Chapter 2:

I woke up early and stretched. It was the morning of the reaping. I hurried to get dressed in my nice clothes and hurried out into town. I had promised to meet Sliver, my boyfriend, at the square to say goodbye, at least until I returned from the games. I was going to volunteer as tribute, as I had been training for them since I was ten.
"Hey babe," Sliver said, greeting me with a peck on the cheek.
I smiled as Sliver took my hand.
"It's a big day," I remarked.
"You're really going to volunteer?" Sliver questioned. I suspect he never truly believed I would go through with this.
"I'm going through with this," I said, squeezing his hand.
"I know," And with that he kissed me again.

Together we walked to the justice building where the reaping was about to start. Sliver and I were corraled into a holding area with the other sixteen-year-olds. Kalvinia walked out onto he makeshift stage. We were greeted the same way as always and I zoned out, thinking of my strategy for winning, until the reaping actually began.
"We will start with our lovely young ladies," Kalvinia announced with her odd Capitol twang. Her hand swirled around before leaping in on a crisp white slip.
"The first tribute is... Luna Beckings!"
"I volunteer as tribute!" I called before Luna could even stand up.
"Oh goody!" Kalvinia squealed, clapping her dainty hands together as I strutted up on stage.
"And what's your name?" She questioned.
"Dayless Fresia," I replied confidently.
Kalvinia nodded excitedly and went on with the reaping to pick the male tribute. If she recognized my last name she didn't show it. Secretly, I had always suspected that Kalvinia wasn't very bright.

Speaking of not very bright, here comes the male volunteered tribute, Wonder Collough. Wonder is about as attractive as a person can get, but he was about as smart as my couch. The thought of that made me laugh inwardly, but I remained composed as I entered District 1's Justice Building. I went off to a separate room and sat on a plush velvet couch, made here in District 1, and waited for my first visitor.

The door opened and in walked Glisten, my best friend from school. Glisten sat down beside me and didn't say anything. She hated the Hunger Games, unlike me, and she didn't want to be a part of them.
"You've got to go and win ok?" She sniffled as a few tears streamed down her crestfallen face.
"Gosh Glisten, you're such a priss."
She looked at me with genuinely hurt eyes.
"Listen, I'm going to win so don't you worry about me."
She nodded and then gave me a hug before leaving the room.
Next to come was Sliver, no surprise. Even though we said goodbye earlier I was glad that he came. I really loved him. We didn't talk much and Sliver kept his visit brief. Finally in walked in my parents. They sat with me for a few minutes, my mom silently stroking my blonde hair.
"Go make us proud, sweetie, un-" My dad said stopping mid sentence, catching himself, but I knew what he was going to say: unlike Jade.
I looked my dad straight in the eyes and with an air of confidence I replied "I will."
My dad smiled, kissed the top of my head, then took my Mom's hand as the two of them exited.

I was then lead away and off to the train to the Capitol. I walked into my room and flopped down on the bed, not wanting to get up, not even when dinner was called. But who can say no to Capitol food?
I walked to the dining room and sat down, inhaling the aroma of the stew in front of me. Wonder walked in to and sat down next to me.
"So what's our strategy?" I asked our mentors, Shimmer and Golden, while inhaling the lamb stew.
"For Wonder we were thinking you should take the 'bad boy' angle. Make them think you're a heart breaker," Golden responded.
"What about me?" I questioned.
"Just like Wonder. We want the Capitol to think you are the two heart breakers from District 1!" Shimmer replied giddily.
Easy enough. I'm not afraid to admit that I had a bit of a reputation back in the district.
After dinner it was time to meet my stylists.