Jacob "Pow" Powell - District 3 Male - Age 17
Is it bad that Pow actually thought he had a chance at winning this thing? He sort of did have everything it took to be a success. Good allies? More like, best allies. Weapon skills? Good enough that he wouldn't get him skilled. A 7 wasn't shabby in the slightest bit. His interview went pretty amazingly too! They seemed to like him, which obviously could go a long way in the arena. Living in the Capitol was also something Pow wished he had more time to get used to, but was ultimately grateful for since he really loved living like a king. All in all, the Hunger Games weren't bad at all, at least not yet. Granted Pow was probably enjoying himself because he'd only experienced the fun part, not the dying part, but if he pretended it wasn't coming, then it wouldn't. Right?
"Goodnight everybody!" Pow stepped off of the elevator at the hotel and waved goodbye to his friends.
"Sleep good!" Summer said, walking off with Luca.
"How're you feeling?" Ada asked as she walked Pow to his room, "Nervous?"
"Ridiculously so," He admitted, "You?"
"Also nervous," She suddenly got quiet, "But honestly I'm pretty sure tomorrow is my last day on Earth, so I'm just trying to accept it."
"Don't say that!" Pow shook Ada, "We're in this together!"
"You know it's true, Pow," Ada sighed before walking into her room, "Goodnight."
As much as Pow didn't want to admit it, Ada was right. If one of them were to die the next day, it would be her, but he didn't want to think about it. He'd grown to genuinely love and appreciate her, and seeing her go would be like losing the sister he never had.
"Ada!" Pow knocked on her door, which she had just shut, "Let's hang out or something!"
"What do you mean?" She reluctantly opened the door. "You should sleep well before tomorrow. You'll actually need the rest."
"Come on!" Pow groaned, "We should have some fun!"
"There's no point," Ada sighed, "I'm practically a goner."
"Don't say that."
"You know it's true. Goodnight Pow." She shut the door once more.
It was getting late enough, so Pow decided to take Ada's word and relax. He walked into his room and started filling the bathtub with water when he heard two loud knocks on the tour.
"It's Pascal." A voice called out, "Open up."
"What do you want?" Pow opened the door.
"I heard you wanted to have some fun." He winked. How the hell had he heard him?
"I meant with my friends," Pow sighed, "Not with you."
"Why not?" Pascal invited himself into his room, "You only live once."
"If you're trying to seduce me, it isn't working." Pow said, "Leave."
"It seems you've forgotten about my offer then," Pascal smiled, "Are you sure you want me to go?"
Pow thought for a moment. He'd never been with another guy before, despite it being all he'd wanted for who knows how long, and this could possibly be his only chance. It could also give him the means to survive in the arena, if Pascal kept to his word and got him sponsors.
"Fine." Pow cleared the way for Pascal to fully enter the room, "But only if you keep true to your word."
"Of course," Pascal threw himself on Pow's bed, "Now get your sweet ass over here."
Willadeene Rhodes - District 10 Female - Age 16
Just like everybody else, Willadeene had a lot to prove, so that didn't mean anything anymore. She had entered the Capitol sure she could at least prove herself to be strong, but now she wasn't so sure.
"Are you okay, Willadeene?" Her ally Wendy asked as she made her way to her room after the interviews.
"Is anybody here okay?" Willadeene shuttered, "I think I made a terrible mistake by wanting to be here."
Her father had told her time and time again that campaigning was a foolish idea, and she really should have listened to him, but a voice inside her head told her that she had to do it, and that she would win. Clearly that voice was an idiot because Willadeene was so certain she was about to go to sleep for the last time.
"We'll be okay!" Wendy promised, "We just need to stick together."
Wendy didn't get it, but then again, nobody did. Willadeene's past years had been plagued with memories of the basement, and the pain and the suffering, and she just needed to prove that she was more than that. That she was strong, a Victor. But unfortunately, there were so many other ways for her to get that point across and she was foolish to think the Games were the only ways. Why should any 16 year old be punished for just wanting to stand out? Well, stand out as not a helpless trauma victim that is. She had hoped that she'd at least be the mother figure in the alliance, just like she had been in the bunker, but alas, when the time to choose a leader had arrived, Willadeene was too afraid to speak up, which left Winona and her stupid plan.
