A/N: I know this is not very well edited but it is the best I could do in the time I had. I will come back later and edit so please no flames.

VICTORIA ARMSTRONG POV

My mother throws her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder. I let myself collapse into her embrace for a second before I stand up straight and gently push her shaking form away.

"Please don't volunteer," she cries, stepping forward to hug me again. I step backwards, avoiding her gaze.

"I'm sorry mom." Her despairing gaze burns into my back as I make my way up the stairs of our house as quickly as I can without running.

Dad waits for me at the door to my bedroom, a tight smile pressed onto his lips.

"Good luck, Victoria."

"Thanks," I murmur- glad that at least one of my parents supports me.

-TIME SKIP-

I pull my ponytail out and watch as my long brown hair comes cascading over my shoulders. My brown eyes glisten in the sunlight let in from the open window, matching the way the gold sparkles on my light pink strapless dress. My baby pink and gold stiletto heels make me look slightly taller than my 5'3" natural height. As a finishing touch, I place a golden leaf crown atop my brown waves. Perfect.

The chiming sound of the doorbell rings out across the house. Instantly knowing who it is, I practically throw myself down the stairs and through the multiple halls, moving as fast as humanly possible in stiletto heels. Throwing the door open reveals Hero, my training partner for the last ten years and fellow chosen volunteer on the doorstep. I throw myself- literally this time- into his arms. Playing along, Hero spins me around before hugging tightly. I return the hug just as firmly, burying my head in his shoulder. After what feels like a perfect eternity, Hero pushes me away as gently as a soon-to-be-Hunger-Games-hero can. I feel a blush on the back of my neck- of course, the hugs are a friendship thing to Hero but I can't help but wish that they were something more.

"You ready?" He asks. I loop my arm through his.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

HERO SLADE POV

Out of the corner of my eyes, I watch my breathtakingly beautiful friend as she almost skips along the path towards the Justice Building. I always wonder as beautiful, smart, and strong as Victoria would even bother to be my friend but here I am- secretly wishing that she wasn't so oblivious to my huge crush on her.

Eventually, we make our way through the reaping crowd and towards the sign in station. Without the peacekeeper even having to ask, I free my arm from Victoria's and hold out my right hand. The peacekeeper pricks my middle finger, staining my place on my sheet with blood. I turn to say 'see you later' to Victoria but the crowd has already carried her away.

-TIME SKIP-

"Why don't we change it up a bit this year?" Colton Rien asks rhetorically. "Men first! Axton Cornier!"

Stepping out of line, I raise my hand. "I volunteer as tribute!" Colton smiles as I march onto the stage.

"Now for ladies. Katherine Lakes!"

"I volunteer as tribute!" Victoria makes her way up onto the stage. Without being promoted, the two of us reach out and shake hands.

"Now this, dear people," Colton speaks into the microphone, "will be a very interesting Hunger Games."