Super important note! I forgot to mention the circus Irina went to was cruelty-free. I'm not sure exactly how but rest assured the animals are loved and treated well and basically the lion-taming act is like professional wrestling and the lions are just acting. I totally should have put that in last chapter because it IS the most obvious assumption to be concerned about an animal act.

Tabitha Sparks- District Three female (15)

My parents said I couldn't dye my hair rainbow. Luckily I didn't have any parents! They were killed in a freak umbrella accident. Okay, I did have parents and they weren't dead. The real (but much less funny) story was that they didn't want me to be a clown. So I ran away with the circus! Okay, I really didn't... just kidding, that one's real. I really did run away with the circus. But I didn't have rainbow hair. It was a wig.

Walking to the Reaping wasn't very funny. So instead I somersaulted. Only the last hundred feet, since somersaulting the whole way would probably hurt my head. Normally people didn't like to be early to the Reaping. They all wanted as much time with their families as possible. My family was scattered between Districts, since our circus received special permission to travel. We couldn't travel much- we stayed on the train or in one designated performing venue- but it was enough to spread joy throughout all of Panem.

Lester, however, was right here in Three with me. Our circus had members from almost every District but Lester was from right here in cloudy smoggy Three. Lester was a contortionist. I was kind of jealous of that skill since it would drastically increase my clowning potential. But we all have our weaknesses and mine is that I can't put my foot behind my head.

I found someone in the thin gathering crowd who needed some clowning. It takes a good eye to recognize someone who both needs cheering up and is the kind of person who is cheered up by clowning.

"You know what will make this day better?" I asked. "A squirting flower." I reached for the flower on my lapel.

"I don't think that will-" the boy started.

"Nonsense of course it will," I broke in. I squeezed the flower and nothing happened. I pretended to fuss with it, cajoling and squeezing different areas. Finally I brought it real close to my eye and of course that's when I shot it off, soaking myself. The boy couldn't help but chuckle a little.

See? Much better. But alas the clowning came to an end for the moment since it was time to get in line. The Reapings were a mixed bag. Really only the ten seconds waiting for names to be called sucked. The rest of the time I had a captive audience and got to clown around to my heart's content.

Just get through this, I thought, my eyes scrunched shut as I waited for the name.

"Tabitha Sparks!" Bubbles called.

I took out the little red horn I kept in my pocket and gave a sad little honk.

Lester Browning- District Three male (16)

It seemed kind of ironic my parents didn't want me to be in the circus. They had no one to blame but themselves, since it was in my genes. Not just anyone could be a contortionist. Anyone could learn some of the moves but there was a clear genetic component to having the flexibility for the extreme stuff. I'd always dreamed of joining the circus and either Mom or Dad had given me the ability with their blood. And that was all they ever gave me.

My family was all across Panem now. Paisley the lion tamer was from Eight. Janna and Yanna, the trapeze twins, weren't really twins. One was from Ten and one was from Twelve and neither had shared their real names. There's usually a history when someone runs away with the circus and some of us prefer to leave our old lives behind. But there are plenty of happy stories too. Castor's family loved bragging about his magic act and we saw them at every performance in Four.

And then there was Tabitha. Tabitha was the only one I'd really call my good friend. Most of my coworkers were perfectly pleasant people but I just didn't really make friends easily. Part of it was because I was usually preoccupied with daydreams and part of it probably came from my upbringing. I kept most people at a distance out of a mixture of distrust and fear. That's the thing about abuse. It doesn't end when it stops.

"Lester you wanna hear a joke?!"

Tabitha burst through my door with her usual greeting. It didn't necessarily mean she had a joke (though she always did if needed). It was just her version of "hello".

"Is it your face?" I completed the ritual greeting. She did a goofy mocking laugh as she sat down on the edge of my bed. There wasn't any spare space on our circus train. I shared my tiny room, barely large enough for two bunks and a table that folded down from the wall, with Castor, who fortunately was out practicing card tricks or something.

"No, you," Tabitha shot back.

"I'm supposed to be practicing," I said as I completed another strenuous stretch. My potential for flexibility was innate but my actual flexibility depended on daily practice. Contortionists had one of the shorter career terms in our line of work. When I was old and couldn't bend like that anymore I'd have to find a different job. Maybe Tabitha could teach me to be a clown. Straight man, maybe?

Well that's ironic on multiple levels.

Tabitha: Tabitha is very pale and tall for her age. She's pretty thin but not quite scrawny. She has buzzed red hair that she basically always keeps under a wig. She has a light spattering of freckles. Nothing about her really sticks out tbh. She has big brown eyes.

Lester: He stands at 5 feet and 10 inches. He has slightly tan skin, light brown hair, and light brown eyes. Very skinny and flexible.

Also bonus Irina because I found her description: Irina has green eyes and blonde hair. She has a conventional "One" look.