A/N: As promised, here's a quick recap of the reapings which should be both entertaining and edifying! I promise we'll get into their heads more as they get into the Capitol and closer to the Games, but now that we've officially, if sometimes only superficially, met all of our tributes, tell me who you're rooting for and against! Who are you interested in knowing more about? Who do you think will win, and who will be only another body in the Bloodbath?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – INTERLUDE

In the Capitol, again…

Finally, finally, it's time for the reapings recap. School ended in time for me to see the District 11 and 12 reapings live, but I'm a purist. I want to see them in order. You have to experience these things correctly, otherwise it's no fun. My best friend Alisa Summers is over, we're going to actual write everything down and track the tributes this year. This is the first year my mom is letting me sponsor anyone, so I want to make sure I have all the information I need. I mean, some people just sponsor the prettiest girl, or the guy they want to date, but if I'm going to sponsor anyone, I want it to be the winner. So I'm going to really pay attention this year to what the announcers are saying, because they know what to look for. Although, you can't totally trust them. Last year they'd pegged the pair from 2 and the girl from 1 as the tributes to watch, only putting Katniss as a dark horse contender at best, even after her training score. They never even talked about Peeta until the rule change, and then they did a full recap on him just in time to watch Katniss get to him and have him die of blood poisoning (such a bummer ending to a great Games storyline). So I'm also relying on my feminine instinct. I picked Katniss right off the bat, which must prove something.

"Pandora?" Alisa turns to me. "Are you ready?" Oooooh, it's starting. Here's the anthem. I get my notebook ready.

District 1 goes really fast. The escort doesn't even draw names because Cashmere and Gloss volunteer before she gets a chance. I'm pretty sure that's against the rules, but since they're Victors, I guess they can do what they want. Victors back in the arena, how exciting! The announcers are talking about which Games each won. I was really little when those were on TV, so it's good for me to try to learn more. I make a note to try to find video or broadcast so I can watch them myself. Apparently Cashmere's Games were over really quickly—she slit the throats of the other Careers while they slept on only the third day. After that she had no real competition, and only two days later she beheaded the boy from 8 to win. On the other hand, Gloss's Games lasted four whole months, possibly the longest on record. After what happened the year before, with Cashmere, no one trusted Gloss, or each other, and there was no Career alliance. Consequently, the bloodbath was surprisingly bloodless, with no one trying to hold the Cornucopia, and most of the tributes managed to make off with some kind of supplies. The whole Games were just lone tributes hunting each other down and killing each other one by one. It took forever, especially since it turned out that the girl from 10 was really good at hiding. The last showdown took a week all by itself as Gloss tried to find her. It was apparently terribly disappointing over all, and mentors and escorts are now supposed to encourage tributes to make alliances. Betrayals are so much more interesting than tracking.

There's one final shot of the two gorgeous blondes standing together with their hands clasped over their heads as the camera cuts to District 2. Here, the girl, a pretty enough brunette, I suppose, is reaped, but takes no volunteers. I am unsure of her, as she seems unsure of herself, but her district partner is certainly enthusiastic enough for the two of them. Alisa cries out and claps her hands when the boy punches a would-be volunteer in the face before leaping up on stage. He is certainly someone to look out for.

District 3. Booooooring. I think the announcers agree, they're talking about how long it's been since District 3's had a winner—50 years, apparently, the first Quarter Quell. And it's been 15 years since they had a tribute in the Top 8. I'm already writing District 3 off, even before I see that their tributes are an old lady and a little boy with his teenage guardian. I feel a little sad for them, having no chance. Maybe the grandma will sacrifice herself for the little boy. That would be a good story; I should be a Gamemaker.

At least District 4 is always exciting! I love the Career districts, even if it is a little predictable when they win. The escort is drawing a name for the girl, but the district girls—and women—are already fighting to volunteer. The fight is getting pretty nasty (the camera gets a close up as a middle-aged woman tears out a big chunk of hair from a teenager's skull), when suddenly the camera switches over to the edge of the fight. I can't figure out why until I see a small girl who couldn't possibly qualify for the reaping in a normal year scurrying around the huddle of fighting women. She's small enough that no one even notices her until she's already up to the stage—without a mark on her—piping up that she volunteers. The escort—Sahara something? I should probably learn their names if I ever want to be one—looks surprised, but goes ahead with it. I guess she doesn't have a choice. The girl's obviously smart enough to avoid the fight, but can anyone so young stand a chance in the arena? The announcers don't think so, but give her points for enthusiasm.

