Disclaimer: Nope... still ain't mine! Title from the song "No More Wishing" by Hayley Taylor.

Teddy Chamberlin

I sat back on the bench, my long legs stretched out awkwardly over the row of bleachers below us, a plate of roasted barbecue ribs and zucchini resting in my lap. Absentmindedly, I picked at my teeth with one of the bones, glancing sidways at my father and mother. They were frowning. What else was new?

Two rows in front of me I could see my best friend Westley Beat and a few of the other guys from the training arena laughing and joking, stealing glances at the gaggle of girls we normally trained with. I would have done anything to be with them right now. To spend my few hours of freedom in the company of my best friends. But my parents would not allow it.

"Are you paying attention, Theodore?" my father's stern voice boomed close to my ear.

"It's Teddy," I muttered, settling back in my seat, watching the District One reaping for the second time in twenty-four hours.

"Teddy is not the name of a victor," my mother replied sharply, tying her hair back tightly into a bun. "Don't you want to be a victor?" I could hear the accusation in her voice.

"Yeah, I do," I mumbled. And it was true- at least I thought so. My parents had pushed me hard my entire life, spending excessive amounts of money for training. I was unbeatable. I may not have looked like the typical tribute- I was far from the hulking, bulky, meatheads who normally represented one, two, and four. But what I lacked in bulk, I made up for in skill. My life was spent training for this.

So why was I so uncertain when it came to volunteering myself for the arena?

"Pay attention- here's where the vid got cut yesterday," my father said.

That's why we were gathered in the arena just a few short hours before the reapings began. A transistor explosion at the power plant had caused the television service to cut in the middle of the District One reapings. It was fixed now, although rumor had it that several heads had literally rolled, by decree of the capitol. Watching the rest of the reaping had not been mandatory, but the regular trainees and their families had gathered at the arena to study the best that District One had to offer. After all, they were our greatest competition.

Not that any of the other guys really had to be concerned. Since my parents decided I was "sufficiently skilled" to take on the arena, it was no secret that I would be the male tribute this year. My parents held enough clout and wealth that whatever they wanted, they got. And what they wanted was the one thing missing from our family tree- a Hunger Games victor.

All I had to do was volunteer and win. Then I'd be the perfect son. My parents could live in glee in the Victor's Village, and I'd be free to live my own life. The first time in all my seventeen years.

On the screen in front of me, a blonde haired guy pumped his fist. He looked like a typical career, all brawn, no brain. His name flashed under him on the screen. Jack , his family flashed on the screen- a father, three little sisters. I felt my stomach churn. Jack with three sisters and a winning smile would be my ally. And my victim. Could I live with killing a guy with three little sisters depending on him?

Next, the girl. The name was called- Katerina Emerald- and a shout of glee was heard. I watched as she literally fought her way to the front of the crowd, grin on her face. She strutted onto the stage, striking pose after pose for the camera like a Capitol model. There was no denying, she was hot. But I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. This was the type of girl who could play your emotions with the same skill as she could slice you up.

I watched as she shook hands with Jack. With an unexpected yank, she kissed him hard on the lips. I was mesmerized by how bizarre it was, but my gaze was pulled away by a ruckus in the first row.

"THAT BITCH!"

OOO

Calendula Bates

Oh she was going to pay. That bitch from District One was dead.

"Lenny, calm down," I heard my mother say, but I ignored her, standing up abruptly and clambering down the bleachers. My mother had always been a source of strength and level-headedness for me, but I was irate.

Storming out of the gym, I was fuming. This was supposed to be my year. My last chance. At eighteen I would be ineligible after this year for the Hunger Games, and I had not trained my entire life to be pushed out, to be just another girl who had potential and now whiles away her days training the next round of recruits. That was not me.

Since last year I'd spent my days plotting the best course of action. Everything kept in a little notebook- the best strategy, how to best deal with each career and non-career district. The advantages of the weaker districts, the disadvantages of the career alliance. No detail was too small. I spent my days training, my nights rewatching old games and designing strategy. And I had found the perfect one: seduction.

