District 2 female – Dania Khatib, 18

I spent the rest of the afternoon, after the twist to the Quarter Quell was announced, continuing to train in the academy, making sure to show off to as many people as I could to ensure that they'd vote for me.

I got to the spear training, one of my many specialties, and almost jumped when someone spoke directly behind me.

"Why are you being so arrogant, Dania?"

I spun around to come face to face with Matthias Fusillo, the most irritating boy in the Careers Academy.

"What do you mean arrogant?" I snapped at him.

"Look at you, you're putting your blood, sweat and tears into this whole training thing just for you to go and die in the Hunger Games," he laughed. "You really think you're the best here?"

"I know I am," I said, not looking at him.

"Uh-huh. Anyway, even if you do go into the games, you're just going to die," said Matt, crossing his arms.

"No, I won't," I said. "I will win, and bring honour to myself and to the district, for winning the first Quarter Quell."

Matt snorted. "God, you are arrogant. You don't hear Quintus going on like that, and he's the guy that's supposedly going to be voted in because he's the best."

"OK, I'm proud," I shrugged. "So what? Does it hurt you?"

"I'm going to prove you wrong," Matt laughed, and then he walked away. I just rolled my eyes and dove into the spear training.

The next day I marched towards the town centre to place my vote, determined because I knew exactly who to vote for now after what had happened at the training centre the previous day.

I grabbed a slip for the boy's name and furiously wrote down Matt's name. If he was going to call me arrogant, I would put him in the arena, to see how good he was. He would die in the bloodbath, for sure.

For the girl, I voted for his sister, Margot, because if his parents managed to have one annoying kid, there was a high chance that they were both little shits.

I was walking away from the voting square when I saw Matt, talking to random people who were walking into the town centre. I was curious as to what he was saying to them, but I just continued my walk back to my house.

A week later was reaping day, and I woke up at the crack of dawn to get ready. If I was to have the honour of being picked, of proudly representing my district in the first Quarter Quell, then today was a big day for me. I had to look my best.

I was glad I lived in District 2 and not a poorer district, otherwise, I would not have nice clothes to wear to the most important day of my life. I didn't usually put much effort into what I wore, because most days I would be sweating at the Careers Academy, and for school, I didn't really care. But today, I put a lot of thought into my outfit.

I ended up choosing a coral, knee-length tulip skirt, topped with a fluttery turquoise blouse, and coral high-heeled sandals for my shoes. I even did my hair nice, which was almost always up in a messy bun.

"Don't you look beautiful, Dania," my mother said when she woke up.

"Well, today's the big day," I said, smiling at her.

"Yes, Dania, about that..." said my father, but my mum shook her head at him.

"What?" I said, but he just shrugged.

"Nothing, dear."

"Come on, Dad," I said. "Tell me."

He exchanged a look with my mother, and she just sighed.

"Dania, do you know a boy named Matthias?" my father asked me. "He's about your age, I believe."

"Yeah, I know him, why?"

"Omar, maybe you shouldn't..." my mother started, but I cut her off.

"What's Matt been doing?" I said to my father.

"Well, he's been going around... campaigning to get you into the Hunger Games," said my father. "He's been saying you're too arrogant, that you deserve to die..."

I felt a lump form in my throat. Had Matt really been doing that? Why?

"Whatever," I said. "I think it's time to go..."

My parents exchanged a look, but the topic wasn't mentioned again as we walked out the door and toward the town centre to attend the reaping. After I was lined up with the other girls my age and everyone was ready, the escort began his speech, before finally looking at his tablet to announce the female tribute.

And when he said my name, I did not have the big, proud reaction I'd been practising. Not after what I'd heard this morning. Sure, I was still proud to be the victor of the first Quell, but had the people really voted for me because they believed I was arrogant and wanted to get rid of me?

I came onto the stage and managed to at least wave at the crowd, even if they did supposedly hate me because of Matt. The boy was announced then. Quintus Grimm, as everyone had predicted. He came onto the stage then, and we shook hands before we were both taken behind the stage and into separate rooms.

My mother and father came into the room as soon as I was alone, and both of them wrapped their arms around me.

"I got in because Matt... because of what Matt did..." I said, my throat clenching in on itself.

"It doesn't matter," said my dad, squeezing my hand. "You are still going to win, you know why?"

"I know why," I said. "I'm the greatest career at the academy."

"Yes, you are," he said, giving me a smile. "So, you are going to win it and make us proud. Make all of District 2 proud. We all know you will, even if you were voted in for a reason you didn't think you would be voted in for."

"We love you, Dania," said my mum, embracing me again and kissing the top of my head. "We're already so proud of how hard you've worked for this. And to know that I gave birth to the winner of the first Quarter Quell... I cannot believe how lucky I am."

"And we brought something for you, Dania," said my dad, letting go of my hand and reaching into his pocket. He pulled his hand out, holding a hair tie. But not just any hair tie. My favourite, most comfortable hair tie. "I know you love this hair tie. It can be your token."

"Thank you," I said.

"That's time," said the peacekeeper that was on guard, and my parents were escorted out of the goodbye room.

Next came my three best friends. While Evelyn and Alessandra both looked proud, Leporis was frowning at me.

