Nice doesn't equal good.

Laberia Rondiade

District Six Escort

I'm woken up by the sound of the train screeching to a halt. Odd. I haven't been asleep long enough for us to be in District Six, have I? No. Absolutely not. I went to sleep early last night and missed President Larcgrove's speech just so I'd wake up early this morning. I get up, and glance out of the window. We've stopped in the middle of a long stretch of track. The only thing outside the window is a forest. I pull on a long coat and run out into the corridor.

"What's going on?" I snap at one of the attendants. He stares at me, and I realise I must look absolutely terrible. I've just woken up, my hair is a mess and I haven't done my makeup yet. And the coat I'm wearing is bright pink. Bloody hell. They must think this is something I would wear on a normal day. Obviously not. I have standards.

"Engine trouble, Miss Rondiade. We should be moving again shortly." He replies.

"Good." Honestly, as long as we get to District Six on time, I don't really care. I go back to my room and take off the outrageously pink coat. I think I want to burn it. I think something... beige? Grey? Grey. Grey would be good for today. Very sombre... The districts will think I'm odd. The Capitol will think I'm crazy. The tributes I'll probably end up mentoring... will hopefully win the games. I'm a terrible mentor. I've been trying ever since I was made Escort, because they don't have a Mentor. All of the Victors were killed during the second rebellion, and there have been no Victors from District Six since. I suppose I should be happy for the other districts, but...

Whilst I'm eating breakfast, we start moving again. Good. We need to get to District Six as soon as possible, or I'll be late for the Reaping. And that would probably get me in trouble with Head Gamemaker Ruso. I take my time eating fruit salad whilst watching the scenery outside the window. After that, I watch a rerun of President Larcgrove's speech from last night.

By the time we arrive in District Six, there's barely any time until the Reaping, and by the time I'm at the square it's almost time for them to start letting people into the square.

"Laberia. You're normally early." Mayor Tana says as soon as I arrive.

"My train had engine trouble." I tell her, taking my seat. I think she's about to say something, but then the peacekeepers start letting people into the square and the noise of chatter and tears from the crowd is too loud for me to hear her. I don't really care.

Once everyone is sorted and quietens down, I listen to her speech about the greatness of the Capitol. Yes, that seems about right. Greatness and mercy of the Capitol. And then it's my turn.

"Alright then. It is wonderful to be here in District Six for Reaping Day. Now, as is today's tradition, ladies first!" Ladies first became a universal reaping phrase after the popularity of the 74th Hunger Games. Escorts started to copy Effie Trinket, even after the second rebellion was crushed. I imagine it annoyed President Snow when he was still alive. "The female tribute for District Six will be..."

I reach for one of the slips and take the top one. There are less names than usual. Odd. Maybe there weren't many taking tesserae this year.

"Kyna Aydin!" I think the cameras find Kyna before I do. She smiles as she walks towards the stage, but it seems forced. Unsurprisingly. When she reaches the stage, I turn my attention back to the names. "The male tribute from District Six will be..."

Worrying won't help you.

Trevor Box, 17

District Six Male

For the past two weeks, I've been thinking about the Reaping. For the past two days, I've found it slightly concerning. I keep telling myself it's irrational, and that I'm worrying about nothing. My name is in six times, whereas most people my age will have their name in at least twenty. The likelihood of me being chosen is very low. And even if I was chosen, I can fight. I'd be better off than most of the tributes. I haven't trained for the Hunger Games, but the skills people pick up in my neighbourhood would be useful.

Maybe it's because I remember what happened to Georgia. She died four years ago, in the 82nd Hunger Games. She was an idiot, and got herself killed in the bloodbath. If I was reaped, I would get myself some allies to stop that from happening. So why does remembering Georgia make me nervous? Maybe because if people decided not to ally with me then I'd be vulnerable. No. I would not. I would not be vulnerable. And I'm not going to be reaped, so why am I thinking about this? I need to stop thinking about this and think about something else, like how many people have bought morphling this week. The usual people of course, but some others who must be worried about the Reaping. Mother and Father have been in a good mood this week.

I have to be in the square early for the Reaping, so when I hear the clock striking the hour, I pull myself out of bed and comb through my hair. Choose a nice shirt. I don't look like I've been sleeping late or taking drugs. Good. It's fine to look like that at home or on the streets of District Six, but at the Reaping? Mother would have my head.

In the main room, neither Mother or Father try to talk to me. Unsurprising. They act unaffected by the Reaping, but I think Georgia's death might have made them a little colder. Mother sits at the table without talking, drinking something I think might be coffee. She probably didn't sleep well. Father is making something in the kitchen area. Probably porridge. Porridge is dull and boring. Like Father. Not that I'd ever tell him that's what I think.

"Good sleep, Trevor?" Mother asks.

"Yeah." I reply. Actually, that's not quite right, but I won't tell her that. She'd yell at me for being weak. I'd do the same thing if any of my friends said that. If I had friends. Sure I have people who I hang around with at school. Or, actually, people who hang around me. I don't really want them there. They tend to switch around every few months, when they realise that I really don't want to join in their conversations. I think the three at the moment are Otto, Elen and Vespa. They haven't been around long.

Within ten minutes or so I'm restless and counting the minutes until we have to leave. Ten minutes. I have to distract myself by tapping my fingers against the table. Eight minutes. And then tapping my foot against the floor so as not to annoy my parents. Five minutes. Mother glares at me, and I glare back. It's obvious she wants me to stop. Too bad Mother. There's nothing else to do.

"Alright, let's go." Mother says, still glaring. I stand up and head out onto the street without saying anything to either parent.

I make a point to disappear into the crowd, away from anyone I might know. I'd rather not have anyone I know recognise me if I get nervous. Which I won't. But just in case. The crowd sweeps me along to the square, depositing me somewhere in the area cordoned off for seventeen-year-olds. I don't recognise anyone around me. Maybe some kids I hung out with years ago. I don't really care. As long as they don't know me now.

I ignore Mayor Tana's speech. She talks too much about the Capitol. Then Laberia starts talking. She's the Escort for District Six. And she's also rather...strange. Wears drab colours. She seems more District than Capitolite. She's supposed to be better than other Escorts, but I'm not sure.

"The female tribute for District Six will be..." I don't care. "Kyna Aydin!" I don't know Kyna, whoever she is. It appears that she's eighteen, tall. Probably quite confident. Definitely going to die. I can't see her face as she walks up to the stage, but she turns and smiles at us from the stage. Laberia reaches for another slip. I'm going to be fine. I'm going to be fine.

"The male tribute from District Six will be..." Some random fifteen year old taking tesserae. Someone I don't know. "Trevor Box!"

Damn it. That's me. Don't panic. I need to move. I need to go to the stage, and I need to appear unfazed. Smile. As I join Kyna, Laberia and Mayor Tana on the stage I hear Laberia end the Reaping.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the tributes of District Six!"

So, that's was the final Reaping. I would like thank averyrandomauthor for submitting Kyna, and wiifan2002 for submitting Trevor. Next time will be the goodbyes. As always, thank you for reading.