District Eleven

Thunnus Seidon

"You're caring, but firm and assertive. You're brave and ready to fight. You're quirky and thoughtful. I'm comforting. I can be aggressive. I'm witty. I'm pretty awesome," I mutter to myself as I walk to the district square. I keep going over my head what I am going to say in my interview if I get picked for the Hunger Games. I have to be prepared, right?

"Preparing for the Games?"

I glance up and see my best friend, David, standing next to me. I smile and shove him.

"I thought I told you never to sneak up on me like that," I say. He laughs and shakes his head.

"When do I ever listen to you?" he asks. I smile and roll my eyes.

"Never," I say.

We continue to walk to the district square. I hear David sigh.

"What's wrong?" I ask him. He shrugs his shoulders.

"I've got a family to support. My mom died last year, and my dad's been dead since I was nine. I can't really afford to go into the Games. I have three younger brothers. I can't just abandon them for this," he says. I don't know how he feels, to be honest. I'm an only child. My parents are happily married, and they will be fine without me. They've got each other. I mean, they'll miss me for sure. They might be devastated, but they've got each other. I don't have to support anyone else. It's just me in this world.

"I know. Your brothers need you. Let's make a pack. If you get reaped, I'll go into the Games for you. If I get reaped, don't do anything because I can win this. I'm really strong. I can beat everyone else. I can team up with the Careers and win," I say. He quickly shakes his head.

"No! You're seventeen! You can't seriously do this for me," he says. I shake my head.

"I am doing this for you. I'm your friend. We've been pals since we were three. I don't want you to leave your family. I can do this," I say. He looks at me and sighs.

"Well, let's just hope someone else gets reaped and we don't have to worry about that," he says. We arrive at the district square. I look at him and pat his back.

"I know what you mean," I say.

We stand in the district square and wait for the crucial event to begin. I see our district escort, Burgundy, standing on the stage. She walks over to the microphone with a smile on her face.

"Hello and welcome to the 100th Annual Hunger Games! This is an exciting year for the Games, and I hope everyone is as excited as I am. Well, let's get this show on the road! Let's pick our girl tribute for District Eleven!" she shouts into the microphone. I look at David and roll my eyes. I can't stand peppy people.

She walks over to the girls' name bowl and slips her hand into it. She smiles as she fishes around for a name. She grabs a slip of paper and walks over to the microphone. She opens it and smiles.

"Tansy Marie Hepperly."

I look over at the girls' side of the crowd. I see a girl stepping out of the crowd. She looks like she's around my age. She has light, wavy brown hair that is put up in a ponytail. She looks strong. She walks up to the stage and looks at the audience. I smile when I see her. I glance over at David.

"She's pretty cute," I whisper. He smiles and nods his head.

"Yeah, you're right," he says.

Burgundy shakes Tansy's hand and looks at the audience.

"Well, now that we have our girl tribute, she needs a partner! Let's pick our boy tribute," she says. She walks over to the boys' name bowl. I reach out and grab David's hand. I know this is stupid and childish, but we're best friends. I don't want him to get picked, and he doesn't want me to be picked.

Burgundy reaches her hand into the bowl and fishes around for a slip of paper. She eventually grabs one and walks over to the microphone. I squeeze David's hand and sigh.

"David Spleen."

I gasp and look at David. He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

"Why me?" he mutters. He starts to step out of the crowd, but I quickly grab his hand.

"David, no! Remember our pact?" I ask. He looks at me and shakes his head.

"I was picked, Thunnus. I'm supposed to go into the Games, not you," he says. I shake my head.

"I don't care. I made a promise to volunteer, and that is what I'm going to do," I say. He shakes his head.

"Thunnus, don't do this. You'll regret it," he says. I stare at him and step out of the crowd.

"Thunnus, don't!" he shouts. I look at him, and then look at Burgundy.

"I volunteer!" I shout. I walk onto the stage and shake Burgundy's hand. She smiles and looks at the audience.

"What is your name?" she asks me.

"Thunnus Seidon," I say. I look over at Tansy, my partner for the Games. She looks at me and smiles.