In comparison, the male tribute is immensely satisfying. He's old—he must be over 20!—but very handsome, with skin well tanned from working on the sea and light, curly hair. He's also very, very fit. I can see his muscles even through his shirt. Yum. He gets reaped, true, but refuses any volunteers and looks excited to be there. This is someone I could sponsor. The announcers agree, easily ranking him a contender along with the Victors from 1 and the boy from 2.

District 5 is a strange one. They probably have the most Victors of any non-Career district. It's weird because their industry is so boring I can never even remember what they do. Just that it's something that involves a lot of factories and things. But I guess they're all super smart? That's what the commentators think, they're talking about how District 5 Victors are the most likely to win by outsmarting the other tributes. Apparently they have the lowest kill rate out of any pool of District Victors (whose job is it to compile these numbers?), but of course they can and will kill. You can't be a Victor and not kill someone. Okay, so the girl called is apparently the niece of a Victor. She looks strong and fit. Contender, definitely.

Ooooh, but the boy tribute… this is gross. He's fat. Not like fat but FAT fat. Ugh, how did he let himself get like that? I mean sure, there are some people who find that attractive. My mom thinks I don't know about those kind of places—Fat Fancy, The Chubby Chase, Plump 'n' Perfect—but kids at school always talk about them. I've never understood it. Why get fat when you can drink all the Pink you want and then never worry about calories? Do they not have that in the Districts? But aren't the district kids supposed to be working? Oh, ugh, now he's bawling on the stage. Facedown, pounding his fists on the floor, this is just sad. The commentators are baffled, too. "Maybe it's a ploy," one of them suggests. "You know, pretend to be weak? To throw off the other tributes?"

The other announcer snickers. "Honey, he ain't pretending nothing. Even if he is, you can't fake that kind of mass." He guffaws and his companion tentatively laughs as well. I make a little black mark next to Harold from District 5.

District 6 begins the boring Districts. Districts 6–11 (it used to be 6–12, but last year totally changed everything) hardly ever have winners, and when they do it's usually a fluke. District 11 sometimes wins when there's no food in the arena and everyone starves. A few years ago there was no warmth or weapons, and everyone just shivered and beat each other with clubs. A boy from 8 won that year. Even when they have good tributes—Thresh from 11 last year was a huge gorgeous dark hulk of a boy—it's never enough. I don't think District 6 will break their losing streak any time soon. A 6-year-old girl is reaped, and a 15-year-old girl volunteers for her (although there's apparently no relation or connection between the two at all—interesting). The male tribute's reaping is strange. Apparently the reaped tribute was a retard whose brother volunteered for him. The retard is standing there screaming "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" complete with spit and snot, even while his brother is shaking the girl tribute's hand. It's awkward. And the brother doesn't even look like the surviving type—all nerdy and gangly and he even wears glasses. I don't have high hopes for these two.

District 7 is another one that's usually really boring, and my opinion doesn't change when a red-haired 14-year-old is reaped. She's doing the classic "pretending not to be scared" bit that most tributes do. Those tributes usually die in the bloodbath. However, after her things get interesting again as District 7's mayor gets reaped. I've heard of this guy. Apparently he was originally from District 2, and is known for being a bit brutal and Peacekeeper-happy. He seems shocked to be reaped, and probably expects the Capitol to interfere. But the commentator sums it up for the audience: "Mayors are easy to come by. And we've never gotten to see what a mayor can do in the arena."

District 8 is actually kind of sad: a little baby is reaped, with her father as her guardian. An old guy is also reaped, but he looks pretty strong. The escort makes him shake hands with the little baby, which is maybe supposed to be funny but somehow isn't. That poor little baby. I hope she makes it. I consider signing up to sponsor her, but it seems like a waste of money. Maybe just a little gift. I think of my sister, Anesidora, when she was born. I wouldn't want Anesidora to die, would I? God, the Games aren't supposed to make me sad! They're supposed to be fun! Stupid Gamemakers, changing up the rules and putting little babies in the arena.

District 9 doesn't make me feel any better, either. The girl is a frail, bland little thing who cries on the stage, and the boy is good-looking but too pale, and then, instead of shaking the crying girl's hand, he vomits all over the stage. Which also could have been funny, but right after District 8, and with that pathetic little mouse of a girl next to him, it's just not. Hey tributes, you should be impressing me, not depressing me! Hey, that's actually kind of clever.

Cheered up by my own wit, I go get a glass of Fizzy while the commercials run before District 10's reapings. I'm in a much better mood for 10, I hope they don't let me down.

Thank god, District 10 is better. Not completely—the boy is a tiny thing who immediately bursts into tears on hearing his name—but the girl shows some real promise. Plus she's within normal reaping age, which makes me feel oddly better. It's not like District 10 is fascinating or really any sort of contender at all, but at least they don't make me want to cry.

