Author's Note: This chapter was very interesting to write. You'll find out why shortly.

Thank you to those who've been reading and reviewing, you always make me smile and brighten up my day.

Poppy Alexander, District Five

Get.

Me.

Out.

Of.

This.

Dress.

GET-ME-OUT-OF-THIS-DRESS!

I am going to scream at someone. My stylists-those freaking stylists-don't listen to anyone, let alone the tribute they're working with.

This was a mix up. I swear it was. My name was put into the wrong bowl. If my name weren't put in the wrong bowl, I wouldn't have been reaped. The mayor never listens to anyone, either.

It looks like nobody wants to face the fact that I'm transgendered. My parents basically ignore the fact that I'm a boy and continue to call me by my given name, Poppy. I much prefer the name Aubrey.

And now I'm about to be interviewed for the annual Hunger Games, and I'm wearing a fricking dress.


Interview time. I don't have much of an angle, but it'd not like I'll need one. The real me is pretty interesting enough.

The host-I'm forgetting his name-asks me all the usual questions: If I'm excited about the Games, if I can use a weapon, etc. Then he asks if I've got anything interesting on my mind.

"Yes," I answer. "I've got something very interesting on my mind, in fact."

"Care to share?" Host-Guy asks.

"Well, you might be kind of shocked to hear this." I say.

"I'm used to shocking things," Host Guy responds. "I host the Hunger Games, right?"

"This might be pretty groundbreaking," I say. "This year, District Five is sending two boys into the arena."

"What." That's all Host Guy says.

"What?" I counter.

"But you're a-"

"I am a boy,"

"Your name is Poppy Alexander, the female tribute from District Five." Host Guy says.

"I identify as male," I say. "Please, can we get on with the next question?" I feel sick. I think I'm going to throw up. I rush through the rest of the questions so I get the hell off the stage, and out of the public eye.

Ned Hollander, District Five

Poppy-I mean Aubrey-throws up right after his interview.

"Man, are you okay?" I ask.

"I've been better, but I've also been worse." Aubrey responds. "I'm fine now."

"Okay." I say.


My angle is going to be the serious, strategy-driven tribute. I'm not sure what Aubrey's is. By the looks of it, the Careers from One have a "Tough and Scary" thing going on. Kiku from Two is all stealthy and Katya is tomboyish, very different from each other. Romano is a protective older brother who cares deeply for his autistic sister. Talia is the sister, who cares about her older brother.

Opal and Thuaine have very bold personas, or at least try to. Opal got overwhelmed by the bright lights before her interview started, and Thuaine seemed to have a nervous air around him.

Tasha and Russo are stepsiblings and good friends.

Felix and Lizzie were originally going to do the 'best friends' act, but they got into a fight, so I don't know what their angles are.

Sealand and Mei are these sweet, adorable kids who are aware they're going to die, and Mei says "I just want it to be quick." That gets some cries from the audience.

Rod is this introvert who just wants to win, and Ahiru is a sweet ballerina.

Tino is going for a nice-guy angle, and Susan is going to be the "possessive girlfriend" type. Tino told me that they weren't even going out.

Chelsea is the big hearted Country girl, and Traz is the guy who doesn't give a crap about anything.

Canada is the boy who nobody noticed at home and Reise is the friendly psychopath.

Wow. We are quite the interesting group. We're probably the weirdest group of tributes there ever was.


It's time for my interview. I'm all "dolled up," as the stylists said. My suit has neon lights decorating it, since my District is in the Power industry.

The host asks me questions, and I give the simplest answers possible. I don't want to get humiliated like Aubrey. The host has gone out of his way to embarrass all of the tributes tonight.

He asked Talia what was wrong with her. She just looked at him like a deer that was about to be eaten. He later asked Romano what was wrong with his sister. Romano cursed him out. He asked Opal why she cries so much, especially since she's a Career. She stuttered and started to breathe really fast. After calming herself down, she said "…I don't know…" and left it as that. After her interview, she was sobbing.

I don't want any of that to happen to me.


The host asks me if I've got anything interesting on my mind, like if I happen to think I'm a girl.

The crowd laughs. He's crossed the line.

"You're pathetic," I say. "We're all about to go into an arena to get ourselves killed and then you have the nerve to ask us these stupid questions that make us feel like crap. You are a worthless excuse of a man, do you hear? I'm through with this interview."

I walk off the stage without a care in the world.