Sapphire Blanchette, aged 18 District 1 Female

I took a sharp intake of breath as I pulled the zipper on the side of my dress up. It was a dress I had worn many times before, a red, figure-hugging number that my ex, Glint, had picked out a few months ago. It was the first time I had trouble fitting into it. I had been training rigorously for the past two weeks, and it seemed to be very much concentrated around my breasts. I had pointed it out to my mother earlier that day when I had the same trouble fitting into my usual bras. With a shrug, she had just informed me that women didn't stop growing at 18 and blamed the increase in protein I had started to consume. It didn't make it any less annoying not to fit into your favorite dress, but in just over twenty-four hours, I'd have a whole host of stylists tailoring clothes for me, and it could only help to have the extra weight in the arena.

I took one last look in the mirror, flattening out my dress and making a few last-minute adjustments to my hair before picking up the high heels off my bed and slowly moving towards the window. I slid it open and leaned out, feeling the warm summer night air on my face. The street outside was empty, and beyond the streetlights, the world was pure darkness.

With my purse slung across my chest, I stepped out of the window onto the small ledge outside. Carefully, with my back to my bedroom I slid it shut again, a skill I had mastered over the past three years. Then carefully, I sidestepped across the ledge until I came to the roof of the one-story coal-house. I paused for a second before taking the small jump and landing perfectly on the slanted surface. I had become very good at my nightly escapes that I was certain I could do it with my eyes closed. I knew it by heart, but so did other people.

"You're too early for the Reaping, Saph," a voice called from behind me. I turned sharply to see my brother, Adonis, leaning out of his window, a smug smile on his face. His window overlooked the coal-house roof, and sometimes I wasn't sure if I was too loud in my escape or if he actively waited for the moment just to mess with me. I shushed him, closing the distance between us by moving to the corner of the roof. "I thought you weren't allowed to go to parties anymore?" he said, feigning ignorance. He was at the table when I was banned from such events; he knew I was; he was just taunting me.

"Well, Mum said I could go," I said with a shrug.

"But Dad didn't," he reminded me. My smile dropped. He was right, while my mum was supportive of my wild parties and lifestyle, my father took every opportunity to punish me for such pastimes. If he found out, he'd go crazy. Not that it would matter with the Reaping being tomorrow, but I didn't exactly want to depart from my family on a bad note either.

"Don't…please—"

"What's in it for me?" Adonis said with a smirk, resting his head in his hands.

"I'll give you some of my winnings when I come home—"

"If you come home," he corrected. He had a point. I was confident, but my victory wasn't a guarantee; he was too smart to take such an uncertain deal.

"Alright, you can have my savings," not like I'd need them either way. Dead or rich, my pocket money wasn't of use to me anymore. Adonis thought for a moment before his eyes flickered back to me.

"And if you don't come back…I get your room?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, sure, whatever," I grumbled. A large smile spread across his face.

"Awesome," he said through a laugh. "Well, enjoy your night, Saph. Don't get too drunk!" And with that, he slipped back inside and shut his window. With a groan, I continued with my escape, lowering myself from the coal shed roof onto the bins below and jumped off, racing out into the street beyond. Once I was around the corner from my house, I stopped by a small blackberry bush and pulled out a pair of pink high heels.

Every year before the Reapings, a large party was held at the training academy that included all trainees, trainers, and Mentors. I had my first taste of alcohol at one of these parties, a sweet cherry vodka drink provided by an incredibly drunk Gloss.

It may have seemed silly that the chosen volunteer for the 68th Hunger Games was uneasy walking the back streets of District 1 in the dark. It was a humiliating feeling, and one I wasn't used to; I usually ran head first into danger. It's not like any lowlife thug would win in a fight against me, but I could still become injured. A misplaced foot in my pretty pink heels, and my options were to enter the Arena with an injured ankle or give up on my dreams of being a victor. Putting it bluntly, I should have been walking with my own personal bodyguard until the Reaping tomorrow.

Up until a few days ago, I guess I did have one. Glint Sinclair, an ugly, two-timing, bottom-dwelling man. By that, I mean he was the most handsome man in District 1 who knew better than anyone how to pull at my heartstrings. Every guy wanted to be him, and every girl wanted to be with him. When we were dating, we ruled high school and the training academy. The definition of a power couple until we inevitably burned too bright and broke things off over a petty argument. Sometimes I wonder if we truly matched on a personal level or if all we had was our social standing and looks, yet I did care about him. Hearing that he started dating Shimmer Michels after only breaking up with me a week before crushed me. That wasn't something just anyone could do. So I guess it wasn't cheating, but that was how it felt to me. I certainly had never moved on that fast, and it wasn't like I was stuck for choice.

The moment I walked into the training academy hall, I could feel the eyes of every boy turn to look at me. A few girls as well. It felt like a spotlight was on me, illuminating my radiant self. I deserved every second of it. Years of training, giving up my social life, parties, dates, my future, and risking my life to bring glory to my District had all come to this. In a few hours, I would be representing District 1 in the Hunger Games. In a few weeks, I would return as a Victor. By then, I was sure Glint would have grown tired of his new girl and would welcome me back eagerly. I might consider it.

"Oh my god, Sapphire!" my friend Armani called. "You're absolutely glowing!"

"More so than usual," Alex said with a warm smile, moving her wheelchair to my side. If there was anyone I looked up to, it was those two. Armani was the best person to hype you up when you felt like giving up. She was supportive and accepting of people no matter what. Alex, more reserved but equally as brilliant. She was the only one here that was truly better than me. Chosen as the initial volunteer, she gifted it to me upon breaking her ribs in a training accident. She gave up her future for me, and it was a reality check for me on how fragile my chances of victory were. I was trained and deadly, but victory was only in my grasp as long as my body was in peak condition.

"Is Glint here?" I asked, shaking off the anxious thoughts. The three girls around me exchanged rapid glances as Armani handed me a drink.

"He didn't come… he's apparently with Shimmer," Luxa said, the newest member of our little friendship group. I gave a small nod and took a sip of the sickly sweet-scented red drink.

And immediately spat it back into the cup.

"What the hell is that?" I coughed, thrusting the drink back into Armani's hands.

"Gloss' famous cherry vodka," Luxa said with slight concern.

"Well," I said, grabbing a glass of water from a passing waiter and taking a sip. "He's changed the recipe…it's never been that sweet before." Armani shrugged.

"Tastes the exact same to me." It definitely didn't. Everything was off. I could taste the alcohol more, and the sweetness of the cherry was overwhelming. I knew my way around alcohol better than anyone; he'd definitely changed the recipe.

"Maybe it's a good idea to avoid alcohol for the evening," Alex said, looking up at me. Her voice was quiet, and her breathing shallow, thanks to her injured ribs. "You have the Reaping in a few hours."

"She's right," I said bluntly. "I don't like it anymore than you, but if I'm going to be in my best form tomorrow for the Reaping, I can't risk being intoxicated or hungover." The girls all gave a nod. Armani waved over a waiter and handed him her glass, and Lux and Alex followed suit.

"If you're not drinking, Sapp, then neither are we."

Hi everyone! This is part of a victor exchange I am working on with Fiona11303. I sent her two Tributes and she sent me Sapphire and we each wrote a story about their Games and victory.