Oooh, District 11, though. What a nice change of pace after the last few districts. They're not boring, and they don't make me sad. The other districts should take lessons from 11, seriously. First off, there isn't even a reaping for the male tributes. Instead, a young, good-looking guy is brought onto the platform in chains by a bunch of Peacekeepers. A Peacekeeper pushes the boy forward and very mechanically he says, "I am Reed Florian, and I volunteer for the Hunger Games." He looks mad. Like angry, not insane. Although he could be insane—he must have done something really bad to be in chains like that. Some districts like to punish their criminals by sending them into the Games. It's sort of silly to me, because the Games are supposed to be about glory, and volunteers are supposed to be the best of the best for your district. But it's not actually written anywhere, so I guess the districts can do what they want. And the Games where there's a criminal tribute are always really exciting, so there's that.

The girl's also pretty interesting. Ivy Juneberry was reaped. She's 8, and her sister Jasmine volunteered for her. I do love it when girls volunteer for their sisters. It's somehow sweeter than when the boys volunteer for their brothers. Plus, not only do you have the volunteer angle, but Jasmine's sister is Violet Juneberry, who won four years ago! It wasn't exactly the most exciting set of games—Violet won by living in the trees and avoiding everyone, and then using a slingshot to take out the last tribute—but a Victor's still a Victor, and seeing one's sibling go in is always exciting!

And now for District 12, the one we've all been waiting for since the Career districts finished their reapings. First we get a close up of Katniss climbing onto the stage. She's so beautiful—she barely had to be remade at all after her Games. Braids are all the rage in the Capitol this year, as are arrows. I've got a little silver arrow necklace on right now. Alisa has earrings and a bracelet. Katniss is just so cool, I really want to meet her, but my dad's not important enough. It's just not fair.

Anyway, the first person called is a little girl, but her sister rushes forward to volunteer in her place. Wow, just like last year. Except when she gets up to the stage, it's obvious she's no Katniss. Oh, she's pretty enough, with striking red hair and green eyes, but she seems a little…silly. Last year, Katniss was so obviously passionate and strong, and this girl has none of that.

The boy, though. He's got an eye patch, which makes him look pretty dashing and roguish. He's handsome too. He looks like he could maybe be the girl tribute's brother, they have the same hair, but he seems as serious as the girl is flighty. He could definitely be a contender, and when he shakes the girl's hand, she says something that makes him smile, just for an instant, and oooooooh… That smile could make you fall in love with him. But I can't be going around sponsoring people just because they make my heart flutter. No, no, I'm sponsoring a winner! But this guy could definitely win. Probably.

Finally the Panem anthem starts to play and the screen goes dark. I stretch and look at Alisa. "What do you think?" I ask. "Right now, my money's on the Victor tributes from 1, maybe the girl from 5 or the boy from 11. Or 12. You know, maybe."

"Really?" Alisa gives me a weird look. "The criminal? The miner? As if. I'm with you about the pair from 1, but I'm definitely thinking the boys from 2 or 4. Maybe the guy from 8 or the Mayor." Alisa is so predictable—straight for the Careers and the older men. She has such a thing for authority figures. That's why she keeps sleeping with our teachers. Plus that way she doesn't fail out of school and have to get a job or something.

"Oh well," I sigh. "We don't really need to pick anyone yet. We should wait until after the training scores, at least. And think how much we learned at the interviews last year! We've still got time."

Still, I look down at the list in my lap and a shiver goes through me because I know that the name of our next Victor—of a Quarter Quell, no less!—is already written on this paper.

District 1
Cashmere Tiberius, 26
Gloss Tiberius, 24

District 2
Abby Smith, 16
Julius Spillers, 17

District 3
Beatrix Hopper, 87
Barry Monen, 2 / Nox Evermore, 16 (Guardian)

District 4
Rosemary McHenry, 8
Devin Cod, 26

District 5
Remy Tennant, 19
Harold Landers, 15

District 6
Caela Braden, 19
Arthur Bussing, 20

District 7
Amaranth Blaise, 14
Mayor Robert Hardwick, 38

District 8
Talia "Tally" Hendrix, 1 / Joseph Hendrix, 29 (Guardian)
Michael Winchalski, 52

District 9
Bailey Cleaver, 13
Alonzo Alves, 18

District 10
Carissa Martin, 15
Frederick "Fred" Dyer, 10

District 11
Jasmine Juneberry, 15
Reed Florian, 25

District 12
Lilah Rocas, 18
Quartz Contour, 17

Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!