AN: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, school just started so I'm a bit scattered... I will try to update sooner next time. Enjoy the chapter. I don't own any of the characters or the Hunger Games... basically I own the grammatical errors and spelling mistakes if anything.

Chapter Two

I was a bit concerned when President Loki announced the Quarter Quell. I'm not exactly well-liked here in District Five. I've always considered myself a good guy. I stand up for the people being picked on, instead of throwing in a punch like everyone else. As much as I enjoy being able to call me a good guy others prefer to think of me as a big speed bump on their way to a good time.

I slowly slipped my arms into the jacket of my suit. It was a new one, my mom had gotten promoted so we had celebrated with a nice shopping spree. My favorite part of my outfit was the tie, it was some silk blend and was a shade of light lavender. If I didn't say myself, I looked pretty snappy. As I began my walk to the Main Square. Our escort Pepper Pots stood at the center of the stage. She was dressed in a midnight blue gown that had a high collar around her neck, practically hiding her face from view. Her outfit also consisted of blue feathers put into her very elaborate hairdo. I wasn't exactly what look she was going for, but she kind of looked like a ruffled blue jay to me.

"Hey, Coulson!" I heard a voice yell. I turned to see Rob Gonzales sneering at me. "If I get picked I'm gonna choose you!" I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Rob to hope to be selected. Honestly, the chances of him getting picked were extremely slim, so I'm most likely in the clear. Assuming I didn't get picked… I would probably faint if that happened.

I joined the other seventeen year olds. We were in orderly lines. Everyone holding their breath as Pepper walked across the stage to the microphone.

"District Five, are you ready for the 100th Hunger Games to begin?" She asked with much enthusiasm. Why did all the escorts have this insane amount of cheer and enthusiasm no matter the circumstance? "You all are in for a very special treat this year. The capital has been preparing practically for an entire decade for this VERY special event."

"You ever wonder what would happen if we just refused to fight? Like if the twenty four in the arena just decided not to fight each other." The boy beside me asked. I shook my head.

"I don't think that is possible. Once they get into the arena it's kill or be killed," I told him.

"Yah, I suppose you're right." He replied, shrugging. We watched as Pepper dipped her hand into the girls' bowl. She reached her hand deep into the names and plucked a name from the very bottom.

"Milly Niels," Pepper announced loudly. I groaned slightly, Milly Niels wasn't quite right in the head. She was thirteen, but she had the mental capacity of a four year old. She couldn't make this decision… she wasn't capable of reason… well, not reasonable reason. "Well, Milly, who do you choose?" Pepper asked her. Milly shrunk back. From my position in the back of the crowd, I could see her shaking.

"I…. I don't know who…" Milly stuttered and I felt horrible for her. She knew that when people went to the games they died. She knew that the games were NOT in any way good. How was she expected to choose?

"Are you sure dear?" Pepper asked leaning down, so despite her heels she was around Milly's height. "You don't have anyone in mind? Someone who you think would do well in the games…" Pepper let that hang in the air.

"I ju… just choose someone who I think could do good?" Milly asked Pepper her eyes wide. I held my breath waiting for her answer.

"Yes, honey, someone who you think is capable of doing well," Pepper confirmed a fake smile plastered over her face.

"Well, Jemma Simmons is thirteen like me, but she skipped three grades. She's REALLY smart… I think she could do good." I released the breath I was holding, but not for a good reason. Jemma was the same age as Milly, thirteen, she was NOT ready to go into the arena.

"So, you choose Jemma Simmons?" Pepper asked her again, just confirming what she had heard.

"Yeah, I… I… I guess," Milly nodded enthusiastically.

"Jemma Simmons," Pepper said into the microphone her eyes searching the crowd for Jemma. Her eyes stopped when she found the small girl walking along her line of young girls towards the stage. Her red hair bounced on her shoulders. She looked terrified. I heard the Simmons family start yelling. Jemma's brother Clint was fighting against the crowd trying to get to his sister.

"NOOO!" He yelled. "How is this right? Milly shouldn't even be allowed to decide this… She is capable of making a good decision," He yelled. "Redo it… Redo it!"

