A girl devoted, focused on naught but victory,

A boy with too much to lose to seek just glory.

The tributes of District 2 share not the love of the fight.

District 2 | The Reaping of Aphrodite Maddox

Ring-ring! Ring-ring! R-

"Shut up!" I scream over my alarm clock, smacking it with my bare hand forcefully.

"Aphy? What is going on!?" My mum yells in horror, running to my bedroom door.

"I'll tell you what's wrong. This alarm clock doesn't know how to shut up." I growl, glaring at the clock as if it was a living thing.

If it was a living thing though, it would probably run for its life.

"Well honey, I'm sure it won't annoy you anymore since it's broken." My mum grabs the now broken alarm clock, and stares at it for a while before nodding her head.

"Yep. Definitely broken." Then something clicks in my head. I never set the alarm clock! Why would I do it today? Why would I-

It's reaping day. Hell yeah.

"Whoo! Reaping day! This is what I have been waiting for!" I jump for joy, doing a little dance. I turn to face my mother, who is frowning. As soon as she notices me looking, her frown immediately turns into a smile.

"Yes Aphrodite. Fantastic." I can tell she is acting. Besides the fact that it is a little too obvious to miss, she never said my full first name unless something is wrong.

"Mum, where's Ruby? I want to say bye to her because I won't see her until the reaping. I'm going out with my friends real quick."

"Oh, she's downstairs. I love you sweetie. Don't die." Her voice cracks at the last sentence, and I give her a tight embrace.

"Mum, I'm a career. I can do this. I will do this. I love you." I let go of her, give a quick smile before heading down stairs.

"Ruby!" I yell halfway down the stairs.

"Aphy! Savior!" She cutely smiles and hugs me as I get to the bottom of the stairs. Ruby has started calling my savior ever since I saved her from our horrible stepdad. He was a paedophile. I heard my sister screaming, pleading, crying for help and raced to her room one night when mum was working. I opened the door quickly and caught our step-dad on top of her. He just laughed seeing me, considering I was girl I couldn't do anything. Didn't he know I was a career? I pounded his face in. He went to hospital with major injuries, and my mother filed for divorce soon after. Rumor has it that he moved to the Capitol straight after getting released from hospital. Justice you ask? None. When I become victor, he will be tortured to death.

But to be honest, I hate Ruby calling me savior. It reminds me of the night, and what I saw. The poor girl makes it so hard for me to forget.

"Hey Ruby! I just wanted to say bye because the next time I see you will be at the reaping today. I'm going out with my friends real quick."

"Okay! You're going to win aren't you Aphy?"

"Of course Ruby, my little sweetie pie." I'm only very sweet to her. It's just Ruby that makes me turn all sweet. My mother too.

"Alright, bye! Love you!" I give her a peck on the cheek and big hug. I soon leave the house quietly, heading to the enormous park with a swimming pool. I know my friends will be there.

"Hey guys!" I yell out to my friends, who are busy chatting among themselves.

"Hey Aphy!"

"Hey beautiful!" Were most of the replies Aphy got from her friends, which were both boys and girls.

"Hey. Can't I get a little cheer? I AM the district 2 female tribute of the 34th hunger games!" I say confidently, earning a few laughs.

"Aren't you cocky today?" one of my friends, Sadie, remarks still laughing.

"Aphrodite Maddox, what are we going to do without you?" another one of mates, Jake smirks. He runs a hand through his blonde hair, and winks at me. I have to admit, he is very handsome. Aren't all my friends? I'm just kidding around.

"I don't know. What are you going to do without me?" I play along, giggling a bit.

After that, my friends and I just talk about random things.

"What weapons are you going to use?"

"About anything I can get my hands on really." I reply, watching some peacekeepers drag a guy out of the swimming pool.

"What are they doing to him?" I ask my group of friends, pointing to the man who looks terrified and is getting dragged out the pool.

"Wasn't he the man on the news? The one they needed to catch because he stole something from the peacekeepers?" Sadie says, giving him a very good look.

"Oh, that guy. But they said he was a billionaire!" My friend Percy shouts, shocked.

"Aren't most of the guys in District Two?" Jake laughs, hitting Percy on the head for being so stupid.

"True. Why would he hide in the most famous park in District Two? Idiot." I laugh, and so do most of my friends. Who does that?

