Chapter 1: Tonight I Feel Like Neon Gold

"Peeta! You useless little shit! Get out of bed before I fucking make you!" screamed my mother whilst knocking loudly on the door.

"Yes mother." I said trying to hide my annoyance with that abusive bitch of a mother. She wasn't one to hit me that often, more commonly saying cruel things just to make me cry. I knew she was doing it just to be terrible, but it still hurt. What did I do to deserve this. I had the worst family that a normal teenage boy could have. my dad was a weak fellow who bended to the will of my damn mother. Then there were my two brothers Canic and Ranic, the twins were older than me by 5 years. They were worse than my mother sometimes. As a child whenever they would do something wrong they would blame me, this would get me yelled at by my mother or beaten if the twins did something especially terrible. They weren't even the worst part of my life, it was living in District 12.

Damned were my ancestors, they moved to a state formerly known as North Carolina not too long before the Dark Days. Then the districts were created, District 13 being the poorest and the Capitol citizens having infinite wealth. Then District 13 was destroyed during the rebellion leaving District 12 the poorest. They exported coal, that terrible rock, coal dust everywhere, it was a constant presence within the District. Even within the schools.

I rose out of bed, looking for my boxers, I stopped in front of the mirror admiring my naked body, I wasn't ripped but I had some muscle definition, I ran a finger along my treasure trail. Then I reached the dark blonde patch of hair above my manhood. I was proud of the organ sticking straight up, a good 8 inches long and rather thick. I rubbed my manhood a few times before putting on clothes and heading down to the kitchen for breakfast. I knew what was awaiting me, an especially nice breakfast, maybe even a cup of orange juice. I was happy about the breakfast, but not the occasion. Because today was the day of the reaping. I wasn't nervous though.

I went down to the table to see my family sitting there looking grim. I would never understand why. My name was only in the bowl 4 times. It's not like I ever had to take tesserae for the extra grain and oil. We were well off as due to the fact that we were bakers. We always had enough food to eat and winter wasn't a problem due to the heat that came from the ovens. I would venture to say we were probably one of the richest families in District 12. I looked around the table at my family, they glanced at me nervously.

"Is there something going on?" I inquired. No one replied. I was annoyed with my family acting like this every reaping. The odds of me being picked were very slim. My family slowly started to pick at their food. I ate some cooked squirrel on the hearty bread with nuts inside of it. This was my favorite kind of bread, nice and dense, you didn't need to eat much to have a full meal. I wondered where the squirrel came from, and then realized it must have been from her. Katniss Everdeen, the girl I had had a crush on ever since the day when I gave her the burnt bread. I loved everything about her. Her mocha hair in a braid that hung over her right shoulder. Her piercing grey eyes. Her soft looking lips, and her curvaceous body. The body that commonly was the subject of my attention when I pleasured myself. I doubted she even knew of my existence.

"Know what, Peeta I hope you don't get reaped, because you would be easier to kill than a 12 year old." my mother said matter-of-factly.

"Fuck you mom." I threw the rest of my food away and stormed to my room to finish getting ready. I could not believe that she didn't even believe I had a chance. I mean, I wouldn't but what kind of mother tells her son he has no chance. The Hunger Games wasn't a joking matter in my mind. No matter how slim the chances were of me being a tribute, it's not like I still wasn't slightly afraid.

Once breakfast was finished I went up to my room and prepared myself for the reaping. I gelled my ash blonde hair back, brushed my teeth and washed my face. It was time to head down to the square in front of the Justice Building where the mayor lived with his wife and daughter Madge. There were more peacekeepers than the usual 5 from District 12. Probably to protect Effie Trinket, the District 12 escort, and annoying Capitol citizen. I wondered what strange fashion she would have this year. Last year she had pitch black hair with little twinkling lights and a striped black and white dress. I never understood Capitol fashion, it was completely horrid. I stepped into the square more towards the front of the boy's side since I am older. Some of these boys probably had their names in the bowl up to 50 times. So the odds were in my favor. After about 30 minutes of standing around making small talk with the boys around me, the reaping began.

Effie Trinket walked on stage with bright pink hair that looked like a Victorian powdered wig with a bright pink dress. She didn't look absolutely terrible this year. She began the opening speech that I was hearing for the 4th time in my life, a speech talking about how kind the Capitol was to create the Hunger Games instead of destroying all of the districts like they could have. Then we watched the reaping of the other districts. From District 1 came a beautiful brunette with long wavy hair, Glimmer, and then the boy was a somewhat skinny guy who gave off waves of arrogance, Marvel. I would never understand why the names were so strange in District 1. They didn't even have last names because of the fact they had such unique names. Then went to District 2, a small girl maybe 13 or 14 was picked she strutted up onto the stage and stood there proudly I didn't hear her name. Then they called out the boy's name but there wasn't time to finish before someone screamed out to volunteer. The cameras cut to a muscular blond boy who eagerly went on stage. I couldn't help but notice how attractive he was. Attractive? I thought to myself I have never found another guy attractive...maybe it's those big arms or those huge pecs. What the fuck am I thinking? I shook my head dismissing the thoughts. I wasn't a faggot, no one in District 12 was. Well there are a few, but they are social outcasts and normally the target of hate crimes. It wasn't fair but that was the way life was here.

