Authors Note: I do not own the Hunger Games It's based on the first book/movie but I added a character Melody Harpery Kinross (I know the name is a little off but hey it is the hunger games)! Imagine the characters as they are in the movie. (I imagine her as Dianna Agron because that is who she was in my cousins video she made for me.

Summary: What if the hunger games were different, what if instead of killing each other, you and your partner fought to defeat whatever challenge the Capitol sent at you, but does it mean it's any less dangerous or deadly? Who will win…?

It's only an hour until the reaping this is what I think of as the worst day ever. Every year I have been fearing for my friends and I, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders when someone I don't know is called even though I could only image what their loved ones are going through. People always say it is easier for me since I am one of the town's people but I still suffer through the pain too.

I look around and see my Father headed out early, which was no surprise, so I ran upstairs and to my closet and picked out one of my casual but finest dress, then slip on my heels. My Dress is black because, I am pretty much going to a funeral nobody from district 12 ever makes it back alive, the capitol hates it but it's my choice what to wear. My heels are silver, I don't want to wear them but my dad says I have to represent the towns people well, I always thought that was Madge's dad's job.

I unclip my hair and my honey suckle feathery blonde locks come flowing down my back, I simply put it half up and half down making sure my light curls are visible.

This is it, I say to myself looking down at my locket and my tiger skull pendent that is draped around my neck, and kiss them for good luck.

My heart is absolutely pounding out of my chest, as if I could have a heart attack walking out of the door, I never really understood what the capitol got out of watching people die or get injured, I never even understood why they had these I absolutely despise these games my mother Marcritley had me when she just turned eighteen on her birthday April 1st thieight days before the games, sadly she was chosen and I never got to know her.

When I was twelve, when my name was first put in there my dad gave me this locket that was hers that had my baby picture and her in dad in it, with an italic M on it too honor her. My other good luck charm was a whole different story that I will save for later.

The crowed was dead silent once Effie began to talk, I was standing next to one of my closes friends Katniss who is gnawing on her lip worried to death about Prim, I look to my left and see Gale worried gaze peering at us.

"Ok let's get started shall we," Effie voice was too happy for this occasion it always was and it made me sick as she walked over to the bowl pretty much picking out of a hat who would have to face life and death.

Her hand is getting closer to the bowl as she picks up a slip of paper. "Primrose Everdeen," Oh no not Prim.

I looked over to Katniss who is calling out to Prim, my heart is sinking I know what she is about to do, make the biggest mistake of her life I grab her wrist and pull her back and find my way to Prim standing in front of her in a protective manner.

I take a breath, "I volunteer as tribute," I say it loud making sure I was heard everything around me goes blank until I here "Okay then," I hear screams behind me but I don't dare look back.

As I make my way up to the stage, a cold bitter wind strikes through me. I look down at Prim and Katniss, and then to Gale who looks like he is trying to hold back tears.

I would cry but it fills like I have no emotion right now, when I hear Effie call the second name I was even more shocked, Peeta Mellark.

I was just about to turn 9 years old and I had finally convinced my dad that I could help him out some, so he asked me to go pick up his cupcakes from the Mellark bakery so I of course accepted the challenge, to prove to him I was mature because most of the kids my age and in my year was already out hunting or working with their parents.

When I got there I sweetly skipped in the store, watching out to make sure I wouldn't run into the scary lady who was the baker's wife.

"Hello Mister, I'm Melody, I'm here to pick up my daddy's cupcakes." I held out my hand to the guy.

"Well Hi Melody, they will be done in a couple of minutes so why don't you just go over there and wait," he has this very friendly smile way different from his wife's evil scowl.

I skipped over to wall who sat a shy looking boy on the floor with his head down "Hello," I grinned really big.

"Hi," it was very quit almost a mumble.

"I think were in the same year,"

"Yeah,"

"Peeta right," his head finally lifted to meet my smile.

"I'm Melody,"

"I know," He lifted his head up a bit more revealing a scar.

"What happened," I had a feeling it had to do with his evil Mother.

"Nothing I have to go," he jumped up and ran to the back of the bakery.

"Well here you go little miss," the sweet baker had returned with the basket so I quickly grabbed it and skipped out of the store not being able to shake my thoughts of that boy with the sad blue eyes.

I looked up to meet his cold hard gaze the same sad blue eyes; we were supposed to shake hands so we did.

Someone from behind me grabbed my shoulders pretty much pushing me into the Justice Building.

I was put in a room, waiting for people to say there final farewells.

"Melody what have you gotten yourself into," I looked up to find my dad standing in front of me.

"I am so sorry, I did what I felt was right, Prim is just a little girl and her and her mother need Katniss,"

"I am not going to lose you like I did your mother, you have to stay strong and win this thing I taught you well and you're amazing with words it is very easy for you to get alliances just make sure they are the right ones for you and Peeta please honey be safe." I nodded reassuringly giving him a big hug next was Prim and Katniss.

"Mel, why did you do that for me?" Prim cried into my dress.

"Because Prim I would have a better chance at surviving I have watched enough games to know they would go after you first, and I couldn't stomach the fact that I could have done something to stop it." I wrapped my arms around her.

"Why did you volunteer before I could?"

