Author's Notes:

Special thanks to 3hunna for Tarry, and Heyhoppel for both Georgine and Ruco. Please read and review!

District 5 Female Tribute: Georgine Lockwood POV

I stare into the mirror. It has beautiful gold trim around it - I've never seen such a pretty mirror before. I turn to my best friend Mabel who's grinning, and poorly trying to hide her giddiness on her bed.

"This is the prettiest thing I've ever seen!" I tell Mabel. I've been poor all my life and it truly is the prettiest thing I've ever seen.

"I know, I don't know how Daddy could afford it. I just love it, and the fact that he gave it to me and not Mother."

"I thought you said he got it for your birthday."

"Yeah, well, he could have given me something little and given it to my mother another time."

I stand there in silence, looking over my image. I'm very tall and lean. Actually, lean isn't the correct word. It's more of super skinny, almost to an unhealthy level. My father and I are very poor.

"Hey, do you want to start heading over to the reapings?" Mabel asks, jolting me out of my daydream.

"Uh, we have plenty of time, plus I have some last minute things I have to do, or my father will be very displeased."

She puts her hand comfortably on my shoulder, and I exhale deeply. She always helps me to relax. "It's going to be alright, and... if not, you'll be with the ones you love."

I breath deeply, she's right. I have nothing to worry about. If I get reaped, which I probably won't, I could win and come back, or I could die and see my mother and brother again.

Oh, Theo, I think, he would be eight now. If only...

"Thanks, Mabel. I'll meet you there, okay?"

She winks as I move towards the door, "Sounds like a plan. Okay, stay safe and I'll see you soon."

As I step out of her house, I feel a lone tear slip down my cheek. What am I, some sort of crybaby? I brush it off and start walking briskly through the freezing mid-morning. By the time I get to my destination, the tears have made a reappearance.

It's the cemetery where both my mother and my brother were buried. I take in a shuddering breath as I walk toward their graves.

My mom, she died in a factory accident. She was electrocuted. Instantly, she was pronounced dead, even before the medics arrived. She was my mother, and when I think of her not here, I just want to curl up into a little ball and disappear.

My brother Theo is a different story. It was my fault that he died. I took care of him, and whenever he got sick, I would nurse him back to health each time. Then, the last time he got sick, three years ago, I couldn't... I couldn't cure him. I couldn't save him. It was all my fault. The hot tears stream down my face. I couldn't save him. My little brother Theo, who we found out just recently, died from leukemia.

Mabel tells me that it wasn't my fault, but it was. I should have known something was terribly wrong with him. He was getting sick more and more frequently, but he would put up such a brave front, say that it was just a little cold. He was only five. I kick a rock in disgust. It's the Capitol's fault for my brother's and my mother's death. If we had lived in the Capitol, both of them would still be alive.

I come to an odd understanding. If ever I was reaped, I wouldn't kill a single soul. I would try to make them understand that we don't deserve this kind of treatment. What would they do, if no one killed each other? Blow every tribute up except one. That would be the worst Hunger Games ever, and the Capitol would be pissed.

I look up to see a boy, maybe only a year older than me, staring at me. I don't care, take a big long look. All he's going to see is some lunatic girl crying over those who are dead and have been dead for three years now, but the pain is still there. Like it happened yesterday.

My father shut me out after my mom died. He didn't blame me. He just wanted to forget. But that's the problem, for as long as you live, you can't forget. Especially not those you truly love.

Time to head over to the reapings now. After seeing them one last time. I have had the closure I need.

The day has warmed up somewhat. It's probably only 45 degrees now. The clouds are dark gray and looming, threatening to rain soon. I run all the way to the Square. My teeth chatter as I try to tell the female peacekeeper my name. She looks all snug and warm in her new Capitol-made coat.

I make my way toward Mabel, who is already standing in the 16 year old section and give her a quick hug. When I look at her face, I can see her lips have already turned a very pale shade of blue.

"How long have you been out here?" I ask her.

"Long enough that I can't feel my toes, or my fingers, or my face." She says sarcastically, but probably speaking the truth.

Then our escort comes out: Ruco Mardell. He's wearing a hot pink shirt with tie dye blue and green shorts. Not too odd, but the rumor about him is that he complains about having knots, in his brain. Weird. He is very scatter-brained.

"Well, hello, beautiful people of District 5! Aren't you guys just so excited for the 100th Hunger Games?!"

Silence, dead silence. Mabel and I have to muffle our giggles. Escorts try too hard, and you just have to laugh.

"I'll now play the video!" Ruco says it with so much flare, you actually think that it might be interesting, but it isn't. Don't be fooled.

When the clip (which is more like a movie) ends, I can feel the tension build. Kids terrified about being reaped, parents worried that they won't see their children again.

"Now, we'll see the lovely lady who will be one of District 5's tributes!"

He opens the slip slowly, allowing the tension to build. His voice echoes in my ears," Georgine Lockwood!"

No, no! My body is literally on autopilot. My feet are walking to the stage, but I don't want them to. I can't hear a thing, as though I'm underwater. Mabel is screaming, but I can't hear her.

I step onto the stage and wait for the boy tribute to be reaped.

"Congratulations, Gerogine!" He enthuses, giving me a light round of appplause, and some of the audience half-heartedly joins him. Now, for our gentleman, Tarry Kono!"

