AUTHOR'S NOTE(S):

Hey there I'm Han (kormaqueen) and myself and my friend Stan (stnaley ) are writing a story about Marvel and Glimmer in the 74TH Annual Hunger Games. I'm going to be writing from Glimmer's point of view. Stanley and I both see us as from District 1, and I'd probably volunteer if I had enough training. Anyway, Glimmer is one of the characters that is slightly looked over, but not by me! I love Glimmer, and I'm going to focus on my interpretation of her as a person. Remember to review the story! Hope you guys enjoy it!
Han

Hey everyone! It's Stanley (stnaley), and I'm just writing to let you all know how excited I am to be a part of this story. I'll be taking on all of the chapters from Marvel's point of view, which is great because it gives me a chance to focus on a character I didn't think too much of before. But thinking about him more now has made me love his character and what we have decided he stands for, as well as his role in this story. I hope you love what we've got to write, as much as we enjoy writing it. Review review review please :D Thanks for reading!

"GLIMMER! WAKE UP SWEETIE, IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME TRAINING DONE NOW YOU BETTER EAT AND GO!"

"Alright, coming." I swiftly woke up, brushed my teeth and put on my training outfit, a tight, black leotard with nylon black trousers. I ran down the stairs, scruffily tying my hair into bunches and running my tongue over my teeth to make sure I didn't leave any toothpaste on them.

"Morning, loser." Oh great. My douche of the brother, Donner was here today. Why can't he go live in his own house in the Victor's Village, I don't know, but I guess he's up early to taunt me, here at dad's. "Shutup, asshole."
"Language, girl. I might just take away your monthly diamond."

Dad's only joking of course, but recently he's been siding with Donner all the time. Maybe Dad's trying to distance himself away from me in case I die in the Games. Which, obviously, won't happen.
I grab a croissant and leave the house "Bye Mom, Dad, Donner. See you at the Reaping."

I jogged to the Training Centre, thinking of my family the entire way. My mom isn't that impressive. She's just rich and pretty. But she's nice I guess, doesn't really do stuff except buy the household items. Dad, a past victor, is also rich and good looking. He runs a training room, a Mystery Room as they call it, because once you go in and train with him, you can never speak a word of it. He hasn't trained me there...yet. Donner Sparks, my older brother, victor of the 69th Hunger Games, stabbed his own District Partner with a spear, he did...Donner. He's alright, bit full of himself, but what victor isn't?

Great. Someone else arrived before me. I swear, if they get the good weapons-"Hi Glimmer." "Oh, hi Marvel. Up early, huh." "Yeah well...yeah." "Mmm..um, so, how's Luna?" He dropped the spear and wiped the swear off his hands. "Luna, what? Oh, Luna, yeah...she's okay. Nervous. Her first year, you know..uh yeah." "Yeah. Well, I'm going to train. See ya round, Marvel." I grinned at him, trying to figure out what had happened with his family today. I like Marvel, he's cool. Sweet I guess. But whatever, doesn't matter.

After a few hours of hard training, I go home and get showered and changed. Mom's put out my reaping outfit, huh. It's pretty, a dark green dress with diamonds on each shoulder and black shoes to go with it. I put on a bit of makeup, to look flawless but "au naturale" as they say. I let my hair down and walk to the square alone.

I can see the escort, Quartz Wonder, near the stage. He's such a prick! I mean really, just because we're the richest, prettiest district doesn't mean you have to come here dressed like an overgrown glitter grain. He's got a curly wig of bright gold, with matching gold lipstick, eyeliner and eyebrow dye, clashing with his tanned skin. He is wearing a deep gold suit and bright gold shoes. As he walks up stage to the podium, he trips up the stairs and falls flat on his face, and to my delight, his wig falls off. Oh dear, little Quartzie in trouble, uh oh. He brushes it off and walks to the microphone looking throughly ashamed.

"Welcome, welcome. The time has come to select a courageous man and woman in the honour of representing District One in the 74th Annual Hunger Games!" He plays the tedious video then proceeds to the reaping ball. "Well of course, ladies first! Our lucky tribute this year is...LUNA GLORY!" Applause breaks out as a terrified little twelve year old is spotted in the crowd. She runs to Marvel and he holds her tight until the peacekeepers come and take her upstage. "Any female volunteers? Come on ladies. You can do it!"

"I VOLUNTEER." People turn around to stare at me, District One's beauty, and applaud again. Luna runs off the stage and I walk on arrogantly, feeling like a queen, smirking at the crowd. "Oh DARLING! Aren't you a BEAUTY! What's your name?" "Glimmer Sparks." My brother grins at me, haha.

"Gentlemen next of course!" He marches to the reaping ball, obviously elated by the response to the ladies, and pulls out-"MARVEL GLORY!" Oh my god. Imagine that. He walks up to the podium and stares at me, what's he trying to say? He's looking at me weirdly, I turn away. "Any volunteers, male?" Surprisingly, none..Must be because they're waiting to see what Marvel is like after his father, huh. We shake hands, sealing each other's fate, and with one more glance at him, I see a tear fall out of his eye, and he turns around and walks through the door infront of us. I follow after. Bye District One, hello victory.

