POV District 1 Ludacris Zeffe

"The almighty day of the reaping has arrived!" I proclaimed, strutting out into the living room in my baggy pants.

"And you are already dressed, aren't you?" my mother commented, eyeing my get up.

I shrugged. "It's not for another two hours. I'm not like Peridot, I don't take that long to get all fancy." As soon as I said that, I could hear two sets of feet headed my way. I turned to see my older twin brothers, Strategy and Peridot, hovering behind me. Strategy had blue eyes like our mother, but Peridot had bright yellow eyes like me - which mother said was from our father - which made him much more intimidating. But he wasn't disproving me, as his blond hair was all fluffed up and he had been awake much longer than I had.

"Is that so?" Strategy asked. Ever since I was little, I was teamed up on by my older brothers. I had gotten used to it by now, but it doesn't mean it didn't frustrated me.

"Well, I would blow on his hair and see how hard he beat me, but then we wouldn't make it to the Reaping." Peridot and Stradegy shared a glance, though Strategy's eyes were focused on Peridot's hair. He wanted so badly to agree with me, but there was no way he was going to go against his partner in crime. It left the two of them silent.

Our mother came up behind, putting her hands on my shoulders. "Give them a break for one day Ludacris, ok? This is their last chance to get in the Hunger Games."

"So many pros and cons to it," Peridot said. "We can't both win games like we said we would, but if we get reaped, we'll be winning a Quarter Quell!"

"Are you guys going to volunteer?" I asked.

They paused for a second. "Depends on who actually gets reaped. I mean, I don't know where you stand, Peridot, but if either you or Ludacris gets reaped, I'm volunteering," He replied with a smile.

"There is no way in hell you're stealing my spot!" He declared, and in response Strategy put him in a headlock. Peridot struggled to get out, and I leaped in trying to pull him out when my mother nudged me forward.

"Who do you think will win, eh?" Strategy asked mockingly.

"Boys, boys!" My mother said, stepping in. She was one of the nicest people we had met, but there was no way we were willing to let her step in on this fight. "Good. Now Ludacris, go get ready and put on some nice clothes. Strategy you can finish your lunch and Peridot - finish up," She finished with a smile. Strategy gave him a playful shove before heading to the kitchen, and I followed with a cheesy smile as I passed him. He gave all of us a glare, but I could see a smile growing on his face.

-X-X-X-

"Next." I stepped forward, giving my hand to the heavily uniformed official. As he stabbed my finger, I glanced over at the other lines. We had made a tradition of seeing who could get through the line fastest. I had gotten to the shortest line first, and Peridot had gone to the same one as me only two people behind. And in the line beside us, Strategy was three people behind Peridot's place in his line. I made a face at them before heading off to wear the sixteen year old guys. I soon started wishing they gave us chairs, my feet were getting sore while we were waiting for everyone to get there. It brought a smile to my face to think that it was Strategy's fault.

Remembering them, I turned to try and find them. Sure enough, I saw the two of them way at the back with the other eighteen-year-old-guys. Peridot spotted me and pointed me out to Strategy. I stuck my tongue out at them, and Strategy just rolled his eyes while Peridot glared at me. "Should you be over there?" I mouthed to them, motioning to the other side of the square where all the girls were. Now they were both glaring at me. I was thinking of my next move, when the Anthem started to ring out and bounce off the walls of the buildings.

I turned around just in time to see Himons Lockpick, District 1's escort, in his broad outfit walk out. I didn't pay attention to his classic welcome, I was too busy looking at his outfit. He has bright, fluffy orange hair and a deep magenta suit with a plaid orange and magenta tie. His eyes were outlined in black and magenta, and his chipmunk cheeks were blushed over orange. Ridiculous. Especially considering District 1, who specialized in luxury items, had made all that for him. I snapped back into attention when President Lotus' voice boomed from the video recapping the Dark days.

"Now, what we've all come for. The names of the tributes that will be representing District 1 in the 100th annual Hunger Games!" Himons picked up after the video had cut out. "And as tradition, the girls will go first." Excitement could be felt in the air as the brightly colored, short man walked over to the big bowl of names. Every year, the Capitol offered a Tesserae for those who were willing for more slips with their names for food. Many families in our District would enter for Tesserae - not for food, most of the time we wouldn't even eat the disgusting rations - but just for the names, which would add up by the time you were eighteen, so the bowls were filled past the half point, while the lower districts usually had bowls filled to a quarter. He reached his hand in, fishing around the contents until he pulled out one he liked. He paraded it back to the microphone, and I was waiting for him to start dancing with it before he finally opened it up.

"Silver Velvet." A short blond girl among the group of seventeen-year-old girls make her way from the far edge over to the center. She had a broad smile on her face. When she got up to the stage next to Himons, she was smiling broadly towards someone behind me. I turned to see a spiky, black-haired guy with the other seventeen-year-olds waving at her. I turned back around as he said, "And now the boys' turn." Himons made his way to the bowl full of boy names, while Silver stood in place, looking from Himons to the crowd of boys. When Himons rejoined her to open the slip of paper, she leaned to the side, trying to read the name that would be printed neatly on the paper.

