District Nine:

Alix's POV:

"Get out you lazy scumbag! Don't you realize today is REAPING DAY!" Of course that would be the noise I would awake too. I quickly ran out of my room and found Anna standing there with a broom. She was swinging it and hitting some half dressed guy.

"Get OUT!" She screeched. She hit him with the back of the broom and sent him sprawling on the ground. He scrambled up and was out the door of our house in seconds.

"Was that really necessary Anna?" Marie asked groggily.

"He paid for one night. Night. Then he was trying to get banged again this morning! Plus, I have things I really need to do before the Reaping starts!" With that, Anna walked into her room and slammed the door. I rolled my eyes and turned to Marie. We didn't know what was going on with Anna. She used to be so, well not nice, but not cruel to everyone. Then she started her little business to get more money and it's gotten even worse!

We were all orphans and pretty much just had each other. My parents were one of the richest people in District Nine, but one day they died by some freak electrical accident. Then I was kicked out on the streets and practically died. I did think of selling myself for awhile, but I was only thirteen at the time and only the creepy perverts would have taken me. Not even I would stoop that low.

Anyways, eventually I met Anna and Marie. We then became best friends and got jobs together at one of the meat factories. We got enough money for this small, three bedrooms and one bath apartment. There was also a small living room but that's it.

The thing that really got us by was Anna's full proof plan. And by full proof, I mean we could die at any second. We started stealing from the factory. A piece of meat here, a few dollars there, and we were great. Enough to pay rent and get buy meal wise. It was really simple. Marie was on the conveyor belt so she would just swipe some meat every now and then.

Anna was on the team that cleansed the meat with chemicals, so she could easily steal meat there and slip a few things to sell in here pockets. I was the one with the most dangerous job. I was on the cleaning crew. You know, clean machinery and hallways. Pretty much keep the place presentable for health inspection every few months. Anyways, every now and then I was assigned to clean the office hallways. When I was, I would sneak down the hallway, pick the lock to one of the empty offices, and take some money. I could usually get away with taking a lot since that's where all the bigwigs were and they didn't miss twenty or so dollars.

The point was that one of us could easily get caught and then that would jeopardize us all. Marie and I were the most worried about that, but Anna wasn't worried at all. In fact, she wasn't worried about anything. All she seemed to care about now days was money. She always needed more and we never understood why. Did she really think we could be able to become rich by stealing it all?

"Come on, Alix, let's get ready before Anna hogs the bathroom." We both walked into our bedrooms to grab our outfits. I had one Reaping outfit and I liked it a lot. It was a short red dress with slits up the back. Plus, I had my black pumps that accessorized it quite nicely. I walked into the bathroom after I was changed to find Marie doing her makeup. She wasn't that concerned with her looks usually, but on Reaping Day she went all out. She was quite pretty but both her and Anna said I was the pretty one in the group.

I looked in the mirror and almost laughed. Me? Pretty? I guess I could see it from the logical stand point. I had pretty eyes, skin, hair, and bone structure that most girls would kill for. What I lacked in was the beautiful personality people had, such as Marie. You see, I was sarcastic, cynical, and vindictive…so pretty much a bitch. Yeah, I would admit it! I was a bitch and was pretty proud of it! It's what kept me alive this entire time.

I looked in the mirror at my blue eyes. They said eyes were a looking glass into the soul. I didn't see anything. Every time I looked into my eyes, I just saw emptiness. Sometimes anger, but that's about it.

I sighed and finished brushing my light brown hair. I was pretty tan and toned. I didn't know why I was tan. I was one of those people that spent an hour in the sun and just tanned. Never burned. It was pretty weird.

"Are you idiots done yet? Some of us have to pee!" I heard Anna yell.

"Some of us want to look nice for Reaping Day. So tell your bladder to suck it up and shut up for a few minutes!" I yelled.

I saw a glance of a…nice…hand gesture.

"Aw, glad you think I'm number one," I yelled.

After five minutes, Marie and I were ready to go. Anna shut the door and we waited. First we ate our breakfast fairly slowly and then I even read one of the few books we owned!

"Are you almost done, Anna! We don't have all day," I yelled.

"Just…go on without me…I'll catch up…in a few…" Anna said…dreamily?

"All right, just don't be late!" With that, I grabbed Marie's arm and dragged her out the door. I wasn't going to be late and risk getting in trouble just because some floozy had to get her makeup just right. We walked to the District and I could see people giving us side glances.

