YAY! I'm finally posting something... I know I gave up on everything else. I'm a horrible person. Anyway... I already have this one mostly finished, so unless my computer crashes *knocks on wood,* I should have it all up within two months tops. Im mostly just adding suspense to my cliff hangers (no I'm not Rick Riordan) by making you all wait *Evil laugh* So yea. Enjoy this shizzz... And Review... Even if you hated it. You can bash me all you want. Everybody needs to let out anger sometimes :)

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. I fought Suzanne Collins for the rights, she obviously took me out... Really people give me a break she wrote three books solidly about death and killing. Anyway before I write a two thousand word disclaimer, I don't own The Hunger Games so please don't sue me because I have proof that I made a disclaimer, and you will lose epically. But if you do, and you get me on Judge Judy's TV show (which I don't own either) that would be pretty funny. Gosh... I really can ramble. -_-

"Katniss! I already checked the snares. You're never late! What happened?" My best friend, Gale yelled. When I got to where he was standing by the old tree where the bows are I noticed his eyes were filled with something. Was it hopelessness?

"Prim was having a nightmare. She is convinced now that she is going to be reaped. But she can't right? Her name is only in there once!"

"Katniss, The Capitol is full of cruel people. Don't rely on slips of paper to save your life." Now there was no doubt his eyes were filled with sadness. I know him way too well. Something was wrong, and he was going to deny it.

"Is everything okay? Don't lie to me, I would like to know!" He gave a deep sigh then told me his story.

"When I got up this morning, Posey was missing. We looked everywhere for her! When we found her she was in the square. Dead. She was hit by one of the capitols vehicles." I imagined little Posey crushed by a huge monster.

"Gale… You should go home. They need you. I'll hunt for you and bring you your share."

"No Katniss, I need to stay here. I already lost my dad because of the dumb capitol, but they went to far taking my sister. If I were there know, I would kill any of the capitol's little slaves. What would they do without me if I was made an avox? Starve? Be taken hostage? I can't let that happen."

"I'm so sorry. This never should happen. To anyone."

He got up slowly and grabbed the bows from the tree. "Lets just hunt Catnip."

Fast Forward to the Reaping.

"Primrose Everdeen!" As soon as those two words came out of Effie's oversized pink lips, my breath stopped. She can't be right! Prim had the smallest chance out of every single person standing in the square! Prim can not go into those games. She wouldn't make it past the blood bath. She is way too small, and frail. Even though I've done my best to provide her and my mother food, she was still scrawnier then any other girl in her class.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" The words escaped my mouth with out me consciously making them. I ran up to the stage and grabbed Prim. "Prim! You need to find mom! Get out of here and find mom!" I was trying to calm her down as she was kicking and screaming with terror. Finally, she obliged and left to my mom who instantly wrapped her in her arms and let her weep.

Once I got up to the stage, every body in the crowd was dumbfounded. District twelve has never had a volunteer. Why would they? Nobody wants a free ticket to death.

"What is your name, darlin'?" Effie looked at me like I was an idiot.

"Katniss. Katniss Everdeen."

"Primrose must be your sister huh? Well that's unfortunate. Please give District Twelve's very first volunteer, the lovely Katniss Everdeen a round of applause!" Everybody looked around at the others standing near them.

Finally, a young boy in the front was the first to react, by simply putting his three middle fingers to his lips then held them in the air. Eventually, all of District Twelve's population had their three fingers in the air, a symbol that meant love and respect for the deceased. They were already giving up on my life.

"Now for the boys." Effie plunged her pinkish hand into the goblet holding forty-two slips containing Gale's name written in an ominous print. She walked back over to her microphone, her five million inch high heels clacking against the make-shift stage. She loudly cleared her throat as if asking for attention before she opened the slip.

"Gale Hawthorne." I wish I wasn't on the stage, and didn't see the reaction on Hazelle's face. She just lost two of her children in one day. Both due to the Capitol. Her normally beautiful face was instantly overcome with raw terror and hatred.

Gale made his way up the stage with a fairly quick pace, his foot steps making no sound whatsoever. Once he got up to the top, we shook hands like tributes are supposed to so when they "first" meet. This may be true in other districts, but Twelve is so small that everybody knows everybody, and we all help each other out. Gale and I defiantly related to this whole "close district" thing.

I've known him since both our fathers were killed in a mining accident, four years ago. We both retreated to the woods to find food for our families like our fathers taught us. I happened to run in to him, when we both shot at the same rabbit. We argued about it for at least twenty minutes, but I knew it was not my rabbit, otherwise the arrow would be straight through the eye. Gale shot the rabbit in the shoulder, not making a clean kill and ruining the good meat. I finally decided to just give it to him, but the stalker wouldn't stop following me. We since have become hunting partners and best friends, maybe even more.

It took me a few seconds to realize I was squeezing his hand, and most likely cutting off circulation. He looked at me with the same sadness I saw just that morning when he told me Posey was dead.

We were going into an arena with twenty-two other tributes together, and there is only the small possibility that either of us makes it to the end, but if it does happen only one of us comes out, and that will be Gale. His family cant take losing another piece of the puzzle they call their life. Prim is almost old enough to take care of herself, and my mom is going to have to figure out how to make them live without me. They can survive, I know it. But Hazelle wont be able to loose another of her children. The Capitol has already taken more then their share from the Hawthorne family, and I will make sure they can't add another to their list.

We were ushered into the Justice Building where we would have to say goodbyes to our families and friends. I guess I'm lucky I don't have many friends. I don't have to say goodbye to all of them and come out to the cameras crying like a little baby, making me look like a weakling to the other tributes. My only friend was in the room next door, probably thinking the same things. Sure Gale has had some friends, and even a few girlfriends, but friendships don't last in a world like this. If Gale were to get caught in the woods, his friends would be targeted by the capitol, and they would also be killed for not ratting Gale out. It's safer to be a loner anyway. I don't have to worry about anyone going hungry other then mine and Gales families. I don't have to kiss my life away because I don't have one other then keeping my family alive. My mother and Prim walked into the room, making me realize I was being extremely selfish.

