The Hunger Games

By: Tracy Cook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. These characters belong to the creators of Vampire Diaries.

Couple: Bonnie/Damon

Rating: M

Chapter Seven

Still Not Good Enough

'I Gave All I had To Give,

But That Still Wasn't Good Enough.'

Emerald eyes were glued to the television screen. Her heart was hammering away noisily in her ears. She was tapping her foot impatiently against the floor. All she wanted was to see the results and get it over with. She was tired of waiting. Bonnie was expecting a high score. Perhaps the highest score in the history of their district. And she was hoping Marcel would get the high score he was confident he would receive.

This was their chance to show the Capitol and all of Panem what District 11 was made of.

This was their chance to prove that they could win the games.

Elijah was hoping that they had high scores as well. Ever since he was victorious in the games, his views had changed drastically. Living in the Capitol had made him realize just how grateful he should be to the people in every District. They provided the Capitol with everything they needed and allowed them to never have to work. These people were fighting a battle for the entertainment of a lazy city that ruled over them. It wasn't an honor. It was a slaughter.

"How do the two of you think you did?" The British man wondered, crossing his legs and placing his hands properly over his knee. He was such a proper gentleman.

"I feel like I really impressed them." Bonnie admitted with a twist of her lips. She had seen the glimmer of excitement and awe in the Gamemakers' eyes. She knew that they were surprised by what she was capable of. She just hoped that it would reflect on her score. "At first none of them were paying any attention, but by the end they were all standing on their feet and watching me with surprised looks on their faces."

Elijah smiled when he heard that. It took a lot to get the Gamemakers to stand to their feet during the private sessions. Bonnie must have done something outstanding. "And you?" He wondered, turning to look at Marcel.

He laughed a little under his breath and shook his head as he recalled the way that the Gamemakers responded to him. "They definitely weren't expecting "the farmer boy" to do such a great job." His lips stretched into a devious smirk. He was rightfully proud of himself. "I'm pretty sure I got a really good score."

Their mentor was excited to see such pride radiating off of both of them. They were evidently confident in their performances at the private sessions, and he was proud of them. But, he was also worried. The Capitol had a way of rigging the game to help districts they liked and harm districts that they didn't like. He didn't want to see Marcel and Bonnie lose their confidence if their scores didn't match the work they put in. They needed confidence to win the games.

"I am proud of you. But, I want you both to keep in mind that the Gamemakers are biased and they have their own agenda." Elijah reminded. "Do not get your hopes up too high, and do not get too discouraged if you do not see what you expect to see."

Bonnie tugged her full bottom lip between her teeth and nodded her head. She understood what he was suggesting.

She didn't like it. But, she knew that there was a possibility the Gamemakers would rig the game in favor of the districts they wanted to win.

"That being said." Elijah smiled at them. "I wish you both the best of luck."

"Thanks." Bonnie was feeling less confident by the minute. She would be completely devastated if a low score showed up on the screen. She knew that she deserved at least a 9. 'But, probably higher. I doubt anyone else climbed on the ceiling rafters...'

"It's starting." Marcel said, pointing to the television. He was so excited to see his score. It felt like his heart was going to burst through his chest.

Caesar Flickerman smiled widely. His crimson hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he had red eye shadow on. He was the one who announced the scores. The minute Bonnie saw his face pop up on the screen she forgot how to breathe. She had never expected to be so anxious to see her score. Her first day in the Capitol she didn't want anything to do with the games. 'I really just kinda want to beat Damon... I mean I hope he does good, but I want to do better...'

"As you all know, the tributes were rated on a scale from 1 to 12. This rating will not only determine their skill level, it will determine their likeliness, according to the Gamemakers themselves, to survive the hunger games!" He paused and stared down at the paper in his hand. "Starting with District 1. Damon Salvatore."

His picture and district crest showed up on the screen and Bonnie glanced over his face. He looked even more handsome in the photograph than in person. 'How is that even possible? Why are all the hot guys such assholes!? Ugh!'

She felt conflicted. She wanted Damon to do good, but not great. His ego was already way too big. He needed to be taken down a notch or two.

"Hey look, it's your boo!" Marcel teased with a smirk, nudging his partner.

Bonnie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest when she heard him tease her again.

"With a score of 11!" Caesar announced Damon's score with glee.

"Wow, he got an 11." She was surprised by the number. Hardly anyone ever got higher than a 10. Again she felt split in two. She felt sort of proud of him, but she was still disappointed. 'That's going to be almost impossible to beat...'