"My dad wants me to be a peacekeeper." Percy sighs, frowning.

"My mum never wanted me to become a tribute of the hunger games, but here I am now. I don't understand why though." I think I might. I know she doesn't want me to become a tribute because she loves me, but me winning the games benefits my whole family. Also, our stepdad will be tortured to death. Excellent.

I was never the one to kill someone slowly, just quickly, but for my sick stepdad I will make an exception.

"You know that it is very tough on your little sister too." My blonde friend Charlie reminds me.

"Of course I do! I'm going to miss little Ruby, little innocent Ruby. But one of the reasons I'm doing this is to get justice to the man who almost killed her pure innocence…" I mutter the last sentence, but unfortunately some of my friend heard me.

"What?" My friend Rebecca asks, confused.

"Nothing, you must of heard a mockingjay."

Rebecca nods her head slowly, before saying-

"I know that mockingjays can sing tunes, but I never knew they could talk. Do you mean jabber jays?"

"Um, sure." I curse under my breath. Sure?! That's my response?

After a long awkward silence, Percy speaks up.

"So what angle are you going for?"

"You know me, and the boys. They all want me. So, I'm going for flirty, sexy but dangerous. A confident winner."

Jake snorts, and pats me on the back.

"Right, all the boys want you. Isn't it the other way around?"

"Haha, you wish. You're just jealous because all the girls aren't running for you. Neither are the boys." I laugh as he lets out an awkward cough.

"I'm…straight."

"Sure you are babe." I give him a peck on the cheek, and he immediately wipes the spot I kissed, even though it was dry and clean.

"Definitely gay."

Everyone laughs, and he blushes. He sees a girl walking pass, a pretty one too, and flexes his biceps. He even winks at her, but she just scoffs and runs away.

I clap my hands, and everyone joins along.

"Look at that, Jake Maynard everyone!" I yell, and everyone in the park looks at me like I'm crazy.

Well, I'm going to be on TV, take that.

"Shut up Aphy. I don't even know why they call you Aphrodite."

"People call me Aphrodite because it's my name idiot. But if it wasn't, they probably would still call me that." I giggle, and flip my brunette hair, totally showing off.

"You're so…happy, for someone who is about to go into the hunger games."

"It was my choice. If I win, everything will be going to plan and perfect. If I lose, will too bad so sad, it was all worth it." I lie.

If I die, none of this is going to worth it.

"You know we will miss you, Aphy. Even though you are a cocky airhead most of the time." Jake says, hugging me tightly. I hug him back. I also give him another peck on the cheek, and this time he doesn't wipe it off. He looks at me with lust in his eyes, and then starts to stare at my lips.

I know what he wants, but for all I know I'm probably going to start dating someone in the hunger games. Even though it is a game where only one survives, some tributes still date or fall in love.

Besides, I only like Jake as a simple friend. So I give him a small kiss on the lips, and though all our friends are shocked, I say aloud-

"It was a friendly gesture. Relax." Everyone sighs from relief; they obviously thought that we would be a horrible couple. Except for Jake. Who looks heartbroken? Or angry? Or just overall pissed and confused?

"What's up with that look on your face Jake?"

"You just kissed me - ON THE LIPS. You call that a friendly gesture? I was only looking at your lips because you have some chocolate on the top." He looks like he's about to lick my top lip, but my friend Sadie interferes.

"Whoa! Wait…oh, you do. But still Jake, you shouldn't lick it off!"

Jake smirks, and replies-

"Just a friendly gesture."

Everyone laughs again, and we start talking about other random things.

We talk about my tactics and what I should do in training.

I may seem like a stupid brunette, but I'm competition. Trust me. I can use about any weapon, and probably will get a training score of ten. I beat all the other girls in training. I'm especially good with knives and swords. Like I said before, I'm the sort of career who gives quick deaths, so knives and swords are good for me.

After a while, it's time to go to where we have the reapings every year.

"Are you excited?" My friend Charlie whispers to me while we're walking.

"Of course I am!" I snort, what a foolish question. This is an amazing honor. This is what I was born for.

And maybe, just maybe, this is was I was born to die for.

"Welcome! Welcome to the 34th Hunger Games District Two reapings!" The escort, Brad Pyrros, says in his Capitol accent, making a few people around me chuckle. As if they hadn't heard it before.

"Now first we'll have a few victors come up and make a speech!"

