A.N.: TARDISRose: Thanks for the review! And yes, Athena is eleven here, so expect her to make more crazy decisions! I'm glad you liked it!

TARDISRose also has followed and favorited! Thanks! (To Ibbonray: Sorry, I really liked the idea of list all of the reviews, follows, and favorites, hope you don't mind!)

Chapter 2: The Parade

I spend the rest of the day with prep teams getting me ready for the Tribute Parade. They tug at my hair and twist it in unnatural ways. I try not to cry, but a couple of pained gasps escape me. They end up curling my hair and letting it free. They put makeup on my face and help me into my dress and shoes. I look rather pretty, if I do say so myself.

Grandfather, Mother, and I climb onto the balcony of the Presidential Mansion. We take a seat and look out upon the streets. The chariots containing the tributes will come out from the Training Center, roll down the streets to here, and be transported back to the Training Center. Confusing, I know, but this is the Hunger Games, the most inconvenient thing to ever be conceived. I try to make conversation with Mother, but she ignores me. I just sit there, excited to see Katniss and Peeta in person.

The first chariots roll out. District 1 is ridiculous as always, spray painted silver. District 2 is in full-body suits of golden armor. Everything is so forgettable. But then, I see fire from down the street...

When it gets closer, I see it's a tribute costume. I look through my binoculars to see who it is. It's Katniss and Peeta! The crowd roars. Peeta says something to Katniss, and they hold up their conjoined hands. I'm too busy cheering to feel jealous. I'm screaming. The crowd is throwing stuff at them. Katniss catches a rose. The chariots stop in front of the mansion, and the flames go out. Grandfather stands and walks to the podium. He gives some full-of-lies speech about how we "salute their courage and your sacrifice" as if they wanted to be here. Only Katniss and the District 2 boy, Cato, are here by choice, but Katniss had a reason to volunteer. District 2 people are just arrogant. The chariots roll into the mansion. I sneak off to get a closer look.

The tributes are standing around either being praised or chastised by their mentors. District 2 is being chastised for being overshadowed by "two filthy coal miners". Cato looks angrily at Katniss and Peeta, who are praised. The twenty-four of them are transported back to the Training Center. Katniss catches sight of me. She stares and I stare back. She disappears into the car transporting them back to the Training Center. I go upstairs and get ready for bed.