Kerri "Ice" Wakai

Kerri Wakai had her arms crossed in front of the giant cork board. A small frown rested on her heart-shaped face. With the group of teenagers mobbing the area, she couldn't peek over at the results posted.

It was hard enough to stand in the sweat permeated hot air inside the large training center. Put that together with the loud crowd, and Kerri was getting a major headache.

Soon, disappointed sighs and annoyed groans sprinkled through the large hallway. Kerri walked up to the board. With her finger, she scrolled down the listings until she found her name.

Tracing it towards the other side, Kerri kept her stoic face as she saw the single digit next to her name.

"Holy shit. You're first."

Kerri turned towards a girl standing a hair taller than herself. The white girl raised an eyebrow at Kerri. Kimberly was Kerri's friend from the Training Center.

"I guess so." Kerri said.

"Don't act like you don't care. I know you're screaming with joy on the inside."

Kerri sighed. "I am. I really am. But I need to focus."

"On the Games?"

"Yes."

Kerri walked away. Strutting down the hallway, she passed the slogging students and exhausted trainees watching their rapidly fading reflections in the many trophy cases greeting them. She pushed the black double doors and exited the building. The sun glowered down on her as dusk started to settle through the sea-soaked air. She shielded her eyes before embarking onto the cracked sidewalk. The wind brushed her short brown hair over her face. The brisk summer day bore the waning rays of light in the cerulean sky. With the speed of her incessant sparing sessions, she found herself lost in her mind, eventually stopping at the edge of a wooden pier.

She leaned on the railing in front of her and looked out at the endless, translucent expanse.

Footsteps clapped behind her as Kimberly caught up with her.

"Be happy for once. You're work payed off."

"Not yet," Kerri said. "It's more than just me."

"What is? Why are you saying that?"

Kerri stopped and leaned on the metal railing at the edge of the pier. She looked out at the green sea, rolling over the foaming waves and reflecting shimmering sunbeams.

"You know why this year is going to be tough, right?"

"Because you could die?"

"Besides that. Remember last year?"

Kimberly looked out at the ocean with Kerri. "That misogynist incest guy? Yeah."

"And remember how I told you about my family?"

"Yeah. You're family is weird. What of it?"

"Not weird. We come from a different place. And my family has something important. And it's something that's been lost over the past few years."

"Loyalty?"

"And honor. You really think I would have stood 5 minutes with that guy. I would have gotten rid of him the moment he started to kill the others."

"So you're worried about bringing honor to the District."

"I guess I'm what you call patriotic. Maybe it's stupid, but it gives me a goal."

"It's going to be lonely without you, Ice."

Kerri sighed. "You'll be fine. This could be a chance for you to learn to like solitude."

"I don't need spiritual wacko advice, thank you."

"It's called Shinto and Buddhism, and stop talking about it in public. Its illegal."

Kerri's house was a little more inland than she would have liked. She got most of the sea breeze, but the scenery of other rooftops and fruit stands were not as poignant as she envisioned. TO be fair, she was not a rainbow-and-sunshine girl, preferring the dark war novels to any pick-me-up romantic comedy. Her house almost mirrored that aspect. It was large, yet slightly dark in appearance. The grey house with dark red shutters by the large windows sat in the middle of a row of other homes.

Kerri walked inside. Eight great-grandparents and four grandparents packed the building along with her two parents and sister. She started to cook food for the house.

Soon, her father sat by the white coffee table. He greeted Kerri.

"Where'd you place?" Said Papa Cho.

"First." Kerri said quietly.

"That's my baby. Ready for the big day?"

"Yes, father."

Soon, her mother walked into the room. She skidded the chair over the linoleum floor. The screeching made Kerri grit her teeth. "Is the fish ready?" Her mom asked.

"Actually, I burned it." Kerri said.

The parents looked at each other before turning towards Kerri. "Again?" Papa Cho said.

"I've only done fish twice."

"Guess we'll just have rice then," her mom said.

She nodded. "Yes."

Kerri stared out the window.

