"I'm positive one of us will win. It will be either you or me. One of us will come home a victor and make our district proud. One of us will live in the Victor's Village with Brutus and Enobaria. One of us will come out on top."

A/N: Hey guys this is my first fanfic and I hope you like it! It's going to take me a while to add more on to this because I have to do A LOT of research and read the book for the 500th time. If you guys have any ideas let me know. I named some of the characters that were not named in the book just so Clove doesn't go around shouting "Hey boy from District 4!" If they give them different names in the movie I'm sorry.

Disclaimer: I definitely DO NOT own The Hunger Games but I am a huge fan. I take no credit for any of the characters (except Trina who only appears briefly)

Part 1: Becoming Strong

Reaping

The reaping has finally come. Clove sat on her bed combing her fingers through her hair. What should she feel like? Many people in district 2 treated the reaping as a special event while others dread the mention of it. She wasn't sure how she felt. She didn't feel like a violent enough person to appreciate them, nor did she fear them. It felt as if almost another normal day in her district. She let her brown hair fall down to her shoulders. Her dress wasn't very extravagant but it suited her perfectly. She wondered who could be picked this year. She decided to not let those thoughts seek into her mind.

Clove walked to where the large group of girls in her year stood. She recognized some but not all of them. She stood next to Trina, who she had been trained with. "Are you going to place any bets this year?" asked Clove.

"Not today," said Trina with a smile, "I feel as though I would be placing bets against myself." Clove smiled, "May the odds be ever in your favour."

The man from the capital made his way up to the balls containing 3 of Clove's names in total. The odds could possibly be in her favour. The man, (what was his name again) began to make a long speech. "If they want us to fight, why try and bore us to death first?" asked Clove to herself in a very low tone of voice. She had drifted off but was caught into the real world once again when he heard a familiar phrase. "Ladies first!"

Clove looked into the eyes of the man as he reached into the ball. The name that he called, she knew who it was. Who was it though? The thought finally went through her head as Trina let out a small gasp. It was Clove. Clove took a deep breath and made her way to the stage where she stood beside the man. Another name was called. She did not recognize this boy. He didn't look very well built up like most boys in the district did. He was one of the poor ones. He was one of the boys that couldn't afford to even be glanced at by a taxpayer. He was not the type of boy you would trust to be a victor. Then she heard somebody in the crowd. It came from one of the boys in her year. Cato.

Cato replaced the unfamiliar boy beside her. She knew Cato well. They were not exactly close friends but she certainly knew him from school. She dared take a quick glance at him. He was much taller than she was and his hair was a lovely shade of blonde. She felt weak standing beside him. She had been drawn for the ball while he had enough confidence to volunteer himself. She quickly turned away from him and stood as the anthem played in her ears. Let the 74th annual hunger games begin.

Train

Cato and Clove never really talked on their way to the capital. Clove had been too busy thinking. Sponsors were on her mind. They could be what would keep her alive. How could somebody like her attain them? She wasn't very charming at all and she had no clue how to entertain a crowd. During diner she slowly turned towards one of her mentor's, Brutus, who slowly slurped his soup. His slurps were loud and disgusting in Clove's opinion.

"Will you please stop that?" asked Clove very quietly for she feared to disturb the peace of the room. Brutus raised his eyebrow in Clove's direction and put his spoon down.

"Does it annoy you Clove?" he asked suspiciously. Clove slowly nodded nervously. Brutus smiled and once again raised his spoon. He purposely slurped as loud as he could and laughed. Clove glanced across the table to catch sight of Enobaria's pointy teeth forming a smile.

"You're acting like such a selfish little girl," said Enobaria to Clove with a laugh, "Who trained you to be so weak?"

"I'm not weak!" shouted Clove. She realized that she had jumped out of her chair. She slowly lowered herself back into the seat and calmed herself. "I just did not think the slurping was absolutely necessary."

Brutus slurped loudly once again, "If you aren't weak, I am sure you can handle it."

Clove quickly looked at Cato who looked into his food in what seemed to be a trance. She didn't want Cato to think she was weak. After all, how could she survive in the arena without an ally? The bright lights of The Capital soon came into view. Clove excused herself from the table and slowly waited until they reached their destination.

