Phoenix wakes up in the morning, groggy and tired. She yawns and sits up, bright light pouring into the room. She rubs the sleep out her hazel eyes and gets up so she could prepare for the reaping. She stands in front of the mirror and combs out her spiky, brown hair very unenthusiastically.
Her attention turns to the prosthetic arm she had obtained while training to become a Career. Mira Bennett, an old friend she hasn't talked too since the incident, came over to help train and severely wounded Phoenix's arm. She sighs and turns her attention away from the arm to pick out a nice outfit for the reaping.
Phoenix decides on a strapless, blue dress with flecks of gold spread through-out it. She smiles at herself in the mirror and leaves her room. She goes into the kitchen, seeing her mother and father already eating breakfast without her.
"Good morning." She deadpans, sitting down and chewing on some bacon. She receives grunts in reply from her parents, and she didn't really care. They usually didn't make any sign of noticing her at breakfast.
She rolls her eyes and focuses on her food in silence. Her parents were abusive and cruel, only focusing on training her so she would be prepared for the Hunger Games. She hated what they did, that they cared more about those stupid games than her.
Phoenix stands abruptly and leaves the house, headed towards the center of town where a stage was set up. A lot of people had already arrived before her, but she didn't really care because, well… She didn't care for the Hunger Games.
Royale wakes up with a start that morning. He was eager and prepared for the games. He was going to volunteer and come back the victor, he just knew it. He grins at himself in the mirror, his pearly white teeth a-shining.
He grabs a quick granola bar and struts to the town center, showing off his confidence. He wanted to get there early so he could be in the front and have a better chance of being picked as a volunteer.
Being in the back is for losers. He thinks determinedly.
He tosses the wrapper in the trash and waits patiently in his area for everyone to show up. He chats with whoever came by, being a pretty likable person to… very few people.
Royal pays no attention as the mayor begins his speech, something that took up most of the time during the reapings(compared to choosing girl and boy tributes). He turns to the black-haired boy next to him with a smirk.
"You gonna volunteer?" Royal smoothes his golden hair back.
"N-No way man." The boy shakes his head, looking a bit sick.
Royal gives a look of confusion, "Really? That's weird."
"I'm not a Career." The boy shrugs. "Not really into the whole, 'fight to the death' thing."
Royal nods and pays intense attention to the stage as the female tribute is about to be announced. He was interested in who would be going into the arena with him.
He's that confident.
"Phoenix Yew!" The name is announced and a 16-year old female walks up to the stage utterly calm and looked pretty mad if you really paid attention. "Any volunteers?" There are none.
The woman goes to the bowl full of males names, and Royal didn't really care which one they chose. He would get picked. For sure.
"Adam Sanchez!"
The boy Royal was talking to earlier pales and stares wide-eyed up at the stage. He swallows the lump in his throat and slowly makes his way to the stage. Before he even makes it up there, boys of al ages start to shout 'I volunteer'.
Royal shoves other boys out his way and stands at the foot of the stage, right in front of the woman picking names, "I volunteer!"
The lady points at him, her golden nails gleaming in the sunlight. Royal grins and jogs up to the stage, not waiting to be asked his name.
"Royal O'Leary." He states clearly, ignoring glares of older boys all around.
"Let's give around of applause to our two tributes, Phoenix Yew and Royal O'Leary!"
Peacekeepers march the two tributes to the Justice building to be visited by friends and family.
Royal waits patiently as his mother and father enter, both sporting the family smirk and fluffy, blonde hair. The give him congratulations and hope for him to win.
Phoenix stares up at her parents, hate showing in her eyes as they say their 'goodbyes'.
"You'd better win, Phoenix." Her father states. "Don't bring shame to this families name!"
"Make sure to team up with other Careers." Her mother reminds her.
Phoenix nods in a zombie-like way, just barely listening to their words. The parents leave without an escort and Mira enters, much to Phoenix's surprise.
Mira stands awkwardly, shifting side to side uncomfortably, "H-How's the arm?"
"It's good…" Phoenix murmurs.
Mira gets a small burst of confidence, "I hope you win, Phoenix. I'm sorry for what I did."
"It's fin-"
"No it's not." Mira shakes her head, her braids shaking with it. "I still want to be your friend with all my heart, and I hope you can come home and forgive me. We can be friends again."
Phoenix stares in amazement, for those were the nicest words ever spoken to her, "I-"
Peacekeepers come in and drag Mira out before Phoenix could finish speaking. She sits there with her mouth open, mid-sentence. She closes her mouth and stares at the door, waiting to be escorted to the train.
I'll win these games. For Mira.
This chapter was slightly longer... Don't forget to review! You get sponser points for it!
ThunderKrystal... You'll be in it ^_^ I promise!