District Two Male: Demicus Feldspar (18)

I bound down the stairs, walk into the kitchen, and run straight into Publia. She sneers and crosses her arms.

"Oh look! It's Golden Boy! Are you gonna volunteer today? 'Cause I for one will be glad to see you gone."

I stare back, looking behind her to see 'Mom' walking down the stairs. By the look on her face, she's heard everything that Publia just said.

"Publia Feldspar!" Tertia grabs my sister's shoulder and spins her around. "That is no way to speak to your brother. I for one, wish you would be more like him!"

Publia grimaces and wrenches her shoulder away. "Yeah, my brother. Okay Mom." She stalks back up the stairs, leaving a shell-shocked mother behind her.

I take the opportunity to get Tertia even more on my side. "Mom, it's okay, don't listen to her. You really are our mother, I promise." I give her a hug, and can't keep the sadistic grin off of my face. Tertia, or my mother I suppose, has never cared for Publia, and if it's up to me, she never will.

Tertia eventually pulls away. Her face is drawn, and she looks heartbroken. Truth be told, she really isn't my mother. But I think of her that way, even though in my head, for self-respect purposes, I call her by her first name. I mean, I'm eighteen, I'm going to kill people, and I call this lady Mommy? Hell no!

When I was one, my parents died in an accident. They worked in a large stone quarry, and were crushed along with almost twenty others when the ceiling collapsed. Luckily for me, I didn't have to go live in the community home. Our neighbors, who were incredibly rich, much more so than us, adopted me.

I grew up with them, and they doted on me. I was a happy kid, and when I turned seven, they adopted Publia, who was four. At first, we were best friends, and did everything together. But it became apparent that Titus and Tertia much preferred their handsome, charming son than their jealous, ugly daughter.

I can't say I disagree with them.

Later they adopted my two little sisters, Mino and Aulia, both little bugs and pests. They positively drool over me. To them, I'm a God, something of a wonder, an opinion that, in this district, is taken for a fact. Occasionally though, I get tired of keeping up this charade that I have going, that I'm this perfect golden boy who is charming, polite, charismatic. Really, I just want what I want and will do anything to get it. I feel no emotional attachment whatsoever to anything in this district, and I'm getting bored. That's why I've decided to go to the Hunger Games.

I rush up the stairs, grab a shirt and some shorts, and begin the jog to the training center. Today, at the reaping, I'm going to volunteer, win, and then try to find something else to occupy my time with.

Once I reach the building, I head inside. By the looks of things, someone has just left. There are weapons strewn all over the floor, and the door is ajar. I walk inside, and begin to throw spears.

With each thrust of my arm, I imagine spearing someone in the head. Oops! There goes Publia! Nice knowing you kid! Sorry Mino, looks like your pitiful life is being cut short! Aw, poor wittle Aulia. Never gonna grow up, are you honey bunches? Titus, or should I say Daddy? There goes your head, severed from your neck!

I start to laugh. It's a long, drawn out, chilling sound, and I take pleasure in it. I know that I'm not quite insane, but I'd like to be. Everyone in the district seems to think I'm a model child, and I act like one. But really, that just disguises a whole lot of cunning and nastiness.

Just then, Buff walks in, jarring me from my fantasy. I abruptly cut off my laugh. Buff, my friend for nine years now, doesn't even know what I'm really like. That's a secret I'd like to keep until I get to the arena.

"Buff!" I yell out. I haven't seen the guy in at least a month. Despite me not really being who he thinks I am, and he himself being a shy, timid, sensible thing of a boy, I still like him. He's the only friend that I actually am attached to. "Where the Hell have you been buddy?"

Buff lopes over to where I'm standing. "Oh my God. My mom made me go on this stupid trip with my dad to district five," he rolls his eyes. "And no joke, all the girls there had zero hotness. None! I mean seriously. And it smelled like fish the whole time. Why? I don't know. We were in freaking district five!"

Buff's father is the mayor of District Two. He travels to other districts to talk politics and inspect peacekeepers and do other stuff that I couldn't care less about.

"But," Buff continues talking. "I hear that you're volunteering, huh? I can't wait until you win."

"Buff," I put my spear down. "Dude. I'll meet you near the square in ten minutes."

"Okay whatever. Just remember, you have to look better than the girl who's volunteering. Her name is Athena Thorson, Victor's girlfriend." Buff looks at me knowingly. I had a crush on Thorson when I was in the fourth grade. Buff never misses a chance to tease me about it.

