Hello all! As you are probably wondering, I am writing a story for the Hunger Games! There isn't much room to write a summary in the space provided so here's a short summary inside as well.

Katniss volunteers for Prim's place in the 74th Hunger Games. Her district partner, Peeta Mellark, annoys the crap out of her! And now a mysterious boy from District 11 is sending her flowers and chocolates? Could her life GET any more complicated! And what about Gale? It's going to be a looooooong Hunger Games for Katniss. Rated T for possible kissing and whatnot and blah. :)

Anyways, there you go! Enjoy! And Happy Hunger Games! :)

Prologue

And before I knew what was going on, I was running up to her, screaming her name. "PRIM! PRIM!" Peacekeepers dove after me, trying to restrain me. My voice became desperate. "I volunteer!" At that word, the Peacekeepers released their grip. I stepped forward so that freak haired Effie Trinket could see me correctly. "I volunteer as tribute."

Volunteer. The word still hung on my lips. The one word, in all of Panem, that catches everyone's attention. I could feel the cameras on me, zooming in with their high definition lenses, all trying to get a glimpse at one thing. District 12's first ever volunteer. And it wasn't just the cameras peering over the crowd to get a look at me. It was everyone around, all of my friends and every face in District 12. All of Panem. And somewhere in that crowd of faces was my mother's. Probably distraught and emotional, just as she'd been the day of the mine explosion, because, even with the little hope that they might survive, she was nearly sure she'd lost someone very close to her. But even her face was not the one I was looking at. It was 12-year-old Prim's.

She nearly dove into my arms. Tears streaming her cheeks. I forced myself to not let her tears consume me. I had to stay strong for her, for my mother, for district 12. But most of all, for the cameras. I don't remember much of what happened next. I was reassuring Prim one moment, and the next, Gale was pulling her away while she thrashed in his arms. And then I was on stage.

I kept a straight face, wondering what I'd just done. The only thing that snapped me back to reality was the name of the male tribute. Peeta Mellark. 'Oh god.' I thought. 'Why him?' Soon he was beside me on stage. Effie Trinket, bubbly as ever, was congratulating us. He reached out his hand to me and it took a second for me to register that I was supposed to shake it. Returning my hand, I felt his fingertips linger for perhaps an instant too long, so I retracted my arm quickly.

After that, everything was a blur. I was far too distracted with my own thoughts to care about anything Effie could possibly be blabbering about. I was still in shock. One thought, and one thought alone crossed my mind. 'Happy Hunger Games.'

Chapter 1

Training was hell. The entire time we practiced I could feel that bow in the center of the room. Pulling me closer. As if some unnatural force was beckoning me closer. I wanted so badly to run to the bow. Reach out and touch it's smooth neck. Feel the curve under my fingertips. Taste the air as I released the arrow, dead set to reach it's target. And hear the satisfying 'THWAP' of the arrow driving into my opponent – a human shaped test dummy.

I shook my head to clear it. I had to keep my thoughts away from things like that. Because thoughts led to actions, and Haymitch had clearly told me to avoid using the bow at any cost. Still...

I shook my head again to clear any longings I had for that bow. When I looked up, Peeta was smiling.

"Got a twitch, huh, Katniss?"his smug tone made me want to grab that bow even more. And send an arrow through his brain.

"Shut up, dough boy." I spat.

There was just something about him, Peeta, that angered me. I couldn't quite place it. But it was there. Looking down, I realized that the fire I'd worked over and hour to get started had all but burnt out. Giving a low growl, I got up and stalked off. First having to avoid my bow, then Peeta teasing me... I needed to get my anger out, and the survival skills station was not going to help me do that.

Walking over to the spear throwing section, I picked up a medium sized specimen and aimed at my target. I threw the razor tipped spear with all my might. Looking up at where I expected the spear to be, in the target's heart, I found a fully functional dummy. Not the one ripped to shreds like I was expecting. Instead, my spear had landed in the target's foot. I heard vague laughing in the background and turned to glare at Cato, who just laughed harder.

Picking up another spear, I aimed a little higher. This one was lighter than the first and I felt confident it would hit it's target. When the spear left my hand, I knew something was wrong. The tip was already pointing to the left a bit. By the time it landed, it was lodged in the head of a target. The target next to the one I was aiming at.

Feeling defeated, I lowered my chin a fraction of an inch. I was just about to turn around when I nearly fell on my back. "Keep your hand steady." He whispered, not an inch from my ear.

And that's when I turned to see him. The towering dark figure from District 11. I'd seen him on the list of tributes Effie had given me. What was his name?

"Thresh." I said breathlessly.

His lips curled up into an amused smile, revealing pearly white teeth. "Katniss." Still smiling, he lifted the heaviest spear on the rack, threw it with ease, and watched as it not only pierced the heart of the dummy, but knocked it backwards onto the ground. Trailing his dark eyes back to mine, he grinned that same, amused smirk. "See. Like I said, keep your hand steady."

And with that, like the shadow from which it seemed he'd appeared, he was gone again. Only after he'd gone did I realize my heart was beating much faster than usual. Making an effort to slow it, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.

"What was all that about?" Asked that same, annoying voice. Peeta.

"None of your business." I spat back at him, though his question had sounded genuine. I thought about regretting it, but pushed that thought back into the crevices of my mind. I regretted nothing when it came to Peeta.

"Fine, fine." He shrugged and turned to walk away.

The truth was, I had no idea what had happened, but I decided I'd think about it later. When I had some time to myself. But I knew, for the rest of the training period, my mind would be on the dark boy from District 11. And now I felt a familiar longing, but not for my bow.