Ugh, I hate this. It's the same thing every time. Great honor winning the Hunger Games, blah blah blah.

After it's over, Brad the escort stands between the giant fish bowls deciding if he should pick boys or girls first.

"Hmm, I think its ladies first!"

Yes. My time to shine.

Brad reaches into the bowl, and picks out a name. I think I should volunteer already, but decide against it and wait for the name to be called out.

"Artemisia Leven."

"No! No!" I hear a boy scream out. Must be his girlfriend or something. Sad he can't do anything about it. But I can.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I yell, making everyone stare at me. Well, this is District Two. I don't see how that is such a shocker.

I walk up the stage, blowing kisses to the crowd and putting on a cocky smirk. Some boys smirk at me, and wink too. A shame I never got to know them. Some were actually cute.

"What's your name sweetheart?"

"Aphrodite Maddox." I say confidently, smirking to the crowd.

Brad then goes to the fish bowl filled with the boy's names and picks one out quickly.

"Finton Andrews."

A handsome guy with messy blonde hair, who is also tall and brawny steps out of the 17 year old section and walks up to the stage.

Wait. Where are the male volunteers? There were heaps who wanted to volunteer! Besides, Finton looks a bit scared. But since of his big image, maybe people had mistaken him as a career with lots of luck.

"Our tributes for the 34th Hunger Games!" Brad yells, and the crowd cheers.

"You may shake hands."

Finton and I shake hands, and he smiles warmly, also saying hello.

Now that I hear his voice, I realize that he was the one who was yelling "No! No!" When that other girl got reaped. He must be acting really nice because he's grateful.

"Was that your girlfriend?" I ask him, whispering so no one else hears.

He must know who I'm talking about, because he frowns and then mutters-

"Maybe."

Well, he's a little shy.

Once everyone leaves, Finton and I get separated into two different rooms. It's time to say goodbye.

"Aphy! Saviour!" Ruby runs into the room crying, tears running down her cheeks.

"Don't cry Ruby. You'll make me cry." I give her a tight embrace, which lasts for at least 5 minutes. "Mum." I mumble as I look up from Ruby to my mother. "I love you." I proclaim, smiling, pretending that I'm not about to cry.

"I love you so much more." we hug, and a tear slides down my cheek. Just one tear. Just one. I'm strong. I know I am. I need to be.

"Mum, don't marry someone when I'm gone!" I laugh, and she joins along.

"I love how you make jokes at the worst of times. Do that in the hunger games honey. It will do you good."

"Of course."

The next people to come are my friends. I tell them I love each and every one of them, giving them all a hug. They tell me I'll win, and know it for a fact. They're very supportive.

"Time's up!" two peacekeepers come in to take away my friends, and I then realize -

This is it.

This is my time to shine – to shine in the Hunger Games.

District 2 | The Reaping of Finton Andrews

"Finn! Finton, wake up!" shouts Elora, my sister as she runs into my room and jumps on the end of my bed.

I groan and try to pull the covers further up over my head. The sun's only just risen and I'm pretty sure that today isn't a school day.

"Come on, Finton Andrews," sighs my mum, also walking in.

I sit up and look around, trying to work out why everyone's in my room.

Oh yeah, it's the Reaping today. Which would explain why Elora is in such a good mood. She's not going into the Arena because people will volunteer in her place and she's training to be a Career anyway.

I haven't been training so I'll have no chance if I'm reaped but I hope someone would want to take my place anyway.

"Fine, I'm going to get up now," I lie to get them out of my room.

"Good," says mum, dragging Elora out.

I slump back down and try to fall asleep again, hoping that this is going to be some kind of bad dream. When I was younger, it would work…

"Finn! Get up!"

…Now it obviously doesn't.

I groan again and climb out of bed, walking over to my wardrobe to grab the smart clothes that have been especially bought for me for the Reaping: a plain white, ironed shirt and a pair of black trousers. Before I put them on, I have a quick shower so I can at least look decent even if I won't be going to the Arena.

Once I've dressed into my Reaping clothes, I run down the stairs and into the kitchen. Elora's sitting on the side with a piece of toast in her hands. My mum's standing next to her in an elegant looking outfit for her return to the Capitol after the Reaping.

I grab a piece of fruit, leaving the room again as I shout over my shoulder, "I'll see you after the Reaping before you go."

