District 2 Female - Coraline Fyresal (submitted by Ihaveacupofnoodles)

Dad is away again. The last time I saw him was forever ago. A year? Two? I can't remember. It sure feels like forever. Marbella was over last night, but she didn't stay long. I think it was because I was too loud.

Today is the day we get chosen - the Academy chooses whose going to Volunteer. I'm pretty excited. It's a shame Marbella isn't coming. Then again, she doesn't go to the Academy, so it would be pretty odd if she did show up.

I know I'm meant to go to school, but I think I should get in some extra training today. I know some other people will be there too, but I'm not particularly worried. Everyone here knows the other's strengths. I'm not worried. That's what I tell myself. I'm not worried, because if I get chosen, I'll win. And I can come home. Maybe Dad will notice me.

The squeaking of feet against plastic deafens me. I didn't think that there would be so many other people here. A few of them are just sitting down, watching other people train. Some are almost killing the trainers and their opponents. I can see Mars Ferrum, an 18-year-old trainee, laughing with his friend (and rumoured girlfriend) Rowena Lourdes.

Mars is a complete idiot.

He's got reddish-blonde hair. Marbella says it's strawberry blonde, but I don't think so. She's totally gone for him, but that's because she's never met him. It's because he's cute. Gross.

My hands glide over the weapons, landing on an axe. I know that I should try other weapons, find other skills to work on. If I am chosen to Volunteer, I need to know more about other forms of weaponry. But there no doubt will be axes I can use. I pick it up. It feels sturdy in my hand, heavy, but familiar, as though I'm holding the hand of an old friend.

"Coraline!"

Oh, great.

"Hi, Mars."

"C'mere, I wanna talk to ya," he says, grinning.

I put down my axe and walk over to him, and he grabs my arm. "What are you-" And he kisses me. Right on the lips. I pull away from him.

Mars and Rowena practically fall out of their seats laughing. My axe lays only a few feet away from me, but I can deal with this. I pull him up, pull his jaw in my direction, wink, then punch it as hard as I can. He falls over, and I think he's been knocked out. Rowena glares at me. With a laugh, I walk away. I pick up my axe and throw it at a dummy, chopping its head off and lodging the blade in the wall.

Rowena gasps behind me, and I give myself a moment to smile, before retrieving the axe and practicing close-range combat moves.

District 2 Male - Mars Ferrum (submitted by catscoolusername)

Before Coraline became an absolute jerk, we were actually really close friends. When she just started to train, at age 12, we always trained together. I had a knack for the bow and arrow, but I couldn't aim. Coraline had a knack for aiming, but couldn't shoot. We were a perfect duo.

And then Marbella came along.

Coraline has always been a people person. A magnet for the spotlight, but also for people. Sure, she's overbearing, but people like her. She's loyal, she's funny, she's exciting, everything Marbella isn't. It seems like that's why the fit so well together. Opposites attract, I guess.

Thankfully, I found Rowena. Since Coraline basically abandoned me when she was 13 (I was 15), Rowena made way for me, and we've been best friends ever since. There's a rumour we're dating, but that's not true. We never will.

I shoot a few things to calm my nerves, and then The Trainer calls everyone over to him. He's gonna pick me, I just know it. I'm the best there is. I'll win, I know it. He walks up to the microphone.

"Welcome, trainees," he says. "Today, I will be telling you who is going to Volunteer these Games. First, for the boys, Clarke Henries will be Volunteering for whoever is Reaped."

Damn. Not me. Well, what I'm sure Clarke Douchebag doesn't know is that in the events that he doesn't Volunteer fast enough, I will be able to Volunteer for the person who is Reaped.

"And for the women, Coraline Fyresal."

What? Coraline, a 16-year-old, was chosen, but not me? What the hell?

I grit my teeth, a scowl on my face. "Mars," Rowena says, grabbing my arm, "I know you wanted to Volunteer, but you can't. Don't do anything reckless. Okay?"

My eyes flick up to hers, but they don't meet for very long, as I am drawn to the training stations.

"What are you doing? You don't need to train anymore. Neither do I, Mars. We can go home, now."

But I can see Coraline grinning at me in the reflection of my steel bow.

"No, Rowena. Now I need to train even harder."

District 2 Female - Coraline Fyresal

"For the women, Coraline Fyresal."

My smile threatens to split my face. My father might notice me now. He's got to, now I'm in the Games. And, even better, Mars isn't coming with me. I look his way, but he doesn't see me. He seems to be… training? Why would he need to train? It's over now. He won't get into any other Games. He's 18, for goodness' sake.

