Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters (sadly). They all belong to the literary genius, Suzanne Collins.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
I brushed through my hair and looked into my vanity mirror. I looked at the girl in the pretty white dress with the light pink sash. It made me sick to look… I looked so..happy. However, today was Reaping Day and happiness was probably the last emotion I was feeling.
"Madge, darling, come down or we are going to be late! And I cannot be late!" I slipped my shoes on and came bolting down the stairs to find my father sitting with a tall glass of orange juice in his hand. "Do you want to eat something real quick?" I shook my head in response knowing that anything I consumed would probably just make its way back up. "Well, let's head out then. Can't have the mayor be late can we?" he smiled trying to ease my anxiety. I mustered up a sad excuse for a smile back and walked out our front door.
As I stepped outside I saw my friend Katniss on my porch, with a basket of strawberries in hand. I turned towards my dad to collect the necessary pay for the fruit. "Dad, you can head on to square, I'll be there shortly." He nodded in response and continued walking. I readjusted my focus back to Katniss only to discover that she was not alone. "Oh, hey Gale." The tall brooding figure looked and me and sighed before saying "Undersee."
Yeah, he's not exactly the friendliest.
"Katniss, these strawberries look like the best so far! Thank you!" I love strawberries, I really do. You can't buy them in the district, so Katniss and Gale supply me with some from the woods—illegaly of course. "I'm glad you like them Madge." I smiled and slipped the coins into her hand. They started walking in the direction of the square when all of a sudden Gale turned around and did a slight jog back to my porch.
"Undersee, you paid too much." He tried to give back the extra coins and a smile spread across my lips. "I paid for the quality of the fruit, Hawthorne, so keep it." By this time Katniss had already returned to my porch.
"Thanks" he mumbled "Oh, and pretty dress." A compliment? From Gale Hawthorne? It must be sarcastic I thought to myself.
"Well, I want to look good if I'm going to be sent off to the capitol, don't I?" He eyes scanned me and I couldn't help but notice the trace of disgust in them. "You probably have your name in their six times. I had mine six times when I was twelve. You're not going to be picked" his words dripped with anger and Katniss finally butted in. "Gale, that's not her fault." "I know, it's no one's fault. Just the way it is." Katniss looked at me, apologizing with her eyes, and the two were off.
When I entered the square, I automatically made my way towards the section marked off for the sixteen year old girls. My father began to talk about the Dark Days and the defeat of the rebels by the capitol and I couldn't help but drown out and think of what Gale said to me. It's not exactly my fault that I am the Mayor's daughter. I couldn't help the family I was born into. It just didn't make sense why he would hold such resentment towards me.
I snapped back to reality as Effie Trinket, our district escort, began to make her way towards the glass bowl that contains all of the names of girls, ages 12-18, in our district. My name is in their six times.
She reached her hand into the bowl and slowly pulled the slip of paper out. She smoothed it in between her fingers and took a deep breath.
"And this year's female tribute for district twelve is... Primrose Everdeen!"
I gasped to myself as the petite twelve year old made her way to the stage. She was climbing the steps as I heard it.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Katniss thrust herself in front of the crowd and began to take Prim's spot. Prim began screaming, and Gale carried her away towards the back of the crowd.
"A volunteer! How exciting!" Effie squealed as she practically skipped towards the bowl set aside for the boys. "Now, continuing to the boys" she drew a name out and said aloud "Peeta Mellark"
I gasped again and began to shake. My friends, my only friends, are both going to the Arena and only one can come home.
Hey guys! Please review! This is my first fic, and I'm really excited about it!