"Are you sure Winona's plan is good?" Willadeene asked.
She'd been worried that the idea of all of them rushing towards the Cornucopia would be a death sentence, but she didn't want them to abandon her, so she remained silent.
"It's our only chance to get supplies," Wendy reassured her, "We have to."
Ugh, maybe she was right, but Willadeene didn't see a situation where all of them made it out alive and that was what worried her most. She'd experienced the death of a friend before, and never wanted to again. Unless of course, she died first. That was it. That was what she was going to do. If one of her allies died, she'd simply sacrifice herself so she wouldn't have to deal with it. Maybe it was foolish, but it would keep her sane. That rule only applied to the bloodbath though, because if Willadeene could survive that, maybe she was a winner after all.
"I guess you're right," She sighed and headed to her room, "See you tomorrow."
Willadeene waved goodbye but she still couldn't shake the notion that it was possibly her last night on Earth so she lied in bed counting sheep in the sky, hoping to fall asleep with every increasing number.
Winona Morgan - District 6 Female - Age 17
At long last, it was Winona's last day with Xan. She'd thought maybe he would grow on him, but alas he only got worse, and he made friends that were equally if not more awful. They'd harassed her in the halls, but it wasn't anything Winona couldn't take, so at least that was a good thing. No, Winona wasn't going to kill Xan, but surely somebody would. Right? Who wouldn't? She wouldn't even be surprised if his own allies betrayed him since he surely had to have gotten on their nerves somehow. She was also pleasantly surprised at Festus and Livia's attitude towards the situation. Whenever Xan made some sort of a sexual remark, they were quick to dismiss him and his overly sexual ways.
"You're going to be fine." Livia was sitting in Winona's room, the night before the Games as they both gave themselves manicures, "I doubt he'll kill you."
"He's a beast," Winona stuttered, messing up her left index finger, "Nobody knows what he's capable of."
He hadn't done anything during training, and Winona was worried it was so that nobody would see his strength, which would coincide with his stupidly low score.
"I think he's just an asshole," Livia laughed, grabbing nail polish remover to fix Winona's mistake, "Let me do the rest. You deserve a break."
"Do you think the sponsors will mind if I just kill him myself," She extended her hand and watched as Livia chose a metallic blue color for the rest of Winona's nails. Killing one's own District Partner was typically frowned upon, but maybe Xan was a special case.
"I wouldn't," Livia sighed, "Somebody will take care of him surely."
Winona thought back on her friends at home as Livia gently applied the polish. Quinn and Sawyer must be worried sick. They really wanted Winona to win so they could have the mansion of their dreams, but surely they missed her presence as well. Right? It was pointless in wondering because it wasn't like she could do anything about it besides worry.
"I'm done!" Lydia exclaimed, blowing on Winona's hands, "You look amazing!"
"Thank you so much," Winona yawned, "I should probably get to sleep."
"Right," Livia got up, "Sweet dreams?"
"The sweetest." Winona smiled, "No more Xan!"
"No more Xan!"
The girls hugged. Winona had never been close with other girls, and she was happy that Livia, Willadeene, and Wendy were able to change that. Even if it was her last time shutting her eyes alive, at least Winona could say that she'd grown as a person to some extent.
Luca Pargus - District 4 Male - Age 18
Luca was furious. He hadn't expected to stay in the lobby before getting on the elevator, but Summer wanted to get a bite to eat, so he went with her when he heard the unimaginable. How could Adira do something like that? Luca had trusted her so much, and told her their strategy of not going to the cornucopia since it would only endanger them and they'd be able to get weapons gifted to them surely. Well maybe not anymore since they didn't have anybody with a 10 that would be with them! Maybe they'd still be able to get their own weapons somehow.
"Mags!" Luca had ventured upstairs to the Mentor's floor to tell her what Adira was doing, "Open up! It's urgent."
"Luca?" Mags opened the door. Her hair was in curlers and she looked sort of out of it, "Is everything alright?"
"Can I come in?" He asked, "I need to tell you something."
Mags led him inside to reveal her room. It was much larger than Luca's for sure, and it had a nice living room area where a boy with blonde hair was sitting down, though Luca couldn't see his face.
