Anthony Morgan, District Four male (18)

It was weird knowing this was the last night of my old life. We'd gathered on the beach countless nights before, me and my friends. This was just the first time where it was the night before the Reaping and I'd been picked to volunteer. That had never happened before. It made the campfire look darker and more mesmerizing. It made its soft orange glow on the sand give me a wave of homesickness before I'd even left. I could come back, I knew. But I wouldn't be the same person. And I wasn't sure if it would be the same beach.

It's not very nice to brood during your going-away party. People will get the idea you're a mysterious lone wolf ranger.

I looked up from the fire and saw Sunset locking eyes with me. I could see the tease and promise in her gaze before she even spoke.

"Think of me at night if you're lonely?" she asked, neither hiding nor emphasizing the innuendo. Sunset and I had crossed paths a few time- her and most of the other young ladies in my area. Girls like me. I liked girls. We both knew it was nothing long-term and we parted ways with a few friendly memories. It was better this way anyway. With my training schedule I couldn't be a supportive boyfriend, and until I got back from the Games there was no sense planning a future.

"I'll think of you thinking of me," I joked back with a wink. Some of the others hooted and made lighthearted cracks.

On a different day I would have gone on with the banter. It was just hard to think of anything when I was so preoccupied. I kept finding myself looking back into the fire, thinking of what was coming next and how little I could really prepare for it. I wasn't ashamed to admit I was nervous. I was sure every volunteer had been, and the more they deny it the more scared they probably were. It was dangerous, the Hunger Games. Even if a Career boosted his odds as much as he could there was still just so much against him.

I can do this, I softly assured myself. It was true. I could do this. It was possible. That didn't mean I would. Here in Four I had everything. I had my mother's good looks, a ton of friends, girls lined up, parties every week. Maybe I should have been content with that. Even as I thought it I couldn't make myself believe it. I had my mind set on winning the Games. When my mind was set it was go big or go home.

I had plenty of reasons to win the Games. I was young and strong and at the perfect age to take a risk. I had a family who always provided for me and who I'd be proud to return the favor to. I had my mother. Yes, I had reasons to win the Games. I had a reason to be in the Capitol. Winning the Games wasn't even the end for me. It was the means.


Ceto Preston, District Four female (18)

I sat on one side of a folding table glaring at the person who'd dragged me into this. Mags thought she knew everything. She did know a lot. She also knew how to win, which was important. I did listen to her and I tried to remember she deserved my respect and attention. It was just… Mags knew how she won. She hadn't played the same Games as I would play. She didn't know what I needed or the best way for me to win. She clearly thought I needed my District partner, which was our main disagreement.

Anthony was my District partner. He was not my ally. Since I didn't want to die, I would not be allying with Anthony. Why? Because Anthony was a braindead himbo. Every day I saw him laughing and partying with his throng of friends and admirers. I was attractive too but I didn't let that run my life. Anthony had no self-respect. Someone like him didn't deserve to represent us. It was embarrassing.

"I've called you two together," Mags started, ignoring my baleful scowl, "because no matter your opinions, you have both been selected and you will simply have to live with it. So act like adults and start making a plan."

"I didn't even do anything," Anthony said to Mags, his arms out in bewilderment.

"That's just it," I said. "You just goof off and don't train and you're going to make us look like idiots."

"If I didn't train then why did I get picked?" Anthony asked.

"Take a guess," I said. They didn't pick a good fighter. They picked blue eyes and a tight backside.

"You know what? I'm gonna take that as a compliment," Anthony said with an annoying smile. "I know you hate me but come on, Mags is right. Let's make a plan now and you can plot my death later."

"All right, fine. First off, what should we do if there's only one Trident in the Cornucopia?" I asked.

Anthony raised his arms to preemptively ward off argument. "Hear me out for just a minute. You also throw knives, while I was busy partying and only learned the trident. Just during the Bloodbath, if there's only one, it might be smart for you to pick off fleeing Tributes while I cover our perimeter," he said.

I knew he was right. When I was running through the Bloodbath in my head I'd come to much the same conclusion. I filed it away in my head to go over later. It seemed Anthony could be smarter than I thought. I needed to remember that and never let myself think of him as just a cipher. That kind of arrogance could get me killed.

"Sure you trust me enough?" I asked to deflect from the fact that I agreed with him. It would be a bold move for Anthony to ally with me in the chaos of the Bloodbath. He put a lot of weight on District loyalty. I may or may not have felt the same.

Anthony gave a sad smile. "No, I just distrust everyone else just as much."