"What is it?" I asked her.

"Nothing, I just... maybe you weren't supposed to... oh, it doesn't matter," she said, painting a smile on her face. "I'm proud of you, Dania."

"What were you going to say?" I asked her.

"That I know you're going to win," said Leporis. An obvious lie, but I didn't push it. I didn't have that much time to say goodbye to them, and I didn't want to waste it by pressing Leporis on what she was going to say. "We all do."

Alessandra wrapped her arms around me. "We'll see you in two weeks, Dania."

"Good luck," said Evelyn.

I gave a small chuckle. "You know I don't need luck."

District 2 male – Quintus Grimm, 18

The day after the twist of the Quarter Quell was announced, my parents took me to the town centre to vote for who I wanted to go into the games. If I was being honest, I didn't really know who to vote for. I didn't want to vote for any of the other guys from the academy, because then that would take away the chances of me being able to represent the district.

There was also the chance that everyone would want to vote for the criminals of the district, so I wouldn't put a vote towards them, either. I thought about it as I walked to the town centre with my parents, unsure of what to do.

When we got there, there were already masses of people lining up to place their votes. All of them talking was incredibly loud, and I scrunched up my face in response. I definitely was not a big fan of large crowds making a lot of sounds.

But, the capitol would be worse, so I decided to just stick my chin up and walk into the crowd. When I was in the line, I saw a little boy gawking up at me.

I just stared back at him. He must have recognised me from my academy photo. I was fairly sure that people had been looking at the Careers' profiles in the lead up to the voting to know who to vote for.

"And we are voting for you, Quintus?" my mother asked. I nodded, even though I'd already confirmed that I wanted them to vote for me a million times.

We got to the front of the line, and I looked down at the voting paper, still unsure. I just wrote down the first girl and the first guy I could think of that had no chance of getting into the games anyway.

As I dropped the paper into the box, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. I knew I should have taken this more seriously, but I just couldn't bring myself to vote for anyone that could potentially take my spot in the games.

As we left the town centre, my parents congratulated me on my nomination. "You're going to make us proud, Quintus," my father said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I forced a smile and nodded, but the weight of the upcoming reaping felt heavy on my shoulders. I knew what it would take to win, and I knew I would win, but I was more worried about actually being voted in. What if the district voted for criminals, just to get rid of them?

The days leading up to the reaping were filled with intense training and preparation. I spent a lot of time with Dawn, and her presence helped to comfort me that I was doing enough to be chosen to represent my district.

And hopefully, the trainer and other people from the academy were voting for me, as well. I just wasn't sure about the general public...

The reaping day crept up on me faster than I had anticipated, and before I knew it, my mum was waking me up and pulling one of my nicest outfits out of my closet. I pulled the clothes on as she put stuff in my hair to slick it back.

"This is going to be a big day for you, Quintus," she said, squeezing my shoulders. I just nodded, as Dawn padded over to me, a huge smile on my face. I wished she could come to the reaping with me, but I knew she wasn't allowed. So, once my mother was satisfied with my clothes and hair, my parents left the house and began to make our way toward the town centre. After getting my blood taken, I was allowed to go and line up with the eighteen-year-old boys, looking around at the crowd as everyone else got into place.

"Hey, Quintus!" a voice from a bit in front of me called out. I looked around for the source before my eyes landed on the sixteen-year-old boy from the Academy who had been obsessed with me. "Good luck today! I voted for you, by the way!"

I gave him a small smile and a thumbs-up. What was I meant to say to him? Thanks, I suppose?

Eventually, once everyone was settled and in line, the escort came onto the stage to announce the tributes. But first, he gave us the usual history of Panem thing that came with the reaping every single year. Finally, finally, he looked down at his tablet to announce the female tribute.

I crossed my fingers that it would be a girl who was easy to get along with, but not too likeable that she'd be hard to kill.

"Dania Khatib!" said the escort. OK, Dania was OK. Not great, but OK. I personally thought she was a bit self-obsessed and obnoxious, but she would make a strong ally at least.

"Alright, now for the boys," the escort continued, swiping on his tablet as Dania walked to the stage. "Quintus Grimm!"

I internally nodded to myself, then walked to the stage. Dania and I shook hands, and I gave her a small nod. She didn't react to me, she seemed to have other things on her mind.

We were both taken into separate goodbye rooms then, and my parents and Dawn came in as soon as I was in there.

"You know it's not goodbye," said my mother, giving me a huge smile.

"Make us proud, son," said my father, and Dawn gave me a good luck lick.

I hugged my parents and Dawn, and nodded silently, as my mother wiped a tear from her eye.

"We're so proud of you already just for getting this far, Quintus," she said.

"Remember, Quintus, you are a victor. You will do this," my father said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

As they then left the room, I took a deep breath and focused my mind. I knew what I had to do to win, and I would do whatever it takes. But first, I needed to survive the initial bloodbath and form alliances with the right people.

I walked out of the goodbye room with a stoic expression, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

I am so sorry I made reviewing the last chapter hard for everyone. I deleted the submission info chapter, and I didn't realise it would make things difficult!

Big thank you to LC-it-gets-better-alt-account and fiona11303 for their District 2 tributes!