A/N: Trigger warning for homophobia and implied racism in Abraham's section, and for depression, gender dysphoria, and suicidal ideation in Maximus's section.

Abraham Smith, age 12
District 10 Male Tribute

After the Reapings

I almost cry as I'm led to a fancy room in the Justice Building, but I don't. My family and friends will probably be visiting me, and there's no way I'll cry in front of them. I sit down on the couch as the door opens and my family - Mother, Father, Susan, Rick, Rob, and Lakynn - files in. Mother sits down next to me and places Lakynn, who's three years old, on her lap. Susan sits on my other side and gives me a hug while Father, Rick, and Rob take the seats across from me.

"Oh, Abe, honey, I'm so sorry this happened," Mother frets.

"Find someone strong to help you in the Games," Father says, looking intently into my eyes. "Someone like us and the good folks of the Town."

"Okay," I say, nodding respectfully.

"Do whatever you can to come home," Susan says, tears in her eyes. "Whatever you need to do to win, I'll forgive you, Abe."

Rob stiffens. "Don't go crazy though," he says.

"Yeah… don't turn into one of those liberal weirdos, y'know?" Rick says, chuckling awkwardly.

"I'd rather have him gay and alive than dead," Susan mutters.

"Susan!" Mother gasps.

"I mean it!" Susan says, her voice rising. "So what if Abe changes from the Games? Would you rather have him die?"

"He can win the Hunger Games without changing who he is," Father says, his voice rising as well.

"So you're saying that you'd disown him if he came back gay?" Susan presses.

"We're just advising Abe to stay away from untrustworthy people," Father says.

"Everyone in the Games is untrustworthy," Susan mutters.

"But he can't go through them on his own because he'll be one of the youngest tributes," Father frets. "We're just asking Abe to find good allies."

Susan takes a deep breath, defeated. "Okay," she says.

"What's gotten into you, Susan?" Mother scolds.

"I-I don't know," Susan says, taking a deep breath. "I just-" She shakes her head. "Sorry. I guess my mind was wandering because I'm so scared of what'll happen next."

"You didn't have to make things weird, Sue," Rick says. He ruffles my hair. "You can do it, little bro. I believe in you."

"Thanks everyone," I say, a little overwhelmed. "I'll miss you all. I'll try my best to come home."

"Atta boy," Father says. "Just pick your allies wisely, okay?"

"Okay."

"Lakynn, say goodbye to your big brother," Mother says sadly. "He'll be… gone for a while."

Lakynn slides out of Mother's lap and vomits on the floor.

"Lakynn!" Father gasps.

"Mother, if she's sick again, you should go home and take care of her," I say. "It's okay. If I win we'll be able to figure out what's wrong with her and help her."

"There's nothing wrong with my baby girl," Mother says as she picks up my younger sister. "She just needs some essential oils and she'll be right as rain."

"Maybe you should take her to an actual doctor?" I say carefully. "I'm worried about her."

"Abe, just focus on winning the Games for the next few days," Father says as he stands up, deflecting the issue. "We should get home and put Lakynn to bed. She looks a little feverish." He glances at Rick and Rob. "Unless you had anything more to say?"

"Not really," Rob says, standing up slowly and patting my shoulder. "See you on the other side, okay lil' bro?"

"Okay," I say, sitting up straight. I still don't know how I'm going to win these Games, but I know that I'm going to try. For me. For Lakynn. For my family.

After my family leaves, my friends from school come visit me, sad about me being Reaped but wishing me the best. I don't think anyone wants to stay too long because of the puddle of vomit on the floor.

Maximus Burnet, age 17
District 12 Tribute

After the Reapings

I emotionlessly follow the Peacekeepers to the room in the Justice Building where I'll say goodbye to anyone who wants to visit me. This will be the hardest part because my family and Valerian will probably be pretty sad that I was Reaped. I wish they would just move on and forget about me, and maybe they will, but I have to get through this hour first.

I'm left alone in a fancy room with fancy furniture. I make my way to one of the chairs and sit down on it. I wish I could go to sleep right here and never wake up. It would be totally fine with me if I died right now because I've picked up all that tesserae that will feed a lot of hungry people. But the door is opening and my family is filing into the room.

"Oh no, Marjorie," Dad says sadly as he envelops me in a big hug. Mom sits on the other side of me and hugs me as well.

"My poor baby girl," Mom sobs into my shoulder. I hate this, but I can't be bothered to show it.

"Hey," my younger sister says, kneeling in front of me and taking my hands. "Do your best, okay? Don't forget that we love you."

"Doesn't matter," I mutter, looking away from Pimenta's hopeful eyes. "Well here we go. I'm going into the Games and whatever happens, happens." I'll die and everything will be better.

"Come on Marjorie, don't say that," Mom frets, giving me a hug. "You have a chance to come home. Please try your best to win. We'll be rooting for you."

"Yeah, sure," I say numbly. I wish I could tell my family that I have no plans on even trying to win, but how can I tell them everything that's going on with me? I'm not worth it.

"Learn as much as you can before the Games," Dad says. "I believe that you can do it, honey."

"Mom, Dad, Pimenta?" I say, staring straight into space.

"Yes?" Mom says.

"You know where we keep our tesserae?" I say. "Can you…" I look down. "Can you please go there? You'll… understand when you get there."

"What do you mean?" Dad says.

"Can you go there now?" I say. "I don't want to say anything."

"Are you sure, honey?" Mom says, squeezing my hand. "We should have a bit more time together."

"Please go," I say, closing my eyes and shrinking away from my family. "I'm tired."

"We love you, Marjorie," Dad says, kissing my forehead. "I… really hope I can see you again."

I hope not, I think. You love Marjorie, but do you love Max?

My parents take my silence as their cue to leave. Pimenta gives me a final hug.

"Get something good for yourself in the Capitol, okay?" she says. "You deserve it."

"Okay," I say half-heartedly.

With that, my family leaves me forever.

My only other visitor is my old friend Valerian, who I've drifted apart from over the years. Her visit is similar to my family's visit: short and hopeless. She wishes me luck before she leaves, but I can tell that she doesn't have much hope that she'll see me again.

Good. At least she's realistic.

A/N: Chapter question: What do you think Abe and Max's strategies will be for these Games?

Now that the Goodbyes are finished and we're getting into the Train Rides, I'm taking a break from working on A Pregnant Question as my only fanfiction project. I'll still post new chapters when I finish them, but I'll be updating Changes alongside this story until one of them finishes. In all honesty I've found it pretty draining to focus on just one fanfiction project that only has two readers, so I hope you all can understand.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you all when I finish the next chapter.