A/N: Trigger warning for an underage relationship in Athens' section, as well as homophobia and transphobia in Hampshire's section.
Chapter 1: Introductions
Aurora Underwood, age 17
District 1 Female Tribute
One month before the Reaping
THUNK! My last knife lands in the center of the target, and I smile to myself. Even if nobody was watching me train, I did very well with that round of knives so I'm proud. I signal to the trainers that I'm done and move on to the archery range, where I spot Cashmere Gold, Victor of the 64th Games. She's sitting next to the range with a few other Victors and taking notes on a tablet.
Cashmere's presence is not going to stop me from getting some archery practice in, especially considering that today is Decision Day. I hope I get chosen to volunteer for the 66th Games when the results are out, but if not, I still have next year. I walk up to the archery range and let the trainer there know what I want to do. Cashmere looks up from her tablet.
"Hello, Aurora," she says, waving at me. "Mind if I talked to you for a sec?"
"Oh no, not at all," I say politely, hurrying over to Cashmere. "What is it?"
"The Decision Day results are in about an hour and I want you to know, no matter what happens, that I can see you in the Hunger Games for sure. Keep it up."
"Thank you, Cashmere," I say with a grin. "I was just about to practice with the bow and arrow."
"I'm glad you're still training regularly," Cashmere says with a nod. "Just be aware that there are situations that you can't train for, so you must have the adaptability to overcome them."
"Of course," I say, nodding.
"That was it, honestly," Cashmere says, tapping on her tablet. "You're free to go, unless you have anything else to say?"
"I do not," I say, waving to the Victor. "Thank you, Cashmere!"
I practice with the bow and arrow, emptying two quivers into targets, until I hear Heidi calling my name. I put away my bow and wave at my friend, who is coming towards me.
"Hey Aurora, want to wrestle a bit before the results are out?" she asks.
"Sure," I say. "I hope it's me or you who gets chosen as the volunteer."
"I can't wait," Heidi says excitedly as we make our way to the wrestling mats.
We wrestle for three rounds, with Heidi winning the first round but me winning the second and third. Then the PA system of the Academy comes on.
"Hello District 1!" Headmaster Magpie exclaims. "I am pleased to announce District 1's chosen volunteers for the 66th Annual Hunger Games."
The Academy, usually bustling with activity, is quiet.
"First, our tribute in the female slot, Aurora Underwood!"
"Yes," I say quietly with a grin, pumping my fist as Heidi claps me on the back. I'm overjoyed, but there's no need for theatrics. I want to win the Games, and I can do that without drawing a lot of attention to myself. It's part of my strategy, after all.
Athens Prescott, age 17
District 8 Male Tribute
Eight months before the Reaping
The shrill ringing of the school bell wakes me up from my slumber. Mrs. Patterson says a few more things over the noise of the students packing their bags and heading out, but I can't be bothered to hear what my science teacher has to say. I live in District 8; who cares about chemistry anyways when you're destined for a menial factory job? Speaking of menial factory jobs, I'd better head to mine. I'm in no hurry, though. I've been fired from at least three jobs so I know that I can easily get another one if I get fired from my current job.
I head out to the schoolyard at a leisurely pace. My friend Yarne Hemingway approaches me, and I wave to him.
"Yarne, my man!" I yell out, clapping him on the back. "Glad school is finally over. The guys and I were going to draw dicks on some school buildings. You coming with?"
"No thanks," Yarne says coolly, though he's smiling. "Don't you have a job to be at?"
"I can stand to ditch a few days a week," I say with a shrug. "Yarne! You're such a stiff. Can't believe you didn't even drink anything at your own party."
"Yeah, about that," Yarne says, "my sister wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, great," I mutter, rolling my eyes. "Don't get me wrong, Panne is pretty, but we were both drunk."
"You can tell that to her," Yarne says. He waves. "Panne! Athens is with me!"
Panne Hemingway comes over to us. She looks nervous. "Thanks for getting Athens, Yarne," she says to her younger brother. "I'll see you at home."
"I'll leave you to it, then," Yarne says before disappearing.
"Listen, Panne," I say, throwing my hands up, "about the party-"
"I'm pregnant."
I blink at her. "What?"
"Athens," Panne sighs, "both of us were drunk and I wasn't on birth control."
No. Oh no. This is bad. This is very very bad. "What are you gonna do?" I squeak out.
"I… don't know whether or not I'm going to keep the baby," Panne says, "but if you don't want anything to do with the baby, or me, I understand completely."
"Oh, really?" I ask, genuinely surprised.
"Really. It's because… I'm nineteen and you're sixteen."
"Yeah, and…"
"There's a word for an adult who dates a teenager, Athens."
The realization hits me. "Oh," I say. "Ohhh."
"Go enjoy your life," Panne says with a sad smile. "Don't worry about me or my kid. I'm the adult here. It's about time I started acting like one."
"Alright," I say with a nod before walking away from Panne with a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. All things considered, this was a better outcome than I expected it to be.
Hampshire Fairway, age 17
District 10 Tribute
One month before the Reaping
"Where are you going?" Dad asks as I reach out to open the front door.
"I'm going to finally get a haircut," I say, using the hair tie around my wrist to put my horrible long hair in a ponytail. "I've saved up enough for one."
"Want someone to come with you?" Dad says.
"Sure, some company would be nice," I say. "Is Vermont home?"
"He's at work," a new voice pipes up. My eleven-year-old sister Georgia enters the small living room. "You're going into town, Hampshire?"
"Yeah, to get a haircut," I say with a smile. "Wanna come with me?"
"Sure, but you can't have any of my candy," Georgia says, sticking a gummy worm into her mouth.
"That's alright," I say with a small laugh. "We'll be right back, okay Dad?"
"Have fun, you two," Dad says before turning back to his news.
The thirty-minute walk into town breezes by quickly as Georgia and I talk about school and our career plans. If we're going to lift our family out of hard times, we know that we have to do everything we can. I felt bad enough spending money on a haircut, but the dysphoria was killing me. Besides, Dad okayed the expense, especially considering how well I'd been doing at school.
Georgia and I arrive at the barbershop, where an employee is scrubbing graffiti off the store window. The graffiti is big, so I can already see what it says.
GOD HATES FAGS
My blood turns to ice and it's getting hard to breathe. Just ignore it, I think. It's just Mississippi Town. They're at it again…
Mississippi Town usually leaves the rest of the District alone. But this year is different. They've been committing horrible hate crimes where people can see them, and I'm pretty sure our Mayor is sympathetic to that cult because he hasn't done anything to stop the attacks.
I was going to come out properly - to everyone, not just close friends and family - this month, starting with my haircut. But with Mississippi Town on the loose, I can't. It isn't safe for me, it isn't safe for my family…
"Come on, Georgia, let's go home," I say with tears in my eyes as I roughly drag my sister away from the vandalized shop window.
"But we just got here," Georgia says, confusedly following me. "Is this about the graffiti?"
"Yes," I say softly. "When we get home I need to tell you something."
