I'm not really happy with this chapter because it still seems rushed. I tried to be more descriptive. Anyway, again I enjoy constructive criticism to improve my writing not hateful, rude comments.

District Two's Reaping:

"Tirra Lovelorn, get out of the tree now!" 5 year old Tirra climbs down the tree as slow as possible before reaching the grassy ground below. Her mother's breath catches when Tirra lands, but relief floods over her seeing her daughter unharmed.

"You could have fallen and gotten seriously hurt, don't do that ever again." Mrs. Lovelorn says hugging Tirra tightly like an anaconda squeezing tighter whenever Tirra attempted to squirm away. "Yes mama." Tirra says, but she doesn't really want to stop climbing the orchards she loves so much.

In fact, one day she is going to climb to the very top and see the whole world, but for now she is going to make her mama happy.

(-)(-)(-)

Now 16 years old Tirra reaches the last branch, heaving herself up.

"Tirra help!" Zariah pleas from below. "Zariah, what kind of big sister would I be if I didn't let you fight some of your own battles?" Zariah huffs. "A good one!" Tirra laughs before heaving Zariah up onto the branch hating the over exertion of her muscles because it is the one weakness she cannot shake.

"Tirra, get out of the tree right this instance," her mom shouts looking very small from where Tirra is.

"Come on Tirra," Zariah grasps the splintered wood of the branch and slowly but diligently makes her way to the bottom of the tree, but Tirra remains sitting in her "sanctuary"- one of the few things that can calm the raging storm within her.

"Tirra, I said get down. You have to train because the REAPING is today!" her mom's voice steadily increases, but Tirra likes her little spark of rebellion because people can't tell her what to do. Tirra scoffs at her mom's comment. "It is all about the reaping, right mom? You just have to have your precious victor." She mutters.

"I'll come down when I want to," she shouts at her small looking mother, and she notices how easy it is to be in control when you are the bigger person. Tirra's mom looks less intimidating from up here muffled by the leaves green from the chlorophyll with the veins sprouting on the leaf with an intricate design- the veins reaching to tip of the leaf connecting it to the entire tree.

Her mom storms into the house with Zariah following at her heels. Tirra ignores the rage , and enjoys the surreal chirps of flying birds seeming as though they are taking away her heavy sorrow when they fly away.

(-)(-)(-)

Tirra's mom comes out time and time again claiming to want to help Tirra win the Hunger Games, but her words are void and don't reach Tirra's ears. Her mom tries her best, but every attempt seems futile because Tirra can't look past the years of her parents pursuing her into countless hours of training. She closes her eyes just letting it all go. Today is stressful enough as it is.

(-)(-)(-)

The brown hair hanging down from the tree was the only indicator Ajax Nevlana needed to know to know Tirra was up there looking peaceful even from below which was the perfect opportunity for Ajax to sneak up on her.

The crackling of the leaves below makes Tirra's grey-blue eyes snap open, so she slowly peaks over to identify the noise.

"Hey you clumsy elephant, what are you doing?" the smile on her face isn't the façade she usually has to put on- it is the smile that comes as naturally as breathing at the beauties of the birds, seeing Zariah's very similar smile or Ajax- her closest friend, but she would never tell Copper or Amber that. Tirra gets to the lowest branch, front flipping off of the gnarled branch landing on the soft patch of thin strips of grass.

"Do you want to come and go fox hunting?" he asks. Tirra huffs ignoring the insult because only Tirra is allowed to make fun of him. "If you couldn't sneak up on me, how do you expect to kill a stealthy fox? Plus, Astrid wouldn't like that because she hates me and thinks I am going to steal you away from her." Tirra's hands are firmly placed against her hips with her lips placed in a firm grimace revealing how hard core she can be.

The grimace instantly disappears though, a full out teeth showing smile like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland appears because Tirra has a wonderful idea. "You know what; I'd love to hang out with you." If Tirra's mom could not control her, Astrid sure as hell isn't.

