I've got a double update! Hooray!

District 12: Beckett Roy, Age 17

I touch my spaghetti with my fork, rolling and unrolling it around the prongs, before pushing my plate away and standing up from the table.

"What's wrong?" Cocelia asks.

"I'm not hungry," I murmur, plopping down on the couch in the living room.
"You really need to eat something before the games," Cocelia advises. "Like Erin." She nods in Erin's direction, who's wolfing down a plate of meatballs. I just shrug and shake my head.

Cocelia sighs before setting down her spoon and moving across the room to sit beside me. "Are you nervous?" She asks me.

I consider lying, telling her that I'm not nervous at all, but I know she'll see right through me. "Yeah," I respond. "I'm terrified, actually."

"You'll do great in the arena, trust me," Cocelia promises, giving me a smile. I smile back, grateful for her support.

We sit in silence until I grab the remote to the TV and turn it on, mindlessly flicking through the channels. All of them are discussing the upcoming Hunger Games, not that it's a surprise. I finally stop at some talk show and watch the hosts bet on who they think will win, though I'm not really listening to their conversation. All I can think about is how I might be dead in less than twenty four hours.

Erin walks over to the living room, leaving her empty plate on the table. She sits down on the plush sofa. "What are you watching?" She asks me, staring at the screen.

"I'm not really sure," I admit. Erin frowns.
"The hosts are talking about you," She notes. I instantly perk up, curious as to what their opinion on me is.

"I don't know about you, Bernie, but I'm honestly rooting for Beckett Roy," One announcer says. "I mean, come on. Wasn't it so sweet how he volunteered for his little brother? He's such a great guy!"

I see a scowl grow on Erin's face, and she grabs the remote, turning the TV off. "You've certainly found favor with the Capitol," She mutters.

"I'm sure plenty of people are rooting for you too," I tell her. She lets out an empty laugh.

"Doubt it. Nobody ever likes me," She says. I open my mouth to give her some reassurance, but I find myself unable to speak any words that could comfort her. The room falls quiet once again.

District 3: Jessica Rastik, Age 17

I pace up and down the hall, enjoying the echoes my footsteps make in the silence. Thoughts of the coming day flit through my mind, making my legs tremble with fear. I try to steady my breathing, but it's no use. Tears burn the back of my eyes as the realization that the bloodbath is in just a few hours sinks in. Will I still be alive by the end of tomorrow?

There's the creak of a door a few feet away from me, and my gaze falls on Scorpius. His dark hair is matted and his eyes are tired and weary. When he sees me, he hesitates, then joins me in my walking.

"Are you scared?" I ask him.

"Of course," He replies. "Why wouldn't I be? I could be dead within the span of a day."
"Good point," I murmur. I feel my heart speeding up as I notice how close we are. I can feel the silence of the room slowly beginning to suffocate me, so I blurt out, "Do you want to explore a little with me?"

Scorpius doesn't respond, which I assume to be a yes. I stroll towards the elevator, and after a pausing moment, Scorpius follows.

When the doors close around us, I stare at the rows of buttons on the wall. "How about we try the top floor?" I suggest, pressing the button, which turns red. I hear the elevator begin to move, and an old songs starts to play.

After a moment, the doors slide open, and I let out a quiet gasp. Surrounding us is a huge garden, rows of brightly colored flowers lining the ground. I look up and see millions of tiny, bright stars, which twinkle above the Capitol with a magnifect light.

"It's beautiful," I murmur. Scorpius nods and begins to walk among a gravel pathway. I take off after him, gazing in awe at the different plants.

Eventually, we come to the edge of the garden. A railing stands at the end. I peer over it and see dozens of brightly dressed Capitolites, looking almost microscopic at the distance we're at. They dance and laugh, the sound of music drifting up to where we stand.

"It's sick, you know," Scorpius mutters, glaring down at the street, "The way these Capitolites are celebrating the Hunger Games. Twenty three innocent children are going to die in the next two weeks for their entertainment. Twenty three people, just… gone in the blink of an eye. It's terrible."

"If only we could do something about it," I whisper back. Scorpius sighs and looks away.

"Someday the districts will rebel," He murmurs, "Someday."

His words hang in the air. I can feel the tension between us building, and I feel the need to say something. "I really like you," I blurt out.

Scorpius lets out a small groan. When he doesn't respond, I turn to give him a look. "So?" I question. "Do you like me back or not?"

"I'm gay."

I stare at him in shock. "You're… what?"

"Gay," Scorpius repeats. I blink rapidly to try and rid myself of the tears burning in my eyes, but it's too much for me to handle, and I suddenly feel trickles of water sting my cheeks.

"Why didn't you tell me before?" I ask. I can feel my heart twisting in my chest, tangling up into knots and strangling me until I feel as though I can't breath.

"I stood up for you against Juno Armstrong. JUNO ARMSTRONG, Scorpius. She's probably going to kill me in the arena, now, just because I saved you, and you don't even have the heart to respect me?"

"I didn't ask you to defend me, Jessica," Scorpius reminds me, but I'm not listening to him.

"I have had a crush on you forever!" I scream. "Forever! Do you know how many times I- how many times almost every girl in our grade- has seen you walking down the hall and thought to themselves, I wish he was my boyfriend? A whole lot! And you don't even care! You're twisted, Scorpius! TWISTED!"

I know that my anger has no logic to it. It's not his fault. It's mine for falling in love with him in the first place. But I'm past reason at this point. I storm away, my hands clenched at my sides.

I wasted half of my life crushing on Scorpius, and he's gay.

I hate him. But I hate myself even more, for making the mistake of liking him.

I should have known better

District 10: Jon Winsi, Age 15

I roll over in bed, glancing at the clock on my nightstand. 2:03. A shiver runs down my spine. I haven't gotten an ounce of sleep thus far, and I know I should try and get at least a few hours of rest, but I'm too terrified to close my eyes. Abruptly, I stand up and make my way to the door. I need to talk to Maylee.

When I enter her room, I see her looking just as scared as I am. Her head pops up as I push open the door, her eyes wild and tired.

"What are you doing here?" She asks me, sitting up.

"I... need to talk to you," I tell her. She gestures for me to go on. "Well, I can't stop thinking about the last couple of nights, and I was just wondering… when you said you loved me during training, and that whole mess at the interviews… do you really… you know, like me? Or are you just putting on a show for the Capitol in order to get sponsors?"

Maylee looks a little surprised and maybe even offended. "Of course I like you! I've liked you for… a while now, actually."
I feel my shoulders relax at the confirmation. "I like you, too," I tell her after a moment. She smiles.

"So… was that all?" She asks me.

"Well, no," I respond, "There was something else I wanted to do."

I sit on the edge of her bed, trying to work up the nerve to do what I've been dreaming of doing for years now. Maylee cocks her head. "Yeah? What is it?" She aks.

I take a deep breath, lean down, and kiss her.

I feel my heartbeat pound in my chest, but Maylee doesn't pull away. I loop my hand around her waist and pull her closer to me, my breath quickening with every second.

It crosses my mind that this is the first time that I've kissed her.

I shudder when I realize that it also might be my last.

ONE MORE CHAPTER UNTIL THE BLOODBATH. HOLY CRAAAAAAP.