Hey! Okay, so this is my brand-new story! I'd originally planned to make a one-shot, but I thought this would be more fun! Review & tell me if you like, 'cause I don't want to continue a story that sucks. Also, I know I probably didn't really get a good grip on her personality, but I'm trying. She only had an appearance in a few pages and she was kind of a mysterious person. So I'm still trying to figure it out. Thanks for reading & reviewing! (:

Summary:

"Our second tribute will be..." Snaps me back to reality and my eyes are glued on the slip in her hand, wondering who's name is on it. "Maysilee Donner!"

My heart starts to pound right out of my chest, and I try to act like I'm not completely terrified.


"Oh, Miss. Everdeen, don't be so sure!" I giggle at Lacey. She's positively positive she won't be picked for the reaping. Despite our laughter, I know Lacey, Hanna, my sister, and I are all really scared. This year there's twice as many tributes.

I've been calling Lacey Miss. Everdeen because she's been falling in love with Mark, who's from the Seam. His last name is Everdeen.

"We all don't have very many entries," Insists Lacey, starting to get nervous.

"I know. We won't be picked. I was just joking," I answer, now serious. I fluff out my beautiful dress and we start to walk towards the square.

Hanna breathes nervously, and I take her hand in mine. We hold each other's hands firmly during the enitre Treaty Of Treason, and they become sweaty as our escort takes the stage.

"Time for the ladies, where we will pick two tributes!" She squeels. She looks for a slip and takes her time, as if she's looking for a treasure. "Ma-" I almost think it's me. But then she finishes. "Malandra Srendus!" She shouts into the microphone, and I take a deep breathe because that was so scary.

"Now let's pick a second slip!" She reaches in and digs around as the girl, Malandra, definatly from the Seam, takes her place up on stage shakily. I feel so bad for her. How terrifying it must be.

"Our second tribute will be..." Snaps me back to reality and my eyes are glued on the slip in her hand, wondering who's name is on it. "Maysilee Donner!"

My heart starts to pound right out of my chest, and I try to act like I'm not completely terrified. Lacey and Hanna grab my arms forcefully and refuse to let me go, but if they continue I'll make a fool of myself and start to cry, so instead, I release myself from their grasp bravely and make my way up to the stage.

And as I hear the crying in the back of the crowd, surely my best friends in the entire world, my heart starts to break, and I don't dare let anything slip from my mouth, because if I do, I'll begin to cry.

Climbing up the steps normally takes effort, but I manage to push myself beyond my abilities and grip my hands into fists as I go and stand next to Malandra.

I imagine my goodbyes in my head. To my sisters boyfriend, who we call Mayor Undersee, because that's who he hopes to be someday. To my sister, Hanna. To Lacey. Who knows if I'll even be able to say goodbye, because I know they'll urge me to win.

The last thing I hear out of our escort's mouth is "Haymitch Abernathy!" The Seam boy, who I've seen around, takes the stage, and he's actually really handsome.

I can't tear my eyes away from him. The only time when I'm allowed to look away is when the Peacekeepers bring me to the Justice Building, where I'll say my goodbyes.

Hanna bursts through the door and tackles me in a hug. "May-Maysilee. You have to win!" She begs. I sigh and my heart sinks. I knew this was coming.

"Hanna, I know you want me to come home, but I can't gurantee I won't be-"

"Don't say it." She whispers through her tears.

"Murdered," I finish anyway, and stay quiet as she sobs.

Lacey enters the room after arguing sweetly with the Peacekeeper. She runs over to me widly as if this is the last time I'll- oh wait, this is the last time I'll see her.

Her beautiful, blonde hair flaps behind her and she takes my icy cold hands into hers, which, I learn, are just as cold.

"Maysilee..." She begins.

"Please don't tell me to win," I cut in quietly, looking down.

"No. I've brought something from your house. Would you wear this?" She asks, digging through her small dress pocket and grabbing something in her hand. When she finally opens her hands, they reveal my golden mockingjay pin, my most prized possesion.

'Yes." She drops it into my hands and I run my fingers over the iridescent surface. It's cool and shiny, pure gold, given to me by my mother. It's holding an arrow and flying. I love it.

"Thank you," I continue, as if yes wasn't enough. "I love this more than anything."

I close my eyes and try to pretend this isn't real, but I know it will never go away.

"Maysilee?" Lacey looks into my icy blue eyes. "Good luck. You're smart. You're strong. You're beautiful. You may not think so, but you do have the ability to win." There's no sign of tears from her, although Hanna is still a mess.

"You know I won't give up. I promise I'll try my hardest," I swear, taking her hands again, because I need some comfort. "And thank you, for believing in me."

They hug me tightly and Hanna kisses my cheek. "I love you, sissy."

"I love you, too. Both of you. I love you both, so, so much."

When the Peacekeeper tells them its time to go, they leave, looking back and reaching their hand out to me. The Peacekeeper shoves them along.

I shrug my shoulders back and wish I hadn't been picked. "Let's go," Orders the one guy who shoved my friends out the door.

I stand up, and, with attitude I walk out the door. If I'm going to go into the Games, I'm going to do it right. Who says I can't be like a Career? Who says I can't win? If I try, I can.

THe Peacekeeper looks at me with an odd expression. I wave at the cameras who meet me at the train station.

Smiling, I hop onto the train and then, as the doors close, I slump down onto the ground.

It may look like it, but all I know right now is that I haven't given up on my life just yet.