Lexia Brites, age 15

District 5 Female

Lexia wished they didn't separate the boys from the girls. Then Wyatt would still be with her and Alyda. And Wyatt could always calm her down when her temper flared up, which usually happened when she was with Alyda.

"Come on, Aly," Lexia cooed to her sister. She was thirteen, and still was acting like this was her first reaping. Lexia wished she was as safe as Alyda. Wyatt and Lexia wouldn't let her take out any tesserae, so she only had two slips.

When they were signed in, Lexia guided Alyda to her section. The young girl was getting on Lexia's nerves.

"You'll be alright, Aly," Lexia said. She hugged her and walked to her own section.

The clock chimed and Lexia watched as the escort, Alethia, took the stage, along with the mayor and the two victors, Thera and Isaac.

The mayor made his annual speech, and Alethia took no time in making her own.

"Shall we choose our tributes?" Alethia asked. There was no response, but she walked to the reaping ball anyways. She chose a slip.

Lexia took a deep breath. Please not me, she thought. Alethia reached the microphone and unfolded the paper.

"Here we are," Alethia said, and the whole crowd went silent. Lexia saw Wyatt looking back at her from the eighteen year old group. He smiled at her, and Lexia gave a shaky smile back. Then she turned her attention back to the stage.

"The young lady representing District Five this year is," Alethia said. Alyda only has two. It's not her. "Miss Lexia Brites!"

Lexia gasped. She fought back tears as she stepped into the aisle. Nobody would like seeing her tears. She would be marked an instant target.

Lexia climbed the steps, now a District Five tribute in the 101st Hunger Games.

Watt Foster, age 17

District 5 Male

Watt watched in disbelief as the girl took her place as a tribute, not crying or shaking. Lexia, her name was. As awful as it was, Watt was glad it was her going to the arena, and not Quinn. He looked back for his sister, and saw her, a relieved look on her face.

Watt could feel happiness welling in his chest. Quinn was his younger sister, but also his best friend. They had been through a lot together, and Watt was more of a father figure to her than a brother.

"Can we have a round of applause for your newest tribute, Lexia Brites!" Alethia trilled. All of the girls clapped, probably glad that they weren't chosen. Watt clapped too, mainly because Quinn was still safe.

"Still more excitement to come!" Alethia said. "We need to choose our boy tribute!"

Maybe it's exciting for you, Watt thought. We need to worry about not dying for your entertainment. But Watt knew better than to voice these thoughts. He stared into the stage, where Alethia was standing at the microphone with the paper. Watt closed his eyes.

"May I please have on stage, joining Miss Brites as a tribute, Mister Watt Foster!" Alethia called.

Watt's eyes snapped open. He peered into the section across from his, looking for his girlfriend Nova, but he couldn't see her. So he stepped from his section into the aisle and walked stoically to the stage. He mounted the steps, thoughts racing through his mind.

Alethia grabbed one of his shoulders and guided him to stand next to Lexia. "And there you have it!" she said. "Your newest tributes, Lexia Brites and Watt Foster! May the odds be ever in your favor!" Alethia motioned for them to shake hands.

Watt turned to Lexia. There were tears in her eyes, but they weren't released. He grabbed her hand and shook it firmly. Then he looked back to the crowd as the anthem played.

The last thing he saw before being brought into the Justice Building was Quinn's tear-streaked face.

Lexia Brites, age 15

District 5 Female

Lexia was more angry than scared. Her fear had evaporated after she shook hands with Watt. The Capitol and their reapings, their Games, their destroying of families all over Panem. Lexia was sick of it. She could feel her temper rising.

Wyatt came through the door alone. His sad expression melted Lexia's anger, and she curled her small frame into her brother's. He held her, and for a moment, Lexia was safe at home, Wyatt comforting her after a nightmare.

"Oh, Lex." Wyatt's voice was barely audible. "Why you? Hundreds of girls, and it was you."

"I know," Lexia whispered. She could feel tears rushing back to her eyes. Funny how she was sometimes. One minute ready to throw the couch out the window, another crying and terrified of her impending death. "I'm scared."

"You would be stupid not to be," Wyatt said. "I should have volunteered. I could protect you."

"I'll be fine on my own," Lexia said gently. She eased away from her brother. "Besides, I don't want to lose you. What would happen if we both died?"

"Lex, don't make this any harder on me." Wyatt looked on the verge of tears, which really wasn't like him. But Lexia knew that family meant everything to him, and now, he was losing one of his sisters, probably for good.

They embraced one more time. Lexia didn't want to let go. But she felt a surge of anger when the Peacekeeper opened the door to take Wyatt. She let go of him and attacked the Peacekeeper. She slapped her hand against the chest protector—which hurt her hand but she didn't care.

"Don't take him!" Lexia screamed. "Please!"

But they did.

Watt Foster, age 17

District 5 Male

Watt sat on the couch, his face in his hands. What was he going to do now? He couldn't survive the Games. He was too kind, too softhearted. Sure, he was smart, but that wouldn't help him if his sympathetic side came out.

The door opened, and Watt looked up. There stood his family. Quinn was sobbing. She flung herself into Watt's arms. His heart felt cold. He didn't want Quinn like this.

"Please, please, please, Watt, you need to win, you need to come back," Quinn blubbered. She hugged him tighter.

"I'll try my hardest," Watt promised.

"You can do it," his mother said, tears filling her eyes. "You're so strong and smart. You'll know what to do."

Watt knew he couldn't. The Hunger Games were all about killing, and Watt didn't have the heart to kill. He just had to accept the fact he was making false promises to his family. The thought hurt him.

"Watt, listen to me," his father said, putting his hand on Watt's shoulder. "Learn all you can during training. When you're in the arena, run and don't look back. Kill only if necessary." Watt nodded, and the Peacekeeper came to take them away.

Quinn started screaming, and clung to Watt's neck and the Peacekeeper had to rip her away. She was screaming, "Watt! Come back! Please!" The door slammed shut before Watt could tell her anything. He could still feel the pressure of her fingers on his neck, and he shivered.

Nova burst into the room, crying. She wrapped her arms around Watt's neck and kissed him. The tears on her face stuck to Watt's.

"I love you," Nova whispered. "I love you and I always will, no matter what happens."

"I love you, too," Watt whispered back. "I'm coming back." Nova put her head on Watt's chest, and Watt's plans for their future together flashed before his eyes. Their wedding, their first home, their first child. All destroyed. All gone because of the Capitol.

"I know you will," Nova said. She took off her bracelet. When Watt looked at it, he choked up a little. This was the bracelet Watt had given Nova when they first started dating.

"For your token," Nova said, as the door opened. She kissed him one last time, and left with the Peacekeeper.

Quinn's phantom fingers and Nova's phantom kiss. Watt crumpled on the ground, wondering what he was going to do.

District Five this time. Lexia and Watt. I made Lexia's goodbyes with just Wyatt because I didn't want to write the rest of her family. And I feel like it's better this way. Who did you like better? Who do you think will last longer in the arena? District Six on Sunday! Until next time!