Remake Center

Clove was dressed... like a rock, a graphite rock to be exact. He dress had a similar texture and pattern to the graphite found in the mines of District 2. It glistened in the sunlight but the overall appearance was not what Clove had hoped when she imagined her costume. She dared not speak up to her stylist though. "It isn't the clothing that makes the tribute," Brutus had said, "It's their reputation."

What would people think of Clove? Did she really seem to be weak? How could she fix that? Clove looked down at herself. "Do I look intimidating?" she asked her stylist casually.

Her stylist looked up at Clove with her large eyes with a pinkish tint to them. "I wouldn't dare step in your path if you carried a knife." The thought flew through Clove's head. She had always been good with knives.

Clove was directed to an elevator where Cato already stood. His outfit had the same sort of pattern as hers but was designed much differently. He looked at Clove quickly then turned away. The elevator was silent as they rode down. When the doors opened they found themselves surrounded by chariots. Clove and Cato were directed to the District 2 chariot where they took their seats.

Before the chariot began to move Clove turned to Cato, "Teach me to look strong to the other tributes." Cato let his eyes look in her direction. "Watch me," he said. The first words Cato had said to her since her name was drawn. Surely, these words would linger in her mind for the rest of her life. For, for all she knew, these may just be the first words spoken by her own killer.

City Circle

Cato stared into the faces of the capital. Clove observed as he remained emotionless. Watch me. Clove turned her head to look in the direction of the thousands of cheering men and woman. She tried to hold in every emotion she had but a tiny smirk fell upon her face. She enjoyed watching the people of The Capital smile and cheer for her, even though they could possibly be cheering for her death.

She tried to make the smile go away but there it lingered. What could she do to change the smile? How could she make is so the smile made them think she wasn't weak? How could she use it to her advantage? Superiority. She forced her smile to change just enough so it made her look like she was above all this. Perfect.

The crowd's cheers suddenly begin to grow louder. It couldn't possibly be because of her. She turned to see it wasn't Cato either. It was somebody from another district. Who could be pleasing the crowd so much?

The chariots began to park themselves in front of President Snow's mansion. Then Clove caught sight of why the crowd had cheered so loud. District 12 wore vibrant flaming costumes that illuminated the sky. How could they possibly wear fire? The girl turned in Clove's direction and Clove gave her an angry. Not so angry that it was noticeable by The Capital, but angry enough for the girl from District 12 to realize... Clove meant business.

The president gave his speech but the camera could not seem to leave the girls side. It was an unfair advantage at her part. Frustration and anger filled Clove. A tiny smirk once again formed. This is how Clove wanted to be. After the anthem played, Clove and Cato were driven to the Training Center.

The Training Center

Her name was Katniss Everdeen. An odd name for an odd girl. Clove had decided Katniss would be her new enemy, and if Katniss was her enemy, Peeta was too. They acted as one, holding hands and such. Is what that idiot alcoholic mentor of theirs instructed them to do? Was this some idiotic way to get themselves sponsors? Clove was sure; she could get sponsors on her own.

One station in the training center appealed to Clove above all others. Knives. There was a much larger variety of knives than they had where she trained back in District 2. She crept over to the station and looked at selections. She slowly picked one up to examine it closely. She looked across the room to see Cato handling a spear. She watched as he flung the spear directly at the dummy and hit right on target. When Cato began to throw another, the knife shot out of Cloves hands and hit the dummy before the spear. Cato turned to her and she smiled.

Clove travelled to each station watching Cato along the way. He had certainly been already trained well. Of course, most people in District 2 were. Her gaze traveled to the tributes from District 12. They were training together. Why would somebody be so stupid enough to do that?

Clove knew precisely what she was going to do to impress the Gamemakers. She just wasn't sure what her newly found enemy would do. She let a devilish smirk escape her and she continued with her training.

Impress the Gamemakers

Clove sits in the dining hall examining each tribute around her. She judges by their appearance exactly what score they will get. 5, 7, 3, 4, 9. The girl from District 1 is called. Glimmer. Cato would go in next. Clove was sitting next to Cato, a barrier of silence between them. Clove wished to break it. She took in a breath and spoke. "I think you're going to get a good score."

Cato looked over at her, "Of course," he said, "I am from District 2 aren't I?"

Clove smiled, "Yes," she said, "you are." She turned away from him once again.

