Charlotte "Chip" Babbage, 16

district 3 female

"Pass the ball, Babbage!" Braxton wove his arms widely. "What are you, a scardy cat?"

And just for that comment, Chip passed it off to Ada, who grinned and dribbed the ball away from the opposing team as Jonas laughed, running after them. The school courts weren't necessarily good, but it wasn't bad either, so she doesn't really have any complaints. She had known Braxton for as long as she remembered, after she defended him against her mother when he was caught bullying some of the younger children.

They deserved it, after trying to steal her food… again. They learn soon enough that she wasn't someone to be messed with, and most people stayed away from her. She doesn't mind though. As long as she has their fear, she holds control.

The cheering got louder as Ada ran towards the opposing side, before it erupted when Ada passed it off to Jonas, who scored. Which makes them…

"We have our Basketball champion for this year's annual game!" The announcer yelled into the microphones, as the school side jumped up, and Chip ran over to pull her teammates into a group hug. Braxton nudged her shoulder, giving her a playful punch.

"Not bad, Babbage. We all thought you were going to fumble the ball."

"When hell freezes over," Chip rolled her eyes and patted Ada on the back before pulling the other girl into a hug. She grabbed Jonas too. "YOU DID AMAZING BRO!"

"HA! YOU KNOW IT!" Jonas high fived her. "Am I the best or am I the best?"

"You are egoistic and don't need any more of your ego stroked," Braxton rolled his eyes and punched Jonas playfully as well. "I think it's safe to say we have bragging rights for the rest of the year. AGAIN!"

He shouted the last part at the opposing team, who's captain came over with a glare.

"Wait till one of you guys gets reaped next week. Then we'll see who's winning." Oxford is all talk and no game, but Chip had hated his guts since the start of high school, when their team stole the champion from right under her nose. When he pushed her just a little too hard and she fell and broke her arms. Although he claimed it was an accident, she had never quite forgiven him.

"I hope you get reap next week," Chip restored angrily, stepping up to her full height. Oxford rolled up his sleeves, but Chip saw it coming right before the fist connected with her face. The crowd silenced as Chip dodged and threw her own punch right back. It connected with his jaw, and Oxford stumbled backward, holding his face in disbelief.

"OH! Little girl wants to play?" Before Chip had a chance to run forward and probably hurt herself, Braxton had stepped up and kneed Oxford in his balls. Their teammates laughed, as Oxford's teammate came over and started to swarm over. The crowd was watching with interest now.

"Don't touch her."

Braxton is often the bully, so when it comes to him being the bullied, he takes no shit. He was a punch first, think later kind of guy, and Chip liked him just like that. She could've beat up Oxford herself, but it was sweet that her friend wanted to do it for her.

Braxton kneed his balls, and Oxford stumbled backwards as the former shoved him harshly. His fists connected with his face multiple times, and it was the security that finally pulled Braxton off, fist bloodied and bruised, the other boy looking far worse. Chip watched on with satisfaction.

Her father wasn't quite as satisfied.

"Again, Charlotte? This is the third time this week the school had called home about a fight," Henry Babbage was the District three orphanage headmaster, and he's sweet in everything but children. How did he become the head of the orphanage? Well, no one really knows. But Chip thought he wasn't worthy of the job. Her mother had done it better, she had run the orphanage with discipline, with order, with control. Her father held almost no control whatsoever.

Chip crossed her arms over her chest, laying her leg on top of her father's office desk. He scowled at it but didn't say anything. "What can I say? I just enjoy the principal's office."

"Charlotte."

"He started it," Chip rolled her eyes. "I was nothing but kind and playful. It was him who threw the first punch. So I threw one back in self defense. Do you want your daughter to die, father?"

Honestly, maybe her father would be better off if she was dead. But Chip didn't dare let that thoughts sink into her head.

"The principal wants you to apologize to the other boy," Henry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Charlotte gasped in offence and placed her boot-cladded shoes onto the ground.