Triton St. Pierre

Triton St. Pierre was less energetic than usual. It made little sense as to the reason for this small slump in his emotions. He had just been picked to go into the Games, the sun was shining, and Azalea Thomas was skipping rocks in front if the ocean. Looking at the girl with the dark-brown ponytail, his small smile wavered like the lapping warm waters on the rocky edge of the bay. It was the trials and tribulations of living in a world where the highest honor was entering the Hunger Games.

For Triton, his priorities may have recently changed.

"Zane got a haircut." Triton said.

Azalea rolled her eyes. She held a small, saucer of a rock and chucked it into the water. It skittered across the punctured water twice before sailing downward into the depths. "I saw him. He got like one strand cut."

"He's trying." Triton said. He picked up a rock from the ground and flicked it to the water. This rock simply sank to the floor without any skips.

"No he's not."

Quiet air encapsulated them in this small pocket of serenity. Triton was gathering his words, attempting to convey his feelings about leaving the next day. He felt like he was chocking on vomit, but he certainly would not let his headstrong girlfriend realize this.

"Are you gonna get a haircut?"

Trying looked towards Azalea. She adjusted her ponytail and shuffled closer to Triton. "Why?" He asked.

Azalea dropped the rock in her hand. "So it won't get in the way when you go."

Triton grimaced. "Can we not talk about it? Please?"

"It's happening tomorrow, Triton. You're going to have to admit they picked you at some point."

"I'll deny it then."

"Deny it?"

"Yes. I'll act like the Games don't exist. That way, when I end up in them, I'll just sit in a corner and let everyone else handle the business. So then I can win and get back to you."

"Just to me? Not your family?"

"Well, since your already there, I guess my family wouldn't hurt."

Azalea giggled and placed her hand on Triton's shoulder. "We still haven't baked your mom's birthday cake."

Triton slid a strand of Azalea's hair away from her face. "You know I wreck anything involving a stove."

"That's why I'll supervise."

Triton sighed. "I don't want to sound sappy, but I wa-."

"But you will. Because that's how it is," Azalea interrupted.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Fish fly, birds swim, and you're sappy."

"Not that sappy."

"You give every homeless guy you see money."

"That's not sappy."

"If that's not sappy, then what is."

Triton chuckled. "I wanted to say that I wish I could stay like this."

"Forever?"

Triton smiled.

"Sap." Azalea said while playfully knocking on Triton's head.

Triton leaned in and they kissed. At first, it was soft, almost teasing on Azalea's part. Triton would have none of that. He snaked his arms around her and pulled her in closer. Soon, they locked into a harsh battle with their lips.

Triton fist bumped Zane when they met in the street. Zane was a taller young man with soil-brown hair and matching eyes. Out on the sun-stroked street, it seemed to glow. Whether that was from natural sheen or grease, Triton could not tell.

"Hey man. Where's Azalea?" Zane said quietly.

"She's with the others. She said its good luck that we don't see each other until the goodbyes."

Zane nodded. "Good. May I ask where your shirt is, too?"

Triton looked down at his bare chest. The only other clothes he had on were his ironed skinny jeans. "I don't have one."

"You're poor, now."

"I mean, it'd make a good impression if I went shirtless." Triton said with a small smile.

"I guess. Azalea might get the wrong idea, though."

"I doubt it. She's smart. Which is why I'm going and she's not."

"That and a fourteen year old girl did better than her."

Triton laughed and they made it to the town square.

At the square, the normal portrait of chattering teenagers swirled around in the sections in front of the stage. Just then, a woman in a tight pink jumpsuit and white flat shoes shuffled towards the microphone at the center of the stage.

"Welcome ladies and gentleman, to this years reaping of the Seventy Seventh Hunger Games," she said in a husky voice. "This year, I have a feeling our Victor's are going to come right from this crop. It's going to be exciting, thrilling, and invigorating to all involved. So on with the show."

The video played. It was stupid.

"Ladies first, as always."

"Our first Tribute is Miss T-Sizzle."

"I volunteer."

From the fourteen-year-old section, a stoic-faced, tanned Asian female walked with the ease of running water through the sea of people. Her pixie cut black hair sashayed with the quick movements of her walking. She reached the black stage, and she started to walk up the hardwood steps. She crossed the stage and made it to _.

"And what is your name?"

