So, this is my first fanfiction, and I hope you like it!:D Reviews would be great, they motivate me to write better and more! So yeah, please review. By review, I mean how much you like the story, and constructive criticism. The only thing flames are good for is to toast marshmallows! So anyway, on with the story. Enjoy:D!

"Iva Windok."

All is silent as the masses of gathered people all turn their heads in different directions, searching for this year's unfortunate female tribute of District 4. I glance nervously around and then straighten myself up to walk to the stage, trying to look confident and tough as I did so. After all, coming from District 4, I am expected to act like a Career tribute.

Career tributes, or just Careers is the nickname given to the most bloodthirsty, the most monstrous tributes reaped each year, usually from Districts 1, 2 and 4. Those tributes form an alliance in the annual Hunger Games, sometimes also taking in a few other exceptional fighters. They work as a team to hunt down weak tributes and then eventually turn on each other as well. It is usually a Career who wins the Hunger Games.

The aim of the Hunger Games is to be the last surviving tribute. 24 tributes are chosen, or reaped by getting their name pulled out of a giant glass ball. There are two tributes from each of the twelve districts. They are all thrown into a giant arena which could have any sort of environment, and forced to fight to the death. The victor then gets to move into their district's Victor's Village and gets showered with prizes like money and food. I currently live in Victor's Village because my own mother won the 41st Hunger Games when she was 16. I don't think that I will be returning.

As I finally mount the stage, I put on my best smirk, and see my own beautiful face being broadcast live on the giant television screen in our district square. I am relieved to see that I look confident, intelligent, definitely beautiful enough to attract sponsors and most of all, deadly. My family, on the other hand, look pale and terrified. Both my siblings are in silent tears. I know that they will both miss me, but it must be especially hard on my sister because she is now 19, and no longer eligible to volunteer. I know that she would definitely have volunteered to take my place, had she have still been 18, but sadly only 12 to 18 years olds can enter the Hunger Games.

"Congratulations Iva!" announces an overly excited Charlotte Pendleton. Charlotte Pendleton is District 4's assigned women whose job is to usher us around and help prepare us to enter the arena, in other words, our escort. She is from the Capitol, the bright, artificial-looking Capitol that makes all the rules and created the Hunger Games 60 years ago. I absolutely hate them for forcing innocent children to die every year.

For some reason, Charlotte gives a high-pitched giggle, though I can't figure out what is funny. Maybe it is just that she can't wait to watch another round of tributes mercilessly kill each other. She can't wait to watch 23 young children die.

"Now for the boys!" Charlotte nearly squeals. There is a moment of anticipation before… "Charlie Jones!" I look around just in time to see a pale 12 year old boy shakily starting to walk to the stage before his older brother desperately runs forward and volunteers. I have seen his 17 year old brother many times before, but I can't remember ever talking to him. His name is Alex Jones and I often see him at my twice-weekly training, although I stay at the bow and arrow or knife station most of the time, while he is best with both spears and axes. He has slightly similar looks to me, with the same light blonde hair, although my eyes are a darker shade of blue to his sky coloured ones. Also he is a boy and I am a girl so obviously we look at least a little different. He wordlessly joins me and smiles reassuringly in my general direction. "Well, shake hands!" Charlotte exclaims impatiently. We do and I am comforted by the kind and gentle way he grasps my hand. I didn't even notice that my hands were shaking until then, and I immediately stop, feeling embarrassed at my lack of self-control.

Although my mother is a victor, she is not the most recent so will not be my mentor. Instead, Grace Sherbington, the victor 3 years ago is the one who now shakes our hands and will later help us out in the arena. Us being myself and Alex, of course. Alex and I are ushered to separate small rooms with one thickly panelled window, very nice furniture and thick, red carpets. I am finally left alone to prepare for my goodbyes to my family. I know that my goodbyes might get emotional, but I can't afford to cry, to be shown on screens all over the country with a red face and puffy, wet eyes.

My whole family is literally thrown into the room by some Peacekeepers. "Oh Iva, I'll miss you!" sobs my mother, collapsing on the velvet couch next to me.

"But I'm sure we won't have to miss you for any more than a few weeks, because you're coming back, right Iva?" I silently look down, considering my little brother's words.

"I will try my very best to win, okay Jackson?"

"Please do, for me?" my brother asks, tears streaming down his little face.

"And me!" my big sister, Isabella, exclaims. "I wish that I was still 18, and I could have volunteered for you." whispers Isabella. I hug her tightly, on the verge of tears myself, before firmly holding her out arm's length and telling her what would most likely be my dying wish.

"If I die, please don't be too upset. I wouldn't like any of you to be sad because of me. Please, just try to get on with your lives and try to forget about me. Please." I really am hardly blinking back tears now.