"WHAT?! If anything Braxton should apologize! I didn't do anything! I threw ONE self defense punch. The most that boy is going to get is another celebratory punch," Chip stood up angrily, and stormed out of her father's office without waiting for dismissal. He's not her father, She just wanted her mother back. Mother would've congratulate her, and praise her on how well she had handled Oxford.

Mother would tell her that she did everything right, and that if anyone was mistreating her, than it was only fair that they get the same treatment back. Mother would—

Yet mother wasn't here anymore.

Ada was waiting in her doorway as Chip made her way up, and Chip unlocked her door and let the two of them in. She sighed and threw herself onto her bed face first, while Ada sat quietly by her side. "You okay?"

"My father is being an asshole again," Chip shrugged. "It's not like it's my fault Oxford started the fight. What did he want me to do, take the punch and let him call me little girl? Braxton did right punching him, Oxford deserves it."

Ada nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Hey, but at least our team won the championship, and I heard that Oxford got put on probation too. So no more Oxford for the rest of the season!"

"Seriously?" Chip's face lit up and Ada nodded. "Wait, what about Braxton?"

"His mommy and daddy paid the principal off. Lucky bitch for having rich parents," Ada rolled her eyes. "But at least he is with us for the rest of the season."

Chip felt a smirk stretched across her face as she laid up to face the ceiling. What a beautiful day to be alive.

Larsen Sylvaine, 18

district 6 female

The engine purred as Larsen sped along the street, eyes narrowed in on the next turn. Her gripped tightens around the steering wheels, knocks white, and she risked a glance to her left.

Larsen hit the gas harder, and turned the street corner, tires screeching against the blacktop before she pressed down on the gas again to speed up. Angelo was now behind her, and she grinned.

There was something so addicting to the thrill of racing that always brought Larsen right back to it. Even if her parents claimed that it was too dangerous ever since she started this "hobby" at fourteen. It wasn't like they could stop her, her heart would always lead her back to the car.

The flag that signified their finish line laid just ahead, and Larsen grinned and pressed on the gas just a tiny bit harder. Victory would be hers this time, she would not let Angelo-

That notherfucking bitch sped out from one of the alley way and rushed past the flag a moment before Larsen, who rolled down her window and yelled "FUCK YOU!" while pressing on her break and letting the car squeal to a stop.

Angelo got out of the car laughing, the doubling over kind filled with mockery. Larsen stormed out of her car and slapped Angelo in the arm. "I can't believe you pulled the shortcut tricks again."

"You gotta believe it, baby," Angelo smirked, leaning casually against his red racing car. "What is this? The fifth time in a row?"

"Go fuck yourself," Larsen scowled, and slapped him again for good measure.

"Maybe I will," Angelo stuck his tongue out and climbed back into his car. "I will pleasure myself at the thought of my victory over you again."

Larsen made a face. "You are so disgusting. I hope you never find yourself a girlfriend that has to deal with this."

Angelo only blew Larsen a kiss before slamming his car door closed and speeding away. Larsen groaned and got back into her own car before chasing after him.

She had known Angelo for as long as she could remember. They met at this daycare Angelo's abuela and Larsen's parents happened to send them to, and Larsen would forever be grateful for her mom's decision to send them to that daycare, as her dad had wanted to send her elsewhere. Ever since then, they'd been inseparable, even with Angelo being a grade above her, it never kept them apart.

She had always felt cooler whenever he would wave at her in the hallway at school, it felt as if she was part of his "cooler" crowd. Not that Larsen cared much about being part of the "cooler" crowd (oh who was she kidding, she absolutely wanted to be part of the "cooler" crowd, whatever that is).

Abuela was standing at the front porch when Larsen pulled up, her grey hair pulled back into a braid. Angelo's parents had passed when he was still a kid, and his Abuela took him in with no question asked. She had Angelo's mother when she was only seventeen, so she still had the kind of youthful glow that Larsen's grandma definitely does not have (don't get her wrong, she love her grandmothers, but Abuela is different).

"¡Mi floresita!" Abuela greeted warmly as Larsen climbed out of the driver's seat, pulling the brunette into a tight hug. "I've missed you so much. Mwah, Mwah."