"I'm sorry, but this isn't against the rules of the game. It is completely acceptable. Milly indicated she would like Jemma Simmons to fight," Pepper said her voice void of emotion. I could tell she didn't want to accept it either. It was always hard to watch the games when there were younger kids in it.

"I volunteer!" I heard a voice yell from the back of the crowd. I saw Clint's girlfriend, Natasha, standing in the aisle. "I can fight instead of Jemma."

"I'm sorry dear, but only the selected person can decide who will fight. Since, Milly chose Jemma, Jemma must be the one to enter the arena," Pepper said into the microphone. Her announcement was met with a series of boos. I was one of them. Natasha Romanov should be allowed to volunteer. Natasha could fight, she had five older brothers and wrestled with us guys at lunch… She always won. Jemma was another story. She had an IQ above 189, but she wasn't that athletic. She preferred to work in the hospital with her mom.

"This is WRONG!" Someone yelled.

"LET HER VOLUNTEER!" Another one yelled.

"President Loki is a child killer," A man screamed from the back. That got the attention of the peace keepers. They walked back to the man and slapped him into handcuffs. They then dragged him off.

"Oh my goodness, please, there has been enough violence. If I could let Ms. Romanov volunteer I would. But, since I cannot I suggest we move along to the boys…" Pepper said her mascara was running slightly at the corners and I could tell she was crying. Pepper reached into the bowl and pulled out a name. "Boyd Davis." She announced, the boy next to me flinched.

"That's me," He whispered. He looked shocked. I suddenly had an idea.

"Choose me," I told him. "Say you want Phil Coulson to be in the games." He looked completely in shock. He began to walk towards the stage. The crowd had been silenced, there were double the number of peacekeepers along the aisles as there had been before.

"Come along, dear, we haven't got all day," Pepper called from the microphone as Boyd walked towards her. "Who do you choose?" She asked him when he reached her. Boyd looked out into the crowd at me, I nodded at him. He had to pick me. I needed this.

"Phil Coulson. I choose Phil Coulson to fight in the arena," He said weakly into the microphone. I walked briskly down the aisle.

"See Coulson, I didn't even have to get called for you to get selected. I'm going to throw a party when you die!" I heard Gonzales yelled. I ignored him, but other people shouted at Gonzales to shut the hell up… That made me smile. As I walked up the stage, Boyd shot me a strange look. It asked a question; why? Why did I ask him to choose me? The answer… I had no clue.

"Now that we have our two tributes, off we go…" Pepper announced and placed a hand at the small of both Jemma and I's backs. She escorted us off the stage and into Town Hall.

I was put in a room alone for people to come say good bye. Both my parents were dead so, I wasn't expecting anyone. So, when the door opened and Boyd walked in I was a bit taken aback.

"Why? Why did you tell me to choose you?" He asked me. "Are you stupid or something?"

"No, I just figured, it would make it easier for you," I told him. He nodded. "Plus, one of us has to try our idea out and I want the credit."

"Yah, sure, that's the reason. Personally, I think there's something wrong with you," Boyd told me. Then he looked me dead in the eyes. "Thank you, it did make it a million times easier."

"Yeah, I'm always right," I told him. "You're welcome. Now, I actually have to figure out a way to live, without killing anyone innocent."

"You'll think of something Phil… I have faith." With that, Boyd walked out of the room, leaving me alone again. I was left thinking of what he had said.

"Phil, dear," Pepper was poking her head into the room. "It's time to go. Are you ready?"

"Yes, ma'am." I told her, following her out of the room. To the train. When we boarded I saw Jemma already sitting in one of the chairs. Her eyes were red and puffy, it was pretty obvious she had been crying. I sat down in the chair next to her. This was going to be a rough trip. Plus, I was pretty sure that for both of us, this would be a one way trip.

"Well, off we go," Pepper said as the train jerked into motion.

AN: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I acknowledge that Coulson was a bit OOC, I'm working on that for you guys. Feel free to review or PM me, I'm a fairly nice person. Also, if you review I will try to respond. Next chapter, the Capital... Oooh...