"Don't say that!" my parents both exclaim at the same time, causing my father to manage a very brief smile before adding, "Don't say that because you won't die. We believe in you." A timer suddenly goes off and I know that my family must have to leave now. I quickly give them each a hug and say "I love you all!" before the Peacekeepers grab them and push them out of the room.

I sit in silence for a few minutes, not expecting any more visitors. I don't really have any close friends and all my other relatives are either dead or have moved to another district. So I am surprised when the door is flung open and a familiar face appears. It is my Sunday fishing partner, Holly. Every Sunday we fish together, we work well together and she is great company.

Very similar to me, she is brave, smart, funny and always smiling. Actually, right now is probably the first time I have seen her without a smile and bright eyes. I can tell the only reason she is holding her tears in is to be strong for me. "Iva…" she whispers. I see something shiny held in her tightly clenched fist.

"What's that?" I ask, pointing curiously at her hand. She doesn't hesitate before answering, "Remember a few weeks ago, you lent me this?" she replied, handing me the item. It is a beautiful silver necklace with a blue dolphin pendant. In fact I do remember it. It was given to me from my mother as a 14th birthday present.

"Yes, for good luck." I answer.

"Well, it worked for me, hopefully it will work for you. Take it into the arena and use it as your district token. Please?" Holly asks. I smile at her and take the token. "I believe in you. You can win." she unexpectedly says. Great. Now I have a whole collection of people trusting me to win. The timer goes off and she is taken from the room, leaving me completely alone in the world.

Eventually, a group of three Peacekeepers show me out of the building. The many cameras fixed on my face make me uncomfortable and self-conscious. Still, I put on my best fake smile and wave to the gathering crowd. Luckily Charlotte appears soon to escort me to the train station, where we will catch a train to the Capitol.

Everyone is waiting at the train station, including Alex Jones, Grace, a few Capitol attendants, more annoying onlookers and cameras, cameras everywhere! Again, I wave and smile until my jaw is hurting, which happens to be around the same time that we start to board the Capitol train.

The train is breathtakingly nice, even nicer than my posh house back in Victors Village, which I suppose is saying something. Except that here, everything is clean, tidy and simply perfect! The first thing I decide to do is take a look around my room. There I will have privacy, and I will be free to cry if I want to. But no, I am not allowed to leave yet. "Stay here and wave out the window to the other districts and the Capitol. Make them like you!" orders Grace. I sigh and wait for district 3 to appear through the window.

"So, Grace, do you have any advice for us?" asks Alex.

"Well, what are your strengths?" our mentor inquires. "You too, Iva!" I have to think for a minute before answering, "My best weapon is the bow and arrow, but I'm not bad with knives either. I can also climb, I have good plant knowledge and I am very smart" I say, but then really how up myself I sound and add, "but I'm not good with heavy weapons or camouflage." There. That's a bit more balanced out. Grace nods her head approvingly.

"And your looks will help you get a fair few sponsors" she adds, still nodding. "How about you, Alex?"

He hardly hesitates before his answer, "Well, I can really throw spears and axes, use knives in short distance or hand to hand combat, make snares and I have practiced camouflage since I could walk. So, pretty much the complete opposite of Iva." He smiles warmly at me.

Charlotte Pendleton, who has just been standing in the background until now, grins and says, "Wow, we seem to have a decent pair of tributes this year. I wouldn't be at all surprised if District 4 has a victor thi-"she is cut short by Alex,

"Look!" he exclaims. We all immediately turn our heads in the direction of the window, to see the bright lights and factories of District 3.

"That was quick!" I think out loud. Me and Alex rush up to the window and watch as people start slowly filing out of their factories. I know that a few of these people will have to go home only to begin mourning their loved ones who have been reaped today.

As soon as the first person spots us, I plaster my best smile on my face and again, wave. My arm muscles are actually beginning to hurt from all this waving. But I know that I have to make people like me, in order to get sponsors to help me stay alive in the arena. The District 3 inhabitants look tired and slightly frustrated about something, but they still point and wave at us.

I know the people of District 3 to be smart and friendly, like me. I wonder what the District 3 tributes will be like this year. After only a few minutes, all we can see is the greenery of a forest, the forest that I now know to separate districts 3 and 2. District 2!

We are coming closer to District 2, the place where usually the most strong and scary of all the tributes come from. This is the 60th Hunger Games, and from the previous 59 victors, 36 are from District 2. I am pretty sure that they train daily at the District 2 training centre. I train twice a week at our centre. Again I sit down.

"Okay, so are you two joining the Career pack this year?" Grace inquires. I myself had been contemplating this. At first it was a definite no, but after thinking about it, trusting my intelligent brain to come up with a good solution, I remembered that I was from District 4, and I was expected to join the Careers anyway. But I absolutely despise the bloodthirsty Career tributes, and I would hate to join them. But right then, after Grace voices the question that has been bouncing around in my head, I think of it. My plan.