Angelo crossed his arms behind Abuela while she fussed over Larsen. "Have my boy been cheating you in racing again? Taking those shortcuts he loves so much?"

Abuela gave Angelo a pointed look and Larsen smiled victorious while she nodded. "Angelo had been cheating, taking shortcuts we never agreed on."

"You never said we can't take shortcuts!" Angelo protested.

"Well, I'm sorry I thought you have more integrity than that," Larsen argued back. "I'm sorry I thought you were a good person. Guess I thought wrong."

Angelo rolled his eyes and got into the house. Abuela sighed. "That boy. He's still going through his teenage years. It'll get better from here. "¿Ese corazón, nieto?"

"Sí, Abuela. Pero lo que dijiste no era cierto."

Abuela tsked in response, and Larsen laughed before following Abuela in to a home she called her second home. Abuela brought out biscuits and drinks, and the tree of them sat around the coffee table in the living room, where a picture of Angelo's whole family hung atop the fireplace.

"Are you ready for your last reaping, mi floresita?" Abuela sounded nonchalant, but there was a note of anxiety in her voice. "I remembered my last reaping like yesterday. I was dressed in the prettiest blue evening dress, and my sister braided my hair to perfection. I didn't get reap of course, but Posie did. And look at her now! Victor of district six. That could've been me, Angelo. Your grandmother would have become the victor."

Angelo rolled his eyes again. "That's delusion, abuela. Posie is just a little bit insane and we all know that was what got her to win."

"Well, even if I do get reap, it'll be fun," Larsen offered with a shrug, and Angelo scowled.

"Don't talk like that, Larsen. The hunger games is as close to a death sentence as one could get. Don't let Abuela's fairytale get into your head."

Abuela scoffed in offense. "It is no fairytale, nieto. All one need to win the game is a little bit of skill, a little bit of luck, and a little bit of insanity."

"All of which Larsen does not have."

"HEY!" Larsen protested. "Speak for yourself, bitch. Hey, let's race after the reaping. And no shortcut bullshit this time. I want a fair race."

"Deal!" Angelo shook on it, and Abuela patted Larsen on the back.

"I will make you your favorite enchilada, your family could come too! I know how much Atlas loves my Angelo here."

Larsen laughed and agreed to the invitation. She couldn't wait for reaping day.

Noble Gendreau, 18

district 1 male

Jasmine was caught cheating on Harold in the stairways with Kasper 3

Love,

the grapevine

Noble slipped the paper into Charming's locker, the academy's biggest gossip, who wouldn't hesitate to share any sort of gossip around. If you want to know about anyone's personal business, you go to Charming.

Charming still hadn't figured out it was Noble slipping him the notes though, as the latter had long perfected the art of faking handwriting. He lived for the chaotic showdown that goes down as soon as he lets slip one little secret. He loves to bathe in the aftermath, oftentime involving one fight over the other. His proudest work yet was still the time he started a full on prank war, the Academy halls were never the same after that.

The Headmaster had wanted to repaint the whole hall sterile white, but the board talked him down, claiming that the paint blouchs gives the academy more personality, and makes parents more likely to sent their kids in whenever they're given their orientation, as it makes the academy more "friendly" or whatever.

The sound of book cluttering on the ground snapped Noble out of his thoughts, and he whirled around to see Perry standing behind him, a deer-in-the-spotlight look plastered across his face. Noble fake a smile. "Hello, Perry."

"You're the grapevine," he gasped, gripping his book tightly to his chest. "You're the one slipping Charming all the gossip! You're-"

"The golden boy," Noble cut in.

"You're a fake," Perry exclaimed and bolted down the hallway. Noble sighed. So much for going out with a bang unnoticed. Screw Perry for taking the fun out of his last secret. If there was no chaos with this little slip, then Noble knew who he was hunting down.

Charming walked by his locker then, the same direction Perry had run off to, and he grinned when he noticed Noble. "You wouldn't believe what I just heard."

"Was it from Perry?"