Call me vain, call me a snob, I know I'm gorgeous. I don't spend my time with dozens of boyfriends, but I could have them if I wanted them. And that was my plan in the arena. Make them fall in love with me, turn them against each other, and have the boys fight it out. Fights to the death in my name, and I wouldn't have to lift a finger.

I'd take the girls out myself, of course. No one wants to watch a damsel in distress sneak her way to victory. A bit like a black widow, stalking her prey, I would lure the other girls in and dispatch them one by one. It was the perfect plan, and at the end, I would still be standing.

I had just never counted on the girl from District One stealing it from me.

Entering the quiet, abandoned gymnasium, I took one of the battle axes in my hand and attacked the wooden dummy with fury. Slam, slam, every hit reverberated through my body. How the hell was I going to grab the attention of the sponsors when Katarina Emerald (God, just saying her name made me want to take somebody out) stole my strategy?

"Hunny? You in here?"

I dropped the axe, the sound echoing off the walls of the gym. "Yeah I'm here."

My mother shuffled slowly into the gym, her back hunched over. She'd once been a formidable woman. Like me, she'd trained for the games all her life, but she was never chosen. Never had the chance to volunteer. For years, she worked in the training center out of pure love of the game. She didn't have to- my father, before his death, was an affluent merchant- but love of the fights, the power, kept her working until arthritis made the pain too great.

"Now is not the time to let that girl get to you, Calendula Bates," she said sternly, pushing a strand of my sweaty black hair behind my ear.

"I know. But mom… what am I going to do? I can fight, the whole friggen District knows I can fight. But it's nothing without sponsors. And I if do what we planned now, they'll think I'm just copying her..."

She silenced me with a raise of her hand. Mom was far from the intense, driven warrior of her youth, but she commandeered respect from those around her. Including myself, even in my worst moods. "Yes, she has the same strategy as you. So you change tactics. You can fight. So can she. But she postures. She's prideful. Did you see her throwing poses on that stage? That will be her downfall. That is how we sway the sponsor's in your direction."

Her words turned over in my mind, and I caught on. "Let's go home," I said with a smile. There was still another hour or so before the reapings. We had time to make a new plan.

"You sure you don't want to stay and see who else might be volunteering?" she asked with a knowing smile.

"Hell no. It's back to the drawing board."

OOO

Teddy

"Now did you see how Gilburn pumped his fist? He favors his right hand. That's what you'll want to disable first, keep him from using a weapon against you should he escape. When it comes time for the careers to break up, that is. You'll stick together as long as possible. I shouldn't have to tell you that," my father lectured.

I nodded, not even bothering to talk. My mother flitted around me, making last minute adjustments to the khaki pants, crisp white button down shirt, and brown corduroy jacket she'd chosen for me to wear. "Earth tones!" she said, as if she were one of the game stylists. "They make you look more powerful! Make you look like you have a little more muscle on you."

There was a small place in my heart that told me I should hold these last moments at home close to me. Cherish possibly the last few moments I ever spent with my parents. But they had deprived me of my childhood to train for these games, and my only thoughts were to get as far from them as I could. They could control my life, but they would not control the last memories I had of home.

"When you volunteer, take your jacket off," my father continued. "Fight your way forward. I want you to draw blood. Make sure it gets on your shirt. You may not be as big as the guy from One, but you can sure as hell look more threatening. Understand?"

"Yes sir," I muttered.

They stood back together, looking me over as if I was a prized show dog. Which, in all effect, I was. Their toy to send away and kill and possibly die to advance their position in the district. "You look good, Theodore," my mother said, dabbing her eyes.

"I'll see you at the reaping," I replied. No hug. No kiss. I was done with them. Maybe if I was lucky, they wouldn't even bother with goodbyes. Use it as a lesson to toughen me up.

Finally free, I felt a little bit of energy surge through me. Everyone thought of the reaping as a death sentence. Stepping outside onto our porch, I smiled for what seemed like the first time in years. It was my ticket to freedom- a life of my own for the first time ever.