"Where are you going?" mum asks.

I think for a moment before answering. "I'm going for a walk."

She is no doubt disbelieving of my excuse but she doesn't argue as she lets me leave the house, for a few last hours of freedom before the Reaping.

I'm no doubt the worst possible guy that District Two could probably have. I am weak, useless and I never went once to the compulsory training sessions. The only good thing that came from that was the beatings that did make me slightly stronger. And I am slightly stronger after looking after Elora for such a long time. But, other than those facts, I am sure that District Two would cringe to have me as a tribute.

I laugh to myself as I follow the path that I would know with my eyes closed to Artemisia's house. As I reach it, I take a deep breath to steady myself after not having seen her in such a long time.

But before I have the chance to knock, it is already swung open so I am face-to-face with Artemisia's dad.

"What?" he growls, the imposing look on his face reinforced by the important outfit like my mum's that he wears.

"I was wondering if I could see Artemisia before the Reaping this afternoon," I answer in the most confident voice that I can muster in this situation.

"She's out," he tells me. "She's with her better friends." And then he slams the door in my face.

I step back.

Better friends? Since when has she needed better friends? We'd always been best friends. Almost family but best friends still.

Maybe her parents did this. But her parents always liked me, never thought anything was wrong. Unless the last day we saw each other destroyed all those feelings.

Those thoughts spin around my head as my feet lead me away from her house, my head unaware of what is happening.

For some reason, I stop when I reach the edge of a park. I turn to look at the people inside when I hear voices and laughter coming from them. My breath catches though when I see who one girl is.

I stare as Artemisia, my best friend, sits in the middle of a clearing, surrounded by a few other people. Her hair has been unnaturally curled and her beautiful face has makeup on it. She is pretending to smile and laugh at everything that a boy says but I know that she's faking it all.

As I walk forward slightly to stand behind a tree with the hope of hearing some of their conversation, I notice her sigh and look up for a second. I know she sees me because the expression on her face momentarily changes to one of longing.

I raise my eyebrows as if to say, "What's happening?" when she keeps eye contact with me.

She pulls a face as she turns away, putting her hand on the boy's beside her and leaning against him. The boy responds by wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head.

I understand now. Her parents don't actually like me. Because of our last night together, they've arranged for her to go out with someone else. Fine, if that's how she wants it, she can have it that way. She obviously hasn't tried to stop it because she's still there after four months.

I walk away with my hands clenched into fists in my pockets. I take long detours around town to the Square for the Reaping as I let all my memories get mixed up with what I've just seen.

Before I know what's happened, I am standing beside all the other seventeen years old boys, waiting for the Reaping to take place.

"Welcome, welcome to the 34th Hunger Games District Two Reapings!" Brad Pyrros, the escort for this District, says in his distinct Capitol accent. He smiles at the few laughs from the crowd, assuming it's a good thing and not about his accent. Then he adds, "Now first we'll have a few victors come up and make a speech."

I zone out as the same speeches that are said every year are repeated, saying about how winning is such an honor and that District Two is likely to have another winner this year. Sure, we probably are with the number of strong volunteers waiting but they don't have to tell us.

When the speeches have finally finished, Brad stands between the giant fish bowls, debating for some time if he should pick boys or girls first. "Hmm, I think it's ladies first!" he decides eventually. Brad reaches into the bowl, selects a name, and walks back over to the microphone with the slip grasped tightly in his hand. He slowly unfolds it for added drama then calls, "Artemisia Leven."

"No! No!" I hear myself shouting out. I quickly clap a hand over my mouth but it's too late, everyone's already heard. And I don't even know why I was objecting, it's not as if we're really friends anymore.

"I volunteer as tribute!" a girl yells.

My head snaps around and I thank whatever change of fate spared my old best friend from the horror of the Arena because a girl chose this year to volunteer.

The girl with perfect brunette hair and blue eyes walks up to the stage, blowing kisses to the crowd and putting on a cocky smirk, using her beauty to already win her sponsors.

"What's your name sweetheart?" asks Brad.

"Aphrodite Maddox," she answers confidently, smirking again to the crowd.

Brad nods then goes to the fish bowl filled with the boy's names and picks one out quickly.

"Finton Andrews," he calls at the microphone.

