It took three days without food before I ventured into the woods to try hunting. I snuck across the district's border and into the mysterious unknown in hopes of surviving another day. The hunger and fear made my unlawful trip messy; if anyone were looking they'd know someone crossed the border. Of course, no one was looking, because no one cares about District 12.

I didn't catch anything my first trip out, but I did find some berries that I took a chance on. Turns out they weren't poisonous, because I'm still here. It took weeks, but eventually I caught game. I don't know how, but I caught a bunny. I didn't believe it; I almost still don't believe it. My arrow shakily sailed through the air and hit the animal. It wasn't quite dead, so I had to slit its throat. I cried for at least an hour, and then I had to figure out how to clean it. After that day, I was never the same.

When I was seven my mom was pregnant. She was getting a little old to have children, malnourished, and an unlucky member of 12. She didn't have the luxury of taking time off from work. She miscarried. She died. It was just dad and I for eight years. Then the mine collapsed and I was alone.

They didn't let me collect my dad's last check. I had nothing. They even took the house. I'm not sure who "they" are, if the seizing of my house was legal or not, but I had just enough time to sneak out my dad's bow, arrow, knife, a bag of clothing, and the only family portrait we had. From that day on I had no home and no one to help. We all have problems, even the wealthiest in 12, that it's really easy to overlook someone in pain.

So on my third day without food I went into the woods. I was terrified. There was so much green it almost hurt my eyes. There were bugs, flowers, snakes, and birds. I was so surprised by the amount of life that lived in the woods just outside of town. The deeper into the woods I went, the less filth from the mines coated the trees. How have I lived so close to such vibrant life and not know it?

The first time, I only risked being out in the woods for about an hour or two. I was breaking the law and didn't know what would happen if someone noticed. When I crept back into town I expected peacekeepers to be waiting for me. They weren't. When I walked through town I expected people to look at me and know that I did wrong. They didn't. I walked along the streets trying to see if I caught anyone's eye, but as usual most people kept their eyes to the ground. No one knew.

No one knew.

Really, no one cared.

The next day I wandered longer. I practiced with the bow, aiming for a tree and missing. I found a lake and again, I was scared. I didn't trust something so serene looking. I thought there must be something lurking just under the surface waiting for me. But, I didn't really have a choice as I hadn't bathed in days, so I hesitantly stripped down and entered the cool water. It was heaven. I didn't go in too far, but after a few minutes I knew I would come back every day. I'd go deeper and deeper until I could swim.

Each day I retuned to town. I may not think people noticed me, but I do know the capital has eyes everywhere. I'm still registered and received a minimum food ration. If I didn't pick it up, it would be a red flag. And so my days continued fairly the same. I went out to hunt, I took a swim, I walked aimlessly around town, and I slept in a makeshift camp near the small houses of the poorest people. I didn't really talk to anyone, but no one tried to talk to me. I lived a lonely life, but watching the other people of 12 I wondered if I had it better than them. I didn't have to worry about the rough work of coal mining wearing down my father, or the extra mouths of siblings to feed. I was alone, but completely self-sufficient.

About six months into law breaking I realized I wasn't the only one going into the woods. I had been up in a tree silently waiting for some unknowing prey to cross my path when I heard laughter. A boy and a girl walked right below me without a glance in my direction.

"Shut it, Gale," said the girl. I knew her voice, but couldn't place it. "You'll scare all the animals away with your laughter."

"It's not my fault you can't walk," said Gale.

The girl turned to him and gave him a shove. It was then that I saw her face: Katniss. Her father died in the mine collapse, too. She still had a mother and sister to care for. I heard her mother was still in shock over the death of her husband, so Katniss had to provide for her family. I guess she too must have taken to the woods to survive. And then I realized I knew Gale, too. He was just a little older than me, had a lot of siblings, too many to feed. The three of us had so much in common, fighting to survive, that I wanted to climb down the tree to talk to them. But I didn't. I just watched them until I couldn't see their figures anymore.

Katniss taught me how to make a snare. I mean she didn't know she taught me. I saw her do it more times than I could count. Gale taught me how to properly skin animals. Again, he didn't know it, but I took ever bit of knowledge I could. I'm grateful to them both.

Then when I was sixteen, Katniss volunteered at the reaping for her sister.

The moment her train left for the capital I was in the woods. It sounds ridiculous, but she felt like a friend. My emotions were choking me. I didn't bother covering my tracks and stumbled my way to the lake. Stripping to my undergarments I submerged myself in the water. Once under the surface I let out the agonizing scream that was bursting from my chest. I broke the surface gasping for air. I flipped onto my back, floated and stared up at the sky.

I floated and forgot.

"You shouldn't be out here," a voice rang out. My heart stopped. I was going to die. I was too sloppy. It was a stupid day to come out into the woods. I looked for the source of the voice. My heart sped up even more: it was Gale.