"You're probably right about Astrid, so how about we invite her to come along?" Ajax slips in his "suggestion" being deceptive about how he wants the two girls to get along. His best friend can't hate his girlfriend or vise versa.

"Nonsense, Astrid is probably getting ready for the reaping, so you and I are fine just hanging out the…" she edges closer to him, smiling as insane as the Cheshire cat yet again. "…just the two of us." Ajax thinks about it, slowly beginning to accept the idea because obviously Astrid wants to look her best for the reaping; she has been only rambling about it non- stop since Katniss killed Clove, a close friend of Astrid's.

(-)(-)(-)

Tirra closes her eyes when Ajax's arrow flies into the woods, no doubt hitting the fragile animal. Killing isn't one of Tirra's strong suits, and she doesn't think it will ever be, but she will have to change that if she wants to be the careers leader.

Tirra gulps once more before releasing her sadness from her, switching her emotions off to the death of the small creature she used to love.

"Hand me the bow," Ajax compromises handing her the worn weapon, but he hands it reluctantly because he knows Tirra does not like killing.

Tirra breaths in the oaky air, filling up with the woods scents as her eyes open. Her eyes follow the almost silent fox- the crunching of its feet and the fear ready to replace the peace instantly if a noise is heard.

Tirra is about to let the arrow fly when the foxes' innocent eyes glance her way, breaking every wall Tirra attempted to build.

Ajax stares at Tirra holding his breath, nervous for an unknown reason, but he instantly releases it when she pulls the bow back down handing it back to Ajax.

"I'm going to go get ready for the reaping. I'll see you there." She whispers unusually quiet. She runs away without another word heading back to the tree to soak in the sound of the birds in her tree.

Ajax stares after the brunette debating after her, but he changes his mind running his hand through his blonde hair. He just decides to go to victor's village to his home because his brother, Lucas, won the games.

He gets to the giant house soaking in how he could get his own white, non-splintered house as long as he wins this year's games, and after his years of practicing 17 seems like a good year to volunteer. He opens the front door and gets hit with a bucket of water.

"What the hell is this?" He demands anger radiating off of him at Lucas. Lucas smiles crookedly, but the same tortured green eyes- that Ajax shares- stare back at Ajax showing him how much Lucas lost winning the games. His anger doesn't diminish though because Ajax hates jokes pulled on him.

"Obviously, a way to lighten up the depressing mood because today is after all the reaping," Lucas says as though it were the most obvious thing in the tiny world. Ajax stomps off into his room to dry off, but the situation seems all the more funny to Lucas.

The anger pent up in Ajax is building up and up seeming like it is about to spill over, and Ajax can't handle it. He slams open the door charging at Lucas, knocking him into the mahogany table, and the silverware glinting on the table next to them seems oh so tempting. Ajax grabs it lifting an eyebrow, testing Lucas.

Lucas freezes up, choking on air, with the visions flash in front of his eyes. Daniel was on top of Lucas just like this, pressing a knife up against the vein running though Lucas' neck. The same stench of woods reeks from Ajax.

Ajax realizes the fear in his brother's eyes and smiles, ironically the same smile Lucas smiled when killing Daniel with his own weapon which only intensifies the racing of Lucas' heart.

"Ajax… stop," Lucas gasps out, his knuckles ghostly white from the clenching. Ajax pulls himself from his brother allowing the anger to wash off being replaced with calmness which comes quick. "Just don't do that again because I'm already tense," Ajax mutters going back into his room awaiting the reaping.

(-)(-)(-)

Tirra walks up to Ajax's door in Victor Village feeling way more at peace then she did when about to take the life of the fox, but she grimaces when she sees the 16 year old slut standing at the door with her auburn hair in bun wearing the SAME pale blue dress as Tirra. She races back off to the house to change in shock Astrid could have the same taste as her.

When Ajax opens the door, he was expecting Tirra not Astrid, not that he is complaining.

