My nerves are getting to me, I realize, as I fix my dress for the tenth time.

Leave it to Gale Hawthorne to stress me out. After his comment on my dress earlier, I've been unable to sit straight in the crisp white garment. I pull at my socks, suddenly realizing how much lower the left one is in comparison to the right.

"You look lovely, my dear." I jump slightly at the sudden exclamation and look back. My father smiles wearily at me as he enters my room, coming to rest his arm on my shoulder.

"Thank you, daddy." I smile appreciatively at him, straightening the bow in my hair for the third time. He checks his watch, paling only slightly. "Just about time now, we mustn't be late, Madge." He shuffles me forward, bringing me to the foot of the stairs, before pausing.

"Madge, remember that I love you. Very, very much." He pulls me into his arms, as he has done every year. My voice is muffled through the thick fabric of his waistcoat as I return the sentiment.

"I love you too, daddy."

All of the sixteen year old girls stand in a perfectly formed group, not saying a word to one another. Delly Cartwright has tried to comfort a few of the girls, but her attempts are futile; the time of the reaping is near and the people have begun to retreat into themselves in a vain attempt of protection. I stand to the back, looking at my feet and analyzing my glossy black shoes. There's a scuff on the right that I can't recall from last year's reaping day.

I push back my white skirts and let out a sigh; I feel absolutely restless, as if I've been standing here for a good hour. I almost begin to wish that Delly would come and talk to me, but her new-found silence proves that she too has lost her drive. I know that it has only been about ten minutes, yet the reaping has a way of clawing into your heart and delivering a feeling of terror that seems to travel throughout your bloodstream, a feeling that impedes you from proper thought or movement. I feel the terror spread, until it settles to my stomach. Doubts creep into my mind, and I have already begun to brace myself for the worst.

My hands slightly shake as I run my fingers through my knotted hair. I lift my eyes to view the other girls around me, hoping to meet a familiar face. I see Katniss with her younger sister, Primrose, trying to calm her sobbing. The poor girl is facing her first year in the reaping, and I feel a pang in my heart as I watch the peacekeepers pull her away to her respective place. I know that her likelihood of being called is dim, as is mine; only being in the draw six times. Even so, long ago the citizens of Panem learned that luck plays no part in these games.

I look ahead at the stage, hearing the clock strike two. Slowly, my father saunters his way to the center, clearing his throat. He begins his annual speech, and I try to listen, though my efforts seem futile as I begin to drift away from his words. My attention flies to my mockingjay pin, as I push my fingers along the sharp edges. The golden pin had once been my aunt Maysilee's, not long before her untimely death in these very games.

I wear the pin with my dress each year. My father holds a form of hope in the small pin; he sees it as a symbol of good fortune. I would be lying if I said I understood why, as my aunt hadn't survived her own games. Yet, I continue to wear the pin- not only for my father, but also for my mother and for my long passed aunt.

The smooth surface soothes my nerves, and I find myself looking back up the to stage as my father introduces Haymitch Abernathy, the victor of the very same games my aunt had lost. Slowly, the drunken man walks up the stage, staggering slightly too close to the edge. I see Effie Trinket yelp as he reaches around to give her a hug, and a few of the younger children giggle at the sight. Haymitch looks puzzled for a moment, before falling down into a seat on the stage, taking another sip from a little silver flask he holds.

My father shines a bright shade of red, and if the situation wasn't so serious I probably would have giggled.

"Yes, well. Please let me introduce the lovely Effie Trinket!" Effie Trinket is infamous in our town, though only seen once a year. However, it isn't her brightly coloured clothing, or her various powdered wigs that make her famous. Rather, it's her ridiculous capitol accent.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" Oh yes, that's definitely why she's famous in District 12. Effie rambles off about how pleased she is to be in our district, and how she sees our success in the near future. I see a few less than happy faces and begin to silently plead that she hurries up.

"Now, I'm sure we're all dying to know who will be called!" I doubt that she actually understands how accurate her statement is.

"Ladies first, shall we?"

