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Oceanus Shaw

I pull my blue blazer on as I walk out the door with my father. He grunts and tries to smooth down his shirt and tie. I sigh and do my best to ignore him as he mutters curses as we walk to District 6's square. I put my hands in my pockets and stride ahead of him, feeling wide awake. This year, my name will be entered into the Reaping 14 times. Even though I've just turned fifteen, we need the tesserae. I'm still in school but also work part time getting injected with a variety of chemicals and medicine that need to be tested before it is sold. Yeah. I love my job. I love my life.

District 6 is somewhat wealthy compared to a couple of the other districts, because we manufacture medicine which is of course, essential. Unfortunately we are not one of those wealthy families. Actually, we were, once. My dad supposedly was a genius with medicine in his earlier years, and with a number of other doctors created a very successful pain killer medicine. So successful, in fact, that he went to the Capitol to work. When he was there, he fell in love and got a woman pregnant. Once she found out, she decided whole heartedly that she did not want to raise a child that was half a filthy district slob. Hence I was born, and my father eventually returned with me to District 6, gambled away most of his money and spent the rest on alcohol. Now I take care of him. He doesn't really appreciate it, but it doesn't stop me. He's my dad after all, and I know, unlike my mother, that deep down, he loves me.

"Hurry up," He spits at me, now walking at my side. "You'll be late to the bloody Reaping"

I don't reply but pick up the pace. The square is now in view, already crowded with citizens. My father will have to stand on one of the streets a little ways away, since we're late. A peacekeeper spots me and gestures over. I turn to my dad, who stares back at me with a sleepy look.

"Bye dad, love you" I tell him, holding my hands behind my back.

He curls his lip at me "Little bastard," He grunts after a moment. He turns and walks away. I sigh and watch him go before the peacekeeper calls me over. He gets me through the crowd to my age group and I spot a few of my friends who I join as quick as I can.

They wave and nod at me, but do not speak, because our mayor as already started talking. It is only when he finishes his speech about our country's history and begins to introduce District 5's escort then my best friend Javelin smiles at me. "You made it just in time—you missed the bets though. Mac's certain his older brother's going to be tribute this year".

My friends do not know of my hellish life at home. They know I live with my dad, but they don't know the things he does to me and the names he calls me. They suspect I have just 5 names entered in the Reaping just like them. I smile back and laugh a little. "Mac says the same thing every year. I didn't even think his brother was eligible anymore".

"I know, me too!" Agrees Javelin, perhaps a little too loudly. A girl on our left shushes us and we just grin like idiots.

Aurora 'Rory' Tinsel

"I can't see a goddamn thing!" I complain, occasionally leaning forward on my tiptoes to try to get a glimpse of the stage. My three friends laugh at me, and my best friend, Tin turns to me. "Want to sit on my shoulders?" He offers, wiggling his eyebrows. I scowl and push him playfully on the arm. "Maybe if I wasn't wearing a dress" I stare down at the red button down thing in annoyance. My mother forces me into it every single year.

Our escort has just finished introducing our past victors, all 2 of them, and is about to announce the boy tribute. Even though I don't have the best view, she's so loud I don't need to see much. The name she announces next is Oceanus Shaw. I snort and emit a giggle. His name has anus in it.

My friend Poncetta nudges me and points out the boy leaving his group and making his way to the stage. He doesn't look a lot like other District 6 boys do. There's a weird Capitol kind of look to him. His hair is very spiky and bronze, and his eyes are bright blue. He's cute looking and at least has put on a confident face. I don't know if I believe it though. It's most likely just a mask. On the inside, he's probably freaked out of his mind. I would be. He passes us and eventually reaches the stage, where he looks out at the crowd. Our escort quickly moves on to select a female tribute.

"Do either of you know him?" I ask my friends. Poncetta and Tin shake their heads but Orion pauses a moment before responding thoughtfully. "I think his mother or father is from the Capitol. My kid sister goes to school with him, she mentioned him once or twice"

Our brilliant escort has returned. "Aurora Tinsel!"

Well hell.

"Crap" I announce loudly as people turn to stare. I put on a ridiculous goofy smile and head towards the stage. My friends have gone silent, and I don't dare turn around to see their faces. Once I get to the stage, our escort asks for volunteers. I hold my hands open, as if asking "Anyone, anyone?"

Of course no one volunteers. Oceanus and I shake hands. Everything else is a blur—I am driven to the justice building in a car and escorted into a small room by Peacekeepers. In no time my parents arrive with my sister and brother. We cry, we laugh. Next, Tin arrives and raps me in a gigantic bear hug, burrowing his face into my shoulder. We stay like this until I pull away. "Don't get too sappy," I warn, refusing any tears to bubble in my eyes "You'll look like one of those it girls"

He smiles. It is sad. I have never seen Tin cry before, but there are little pools of water forming in his eyes. I wince and kiss him on the cheek. "What strategy do you think I should go for, then? Dumb and beautiful? Cheesy and humble?"

"No" He says firmly, taking my hand in his. "Just be you, Rory. When I watch you win on television, I want the real you. Promise, okay?"

"Okay," I answer. His words dig deep into my skin. I've been a hard-core tomboy my whole life, handling dart guns and knives, beating boys twice my size in sports and games. Will I be able to do that in the Hunger Games? I'll need to do so much better, but there's a slim chance I can pull it off. If there are Capitol idiots who will believe in me like Tin, then that chance may bloom to save my ass. "Okay," I repeat "I promise"