"Oh yeah," Charming laughed as he unlocked his locker and took out the slip of paper Noble had slipped in. "Ooh, the grapevine strikes again. I love them. They should just reveal themself to me so I can become their friend."

Charming sighed wistfully and Noble laughed. "Yeah, he seems like a totally cool person."

"Aww, don't be jealous, Noble. I still like your sweet ass. Even if you don't do anything fun," Charming ruffled his hair, and Noble huffed and moved away. He was five-ten, yet Charming was almost six foot, which was just not fair. "I guess you're going into the games now. Which is fun. That should've been me, you know? I can't believe that tiny dude, Riley, cut me down. That was total embarrassment."

Noble shrugged. "Better luck next time."

"Yeah, there's still next year. I'm going to win this thing, Noble," Charming glanced down at the note with a hungry glance in his eyes before he looked up again. "Oh yeah, that thing that you wouldn't believe. Guess what Perry just told me?"

Charming didn't wait for a response, before he was talking again. "He claimed that you are the grapevine."

At that point Charming started laughing, and Noble laughed along, doubling over for good measure. He even wiped away fake tears to make it seem more real. "HAHAHA! ME? THE GRAPEVINE?!"

"THAT'S WHAT I TOLD PERRY!" Charming giggled, clutching his stomach as he continued to laugh. "He's making shit up again. That boy has a vivid imagination for sure. If you were the grapevine, then I am the president of panem."

Noble laughed along, a certain calmness washing over him. Good, Perry was too imaginative to be believed. Which means his secret would go down with him (or it would be buried with him at his grave, way after he wins this year's hunger game, of course).

"You crack me up, Charming," Noble placed a hand on his shoulder, wiping away the fake tears again. "What did the grapevine say this time?"

Charming showed him the note. "I always knew that Jasmine girl was up to no good. Thanks whatever deity you believe in that our volunteer cut her down when she did. I think I would actually cry if she became this year's volunteer and I didn't. She's always on my ass about not spreading gossip. Honestly, such a spoiled sport. Oh, this is going to be so fun."

Noble watched as Charming wove goodbye, before he started to walk towards the cafeteria for lunch. There were still half the day left, and he wanted to get some more fun in before he was bound towards the capitol in a few days.

True to his thoughts, almost no one believed poor Perry, but it was no one's fault but his own. A few people had even checked up on Noble to make sure that Perry's "hurtful words" weren't affecting him. Noble had wove their concerns away, but eyed Perry through his peripheral vision with a triumphant grin on his lips.

It was during study hall when a ding rang throughout the academy and every checked the device the academy used for announcement. A scream came from one of the center tables, and Noble didn't need to look at the announcement to know that Charming had his revenge all planned out. Probably from the many years Jasmine had tried to shut down his gossip chain, not that it was really helpful.

Dear Academy trainees,

Today the grapevine had presented me with striking new information. Our dear girl, Jasmine, who is with Harold, was caught locking lips with Kasper in the stairways! I heard half of their clothes were off, and that she was the one who WILLINGLY went on top of Kasper! What a scandal.

Look out, Kasper, Harold can punch. So can Harold's little sister.

Love,

your Charming

Noble laid back in his chair as he watched Harold flew across the room and landed his first punch on Kasper, who gasped and held his nose timidly. The fight was almost too funny, like a lion attacking a kitten. The kitten stood no chance, and the trainers had too much district one spirits to really pull apart the fight until Kasper was on the ground, bloodied, bruised, and half passed out.

Harold wasn't suspended in the end, but Kasper was taken to the hospital wings. Jasmine ended with a stab wound to her side and Harold's little sister was suspending for using a pencil as a weapon, but that was only because Jasmine's family influence extended far beyond Harold's and the academy new that the Ferris family would sue, and they don't want any court case days before the reaping.

Noble giggled to himself, imagining the chaos he could cause in the games… with weapons. Now that would be a spectacle he was sure the capitol would enjoy very much.

okay- so there's that!! I hope you guys enjoy reading, leave a review and let me know what you think of it!!

See you next week for intro iv ;)

~ kathy