Rose Parker, female from one

District One, Day of Reapings

Rose looked at her slender frame in the mirror. She stood at five foot six, with shoulder length, jet-black hair. Her husband, Josiah, was in the kitchen.

"Josiah? Can you grab the bags? We have to go back to town for my last Reaping." Rose Parker told her husband, Josiah.

"Sure babe, let me grab Ash's things."

Rose's husband walked in with Aisling, who they nicknamed Ash, their 5 month old daughter.

"You couldn't have waited another month to have been born" Josiah joked. Rose was 17 years old and 11 months. This was going to be her last Reaping.

"Not my fault, ask the 'people' who call themselves my parents."

"You know Rose, they did raise you."

"Tell me that when we're closer to their house."

Rose, Josiah, and Ash climbed down the ladder of their treehouse, gawking once again at the sights of the dense woodland of District one.

Rose's mother was a neurologist in district one. Her father was a chiropractor.

Rose was a disappointment. She got barely average grades in school, she spent most of her time in the woods, earning the nickname dryad from her tutors.

Rose's house

Unbeknownst to Rose, her parents are having a very deep conversation about what's going to happen soon. Sylvester, Rose's father, is against the decision. Mary, her mother, is the one forcing it.

"Sylvester why aren't you supportive of my decision?"

"Because, Mary, you are trying to force our daughter to do something she doesn't want to do! She's happy! She was never happy when she lived with us. Josiah, Ash, the woods, those are the things she loves! Why can't you see that."

"I can see that! I don't want that! She is making a fool out of our family! My reputation is at stake, Syl, and you can't see past that enough to know that she's going to ruin us!"

"I don't give a damn about your reputation! I care about our daughter! Why can't you?"

"That's it Sylvester! If you don't agree with me, then I'll file!"

That got Sylvester to think. Mary made all the money, and like it or not, that made her head of the household. The rest of his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

Rose

They reached the house of Rose's parents, and when Rose knocked, she was surprised to find her parents waiting in the living room.

"Rose," her dad began, "We have decided that after the Reapings, you are going to come back to town and live with us."

Rose was stunned, "Wha- Why?"

Her mother took over. "Because you are the district freak. Our reputations are at stake because you want to run off and do your own thing. It's very selfish, Rose. I thought we raised you better than that." Rose's father sat there, cringing at every word.

"Mrs. Parker." Josiah started to say.

"No Mr. Matthew. There will be none of this. You and your daughter will have to find somewhere else to stay. There will be no negotiations. If you aren't here by the end of tomorrow, you're being disowned."

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS!" Rose screamed as she ran out the door. Josiah followed her, Ash in his arms.

"Rose-"

"Not right now Josiah, I'm going down to the creek."

The bells rang, signalling the start of the reapings.

"Never mind!" Rose stormed off to the crowd. She had her finger pricked to confirm her identity and made her way to the 18 year olds.

"Helloooo District One!" Issac King, the District One escort said. "It's Reaping day! I'm excited! I hope you guys are. Before we get to the moment of truth, a short message from the Capitol."

"The hunger games-" The video began.

'The usual Capitol propaganda' Rose thought to herself. The video kept playing for the next minute and Rose got a bad feeling in her stomach.

"Iiiiiiitttttttsssssss time!" King said, "Let's switch things up this time. Men first."

King put his hand in the bowl, and pulled out a name.

"Killian Dark!"

"I volunteer!" a voice rang out of the crowd.

'Of course' Rose thought. 'This is District One'

The boy who volunteered looked around 18, and (though Rose wouldn't admit it) was pretty good to look at.

"A volunteer! How exciting! What is your name, you brave young man!"

The boy smirked "Blake Collins."

"Everyone give a hand for this year's male tribute!" The crowd clapped. "Now, time for the ladies."

King put his hand in the bowl and, for a second, Rose felt like it was going to be her. She realized that it probably wasn't, but then King said the fateful words.

"Rose Parker."

The world stopped. Rose was on the verge of tears. No one would volunteer for her, as her mother said, she was the district freak.

She made her way up to the stage and looked into the eyes of Blake. She shook his hand and the peacekeeper brought her to the visitation rooms.

"15 minutes" he said as Rose's mother came in.

"Rose. I'm sorry."

"No you're not, mother. You could care less. All you care about is your reputation."

Mary scoffed, "Rose! I thought I-"

"No mother, you didn't raise me like that at all. You raised me to be like you, and I am. I'm not returning home, mother. I love my life out in the forest too much. I love my little girl. I love Josiah. I'm not giving up my family just so you and Father can turn me into something I'm not. Goodbye, mother. Now leave."

