She had been up for hours. The reaping wasn't even for another hour, but she had so many things to attend to beforehand. Firstly, her friend Jamie had "asked" her to do a few things before the reaping. Some, which included: picking up her dress, collecting her many accessories, and much, much more. Gemma felt a bit like Cinderella, but she didn't mind. Jamie had promised the use of one of her dresses from a ball last fall.

It wasn't something that was publically known, but her family wasn't as wealthy as the other families in District Two. It was almost impossible for Gemma to keep up with the latest fashion trends, but somehow she managed to… barely. With friends such as Jamie, how could she not?

Now, her tasks were settled for the time being. She was going through her drawers in search for the perfect items to compliment her borrowed dress. The grape and onyx silk required the perfect, well, everything.

The previous night she had been up late fixing her hair – her normally golden, wavy locks now were fashioned pin-straight and possessed a slight lavender hue.

The reaping in District Two wasn't like the other districts, with the exception of One and Three… possibly Four; it was a cause for celebration. It was what the youth of her age and younger had trained their entire lives for. Most, if not all, of the children who were to be picked from were all willing to participate in the games. But not Gemma.

Her father was all alone, with her mother more-or-less addicted to some substance she never would touch. He supported them alone, after her mother's fashion business went belly up. Gemma rarely saw her parents anymore.

Gemma smoothed the front of her dress over her frame and took in a quiet, but deep breath. She knew she was nothing special, but today she felt different. She felt beautiful and enticing. She was dressed more eloquently and decorously than she had in a long time and she was actually excited for the festivities to begin.

It's too dark today, she thought, looking out of the shimmering glass window. It better not ruin the square's party.

Her fingers fiddled with a strand of her lightly dyed hair for a moment before she sighed and moved away from the window. She grabbed her dark cloak from the peg beside the door and wrapped it across her bare shoulders. She was as ready as she would ever be.

"Now, for the boys!" said their escort as he made his way to the large glass bowl containing all the names of the boys from ages 12-18 in District Two. Snatching up the slip, he peered out over the crowd. He smiled at the looks of terror and excitement that were mirrored back at him. Unfolding the slip, he said in a clear, but booming tone.

"Demetri Nicolas!"

He woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat.

"It was just a nightmare… just a nightmare…" he whispered to himself.

He pushed himself up and looked over the room. Pictures of memories plaster the walls, which reassure him that he was home, in his room. Not in the clutches of The Capitol.

Demetri's mom poked her head through the door with a worried look etched on her face.

"Dem? You okay? I thought I heard you scream."

As an only child, she was very protective over him, especially on Reaping Day.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a bad dream is all. I dreamt that I was reaped."

He hung his head, looking at the floral pattern bed sheets. Demetri's mother made her way to the end of his bed, sat down and patted his legs.

"Don't worry. It's your last year, and they've not picked you. I highly doubt they'll pick you now. One more day, and you're free. Now, come on. We've got to get you ready before the Reaping begins."

Once he had been cleaned, prepped, and was donning a suit that very nearly matched his bed sheets, he parents in the drawing room of their home.

"My, my, my. Don't you look handsome!"

Demetri could see his mother's bright pink smile from across the room.

"Come on, it's time."

They made their way into the square and he checked in. He stood with the boys in the roped off area in front of the tall Justice Building. He looked around at the scared faces of the small twelve year olds and felt a pang of sorrow for them. He could remember his first time at a reaping, when he was their age. He was just as scared as them. Demetri's eyes moved towards the mayor, their escort, and mentors who were talking idly on the stage. After a while, their escort, Verity King, stood up and made his way to the microphone in the middle of the stage.

"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games, everyone. And may the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin, we have something to show you all. And it comes all the way from The Capitol!"

He had seen this film 6 times and didn't really want to see it again. Demetri let his mind wander until he was snapped back into reality when the anthem finally ended and Verity's voice boomed over the speakers.

"Now! It's time to pick one young man and woman, for the honor of representing district two in the 69th Annual Hunger Games!"

It was time, he thought. Just one last reaping, and I'm done. Done with the Hunger Games.

"As usual, ladies first! " Swish, swish went his boots across the stage. Once he had fished out the pristine white slip, he scurried back to the microphone.

"Gemma Borgia!"

He peered around trying to find her, but couldn't. Before he knew it, a slight girl, who looked about 17 was standing on stage. "Do we have any volunteers?" He prayed that someone would volunteer for the girl. Save her. He snapped his head around but none came forward.

"Congratulations," the escort said.

The girl, Gemma, looked like she was about to faint. The blood drained from her face. She said nothing.

"Alright! Time for the boys!" This was it. Demetri could feel his palms and forehead starting to sweat. Once he fished out the paper slip holding the boy's name, he looked out over the crowd with a smile. Just like in his dream. Then he said it, what he had hoped in a million years wouldn't happen. What couldn't happen.

"Demetri Nicolas!"

I'm dreaming; I have to be.

"Where are you? Come on, we haven't got all day!"

He blinked, looking around. Peacekeepers formed around him and led him to the stage.

"There we have it. Our tributes!"

He looked beside of him to see the girl looking back at him with the same stunned, scared

"And may the odds be ever in your favor."