"Ludacris Zeffe." My breath caught in my chest. I was waiting for Strategy or Peridot to take my place. I walked over to the side and was escorted up to the stage, excitement building in me as I didn't hear anything. I climbed up beside Himons, and sought out my brothers' faces. They had complete shock mirrored on their faces. Himons had me and Silver shake hands, and she beamed a sweet smile, though I only had a smirk on my face. I turned back to my brothers, still in shock, as they all started to clap. I took a bow up on the stage, and Silver started waving her hand to the boy that had been behind me.

"Come on," Himons whispered to us, as we had over stayed our welcome on the stage. He hurried us along into the Justice Building, and I took one look behind me and gave a final wave to everyone right before the big doors shut behind us.

-X-X-X-

We were led side by side until we got to a pair of rooms where we were separated. We would meet our families here before we would be shipped off to the Capitol. The room was filled with velvet furniture and silk curtains. I ended up laying down on one of the couches while I waited. I had almost fallen asleep when the door finally opened. I looked up to see Peridot and Strategy burst in, with our mother following behind. He instantly jumped on me. Peridot was sitting on my legs and Strategy had weaseled his way under me, putting me in a headlock.

"Hi guys," I said while being strangled by my older brothers. "Great to see you. Now, it would be even better if you would try not to break all my bones right before I go into the Hunger Games." Strategy let go of me, and Peridot got up and moved my legs, forcing me to sit up. "I thought you guys were going to volunteer to take my place if I got reaped - which I did, if you doorknobs didn't realize that."

"Well, did you really want us to?" Strategy asked, ruffling my hair. I shrugged in response. He had a point.

"Well, the things I want have never really changed your plans before." I could tell he knew I had a point just the same.

"I think we were in too much shock to even blink," Peridot added. "Oh, and by the way, I never was going to take your place, I was only going to steal his."

"Well, that's very nice, thank you," Strategy replied sarcastically.

"Calm down," Our mother stepped in. "First of all, Peridot didn't take your spot. Second, who wouldn't take the spot when it comes to a Quarter Quell? I mean, honestly."

We all smiled. We stayed silent for a few moments before I put my arms around my brothers' shoulders. "I am going to miss you guys while I'm gone. All of you," I added, motioning to our mother.

She smiled. "Don't worry, it won't be that long."

"Times up," The deep voice of a peacekeeper came as he poked his head in.

"Alright," Strategy said as they got up. "See you later Ludacris," He said, messing up my hair before he left.

Peridot waved a simple goodbye before following my brother, and my mother came a kissed my forehead. "I'll see you in a few weeks...ok?"

I smiled. "I'll see you then."

POV District 1 Silver Velvet

I was sitting in the windowsill, trying to brush away the silk curtains that would keep draping back over my shoulders, when a voice came, "You know it might be easier if you just don't sit in the windowsill, you know?" I whipped around to see my boyfriend, Cotton, standing in the doorway.

"Hey," I greeted, getting up and hugging him. "Can you believe it? I got reaped - I'm going into the Hunger Games!"

"You better win then," He said, though I could see in his smile that he didn't doubt my ability to.

"Mr. Opaque," I looked up as my step-father came in, carrying my two nine-year-old half-sisters in each arm.

"Hello sir," Cotton returned, stepping away from me. I gave a smiling glare at my father. My mother followed in, my seven-year-old half-brother at her heels.

"Hey guys," I said, kneeling down. My step-father set the two girls down, and all three of them came rushing over to me.

"Are you going to win?" One of the two twins, Linen, asked me once they had stopped tugging on my shoulders.

"Well of course," I replied, ruffling her hair.

"Are you nervous at all?" The other girl, Sequin, followed up.

"Not one bit," I replied, pulling her sequined hat down over her face. "Because I have the perfect motivation. I am going to win because I know I'll have you guys at home cheering me on." I then turned to my half-brother, Topaz. "And guess what Topaz? I'm going to win just for you." He smiled, and then Topaz turned to Cotton. Cotton reached in his pocket, pulling out a chain, and handing it to Topaz. "What's this?"

"This is going to be your token." On the chain were seven clear, hollow, plastic beads. The first had cotton in it - for Cotton. The second had a cream-colored piece of linen - for Linen. The third was filled with tiny sequins - for Sequin. The fourth was painted a deep blue - for Topaz. The fifth was painted gold - for my mother. The sixth was painted red - for my father, Red Velvet. And the seven had silk in it - for my step-father.

"Thank you. And when I get back, it'll have to tokens of every tribute I kill on it."

"Won't that be nice," He said with a smile.

"Time to go," A voice came, and we all turned to see a peacekeeper waiting in the door.

"We'll see you," My mother said, and my half-siblings all said a goodbye before following her out.

"You'll be great," My step-father said before filing out, leaving me and Cotton.

I gave him another hug, staying silent for a moment. "I almost wish you could come with me - it would be fun to go to the Capitol with you."

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be fun to come back without you, now would it?" He asked, pulling away and turning to head for the door, wear the peacekeeper was tapping his foot.

"Hey!" He gave me a wink before following out.

"Come with me," The peacekeeper said after they had left. I followed him out, and met my District partner, Ludacris, waiting for me so we could leave for the train.

I nodded to him and gave him a smirk. "You ready?" I didn't wait for him to answer, I just headed off after the peacekeepers.