"Next we have Caroline Forbes. With a score of 12!"

Bonnie and Marcel exchanged shocked looks. No one ever got a 12. They had apparently been underestimating the blonde's skill level. In the training center she hadn't really spent much time practicing in front of them, so they couldn't really see what she was best at and worst at. Most of her time was spent standing around. Bonnie had thought that she wasn't a threat. Now she was finding out that she just might be their biggest threat.

"Blondie actually beat him." Marcel said. "We better watch out for her. She's a lot tougher than she looks."

"That is an exceptional score." Elijah admitted. In his ten years of mentoring he had only seen three 12's. This being the third. It worried him. "It will be important to keep an eye on her and find out her weaknesses before you enter the arena. Whether that be emotional weaknesses or physical. Otherwise, she could easily win this whole game."

They both nodded.

Caroline had been skating by unnoticed until now. Sort of hiding her skills. Now, they were out in the open and everyone would be watching her and trying to figure out how to defeat her.

"Next is District 2. Starting with Tyler Lockwood." A picture of him showed up on the screen and Bonnie instantly recognized him as the young man that was practicing the gauntlet with Damon and the others. "With a score of 10."

"He was hanging out with Damon at the gauntlet." Bonnie told their mentor.

"Bonnie kicked all of their asses." Marcel bragged with a smirk. He had been so proud of his friend when she took on the gauntlet and beat all of their scores.

"You did?" Elijah asked.

Bonnie nodded her head with a proud smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, I guess I kind of did."

"Impressive. Who all did you beat?"

"It was Damon, Caroline, Tyler, and some rude British guy-" She paused mid-sentence and her eyes landed on the television. "-That rude British guy, actually."

"From District 4, Enzo. With a score of 10."

Elijah clenched his jaw tightly and he lifted his hand, running his fingers nervously along the scar on his neck. It sounded like they were forming a very powerful and unstoppable alliance. "He scored a ten as well? That is quite the alliance they have made. Two 10's, an 11, and a 12? They are going to be extremely difficult to take down."

"Just wait." Marcel said. "I think our scores are gonna be just as impressive." He wrapped his arm around Bonnie's small shoulders, pulling her body closer to his. "Bonnie here, threw her knives from the ceiling rafters."

"You did?" He was surprised. When they had told Elijah he was going to be mentoring the tributes from District 11 he had thought that they wouldn't be much of a force to be reckoned with. Every day they were proving him wrong. They were powerful. They were very intelligent. They had survival skills and knew which foods to eat and which foods not to eat. They had a chance at winning the games.

"On to District 6." Bonnie was dragged out of her conversation with Elijah and Marcel when she heard Caesar announce District 6. She had a new found respect for the district and the tributes from it. At least one of the tributes. "Kol. With a score of 9."

"That's the guy that I talked to at the training center." Bonnie told her mentor.

"And he received a 9." Elijah noted with a nod of his head. "I suggest that you and Marcel work on forming an alliance with him. He could be a strong asset to your survival in the games."

Up until that point, she hadn't really thought about alliances. Mostly because no one had really given them the time of day since they arrived. Most people didn't want to team up with them because they were from District 11 and they were "weak." 'I wouldn't mind being in an alliance with him...' It was something she would have to consider. It would be nice to have the added safety, especially with 24 new tributes being added halfway through.

The next few minutes passed by slowly as Bonnie and Marcel waited earnestly for their scores.

Her hands were shaking and her heart was racing as she watched Caesar announce District 10's scores. 'God, I REALLY hope Marcel and I get good scores...'

"Almost my turn." Marcel flashed her a toothy grin. He had no doubt in his mind that he was going to receive a high score.

"Next we have our District 11 scores." Caesar said with a smile. Deep down he was always rooting for the underdogs. "Starting with Marcel Gerard." His picture showed up on the screen and his smile widened. "With a score of 6."

Marcel's smile fell and his face scrunched up in disbelief. He couldn't understand the score. How could he have only received a 6? 'This game is obviously rigged, fucking assholes.' "A 6 my ass. I killed all four of those dummies in thirty-five seconds flat." He was so angry. He just wanted to throw something at the television screen to make the announcer shut up about his score.

"This is not a measure of your skill, Marcel. It is a measure of your worth according to the Capitol." Elijah stated bitterly.

"I know, but a six!? Come on!" He groaned loudly and sunk back into the cushions of the couch.

"Next is Bonnie Bennett." She didn't feel hopeful at all. If Marcel got a 6, she was bound to get a low number as well. "With a score of 7."

