POV: Nessa Valentine, age 18

It's never easy sleeping the day before you volunteer yourself for potential death. Personally, I have no idea how I accomplished it. But I guess I managed to, because now I find myself waking up to the sound of my mother yelling up the stairs to me. My mother is a well known and respected seamstress. Many people in the district come to her, because she will still help you, even if you can't afford it. She also makes the best quality dresses in the district, and 90% of the dresses worn to the reapings are either made by her, or knockoffs of her designs. My dad is a jeweler, and a favorite of Capitol citizens. The Valentine brand is known all over Panem. This is part of the reason I want to volunteer for the Hunger Games this year. I want to stop being known as Kaiya and Dale Valentine's daughter. I want people to know me as Nessa Valentine, Winner of the 77th and final Hunger Games.

"Nessa, sweetheart, I'm off to work!" my mom exclaims. My dad has already left, he gets to his shop at the crack of dawn."I left your breakfast at the kitchen table! See you at the reaping! I love you!"

I reply with an "I love you too!", then I hear the door close. I rise, shake the sleep out of my eyes, and then spend some time in the bathroom making myself look presentable. I slip into my favorite silvery dress and a pair of black flats. As I slide a black headband into my wavy, shoulder-length red hair, I hear someone at the door. I know who it is, despite my lack of X-ray vision, so I race downstairs and open the door for Katerina. She won the 73rd Hunger Games, and will be my mentor this year, if I am successful in volunteering. It's the last set of games, and my last year to be eligible. Katerina talked me into volunteering a few weeks ago, and since then has told every eligible female in the district not to volunteer, at the risk of facing her wrath. Since she is a victor, everyone is quite frightened, yet respectful of her. She has a huge personality, so people tend to call her the life of the party. I, on the other hand, tend to be more shy around strangers, and only outgoing when I am amongst friends or those I trust.

Today, Katerina wears a short magenta dress and a pair of gold sequined heels, with matching accessories. The funny part is, my mom made her dress, and my dad, her accessories. She steps inside the door, chattering incessantly about how fun the next few weeks are going to be, how cool it will be to have houses together in the Victors Village, and other nonsense. She acts as though I have already won, and I don't have the heart to bring her back to reality. Only one tribute comes out alive. And there are four extra tributes these Games, so my chances are even slimmer. Even though I have been training for as long as I can remember, it doesn't guarantee me a victory. We walk to my kitchen table, and I begin to eat as she talks about my strategy for the volunteering.

"Like, as soon as they say the reaped tributes name, you have to yell out and claim your spot. I'm pretty sure that no other girls will volunteer. They better not." She says, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow. I smile into my eggs. There's no way anyone else will volunteer.

After I finish my breakfast, we head out the door, and I rub my birthmark. It's shaped like a star, and it's on my neck. We head out to the square where the reaping will take place, and there is already a good amount of people there. I walk over to the eighteens section as Katerina gives me a few last minute tips on volunteering. I give her a hug goodbye as I go stand with the other girls my age. She stands in the area reserved for families and gives me a huge grin and a thumbs-up as our district escort steps on stage and everyone quiets down.

Our district escort's name is Liliana. She has different pastel-colored hair each year, this year's color being white. She explains with a sigh:

"I know some of you may find my hair color choice bland… well I figured I would go with something classic, since this is the last games and all." She begins to get choked up, then collects herself and goes on:

"It's time to select our lucky district representative! Ladies first, of course." She begins to fish around in the large glass bowl, and then plucks a name from the orb.

I take a deep breath, readying myself to confidently shout, when Liliana speaks: "Nessa Valentine!"

Everyone in the crowd begins to whisper, confused. They all know that I was intent on volunteering this year. I walk with my head high to the stage, finding a confidence I didn't even know I had, while glaring at the audience, daring one of them to pipe up. No one does.

"Any volunteers?" questions Liliana. "No? Oh my, that's a first! Well congratulations Nessa! You will be representing District one in the very last Hunger Games!"

I find Katerina in the crowd and shoot her a huge grin. This is going to be perfect.

Next, Liliana reaches into the boy's bowl and picks out a name: "Benjamin Sheen". Next thing I know, a rather large boy I have seen around school roars: "I VOLUNTEER!" and sprints to the stage. "My name is Frederick Sheen." He tells Liliana with a determined look on his face. "Oh, how brave! That was your little brother you volunteered for, right?"

"No, he's older than me." Frederick says, embarrassment flashing across his face.

"Oh." Liliana says awkwardly. "Well congratulations! You are District one's final male representative for the Hunger Games!"

Just then, the mayor, Mr. Silver Dazzle, takes the microphone from Liliana.

