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DISTRICT TWO REAPING:

Aurelia Vespillo, 18, District Two:

The punching bag in front of me is practically in shreds. It was fine earlier, but after I used it to practice with the throwing knifes, it's become pretty much useless.

I spent hours this morning slamming my fists into it over and over until my knuckles bruised. They're a happy combination between red and purple now. In some spots, they're even bleeding. They're perfect. I want them to look as rough and damaged as I can. I want to look like a threat the moment I walk up to the reaping stage. Some of the other girls take a different approach, spending hours on their hair and makeup, and picking out their nicest dresses. I don't see the point. Who cares if the Capitol thinks you're pretty? There's always pretty tributes, and guess what? They die. The only thing that matters is how tough you are. Whether you can survive and kill. I want every other tribute in the arena to know, just from my reaping, that Aurelia Vespillo is a force to be reckoned with.

Technically speaking, Saxia Masone is the chosen tribute. She's the girl the trainers at the academy decided would give District Two the best edge, and have asked to volunteer. They announced it yesterday, Saxia Masone and Lykon Sestius are the chosen tributes. I came in second place. Fury was too small an emotion to describe how I felt.

Saxia is not better than me. Saxia is prettier than me.

When it comes down to hand to hand battles, I could shred her in seconds and everyone here knows it, but that's not what they care about. What they care about, is that Saxia's big blue eyes, and perfectly styled brown hair can get her sponsors. Not like me.

I'm the girl with the broad shoulders and messy auburn hair. Pretty enough but certainly not gorgeous like Saxia. The trainers tell me my bangs fall too much into my eyes, making me look too threatening. My skin is covered in too many scars from training. Saxia's a safer bet.

Even thinking about it makes me so furious I slam my fists into the punching bag again, giving myself a fresh bruise. I don't care what the district or the trainers think. I am better than Saxia. I am volunteering. All I have to do is beat her to it. As long as I get there first, I'll be the tribute. Once I win, everyone will forgive me. Except maybe Saxia, but I don't care one bit about her or her pretty face.

I'd be content to spend every last minute I had practicing in the training room, but when I see my older sister Octavia standing in the doorway, I know I've overstayed. Her nails are still covered in dry plaster from her job yesterday and in her hands, she clutches a light-yellow dress she used to wear to reaping's. Octavia is the only one I told about my plans to Volunteer. She never volunteered herself, but she supports me nonetheless.

"If you don't get ready now, you'll have to go to the reaping exactly as you are," Octavia reminds me.

"So what?" I ask. "Doesn't matter if I clean up. You know Saxia will look perfect. I might as well go like I am."

Octavia shakes her head. "No. Come on. I'll help you look nice."

I give the punching bag one final kick. "Fine. But just the dress. That's it."

"Well, I'm going to brush your hair too, and a little lipstick wouldn't kill you. You've already given yourself enough bruises to look lethal."

I sigh and nod, and Octavia's face breaks into a wide smile. As much as I hate it, I know she's right. If I'm going to piss off the entire district, I might as well look nice while doing it.

Lykon Sestius, 18, District Two:

The entirety of District Two is in the city circle today. The trainers from the Academy treated me, Saxia and our families to a lavish lunch in one of the restaurants overlooking the square. They want to treat their chosen victors well. They are proud of us.

I don't care much about this meal. It's just a formality. I hate these parts of the Games; I don't see the point of any of it. The Tribute parade, the Training, the Interviews? They're pointless. They just give the weaker tributes an excuse to be noticed. The only thing that matters is what happens after the Gong rings. No one cares what you wore to the Tribute Parade when a tribute is bashing your head in with a rock.

I'm strong, I've got nothing to worry about. I know I will be fine. But Saxia? I'd be worried if I were her.

She's eating all of this up. She and her younger sisters gush to the trainers and go on and on about how excited she is. I can't help but get annoyed by her. Every person who was in the academy with us knows that Aurelia was the better fighter. Aurelia should have been tribute. Saxia was only chosen because of how she looks.