Waking up in a daze, I rub my eyes and lay in the dim light beginning to pour through the thinned velvet curtains at my window. It can't be time to get up yet, but there's no way I'm getting back to sleep, not today.

It's not like I wasn't excited. It was Reaping day. The day every year, in Panem, that two young men and women, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, are chosen from each of the twelve Districts to compete in the annual televised deathmatch, the Hunger Games.

Being from my district, District One, meant volunteering for the opportunity to compete in the Games was nothing short of a common occurrence, something to be respected for, worshipped, almost. That was exactly what I planned to do. I had to volunteer. However, if I had any luck, I'd be chosen anyway. No one would volunteer for the son of Sol Copper.

My father had been a tribute, the year I was conceived. My mother didn't have a clue she was pregnant until the day after he'd left for the Capitol; by then it was too late to inform him of my existence. He had no idea, none. Maybe that could've been his drive, rather than him just giving up halfway through. Mother had shown me how useless he'd been in the arena, how he just didn't seem to care about himself or the other Careers he was supposed to be allied with. Anyone could tell that they didn't think too highly of him either. When it came down to the final six, all Career tributes, he didn't stick around for the ensuing battle. My father slit his own throat before any of the other tributes could get to him.

Coward.

The worst tribute District One ever had.

It didn't help that the girl from my District, ended up beating the rest of the Careers and came home to a wave of adoration.

I promised myself that I wouldn't be a thing like him. I hated the effect his pathetic actions had on my upbringing, and how people had treated me my whole life. District One, Luxury. The irony of my being raised here sits in my mind. Even my own mother saw me as a failure. Though she never did marry Luna's father. Maybe she never really gave up on my Dad.

It wasn't like I was alone to take all the stick though. I had a younger sister, Luna, and though she had a different father, who'd actually volunteered but never had to compete in the Games, she was the other reason I had to volunteer. It would be her first year in the Reaping, she'd just turned twelve, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost her.

Finally heaving myself out of bed, I walked to the sink, washed my face, brushed my teeth and pulled on my training clothes: a black tank top and jogging bottoms.

Just as I got to the door, a scream attacked my eardrums. Luna. I took the stairs two at a time and almost broke her door off its hinges, thinking she'd been hurt, I was terrified for her. She was sat up in bed, in fits of tears, sobbing uncontrollably. I ran to hug her, my arms tight around her shoulders, brushing my fingers through her chestnut hair.

"It's okay, sweetie, it's fine, I'm here, nothing's gonna hurt you."

"They chose me, Marvel... no one volunteered... no one cared." Her words were just about decipherable through her coughs and splutters.

"You're not going to be picked, Luna," I pulled her gaze to mine, wiping her tears, and putting on my big brother voice, "You will not be picked this year, your name is only in the Reaping ball once, it's impossible."

I knew it wasn't impossible, though. It had happened before. Twelve year-olds with no one to volunteering for them. It was horrible, disgusting even.

As calmly as I could , I gave Luna one final, firm squeeze, another bout of comforting words, and she'd drifted off in my arms. Laying her down, I kissed her forehead, remembering once again why I had to win the Games. I left the house quietly, but hastily now, as that had taken fifteen minutes training time that only Luna was worth losing for.

I strolled down to the training centre, confident as I always was, despite the looks from early risers on their way to pick up last minute outfits for the Reaping.

Upon opening the door of the Training Centre, I found that I was the first to arrive. Odd, since she was normally there before me. Regardless, I dropped my bag on the floor, eager to get to training as soon as I could.

I take to spear-throwing, since it's my favourite, and where I shine most. It's how I'm going to win, I think. Every target to appear got a spear to the face, or the torso - both bulls-eyes in my eyes. I'd just about broken a sweat when the door to the Centre creaks open, and a magnificent blonde figure stepped through.

"Hi Glimmer," I muttered. She had no idea what she did to me, this girl, the beauty with emerald eyes, and bright sandy hair.

"Oh, hi Marvel. Up early, huh?" She was obviously disappointed that someone had beat her to training. She was always here first, 5AM on the dot. Skilled with just about any weapon, always trying her hand with different ones to test her abilities. I loved watching her practise, it was always so elegant.

"Yeah... well, yeah," were the only words I could muster.

"Mmm. Um, so how's Luna?" Glimmer seemed to be the only person who showed a genuine interest in my life, never stopping to give me a disapproving look or a glare. Clumsily, I dropped my spear whilst getting lost in her eyes again. I made it look like I'd done it on purpose, though, and wiped the sweat off my palms.

"Luna, what? Oh, Luna, yeah... she's okay," She was actually listening to me, "Nervous. Her first year. You know... uh yeah." I really wish I didn't stumble over my words so much.