Silence, yet again. Guess nobody really cared for the poor kid. As Tarry Kono makes his way up the stage, I see his tears. Wait, why am I not crying? I bawled all day, and now when I'm about to face my death sentence not a single tear is shed.

Ruco startles me. "Shake hands, you two!"

We do, neither of us looking each other directly in the eyes.

Next thing I know, I'm rushed into the Justice Building. There, they guide me into a little room. I sit down and wait. It's weird, Mabel and I both sort of knew that I would be reaped.

The door opens silently, and I look up from my lap to see Mabel. She sits down and hugs me.

Breaking the silence, she says "Georgie, I'm sorry to say this, but you're not going to come back. It just won't happen, on the 100th Hunger Games, they aren't going to have a weak tribute as Victor. However, you can bring Hell to the Capitol. If you go out and try to stop the Hunger Games, you could do something, something to all of Panem. Show them the way." With that, the Peacekeeper comes in and takes Mabel out.

Mabel is right - I can't win. But I sure as heck can give them Hell.

District 5's Male Tribute: Tarry Kono POV

"Mick, I swear, I would do anything and everything to not have to go to the reapings."

He cocked his head to the side. It's the biggest waste of time in the world. Mick is a scruffy medium aged white dog with a brown tail. He is adorable in a goofy way. My parents got him for me when I was 12. I've always struggled making friends, so they got me Mick. We're total buds. My parents only use me for my knowledge, other than that, they totally ignore me. Trust me - I'm not bitter towards them, I love them, but I like being alone. I always say that it's me and Mick against the world.

My dad yells for me to come downstairs.

"Well, I wish I could. Unfortunately, I can't avoid going down forever. They'd get so mad at me. Bye Mick, I will see you later, if I'm lucky."

I pet him for what could be one last time, then head downstairs, hoping I don't have to do anything. I believe that every district gives the day off to everyone, but my parents never take time off. Sometimes it's nice to have a break. If I even brought the subject up, about taking a break, I would get scolded very badly. I'm tired of getting lectured. I think what I want to think. I have my opinions, and they can have theirs. They can't control me. Hell, the Capitol already does!

"Good morning Dad. How are you?" I try to say it properly, but there's still a hint of sarcasm in it.

He doesn't even look up from his work.

"Tarry, fix this adapter, somehow when I was rerunning the breaker, it fried. Do you think I'll need a new one?"

"Well, if you actually tilt it to the left, it will work. Do you any tape?" I ask.

He looks at me like I have three heads.

"Tape?" he says.

"Yes, tape, you use it to-"

He nods his head towards the drawer next to him, not even bothering to pry his eyes off his work. I get up and walk to the drawer, beginning to sift my hand through, trying to find the tape. Finally, in the back I find it. I tape the adapter to the side of his contraption wrapping the tape around a few extra times for good measure.

"Tada, let's make sure it works."

"It works." My dad tells me without even trying it.

I look at him quizzically.

"Thanks Tarry, you can go to the reapings now. Your mother and I will be there soon."

I look around - I hadn't even realized that Mom wasn't down here.

"Where is mom?" I ask with earnest curiosity.

My dad doesn't say a thing. Oh well, better go.

I head out the door. The TV said that there might be showers this afternoon. Believable, although it doesn't take a snarky Capitol reporter to tell me that. The clouds look like they'll drop soon. Plus, it's still pretty chilly.

I head over to the reapings. It's about a twenty minute walk from where I live. We're pretty wealthy. The poorer people live closer to the square. It's more of a pride thing, to say that you live more than ten minutes away from "the reaping" or the square.

Suddenly I become really sick to my stomach, and I realize that I skipped lunch. Well, I don't have time to go back. Guess I'll just have to go hungry, but I know there is more to it than just being hungry. There is doubt and fear mixed in. Then again, it's not like I had to take any tesserae. I'll be fine.

I wait in line so my finger can get pricked. Everybody else is talking to their friends. So, I do what I always do. Stand alone, and stay quiet.

"Next."

I walk up.

"Name and age." I hate Peacekeepers, they act like they are so much better than us... oh wait, they are. We give them anything and everything that they want.

"Tarry Kono, 17."

"Finger."

I hand it out, it hurts just a tiny bit, then starts to feel numb.

I'm just on time. Ruco is standing on the stage. I've heard this speech so many times, that I'm not going to even bother listening now. My legs feel like they are frozen stiff and I wonder if I could fall asleep standing up.

"Georgine Lockwood!"

Damn, I wasn't even paying attention and now they are going to call out the boy tribute, after a light applause, mainly from Ruco.

"Now, for our gentleman, Tarry Kono!"

No, this cannot be happening. I can't be reaped. I'll never make it back! I feel like I'm about to pass out. I somehow make it to the stage, staggering and crying.

"Shake hands, you two."

This is it. Damn, I was hoping to live a successful life. Well, what can you do?

The Peacekeepers shove me into the Justice Building. I steal a quick glance at my district partner. Surprisingly, she isn't crying - unlike me, a wreck. I haven't even gotten into the Games, and already, I'm ruined.

They start to put me on the train.

I whirl around, trying to explain that I have to see my family.

The rougher one tells me that no one wants to see me. I choose not to argue - wouldn't want to piss this guy off.

Author's Notes:

Hope you enjoy! Please review.

The usual.

1. What do you think?

2. Who do you like better?

3. Suggestions?