Thank you goddesslyndseylove and KI for reviewing. It motivates me so much! It really means a lot! :)

District 6

Fire. That's what engulfs Amelie Carter. The flames lick at her flesh as her mother looks at her through the window, hate the only emotion present in her cruel eyes. "You're psychotic." Her words don't reach her mother's ears and even if they did, her words wouldn't penetrate the cold demeanor. Her mother, a vicious guard dog, stands at the only door, jubilant at her daughter's pain.

"Amelie." Audrey Reybold's kind voice prods at the 14 year old, but it does nothing. 'Wait. Audrey wasn't in the fire with me. That wouldn't make sense,' Amelie thinks. "Amelie." Again, the soft voice of the 16 year old tries to wake her. Her eyes slowly flutter open, the light pushing past her dark hair blinds her at first. "Shit." She mutters brushing the hair with blonde tips out of her hazel eyes. "How long was I out?" she asks.

"Only an hour… Are you okay?" He asks, his brown eyes scanning her. "You were acting hysterical, screaming in your sleep." She shakes her head, forcing a smile. "Never better." A rogue tear slides down her face, betraying her. She sits up on the couch, glancing at the ludicrous game Audrey's playing. "Aren't you supposed to be training? Your parents are going to be pissed," She says, desperation vivid in her voice. She wants the topic to be changed more than anything, almost as much as she needs air. "Like I give a damn about what thing 1 and thing 2 think," he says with a laugh shutting off the TV. He swallows the whiskey in front of him quickly not even acknowledging the bitterness. He gets up, swinging on his torn up leather jacket. "Where are you going?" she asks. "Out…" With a confident smile, he leaves her in his house. She might as well live her with how much she hangs out there to avoid her abusive mother.

Audrey Reybold can't help but like Amelie. He has a weakness for cute things despite his bad boy appearance. She's a tether to good to him. He needed to get out though despite the fact he'd love to spend time with her 24/7. It's because her nightmare. Every single damn time he looks at those scars on Amelie's face, he wants to spear her mother. The fire was real; the scars on her skin were real. It pissed him off more than anything ever has.

He subconsciously makes his way to the training arena. He doesn't know how he got there, but he realizes it was much needed, the sweat, the pain. "You're late. Are you okay?" His mom runs over, her hands reaching towards him. That's when he notices he's drenched in sweat. "I ran here," Audrey mutters before taking off his beloved jacket. It wasn't his intention to run there, but the mind works in mysterious ways.

"What do I need to do first?" he asks. "Are you sure you're up to it. You look shaken up, Audrey." He shakes his head, a bitter laugh escaping. "I'm sixteen, mom. Stop being so damn concerned. Who am I sparring?" Audrey asks. He's grateful his parents aren't like Amelies, but did they have to be so overprotective? "Leo. He needs the training, but be careful with him. Poor baby has been fighting all day." Audrey glances at his younger brother. "Give me someone else," he mutters wanting to fully take his anger out. Plus, he hates practice fighting with his brother. It doesn't seem fair.

"You can ask someone." She says before walking back towards Leo. Audrey's brown eyes land on Wolfmark, the biggest opponent there. He could start a fight with him.

Amelie walks into the arena knowing Audrey would be there and knowing she could get in a little practice for herself. She, however, does not expect to see Audrey unconscious on the ground. She sprints to the mat where he lies in a puddle of his blood.

"Get off him!" Amelie screams at Wolfmark, attempting to tackle him off of Audrey. "Get lost girl." Wolfmark sneers. "I will as soon as you get off Audrey!" she screams again, her eyes like daggers. Wolfmark's slap to her face shocks her like cold water. She tries to tackle him one more time, but she gets slammed to the ground, fairing much worse that Audrey did. "Where are his overprotective parents when you need them?" she mutters trying to push the weight off of her. "Shut up." The bear on top of her screams. "This is all just a spar. Get off me and I'll go on my way," she attempts to reassure in futile.

"The reaping is today. I need to practice. Maybe even practice killing someone," Wolfmark's voice is deadly. Audrey wakes up on the ground, bits and pieces of the conversation reaching his ears. When Amelie whimpers, he's up and beating the man again. Yeah, he started it, but he's going to finish it to. "Don't you ever touch her again, you son of a bitch," Audrey screams, each punch releasing his anger more and more. It feels good. Wolfmark's out like a light by the time Audrey's done with him. Like in the romance novels he enjoys, he's expecting the damsel in distress, Amelie, to shower him with praise and love. This, however, is not a romance novel and Amelie is no damsel. "You idiot," she mutters. "I just saved your life." She shakes her head, a small sarcastic laugh slipping past her lips. "I just saved yours."

(-)(-)(-)

Audrey and Amelie bickered after that, each attempting to explain how they saved the other until it was time to get ready for the much dreaded reaping. It went by too fast if you asked either one of them. Audrey and Amelie both don't know how to feel when they hear the district partner's lives are dependent on each others. Audrey especially doesn't know how to feel when he hears Amelie's name, clear as day, called out of the microphone. Surely someone would volunteer, right? No. No one volunteers for her.

Amelie Carter's heart feels as though it's literally beating out of her chest when she walks on the stage. Her hazel eyes pleading with someone to take her place as tribute. But, no one does. Slowly and shakily she grabs the microphone. "M.. my name is Amelie Carter." She would add a smile, but she knows it would look too frightened, too fake.

Her eyes catch Audrey's who almost look as frightened as hers. "And the boys tribute is… Leo Reybold." Without a second beat, Audrey volunteers. If Amelie being up there didn't make him want to volunteer, Leo sure as hell did.

When he walks to the stage, he saunters, feigning the confidence he always acts like he has. It's his defense mechanism. "And, who are you?" The escort asks eyeing him up and down hungrily. He's used to it though. He's extremely attractive.

"I'm Audrey Reybold." He smile for effect, but then looks towards Amelie. He grabs her hand, not giving a damn about if it makes him lose sponsors or not. He looks towards the camera and gives a sly smile.

I feel terrible about this chapter. I kind of hate everything about it, but I wanted to go ahead and publish something. So, yeah, give me tips por favor. I'll try to update again soon. :)