My eyes go wide and look up from the floor, where I'd been looking ever since Artemisia was saved. My name's been chosen and I'll disgrace the District if no one steps forward. I wait for a few seconds for a volunteer that I know wants to take my place but none come.

Ha! I bet this is a plan to get revenge for me not going to training. Well, if it is, maybe I should show them that you can win without training.

I walk out of my section and onto the stage, acknowledging none of the cheers or claps from the crowd.

"Our tributes for the 34th Hunger Games!" Brad announces, making the crowd cheers. "You may shake hands," he adds to us.

I shake hands with Aphrodite and smile, saying quietly, "Hey."

She looks at me more closely when she hears my voice. "Was that your girlfriend?" she asks me in a whisper no one else hears.

I frown then mutter, "Maybe." Then I pull another face and go to correct myself.

Artemisia isn't my girlfriend and she never will be now. We shared one kiss but now she's been paired to another boy. And, anyway, I highly doubt that I'll be coming home to be with her. But before I get a chance to change what I said, we're both marched into the Justice Building behind us and into separate rooms so we can say our goodbyes.

"You're going to be a disgrace to the District," sings Elora as she walks into the room, grinning up at me. "You're going to be the first District Two tribute to die at the Bloodbath."

She looks positively ecstatic about this until I wipe the smile off her face when I point out, "If I die at the Bloodbath, it won't affect me. It'll be the family that's alive that will be known for being related to the disgrace."

She stops dancing around the room. "Okay," she sighs, "Try not to die then."

"Sure," I agree. I bend down and hug her quickly. "I was planning on trying not to die anyway, just to prove that you don't need training."

"I don't think that it'll be the best idea to do that for that reason," mum argues from behind me.

I turn around to see my parents in the doorway, both smiling for some reason.

"But it is good that you want to win," dad says.

"Yeah," I mumble, unsure of what else I can say.

Mum looks down at the watch on her wrist and sighs. "Sorry, darling, but we really must go now. Our train will be going soon. I would have asked you if you could look after Elora but you obviously can't now so do you know if Artemisia would be able to?" she asks.

I shrug my shoulders.

"Well, if she does happen to come here, please ask her," she instructs.

"She's not coming," I disagree.

Mum raises her eyebrows. "If you say so."

She walks to me, kisses me on each cheek then steps back to let my dad shake my hand. All three members of my family wave then leave, and I sigh and turn away, looking out of the window as they begin to clear the Square of the Reaping's décor.

"Finn?" whispers a voice from the door.

I know exactly who it is but I chose to ignore them, still staring out of the window, crossing my arms over my chest. I feel two arms wrap around me as my name is repeated in my ear. I shiver as her warm breath runs down my cheek as she kisses my neck.

"Go away," I mutter, trying to push her away.

She only holds on tighter as she complains, "I'm your best friend, Finn. You're going away today, maybe never to return, please just talk to me."

I spin around and see a look of pain in her beautiful eyes as she looks up to my face. I sigh, "You shouldn't be here. Your parents don't like me anymore. You should be with your lover."

"My parents don't have to know I'm here," she points out, smiling. "They can think I'm somewhere else." She pauses. "But please don't think I prefer him to you."

"It looked that way this morning," I spit.

"I have to act that way, Finn, it's my only choice," she groans. "Believe me, I'd much rather be in your arms."

I allow a small smile and take her wish, wrapping my arms around her back.

She grins and stands on tiptoe so our faces are level. "See? This is so much better."

I laugh. "It's a shame that it'll never be like this."

"Who says that?" she questions.

I don't have time to answer before she has pressed her lips to mine and locked her arms around my neck. I smile into the kiss as I wish that we could always be like this.

"Time's up!" shouts a peacekeeper outside the door.

We break apart and sigh.

"I'll see you after the Games," Artemisia decides, kissing my cheek quickly as she begins to walk away.

"Yeah," I agree. "Oh yeah, can you look after Elora?"

She laughs. "Of course I can."

Then she leaves the room so I am left alone.

Now I realize that I need to win the Games, to come out alive. I've got so much waiting for me at home and I could prove so much.

I will win.

Authors for this section: Aphrodite Maddoxwritten by sMoShFiRe | Finton Andrews written by MissBunburyHope

Editor's Note: I appreciate the reviews, follows, and favorites, everyone! If you have questions, comments, or otherwise, I encourage all feedback to either myself and/or the authors for each individual tribute.