District 1: Kathleen Mason

17 year old Kathleen awoke to the usual tension that always seemed to hang in the air on Reaping Day.

In district 1 it seemed to have a nervous, almost excited feel to it, like when a big sports event is coming up at school…. it almost could be, in all truthfulness; District 1 had already won 3 times, two men and a woman were living in Victor's Village, from the 3rd, 7th and 15th games. She glanced over at her little sister, Elle. She was just 14, her name was only entered three times, half the number of Kat's, half the chance she'd get picked. Kat pushed such thoughts aside, it's not like she was ever going to be a tribute, her name was only entered six times, and got up, stretching and padded to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat before the Reapings this morning. Her mother, Maroon, was already up, sipping coffee and watching the clock, she looked up when Kat walked in and smiled.

"Ready for today, Kat?"

Kat smiled and gave her mom a kiss on the cheek. "'Course, it's not like me or Elle are going to get picked. Even if we did, someone'll volunteer. I've heard talk about people wanting to volunteer just for the glory and money."

Maroon went very solemn, possibly remembering some of the previous Games. "Those children have no idea what they're getting into," Her mother's eyes met her own, icy blue meeting icy blue, "No idea."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, only to be broken by her brother, Kane, sauntering into the kitchen, an easy grin plying on his face as he copied the Capital accent, "Morning! Happy Hunger Games!"

Kat laughed at him, he was always able to cheer her up, even on Reaping Day. She got up and hugged him, then went to go change; the Reaping was only an hour away. She gently shook awake Elle and then slipped into her outfit for the Reaping, wondering who would be the unlucky two tributes this year.

District 1: Nickolas Thorne

Nickolas and his best friend, Derrick, strode into the boys section of the 18 year olds only about 5 minutes before the Reaping was meant to start, laughing at the dirty looks some of the others shot them. Jealous, no doubt about it. He waited through the speech given by the mayor, watched as District 1's escort, Sylvia deMarina an energetic young woman with sparkles embedded in her face and spiky white hair, bounced up to the podium and rambled on about how honored she was to be here again… Yeah, right, honored to be taking another pair of kids to die? Ha!

"Well, shall we get started?" she piped in her high voice and hopped over to the glass balls that held the names of every kid between the ages of 12 and 18, including his own. He briefly wondered what the odds were that he would get picked and how awesome that would be as the stupid woman stuck her whole arm into the wad of girls' names, pulling one out from the very center and smoothing it out.

"Kathleen Mason!"

Nickolas watched as a short girl walked, the look of shock clear on her face, out of the 17 year old section. She looked cute, wearing a nice white skirt, a light pink blouse that made her long brown hair seem all the darker, stunning blue eyes, slim, not a bad piece of eye candy. Yeah, if this was the girl District 1 was sending in, they definitely weren't going to have a girl victor this year, that was for sure.

Sylvia asked for volunteers, but to everyone's surprise, no one stepped forward. Weird, usually there was at least one person who wanted the glory for themselves… He was snapped out of his thoughts by her high-pitched voice ringing out again: "Nickolas Thorne!"

Him? Finally! He strode to the stage, smug that finally he got picked. He'd been watching the games his whole life and has always imagined himself in the Victor's seat, he would have volunteered himself if he hadn't been picked this year anyway.

Sylvie smiled brightly at him, "You're Nickolas Thorne?"

"Yep, that's my name, don't wear it out."

Again, Sylvia called for volunteers, but again, no one stepped forward. Good thing too, he didn't want them to, this was his moment; nobody was going to take it from him.

"Well then, let's have a nice big round of applause for our newest District 1 tributes: Kathleen Mason and Nickolas Thorne!" squeaked Sylvia happily as the crowd either cheered or looked shocked. Nickolas could see a trio of girls crying together, probably Kathleen's friends and one guy from the 17's looking green. Weird. I looked at Derrick and grinned, he grinned back, flashing me a thumbs up.

Kathleen Mason

She was still stunned when the Peacekeepers escorted her and the boy to the Justice Building: the odds had been completely in her favor, she couldn't have gotten Reaped, she just couldn't have….. But on the other hand she was enthralled by the prospect of winning, she could be one of the ones living in Victor's Village, she could win fame, more than fame, infamy! She could….. be killed brutally by the confident looking guy walking next to her. The Peacekeepers shoved her into a poshly furnished room and left her alone for a few minutes until her family walked in and hugged her.

Her father held her close and whispered "We know you'll do your best to return home, just don't give up and you'll be fine."

She nodded, and the family continued to talk about what she had to do until the Peacekeepers led them out, almost having to drag Kane away, and let in her four closest friends; Silver, Melinda, Tessa and James. James held something out for her, it was a bracelet with a gem embedded in it that almost exactly matched her eyes. "You're allowed to have one thing with you in the arena from your home district, please take it, Kat" said Tessa, eyes red from crying.

Kat took it and secured the bangle around her wrist with help from Silver. "Guys, I just want you to kno-" She was cut off by raucous laughter emanating from the next room, no doubt Nickolas Whatever-His-Name-Is laughing with one of his friends. She cleared her throat "I want you to know that I'm not going to give up fighting, I'm going to try my hardest to win."

Again, the Peacekeepers came far too soon and led her friends away, leaving her totally alone until she and the guy were led to the train station. She glanced at him, smiling and waving like an idiot and firmly believed that she was going to need his enthusiasm to get sponsors for them both.

AN: Yes, I know I focused on Kathleen more than Nickolas, but there is a method to my madness, I promise, Read and Review, and for 10 extra points per question, I'm going to ask a random question at the end of each chapter, the first 3 people that PM me with the right answer will get the points.

This question's category is Precious Metals, to go with District 1 being Luxury Items ;-)

How many ounces are in a pound of gold?

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor,

LM