A/N I have returned from yet another semi-hiatus. I'm so sorry, I needed to study for (and take) EOCs (End of Course Exams)! It was very very stressful. Luckily, I hath returned! Thank you all for your support, reviews, and telling people about this. It really does make me happy. Okay, I bet none of you read this anyway, so here's District 5! HOLLA!


The Tributes

From the moment that they met, Mike Chang and Quinn Fabray were an inseparable pair of friends. The indissoluble pair met at District 5's training camp, of which parents signed the children up if they wished to have them participate in the games. Today: the reaping day 6 years post their meeting was, in fact, a set date, not just from the Captitol. You see, 6 years ago the two made a pact, a vow that would not be shattered.


A Look Into the Past

Mike gazed at the tall, blonde girl; Quinn, who was finishing her last practice shot with the bow-and-arrow. The artillery was not the best weapon of choice for the blonde, and still the arrow soared through the air to the target's bulls eye. Quinn spun around on the heel of her flat shoe and directed her hazel eyes toward the boy looking at her. She rose an eyebrow as he opened his mouth to speak. "Yes?"

Mike smiled a bit, and looked at the ground out of a nervous habit, "I- uh, you're really awesome. At that," he said, motioning to the target with the bulls eye.

Quinn's face softened and she smiled a bit. "Thanks.." Quinn looked thoughtful and remembered the boy's name, "Mike. You do agility, right? You're good at that. Really fast. Good at dodging, and stuff."

Mike looked up. "Really? Thanks!"

A moment of silence dwelled as Mike looked all around the room nervously.

"What's the matter?" Quinn inquired, raising an eyebrow at the boy with a questioning glare and crossing her arms, leaning all her weight to one hip.

"Uh, nothing. It's just... I dunno. You're really cool, and I've wanted to talk to you for some time now, and you're here and I though to myse-"

"Okay, Mike." Quinn stopped him, holding her hand up. "I better be good, because my dad wants me to volunteer for The Games when I'm 16.." the girl trailed off.

"No way," Mike said, his eyes widening, frowning. "I'm so sorry, I sort of want to volunteer, but my dad won't even tell me his opinion. I'm lucky if he even looks at me, to be honest," the boy admitted. All the while, Mike couldn't help but think Quinn's dad wanted her to volunteer. Why? I mean, she's good, but why would he just tell her to do that? Quinn needs her own opinion, really. She doesn't have to do this. I need to be there for her, and before he could review the words in his head, Mike found himself blurting out, "Well, since I want to show my dad that I can win, and you're going. maybe we could volunteer together? We could be allies and stuff."

Quinn's entire demeanor softened. "What? R-Really? You'd do that?"

Mike smiled, nodding. "Yeah, I mean it's a chance to show dad I'm capable of something," Mike stated, nodding.

A stiff silence resided between the two, and Quinn stuck out her hand.

"So.. Partners?"

"Partners."

They shook hands, and instantly began 6 years of training.


After that day, Mike Chang and Quinn Fabray trained together, as a duo, the fact that they would both eventually have to kill each other far from their brains. From the partnership sprung a strong friendship, one that only possible death could destroy. All the preparation that they both had planned, spent countless hours dwelling on for weeks upon months upon years led up to this, the reaping.

No matter how much the self-persuasion, the two could not fully convince themselves that this was the judgement day, the beginning of what they had journeyed so long to get to. The trek toward this, the reaping. Time.. It flew by. So, so very fast- and now..

Quinn looked in the mirror next to the front door. Hair, good, she looked presentable. She needed to be, she was volunteering in front of the entirety of Panem. She slowly opened up the front door as Mike, now 16, peered inside. "Ready?" He asked, nervously.

"I'm ready." Quinn said, convincing herself that she was. Her dad, Mike, her sister Frances... they all said she was good.

She would just have to work off of that.

Mike looked at Quinn, holding out his hand. He did their secret handshake, and he nodded. "Let's go."


As they walked to the square, Quinn could feel her father's judging glare through the back of her head. Even though she was volunteering, she still felt it wasn't enough, not enough for her father; that nothing would ever be. She shook her head, sighing and walking up to the blood sample tables as she and Mike parted until they were up on the stage again.

Mike held out his hand, clenching his teeth to prevent the pain of the needle. Once after, he walked to his group, as he looked at Quinn. She looked back, then ahead to the girl dressed in a silver-metallic outfit. As always, Emma tapped the microphone, and it didn't work. She tapped it again, her metallic silver gloves not making a sound. She looked behind her, motioning to the microphone, and it finally turned on.

"Oh! Hello! It's on! wonderful!" She clasped her hands together and held them in the air. "Let's get right to the fun, then!" She smiled, walking towards the crystal bowl.

Quinn looked up at the front, swallowing. It took the brunette girl behind her poking her in the back for Quinn to perk up and clear her throat and finally say "I volunteer!"

Emma looked at Quinn, smiling widely. "Really? Oh, how wonderful! Isn't that special? Come on up here, young lady," Emma exclaimed, motioning up to the front.

Quinn walked up, putting on her bravest and cockiest face possible, as Emma held her hand to help her up. "And what might your name be?" she asked, perkily.

Quinn smirked, and said "Quinn Fabray, crossing her arms and looking off into the crowd. Before Emma could go on to announce the boys being called up, there as a lone voice who shouted, "I volunteer as male tribute!"

Everyone looked at Mike, who was escorted up to the stage as Emma huffed. She liked announcing the male tribute.. no matter. She smiled, looking at the boy next to her. "And you are...?"

"Mike. Mike Chang." He said, nodding.

"Well, there you have it! District 5, your tributes!" Emma clapped, eagerly smiling as she looked at the both.

"Let's take you to the back, shall we?"


Quinn looked at the door, waiting for Frances, her mother, father.. anyone to come in, to re-assure her, to wish her luck. She waited, pacing around the room until the door opened, revealing her father.

"Dad?" Quinn said, smiling.

"Good job," Mr. Fabray said, dully nodding. "I knew you'd have it in you. Look, we only have a couple of minutes, so I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Win."

Quinn nodded, "I'll try."

"No, you won't try," Mr. Fabray said, firmly, "you will do. We are Fabrays, and we are doers. You understand that? Win."

Quinn nodded, as a silence fell, and Mr. Fabray walked out. A peacekeeper informed him that "you have 1 more minute," and Mr. Fabray nodded.

"I know." With that, he walked even further away.


Mike looked at the door. He was 100% certain that his Dad wouldn't even bother to come. He didn't.

However, his mother did; and she was blubbering mess.

"Mike. Mike, why didn't you tell me? We could have.. I mean, not that I think you wouldn't win, I just.. I don't want to risk.."

"Shh," Mike said, calmly smiling. "Mom, it'll be okay. I have a plan. I'll be back, I promise."

Mrs. Chang looked up at Mike, her eyes full of tears of sorrow. "You better be."

Mike chuckled, wiping the tears from his mother's eyes. "I'll be okay."

The peacekeepers walked in, taking Mrs. Chang from Mike. "I love you! Your father does too."

"Yeah, right." Mike said, shaking his head.

Yeah right.

Mike waited until Emma walked in with Quinn, and the two embraced. It was there. It was real. It was finally happening. And to think- this was only just the real beginning.

"Ready?" Mike asked, as the two pulled away.

"Ready."

"READY!" Emma said eagerly jumping and clapping, motioning outside. "It's ready to go!"

Mike and Quinn exchanged glances before heading with Emma to the train.