"Sure thing." Mags sat down on the couch before tapping the boy, "Wait! I don't think you've met Micah!"
"Oh hi!" Luca said, "I'm Luca!"
"Micah Fairforge," He extended his hand, "Last year's Victor and Mags' best friend."
"I have other friends, Micah." Mags laughed, "Do you want Micah here for what you want to tell me?"
Luca though for a moment. He had seen Micah on TV the previous year and thought he was absolutely stunning and had the sweetest blue eyes, but he couldn't be distracted so he asked Mags if they could talk in the bathroom where Micah wouldn't be able to hear.
"What happened?" Mags asked, closing the door.
Luca told her about Adira and the careers and how utterly frustrated he was that she'd betray him. He tried his best to not cry.
"It's all good," Mags laughed, "I was going to tell you about it in the morning"
"How is it good?" Luca was concerned, "We're fucked."
"I told her to ask to join once she got the 10. I figured she could take some of them out and make your job a bit easier. She'll come back to you guys later. I promise."
Phew! It was a good thing then.
"I'm sorry for freaking out."
"You have every right to." Mags hugged him, "You should talk to Micah. You'd like him. I'm taking a shower."
"Mags told me we should talk," Luca said as he exited the bathroom.
"Sure thing." Micah gestured for Luca to sit on the couch next to him, "Are you nervous."
"Only a lot." Luca sat down, "How did you do it?"
"I'll never know." Micah admitted, "My allies were all horrible bloodthirsty people, but I just knew I was better than them, which motivated me to outlive them. That and the fact I wanted to make my father proud."
"Wait," Luca hesitated, "You're not going to tell the careers I'm nervous, right?"
"Hell no," Micah laughed, "Ammo's an asshole. He doesn't need to know."
The two talked for what felt like hours but in reality was probably closer to thirty minutes, talking to Micah just felt so natural. He understood Luca's fears perfectly, and he truly wasn't like any other boy he'd met. And wow, was he fucking handsome. Luca couldn't help but dream about kissing him.
"I have to ask you something," Luca said as he heard the water from Mags' bathroom shut off, "Do you like boys by any chance?"
"Well," Micah sighed. Oh no. "I've never been with one, but I'm bisexual if that's what you meant."
"It is."
"Good." Micah shook his head, "You're really cute by the way. I hope you know that."
"You too." Luca blushed. He'd never been called cute. Only handsome and hot or whatever and that was usually his moms for the former, and Kai for the latter.
"You think?" Micah winked at him, "Well if you win this we'll have to do something about that. I'm rooting for you."
Luca scooted closer to Micah which felt natural. The more he stared at those eyes the more he felt himself slowly falling.
"Kiss me?" Luca asked, slurring his words, "For good luck."
Micah leaned closer and put his hand on Luca's chin when-
"What the hell are you doing?" Mags yelled, "I told you to make friends!"
"Sorry?" Luca laughed.
"You're good sweetie." Mags said, "I was kidding. But you better go to sleep if you want to win and see him again."
"Goodnight then," Luca got up, "I'll see you later, Mags."
"I'll see you too sweetie." Mags smiled, "You're the best."
ONE MORE CHAPTER TILL THE GAMES SAY HELL YEAH!
ALLIANCES UPDATE:
Careers - Brycen Rosenthal (D1M), Sapphira Starlett (D1F), Ammo Lawson (D2M), Hosanna Guerra (D2F), Adira Price (D4F), and Sam Hillgaze (D7F)
Wholesome Gays - Jacob "Pow" Powell (D3M), Ada Barr (D3F), Luca Pargus (D4M), and Summer Lindell (D9F) (Adira?)
Hashtag YOLO - Cedar Ranthine (D7M), Logan Webster (D8M), and Velvette Wilmington (D8F),
The Fraternity - Xan Freight (D6M), Isaac Galavan (D9M), Brandon Colt (D10M), and Louis Staker (D11M)
The Babies - Simon Steel Clade (D12M) and Christabel Rose Clade (D12F)
Trauma Friends - Bariq Fossil (D5M), Wendy Roofer (D5F), Winona Morgan (D6F), and Willadeene Rhodes (D10F)
Lone Wolf - Tulip Everly (D11F)