoys me to no end. Theodora however, is the most courteous person I have ever met, and I respect that about her.

A month ago I decided that wanted to marry Theodora. I used most of the money I had saved up to buy a gold ring without a stone. After the conclusion of the Hunger Games, when I emerged the victor, I planned to make the first thing that I spent my winnings on to be a stone to have fitted on to the ring. I would get the finest stone that the Capitol had to offer, for the finest girl in all of Panem. As soon as I arrived back in my district I would present her the ring and propose to her.

We broke our embrace. Theodora smiled. "I'll watch you on TV every day waiting for you to come back," she said.

I chuckled. "Maybe during the interview I'll give you a shout out. I'll let all of Panem know how much I love you."

She blushed and giggled as I said this. "I'll be looking forward to it," she said with a smile.

Just then, the same peacekeeper from before entered the room and told us that the time block for visitors was over.

I looked into Theodora's eyes and told her that I loved her. We kissed one more time before she followed the peacekeeper out the door.

District: 2

POV: Kayleen Epsy

Gender: Female

Age: 18

I listened to the light crisp ticking of the clock that hung just above the door to the room that they were housing me in. I started pacing around the room as the beating of my heart constantly reminded me how nervous I was. Hopefully he won't care enough to visit me, I thought to myself. I knew in my heart that that wasn't true.

My heart practically jumped out of my chest as I heard the door opening. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw my two friends Ashten and Maddison. Ashten looked pretty nonchalant as she walked into the room. Maddison on the other hand had a confused look on her face. Ashten knew I would be volunteering. She was my best friend who I told everything to. We were close to the point where we might as well have been sisters, if not for the fact that we weren't blood related. Naturally she was the only person I told that I was volunteering. She was also the person I told about all my problems with my forced fiancée, Julian. Ashten knew that Julien was the reason I volunteered for the Games in the first place. After this morning when my parents told me I was going to be forced to marry him I knew I had to do something to get away from him. I decided then that I would volunteer to compete in the Hunger games in order to escape my fate.

I looked again at Maddison's confused face. I was close to Maddison but not as close I was to Ashten. Maddison knew that my parents had forced me to hang out with Julien for practically my whole life. She also that I didn't like Julien. She didn't know, however, about all of the times that Julien tried to seduce me or feel me up without permission. That I wasn't comfortable talking about with anyone but Ashten. Maddison wasn't aware that I was going to volunteer to compete in the Games. As I examined the distress she had on her face I felt bad for her. Not that it was uncommon for girls in district two to volunteer. It's actually quite the opposite case. I was very lucky to have spoken up before others did. What was surprising to her was that I had volunteered in a spur of the moment decision and without the amount of training most volunteers from my district had. I had trained a little bit as was fairly customary for kids in my district, but I had never really gotten into it and I hadn't taken training very seriously or devoted much time to it. I was trained enough to consider myself relatively athletic, and decent in archery. I was not, however, at the level that my district partner most likely was at. The blond boy who volunteered after me was a regular at the training center.

"Ok wait, I'm really confused right now," Maddison said. "I didn't know you were planning on volunteering."

"Yeah I guess you could say it was kind of spur of the moment," I replied.

"And is there a reason why you just suddenly decided to volunteer. I paused for a moment. Normally I wouldn't really want to tell her. It would've been a lot of information for her to take in in one sitting and I didn't really like talking about it. I supposed though that she had a right to know.

"There is, and I really don't want to talk about it right now, but Ashten can fill you in after you guys leave," I said.

Ashten's eyes widened a bit. "All of it?" she asked. I nodded my head.

"All of it," I said. Maddison continued to look confused but she seemed a little bit more satisfied now that she knew that she was at least going to be filled in.

"So, you nervous?" Ashten asked me.

"No," I said flatly. Ashten looked at me with understanding. She knew I didn't care if I died. The only thing that mattered to me at this moment was getting away from Julien for good. If volunteering to fight in the Hunger Games was the only way for that to happen then so be it. In my heart I knew I was ok with dying, just so I wouldn't be trapped sharing a life with him. On the off chance that I were to win the Games I would've just blamed not marrying Julien on the post-traumatic stress from fighting in a twenty four person death match. I could then move to the Capitol and start a new life.

