Authors Note: So thanks for checking out my story! It would really help if you guys could review and tell me what I should or shouldn't do. I already have three chapters ready but I want to see what you guys think first. Thanks
"Hey stupid get up!"
That is my normal wake up call thanks to my picture perfect sister. The same annoying voice with the similar phrase every day for the past three years. That brat that I unfortunately call family screams so much I swear she will break her vocal chords by the time she's twenty. You see I was found as a baby by my mother in a trash bin in district one. No one knows where I came from or who my birth parents are. Honestly though, I don't even know if I want to find out who they were.
As I walk downstairs, I hear my sister scream, again.
"Oh this is beautiful father! I can't wait to put it on."
"Anything for you Angel. This is the only dress like this in the whole district and I got it for you. Just don't disappoint me in the arena."
" Of course not Father. I will become the most beautiful Victor this nation will ever have"
Oh yeah, Angel and Royce are the academy's chosen volunteers this year. I don't know why they would want to volunteer in the same year. Since they are both seventeen, one should go this year and the other the next. Only one of them can come out anyway.
"Yo, ugly get out of my way"
Ugh, speak of the devil. It's my brother Royce.
"Sorry I didn't realize I was intruding your personal runway" I say sarcastically.
He storms past me smirking and says, " You better watch it Gamble. Cause maybe when I win, I might let you sleep in the closet of my house in the Victors Village"
Angel then screams, again, " Your not going to win I am"
"Are not"
"Are too"
"Are not"
Annoyed I suggest, "Why don't you guys just volunteer on different years"
"Shut up Gamble"
"Yeah, shut up"
"ALL OF YOU JUST SHUT UP!"
That is why I don't try to help my family.
We all just stop talking while Father just glares.
"I don't know how you two can fight so much. I always thought that being twins would make you closer. I expect bad behavior from the runt but not you two. Now go get ready for the reaping"
Ugh, I despise him. As I began to turn and leave, I see that Royce got a new outfit as well. Figures, Father never gets me nice stuff. Just handy downs from Royce. In fact Father didn't even want to keep me. Though Mother was pretty stubborn and made him promise to always take care of me. I run upstairs to change into my reaping outfit and grab my token, you know, just in case. All ways be prepared for the unexpected. It's a small, golden pin of a rose. It was my mother's, but she gave it to me before she died of cancer two years ago. I wear it to comfort me because she was the only one that loved me on this house. I miss her so much. I would do anything to be able to talk to her. I would tell her abo-
"Dude let's go"
I snap out of my daydream.
"I know your never going to be as fast as me but thinking about my sister won't help"
I smile cause I know that sarcastic tone anywhere. I turn to see my best friend Vegas leaning against my door. I met him at the training academy where we are in the same group. He has a sister named Natalie who I've had a crush on for the past three years. I actually didn't know that they were related so I told Vegas that I liked her and he started laughing until tears started coming out. When he told me I wanted to crawl into a hole and just die. Thankfully he didn't tell her, yet. Vegas doesn't mind though. He thinks it would be cool if we got married so then he can be my brother.
"I wasn't thinking about Natalie. Even though I'm slower than you, I will always be taller." I shoot back.
" And I will always be older by two days so beat that. Anyway let's go."
I roll my eyes as I follow him to the reaping. Around the corner, we pass a big building that everyone respects. It's the academy for careers. Tons of kids go there each year. Each victor chooses a group of kids to mentor and train for the Hunger Games. Vegas and I train just incase we ever get reaped and no one volunteers. I would rather not kill other kids for money and to watch others die. Though training can be really fun. We are in the group with Regal Wilson, the best mentor ever. He was the victor of the 105th games when he was only fifteen. He is the second youngest person to win the games behind some old dude from district 4. Regal is a pretty cool guy. He will spar with his students and let us go over to his house in the Victor's Village when the academy gets crowded. Though today nobody is in the academy right now because all the victors and students are at the reaping.
When we get to the reapings and I get my finger pricked, we head over to the sixteen year old boys section. We can joke around with classmates. We are more calm than most kids in other districts. No one is really worried because there are always volunteers. Though that doesn't stop people from training. I glance up to the stage where the mayor and all thirteen of our victors sit. All of them are sitting in a row with their victory crowns on their head. With each one different than the rest.
" Hello! Hello! I am Lydia Sparvla and once again I am district 1's escort. Now isn't this exciting!"
You can fell people roll their eyes as the lady with bright purple hair talks about who knows what. Then she plays that stupid video that we have to watch every year. She babbled on about how moving it is and stuff. I tune most of it out until she heads over to the girls reaping bowl. Now the female tribute will be... Natalie Atlantic"
My heart skipped a beat and Vegas actually starts hyperventilating. What if Angel doesn't volunteer. Wait she doesn't know I like her right? Maybe she does? She wouldn't, actually she would.
Luckily for us, Angel was already on stage.
" Well hello Natalie! You got here quickly"
Angel laughed as she replied," Oh please, I am not that troll, I am volunteering. I am Angel Braxton, Your next victor"
Of course she said that. I have always hated it when someone said that. It's just arrogant.
"Well I for one love confidence! Let's get a round of applause for Angel"
"Now time for the boys"
I look to the side and see Royce is already walking down the aisle. All of a sudden, he just pauses as if he is contemplating something. Weird I didn't think he would be the type to doubt himself. Then he turns in my direction at smiles. Weird. Some kid next to me taps me on the shoulder.
"What?"
"Dude, she called you"
What! How!Oh, that actually makes sense.
I look at the path everyone made for me. I turn towards Vegas.
"Don't even think about volunteering"
He looked really sad but nodded slowly.
As I walked towards the stage, I see Royce walking back laughing. Ugh great, me and my big mouth. I just had to give him the idea of volunteering next year.
Lydia squeals with delight.
"Looks like we have a pair of siblings. Give it up for Angel and Gamble Braxton, tributes for the 111th Hunger Games!"
While everyone is clapping, Lydia turns toward us and tells us to shake hands. Ugh, I don't want to shake her hand. Angel turns and smiles at me. Fine, I'll do it for the cameras. I take a step toward Angel and offer her my hand. She looks at it like some foreign object. Angel smirks and turns toward the justice building. She left me there with my hand extended looking like a total fool, in front of the whole nation of Panem.