Devin Morrell, 17, District One Male

I wake up with a smile on my face. Today is the day I volunteer for the Hunger games. I've been training to use a spear ever since I was young. After a quick shower I change into my reaping outfit which consists of a blue button down that compliments my eyes and khaki pants. Ugh, khakis. I won't have to wear them for long though. I eat a small breakfast and head out the door. On my way to my girlfriend's house, I spot Tony Toci walking to the reapings alone. I give him a death glare. That little twit better not try to steal my spot. I finally arrive at Morgan's house. I knock gently, and Morgan walks out in a stunning turquoise dress, emerald colored earrings, and sparkly high heels. Her beautiful blonde hair was gathered in a fancy and elegant bun. My jaw dropped.

"You look stunning," I compliment, as I pull her into a kiss. As I break away, Morgan asks me, "Are you volunteering today?"

"Yeah babe. I'm gonna come back, you better believe it, and we're gonna live in Victor's Village right next to Cashmere & Gloss."

"You better come back," she says, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

After see to Morgan arriving safely in the 16 year old section, I make my way to my own. After what seems like an hour, the escort flounders up to the stage, flaunting what apparently is the "newest Capitol fashion." She hops right to it, drawing a name from the girl's bowl.

"Charisma Tellark." The girl, Charisma, seemed hesitant for a second, before making her way to the stage, glaring at the audience, as if daring any one of them to volunteer. No one does.

"Anthony Toci." Oh this is even sweeter.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I climb up onto the stage. Toci sneers at me. "Go home, Toci," I snarl. He gives me one final glare, then stomps off the stage. Our escort looked disturbed, until finally Charisma and I shake hands. We're led into the Justice Building. My first visitors are my parents and older sister who congratulate me and give some last minute advice. After they leave some friends from school come say their last goodbyes. Next, Morgan comes in. "I'm going to miss you," she says. "Take this, for your token." Morgan hands me a locket with a picture of us together on her sixteenth birthday. I thank her, and embrace her, then we kiss until the Peacekeepers say it's time to go. I didn't expect to get any more visitors, but then Toci came in. "You're going to pay for this," he snarled. He swung a punch at me, but I easily sidestepped it. The Peacekeepers dragged him out, and the last thing I heard was "That behavior earns you twenty whips."

I couldn't help but smile.

Cassie Shene, 18, Distict 2 Female

Ah, Reaping Day, an exciting or sad kind of day, depending on where your from. In my district, it's always exciting, because we almost always emerge as victors. We celebrate this as much as any Capitolite. I'm volunteering today, alongside the world's biggest duché. Who does he think he is, royalty or something? I've beaten every trainer in the academy, including his oh-so-amazing parents. And if I can beat them, I can clearly beat him. And I'll make his death is slow, and very, very painful.

I look at the dress my mother put out for me. It is quite beautiful, a blue skin-tight dress, with complex ruffles that fall to my knees. The dress suites me, but I'm not one to fancy dresses. Instead, I grab a denim skirt, flats, and a nice blouse. I grab a single slice of toast from the table and eat it on the way to the Reaping.

The square is mostly empty when I arrive there. After about half an hour later, however, it filled decently. After the video of the Dark Days, which barely anyone pays attention to, our escort walks over to the girl's bowl. "Sherry Col-"

I hear a few cries of "I volunteer as tribute!", but I'm already on stage.

"Well hello, dear, and who might you be?"

"Cassie Shene," I respond, without averted my eyes. I glare daggers at Robert, but he just stares ahead, unaffected.

"And who will join this lovely lady?" Before she could finish reading the name, Robert ambles up to the stage. "Robert Gray," he says, his piercing gaze burning into me. I don't even blink.

"Cassie Shene and Robert Gray!" As Robert and I shake hands, I dig my finger into his hand, drawing blood. He must have taken that as a challenge because he did the same. Finally, the tension is broken when we are ushered into the Justice Building.

Ben Belgum, 14, District 3 Male

The odds. Such an interesting phrase. In fact, the odds are actually in my favor this year. However, I don't understand why our escort uses the terminology "May the odds ever be in your favor" because even if they are in your favor, you still have a chance of getting picked.

Take the young girl who just got reaped. She probably didn't have much more then five slips, even with tesserae, yet she was reaped.

I am pulled on to the stage by peacekeepers, jerked out of my thoughts. Only then do I realize:

I've just been Reaped

Abby Trenton, 17, District Four Female

I am a Career. Rikki is a Career. District Four produces careers. I am a Career, made to win, I try to convince myself, but I still have doubt. I have a feeling that I shouldn't volunteer, but there's no backing out now.

I attempt to tame my frizzy blonde hair. It's long and curly, so it wasn't an easy task. I French braid it down my back, then slip on my dress. It is a beautiful dress; opal-colored, with a train in the back that falls to my ankles. I put on silver high heels, a silver choker, and pearl earrings. I look at my reflection in the mirror.

Wow, I look amazing.

