Olivia Barton, D7

Olivia sat and waited for her family to arrive. She kept staring in the mirror hanging next to the door, looking at the dress. In hindsight, she wished now that she hadn't worn it to the Reaping. It had cost her parents a good deal of money, and if she hadn't worn it, they could have sold it. It's not like she would have much use of it. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving Seven, of leaving Vincent. Vincent. What would he do? She would fight for him, of course, but what were her chances against trained killers?

Her parents were her first visitors. They rushed in, her father stopping to realize that she was wearing what was supposed to be her wedding dress. Olivia saw his face sink a little more, and it killed her inside.

"Mom," she choked out, reaching for her mother as she ran forward. She was swept up in the woman's arms.

"Olivia. Olivia, I'm so sorry." Olivia didn't bother trying to hold her tears in. Her mother's shirt would probably be soaked within minutes. She felt her father's hands on her shoulders, and she reached an arm out to hug him, as well. She didn't have words to say what she wanted to right now. All she could do was left them know that she was still alive, right there in the moment.

"I'm going to fight. Don't worry." She said, her head still pressed into her mother's shoulder. "I won't let them take me from you guys." The Peacekeeper came inside to take her parents. She could tell, because she felt both of them press closer, as if to try and hide her from the man in the doorway.

"I love you both, " she said. Her mother kissed her on the forehead, still crying.

"We love you, Olivia." said her father as they were ushered away.

Olivia didn't even have time to sit back down before her brother rushed to her side. Greg was crying. He never dried. Not once had Olivia ever seen her little brother cry. He wrapped his arms around around her, engulfing her in his tall, lanky frame. She put her hands to his back, stroking at his shirt.

"It will be okay, Greg." He looked her in the eyes.

"How in any way could this ever be okay, Liv?" he said sternly, wiping the water from his face. "The boy is a Victor's son! Beta! After last year, his father will do whatever it takes to save him." Olivia pushed Greg away.

"I really didn't need to hear that right now. Thanks, Greg." she said sarcastically, trying so hard not to get angry with him. He seemed to have realized what he had said, and looked away.

"I'm sorry. I want you to win, Liv. Please!" Olivia held her brother until the Peacekeepers came to take him away. All that was left was Vince.

She met him at the door, ready to jump into his arms the moment they opened. Vince took her in his arms and kissed her. She could taste the salt on his lips and knew he had been crying in the hall.

"Don't. Don't be brave for me," she said, sliding down and placing her head against his chest. This feeling was something she'd never forget, even in the arena. Vince would be the one to get her through.

"I've already talked to my parents. They're going to sponsor you. We'll help. I promise. We'll make sure you stay alive and come home. I'll take care of you, Olivia. Just make sure you win. Whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes," she repeated, her voice muffled by his shirt. She knew what it would take.

Suddenly, Vince pulled away, to her surprise. He pulled something from his pocket, and Olivia knew immediately what it was. She slid her ring off of her finger and handed it to him, watching as he slid it onto the chain that he wore his own ring on. Vince lifted her mass of dark yellow hair and fastened their rings around her throat.

"Keep me with you," he said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Don't forget about me. About us."

Quentin Beta, D7

Quentin wondered if the girl sitting on the other side of the wall would have many visitors. If not, she would have been waiting a while for him to finish. Quentin's sibling all came to see him in small groups; the peacekeepers wouldn't allow large numbers at once. They'd mostly talked about Rachel and Sarah. Quentin had promised them that he was different. He was strong, and he had the anger in him to win. He'd lost his sisters to the Capitol, and he wouldn't let his siblings lose a brother as well. His eldest brother, Alex, had brought him Rachel and Sarah's matching bracelets that had been their tokens. He'd kept them balled up in his hand until his sister Helena had the idea to weave them together into a single, larger bracelet. Quentin let her tie it around his wrist, proud to be wearing his little sisters' beads. This was a token he wanted all of Panem to see.

Some of his siblings had tried to lighten the mood. Jake, Kevin, Louis, and Matt had tried joking around to make Quentin feel a little better, but to no avail. Bethany had come in with the kids, Quentin's nieces and youngest siblings. He hugged each of them, and kissed baby Sarah and baby Rachel on the forehead before they had been ushered out by the Peacekeepers.

Last had been his parents. His mother had been a wreck, as he'd expected. Quentin tried his hardest to comfort her, but she just kept crying. His father was silent. He was here for Quentin's mother, too. They would have all the time to talk on the train later on.

"Please, Quentin." she had begged. "Please come home. I was with Sarah in Eight. I never got to say goodbye to my Rachel. Your father never got to see Sarah except for when she was on camera. I can't lose you too," she sobbed. Quentin had felt a few tears slip past his guard.

"I'm going to win this for Sarah and Rachel. Don't worry, mom." he'd said. She'd spent the next few minutes crying and hugging her son. Quentin occasionally glanced up at his father, standing back. He couldn't decide if he looked more enraged or hurt. It was probably a combination of the two. This whole thing couldn't just be some coincidence. Someone had to have rigged the Reapings. But why just one of them? There had been five of them in the Reaping this year. The Capitol had all the power to decide to reap another two Beta siblings. Why was Quentin chosen? Granted, he was glad his siblings were safe, but had he done something that had caused this? Or his father?

As the peacekeeper came to take his parents from the room, his mother went into hysterics. She grasped Quentin tightly, so much so that it hurt, and wailed. Despite his father's intervention, the Peacekeeper had called in back-up to remove her. Quentin hugged his mother one last time before the door was closed in his face.

Barton had come to fetch him no more than a few minutes later. The girl, Olivia, was already with him, fidgeting with something at her neck. Quentin suspected it was her token. He couldn't see what it was with her hands in the way. He stood up and followed Barton as he led them out the back doors of the Justice building. There were people waiting there, probably to get a last glimpse of their tributes before they were shipped to the Capitol. Quentin got into the waiting car, which was pleasantly cool compared to the summer heat of Seven.

The ride to the station was short. It was usually empty, except when Capitol trains came to pick up the lumber quotas. Now, it was crowded. Well, crowded for Seven. People he assumed to be the cameramen from the Reaping swarmed the gates, trying to get the right shots of the tributes for airing later on that day. Quentin kept his head down, and actually had to forcibly move one of them out of the way so he could get to the train. The doors closed behind them, and it was finally quiet. He turned around as the train began to move, eager to see his home at least one last time.

And...updated. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. Here are my excuses...

1) I'm on the hunt for a second job.

2) I found an online version of Pokemon Crystal and it sapped my life away for the past week. The good news is, I'm now a Pokemon Master of Johto and Kanto!

hahaha, anyway, what did you think of the chapter? Which tribute from Seven do you like better? Who has a more interesting storyline? Who do you think will make it farther in the games? Who will the Capitol love more?

Please review :D Also, I've posted a new poll, go check it out please. And VOTE! :)

- Sarah