Not that I necessarily blame the trainers. Saxia is hot. I can hardly take my eyes off of her every time she shows up to the academy in those tight, spandex training outfits. But in terms of a chance at winning this thing? Aurelia outperformed her every time.

Welcome to District Two, where everyone knows that the Capitol chooses the Victor. Saxia thinks her face will be enough to help her. I know better. Strength and brutality is the only thing that helps you win. Good thing I have tons of both.

The meal finishes quickly and our families leave first, heading off to the square to watch with the rest of the ineligible people.

Saxia and I walk to the square together. She's going on and on about how excited she is to go to the Capitol and meet her stylists. I barely listen.

"Right?" Saxia asks. I wasn't paying attention to what she was saying and turn back to her with an annoyed grimace.

"What?"

"The interviews," she repeats. "Aren't you excited to talk to all of Panem?"

"Oh." I snort. "No, I'm more excited about the Games."

Saxia rolls her huge eyes, "Well, obviously. But I mean you could try and act a little excited about the rest of it. Everyone's going to be so jealous of the stuff we get to wear…"

I drown her out after that. The Reaping is about to begin. I look over to the other eighteen year old's, the other kids from the academy who haven't been chosen. They look bored, they're waiting for this whole thing to be over so they can move on with their day. In the crowd, I see Aurelia in a light-yellow dress that looks so out of place on her I want to laugh. Then I remember how furious she must be and think against it. Her knuckles are bruised and bloody, like she decided to take all of her aggression out already. She really would make a better tribute than Saxia. Saxia looks like she would break down and lose it if someone messed up her hair.

I try to turn my attention back to the reaping. The procedural stuff is too boring to hold my attention. I don't start listening again until after the girl name is reaped. It's some twelve-year-old girl. I see Saxia straighten her satin dress, her eyes locked on the stage. When they call for Volunteers, she arches her back and puffs out her chest, taking a strong step forward. She's too confident.

Before she can open her mouth, Aurelia barrels past her and shouts "I Volunteer!"

The crowd goes silent and Saxia lets out such a violent screech it's almost deafening.

"No!" She roars, her eyes lit with a new kind of vicious fury. Her upper lip curls back over her teeth. She doesn't look so pretty when she does that. "I'm the chosen volunteer! Me!"

Aurelia gives her a cocky smirk. "I guess you should have been faster then."

She brushes her hair over her shoulder and pushes past Saxia, who screeches again. She's crying now and Aurelia looks downright thrilled as she takes her place on the stage.

I start to laugh. This is the best thing I've ever seen. Saxia is unraveling before the crowd and eventually one of the other girls has the sense to drag her away from the cameras. She'll be furious no doubt. What Aurelia did was kind of unprecedented, but there aren't technically any rules against it. Per usual, she outsmarted Saxia.

The escort looks terrified as she hands the microphone to Aurelia and calls out her name. She knows whatever happened wasn't scripted and the leaders of District Two won't be happy, but there's nothing they can do now. All of Panem has already seen it.

When they reap the boys, I focus again. I won't let what happened to Saxia, happen to me. They call the name of a young boy, and I stride forward and volunteer before anyone else can.

The crowd cheers and the trainers look relaxed again. At least one of their choices made it through this process. After I announce my name to the audience. I give Aurelia a wide smile, and she returns it. We both know it's her who deserves to be standing on this stage.

The escort announces our names again and the crowd cheers. A dark thought occurs to me while I stand there in front of my cheering district. I shouldn't be happy that Aurelia is here. I should be furious. Saxia was stupid, and vapid and weak. She would have been way easier to take out. That's what I should have wanted. Aurelia? She's…She's a real competitor. I may be the strongest person in the district, but she may be someone I'll have to look out for.

Her volunteering will be the only surprise she's allowed to have in this process. I have to make sure I kill Aurelia.

After all, there can only be on Victor.