Bonnie's score was slightly better than Marcel's, but it still wasn't very good. She felt completely discouraged in that moment. It seemed that no matter how hard they tried, no matter how many times they proved their worth, people were always tearing them down. No one wanted to see them succeed.

Elijah noticed the defeated looks on their faces and he frowned. They were giving up. They felt like they had no chance. But, he saw this as an opportunity. That was his job, to take things and twist them to work in their favor. "Don't allow this to defeat you two. That is what they are trying to accomplish. Instead, let's look at this as a blessing in disguise."

"And how exactly are we s'posed to do that?" Marcel asked despondently.

"You both received some of the lowest scores." This earned glares from both of the tributes. It was like he was rubbing salt in their wounds. "But, you did not deserves them. Others in the game won't be looking at you as the threat you actually are. They will be watching Caroline, Damon, Tyler, and Enzo closely to find their weaknesses. They will attack them first. They won't put forth as much of an effort to kill you."

It was true.

They could use their low scores to their advantage.

They still had a chance.

'Lift Yourself Up Off That Shelf,

You're Not In This Alone.'

Trumpets started to blare loudly and the crowd went wild. They were screaming and cheering and waiting for their host. The entire stage was shrouded in darkness, and no one could see anything. Not until the large colorful spotlights turned on illuminating two chairs. One was empty and the other was turned away from the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A loud voice echoed through the auditorium. "Your host, Caesar Flickerman!"

The music got louder as his chair started to spin on it's own. He was holding up his hands and waving to the loud audience. His vibrant crimson hair was pulled back into a ponytail and he had on a suit that matched it. Standing to his feet, he made his way to the front of the stage and waited for the music to die down before holding his microphone to his mouth and speaking into it.

"Thank you!" He shouted over the screams of the audience. "Thank you!"

Everyone silenced their cheering.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome! To the 75th annual hunger games!" Caesar looked around at the entire audience with a welcoming smile. "In a few minutes all of the tributes you have heard so much about are going to be out here! Are you excited!? Let me hear it!"

The audience screamed louder than ever.

"Everyone has been watching this skilled swordsman closely. Let's have a warm round of applause for Damon!" Caesar raised his hand in the direction of the stage that Damon would be entering and everyone started to howl and yell when the handsome young man walked out into the spotlight. His hair was slicked back and he had on a fitted hot pink suit.

His lips curled up into a devious smirk as he noticed all of the girls in the front row screaming to him. He loved the attention he had been getting from the ladies. He waggled his brow at the girls and they all screeched louder. Some people were even holding up signs with his name on them. The support was amazing. Now he just needed to do them all proud.

Damon already felt like a disappointment.

He had received a score of 11 and Caroline had received the perfect 12. She had been bragging about it endlessly and he was starting to grow bitter.

Caesar was now sitting in his chair again and Damon moved to sit in the chair next to him. He lifted his hand and waggled his fingers flirtatiously at the women in the audience once more before turning his attention to the host.

"Damon." He smiled. "I think everyone here would like to know. Are you prepared for the games?"

"I can't wait for the games." He stated confidently with a raise of his brows. Caesar and the audience could tell that he was excited to get into the arena.

"I LOVE that confident attitude you have!" The host said. "Don't you all just love that!?"

The audience went crazy again.

"You got a score of 11." Caesar said, looking to the audience with wide surprised eyes. He was very theatrical. "That's not easy to do. You must be so proud of yourself!"

Damon knew that he was going to bring up his score. It was an impressive score. Most people never got an 11 or a 12. But, he had wanted a 12. He could hear his father's voice echoing in the back of his mind constantly since he saw the score pop up on the television screen, "Damon! Second place is just the first place loser! You can never settle for second best!"

Despite his internal turmoil he put on a smirk and made it sound like he was nonchalant about it, "Well Caesar, I'm proud. But, it isn't the 12 I was hoping for."

The colorful host started to laugh at that statement. "Such a District 1 attitude! Never satisfied, always striving for better. It truly is admirable."

The audience cheered noisily. They loved his confident attitude. They loved that he wanted a 12.

"So, Damon, we know that you are a skilled swordsman, but what other skills do you possess that will help you in the games?" Caesar wondered. Sponsors were watching and they wanted to know his strengths in everything, not just his mastered skill.

"I can also throw knives, wield a spear, and just recently I've been "dabbling" in tree-climbing." Damon said in a playful tone of voice.

"Tree-climbing!?" He was shocked. "Interesting!"

