This is my first fan fiction ever so I'm sorry if it stinks, but please give it time. And please review, thanks.

Unlucky

I do not own the Hunger Games

I woke up to my mom's voice in my ear. "Kara," she said. "Look at this berry, its dark red, and the juice inside is even darker, can you eat it?" I tried to ignore her, I mean really it's like seven in the morning and this is how she comes to wake me. Not "good morning Kara" or "it's time to get up," nope, she instead starts the day be quizzing me on toxic berries. "Its toxic mom" I murmur, while burying my head in my pillow. "Good" she replies and walks out of my room.

My mom is paranoid that I will be chosen for the reaping; when she was younger her sister was chosen and killed. Her sister was not the fighting type and didn't survive pass the cornucopia. As a result my mother has vowed that any of her children will have a chance, unlike her sister, and since I was eight I have received basic training. I know which plants are toxic, how to hunt for food, how to create fire and shelters, and I know some basic fighting. I'm pretty good with swords and knifes, not to bad with spears and am miserable at archery. Now this does not make me a career, I don't plan on ever being in the games, this is just a precaution. I'm the only person my mother has left she has made sure that if I'm picked for the games I could come home.

Quickly I got ready for school and ran out the door meeting my friend Epi on the way. Epi is my only real friend, sure I talk to a lot of other people, but they are only really acquaintances.

"Are you nervous for tomorrow" she asked me as we briskly walked to school.

"No why should I be? I only have five tickets in." Although my father had died two years ago of lung cancer I didn't have to take tressa since we had saved up some money before he died and because my mom works two jobs to keep me from having any more tickets in.

"Well yeah you do just have five tickets in, but remember five years ago when Primrose Everdeen was chosen, and she only had one ticket in," replied Epi.

Exasperated I replied "are you trying to make me nervous, Epi, I mean really what are you trying to accomplish?"

"Look Kara you asked, and don't worry, you stand a great chance of winning anyways with all the training your mom gave you so it wouldn't matter if you were chosen anyways."

"Thanks Epi." I replied, but I wasn't really that thankful.

I then went through a dull school day, and walked home with Epi. She was chatting animatedly about her new boyfriend of the week, and didn't mention the Hunger Games again. Truth is though I'm really nervous about the reaping tomorrow, and I can't help but wondering how it would affect my mom if I was chosen, how would she take losing everyone.

That night my mom had me work on my swordsmanship skills, it was relaxing after sitting in a desk all day, I got to work off excess energy and didn't have to think about anything. Unfortunately my mom decided that now was the time to discuss my future.

"Kara what do you want to do with your life"

"What do you mean mom," I said exasperated.

"Well your 16 now and soon to be 17, before long you're going to have to leave high school and then what are you going to do with your life. What job do you want to get? I always thought you'd make a great teacher. And you have no boyfriend, when I was your age I had already met your father."

"Mom" I said while attempting to jab her with the edge of my sword, but she blocked it of course, I'm not sure why but she's so great with a sword. "Don't worry about me, just because I don't know what I'm going to do with my life yet does not mean­­­­­­ that it's the end of the world. I've got time."

"Kara I worry about you because you're my only child, and you're a strange one at that, although I love you. Now let's review snares and then you can go to bed"

Reaping Day

I wake up to my mom's face staring down at me. "Mom I know all the edible and poisonous plants in the world by now so please relax, everything is going to be ok."

"I know sweetheart I know, I just wanted to tell you that I made some breakfast, so come downstairs when you're read, ok." Hmm that was strange I thought to myself she never wakes my up without some type of question about toxic berries, or makes breakfast for me. Because to be honest, she's not that good of a cook, so I usually cook. But I guess it is reaping day so if she would do this any day it would be today. I got up and staggered downstairs still a little tired. After breakfast Epi came over before we had to get ready for the reaping. We walked around town talking to each other with both of us knowing perfectly well that this might be the last time we ever saw each.

'"I really think Jared might be the one you know," Epi said.

"Epi" I replied laughing "You've been dating for like a week, how could you possibly know that?"

"It's different with him than with the others, but I guess your right it is kind of early." She said perfectly serious and looking slightly hurt about my laughter. "Anyways with this type of thing I think it's just something you know."

"Well Epi I hope you two will be happy." I replied back, although really I highly doubted she was going to marry Jared, she said similar things about each guy she knew, and as nice as Jared is I don't see him as the right guy for Epi, but whatever.