"Well you look it," said Maddison.

"I'm not nervous for the Games," I said, "I'm nervous for something else."

"Julien?" Maddison asked. I looked at her with a face that clearly showed distress.

"I really don't want him to come visit me," I said.

"I know you don't like him, and I know he's weird and annoying but It can't be that bad. Think of it as just a friend of your parents wishing you luck," Maddison said in clear attempt to console me. Ashten and I just looked at each other. We both could tell what the other was thinking. If only she knew, I thought to myself.

"Well any way, changing the subject, You will win this," Ashten said. I looked back at her. "You're smart, good with a bow, and you're a fighter. You never give up even when things seem bleakest. I know that sounds like something a mom would say just for the sake of saying it, but it's true. I really think you can win this."

I gave Ashten a hug. "Please win so you can come back to us. I want to see my best friend again," Ashen said into my shoulder.

"I'll try my best," I said.

Just then a peacekeeper opened the door and told us that our time was up. He escorted Maddison and Ashten out of the room. After they left I resumed the nervous pacing that I had been engaging in before my visitors interrupted it. My palms started to sweat as I continued to wait and hope that Julien wouldn't show up. After a few minutes the door opened once again. My parents, and my little brother, Riley, stepped into my room. They all had surprised and concerned looks on their faces. My mother spoke up.

"Sweetie, you never told us you were going to be volunteering. Not that it's a problem but still I wish you had told us."

"I'm sorry mom, It was kind of spur of the moment," I said.

"Well ok," my mother said, "Just come home safe, please."

"I will don't worry," I said.

"We have faith that you can win, after all you have trained a bit, and you are pretty good with a bow," My father chimed in.

"Thanks dad," I responded.

Just then my parents looked at each other and smiled. I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. I recognized that look they gave each other. They looked back at me.

"Sweetie, we have a very special surprise for you," my mother said cheerfully.

"Someone very special wants to come see you off," my father said in the same tone.

"Oh it's so romantic isn't it," my mother said.

"Bye sweetie, good luck," they said together as they left the room. As they left, my brother looked back at me with a look of sad understanding. He knew about Julien, and how much of a creep he was. He found out one time when he was eavesdropping on us and distinctly heard Julien try and seduce me.

I felt the blood drain from my face. I knew what was coming next. Just then the door opened. The tall lanky boy with a blond shock of hair on his head walked into the room.

"Hey babe," he said through crooked teeth. He gave a wicked smile. He knew that I now knew what his parents and my parents were planning for the both of us. I began to feel nauseous. I did not want him here. He walked closer to me. "So I guess it's appropriate that I'm the last person you get to see in your district before you go fight in the games," he said.

"Yeah I guess," I said under my breath. He walked closer to me.

"You know at first I was kind of concerned when I heard you were volunteering, but then I realized how I cool I would look to have a victor for a wife, and a hot one at that." His eyes crawled up and down my body as he spoke. I had to fight the urge to shiver in disgust. I couldn't even bear to conceptualize the thought that my last memory of my district before I went off to fight in the Games would be Julien.

Julien walked even closer to me. I could now smell his breath. "So how long do they give us in here? Oh well it should be long enough for a good bye kiss." He forced his lips onto mine. I squealed in disgust and shoved him off of me. As soon as I separated him from me I drew my arm back and punched him in the face with all the force I could muster. As my fist made contact with his face, his head lashed backwards. I felt his nose crunch under my knuckles. He stumbled back a few steps clutching his face. When he drew his hand away, I saw a stream of blood ooze out from his nostrils.

"You little bitch!" he snarled, "You'll pay for this when you get back! You will be my wife, and you're going to let me enjoy it whether you like it or not!" He stormed out the door.

"If I get back," I said flatly as the door closed. I stretched the fingers on the hand I used to punch Julien. Despite the pain in my knuckles, I felt better than I had in a long time.

Authors note: Hey everyone! hope you liked this chapter. I took this as an opportunity to introduce most of my careers. Tell me what you thought of them. Any way sorry this update took a long time. Ive actually been really busy with school work lately. Ill try and update faster next time but it does look like its going to be another busy week. Any way, hope you enjoyed reading, and Ill see you next update =)