We can do this. I can win this. I reach out for her hand. She looks at me and blushes. She grabs my hand. I hold up our hands and smile. We're ready for the Hunger Games. Get ready world. Here we come.

Tansy Marie Hepperly

I turn around quickly and run off the stage. I turn around and look at my partner, Thunnus.

"What are your strategies for the Games?" I ask him. He looks at me and smiles.

"I don't think we should discuss this yet until we're on the train," he says. I smile and nod my head.

"Of course. Are we going to see our family before we leave?" I ask him. He nods his head.

"Yeah, we should," he says. I stare at him. He is so cute. He has sandy blonde hair and sea green eyes that I can just melt in. He has a comforting smile. He's so muscular. He looks at me and smiles. I quickly look away and blush.

"I'll be right back," I say. I turn around and walk over to a nearby tree. I sit down and examine everything that has happened in my head.

I'm going into the Hunger Games. I'm leaving everything behind to go into a scary arena. I've always been there for my family. That has to help me in the Games, right? Independence? Leadership? Those are qualities that are helpful, I think.

I have to be strong. If I'm not strong, I won't win this. I mean, I can't trust anyone. I have a problem doing that anyone, but in the arena, I can't trust anyone. The only person I can trust is Thunnus. I mean, I hope I can trust him.

I learned to be strong because of my father. He was abusive. My mom never really believed me about the abuse. She never believed that my dad hit me. She never thought the man she loved would ever do that. One day, when I was four, a knife was just sitting on the kitchen counter. I accidentally knocked it off. I was four, so I was really clumsy. Well, the knife hit me in the head. I have a scar up to this day to remind me of that day when I was little. It's a pretty big scar and people make fun of me for it.

When I was six years old, my little sister, Marnie, was born. My dad favored her. He loved her. He hated him. He continued to beat me whenever he could. I hated him. He used to beat me whenever I stumbled or made a mistake. He said I wasn't meant to be born. I was a mistake.

One day, my mom walked in from the store. She found my dad beating me to death. He was punching me in the face and kicking my ribs. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. She kicked him out of the house at once. He left and I never saw him again. He later got sick and died. To be honest, I'm glad he's dead. He never has to hurt me again.

Marnie was upset with Dad died. She was only three, and she loved him so much. She didn't understand what he used to do to me. She didn't understand why he only abused me.

To be honest, the abuse made me stronger. It made a stronger person inside. I'm able to fight, and that will help me with the Hunger Games. Though, the abuse also made me have problems trusting people. How can I possibly trust people? I mean, I only have a small group of friends. One boy, Timothy, and one girl, Amethyst. Oh, and my sister, but she doesn't really count as a friend. My two best friends mean the world to me. They're the only people I ever really talk to about anything going on in my life. They're the only people I trust. I need them. I can't believe I have to say good-bye to them, possibly forever. I'm not ready to do that.

My mom eventually remarried. His name is Avon. He's really nice and sweet. Why couldn't my mom have found him first? Why couldn't he have been my real dad? He would never hurt me. He wouldn't think of it. My mom is actually eight months pregnant with a baby boy. They already named him Christof. I can't wait to see him, but I have a feeling I won't be alive when he is born. I am a strong person, but I have to be realistic.

I try my best to support my family. I even have to break the law sometimes, but it's my family. I will do anything for my family. I would risk anything for them.

I feel someone tap my shoulder. I look up and see Thunnus.

"Hi," I say. He leans down on his knees and looks at me.

"Are you okay?" he asks. I smile and nod my head. I have to be brave. I can't show my fears or insecurities.

"I'm fine. Why are you here?" I ask him. He looks at me and shakes his head.

"You just looked upset, that's all," he says. I look at him and smile. He's caring and sweet. I think I can trust him. I stand up and brush the dirt off my gray dress.

"I guess we better get started," I say. He stands up and looks at me. He nods his head and smiles.

"You know, you look nice in gray," he says. I smile and blush.

"Thanks," I say. I turn and quickly walk away from him.

There's something about him that intrigues me. I know I shouldn't feel this way, but I do. I'm a girl after all. Can you really blame me? I trust him. I know I shouldn't do it, but I am starting to trust him. Oh Lord, help me.