Summary: What if Katniss had an older sister that volunteered before she did? What if she caught Cato's eye? Cato/OC

Bree POV

I looked around the mine, and saw all of the workers working their butts off. As usual I was the only girl there. Joey, a guy that worked in the mine who was also my friend, smiled at me and continued to dig. I fixed my hat, and continued to dig myself.

The captain who was in charge of us yelled, "EVERYONE 12-18 GET THEIR BUTTS OUT OF HERE TO GET READY FOR THE REAPING!"

I sighed, and walked towards the elevator, I was the only girl in there with 2 guys, Joey and Brett, Joey was 14 while Brett was 17; that were working in the mines younger than the actual age we're supposed to start working in the mine. I was 16. I had a twin named Katniss. I was the older twin. Thinking about it I think Katniss and I were the only twins in District 12.

I sighed and shook my head. I walked out of the elevator, and into the bright morning sun. I could see the peacekeepers and Effie Trinket getting off of a train.

Effie smiled at me as I passed and when she noticed that I came from the mine she stopped smiling. I think she was kind of shocked to see a girl who was my age coming out of the mine.

I ran up the street past the peacekeepers, past Effie Trinket, said hi to Haymitch, and he smiled at me, and I ran all the way up the street to my house. It was a rundown old shack, but it was home.

I walked into the house, yelled, "GUYS, I'M HOME!" Prim immediately ran out of mom's room, and Katniss followed behind her, and neither was dressed yet. Good, that meant I wasn't late.

Prim ran into me, and I picked her up and twirled her around. She smiled and laughed. I kissed her on the head, and she said, "B-B, I'm scared. What if I get picked?"

I smiled at her and said, "Easy," I looked her in the eye, "It is not gonna happen. I have 37 slips in there while Katniss has 20. You're not gonna get picked. You only have one in there."

She hugged me tighter and she said, "You stink," And pulled away. I rolled my eyes, and Katniss pointed to our bedroom. I walked in, and stripped and got in the tub that was in there.

I sighed. It was warm water.

I washed, and stood up after I was done.

I wrapped myself up in my old shirt, and scrubbed my hair furiously with a towel. I walked out of the bathroom, and Katniss held out a dress, underwear, and boots for me. I smiled, and took them.

I put it all on, and I had to say, I didn't look half bad. (Pic on Profile)

I walked out, and mom was there. She smiled at me and hugged me. I smiled at her, and Katniss hugged me.

I left my hair down, and Katniss gave Prim this Mockingjay pin. Katniss then smiled at me, and I hugged Prim. She held onto me.

I heard the horn sound that said it was time for the reaping, and I sighed and said, "It's time."

Prim was shaking. Every time she took a step she would stop, and in the end I picked her up, and carried her all the way down to where the reaping was.

I put her down, and Katniss and I took her hands.

When we got to where the identification was being taken place she started to freak out. Katniss looked at Prim and started to calm her down. I looked around and I saw mom with the parents, Gale with the boys, and then we were standing in front of the identification lines.

I looked at Prim and said, "Rose, come on, it's not gonna hurt. Just follow my lead OK?"

She nodded, and Prim and I went in one line and Katniss went in the other.

I stood in line, and when it was my turn, they took my finger, pricked it, put it down on the pad, scanned it, and told me to go. It didn't hurt because I couldn't feel it anymore.

I waited for Prim and told Katniss to go on.

Prim gave the lady her finger after I urged Prim on. After Prim was done she ran over to me, and I grabbed her hand. We got to her age group, and I said, "You go stand over there, and Katniss and I'll be behind you. OK?" Prim nodded, and went and stood with her friends.

I walked over to Katniss, and she took my hand. God, she did this every year. Good thing my hands were worn out from all of the mining, or my hands would kill me after this every year.

Effie Trinket, the mayor, and Haymitch came up, and I grit my teeth. Effie gave her annual hello, and I rolled my eyes.

Then she let Haymitch come up and say a few words.

"hjgddbfgvdgbgljrhn kbgtwebrjhfn," Haymitch said. I blinked and had a confused look on my face, and then Haymitch passed out, and fell off the stage, and knocked himself unconscious.

I smiled. I love Haymitch. Not literally. But he was probably the coolest person I know otherwise than my family, Gale, and the workers down in the mine.

The peacekeepers dragged Haymitch away, and onto the train.

"Um, just forget that- if you could understand it." Effie said into the microphone. I think this is the first time I've actually agreed with her.

"Now here's a special video from the Capitol!"

