Okay! District 1 reapings! First real chapter, okay! I hope this is okay. Okay! Far too much use of the word 'Okay!'. Okay. Queue the District one Reapings!

Zed Katlar

"Screw this, Zed- I don't need this today. For the final time, piss off and go find a different pair of feet to grovel at!"

That was the sound of my ex-girlfriend Michella yelling at me. It was closely followed by the slam of my backdoor, and then the sound of Michella swearing really, really loudly.

I sat down at my kitchen bench and sighed loudly, thumping my forehead against the granite table top. All I'd asked Michella to do was get back together with me, and I had only asked her five times in the last month or so. I groaned and banged my head again and again, until I could feel the pounding pain in my skull that I normally get after I try to talk to talk to Michella and end up banging my head on the kitchen counter. It hurt.

"You need to get over her..." I mumbled to myself. With another mighty sigh I hauled myself off the bench and on to my feet. It was Reaping Day, and I had things to do- like go whistle at girl outside the grocery store for what might be the last time.

My name is Zed Katlar, and today was the day I was volunteering as the District 1 male tribute.

I found Mason and Sid lounging in the alley next to the grocery store. Mason slapped me on the back and Sid gave a nod in my direction. Mason grinned widely and held out a packet of cigarettes.

"Man, how did you get your hands on those?" I exclaimed. Cigarettes cost a heap, and even in District 1 they're a luxury affordable to the rich and the victors.

"I have my ways..." He smirked, "Like stealing them out of the Peacekeeper Office." He light one and handed it to me.

"That's like, hard core."

"Think of it as a going away present," said Mason, "When you come back as Victor you'll be able to buy as many packets as you want."

I took a puff and spluttered dryly, hacking and coughing like I'd been punched in the stomach. I had only tried a cigarette once before, when I was 15, and it still tasted just as much.

"Mason, these taste like shit!" I laughed and took another puff, now wheezing like a steam train.

"They must be an acquired taste." Said Mason coolly. He too, was coughing. So was Sid.

We whistled at every chick that passed by. Mostly they crinkled their noses at the smell and strode on by to the square, but one or two did call us pigs. Another slapped Sid across the face. Stupid girls. None of them were quite as good-looking as Michella.

I put my forehead to my palm and rolled my eyes. No more thinking about Michella today. Today was about me.

Xiaomei Sol

It was funny the way the square seemed to be much more sombre than it was last year.

It could be due to the fact that our beloved male tribute Glaze, the heart throb of the District and the shoe-in to win the 18th Hunger Games died really, really horribly last year at the feast. I shan't go into detail about how he was skinned alive, or how he had his teeth and nails ripped out one by one. Since then, the enthusiasm for the games had died down a fair bit, as all the kids who went to training with him began to realise, hey, sometimes people die in these games. It was now about an hour till the games, and there was yet to be word of who the female tribute was going to be. We haven't had a reaped tribute in District 1 since the 5th games.

I glanced over at my best friend Lucy and smiled. She was staring off into the clouds as we walked into our allocated section. Lucy looked back at me and smiled back.

"Any word on the volunteers yet?" She whispered to me.

"Apparently that Zed Katlar guy is volunteering for the guys..." I replied.

"Him? The flirt. He and his gang wolf whistled at me this morning. He's such a Neanderthal."

"I know. He trains sometimes at my Mum's training centre."

"And the girl volunteer?"

"Dunno yet."

"Well, I hope it's someone decent," Lucy declared, "Hey, maybe you should volunteer!"

"Really?" I sniffed. I had always thought of myself as taking over my Mother's training centre.

"Nah. I need you here, Sidekick. Someone else will, I'm sure." Lucy shook my shoulder playfully and gave me a look that said she was joking.

But now the idea was playing on my mind.

Everyone watched as our beloved freak Quinti climbed to the stage. I couldn't help but worry what about her getting blood poisoning from all that metal in her face, if it were to rain and her piercings were to rust. It all jangled dangerously as she bounded up the stairs.

I thought about the games. Every year, at least one kid from our District dies. But then, most of those kids were idiots, too. Anyone could win, I guessed, if they just were slightly more strategical. But there's also a very real chance of dying horribly...

"- Welcome to the District One -"

Anyway, who knew what lurked beyond the grave? Maybe taking a risk and having a chance of bringing wealth and honour to my family and friends was worth the while. How would my family feel if I volunteered? It would be totally unexpected...

"- This year's female tribute -"

They would all be horrified that I would put my life on the line! You only get one shot at living and to waste it would be stupid. But then there was that chance, that glimmering hope, and the things it would do for my mother's business, and for myself-

"-Is-"

"- I volunteer!" The words slipped from my mouth and I instantly felt a twang of something that wasn't quite regret. I walked to the stage with my head held high, and I tried my best not to look back at Lucy.

My eyes were instantly drawn to my parents at the back of the crowd when I reached the stage. I could see my mother on the verge of yelling at me and my father looking upwards as if praying. Then there was Lucy with a look of complete awe painted on her face. I felt that twang again.

"Your name?" Intruded Quinti

"Xiaomei Sol" I replied.

I barely noticed what happened next, or what the escort said. My parents, Lucy; their faces were burnt onto my retina. And I felt that twang again.

Zed Katlar

"G'luck, mate." Sid patted me on the back, "You better win."

Mason stood on my other side and slapped my hand, before bending down and taking something out of his shoe.

"Here, take this as your token." He said.

I look at his hand. It's an old shoelace.

"No thanks, Mason- I've already got a token." I held up the little bow necklace that lay against my chest.

"Seriously? A girlie necklace?" I heard Sid snicker.

"My little sister's gave it to me. It's my token." I raised my voice slightly to see him back off.

We talk and say goodbyes, and I catch the eyes of my family in the crowd and give a wave. I zone out and focus on a pebble near my feet until I hear the escort call the boy's reaping.

Before she can finish her sentence, I volunteer. I swagger to the stage and try to look intimidating. There are a few cheers from the crowd as I stand up tall next to what's-her-face the girl tribute.

"Hi." I whisper to her. When trying to charm the nation, you have to start somewhere.

"Hey," She whispers back, "You stink of cigarettes."

As I look to the crowd, I can see Michella's face. She looks unimpressed, and I feel a funny pang hit me.

Just smile and wave, Zed. Smile and wave.

Wow. That sucked. Next up, the District 2 reapings! This should be fun. I promise to have it up by Sunday! I promise!

Reviews? :)