"Did mummy and daddy wash behind your ears too?" I heard a snarky voice call from my porch.

"Can it, Westley!" I replied, giving my friend a playful shove.

"Awww little Teddy-kins is all ready for the arena!"

I laughed now, enjoying the ribbing. "You know I am."

Westley threw an arm around me. "You're leaving Theodore Chamberlin, Career tribute, sad sack, and personal carpet for his parents to walk upon. And you'll return to us Teddy Chamberlin, Hunger games victor and free man. I can't wait. Think of the girls, man. They will be swarming us."

In a perfect world, I thought to myself. In a perfect world…

As we walked away, I didn't look back.

OOO

Calendula

As I walked into the square, I could hear the murmurs of excitement throughout the crowd. Breathless anticipation, as usual. That was the advantage of living in District Two. Every year, we could see the show that District One had put on, and we had time to one-up it. Not that there was much to worry about this year. Half of District Two hadn't even seen the full first reaping thanks to the power outage. Who knows if similar events had happened in the other districts?

Still, I dressed for the occasion- after all, how often does a girl land herself on television? My mother and I had canned my original outfit. To play up the seductress, it had been a silver metallic minidress, with a low cut neckline lined with quartz mined from our hometown. I was so proud of that dress, had sewed the quartz on myself when I couldn't find what I liked in the stores.

What I was wearing was a complete one-eighty from my plans. But, as my mother had so gently reminded me, the ability to adapt and adjust to whatever was thrown at us was the difference between a dead Career and a victorious Career. Thus, as the district dignitaries took their rightful positions on the stage, I sashayed to my spot among the eighteen year old girls wearing a long, regal gown of deep purple, my hair tied up in an elaborate knot.

I portrayed strength. Intelligence. Dignity. And Katerina Emerald could suck it. Her reign as the female front runner was about to end.

"And… action!" I heard someone shout high above the crowds. As the last families of District Two rushed to take their seats in the stands or among the reaping candidates, our new governor took the forefront on the stage. Shortly after last years reapings, old Governor Pailey had succumbed to pneumonia, leaving a spot to be filled. And fill it the Capitol had. I would have listened to the governor's history with interest, just to see if the new guy told the story any differently. But Governor Callenby Norsten was young, handsome, and absolutely irresistible. Instead of plotting my way through the crowds to volunteer, I was mesmerized listening to him speak, pulled from my reverie only by the applause at his grand finish.

Looking around me, I saw the other girls had been similarly distracted. Good. I hadn't ruined my chances.

From somewhere in the distance, loud, upbeat music began to play. This is new, I thought. A woman with bright blue hair, pale skin, and dark brown painted freckles took to the stage. Her hair was curled and braided intricately, cascading down around her tight yellow dress that clashed horribly with her skin tone. That wasn't going to play well on TV.

This woman was new, and no wonder. It had been several years since a tribute from District Two had won. Last year it had been some girl from District Eight, though that was clearly a fluke. So Edga Penrose, our former mentor, had gotten the boot, sent down to one of the lower number districts, and this new woman had come onto the scene.

"How're ya'll doin' today? I'm Xenia Farsten, your new escort!" she drawled, upbeat and perky. She did a little dance as the music faded into the background.

Attention whore, I thought. This one wasn't going to last a year. How had she gotten a prized spot in District Two was beyond me. "Let's get this party started!

And despite my disdain for the woman, I cheered along with the rest

OOO

Teddy

What is this woman on? was the only thought that passed through my head as the blue haired… whatever she was… pranced across the stage.

"Now, I think it goes without saying, ladies first! Right boys?" Xenia screamed into her microphone, sending a wink in our direction.

I sighed, feeling my palms beginning to sweat. I was ready for this. I trained for this. Yet my stomach still churned at the thought of volunteering. There was no reason to be nervous. I had never been defeated or disarmed by my peers during our mock battles. I was quick on my feet, could strategize. Why couldn't I just overcome these nerves? The other Careers around me didn't have the same problem.

