Skye Emerald, District 1

The oven beeped just as I laid the final placemat down. I rushed into the kitchen and pulled out the quail that had been cooking all afternoon. I smiled to myself and set my hard work down to cool. I love cooking, always have. It was fun, until Patrick moved in that is. Now all I get to cook is watered down food, because nothing else is supposedly "good for his weak heart." How's that any fun for me?

Patrick is my stepdad. He moved in with us seven years ago, and my life has been no fun ever since. He even took away all my electronic privileges when I stayed out past my curfew. Such a kill-joy.

Now that I'm going to win the games however, I know everything is going to change. I didn't exactly want to get reaped, but when I do pull through this I'll prove to everyone that I'm just as tough as all the girls that have been training for years. And my mom will finally be able to divorce Patrick because we'll have enough money.

When the bottom oven beeped, I pulled out the mashed potatoes. I figured that since I love cooking so much, I might as well invite over the other tributes to enjoy a meal with me. Then I could make some friends, which could hopefully turn into alliances later on the games. For now though, I'm all set.

After Jasper, my district partner, had a fight with the other careers, he approached me to see if we could be allies. Of course I said yes! He's such a good fighter; I've seen him in training. He also is pretty cute! I'm actually surprised he wanted to ally with me, as I've never held a weapon in my life. But hey, I'll take whatever offer I can get.

Just then, the doorbell rang. I rushed over to greet my first guest. I'd invited all the tributes, but I was pretty sure most wouldn't come. Not that I wanted them to. Half of them really scared me.

"Hello!" It was the little girl from eight. She was wearing a white flouncy dress, and looked like she wasn't even old enough to qualify for the games. Even so, she seemed friendly. "Am I the first one here?"

"Yep! But come on in! There are some appetizers on the table over there." She walked over and I followed. "So have you an alliance?"

"No, I'm going to do it solo. You?"

The doorbell rang again. I turned to answer it as I responded, "I'm with Jasper! He approached me you know." Standing at the door was the girl from seven, Nicola. "Hello!"

Without a greeting, she asked me, "You're with a career too?"

"Are you?"

"Yea, Magenta asked to be my partner. I agreed, because she seems pretty smart." Glace was staring at us both in disbelief.

"You know, they probably have some sort of trap planned."

"Don't be ridiculous! I would, and actually am going to, trust Jasper with my life. He was telling me how much he hates the other careers anyways."

"Whatever you say." Glace went back to munching on her chips and Nicola mumbled something to herself. I hurried to the kitchen to begin cutting up the quail.

Could Glace be right? I don't think so. I guess we'll just have to wait until the arena to see.

Jasper Blake, District One

The echoes of laughter from Skye's dinner party permeated the wall of my room, and I rolled over to bury my face in the pillow. Why couldn't they all just go away?

I honestly thought that coming to the Capitol would make me feel better about the whole Scarlet thing. But this whole time, I've just been looking for her, and not actually focusing on my training. I may be strong, but if I don't keep up I won't stand a chance against the other careers.

"Jasper? Do you want to come out and eat? Skye's invited over some other tributes and prepared a meal!" Called our escort, an aging man with vivid red eyes. I said no thank you, and he mumbled something about having food sent to my room.

It's been about two years since the revolt. Well, you couldn't exactly call it that. My sister and her boyfriend basically just caused an uproar during the reaping, and they killed him and took her here to become an Avox. Or maybe they killed her. That's why I'm here; to find out which.

Even though Scarlet and I are twins, I've always looked up to her like an older sister. She was my best friend, and even since she left I've thrown myself into training. Because maybe if I can win the games I can figure out a way to find and free her.

Just then, I hear a knock at the door. I sit up and yell, "Come in!" An Avox walks in carrying a tray. I immediately pounce out of bed. "Scarlet?!"

The girl just stares at me blankly, and shakes her head slowly. I sigh. "Do you happen to know if there is an Avox named Scarlet?" She motions for a pad of paper, and my heart starts to race. This is too good to be true!

I hand the girl a napkin and she scribbles, there used to a Scarlet. I give her a wide-eyed look and say, "Used to be?"

She writes: They took her away last month. We were friends. She was here one night, gone in the morning. I read it over several times. Why would they take her away? Hadn't they done her enough harm?

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Here, stay with me and eat. I've got a lot to tell you." She shakes head, but I see her looking at the food longingly. "Really, I insist."

And so the girl sits down, and we each enjoy the leftover quail that Skye has made. The Avox eats kinda funnily, but I try not to watch. Instead I just talk. I tell her all about Scarlet, and who she used to be. Her fiery attitude, how I'd always aspired to be as independent and in control as her. I also talked about my training, and how our parent has forced both me and Scarlet to be Social climbers, just like them. All this time, the girl sat watching me, awestruck.

When we finished eating and I ran out of stories, we both just sat for awhile. Then, without a word, the girl stood up, bowed her head at me, and left. I sank back into my pillows.

I knew I wasn't going to find Scarlet anywhere in the training center. And the next place I was headed was the arena. But if I made it through there, I could go anywhere. And then maybe, just maybe, I'd be able to bring her home.


So do you guys think Jasper will ever be able to find Scarlet? And will Skye figure out the career's evil plan? Tell me all about it in the reveiws!

And now... Our first contest... is...

Interveiw dresses!

It's fun for everyone, even people who do not have a tribute in the story! This contest is only for the girl tributes, and there will be one for boys coming up later. So go to my profile to get all the details. I look forward to seeing your votes!

Don't forget to reveiw!

-Zinky