Rose's mother scoffed once more, but left. Soon after, Josiah walked in. Rose couldn't hold it anymore. She started crying, and crying, and crying. Soon, Josiah joined her. And then baby Ash, who wasn't even 5 months old, started crying too. For what felt like hours they just cried together.

When they finally broke, Rose looked into Josiah's eyes. "I'm going to make it back. I promise."

"I believe you."

"And to make sure of it, I'm doing this." Rose bent down on one knee and said, "Josiah Matthew, will you marry me?"

Josiah had more tears swelling in his eyes.

"Rose-"

"Times up." The peacekeeper had returned. Rose started screaming and crying while the peacekeeper dragged her away. Josiah just sat there, shocked at what was happening.

Blake Collins, Male from One

"Remember the plan kid. Use your looks, and your personality. Get close to people and destroy them. Poison the career pack, hell, get someone else to kill the girl, she won't be missed. Try to watch twelve, they won't be having a back to back win." Gordon was telling him.

Blake had just volunteered for the Hunger Games. He had been preparing for years for that exact moment, and it was kind of disappointing.

Blake was having a talk with Gordon Staley, the person who taught him everything. Blake had no family, his mother died when he was 2, and his father drank himself to death after that. He had no siblings.

"Yes, Gordon. We've been over this a thousand times. I'll win, trust me."

"Times up." The peacekeeper came in and said. Gordon gave him a gold ring with a ruby in the center, then Blake got on the train.

The 5 (alive) mentors were discussing who would mentor who.

Blake had hoped he'd get Nolan Heath, who had won the 79th games by feeding lies to the careers, while hunting the other tributes. He killed the final tribute and won.

The girl walked in the train shortly afterwards, and Blake let out a silent scoff. She had been crying. 'Weak' he thought, 'I bet she won't make it past the bloodbath.'

"Alright kids," Morgan Andrews, the winner of the 84th games said. "Rose, I'm going to be your mentor. Blake, you have Nolan."

Blake's heart did a skip, this was going to be easy.

"You guys grab something to eat, and then we need to talk strategy."

Blake and Rose made their way to the dining car. They sat down and realized it was just them. Blake began eating some roast and potatoes, when he noticed Rose not eating.

"You okay?" He asked with fake sympathy.

"Yeah," she answered, "Just noxious"

Blake noticed a gold band on her finger. "Is that your token?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's a wedding ring." 'Its cheap ass' he thought. "It's nice," he said with a smile.

She blushed, "Thanks, so is yours."

Blake looked down at his ring, "Thanks, it's from a friend."

They finished eating and parted ways with their mentors.

"So, whatcha gonna teach me?" Blake asked Nolan.

"First things first kid. I saw what you were doing in there. The fake sympathy, smiles to go with it. You hide it well, almost as good as me. The scoff gave it away earlier, or I would've thought you were sincere. That's good, you need that. So, what else can you do."

Blake wasn't ready for that, but he figured since that's how Nolan won his games, that's how he knew.

"C'mon kid, spit it out."

"Oh, uh, I can throw a damn good knife, and am pretty good at hand to hand combat,"

"Hand to hand combat?! The hell do they teach in the academy these days?"

"Didn't go to the academy," Blake said.

"DIDN'T GO TO THE ACADEMY! Why the hell did you volunteer!"

Blake frowned, "Because I know I can win."

Nolan mumbled to himself, something about not going to the academy, before he talked again, "Well kid, by now I think you know that deception is key in this. You have that narrowed down pretty good, but we're going to hone it on this ride. Also, learn how to use an axe or a sword or something while we're in the Capitol. You won't be able to survive with 'hand to hand'."

Blake thought that was probably a good idea.

ROSE

"So, Rose, what are you good at?" Rose's mentor, Morgan Andrews, asked her.

"Well, I'm pretty good with plants, I can identify every one. I also do a bit of first aid. And I can use a dagger."

"Okay, that's good. Anything you aren't confident with?"

"I can't swim, and I'm allergic to bees. I'm also nine weeks pregnant."

Rose expected Morgan to be surprised at that sentiment, but she seemed unfazed.

"Okay, we don't have enough time to teach you to swim, so stay away from water. As for bees, I'll find a way to get some cream or something in case you get stung."

"You're not surprised I'm pregnant?"

"Oh, honey. Have you not watched the past years games? There's been a girl that went into labor during these. Nine weeks is nothing."

"Oh, okay."