Megan's POV

I wake to the sounds of mockingjays singing. The slightly scruffy but familiar white eylet lace curtains are drawn away from the window pane letting the sun shine through.

It reminds me of a quote I know, "The promise that life goes on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again." (Sound familiar to anyone?)

This is both the ruling and subjecting quote of my life. My mother and father... they died in a house fire when I was thirteen. My little brother Jake wasn't there but I was. I .Watched. Them. Burn.

I am kinda glad that Jakey wasn't there to see our parent's gruelling death but then that doesn't really change the fact that they're dead.

I sit straight up on my bed facing my huge cherry wood dresser. Out of one of those lovely, well oiled drawers would come the outfit I would wear on the day that all the children in the districts become beautified before possible manslaughter; otherwise known as Reaping Day.

Instead of putting off the moment, I dig out a pretty blue wrap dress the same color as my eyes and some white heels.

In ways I was kind of glad that as Jake and I slowly drained all of the money from our parent's savings accounts, I willingly sold half of my wardrobe to get more money to support

I glance at the clock and realize I have slept in too late. I shrug it off and give my clock an icy glare before turning away to get dressed.

Jake's POV

Breakfast was freakishly good. I feel like our cook/maid/kinda part-time guardian; Shilo wanted us to have a good meal to calm our nerves. I almost forgot that today was Reaping Day.

I only realized it when Megan looked prettier than usual today, which meant that she had been thinking about upholding our rep as the children of the Legendary burnt-to-a-crisp Theresa and David White. Which led to her having more nightmares than usual, and blackouts and not to mention more "Ice Princess" attitude.

Really, spending a few minutes or even seconds with her will give you frost bite. Which means that I'm immune to the cold... that's sick...

"What are you thinking about pea brain?" Asks none other than my onee-san.

"Depressed children, fire, ice, nothing, food. All of the usual." I say smiling.

"Well if you're making you Thinker face I'm pretty sure it's something Jake." Megan says now crazy worried.

I roll my eyes; sis can be so paranoid sometimes.

I pat her head and proceed with looking for Michael Monroe, my best buddy.

"Wait, Jake! My sister says pulling me into the shadows, "If one of us is reaped...

I just want you to know that I love you no matter what."

With that Megan envelopes me in a bear hug and squishes the life out of me.

"Sis... dying... need... to ...BREATHE! YOU ARE KILLING ME WITH YOUR FROSTBITE!" I manage in a strangled voice.

"Whatever Drama Queen. Wait frostbite... (Growl) Jake..." Says the ice princess with blizzards and winter storms starting to brew on her tongue.

"Bye now." I say quickly and wiggle out of my sister's surprisingly strong grasp.

I walk briskly and silently out of Megan's view and into the crowd of never ending people in the fourteen year olds section.

I am brought to attention amidst the mob when I spot the beautiful Lauren's dainty hand sticking up into the air, and then sink back into the crowd.

"LAUREN!" I yell.

I weave and twist through the crowd struggling to get to Lauren.

I finally lock hands with her after much scrabbling and grabbing other surrounding people's hands.

"Stick close." I yell her way.

A shiver goes up my spine; I have never been this close to Lauren.

She's the kindest person I know and completely open the exact opposite of Megan.

Pretty golden skin, coal black hair cut stylishly short , a kind face, huge warm brown eyes and a love for anything warm or spicy.

Megan is pretty in her own "Ice Princess" way; flawless pale skin, curly honey blonde ringlets, narrowed ice blue eyes, a sharp angular face. But Lauren...

"Jake? Earth to Jake? Hello, anyone home? Asks Lauren distantly, waving her hand in my face.

"Hmm? What? Who" I say blankly.

Lauren smiles, "I have to get to my section, but thanks so much Jake." And with that she swiftly kisses me on the cheek and is whisked away with the wind.

I stand, dumbstruck facing the mob of people wondering what I ever did to receive such mixed feelings.

Megan's POV

"MEGAN, HONEY YOU LOOK LIKE A MILLION BUCKS!" Says the nasally voice that can only be Nicki Summers.

"Nicki." I say courtly, refraining from verbally swearing. Mother always said it was... unladylike...