"There are a lot of peace keepers still in town. You're risking a lot being out here."

He was crouching at the waters edge. His fingers grazed surface of the lake, testing the water temperature. He was incredibly attractive. He looked so sad.

"I'm sorry," I barely whispered. I anxiously looked around fearful someone would hear me. I swam a little closer to him, but not too close because I didn't want him see me in my underwear.

"Why, it's you're life." He said flatly.

"No," I started, "I'm sorry about Katniss. I know you guys are…were… are…together. I can't imagine. I'm so sorry."

He looked at me then, really looked at me.

"Why do you think we were together?" he asked.

"I… uh… I've seen you two in the woods together." I cleared my throat feeling my cheeks flush. I felt very exposed and kind of creepy. "I mean, I'm out here every day. I've seen the both of you together and just kind of assumed."

"I don't think Katniss feels that way about me."

"She most definitely does," I said quickly and regretted it.

He laughed at me a little.

"So, you're out here everyday? How come we've never seen you? Do you hunt or just swim?"

"I'm quiet and I hunt."

We were quiet for a bit and the sun started to set. I was getting cold, but didn't want to get out in front of him.

"It's getting late," he said. "We're really asking for trouble if we don't get back."

"I know." I said.

He tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.

"Want to walked back together?" he spoke slowly like I was an idiot.

"Sure," I rolled my eyes. "Frist can you turn around so I can get out?"

"I have sisters," he said laughing while turning around.

"So?" I spat back. "I don't know you that well."

Thankfully I had brought a towel. I quickly dried the best I could and put my clothes on. I walked up next to him and nodded that we could go. He towered over me. We walked in silence until we crossed the nonworking electric fence that enclosed the district.

"So what is your story then?" he asked.

"Same as everyone else I guess." I said.

It was getting dark. People were a little rowdy in town. Most of the mineworkers were drunk and the children were running wild. It doesn't happen much in 12, but the reaping brings either sadness or relief. We neared Gale's house.

"Where do you live?" He asked. "I'll walk you home. You should walk alone on a night like this."

I gave a harsh laugh.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine."

"No really," he said.

"If it makes you feel better, but you really don't have to," I responded.

"I'm Gale by the way," he said. "If you didn't know from spying on Kat and I."

He had a joking twinkle in his eye, but my cheeks still reddened with embarrassment.

"I'm Lavender."

We made it to my "home". The floor was made out of pallets so that when it rained I was above the ground and wouldn't get too wet. I made a tent out of a tarp that I bought in the Hob (12's black market). It was very small, just slightly bigger than a bed. I made a campfire near the opening of my "home", but knew better than to light it on a night like tonight because it would attract unwanted visitors.

"You're kidding, right?"

It stung more than I thought it would. I was sort of proud of my home. It protected me from the rain and surprisingly enough it protected me in the winter, barely. I traded many of my kills in the beginning for blankets. It was a hard winter, but most nights I stayed up next to the fire and slept during the say when the sun was up.

"No," I said half angry, half hurt. "This is where I live. I don't spend much time here, but I sleep here."

"Don't you have a family?" He said walking quickly to my campsite. He very rudely stuck his head into my tent. I was mortified. I knew I had little, but everyone was poor in 12. I had a few changes of clothes in one corner. Five very thick blankets lying out as a makeshift bed and my family portrait. My hunting gear stayed in the woods. Gale reached out and grabbed the family portrait. I was seven, my mom was very pregnant, and my dad was unsmiling.

"Not anymore, they're both dead." I said grabbing the picture back from him.

"And now you live alone? You can't be more than 15. I can't believe no one took you in. You have no extended family? No one from the government placed you with a family?" He sounded angry.

"You know how things go," I said quietly. "It's really easy for things to be overlooked."

"The Capitol is such shit," he spat. "You are a person, not a thing, they should be held accountable. You can't live like this. You can stay with us, I mean we have a lot of people, but we will make room. Fucking Capitol."

"Shhh!" I hushed him. I grabbed his arm tightly. "Don't say that, you don't know who is listening. I'm fine, I learned to hunt, and I've made it through a winter, its fine. Besides, I'm 16; I'm almost an adult. I can take care of myself."

He looked down at him with his green eyes. He was worn out, exhausted with emotions from loosing his best friend to the games. Even if Katniss came back, she wouldn't be the same.

"I'm so sorry," I said a little more gently and I loosened more grip on his arm.

"You shouldn't be sorry. This is outrageous. You shouldn't have to live this way!"

"You know that's not why you're so upset," I said. I hugged him. It was awkward because he was so tall and I wasn't used to touching people. "None of us deserve a life of fear. None of us deserve to go into the arena, or see a friend go into the arena." I was barely speaking, but Gale softened and held me back. We sat at the opening of my tent. Gale was crying, which made me cry. "Gale, I'm so sorry."

And that is how Gale and I became friends.