ALEXIS LIFTED HER eyes onto the stage as the Captial's anthem began blaring through the speakers and the doors to the Justice Building's swung open.

Roman Ribbon appeared first, flashing a smile at the camera before making his way to his usual chair. On the way across the stage, his eyes connected with his daughters and he sent a small nod in her direction, a reassurance that it wouldn't be her name that was called that day. As he made his seat, five more figures appeared through the doors and Alexis felt her stomach flip as she caught sight of familiar blonde hair followed by his stupid smirk.

Alexis diverted her eyes to the other four Victors, who all looked less than thrilled to be there as they took their seats beside her father. She heard the click of her heels before Bluebelle Blush's bright purple hair appeared through the doorway. It was a new color, and although Alexis didn't particularly like the Captial's style, she had to admit the purple shade was a good color on District 4's escort.

"Welcome," Bluebelle's bright, perky voice in the face of despair reminded Alexis exactly why she didn't like the escort, "To the 69th Annual Hunger Games Reaping!"

Despite the ridiculousness of Bluebelle, her words caused a stir in the girls around her as Alexis was crudely reminded why they were truly there.

"Now before we begin, we have a special video brought to you all the way from the Capital!" Despite her cheery words, even Bluebelle's face conveyed her distaste for the same video played on repeat every year praising the Capital and its justification for killing innocent children.

Alexis tilted her head sideways until her eyes connected with his familiar brown ones which were already looking at her in concern. The corners of her lips tilted upwards as he traced a heart in the air and followed it by blowing a kiss her way. It almost made her feel like they were somewhere else entirely just enjoying the company of each other.

'I love you,' he mouthed to her.

'I love you more,' Alexis mouthed back as Bluebelle interrupted their conversation by clearing her throat into the microphone.

"Now, wasn't that lovely," Bluebelle tried to salvage whatever cheer she had left as the crowd stared back at her blankly. "Right, as usual, ladies first."

Alexis felt her stomach drop as Bluebelle bounced over to the girls' bowl, her heels clicking beneath her for every step as if counting down to someone's demise. Bluebelle paused in front of the bowl, her fingers tracing over every slip carefully as if she suddenly understood exactly what she was drawing a name for. It disappeared in a second as she snatched a name up and practically skipped back to the microphone with a grin on her face as she carefully opened the slip of paper. There was a slight pause as her eyes read over the poor victim's name before announcing it to the whole of Panem.

"Alexis Ribbon."

Silence.

The entire square froze at her words. No one knew what to think because Alexis Ribbon's name being called in the reaping was next to impossible. She was the Mayor's daughter for heaven's sake.

Alexis felt her mouth dry up as she stood in shock, unable to speak or move as the girls around her moved back as if she was a disease, making room to the middle where four peacekeepers were waiting to take her to her death. A gentle push from behind brought Alexis back to reality as she took a step forward, then two until she was being plagued by white uniforms that made it impossible for her to run away. Alexis could feel everyone's eyes on her as everything around her began to spin.

She felt sick, so sick.

They had only taken a few steps when her feet froze underneath her, unable to move any further. She was making a scene, that much she knew in the back of her mind, but the rest of her body didn't want to cooperate as the peacekeeper behind her gave her a gentle push, a warning to keep moving. 

Her body had other plans as Alexis turned away, bending over as she hurled up her breakfast from that morning. Alexis felt a hand rubbing circles on her back as she hacked up the rest of the remaining contents in her stomach. If she hadn't been so out of her mind she would've been shocked by the small act of kindness from the peacekeeper.

When she was finished, Alexis straightened back up, wiping the liquid around her mouth as the peacekeeper took a step back into position. She was already off to a bad start, Alexis already knew that as she followed the peacekeepers to the stairs of the stage but all she could worry about was how she was being sent to her death.

"Come, come," Bluebelle reached her hand out for Alexis to take at the top of the stairs, and Alexis groggily accepted it as she allowed the escort to lead her to center stage. Alexis felt like she was in a dream-like state as Bluebelle dropped her hand and returned to the microphone to continue the reaping like nothing was wrong, like Alexis wasn't about to die. 

She was going to die, Alexis realized in horror as she stared down at her feet, the fact slapping her in the face like a ton of bricks. Her name was called and she was go-

"I volunteer," Alexis' eyes snapped up in horror at the familiar voice, her heart dropping in her chest at the boy who held his hand up high as he stared at her with love and determination. 

"We have a volunteer," Bluebelle announced as Rael stepped between the peacekeepers, his eyes never leaving Alexis' ones of horror as she watched him make his way towards the stage. Alexis wanted to run into his arms, wanted to shout at him and tell him what an idiot he was, but her feet remained glued to the stone beneath her.

"What's your name, dearie?" Bluebelle questioned when Rael finally made it beside her, moving the microphone in front of him to answer. 

"Rael Finley," Rael answered hoarsely into the microphone, almost as if he too was in shock.

"Well, there you have it, folks. District 4's tributes for the 69th Annual Hunger Games," Bluebelle announced into the microphone. "Alexis Ribbon and Rael Finley. Go on you two, shake hands."

Alexis found her body finally listening as she turned to face Rael, her lips trembling as she held back the tears and anger. She could read the apology in Rael's eyes as he held his hand out to shake but she simply ignored it, throwing her arms around Rael. Alexis could feel the shock of Bluebelle beside her along with much of the rest of Panem, but all Alexis could focus on was the way Rael held her back, an understanding that it was just the two of them now.

"You idiot," Alexis whispered into his ear, unwilling to let him get away with his impulsive decision. 

"Only for you, love," Rael muttered back, causing a humorless laugh to escape her lips and she squeezed him tighter, fearing he would disappear if she loosened her grip. 

A familiar pair of sea-green eyes watched the couple from the side, a pit in his stomach forming as he processed the fact that his former best friend was now a tribute in the 69th Hunger Games.