Slowly, she reaches her hand into one of the bowls and pulls a name. Opening it up, she reads it for a few moments before taking a step forward.

"District 12's female tribute this year will be... Madge Undersee!"

I almost forget to breathe, all of the blood rushes from my head. Me? Me, Madge? The thought begins to process and I can feel my legs grow heavy. Someone pushes lightly on my back, and that's all it takes for me to get moving. I begin to walk towards the stage, praying that this is a joke. Yet, my entire being is telling me that it quite clearly isn't. I reach the stage and Effie smiles at me,"Well, this is exciting! The mayor's daughter! My, my!" I find myself nodding, slowly turning to face the crowd.

I look over to my father, hoping that he can do something, anything. His face reflects pain and defeat; he also understands what these games mean for me. I'm tiny, innocent Madge Undersee, mayor's daughter. I was never trained to work, kill or survive. I'm not going to come out of the arena alive.

A lump has begun to form in my throat and all I want to do is run away from the constricting crowd, yet I continue to stare forward.

"Gentlemen, now!" This time Effie reads quickly, probably because the capitol is growing impatient. Most people probably don't even want to tune in and watch our reaping; District 12 is unimportant in the games.

"Gale Hawthorne!" Oh no, not Gale. Not my strawberry boy, not Katniss' best friend. Gale has a family to look after and feed, unlike myself. Gale has others who depend on him, friends and family who will miss him. I look sadly at Katniss, watching her struggle to remain calm. I know her well enough to understand that she is terrified to see her friend enter the games. I feel almost intrusive, and turn my eyes away from the sight. This time I look at Gale, expecting to see pain in his squinted grey eyes.

Instead, I see anger. Gale walks with purpose, and although his lips are set in a straight line I can see the slight slope of his eyebrows, and the rage that grows behind his calm facade.

He climbs the stage and comes to stand beside me. His large frame overshadows my small form, and I cannot help but feel ridiculous. Effie rushes up and stands in between the two of us, right in front of the camera.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present District 12's tributes for the 74th Annual Hunger Games! Madge Undersee and Gale Hawthorne! Please shake hands!" I put my small hand in his large one and we briefly shake them before we're ushered inside, where the peacekeepers split us into two separate rooms.

I faintly recognize the room I'm placed in; when I was a child I'd ran throughout this building multiple times. Hide and seek with the guards had always been my favorite past time, and despite the time that has passed I see familiarity in the room. At the current moment, I can't help but find the memory to be a small comfort.

Almost instantly the door squeaks open, and my father steps in, supporting my mother on his right arm. He seats her on the leather sofa before engulfing me in a hug. "Oh, my dear Madge. My dear, dear Madge. I would give anything to change this, please understand." I sigh and nod, burrowing into his familiar warmth.

"Daddy, I'm scared." The tears begin to arrive, and I don't try to hide them. I let myself cry away my fear, until I find myself unable to cry any longer.

My father leads me to the sofa, and my heart aches as his familiar warmth pulls away from me.

I sit gently beside my mother. She smiles wearily at me. "I have faith in you, Madge. Just remember my love for you." I smile softly and hug my mother. "I'm glad you came, mother." We sit for a moment, with our hands entwined. My mother closes her eyes and begins to hum a tune from my childhood. I hum along, and for the moment, our family is at peace again.

A moment later the door is opened, a peacekeeper walks in and wordlessly gestures that it is time to go. We all stand, my father supporting my mother. I hug them once again and place a kiss on my mother's cheek. "I love you both."

My parents both nod in understanding, before slowly walking to the door. I smile sadly at my father as he looks back once more, aware that this may be the last time that I see his face. The doors slam shut behind them, and I let out a shaking breath.

A moment later, a single knock sounds on the door and I rush to open it, hoping to see another familiar face. It almost comes as a shock once I see Katniss standing behind it.

"Do you mind if I…?" She hesitates in her question and I smile lightly, welcoming her in. "Why would I mind? I'm glad you came." We both take a seat on the sofa, and I wait for her to speak. She sighs and takes my hand gently. "Madge, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." I expect this, and signal for her to pause.