They video started and I rolled my eyes. It was the same video they showed every year. It was about how the Hunger Games started, and how District 13 tried to take over the Capitol and rebelled. We already knew we weren't supposed to do it again. We got it! Can we move on please?

The video ended, and Effie said, "I just love that."

When she got nothing from the audience she continued.

"Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman; for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games," Cue Katniss' look to Gale, and tighter grip on my hand, "As usual ladies first."

Is it possible that Katniss' grip got even tighter?

"Katniss lay down on the grip," I whispered to her.

"Sorry," She whispered back, and the grip loosened. But just a little.

Effie walked over to the bowl, and I gulped hard, and I squeezed Katniss' hand.

Effie picked one, and walked back over to the microphone, opened it, and said, "Primrose Everdeen!"

Oh Shit.

Katniss and I immediately yelled, "PRIM!"

She was in-between the peacekeepers, and Katniss and I ran to her. I yelled, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute."

I think Effie was shocked, and so was Katniss because one, Effie stared at me with wide eyes, and two, Katniss started to cry, and she never cries.

The Peacekeepers came over and got me, and Prim grabbed me, and started to cry, and I said, "Katniss you have to take Prim."

"Katniss," I said colder when Katniss didn't move.

Gale came over and got both of them. Thank God. He was now my savior. The peacekeepers grabbed me, and pulled me to the stage.

"Thank you," I whispered to Gale. He nodded.

"Well, Bravo! That's the spirit of the games!" Effie said.

"What's your name?" She asked me once I got on the stage.

"Bree Everdeen." I said, and Effie said, "I bet my buttons that they were your sisters. Come on everyone let's give a round of applause to our newest tribute!" Effie said

Not one person clapped. Maybe it was because they knew me from the mines from their dad's or husbands, or they knew my sisters, or my dad who passed away in a mining accident with many others. But all there is- silence. Which means we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong.

Then one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the 3 middle fingers of their left hand to their lips, and holds it out to me. I guess I was more liked than I thought, because it is an old rarely used gesture of our district, occasionally used at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love.

Effie was confused. I could tell. I don't think she's ever seen this before.

I put my hands behind my back, and put up my tough face, and grit my teeth.

"This is exciting! But there is more excitement to come; it's time for the boy tribute!" Effie said, walked over to the boy's bowl, and picked one out, and Effie came back and said, "Resay Mellark!" (Please Don't Laugh At The Name. It was all I could think of.)

It was one of the baker's sons. At least it wasn't Peeta. He helped Katniss. I wouldn't mind killing his brother. Wow, that sounded bloodthirsty. I mean I would mind killing his brother, but I- Just forget it.

Once Resay was on stage, the Mayor read the Treaty of Treason, and when he's finished we have to shake hands.

We shook hands, and then the anthem started. Effie grabbed us, and took us in the doors into City Hall to say goodbye to our family and friends.

Once I was in the room, Katniss and Prim were immediately hugging me to death. Mom was silently crying in the corner.

I hugged Katniss, and she cried so hard. I squeezed her and said, "You have to be strong. I'm not going to be here for a little while, so you need to take my place." Katniss looked at me and said, "Even in the mines?" I shook my head and said, "The guys will take care of that. You just need to worry about Prim, mom, and eating."

Katniss nodded, and went over to mom and try to calm her down.

I bent down and gave Prim a hug. When they were about to be pulled out I said to Katniss and Prim, "I love you both of you."

"Forever and always." All three of us said together. Prim gave me the Mockingjay pin Katniss gave her earlier. I smiled, and before they were pulled out of the room Prim hugged me tight and said, "Please try to win." I smiled and said, "I'll try, Prim. I'll try for you Rose." Then they were pulled out of the room, and I was left alone.

A couple minutes later 2 peacekeepers were holding open the door, and I was on the train.

I got on the train, and my God was that train big. I always knew it was going to be big, but I had never imagined what it would look on the inside because I didn't want to know. 'Cause pretty much any District 12 tribute that gets on that train, dies. I didn't want to be one of those people.

I sat down waiting for Haymitch. I crossed my legs, and waited like a lady.

Effie was just smiling at me.

"What?" I asked her.

"You're the first District 12 volunteer." She squealed. I blinked once. Twice.

"Is it such a big deal?" I asked her.

She nodded her head like crazy, and she said, "Normally any district 12 tribute would-"

Haymitch then decided to walk in. He stared at me with wide eyes.

I chuckled and said, "Haymitch, is it such a surprise that I got picked?"

He nodded, and I rolled my eyes.

He then sat down in a chair, and he asked me to get him a bottle of whiskey.