We were a bit of the queen bee pack around here. We didn't go to school anymore, but everyone still knew us. All the boys knew us because of Anna's…business and my flirty ways, the girls knew us because we were a bit bitchy to most of them, and the adults knew us because their sons and daughters either complimented us or hated us. We were pretty much rejects, but I didn't let that get to me. They were just jealous…well they had nothing to be jealous of but I refused to believe they truly didn't like me…

We finally made it to the town center. We walked to our section. I wasn't really worried. We all took a pack to never sign up for food since that would get us one step closer to the Hunger Games. None of us wanted to be in those games…

I felt a sharp jab in my back and turned around. Some guy had totally elbowed me in the back to go see one of his friends.

"Excuse me is the proper thing to say," I said to him. He spun around and sneered at me. Oh, he wanted to play the hard way.

"Or I could rip your heart out and stuff it down your throat. It's your choice gaywad," I hissed. His eyes got a little wider. He knew I would do something close to my threat…I always carried through with a threat. Otherwise, people would think I was a liar. Well, I was when I had to be but on a general whole I didn't lie a lot. Just stole, and destroyed people's confidence and reputation. Wasn't I just such a great person?

"I'm sorry," he muttered. Then I did the thing that would show him he made the wrong choice. I kicked him right where no guy ever wanted to be kicked. He fell to the ground howling in pain.

"Yeah, that's what I thought dipstick." I turned back around and casted my attention to the stage. The Mayor just started making his speech. Oh gosh, did he ever shut up! We get it, you're so fabulous! He held his head high up like he was so much better than us. If he was so much better than us, then why was he one of Anna's most frequent customers? It's because he was a scumbag who needed to bang something that wasn't his age. I really hated that man. Of course, his wife wasn't much better. She knew all about the Anna thing and who did she take it out on? Not her husband, but Anna. I guess Anna could turn him down but that wasn't the point. The point was that if Anna wasn't around, the mayor would just move on to some other girl. The Mayor's wife really needs to rethink her marriage.

Then our escort came on to the stage. He was way too perky and bubbly, but he was extremely hot. He was always my favorite part of the Reapings. Most likely in his twenties and he had the most gorgeous face. It was probably surgically made that way, but it didn't stop it from being so attractive!

He thrust his hand into the boys' ball and started digging around. He tried to make it suspenseful by pretty much making us wait three minutes until he told us who the boy was.

"Vijay Blackman!" He shouted.

A tall, buff looking kid walked out of the fourteen year old section. He had dark black hair and his eyes practically looked black. His skin was also black and I was very surprised. Not only did we not have a lot of "black" people in District Nine, but I had never seen him around! That's saying something! I thought I had flirted with pretty much every guy in this district, and yes just flirted. Gosh I had never slept with anyone I swear! Anna didn't believe me and Marie just left the subject alone. Thanks Panem for Marie otherwise I think my head would pop off my body!

Anywho, the attractive boy took the stage and he looked pissed. Well, I'd feel the same way if I was chosen. At least, I think I would. Then, after the escort asked for volunteers, Vijay took the microphone.

"I'm going to be back, and you are all going to regret sending me in the first place." Silence. What did he mean? We didn't send him anywhere! Gosh, talk about speaking without thinking! Now all of Panem probably thought he was an idiot. And if not all of Panem, at least I did. The escort dug around for the girls' name. I had to stop myself from yawning. It wasn't me. I was seventeen and almost done with this Reaping thing. I'd probably grow out of being a bitch, get married, and settle down with plenty of money. The Hunger Games weren't anywhere in my plan.

"Alix Van Airengarde!"

Well, they were now.

You know how I assumed I would be pissed. I was dead wrong. Oh, take that back. I should probably stop using the word dead in my thought process if I wanted to survive, not that I would. The odds were completely against me.

Anywho, I felt my face pale. I was going into the Hunger Games. I was most likely screwed. I was terrified, for the first time since I was out on the streets dying. I was scared, and nothing would be able to fix it.

So of course I did whenever I was unsure of how I was feeling. I acted like I was pissed and stormed off. Well, I actually stormed to the stage but you get the picture. I stood on the stage and just glared at the audience. Hopefully, my anger masked my insecurity. He asked for volunteers, and of course there were none. I shook hands with Vijay and we glared at each other. So, I was his district partner. Bitchy, pretty, and fairly smart/witty me. Then there was him. Angry, idiotic, and, well, attractive him. We weren't going to get along. My victory in these Games and his death would insure that. We were competing after all.