"Katniss, it sounds mad, but I understand. I could never possibly ask you to favor me over Gale. You and Gale are practically family. It's alright if you want him to win. I know you, and I know that you probably feel guilty, but you have nothing to feel guilty about. I'm not hurt, I understand."

She freezes, and I briefly wonder if I've said too much. Yet, I realize that I haven't once I see her face.

"I wasn't going to say that, Madge." I squeeze her hand in mine. "But it was there, Katniss. In the back of your mind. Understand that I just don't want you to worry. I know you." I see her struggle to find any words, and at once I know that she can't possibly deny it.

A sudden knock on the door symbolizes the end of our meeting, and Katniss pulls me into a rare hug.

"Madge, I'm still supporting you. Both of you." I smile wistfully at her as she leaves, though she doesn't turn back.

Grabbing a book off the shelf, I turn the pages idly with my shaking hands. Five minutes pass, and the door is opened. In pops the bright face of Effie Trinket, smiling at me. "Are you all ready, now?" I nod and mindlessly throw the book back on the shelf before making my way to the door. Outside I see Gale, although, he won't look up to acknowledge any of us. Effie leads us down a hallway, muttering on about the beauty of the capitol, and how much we'll see on the way there. I vaguely listen; I find myself once again focusing on the edges of my pin.

Once we reach the doors leading outside, we're lead into a shining black car. Even as the mayor's daughter, I've never been accustomed to such luxuries. The ride to the station is quick, and I recognize this as my last chance to see the streets of District 12. We catch first sight of the station, and soon the train. It's large and silver, and I find myself gaping at the sheer length of it. Why in the world would we need all of that room? Effie nearly squeals in joy, and grabs at my hand, anxious to settle in.

The door is opened for us and Effie leads the way into the train. Walking in I'm greeted with leather sofas, silk curtains, and tables upon tables of colourful foods. My eyes are unable to rest on one thing, and I find myself looking at Gale in amazement. His body remains rigid, though his eyes betray him as they feast on the luxurious meal.

"Milo will lead you to your rooms, he's just right over there." Effie waves us off and we reluctantly head over to Milo, a small man with orange hair and black rimmed eyes. He silently leads us to two separate rooms, right across from each other "You may choose which one you would like, and do what you please. Keep in mind that dinner is in one hour." And without another word he scurries off in another direction.

I turn to Gale, and he looks at the door to his left. "I'll take this one, I guess." His voice sounds gruff and I simply nod, unsure of what I can say.

Without another word, Gale exits the hallway, and I'm left standing there.

I decide that I'll make the effort to speak with him tomorrow, seeing that he'd probably be my only company for the next while.

Once I enter my room, I take in the different appliances, some of which even I don't understand. I have no clue why a room is so necessary when the ride to the capitol will take less than a full day. I take my time and look around the large area, making note of every new appliance I discover. I find a strange tube that instantly blows hair dry, a strange button which fluffs pillows, and a perfume dispenser with scents ranging from water lily to chocolate. Though, in the end, my favourite piece of furniture is the large bed sitting in the middle of the room.

I allow myself to fall into it's silk sheets and feathery pillows, and once I'm comfortable I close my eyes. I feel the train move lightly, and it becomes an almost relaxing motion. I picture the faces of those I love, and wonder what they're doing at this moment. Is my father sitting in his office, working to keep himself preoccupied? Is my mother lying in her bed, unaware of the world surrounding her- drowning her thoughts with morphine? And is Katniss with her family, or Gale's?

Laying there, the fact sinks in that I've left home, and all I can do is squeeze my eyes shut and pretend that this has all been one big, horrible dream.

Hello (:

Basically, I can never write the first chapter in a way that satisfies me. So, please tell me if it's good enough. To be honest, I'm excited to get further into this story; I have a feeling things might get easier once they progress.

Either way, I'm pretty rusty.

I did go through and rewrite chapter one though, and I'm feeling a bit better about the length.

Anyways, it isn't super long, but it's not super short, so…

Enjoy? x