"What about you Kara, who the lucky guy of your dreams?" she said teasingly, she already knew the answer.

"No one Epi." I had the feeling that whenever I said that she didn't really believe me though, Epi was a hopeless romantic, and probably thought that me having some secret Romeo and Juliet relationship was much more likely than me not liking anyone. I was telling the truth though, and none of the guys here interested me, sure there were some cute ones but no one that I really liked.

After that we got back to our houses and got ready for the reaping which was in two hours. I bathed and then put on a gold dress that my mother and I chose for the occasion. I loved it, it was sparkly and shiny, and use to be my aunt (on my father's side) dress.

"You looked gorgeous sweetheart," my mother told me, with tears in her eyes. "I know that you're never going to be chosen of course, but even so I love you sweetheart."

"Thanks mom," I said slightly embarrassed "but you worry too much and I'm going to be fine."

We quickly walked over to the town square where the reaping would take place. I immediately ­­­went to the sixteen year old section and stood next to Epi. Everyone around us seemed pretty nervous, only a few people were talking and they were all talking about the same thing. This week a rumor was spreading around the districts that the people of the Capital were starting to grow bored of the Hunger Games, I like to think that they grew a heart, but in all actuality it's probable because after the Katniss/Peeta game, no game since has been even half as entertaining to the capital as that year. So apparently the Gamemakers are desperate to make a great hunger game this year; I feel so bad for this years tributes.

The mayor than began the long drawn out speech the officials give each year about the origin of the Hunger Games, I swear each year it gets longer. I looked out at the crowd during the speech, looking for my mother, since the crowd was huge it took a while, but eventually I found her standing towards the back looking really nervous. This made me really glad I only had one good friend and didn't have to worry about anyone else.

Eventually the mayor finished his speech and gave the microphone to Effie, last year she worked with district five, but she came back to us this year because apparently she missed the kids of district 12, we were all shocked. She sounded a little less perky and obnoxious this year, while she rambled on about the honors of winning the game. "Now, it's time to pick are girl tribute," she shouted. Everyone went silent, waiting to hear the name of the girl who we would probably never see again.

"And our girl tribute is… Kara Malone… I was shocked, but of course it's me, of course I'm the one chosen. After I thanked my mom in my head for training me, and squeezed Epi's hand I walked on stage, hopefully I looked defiant as walked over towards the mayor. Pity was filled in everyone's eyes as I walked on stage, none of them seemed to think I had a chance. But I hope I have a chance, I'm not stupid I know it's not a big chance, but still a small chance.

Next Effie reached into the ball for the boy's name, I really couldn't have cared less who was drawn, it didn't matter to me at all. But of course with my luck his name was drawn, Zebulon Pike, even in my head I said his name with venom.

Now being me, I don't have many enemies, and don't do anything to warrant getting enemies, but Zebulon Pike was my one and only enemy.

When he walked on stage he leered at my looking like he was about to laugh sarcastically. Now I am not over exaggerating when I say I'm pretty sure he's been waiting to kill me. He's 18, and is a good foot bigger than me. Most people (except his herd of friends) hate him, but none of them hate him as much as me, and he hates me more than anybody else. It started out when his father died; my father was the head of one of the shifts in the mine that Zebulon's dad worked in. One day the mine where my dad's shift was working collapsed, killing everyone except my dad who by a stroke of luck happened to not be in the mine at that second, died. Zebulon was eight at the time and for some reason or another he decided that it was my father's fault that his father died, and because he was so young he couldn't successfully take the death of his father out on my father (and my father died two years later), so he took it out on me and immediately started to make my life miserable. I was pretty lucky my mom was training my for the hunger games, because then I could at least defend myself against his attacks, but it didn't always go so well.

"Shake hands" the mayor muttered knowing perfectly well that we hated each other. Zebulon griped my hand hard grinning viciously at me and murmuring "oh, this, is going to be fun," which only proved my point that he has been waiting to kill me. Apparently he has finally got his chance. I glared back at him as angrily as I could, but I could never look as vicious as he looked, which normally I would of considered a good thing, but not today.

"And may the odds be ever in your favor" Effie shouted. Huh funny, I thought considering how terribly unlucky my odds have been today.

Well this is the first two chapters, I should add in the next chapter soon. I was wondering If anyone could give some suggestions for names, as you can see the names I chose are terrible