She looked out to the crowd. "My name is Kerri Wakai, but I go by Ice."

A few people in the crowd cheered in approval.

The lady nodded. "Excellent. Now, for one more tribute."

The lady walks towards the other bowl. She reaches down towards the bowl. Inside, she rustles a few pieces of paper. Her long fingers grab a slip and yanked it out. She cleared her throat.

"Our next tribute is Felix Kjellberg."

"I volunteer."

Triton snakes his way through the crowd. His heart beat faster like the thumping of his feet on the hot concrete. He poked his head over the crowd, searching for a glimpse of Azalea. Soon, he have up and trotted the remaining way to the stage. Walking up the steps, he heard a few excited squeals and catcalls coming from the female section.

Triton smiled and waved to the female section. A few swoons of the females later, Triton made it to the microphone.

"And what is your name?" The lady asked.

Triton winked at the camera. "My name is Trtion St. Pierre."

"And words for anybody, Triton?"

"I think my appearance speaks for itself." He gestures towards his body.

A few more squeals. Azalea couldn't help but roll her eyes and laugh.

"You okay?"

Kerri looked up at her father Cho. He had a small smile, and his eyes were wide as they adjusted to the dark sitting room off the velvet carpet of the hallway.

"I'm fine." She said.

"You're allowed to show emotion, Kerri." Mom said.

"I can live without for now."

Just then, her sister walked in.

"Kate, say goodbye to Kerri."

Kerri's younger carbon copy walked up to Kerri with narrow eyes. Her breathing was slightly heavy, and her shoulders were hunched in tension. The siblings stared at each other. A wispy silence echoed between them like the dispersing crowd outside.

"Good luck." She said to Kerri.

"Can you try to be sincere?" Kerri asked.

"No."

"I may not have much time left." Kerri's said, almost teasing her sister.

"Don't say things like that," her mom said. "It's not positive."

"I'll be more positive when I leave."

Dad cleared his throat. "I guess we'll see you on the big screen."

Kerri bowed down. "I will do my best, father."

"Why don't you give hugs like normal teenage girls?" Dad asked.

"I'll give you one when I get back."

"I'm holding you to that."

Triton leaned on the cool window pane. Looking out at the town center, he traced his finger on the frosty glass. Despite his lviely facade, he was mych more melancholy on the inside.

"Triton."

He felt his gut tighten the moment Azalea's voice floated into his ear. He turned to see his amazing girlfriend. She had a boyish smile on her face, and the two walked up to each other. Triton felt more uneasy with every passing second. The string in his veins tightened and made his limbs rigid. He already felt a dearth in his chest, aware that this vision of Azalea could be one of the last ones he has for a while.

The kiss was soft at first. Triton tried to be gentle and relaxed. However, Azalea notched the passion up, and soon, they were in a lip-locked war. Azalea let Triton sit down, and she climbed onto his lap.

After almost suffocating from the lack of air, the two separate. Triton stared at Azalea dumbfounded. Azalea grinned.

"Just a reminder for what you'll be missing."

Triton stroked Azalea's cheek and sighed. "This sucks."

Azalea adjusted herself in his lap. "Don't think of it like that. Just think. We've seen each other every day since we saw each other at my dad's store when we were ten. Now, you can go a few weeks without seeing me. And hen you get back, I might arrange for a little welcome back present that night. You said you wanted passion, right?"

Triton reached into his pocket and fingered a small gold band. It felt warm in between his fingers. He tumbled it over and over. With a few passing seconds and revolutions of the ring, he shook his head to himself. It wasn't time for that yet.

"I think I'll have a surprise for you, also."

"It better not be what I think it will be."

"And what if it is?"

Azalea got up and pushed Triton back. "Sap."

Triton took his hand out of his pocket. He couldn't think about the future right now. For the next few weeks, he would make it his duty to only look at the present, and spend his waking seconds reveling in them.

I must apologize for my lack of frequency in updates. However, with the hope for more submissions to this SYOT and less work in my school life, I plan on having reapings out sooner. So please submit more Tributes! The Tribute list should be updated, but if you have any questions, let me know!

Review as always! They are great for me and for you.

Thank you. See you soon.