*DISTRICT 3*

*KELLY VALENTINES*
*THIRTEEN*

Kelly is lying down on the black suede couch that is shoved haphazardly against the wall and wonders if volunteering was worth it.

It's not like she doesn't have a plan. She's going to do exactly what she told Jin she would. Join up with the Careers and slit their throats while they're sleeping, when she's on guard duty. Problem is, they'll never put an unknown District 3 girl on guard while they sleep. There's also the problem that they won't accept her into their group at all.

"Kel?" speaks Jin quietly, putting an arm around his little sister's shoulders. "Hey, it's okay."

"I'm not upset." Kelly shakes her head vigorously. "I'll win. I know it. I can and I will."

Jin knows he'll regret saying what he wants to, but he does anyway. "You know, you're going up against teenagers older than you who have had years of training. You..." He understands that there's no point in reminding her. She knows what she got herself into. Kelly's smart. Kelly's able. Kelly can win.

He hopes.

"I know," Kelly says sharply.

She hopes too.

"I know you don't have any parents or relatives to come back to," says Jin. "But if you ever feel like you just want to give up, you shouldn't. Because you'll always have me. Don't give yourself over without a fight."

Kelly debates over telling her brother about what the mayor had said at the Reaping. But she doesn't. There's no point, and she can handle it herself.

*GRANT KESLEY SIMMONS*
*SIXTEEN*

Grant splays himself out over the frayed sofa in the waiting room. He's tall, so his gangly legs, clad in thin denim jeans, spill over the side.

He bites his lip, sighing. He hates being alone, and gets impatient easily.

"G-Man!" shouts Allie Kathrine Gracella, bubbly as always, as she jumps into the room and plops onto Grant's lap.

"Hey, Allie Kat!" Grant exclaims. Allie is one of his two best friends, and she's always been quite affectionate. But ever since Grant began dating Cianna, he's had to avoid any intimacy with Allie. Cianna gets jealous easily. "What's up?"

"Oh, come off it." She slaps his shoulder. "You have to be at least a little upset. I mean, you're going into the Hunger Games!"

"I think I'll be okay." His heart pounds abnormally fast, betraying him, and Allie can always detect his lies. But he continues pressing forward. "I'll run into the bloodbath, grab some water and food, lie low until most of the people are gone, kill someone without a lot of weapons, grab their stuff, and just wait out the rest of the Games."

"You're so not getting away with that. First, you could die in the bloodbath. You can't just go sprinting in like a Career, unless you make serious alliances. Second, you could never kill an innocent child."

"You have no idea what I could do." Grant sets his jaw. "This is the Hunger Games, Allie Kat. There isn't much I wouldn't do to get home for you guys. If Cianna sees something graphic, hide her. I don't want her thinking of me as a killer. She's been through enough with her brother going in."

Allie exhales and blinks her electric blue eyes, which contrast brightly against her dark, chocolate-colored hair. Then she takes a shuddering breath in. Although she's usually brave and bold, this seems to be too much for her. "Third," she continues shakily, "the Gamemakers aren't just going to let you sit there. They'll draw you in to as many fights as possible. And you can't hide from them. They won't let someone win who does nothing. You have to get in there. You have to fight. They want a good sho-"

"Time's up." The Peacekeeper at the door stomps his foot, and Allie leaves the room. No goodbye.

::

"Next," the Peacekeeper says gruffly, implying that there's a line outside the door for Grant. I've never been this popular, he thinks, which makes him giggle slightly.

"Yo, Grant." His other good friend, Josh "Cranberry" Cran is punching him on the shoulder.

"Ow, don't do that. I have to fight with that arm." Resentfully, Grant rubs his tense muscle and glowers.

"Hope you do good, bro," Josh drawls. There's a pack of cigarettes sticking out of his pocket. Grant doesn't want to say anything with the Peacekeeper there, but he prays Josh will hide them. If his friend is caught with the cancer sticks, he'll be facing death. Cigarettes are illegal in the Districts.

"Thanks, man. I've got this," Grant boasts.

Grant marvels on how he has such different personalities. With his family, he's loving and caring, with his girlfriend, Cianna, he's shy and sweet, with Allie, he's easygoing and friendly, and with Josh, he's practically a stoner boy, like those good-for-nothing kids who gather at the edge of the District and just smoke all day, not caring whether or not they get caught.

"I know you do." Josh stretches lazily and yawns widely. "Anyway, gotta get home and help Ma with the kids. Good luck with the whole Games thing, G-Man."

Grant nods, wondering how he ever became friends with Josh. "See ya."

::

He watches the door, praying for it to open, for his family to walk in so he can give them all hugs and say goodbye for what he is sure is the last time. Eyes wide, he focuses on nothing else.

And eventually, after what had to be a century, his sisters walk in.

"Katrina!" Grant swoops down and engulfs his youngest sister in an embrace. "Sabrina. Emilie." He hugs them too, holding on for as long as possible. He even throws his arms around his brother, Stephen, who for once doesn't squirm out of his grip. "Where's Mom?"

"She'll be here," says Emilie quietly, her olive-hued eyes sparkling. "She told us to go on ahead."

"Why?" Grant wonders.

"Who knows? She'll probably come in next," says Stephen.

They stand for a long time, five siblings with no hope and no idea what to do next.

Finally, Emilie breaks the silence. "How many times were you in the bowl, Grant?"

"18," he answers sullenly.

Katrina smiles a little. "We'll miss you, Grant," she says solemnly. "Please come home."

::

But before his mother can enter the room, Cianna appears, smiling a little. "There's no baby, Grant."

"I know," he says, "but at least it will create a little sympathy. I'll get more Sponsors if they think you're pregnant back here."

"I'll miss you so much, Grant." Before he knows it, Cianna is sobbing on his shoulder, tears staining his white collared shirt, but he doesn't mind. After all, this might be the very last day he'll ever see his girlfriend.

Grant can't bring himself to say anything that matters, so with a lopsided grin he says, "Take care of the baby, C."

*DISTRICT 3 TRAIN*

After another four or five minutes, Grant is beginning to despair. He's sure that Edwin Bass will come and drag him away and he'll never get to say goodbye to his mother. The thought makes him sick, and he sobs dryly.

"Come, tributes, come!" cries the high, phony voice of the escort.

Grant begins to panic. His heart beats in protest, and he rises to his feet, unsure of what he plans to do but knowing it will be something. He will say goodbye to his mom. He will.

"Grant Simmons?" Edwin calls. "Grant Kesley Simmons!"

Grant doesn't reply. He knows in a second the Peacekeeper will drag him out by the collar of his shirt, but he has to hold his ground. He has to see Ms. Simmons. He has to. He'll die.

The Peacekeeper growls and grabs Grant's wrist. "Go."

"No."

"What?" The man removes his bulky helmet, revealing cold black eyes, and glares. "Go." His nightstick is in his hand.

Grant goes. He follows Edwin and his District partner, a young girl, into the train, sits on a chair, and stares out the window. Mommy, he thinks, tears streaming silently down his cheeks. Mommy.

"Are you okay?" It's the peppy voice of the girl.

"Do I look okay?" Grant snaps, turning to Ediwn. "Get rid of her," he beseeches the man.

"You're a strong boy," says the escort with a grin. "Get rid of her yourself."

But Grant doesn't have the heart to hurt the child. So he turns back to the window and watches as District 3 disappears.

Mommy.

Gone forever.