"I, like totally love your dress. I think that you should wear warmer colours too though hon, at this rate you're gonna turn me into a slab of ice with those eyes and that icy colour palate of yours." She says smoothing out her crisp orange silk gown.

"Yeah, ok." I say tonelessly.

"Well babe, in conclusion you look positively GORG!" Nicki says milking it and pulling a face smile on her fake somehow plastic-y face.

"Bug off, bimbo." I say shooting her a piece of my mind. What? Mother never said anything about the finger.

The reaping would start in a matter of seconds and I already knew my decision. I would volunteer in the place of whoever was reaped, and hopefully win the Hunger Games.

My plan sounds simple right? Gods, you don't even know how much I left out. There were the small details like; if Jake would survive by himself for the time being, how I would overcome my fears (aka. Flames), would I even survive and this year was the sixth Quarter Quell, so there is bound to be some crazy, life threatening twist.

I was sure that I had some chance in the Games, as long as I had good allies and sponsors. Seeing as I was trained and prepared for the games, I would make sure that I at least made it to the final ten. I would do it for my dead parents, for Jake and for all those un-memorable tributes of the past.

As much as I hated the Games, they were Jake's only chance of survival. Which is ironic, because I was entering the death trap for sure?

I sink back into the reaches of my mind, and close my eyes, forgetting none of my troubles, but attempting to disguise them.

Mayor Garnet, mentors Scarlett Snyder and Ivory Snow and District 1's escort Leontina Garson file in neatly across the stage in the middle of sparkling city hall.

They take their places on the stage with Leontina standing in from of the girl's reaping ball smiling her fake face off. Fake lime green hair twisted into impossible pretzel shapes on the top of her head, making her seem like an elongated pile of green sludge. Her dress a short black silky fabric with large slashes in the fabric at the back, twelve inch high wedged shoes that give her largish meaty feet a repugnant look. Mayor Garnet dressed snappily, in her grey pants suit and pink silk tie, and Scarlett and Ivory chatting quietly trying to set a calmer mood amongst the crowd.

I shudder, shaking my head at unpractical Capitol fashion sense.

"Brr", Leontina fake shivers into the microphone, "You can, feel all the cold energy vibes coming off of you District One."

I have to admit, the crowd was almost immediately mesmerized by the loud Capitol woman on our stage yet again and the crowd turned deathly silent.

"And now, A few words from your positively lovely mayor, Mayor Garnet!" Leontina cheers in a hideously peppy voice.

At this time our beloved mayor would then say her little spiel about the history of Panem, so this was about the time people like me lost interest and tuned the Mayor out.

I notice Jake looking around frantically through a gap in front of me. Looking for me perhaps?

I smile slightly, bracing myself as Leontina heads to the girls reaping ball.

Remember your plan- Volunteer at all costs FIRST.

Leontina turn the ball exactly six times, in painstakingly slow motions.

"Kaitlin Blake." She reads out confidently.

I push my way through the crowd and raise my arm in the air, "I VOLUNTEER, I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"

I wear a blank expression on my face, even though the name Kaitlin Blake registers in my head as one of my many stalkers, set out to be the famed Megan White.

I walk confidently keeping my head held high and a cold look on my face. For a moment , it`s almost as if just for a second everyone who has made an impact on me has encased an image in my mind; Jake and I years before The Fire climbing the apple tree in the backyard, Mom caressing my face, Dad smushing a cupcake in my face then flashing a wolfish grin, my boyfriend Logan laughing at me.

All of these memories are dear, faint, and most importantly bittersweet.

Once on the stage, I repeat my name and sit down on a hard blue school chair next to the mentors.

I look into the crowd trying to keep a blank expression on my face, but when I see Jake..my dear little brother... He looks heartbroken.

This I will always remember and as a bonus, the other tribute of District One it brings sadness to my eyes is Jake, my little brother.

At this point in time, I realize. Once I set foot in the Capitol, I will not be me, but Jake coming out of that arena.

Well my pretties, just to break the cold hard ice , here is your much wanted update. Now, if you spot any grammatical errors, tell Connie !

Fly On,

Connie