1.

He stares at her sitting at the community lounge tomorrow is the reaping for the 74th hunger games; this will be another year of worry regret and heavy drinking for the next two weeks. My name is in the bowl a total of 10 times her probably more, since her father died in the mining accident years before she's had to put her name down to get more rations for her family to survive.

She is quiet in school not much for her too say to anyone really, she wasn't always this reserved before the mining accident she was in truth like most girls in the District. Only one person I know can bring her back to life again and that is Gale. They were both effected by the accident they had to heal together now the head of the household they learned to hunt and trap for money and meat. Even my family bought from them.

*Center Hall's bell tower rings in the distance.*

School is over for today. She moves quickly placing the meager supplies we all have in knapsack; she starts toward the door and halts. I look down as I gather my own belongings together. I don't see her walk toward me I don't hear her foots steps; I only notice her scent. She smells of the forest, as if pine needles and sap cling to her body she smells beautiful. I wish I could take it in more I almost do. She looks almost like a deer caught in a trap, my heart sinks just enough.

She whispers almost like wind, "I'll bring extra supplies tonight just in case…" I nod not knowing what else to say or do before she escapes.

Just in case…

Tomorrow is the reaping, it is the more feared day for all of the districts; because the reaping is the begging of the two weeks of hell where each district send one male and female between the ages of 12 to 18 to the Hunger Games were we will watch them kill another until only one remains the victor. This year will be the 74th games. I have to survive only 3 more reaping's before I will be free, until I have my own family that is.

It is required that every married couple must produce children for future victors as well applicants to keep this games system going, if you are unable to bare children you will be given an orphan to raise instead. I don't must people would have had children in this day and age if it weren't for that rule. I include my mother among that list of people, she cares only for the store and possibly my father to some extend her 3 kids I being the youngest are just an accessory to her life. My father is warmer towards us more parental but still a lackey to my mother's every word or whim.

I walk home to give my father the news, as well as to prepare a feast for a family dinner just in case it could be my last, m brothers are no longer in the reaping never chosen. I hope I have very similar luck, my family and I both know I wouldn't survive.