"So are you," said Cato, "I'm sure you will score high too. It's in our blood after all. Also, I'm sure you don't want to disappoint our district. I'm positive one of us will win. It will be either you or me. One of us will come home a victor and make our district proud. One of us will live in the Victor's Village with Brutus and Enobaria. One of us will come out on top."

The words of Cato echoed through Clove's head. His name is called and Cato disappears. Clove sits alone waiting until her name is called. She stands from her seat and slowly makes her way to the Gamemakers.

Clove stood before the Gamemakers almost in a trance. She looked around the room and quickly looked through the selection of knives. She selected one and quickly threw it across the room hitting the dummy right on target. She smiled as the Gamemakers clapped and sipped their drinks. She grabbed another knife and repeated it over again. She gained speed each time until knives were shooting from her hands at a rapid rate. When she finally stopped she was gasping for air. The Gamemakers excused her and she left the room.

Scores

Cato, Clove, Brutus and Enobaria watched as the scores showed up on screen. Marvel was first naturally. He got a 9. Glimmer managed to get a score of 8. Cato was next. The room silenced waiting for his score to show up. The number 10 flashed next to his picture. Congratulations came from both Brutus and Enobaria. Clove was silent.

Her face slowly appeared on screen. She had also gotten a 10. "Good job," said Cato, "I told you that you would do good." Somehow, Clove had gotten the same score as Cato. How? She wasn't as strong as him. Did the Gamemakers drink too much?

An 11 flashed next to Katniss stunning them all. It was an even stranger occurrence. After everybody took in what they had just seen, Brutus spoke. "Well, I guess it's time to prepare for your interviews."

Interviews

Clove was a threatening, devious, mysterious tribute. Brutus had told her to intimidate them, make them cower in fear. Clove was sure he had given the same instructions to Cato. There she sat, in a gray and red dress which suited her perfectly, watching as Glimmer charmed the crowd. She was using the sexy approach. It wouldn't have been Cloves first choice.

Next was Marvel. Clove would have preferred him as an ally much more than Glimmer. But she was almost positive her alliance with Glimmer had already been arranged. She would be interviewed directly after Marvel. Caesar Flickerman seemed alright. Clove just hoped he would support her enough to maintain her role.

Clove was called down. She flashed The Capital a small grin as she made her was towards Caesar and his horribly blue shade of hair. "Hello Clove," he said with a grin, "Take a seat."

Clove sat uncomfortably in the chair. She looked at Caesar intensely as if she was hoping to get this over with. "How are you today Clove?" he asked with a smile.

"I'm alright," she said calmly trying to stay in character.

"What do you think of The Capital so far Clove?" he asked happily.

Clove shrugged, "I guess it's alright," she began, "The food is pretty good and the clothes are... original."

"I guess they would be original from your point of view," laughed Caesar, "You seem to be a strong opponent for your other tributes. You got one of the best scores! Care to tell us your secret."

"It's not exactly a secret," replied Clove, "I don't mind if everybody hears. I'm skilled at throwing knives. That is the main reason why the others should fear me. As soon as I have a knife in my hand another tribute could be dead in a few seconds."

The rest of the interview went well. When Cato was called he was portrayed almost the exact same way that Clove had been. Great minds think alike. She observed carefully as Cato bragged about his spear throwing without truly bragging. When Cato returned to his seat Clove flashed him a quick smile without allowing the other tributes and the rest of Panem to see it.

Clove watched as each tribute was interviewed. Chances were that she would also have an alliance with the tributes from District 4. Their names were Melissa and Felix. They did not appear to be the strongest but Clove knew that any alliance was good. Unless you were betrayed.

Katniss Everdeen made quite a show that night. She impressed the crowd with her sparkly dress. Clove chuckled as the joyful girl from District 12 twirled around in her dress. Then came Peeta. He confessed that he loved Katniss to all of Panem in his interview. Ah, so they are lovebirds are they? Maybe we can take advantage of this situation...

The Catacombs

Clove was being dressed by her stylist accordingly. She thought of the plan. Her alliance would contain Marvel, Glimmer, Cato, Felix and Melissa. She would get to any sign of a knife as soon as she could. From that point on it would be a bloodbath.

Clove was distracted; she didn't notice her stylist say goodbye. She snapped into the real world once again when the platform under her feet began to rise and she found herself in the arena. The Cornucopia stood before her as well as the other tributes. A shock of reality went through her veins.

Let the games begin