She looked me up and down, seemingly confused at my lack of composure.

This is your fault, I thought, God, I hope you don't volunteer today.

"Yeah, well, I'm going to train. See ya round, Marvel." She said my name again. It took a moment for me to regain my thoughts but she only need a moment to disappear. Swift as a cat that one.

Glimmer kept fighting her way into my thoughts throughout my remaining hours of training, but I had to focus, I had to remember why I was doing this. Luna was the only thing that mattered anymore. It's not like Glimmer would give a shit about me, even if I did win.

Walking home, the beauty swam through my mind like she owned the place, but I always managed to force her into a corner when Luna appeared in my head. I wasn't gonna fall weak to her.

Upon arrival, I found my mother had laid out a checkered blue and white shirt, and slim-fitting black trousers. I hopped in the shower to wash off traces of training, it was supposed to be illegal, after all. Normally I'd stand for a while and make life decisions in the shower, but today I just didn't have the time. Someone told me they had amazing showers at the Capitol, anyway, and I couldn't wait to experience those. I step out of the water, dry off, brush my teeth again and slip on my Reaping clothes. I quickly dry my hair and comb it out of my face. Gotta look my best, it's District One, remember? One last check in the mirror to make sure my outfit is perfect, and I go to look for Luna.

I find her with my mother in the kitchen; she looks adorable in her tiny pink ensemble, hair in two braids. I discover that mother has put eyeliner on her. Luna's still just a kid, what was that woman thinking? I can't say anything though, so I just grab Luna's hand in my own (I notice mother has also painted her fingernails pastel pink, ha) and lead her from the house, toward the town square, without saying goodbye to the woman who raised me.

We arrive, and once again I have to comfort her before sending her off to the growing group of twelve year-olds, and join the male seventeens myself. I glance around, spot Glimmer across the square; she looks divine, but pays no attention to anyone else. She really doesn't want to get attached, I guess.

The Mayor of our District and a few other elderly citizens take seats on the stage, and Quartz Wonder, our escort from the Capitol approaches the stage... and trips! Right on his face, shifting his ridiculous golden wig from his enormous head. He looks stupid covered in glittery gold crap anyway, so I can't help but smirk at the Capitol fool.

"Welcome, welcome," he says in his gross Capitol voice, "The time has come to select one courageous young man and woman, for the honour of representing District One in the 74th Annual Hunger Games! But first, the splendid video you've all been waiting so eagerly for!" He signals for someone to start the video, and the usual, droning speech from President Snow booms across the square.

A matter of minutes later, Quartz has approached the Reaping ball full of girls' names.

"Well, of course, ladies first!" He slipped his tanned hand through the opening at the top of the ball, teasing the thousand plus slips of paper with his bony fingers, before plucking one from the bunch, "Our lucky tribute this year is..." Come on, idiot, tell u- "LUNA GLORY!"

My heart stopped for a moment before I regained sanity, and I searched frantically for my sister. Rushing to the edge of the seventeens, I see her sprinting towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks again, my precious little sister. She's terrified, and there's nothing I can do but throw my arms around her for a second before the Peacekeepers force her from my grasp and up onto the stage. She's shaking when Quartz takes her tiny hand, her eyeliner patched around her eyes now.

"Any female volunteers? Come on, ladies. You can do it!"

Please, someone, I beg.

"I VOLUNTEER." A round of applause almost drowned out her words, but there's no questioning that melodic voice.

Glimmer stepped forward to take the stage, slipping past my little sister as graceful as humanely possible. She saved my sister... she saved her. The feelings came rushing back to me, how much I felt for this girl.

"Oh, darling! Aren't you a beauty?" Quartz flirts, grossly, "What's your name?"

"Glimmer Sparks."

Just hearing her speak has me lost in thought again, drowned in images of us training together, growing old together... in love.

I almost don't hear Quartz as he calls my name.

A wave of whispers takes the crowd, rushing through people faster than an icy breeze. They were talking about me, about my father, my sister, and how I wasn't moving.

Someone slammed their hand against my back and I stumbled forward, but quickly repossessed my balance. I walked forward, head high, I couldn't let these people think I was weak, not now.

Climbing the few steps to the stage, I mouthed a "Thank you" to Glimmer, but I'm not sure she saw. Typical of her, really. I can't stop looking at her though, even when Quartz has taken my hand and has us standing side by side. I must have looked awful.

"Any volunteers, male?"

Not shockingly, there wasn't a single hand in the air, no one rushing to the stage to take my place.

"Now, then, shake hands, you two," Quartz forces us together, but my eyes are already fixated on Glimmer, hand outstretched. She takes it in hers and gives me a single, firm shake.

Remembering my real reason for doing this, my eyes follow the crowd for Luna, and recall that she's been taken by the Peacekeeper and I'll likely see her in a minute. The fact that I can't see her still brings a tear to my eye, though.

One more look at Glimmer and a sudden realization rushes over me.

This girl's gonna be the death of me.