He pulls her into a delicate kiss on her pale pink lips. "Hey gorgeous," he smiles smoothly.

"Hi…" she hugs him breathing in his scent. "You were hunting today, so why didn't you come get me?" she asks delicately trying to be subtle with her way of finding out if Tirra went. "I thought you were trying to get ready for the Reaping, so I didn't want to disturb you. Let's hurry, so we're not late." They rush all the way to the Reaping barely talking.

Ajax doesn't see Tirra on the way there, but she follows them as stealthy as the fox in the woods.

(-)(-)(-)

"For the 75th annual Hunger Games and our 3rd quarter quill …" President East stops and reaches her hand in the bowl slowly making the propaganda more intense. "…the tribute's lives will be connected with each other. If your district partner dies, so do you."

Ajax smiles because either Astrid or Tirra were obviously going to volunteer which means not only strong partners, but he will have a way for more sponsorship with his chemistry with Astrid or his friendship with Tirra. Tirra also feels relief at the idea of having to kill one less person.

"Ladies first," Dean Tolkin, district two's escort drones quickly drawing the name, dashing his brown eyes across the paper. "Astrid Novidia"

Astrid begans to walk up to the stage, her shoulders straight, and she is smiling a smile that shows she means business. "I volunteer as tribute!" Tirra screams louder than needed just to piss Astrid off, and Astrid is pissed with steam practically flying out of her ears.

Tirra smiles at Astrid, winking before going up to the stage which fuels Astrid's anger.

"And you are…?" Dean begins.

"Tirra. Tirra Lovelorn"

The crowd erupts in uproar because they know they are sending off a jewel- someone who will be a career and win.

"The boy tribute is…" Dean grabs the card and grimaces at the name. "Bob Loop" the name is plain and definitely not district two material, and the name fits the bland person walking up to the stage. (A/N: No offense if your name is Bob because this is the Hunger Games, so obviously generic, normal names are not acceptable.)

"I volunteer as tribute!" Ajax says just as loud as Tirra did and excitement is practically oozing from every pore of his body because Tirra and him were going to kick ass and gain a whole hell of a lot of sponsors while doing it."

(-)(-)(-)

Astrid is the first person to see Tirra which surprises her, but Tirra just paints a fake smile on her face with her defenses on high alerts.

"You're a bitch." Astrid deadpans.

"Well hello to you too. Why are you here?" Tirra asks.

Astrid smirks. "I'm here to tell you to stay away from my boyfriend in the games or I will make your life a living hell." She sneers.

Tirra can taste the sarcastic comment bubbling at her tongue, but she decided to play it mature for a clear conscious' sake.

"Why do you hate me?" she asks.

Astrid laughs, rolling her eyes. "I love Ajax with all of my heart, but all he talks about is you! I want him to look at me the way he looks at you because I love him so much more than he will ever know, but I'm trapped in this loop of desperately trying to be the non-jealous girlfriend and the girl friend who wants to make him choose. Honestly, I don't want to ask him to choose because I know he would choose you without even blinking. I love him, but he loves you!" Astrid's gulps in huge amounts of air relieved and embarrassed about getting the jealousy off her chest.

"Times up," a guard opens the door. Astrid nods glancing once more at the girl who ruined her chance of happiness.

"I'm sorry," Tirra whispers shock radiating from her. Astrid smiles a smile so quick Tirra almost misses it.

"Thanks. Good luck" the door closes enclosing Tirra in silence.

Astrid sees Ajax next, only kissing him and whispering promises to him for when he gets back not mentioning the fear inside her. Ajax loves Tirra, and Astrid knows the Hunger Games drive people to do crazy things like listen to your heart which is breaking Astrid because she was supposed to be doing daring things in the Hunger Games with Ajax, not Tirra.

(-)(-)(-)

After that, Ajax and Tirra are off to the Capitol leaving their past behind already back to their joking selves, but both quiet about their past only speaking of their future.

Thank you everyone who reviewed! I love you all! 3