The reaping continued, none of the other tributes really caught my eyes. Except for the girl from District 5 with flaming red hair and a fox-like face. And then the little girl from 11 a small dark-skinned girl named Rue. She barely looked 10. It was always sad when 12 year olds were in the game. They rarely survived or won, except for 4 years ago. The little boy hid and was able to hunt for himself until there was only one Career left, and then the little boy shot the final tribute with a poison dart from a distance. That Career was his only kill.

Then it was time for the District 12 reaping. Effie Trinket daintily stepped over towards the girl's bowl. Her hand hovers over the slips of paper before diving into the bowl. She pulls out a slip and holds it up as she walks to the microphone. She slowly opens the slip.

"Primrose Everdeen." Effie announces.

The crown murmurs in disappointment. There has only ever been two victors from District 12. The only surviving one was an alcoholic named Haymitch. It was quite obvious that he wasn't a huge help. Even after training and Haymitch's advice District 12 tributes usually died in the bloodbath or very soon after. Primrose stood no chance. How will she die, I thought to myself, will she get impaled by a spear, die of starvation or dehydration, or get killed by a trap put in the Arena by Gamemakers? I knew it was a morbid thought but she was so small. So small; so innocent. Poor Katniss, she was going to lose the most important person in her life. I watched as Prim slowly walked up to the stage until I heard a cry.

"No! Prim no," I turned to see Katniss racing towards her little sister, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

Gasps rose from the crowd. Volunteers were a rare thing in District 12 why would someone choose to go to their own death? In District 1 and 2 it was an honor and there were commonly volunteers. I looked at her with tears brimming. I was going to lose her. She was as good as dead. I knew she was good with weapons but still her chances of beating people like the Careers were slim. I listened as Effie fretted over the fact that there wasn't proper volunteering procedure. No one cared. Now it was onto the male tribute. She read the slip. I must of misheard her.

"Peeta Mellark? Where are you" Effie questioned.

I slowly walked towards the stage. I knew no one would volunteer for me. I knew I would die there. Tears ran down my eyes as he got on the stage. I looked over at Katniss, nothing. It's like she was in a different world. Probably realizing how grave the decision she just made was. She never looked at me, just stared off into space. She showed no emotion at all. She was strong, or maybe she didn't want to let the Capitol see her cry. I didn't care. I let the tears flow freely as I realized that in a few short weeks...I would be dead. It was a depressing thought. I knew what came next. We got to meet our families in the departure rooms, probably for the last time knowing the luck of District 12.

We were whisked off into the Justice Building and were put in separate rooms. We had an hour to talk to our family before we left for the Capitol. I sat down on the couch waiting for my first visit. The first people to visit me were Canic and Ranic. Their eyes were red, I had never seen evidence of my brothers crying. They apologized, and said they were sorry. It seemed pointless, it's not like they could have volunteered for me. They only cared because I was going to die. I would have done the same thing. Canic took off his necklace. He grabbed my hand and dropped the necklace. I watched as the chain pooled in my hand.

"Why are you giving me this?" I inquired as I looked at the necklace, a shiny black rock as the centerpiece. Obsidian, I think that is what it was called. It was on a gold chain. Canic was too emotional to reply.

"Because you get a token, something from your district to bring to the games." Ranic explained.

"Um, thank you I guess..." I replied slightly confused. The twins looked at each other.

"Promise us you will try and win." they said at the same time.

"I'll try." I whispered, trying to sound confident but failing. I watched as they exited the room, glancing back at me for what would probably be the last time.

Then came my mom. She gave me a hug, not really looking that emotional.

"District 12 may have a winner this year, she is a winner that one." She looked at me and then walked out of the room. No condolences from my mother, I wasn't really surprised. She was truly a terrible woman. I waited for another couple minutes for my father. Was he not coming to see me? Even my goddamn mother came to visit me. She didn't even like me. My father was the one who, I assumed, cared the most didn't even come to see me.

"Your visiting time is over, time to board the train." A big looking Peacekeeper grabbed my arm and started to carry out of the room.

"Wait!" I screamed. " I haven't seen my dad yet."

"And I should care why?" he looked at me quizzically. It was obvious he wasn't a District 12 Peacekeeper. First off, he was far too large. Secondly, Darius or any of the other District 12 Peacekeepers would have given me an extra minute.

As we walked towards the train station I looked back at District 12. I would never see my family again. I hated it here, but it was still my home. I glanced over my shoulder one last time as I was forced onto the Train with a one-way ticket to my death.

A/N what do you guys think, I'm pretty proud of myself for this. I'm not that great of a writer, so I would love some reviews to get some input on what you think so thanks for reading aha