Rikki Rivera, 18

i wake up on the couch at Marianna's house. The party last night was really epic. It woulda been awesome to have both volunteers at the same party, but Abby had plans. I wake up my friends Lana, Brandon, and Shauna. We walk to our neighborhood together. At the corner, Brandon walks Shauna home, since their dating. I'm still working up the courage to ask Lana out. I walk her to her house, then head home. When I get there I see my brother Riley at the isle in the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"I'm going to Abby's," he says. "There's some eggs and pancakes on the table."

"Ooooo," I tease. Riley has been crushing on Abby since he was 8.

"Shut up, Rikki," he said, walking out.

I laugh.

Riley Rivera, 16, District 4 Male,

I knock on Abby's door. She walks out in a very beautiful dress. I have to keep myself from staring. We walk to the Reapings together. "Are you really volunteering today?" I ask her. She looks at her feet. "Yes," Abby says timidly. We don't talk much the rest of the way.

I glance over at Abby as our escort prances over to the girl's bowl, preceding to draw a name. "And the lucky girl who gets to participate in the Hunger Games is-"

"Me!" Abby shouts, as she makes her to the stage. She takes her place next to the escort, smiling and waving, but I see the doubt in her eyes; I see past the façade she has created.

During the time it takes for the escort to pick a boy's name, I realize that I don't want Abby going into that arena alone. As much as my brother loves me, he'd never sacrifice himself for the girl I love.

"Marvel SinClaire,"

"I volunteer as Tribute," I scream. I shake hands with Abby. I see tears in her eyes, but she blinks them away. Before I am whisked into the Justice Building, I notice my brother with a shocked expression on his face.

Rikki comes in, and pushes me against the wall. "That was stupid, Riley. Very very stupid."

"I love her, Rikki, you know that."

"Enough to risk your life? C'mon Riley, be serious." Rikki retorts.

"Like you would protect her, anyway."

"I know how much you like her, but there's only one victor. And don't think that I wouldn't have protected her. You forget, you're my younger brother, I value your happiness over my life; I would make sure that she comes back to you." I fall silent at that. I should have know, I was being paranoid. And now I will pay for my actions. My brother gives me some crucial last minute advice, then leaves. I tell the peacekeepers not to let anyone else in.

No one else comes to say goodbye.

Isabella Oddavate, 15, District 5 female

I'm insane. There's no other way to put it. At least that's what outsiders say. But actually, I have quite a level head on my shoulders. After playing patty-cake with my friend Kaelyn, who is twelve (she's my roommate in this mental asylum), I change into my reaping outfit. It is customary for all girls in the asylum who are of reaping age to wear the green uniform. I help Kaelyn into her uniform, before walking to the Reaping with the rest of the kids and teens. I hold little Mitch's hand, Mrs. Jonathan's little foster child. "I'm thirsty," Mitch complains. We're already running late, so I pick him up and run him over to a garden hose on some rich person's property. Mitch takes a long drink, then i hurry him over to sign in. After leaving him with one of the older girls, I back track to a peacekeeper booth. "You're late," he says gruffly, tapping his watch. "Give me your-"

"I'm very sorry, sir," I interrupt. "I'm from the mental asylum on Twelfth Street. You see, the little boy that I brought to your booth earlier, he is the foster child of the head at the asylum, he wanted a drink, so I took him over to that lawn over there," I point at the rich person's house, "and gave him a drink from the hose."

"If you aren't picked today," he says, vituperation clear in his voice, "you will be whipped 20 times. Five because you interrupted a peacekeeper, five because you were late, five more because you cut across private property, and lastly, five because you are so greatly annoying." He pricks my finger really hard, and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying. I practically run over to my section. By the time I get there, the video of the Dark Days is over. The escort calls out the name of someone named "Ivan Brice." A short, scrawny thirteen year old is pulled forward. Poor kid. He kinda reminds me of Kae- oh my god, Kaelyn just got reap-

"I volunteer as tribute."

"You didn't have to do that," Kaelyn says, as I braid her hair.

"You're my best friend, "I respond, "I couldn't just let you die."

"Plus," I add as an afterthought, "I would've gotten 20 whips for being late."

"Twenty whips just for that?"

"Well, more accurately, he said, 'Five because you interrupted a peacekeeper, five because you were late, five more because you cut across private property, and lastly, five because you are so greatly annoying.'" I repeat to Kaelyn, in a peacekeeper impersonation.

Kaelyn grins.

CJ Jenkins, 16, District 6 Male

I live a pretty easy-going life in six, despite all the drug addicts in my district. I'm the cool kid in school; my style inspires everyone. I never have to worry about tesserae. I'm a one-of-a-kind guy. Even if I do get reaped, I'll get sponsors from good looks alone. What can I say, I'm just special!

Tricia Richards, 14, District 6

I hate my district. The other tribute, CJ, is an idiot. He's so full of himself. I don't normally throw around words like hate and idiot easily. Only when it's necessary. But those words describe my opinion of my district partner exactly. I glare at him from across the train car, only to receive a wink in reply. I run to my room, punching pillows and screaming into them.