"Katniss!" Prim screamed and flung herself into my arms. She stayed there for not long enough before releasing me and sitting on the red velvety couch. My mom hugged me next, getting even more tears on the light blue dress she gave me from her first reaping.

"Mom, don't cry! Dammit, don't you dare cry! You need to make sure the two of you stay fed! Prim, sell the cheese from your goat, and even try to hunt. I've showed you both where the bows are at. And if it comes to it leave. Run away from this damn place, and never look back. Do not put in for tesserae, your name does not need to be in there any more then it is." I didn't realize that this place most likely had cameras and microphones leading right to the Capitol. Oh well. Let them know that my family is going to survive through all the crap they put the Districts through. "Make sure the two of you work with Hazelle, and try to get her through her depression. If anything happens to her, you two will have to look over Rory and Vick. I don't care if you don't have the money or food to, Vick can hunt and Gale taught him how to make snares. Please just keep yourselves alive. I'll be home before you know it." I was just trying to convince them. I already knew I was not coming home, Gale was. He could keep both families alive. They don't even need me.

"Katniss, you need to win." Prim looked at me with pleading eves.

"Prim. You know I'll try my hardest." I was lying straight to my little sisters face. The one thing I was taught not to do to absolutely anybody. "I love you guys! Please take care of yourselves! Please stay alive, and I will be home, I promise Prim." I hugged them both one last time before the guard kicked them out.

I wasn't expecting any more visitors, since Hazelle was probably mourning with Gale then going home. I was surprised when a somewhat familiar face stepped in the room. I took me a second to realize exactly who it was, but when I did, I was even more surprised. It was the bakers son. He was in my grade, but had a much stockier build then most boys in the district, most likely from hauling giant bags of flour around the bakery. That was not what surprised me though. This boy, right after my father died, saved me and my families life.

There was a huge rainstorm, one of the worst in District Twelve's history. This was before I started hunting, so we had no food other then a small, stale loaf of bread made from the tesserae wheat. I was going through town, trying to find a scrap of anything to take home. I searched through all the store keepers dumpsters, finding nothing since they were all just emptied that morning. When I finally wanted to just give up, and let the three of us just die of hunger, I smelt warm fresh bread coming from the bakery that this boy's family owned. I sat by the back porch, hoping for the baker to throw out something to me like I was a wild cat. I heard a scream and a loud smacking sound from inside. The boy came out in the rain and tossed me two huge loaves of burnt bread. I immediately ran it home. We cut off the burnt pieces, and ate well for almost a week. I knew that he burnt the bread on purpose. He did it to help me and my starving family. This strange boy was now in my room in the Justice Building, hopefully planning on giving me an explanation.

"Uh. Hi Katniss. I honestly don't… Um know if you remember me. Or, uh, even know if I exist. I'm Peeta, the bakers son. I'm in the same grade as you in school."

"Yea, I remember you. You saved me that one time. Thank you."

"No. Really. I should've handed that bread to you rather then just throwing it to you like you were some type of animal. There was nothing wrong with me. I was plenty strong enough to take it out to you, yet I expected someone who was barely able to keep their eyes open to get up and grab it. I'm sorry."

"No! You didn't even have to burn it on purpose. You didn't have to sacrifice yourself for my family. What you did was really a great thing to do."

"Well, Katniss, since you might not be coming home, I guess I should… I should, um… tell you something."

"Sure. Anything. You saved my life, remember? I practically owe you everything." I wondered what he was going to tell me. What? Did he have some plan for the games? Was he going to help me in the games?

"Katniss… I-I um… Well-"

"Time to go, pretty boy. We need our tributes to the Capitol on time. She's going to be dead in less then two weeks anyway. Find a new girlfriend." Peeta was cut off by the guard, and forced out of the room. I wish he had time to finish what he was saying. And girlfriend? Really? Like I had time for that.

Gale and I were reunited at the doors of the Justice Building. He swiftly squeezed my hand as if to reassure me then let go. I missed that split second of comfort, so I grabbed his hand in my own. We walked out of the building hand in hand, probably raising hell in the Capitol. Tributes are not really even supposed to know each other, much less be holding hands. That could be a sign of rebellion, and might even cause an uprising. God forbid that the poor little Capitol could possibly be beaten again by the Districts. That would be just a tragedy.

But Gale and I are best friends, and the Capitols insecurities aren't going to tear us apart. Until, I die of course. Then he will get to come home to his family, and maybe even get married and have more kids for District Twelve to lose due to the games. I will make sure he comes out. I'm useless to The Capitol; I'm never having kids.

At least I'll have Gale by my side like usual, even though it'll be for the last time. Going into these games together is going to be a good thing, but coming out apart is the worse thing any body could dream of.

We got into a car with Effie, to go to the train station. She wouldn't shut up about how great the Capitol is. All this time, Gale and I continued to hold hands. His eyes still housed the sadness from this morning. It's just not fair. I have never seen Gale like this, not even when our fathers were killed. The Capitol was tearing him apart, bit by bit. They were killing him before he even got into the arena. I swear his name was meant to be drawn. The game makers planned it.

He squeezed my hand once more as if he could tell what I was thinking. We were always reading each others minds. We are so close that we can tell what the other is thinking just by a quick look. This thought almost reassured me. brought me back to the woods, where we had no worries. It brought me back to getting to be with my best friend every single day. It brought me back to the kiss, only a few months ago.

Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnn :) Review