"Shut up." I punch Buff in the arm, too hard to be kidding, too soft to be serious. And then, before he can get his own two cents in, I dash from the training room. Buff waves me off, grinning and making rude hand gestures to my back.

Right. What did I call him? Timid, shy, and sensible. Right, only if you don't know him.

oOo

I arrive at my front door minutes later. Mino is waiting for me, her dark brown hair tied in two braids. I subconsciously run my hand through my own gorgeous hair. It would do her so much good to look like me. On her skin tone, the brown hair looks like mud. My auburn color compliments everything about me, from my blue eyes to my pale skin.

At the sight of my sister, my nose wrinkles.

"Hi hi!" Mino gasps, her dull eyes wide with admiration. "When you get back from the Hunger Games, you're gonna be like a king!"

I double check to make sure Tertia isn't watching. Then with a sweeping motion of the arm, I knock the pest to the side and off her feet, where I give her a cold, appraising look.

Her eyes fill with easy tears, and I chuckle as I walk inside. Titus is sitting by the kitchen, and when I walk in, he booms, "Demicus! I've been waiting for you to return! I've picked out an outfit that I think will give you an advantage over the other tributes. I wore something similar the day I volunteered!"

I've learned to trust the man's judgment. He may be a bit pompous, but we get along very well, and usually what he says is correct.

"Fine Dad. I'm going to go change. Keep the girls out of my room?"

"Yes, yes, ok." He returns to the newspaper.

I turn and walk up the gilded staircase to my room. It's incredibly extravagant, with a huge bed in one corner, tall, mahogany bookshelves, a glass case of various awards and trophies, blue rugs, white walls, and an outfit lying out on my desk.

It's a pinstriped blue button down. Khaki pants are lying next to it, along with polished black dress shoes and black socks.

I don't think about the outfit, just throw it on, look in the mirror, and realize how stupid I look. So I take the outfit off, throw it in the laundry chute, and pick something more my style out.

I put on a plain, dark navy t-shirt, and throw a gray button down over it. I button the shirt half way up, but leave enough open so the look seems more sexy and dangerous. I tuck the two shirts into a pair of dark jeans, and put on a brown belt. Last minute, I add a watch.

I mess up my hair, put on my best golden boy smirk, and head down stairs. Titus sees me first. "Demicus, you look like a true winner." He doesn't even comment on my change of clothing.

"Thanks Dad." I turn and begin to leave the house, but Tertia stops me.

"Demicus! Aren't you going to give your mommy a big kiss? I'm so proud of you!" she smothers me in a perfume scented hug, and I cringe as I dutifully peck her on the cheek.

"Don't worry Mom, you'll see me in the Justice Building!" I pull away. I try to leave for real, but again, I am stopped. I clench my teeth to keep from screaming when Aulia grabs onto my leg.

"Demi, Demi! I don't want you to leave!" Her buck teeth protrude over her bottom lip. With Tertia and Titus watching, all I can do is hug her, pat her on the back, and say,

"I'll see you in the Justice Building."

Finally, I manage to get the Hell out of that mad house. But I'm stopped. Publia stands with Mino, about ten paces from our driveway.

I face them, crossing my arms, and finally allow the sadistic smirk, not the golden boy smirk, to take hold of my face.

"I hope you die!" Publia spits out.

Pretending to be shocked, I place my hand over my heart. "My God, Publia, how could you even say such a thing? I'm your brother!" And I squeeze out a tear.

Mino, who seems to be wavering between my side and Publia's, finally runs to me. "Don't cry Demicus! Don't cry! Publia didn't mean it, did you Publia?"

I stop 'crying' and a nasty look flies onto my face. I give Mino a shove, and she falls to the ground, shocked.

"Don't even bother about trying to tell Titus and Tertia anything. They won't believe you. Tertia already hates you, you know that, right Publia? Besides, they're planning on adopting again, so I wouldn't try to be the center of attention while I'm gone. It just won't work!"

"Adopting?" Mino says, in a small voice from the ground.

"Yeah," I keep my eyes on my dear sister, Publia. "I'm pretty observant."

Publia finally turns around, grabs Mino, pulls her up, and stalks back towards the house.

Triumphant, I sprint to the square, where I see Buff, impatiently tapping his left foot.

"Sorry," I say when I reach him. "The fan club wouldn't let me leave."

"Whatever," Buff grins. "Get ready to volunteer with the looove of your life!" I groan, not even bothering to tell him that I do not like Athena anymore, and get in line to get my finger pricked.

