Oh hey, that's me! I think, surprised but definitely not complaining as I'm Reaped. I hold my head high and smile as I make my way out of the crowd of Reaping-age kids and towards the stage. The District gives me polite applause, as it always does for the Reaped tribute before the volunteer takes their place. I climb the stairs to the stage and stand next to Honoria, waiting for Athena to volunteer.

"Are there any volunteers?" Honoria asks.

I expect Athena Skyler's hand to shoot up as she volunteers, but instead, five seconds pass, and the crowd is silent as ever. Huh. There's a movement in the section of eighteen-year-old girls as Athena's friend is nudging her - yes, I recognize our chosen volunteer in the crowd - but Athena is staring straight ahead with a poker face.

What?

The crowd starts murmuring, and so do the important people sitting behind me. Five more seconds pass, and Honoria speaks up.

"District 2, your female tribute for the 29th Annual Hunger Games!" she exclaims, raising my hand into the air. "Mizuki Slater, everyone!"

Wait, what?

Everyone seems to have the same thought. People are shouting at once.

"I volunteer!"

"Wait!"

"I volunteer as tribute!"

"I volunteer!"

Several hands are shooting up, and a few girls are jostling their way out of the crowd. I look to this year's mentors in panic. This has never happened before. I glance towards Athena Skyler, who is still standing there, though people are giving her disbelieving looks. Julia Yamaguchi, one of this year's mentors, is standing up when Honoria's declarative voice rings through the Square.

"Quiet please," our escort says firmly, and the District obeys out of respect for the experienced woman. "The time window allotted for volunteering has passed. Everyone, please give a round of applause for your first tribute, Mizuki Slater."

My heart drops to my stomach, and my eyes widen in fear. Suddenly, it's hard to breathe.

No, I think as the Square stirs and a round of hesitant applause rings throughout it. No. No. No.

"Let's find out who will be joining Mizuki," Honoria says, though her words feel faint in my ears. I'm breathing so heavily that I barely register our escort making her way to the second Reaping Bowl and picking out a name.

"Marcio Ferreira!"

"I volunteer as tribute!"

I can't help but breathe a small sigh of relief as Vitya Flynn raises his hand and strides proudly out of the section of eighteen-year-old boys. Our chosen male volunteer smiles, winks, and gives finger guns as he walks confidently to the stage.

"What's your name?" Honoria asks our volunteer once he's standing next to me.

"Vitya Flynn," Vitya says, grinning. "Our next Victor!"

District 2 erupts into cheers and applause, but I can't help but notice that it's quieter than most years. How could Athena have done that? How could she have not stepped forward, sending me, someone so young, into the Hunger Games?

"District 2, your tributes, Mizuki Slater and Vitya Flynn!" Honoria exclaims. "Tributes, shake hands."

I take a deep breath as I turn to face Vitya. I never thought this would happen, me being the one to take the stage along with Vitya. I never asked for this. But Vitya smiles as he holds out his hand for me to shake.

"We'll talk on the train, okay?" he says.

I nod, trying my best to be brave. "Okay," I say, shaking my District Partner's firm hand.

With the reading of the Treaty of Treason, the Reaping is over, and instead of going home as usual, I'm going into the Hunger Games. I start crying, but I don't care.

I could die.

Damn you, Athena.

A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back! Instead of leaving Changes on hiatus, I've decided to try alternating updates of this story and my other SYOT, A Pregnant Question. We'll see how things go, so I hope I'll see all of you sooner rather than later for the next update!

Chapter Question: What are your first impressions on Vitya, our District 2 Male Tribute?