"Because Katniss you're mother and Prim need you more than my father needs me," I just give her a hug before she can say anything else their time was up.

I put my head down lost in deep thought, when someone else walked in I raised my head to meet with a pair of foggy greyish blue eyes.

I ran up and hugged Gale with all my might "I thought you wouldn't come."

"What of course I would,"

"It's just when I looked down into the crowd of people you looked so fragile something I have never seen in you before."

"And when I looked up at you, your Hazel eyes put me to shame thinking you wouldn't comeback,"

"I probably won't,"

"Yes you will, your strong and I know you hate when I say this but from what I've heard just like your mother,"

"But she was killed in the games,"

"Yeah but your dad said she was killed saving someone else a little twelve year old girl sound familiar?"

"Yes and that little twelve year old girl was the winner 58th Hunger Games because of what my mom did for her," I smiled at the thought of how brave my mom was.

"Here Mel you dropped this on your way to the stage," he smiled sadly pulling out my tiger skull pendent putting it in my hand.

It was four years ago on this exact day but it was at least two hours after the reaping my first reaping when two families were probably grieving, I was going to meet up with my friends, but they had ditched me and I had ended up all alone siting on the dusty old bench outside of Greasy Sae's it was probably not the safest place to be at night but somehow I had ended up in the Seam, but it was really dark and I was sort or scared walking back to the town by myself.

I looked around it wasn't completely dark but by the time I started walking it would turn the color of coal but my daddy would be so worried if he was even home by now that is, so I jumped up and started to run the faster the safer, right?

I was half way there when I tripped over something causing me to fall and get my leg stuck in a nearby tree root, it hurt a little but I was fine, I was just distracted my what I tripped over.

I took a closer look at it, it was gorgeous there was a tigers face carved onto the gold piece that was in the front, followed by two tiny skulls on the edges.

"What do you think you're doing with that," I jumped causing me to drop the pendent turning around to see a boy maybe just a little bit older than me with hunting gear.

"Oh it's yours I'm sorry it's just I tripped over it and I was curious as to what it was, but here I am just going to go." I picked up the pendent dusting it off handing it to him and then started back on my way.

"Wait, I don't like the idea of a townie walking around here by their self and since you found this for me, I guess I can walk you back,"

"Well, I would prefer not to be called a townie my name is Melody, and as kind as that is of you I would rather walk back by myself."

"I am not leaving you out here alone," He started walking so I was inclined to follow.

It was silent halfway there, so I decided to break it "Your Gale right?" I remembered seeing him at the memorial for the miners who died in the explosion but I would not bring that up because it was only a few months and I had heard from my dad, that it took his father leaving him the head of his household, I found it quite sad actually a fourteen year old boy left to fend for his whole family in District 12 of all places. I know what loss feels like but I never knew my mom, he had known his dad for fourteen years.

"How did you know my name, I thought townies only cared to know important people's names and definitely not people from the Seam,"

"I was with Madge the other day when you and Katniss brought the strawberries, and I have heard my father talk about how much he respects you and her, and how he thinks you are good kids." We stopped I was looking straight up at him he was at least a foot taller than me but he was two years older to.

"And I told you I do not want to be called that, Gale, and what gave you the idea that just because I am from town I don't care about what happens or what you guys go through, my mother was from the Seam when her and my father met, and as far as I'm concerned you are just as much as important then us,"

"Yeah all of you with your huge houses full of food, fancy clothes and shoes, you guys get everything you want, while sometimes I can't even get enough food for the night for my whole family and then I have to sign up for tesserae stepping one step closer to my death like you're mother." His light gray eyes had turned cold making my heart want to sink.

"I'm sorry for that," I looked down and fiddled with my locket my dad had gave me today tears threatening to spill at the thought of my mother going into the game's most likely because of tesserae, I had wanted to say a lot but I bit my tongue before any of the words could come out I started walking thinking he probably wouldn't follow.

"I shouldn't have said that I am so sorry," he grabbed my arm gently and spun me around I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"It's fine I didn't even know my mother all I knew is that she was beautiful and brave," I smiled thinking of the pictures my dad had showed me of her she definitely from District 12 in fact she could probably have been both Gale and Katniss's mother Gale had this weird look in his eye like he was really thinking about something that he would never say aloud.

"Well we better be going your dad is probably worried," he started walking again we were really close and somehow it was still sort of light.

"He's probably not even home yet," the rest of the walk was silent until I finally saw the bright lights of my house I could tell only Maria our housekeeper was home because the porch light was on every time dad was home we would turn it off.

"Thank you for walking me home,"

"No problem." I was about to open the door.

"Wait I want you to have this," he gently turned my hand around and placed the pendent on my palm.

"Why," I raised my eyebrow intrigued to know why a boy I have barely ever spoken to until now and who probably before never even spit on me if I was on fire would give me something so unique I couldn't even describe it in words.

"Because it reminds me of you," and with that Gale Hawthorne was gone and until this day he has still yet to tell me what he meant.

I jumped back in his arms and hugged him until they dragged him out.

"Even if I don't make it back I will never forget you Gale Hawthorne." I screamed after him.

"I…" it was cut off by the door slamming shut.