Buff and I keep up an animated conversation for the rest of the reaping, after I get blood drawn, am supposed to be watching the video, and when the girl is called. I'm snapped out of an argument of whether or not Publia or Buff's own little sister, Amelia, is more annoying when the boy behind me sharply jabs my arm.

When I whip around to glare at him, he seems to shrink. "They're about to call the b-boys."

I put on my golden boy smile, turn around, and say it. I have to control myself, so I muster authority and politeness into my voice.

"I volunteer."

The escort, Zilithia, whose theme this year appears to be some weird spring and flower combination, hops up and down excitedly.

"Oh wonderful! Simply divine! Come up young man, come up!" her squeals pierce my eardrums, and I struggle to keep the self-assured smirk on my face.

As I ascend the stage, I see Publia glaring at me, mouthing the words, Please don't come back.

In response, I yank the microphone away from Zilithia. "I'm Demicus Feldspar. Pleasure to win your games, President Teriba."

Publia glares.

Zilithia concludes the reaping, hustling Athena and I into different sides of the Justice Building, where I am pushed into a plush room, almost as fancy as my own home.

oOo

"Demicus!"

I turn away from the window, where I see Titus and Tertia standing, arms open. Groaning inwardly, I run into their arms, rolling my eyes when I'm wrapped in their embrace.

"Oh! We're so proud of you!" Tertia beams. "Just imagine- our son-"

"The winner of the 112th Hunger Games!" Titus's voice is peculiarly soft.

"Dad, Mom." I roll my eyes, but keep the smile on my face. The rest of the goodbye is incredibly short. Titus and Tertia have nothing else to say to me but,

"Oh we love you!"

"You're going to win!"

"See you in a few weeks!"

And then they leave.

I can imagine who my next visitor is going to be. Buff struts into the room, grinning ecstatically at me.

His first words are, "Remember, try to have sex with as many girls as possible, especially the chicks from District One."

I sit, shellshocked. "Excuse me?"

"Dude, you heard me. What?"

I'm staring at him. "What the Hell, Buff? I could die within the next two weeks, and that's all you have to say to me?"

Buff grins, his green eyes twinkling. His hands fidget with his shirt. I don't think that they've ever been still.

"Kill lots of people for me okay?" he extends his hand, like he wants a handshake, but we both know that's not what he's implying.

"Will do, man." I put my own hand out, and we slap them together, in the lame, third grade handshake we made up the day we met.

We break apart, as the handshake ended in a back-slapping hug. Buff begins to walk towards the door, as the peacekeepers are motioning him out.

"See you in a few weeks!" Buff salutes me, and then leaves.

My features harden when the door closes behind him.

Next will be my sisters.

Aulia and Mino are first.

They skips in. Aulia's dirty blonde hair is held back in two pink pigtails, each with a silk bow on them. Her buck teeth seem to enlarge when she grins at me. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looks like the perfect definition of cute. Mino moves in after her, a bit more cautious, her muddy brown hair making her look nowhere near as adorable as Aulia.

Charade. Keep up the charade.

"Demi! Are you gonna eat lots of food? What's it gonna be like? Do you get to kill people! The chariots! I'm excited for you Demi!" Aulia climbs up onto my lap, and Mino takes my hand.

I suck in my breath and clench my teeth. I don't want this little thing on my lap. So I give her a 'hug'. Or I squeeze her so tight that she begins to choke and cry. I do the same with my hand, practically breaking Mino's tiny palm.

Tears fall down their little faces, and Aulia's is slowly turning blue. "D-De-Demi!" Mino sputters, sobbing, and with her free hand, she points to Aulia. As if I'm surprised, I let them go, and Aulia falls down out of my lap and scuttles away, Mino close behind her.

"Oops!" I pretend to look upset. "I didn't mean to squeeze you so hard Aulia! Are you alright? You too, Mino!"

Aulia stands up and walks back to me. "Yeah," she smiles. "I think that I have to go though." she points to the Peacekeepers opening the door. "Good luck Big Brother!" Mino gives me a shy smile, but then runs over and plants a wet kiss on my cheek. As soon as she's out the door, I grimace and wipe the slime from my stubble.

The smirk creeps onto my face once again. I know Publia won't come. And why should she? Jealous bitch.

I let out a low chuckle, and my lips curve up in a smirk. I don't think that even the Capitol is ready for me.

Hi guys! Nice to see you. So. Here's the deal. Updates aren't very regular, as you can see. I'm trying to balance music and school with this story, and I planned to end it... But I couldn't. So, let's try this and see how it goes!

Xoxo Grace