Vijay's POV:

I was practically pushed into my waiting room. I was so blind. I had always thought the Hunger Games were no big deal. As long as I wasn't involved, it was all okay. Now look at me! I was a freaking tribute! My life sucked! I slumped into a chair and tried to control my emotions. I had a bit of a temper, and right now tears were threatening to spill over. I couldn't cry…no victors were made by crying. The only victor I could think of was a girl from a long time ago named Johanna Mason. She acted like a weakling, but that wouldn't really work for a six foot black man who could easily crush your skull.

I heard the door slam and I rolled my eyes. I didn't want to say good bye to anyone. It hurt too much to deal with right now. I opened my eyes to see my dad standing there. Oh great, the guy who thought he was a good father was here. He divorced my mom a while ago. Now I only got to see him a couple times a week. To make things worse, we were practically shunned because of the divorce. The people that didn't shun us didn't know we existed.

"What do you want," I grunted.

"I wanted to see my son off," he said. I just rolled my eyes again.

"Then why aren't you at home with your new family," I said spitefully. He and my mom were on good terms, but I wasn't with him. He didn't leave my mom for that woman, but he still married her. He still started a new family. He still let me fade into the background.

My father just opened the door, casted one last gaze on me, and left. I walked up and slammed the door he left ajar. What an idiot. I hoped no one else would come. I couldn't bear to see someone I disliked, let alone loved.

My wish didn't come true.

My mother barged in with tears streaming down her face. I hugged her and forced myself not to cry. She was so kind…would never hurt a soul… I was kind of the exact opposite of her. I was nice, but sometimes my temper got the better of me. That, and my embarrassment.

I was always worried people would find out. I was dyslectic...no one knew. I found out when I couldn't read anything in school. Then I asked a doctor casually about it once. He told me and he's pretty much the only one who suspects I'm dyslectic. Everyone thought I was just hot headed and stupid.

"Just take this as your token," my mother said before she rushed out of the room, still in tears. She couldn't handle a good bye either. It was to final…it was like saying I was going to die. I wasn't going to die…right? Oh, who am I kidding! There's no way I'll survive…

I finally looked down to my hand. My mother had handed me her gold bangle that said…well I didn't know what it said. It looked like GI DNU RSTTO to me. I slipped it onto my wrist. It was a family heirloom…I would wear it proudly.

Then, when I thought it was all over, it wasn't. My best friend, Jim, stomped in. I had a gang of friends, but he was my best friend and the leader of it. Of course he would come and give the good bye from everyone. He pretty much ranted about how screwed up this was and I full heartedly agreed. Right before he left, I asked him what my bangle said.

"TSURT EW DOG NI. Have no idea what it means, bro." With that, we did a swift man hug and he left. Then I was left to ponder my thoughts, which were pretty much depressing and pessimistic. I thought about my district partner, Alix. She was such a slut, from what I've heard. A lot of people knew about her, most didn't like her, but most respected her. She was smart. She was a survivor. Not a lot of people would have been able to survive what I've heard she has gone through. I sighed. We probably wouldn't like each other, which meant no alliance for us.

I got up and started pacing. How was I going to win? Fight my way to the top? I could try, but it probably wouldn't work. I had brute strength but little else. I wouldn't be able to sneak my way to the top. I stood out like a sore thumb. Winning off of smarts was not me either. Making alliances? I wasn't the most social person…gosh I was screwed in every aspect of this game wasn't I?

Maybe I could hide my way to the top. I mean, I wasn't fast and people would probably notice me right off the bat, but once we got in the arena what would stop me from running away from the Cornucopia and into cover? Nothing! If anything tried, I could always smash it, or him or her, down. Then once I was in cover I could just stay hidden. Stay hidden and forage for food. Learn about edible plants during training. Learn to hunt. Survive. Maybe I could make myself a survivor. Maybe I wasn't as screwed as I thought I was…

Yes I know, two chapters in one day! So….Review! Tell me what you think of these tributes. I'm going to say, I love both of them a lot! Vijay is so amazing and Alix is such a wonderful bitch! Anyways, please review and tell me what you think of this chapter! SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE! Just six more fabulous tributes and we get past these Reapings!