"Hello everyone, Mayor Dazzle here!" He shoots the crowd a large grin. A frown flashes across Lilana's face as the spotlight is stolen from her. "The capitol has informed me that I will be the individual to share some fantastic news with you all, as well as the rest of Panem!" He clears his throat and goes on: "Since there are so many tributes this year, the new government has declared that there shall be eight tributes who will survive the arena! Only twenty will have to die. The tribute that makes the most kills will be declared the winner!" The crowd goes wild. "Alright people settle down, settle down." Mr. Dazzle says, grinning once again. "This means that there is a chance for both of our courageous tributes to make it home to District One, bringing with them the honor, and glory of being crowned the home district to the winner of the final Hunger Games!" and on that note, Frederick and I are ushered offstage, into the Justice Building that looms over the square.

The goodbyes

As I sit in a blinding-white room in the Justice building, I think about how they could really use a change in decoration. And I think about who is going to visit me. Not Katerina, she's my mentor. So probably just my parents. I sit for a little while longer, and all of a sudden, the door bursts open. It's my parents. They had no idea that I was going to volunteer. I thought they would be angry, so I told Katerina to make sure they didn't find out. I anticipated that they would be angry, but boy was I wrong.

My mom runs over to me, grinning from ear to ear. She envelopes me in a rib-crushing hug, while saying:

"We're so proud of you, so proud. Katerina told us about how you were planning on volunteering anyway. We wanted you to, but we didn't want you to feel pressured to, if that makes sense. This is fantastic! Because you have a great chance at making it home." Her excitement was palpable. She lets me go and my dad takes over, briefly hugging me while saying "You know we love you. Like your mother said, we're so proud of you. Now go out there and do your best to bring home a victory. We'll see you when you get back." Dad gives me a braided leather necklace with a heart shaped gemstone on it. Half of the heart is composed of a ruby, the other half, a sapphire. "I saw you eyeing it in my store the other day. I know the chain was originally made of platinum, but I figured that leather would be more sturdy for the arena."

"Thanks Dad, I love it." I smile at my parents and run my thumb along the smooth surface of the stone. "I love you guys. And I will come home alive."

I smiled as the Peacekeeper came in and escorted them out.

The train ride

POV: Frederick Sheen, age 17

Why did she have to go and pick his name? And why did she ask if he was my younger brother? Ugh. I've only talked to her once, and I already hate her. Why do escorts have to be so… annoying? I kick the wall of my compartment on the train, and then wince as pain shoots up my leg. Ouch. My pain goes away as I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I give myself a wink, and flop down on the bed in the room, shirtless, as I think about the day's events. I had a feeling of dread when I headed to the reapings this morning. But I never thought that Benjamin would get reaped. He was far too weak to even consider fighting in the arena. So, as always, I had to save his wimpy butt. I wasn't even planning on volunteering. When he came to say goodbye, I promised him that I would make it out. And I will. The positive thing about this whole thing is that my district partner is an absolute fox. She'll be begging to be with me next time she gets to see me. Who wouldn't? All of the girls at school couldn't resist me. They say my green eyes are more breathtaking than emeralds, and my hair is like spun gold protruding from my scalp. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but hey, it's true. Every girl wants my well-muscled bod. But being with the same girl for more than two days is boring. My motto: "on to the next one". My brother says that my "womanizing ways" are a result of my mom cheating on my dad and leaving us. Added to the fact that my first serious girlfriend supposedly "broke my heart". Honestly, she was crazy anyway. Ben is always trying to think of logical explanations for everything. As a token, he gave me an uncut piece of marble hanging from a cord, forming a necklace. It was our mother's first and only gift to him. It's pathetic, but hey, it's all we've got.

I fall asleep thinking about Ben, and all of the girls back home in district one who would be devastated if I died. Next thing I know, I'm woken up by the sound of someone knocking at the door. I open the door (still shirtless) to see my hot district partner standing there.

"Hey there." I grin as I flex my toned muscles.

"Hi…?" She says "you might want to put on a shirt, it's time for lunch and we're going to watch the reapings."

"Okay babe. You lead, I'll follow. In fact, I think I'd follow you just about anywhere…" I say, looking her up and down. I grab my shirt off of the floor and put it on. Next thing I know, I'm being pinned to the wall by my partner.

"Don't. Call. Me. Babe." She hisses through her pearly whites.

"Oooh, you're feisty. I like them feisty." I say back, with a wink.

She lets go of me and begins laughing. "Just hurry up, Liliana has been complaining about hunger pangs for an hour now." She says as she heads out the door. I follow her, closing the door behind me.

We start walking, towards the dining car, I presume, and I decide to strike up a conversation.

"So, sweetheart, I don't even know your name…" I prompt.

"Nessa, Nessa Valentine. What's yours?" she questions

"Frederick. Frederick Sheen." We reach the dining car, and I open the door for her, like any real man should. She pauses, smiles, and says "Well Frederick, I have a feeling that we are going to be very good friends."