I walk home with Marbella. She doesn't seem to be paying attention until I say "I'm in the Hunger Games, Bella."

The effect is instantaneous. "You're what?"

"I'm gonna Volunteer tomorrow, Bella."

"But - but you can't. You promised me, when I first met you, that you would never Volunteer for the Games."

"Well, I can't control who gets picked, can I?" I say, stopping in my tracks. "You know what? Just forget it. It's not important to you. I don't care. You can go and complain to The Trainer, or whatever." I walk home, leaving Marbella behind me. Screw her. I'll win anyway. She can't stop me.

I'm not gonna tell my father that I made it. He's excused from the Reaping anyway. 'Especially for the Capitol' I remember him saying. That was a few days before he left. He hasn't come back. I barely remember him, and when I do, it's all very vague. Something about Mom, I think. Her funeral, perhaps. I don't know.

When it comes to the Reaping, I've always felt I should Volunteer. I'd save someone, and bring more fortune to my District, and I'd be able to live in Victor's Village. It's funny, since we have so many Victors, that we even have the space to house them. Anyway, now is my chance to finally go into the Games.

District 2 Male - Mars Ferrum

I'm gonna win. I'm gonna win. I'm gonna win.

Well, first, I've got to Volunteer.

Okay, so I know I have no hope. I'll die. But that's why I've got to get there. To play in the Hunger Games. I'll bring honour to my family. Hopefully, I'll even have a gruesome death. Really give the Capitol a show.

Most years I go to the Reaping with Rowena, but this year I'm going alone. No pre-volunteering pep-talk. Not even a word with her.

Our escort, Char Lennon, walks up onto the stage. He's always got bright yellow hair and a hot pink tuxedo on. No matter how many Reapings he's done, he's always wearing it.

I shoot a grin over at Rowena, something that was meant to be reassuring but probably ended up looking scary. The short documentary plays, and then Char walks up to the microphone.

"Lovely, just… lovely," he says, grinning. "Now, as usual, ladies first."

He walks up to the bowl holding the names of all the girls. He pulls out a name. "Rowena Lourdes!"

I catch her eye, and she looks horrified. I think she was going to Volunteer for whoever was Reaped so that she would go in with me. My suspicions are confirmed when Rowena practically rips Coraline's hand down, as the latter yells "I Volunteer!"

Char grins menacingly, as per usual. "And what's your name?"

"Coraline Fyresal," she says, taking his hand as she climbs the stairs.

"Great, just stand over here. And now, for the men. Clarke Henries !"

Clarke Henries was the boy who was supposed to Volunteer. What do we do now? He slowly walks to the front. Do we let him go by himself, the first District 2 Tribute to be Reaped in 50 years? Well, I suppose I was going to Volunteer anyway.

"I Volunteer as Tribute!" I yell.

"And what's your name, sir?"

"Mars Ferrum," I say, walking up the stairs. I smirk at Rowena. "And I'm gonna win for District 2!"

My entrance is met with a little applause.

District 2 Female - Coraline Fyresal

I suppose the Peacekeepers are kind of nice to me, but the reception to their future Victor (or assistant to said Victor) is extremely… disappointing. They push me into the Justice Building and drag me into the meeting room, where I'm met by Marbella.

"Why did you do that?" she says.

I bite the inside of my cheek. Whatever I say, she won't like it. "I was chosen to."

"You're only 16! All Victors are meant to be 18! You know this."

"But the Academy-"

"Damn the Academy! You should've let Rowena go, she's a perfect age-"

"No, Bella. I - this is my chance. Dad might notice me now."

"Is that it? The man who was never there for you is more important than your survival."

I stare at the wall. "He's the only reason I'm here. Mom's dead. There's no point in- in trying to hide it.

She walks out.

Dad walks in. He hugs me, and we sit next to each other until he's told to go.

District 2 Male - Mars Ferrum

Rowena is the only one who visits me. She walks in and pushes me up to the wall, holding my neck so that I can't breathe.

"What the hell was that?"

"What… do you… mean…?" I choke out.

"You Volunteered for him? You're gonna die!"

"I'm gonna die… if you keep… choking me," I say. She lets me go.

"I just… You're the only friend I've got. I can't lose you."

"I'll win for you, even if you think I won't. Even if you think I'll die. I'll win, for you."

A/N: Heeeey guys. Thanks for reading, and thanks to catscoolusername and Ihaveacupofnoodles for Mars and Coraline respectively. Keep submitting those tributes!

-PopcornAndFanfcition.