District 1 Chariot Ride

Lenea Reynolds tossed her golden mane behind her shoulders, Stelz bit his lip to keep his jaw closed. His mother was constantly telling him to keep his mouth shut around beautiful females. But there were so many beautiful ones in his district that he had trouble listening to his mother.

Lenea was almost god-like. A halo of blonde hair that lay perfectly straight down her back. Oh how he wanted to run his fingers through her hair, shout her name and breath onto her neck. Her lips were pink and luscious, oh how he wanted them on his own.

"Stop it," she scolded him.

"Huh?" He was jolted out of his daydream where she was sexily calling his name.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're undressing me in your mind," she lowered her eyes to glare at him. It made her even more sexy. It was no secret in their district that Stelz was madly in love with Lenea, but the girl was unattainable. At least, that's what the huge rock on her very important finger said. But rings could always be removed.

She leaned in close to him and whispered into his ear so only he could hear, "if you survive this, Ritch is going to rip you apart for allowing me to die, and trust me, that death will be more painful than anything that can happen in the arena." She backed away from him, putting a good five feet of distance between them.

Stelz had no doubt in his mind that Ritch could and would rip him apart. Lenea's fiancé was a fierce one who had won the hunger games last year. Now it was Lenea's turn, and she was determined to join him in everlasting glory. They were to be the perfect pair.

She had to win first. He was not planning on letting her win.

"Now smile," she muttered at him as the chariot which they stood upon jerked forward. District one was leading the parade around the Capitol of Panem. They were decked out in jewels. The ring on Lenea's finger went perfect with the string of diamonds around her otherwise bare neck. There was a halo of gems above her head, she looked like an angel.

He fought the urge to throw himself at her and kiss her madly. Then he wondered why he was fighting the urge. He needed sponsors, she needed sponsors, tributes in love were always guaranteed a few rich old biddies. But they were already from District 1, they certainly had a few already. There were several old biddies out there who only supported District 1.

Her lips were luscious, her smile was golden, her cheeks were rosy. He wanted her, no, needed her. He jumped. She squealed, but knew that she couldn't fight him.

The crowd went wild as Lenea and Stelz kissed passionately. Stelz was so dead. It had been worth it.

Back in District 1, Ritch was planning his revenge. His ex-friend was going to be dead meat if he dared come back alive. Stelz had promised to keep Lenea safe, he had told Ritch that he would make sure she came home. That two-timing bastard had lied to Ritch's face.

Lenea moved her lips in time with Stelz but she was thinking about Ritch and how his kisses were so much better. She missed her fiancé so much. They had been dating for almost three years, and he had just proposed to her a few nights ago. She had planned to volunteer months ago, but that night when he got down on one knee she almost changed her mind. Because there was a small part of her that wanted to stay home with him, get married and have children. She wasn't sure if she wanted to risk her life anymore.

Then he dropped the bomb, "two winners of the game, we'll be the most talked about couple in all of Panem."

He was expecting her to volunteer and he was positive that she was going to come out of the games a winner. As she broke away from Stelz she prayed that Ritch was right.

District 3 Chariot Ride

Skylar Reef couldn't help but touch her dress again, just to make sure that it was still there. She was absolutely in love with it. It was beautiful and it made her intricate features really stand out. The dress was silver in color and very fluffy, it would be a good dress to spin in. The only drawback to her outfit was the machinery designs on her dress and the silver pumps on her feet.

How was she supposed to run with the dress weighing her down? She mentally slapped herself for not learning how to run in heels. Because every instinct was telling her to run. Run far and fast, get away from here.

There was a sudden pressure on her arm, she turned to see her district mate, Jeremy Buckess. She fought the urge to rip her arm away. Instead she smiled at him. He was a nice boy, she had seen him once or twice back home, but she had never known his name. Not until it had been chosen at the reaping.

And now they were thrown together. The District 2 chariot was in front of them, the tributes Sadie and Dragan were causing quite a stir, and not the good kind either. The crowd had erupted happily for District 1, but the eruption for District 2 was definitely not a happy kind. Skylar couldn't be positive but it looked like Dragan's hands were around Sadie's neck. That couldn't be good. Maybe the careers would have a split alliance this year, which would be very helpful.

Skylar watched Sadie throw a punch, but Dragan ducked, grinning evilly. Skylar was suddenly frightened for her life. The reality if it all was finally sinking in. She had to go into the arena with them? She hoped that they would finish each other off in the chariot, two less for her to worry about. But their fight broke up and her chariot lurched forward.

Skylar threw a smile on her face and waved to the crowd. She tried to look cool and aloof, that was what her mentor, Dixie, had wanted. Ditsy Dixie was stupid, she didn't know squat about Skylar. But Dixie was calling the shots right now.

"Cool and aloof," she whispered to herself, hoping that Dixie actually did know what she was talking about. Doubtful though. Dixie was one of those mentors who cared more about her image then her tributes well being. Well Skylar was just going to have to win the games all on her own, she didn't need anyone else's help. She was strong, she was determined and she was in it to win it.

Jeremy Buckess on the other hand had nothing to go home to. He knew that he would never see District 3 again. He would never hear the whir of the factories ever again, he would never have to sit there making ties or pounding shoes together. That was freedom in itself.

District 7 Chariot Ride

"Paper," Autumn Faith muttered under her breath, "damn paper."

"I think you look cute," Hunter Trappe volunteered.

"I wasn't going for cute," she muttered as they watched one of the chariots parade around. The District 4 tributes were decked out as mermaids. Autumn would give almost anything to be in that chariot instead. At least they looked a tad more comfortable then she did, even if they were wearing tails.

But nooo, Autumn had to be wearing paper. Paper! Why did she have to be from the paper district. Couldn't her prep team have come up with something unique, something special? It was just her luck that Luc De'n was her stylist. He was angry with the Capital, he had been the stylist of one of the career districts last year. But his extraordinary outfits had caused quite a controversy. Autumn was currently suffering from his mistake last year.

Autumn tried to get her mind off of her horrible outfit made from paper. She turned back to the parade. The tributes of District 5 looked small and frail, and Autumn had no idea what they were supposed to be. They were dressed in red and blue, and had spirals going up and down their bodies. She had seen that outfit before during one another game.

"I think they're DNA," Hunter put in.

"DNA?" Autumn asked, the word sounded familiar, but she had never paid much attention in school, instead she exchanged notes with Noelle.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours," he smirked.

"Shut your trap," she shot at him, then covered her mouth when the tributes from the other districts looked over at her from their Chariots.

"You'll have to hunt for it first," he stepped away from her. Sometimes his horrible name that his parents so willingly blessed him with could come in handy.

"It's not big enough to find."

"Ouch," his face was filled with hurt, but Autumn knew that it was just for show, she rolled her eyes and watched as the siblings from District 6 rolled through the crowd. The last time two siblings had participated in the same games was two years ago. It had ended badly with both of them dying within minutes of each other. She had felt extremely bad for the family, to lose two kids in one year. It had to suck. And now it was going to happen again, and it might even be Autumn herself to cause one or both of their deaths. She shook that thought away, it was too gruesome.

Their chariot pulled out next and Autumn blinked as the bright spotlights found her and her paper dress. Paper.