"You ready man?" Westley whispered on my right.

I nodded, gritting my teeth and setting my face to a grimace. This is your destiny, Teddy Chamberlin. This is what you were born to do.

I hoped.

Reaching into the first globe, Xenia waved a piece of paper around in her hand. "You ladies ready?" The crowd cheered.

"The lovely young lady representing District Two this year is—"

"I VOLUNTEER!" a voice shouted from the eighteen year olds. Xenia's face dropped in annoyance, the smile disappearing. It was obvious she had wanted to read the name, scare some poor child before someone had the chance to volunteer.

She was sadistic. So that's how little miss fluff and bubbles became our escort.

The volunteer climbed onto the stage slowly, draping the long train of a purple dress over her arm. I recognized Lenny, one of the fiercest trainees among the girls. Her mother had long been an advisor to tributes-in-training. Graciously, she waved at the crowd before shaking both the governor's and the escort's hands. "What's your name, sweetie?" Xenia asked.

"Calendula Bates, ma'am. And I am here to represent the best of District Two. This year, we regain our rightful spot among the victors."

The crowd roared, absolutely went into a frenzy over her. And why wouldn't they? Standing before us all, she'd transformed from Lenny, the pretty girl who trained persistently, to Calendula, the determined, gracious, and elegant tribute. The girl from One had nothing on our Lenny.

"Another round of applause for Calendula!" Xenia shouted, a request the crowd was happy to comply with. "And now for our boy!"

"You ready?" Westley asked.

"Can I ask you a favor?" I whispered quickly as the globe filled with names was mixed.

Westley looked confused. "Anything, man."

"I need to break your nose. On my way up to the stage."

"The parents?" he asked. I nodded. He sighed, understanding. West was my best friend, he always understood. "No problem man."

Xenia's hand was in the globe, pulling the slip of paper out. I felt Westley grab my shoulder. "Come back to us, Ted. It'll be you and me, partners-in-crime when you get back. Don't think of your parents in there. Think of the rest of us." I felt emotion wash over me, hearing my best friend talking this way. "Good luck in there."

We shook hands as Xenia unfolded the paper. "Our boy this year is—"

"I volunteer!" I shouted.

"Damnit!" I heard Xenia whisper sharply into her microphone. Yeah she definitely wouldn't be here next year.

Within my section, fighting began. No one wanted to be left behind. Hell, if they wanted, the Capitol could just send twenty-four guys from District Two into the arena, and they'd still have excess volunteers. I grabbed Westley by the shoulder. "Ready?" He nodded, face contorted in preparation for the hit. I socked him hard in the face, allowing the blood to spurt across my shirt.

As the fighting continued, Westley ignored his pain and helped me open a path up to the stage. I ditched my jacket, as per my parents' instructions, allowing the bright crimson of Westley's blood to be seen against the white of my shirt. Running alongside the crowds, I leapt onto the stage, ignoring the stairs. The crowd gasped in awe.

"And your name?" Xenia asked, the frustration at the reaping not going her way clear on her face.

I found my parents in the crowd, beaming in pride, and made eye contact with them. "I'm Teddy Chamberlin," I began. I saw my father cringed, and it gave me the courage to continue. One parting shot at the bastards who raised me. "And I'm going to be this year's Hunger Game victor."

"Well then, you two- let's shake hands! Give it up for the District Two tributes!"

I was free.

First off, thank you all so much for such a positive response to the first chapter! Work has been busy this past week, so I'm a little bit behind on getting back to you personally, but I will be shortly! I'm so glad you enjoyed the first chapter!

I hope you enjoyed this one as well! As I mentioned, I did reserve a number of defined "bloodbath" spots, but to give you a gist of the character (and the reasoning as to why they die early on!) I wanted to introduce them. So each of them will be featured in a reaping chapter, but the rest of the story they will not have their own perspective.

Please read and review! I always love hearing your feedback. And banners are up on my blog (if you go to "my websites" you can find it there!). Much love -Jac