"And of course, let's not forget my most important skill of all." Damon's blue eyes shimmered with mischief and his smirk stretched, "My charming personality."

All of the ladies started to screech and his pride only intensified. Caroline wasn't lying when she said that he was good at charming women. Usually, he could have any woman he wanted. All he had to do was look them in the eyes and they would head back to his bedroom with him. Bonnie was the only exception to that rule. When he had asked to go back to her room with her, she had turned him down. She was constantly turning him down and telling him no. It was so frustrating.

"How could we ever forget that!?" Caesar shouted over the screaming girls. "The ladies are just eating you up!" He paused and smirked, "Speaking of which, any special ladies in your life at the moment?"

"There are PLENTY of special ladies in my life at the moment." Damon teased. "And there is still PLENTY of room for more."

"I see." He had a knowing look on his face. "But I am speaking about one special lady in particular. A certain girl from District 11. Rumor has it that the two of you have something brewing behind the scenes! Care to elaborate?" He held the mic out to the tribute and he leant forward so that he could hear better. He loved romantic gossip.

"I don't kiss and tell, Caesar." His blue eyes widened. He wasn't denying the rumor.

"But, there is something to tell?"

Damon leant back in the chair and rolled his eyes to the ceiling shaking his head at the accusation. He licked over his lips and smirked devilishly as he said, "It's nothing too serious. We are just having some fun before the games. If you know what I mean?" He waggled his brow suggestively and Caesar gasped excitedly.

"Ooh! Tell us all about it!"

"You know how it is." He said. "All these ladies throwing themselves at me. Who am I to say no?" He sang the last words playfully.

Bonnie crossed her arms angrily over her chest as she stared up at the large screen in the room. They were all waiting their turn to talk to Caesar and as they waited they were watching the other interviews. She couldn't believe the things that Damon was saying. He was pretty much implying that the two of them were sleeping together. Her muscles tensed when he said the words "all these ladies throwing themselves at me."

It made it sound like she was a desperate girl who couldn't resist his charms. It made it sound like she was the one chasing him around like a lost puppy dog, when it was the other way around.

'HE IS SUCH AN ASSHOLE!'

"I though that you weren't dating that wanker." A familiar voice stated. Bonnie turned and saw Kol standing behind her, smiling at her.

"I'm not dating him." She insisted. "Or anything else, for that matter."

He laughed and nodded his head. "I had a feeling he was lying through his teeth. Typical District 1 tribute. Doing anything he can for attention."

Bonnie was too upset to really say anything. Damon was still going on and on about how he was sleeping with her. Any redeemable quality that she had thought Damon possessed, she was starting to doubt. She didn't think he was a good man at all. He was playing a game. Everything he said was a lie. It was just to win and get more attention.

"You wanna get back at him?" Kol asked mischievously.

She did.

It wasn't in her nature to get revenge. But, right now she wanted to get back at Damon. She wanted him to feel as terrible as she was feeling.

"What did you have in mind?"

"It's evident that the bloke fancies you." Bonnie gave him a disbelieving look when he said that and Kol laughed. "Even if he doesn't know the proper way to show it. I say you go out there and deny his claims. Tell Caesar that you are already dating someone else in the games. That'll be sure to fuel Damon's jealousy and rile him up." He smirked.

"If I say I'm dating someone in the games, Caesar will keep asking who it is."

"In that case." Kol took a step toward her and stared down into her eyes. "Tell him it's me."

"Damon will kill you if he finds out." Bonnie said. She knew that Damon had been trying to hook up with her since the minute she arrived. If he found out she was "with" someone else, she didn't know what he was capable of.

"We're all going to kill each other soon enough, love. May as well have some fun before we do."

'You Give, What You Get,

Nothing More, And Nothing Less.'

Author's Note :

Thank you all so much for reading this fic! Y'all are amazing and I love each and every one of you! Y'all are what keep me writing! Honestly, I'm particularly nervous about this chapter... I hope that everyone likes the direction I am taking the fic! There will be some Kennett, but it will all be to make Damon jealous! If y'all like that idea! Of course they will get closer emotionally, but yeah Bamon endgame! :)) I really need to know if y'all like this idea and your thoughts! Anyhow! Thoughts on the chapter!? How do you feel about the scores? What about Damon's interview!? And Kol's plan!? Do you think Bonnie will go through with it!? Excited to see the inevitable Bamon/Kennett confrontation coming up!?

Thank you so much for reading this chapter! I hope that you all enjoyed it!

I love you guys!

-Tracy Cook-