"Little fireball; time to get up" came my dad's voice. I groaned and Dad said "Phoenix; we have company coming for your birthday. You can't greet company looking like that. I've already drawn you a nice warm bath. Now, hurry before it gets cold." "Alright; I'm getting up and I'll be down in twenty minutes" I replied, watching my dad leave the fresh towels. After he was gone; I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom and bathed carefully and washed my blonde hair carefully. Once I dried off; I changed into one of my nicer dresses that I wore when expecting company plus it was something I had gotten for living in District 1 for the first 15 years of my life.
My name is Phoenix Abernathy and I was born on a drunken one night stand. I was adopted and raised in District One of Panem. Every year when I turned 12; I dreaded being chosen as a tribute for the deadly Hunger Games. I had watched every year and it was always a blood bath. When I turned 16; I set out in search of my birth father and found out he was the only living victor at that time in District 12 and his name is Haymitch.
Upon my first moments in District 12; I met the Everdeen sisters, Katniss and Primrose. I also met the Mellark family and they own the bakery. I also met Katniss' hunting friend, Gale Hawthorne. I won't lie that Gale was hot plus I credit him for helping me uncover my hunting. My father knew I had to have been trained with other weapons though since I had to have been trained. "Phoenix, come on" Dad called, startling me out of my thoughts. I finally hurried to dress and hurried downstairs after putting some kitten heels on. "Very beautiful little fireball" Dad commented. I smiled and then saw Katniss and Peeta. He had made me a cake for today and they were closer than ever. They had actually snuck off earlier during their tour as victors from the Hunger Games last year and tied the knot before performing the traditional toast of District 12. I had been so happy when they had both come back and mostly unscathed. Peeta had lost a leg due to infection so he had a prosthetic now and was dealing with that better than when he had first gotten it.
After seeing the cake Peeta had brought me; I heard my dad talking to Gale and his mom. I didn't know what they were talking about until Dad called for all of us to come into the living room. I followed Katniss and Peeta and asked to sit beside Gale. "Do you have any idea what's going on" I asked. "No, do you" Gale asked in reply. "Nope but I'm sure we're about to find out" I answered.
"Phoenix, as you know, there might be a time that I will no longer be around. Should that be the case then I want you to be taken care of. Not only do I have a fund for you which I've had set up in the Capitol since before you were born but I want you to have a husband" Dad told me. "Is this going where I think it might be going" I asked, looking at Gale. "It is. Gale; after speaking with your mom, we have come to an agreement that after your eighteenth birthdays have passed, you two shall be married" my father announced.
This news was a little shocking and my dad continued "There is one thing. You two must keep your engagement a secret unless you two are reaped for the Games. There is a good chance you two may have to announce it should that happen." Dad put my hand in Gale's as his mom gave him a box. In it was a brand new pin that was in the shape of a flaming phoenix. I laughed inside because of the irony in it but I allowed Gale to pin it to my dress. "Congratulations you two" Katniss told us. "Alright; lunch arrived early today on special request. You two be careful on the Capitol food. It is pretty rich" Dad told us. "I grew up on it since I did live in District One, remember" I asked Dad. "Right" Dad replied, looking a little sheepish. We finally sat and feasted on the food plus the cake that Peeta had made, which was actually delicious.
While Gale and I were sitting in the living room; there was a knock. "I'll get it" Dad offered and I heard him say "Cinna; what a surprise. Come in please." I welcomed Cinna, who had styled Katniss for the Games and he carried a clothing bag. "What is this Cinna" I asked. "A gift which your fiancé can't see" Cinna answered. Gale got the hint and got up, kissed my cheek, and left the room. After Gale was gone; Cinna changed me into a beautiful red and yellow dress that looked like blazing fire. "I had a feeling you would be our other girl on fire like the new Mrs. Mellark" Cinna said, looking over at Katniss. He put the veil in my hair and I saw Dad getting choked up.
"Dad; please don't cry or I'll start crying too and it's not even the real moment" I said, hugging him. I turned back to Cinna and said "I love this. I will wear it joyfully when the moment comes." I got changed back and Cinna left, taking the dress. He had said that he was going to add one last surprise for the actual ceremony. After I was dressed; Gale and I went for a walk in the square before he brought me back to the house in time for supper which had been brought in from the Capitol. Dad, Gale, and I enjoyed the feast before Gale had to head home. Tomorrow was the day that we all dreaded, reaping day. Even though I lived in District 12; I was still considered a career tribute. That meant that since I had been trained; I was supposed to consider it an honor to compete if I was chosen and if someone else was chosen; I was expected to take their place. The only honor I ever knew I'd get out of it was that if I won; it'd be a proud moment for my dad who had won the 50th Hunger Games or as it is called, the Second Quarter Quell. I wanted to make him proud.
I changed for bed and thought about what lay ahead. Katniss and Peeta had told both me and Gale about the stuff in the arena. I could only pray that neither Gale nor I would be chosen so that we would be free to marry later. If he and I were chosen; our engagement would end up being announced to all of Panem and we didn't know if it would help us or make us targets since Katniss and Peeta had used the 'lovers' angle, well the 'star crossed lovers'. We had no idea how to make ours different. I really didn't want to be chosen but I had a feeling the odds weren't about to be in my favor.