After thinking for a second, I decide that my new plan should be kept a complete secret, at least from the people in this room. So I answer Grace, "Yes." Well, actually I will be. Temporarily. But that is just part of my plan. I don't intend on even my mentor knowing my plan, just in case she tries to stop me. I am broken from my intense thinking by Alex's voice saying, "Definitely." I get the feeling that he doesn't have a plan like me. He is really going to join them, willingly.

Eventually, we reach District 2. They are not as friendly as District 3, and largely ignore us. District 1 is similar but a few citizens actually look excited and wave to us. We are just kind of sitting around being bored when a bright flash of colour catches my eye. "The Capitol!" I gasp, shocked at the artificial beauty of the place.

"Wow!" Alex breathes, also stunned. Again, we rush up and smile at the Capitol citizens. And guess what else we do? Wave! Oh well, I can tell that they love us. I definitely don't love them. I don't even like them. They are silly and selfish, with their painted skin, crazy wigs, and love for watching children die only for their entertainment. I wonder if they will enjoy watching me die.

I am finally excused to visit my room, but only for half an hour, which is when we will eat dinner and the get off the train to go to our real Capitol room. As soon as I enter the room I am amazed by how fancy everything is, from the marble sink with a solid gold tap, to the bed that I'm not going to use anyway. Unfairness. That's what it is. I know that children in places like District 12 starve to death every day, while the Capitol refuses to share any of their unneeded riches. Unfairness.

I decide to take a shower. Back in District 4, my family is one of the lucky ones that own a shower. Mostly people make do with a tub of water warmed over the fire. This shower, on the other hand, is covered with buttons that are mostly meaningless to me. I press a few random buttons and am luckily rewarded with a downpour of warm water. My luck runs out and I am suddenly covered with a thick strawberry paste that hurts my skin but leaves it smooth and soft. I step out of the shower and experimentally prod some strange looking machine. I gasp as a current runs from my finger to my scalp, instantly drying my hair.

"Wow!" I whisper to myself. The Capitol has so many unneeded things. I dry my body with a towel and search through the drawers for something to wear to dinner. The drawers are all full of sparkly, fancy clothes. I pick out a plain yellow shirt and jeans. All that fancy stuff will be going to waste.

As I wander downstairs to the dining room, I can't even imagine what delicacies the Capitol attendants might be serving us for dinner. I am third to arrive in the dining room, the only people in there are Charlotte and some man I don't know. A few seconds later, a lady I don't know appears at the door. She is quite pretty, but her eyes have obviously been altered with advanced Capitol surgery to become a strange bright purple colour. Suddenly, I know that these people are the stylists! They will create stunning outfits for Alex and I to wear. I hope. "Hi." I say timidly.

"Hello Iva, we are Alex and your stylists. I am Toni and this is Ezra." says the man, in a very deep voice.

"Oh ok, hi Toni, hi Ezra!" I smile. They seem nice enough, and I just hope that they are good at their jobs. Just then, Alex bursts into the room with Grace Sherbington, Grace laughing at something. Ezra introduces herself and Toni before Alex could ask. Alex grins mysteriously.

A Capitol attendant appears, holding three amazing dishes. "First of your 4 courses." He announces. I'm surprised he can actually talk, because most of the attendants here are avoxes. An avox is someone who has committed a crime and had their tongue cut off by the Capitol. This man obviously isn't an avox, for he still has the ability to use his tongue to speak. The dishes are huge and each could probably keep my family going for a few days.

The first plate holds a fresh mango, feta and rocket salad. The second has and array of dumplings and spring rolls. The third has piles of fresh seafood like prawns, crab and even lobster! Once on a fishing trip with Holly I caught a lobster and we had the best dinner in months. I can tell that these dishes are 'entrees.' At school we sometimes learn about food and I distinctly remember to word 'entrée', though usually in those lessons I spend my time daydreaming.

Everything is absolutely delicious, and as soon as all the platters are empty, the second course comes. There are two giant platters served for this course. One has many different fresh fruits, many of which I have never seen before. The second has marinated chicken wings and rolls. This is all by far the best food I have ever tasted. Next comes the three main dishes. Roast pork with mashed potatoes, something delicious called lasagne, and chicken in a creamy orange sauce.

Last of all is four smaller dessert dishes. A chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, lamingtons and lemon meringue pie. Throughout the whole humungous meal, we are also served glasses of orange juice, water or hot chocolate. We sometimes get hot chocolate as a special treat back at home, but not as good as this Capitol version. Eventually I leave the table feeling bloated from all the great food, and go back to my room.

Did you like the chapter? Please tell me so I know how much everyone likes it! The story gets better as it goes on, so please continue reading, you won't regret it!

P.S katniss and peeta are called toast, not any of the random other nicknames you give them. (Peeta- Bread. Katniss- Fire. Fire+Bread= Toast!:D So yeah... just saying.

Please review and thanks for reading!:)

-Jaz