I stood up, and I got Haymitch his whiskey and sat back down.

Haymitch then continued to ask how I got picked. When I told him I volunteered for my sister he understood completely.

2 years ago, my best friend, Louie Macintosh, got picked into the arena. He got in the arena, and was in the last 5 that survived. He then became the last 3. Then 2 careers found him, and literally tore him limb by limb. I haven't liked the careers since. Not that I liked them anyways. Haymitch knew that I wasn't going to let that happen to my sister.

Haymitch then continued to drink, and then vomit on the floor. I looked away as did Effie while Resay just stared at it. He was probably wondering why Haymitch's vomit looks just like the Whiskey, and other alcohols mixed together.

Here's the answer to that- because that's what Haymitch drinks and eats. Drink, sleep, vomit, drink, sleep, vomit, drink, sleep,….

I escorted Haymitch to his room, and he smiled at me, and I walked back to the area where Resay and Effie were. I walked around Haymitch's vomit, and sat back down.

Effie said, "OK, we'll make it to the Capitol tomorrow. We have to watch all of the reapings on TV tonight. Be here at 7, o 'clock and we'll watch it all together!"

I sighed, and 2 mutes showed us to our rooms. I got one across the hall from Resay. Thinking about it he was actually really quiet.

I walked in, and sat down on my bed, and cried.

I was going to die in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, and there was nothing I could do but fight for my life as long as I could, and if by some miracle I won, I would hold my family tight, and not let them go.

I sniffled, and looked at the clock; 6:50?

I quickly got changed into some jeans, a black top, and some black flats, and put my hair into a ponytail, put the Mockingjay pin in my pocket, and walked into the hallway.

Resay had then walked out of his room, and he smiled at me. I nodded at him.

We walked down the hallway, and we got to the room the TV was in, and Haymitch stumbled out of his room, and practically fell on me. I picked him up and threw him over my shoulder, and Resay stared at me.

I shrugged, and walked into the room, and I saw Effie in the room, and I put Haymitch next to her, and I sat on the couch, and pulled my knees up to my chest.

The reaping started, and the Tributes from 1 looked OK. Not that scary but you couldn't underestimate them. They were Careers after all.

The girl was a blonde, and looked like she didn't want to be in the Games, but she was prepared to win, and was going to do anything to get out. Her name was Glimmer; how cliché. I didn't like her.

Then guy looked like he wanted to fight. Now I'm scared. His name was Marvel. Huh, it actually fits him.

When District 2's reaping started, the girl volunteered, and she looked sadistic. She was small but you know the saying, 'Deadly things come in small packages.' It was most likely true for her. Her name was Clove.

I know it's bad to say this but when the guy volunteered I have to say, he was attractive. I know I shouldn't be saying this because he could kill me. He had blonde hair, and bright blue eyes. I could get lost in those eyes. Shut up, Bree! Don't talk like that! You have to get home to Katniss and Prim! I heard that his name was Cato. Hot name for a hot guy. Shut up, Bree! Just shut up!

I shook my head, and the reapings went on. I was bored until District 5 came up. The girl looked fast, cunning, and smart. She reminded me of a fox.

I zoned out again until District 11. The girl looked like she was 12. She reminded me of Prim. I was going to keep this little girl safe. I promise. If she reminds me of Prim I'm gonna make sure that nothing happens to her. I heard her name. Rue. Cute name.

The guy from District 11 now he looks to be more built than the District 2 guy. I think they said his name was Thresh. I'll stay away from him.

Then the District 12 reapings came on, and Haymitch sat up.

We watched it again, and I saw the look on Prim's face. Then when Katniss and I ran to her, she looked relieved that they weren't going to be able to take her. But when I volunteered I had a look of determination on my face.

I remember when I walked into school on my first day, and everyone was so scared of me. I wondered why, and Katniss told me it was because I had a look of determination on my face because I was determined to make everyone like me. I didn't have any friends that year.

I sighed, and pulled my knees even closer to myself.

I saw myself go up onstage, and Effie then said, "You know in that moment I was actually really scared of you."

I looked at her and raised my eyebrow.

I turned back to the TV, and the mayor was saying the Treaty of Treason. Then Resay and I shook hands and Effie and pulled us into City Hall.

I stood up, and said, "I'm going to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

I walked down the hall to my room, and I walked in, and I changed back into my reaping dress, put the Mockingjay pin on my dress, and I curled up in a ball on my bed.

I dreamed of home. District 12. The mines. Katniss, Prim, and I all hanging out with Gale in the Hob.

I don't think I'll ever miss home as much as I do now.