Author's Note:

Hello fellow fanfiction-ers…

fanfictioners?

fanfictionees?

fanfic…?

Hello fellow people!

I will be updating this story every Friday so be sure to follow the 82nd Hunger Games! (this is an independent story, not a collaboration. All the characters are mine.)

I am an aspiring author so feel very free to leave reviews/criticism, even if it isn't constructive. Any opinions are welcome (Especially any spottings of grammatical mistakes. I always try to keep gramaticohl mishtaeks 2 a minininumn.)

As lists it as a law (?) that a chapter cannot simply consist of an Author's Note, here's a little sampling of the first chapter – the whole thing will be released next Friday!

If you like this, please invite fellow Mockingjays to also follow my fanfiction!

And to settle a few unsettled minds, I can assure you I will finish this fanfiction! Promise

Stick around!

-FrozenClaws

The pale skinned girl stayed beneath a canopy of a shop as she watched the trickling rivers of teenagers fill the swarming lake in the middle of the town square. She tugged down the sleeve of her ugly pink dress. The sun was shining too brightly for her liking. Ayn couldn't even hide from the sun's unrelenting heat in the shade. She wished her sleeves were longer so she didn't have to worry about her arms getting barbecued.

"Hurry Ayn," Jessica said, pushing past her. "If you're not there on time, you might get shot."

"I know, I know."

Ayn's pale skin was extremely sensitive and she got rashes if it got too hot. She had prescribed cream to prevent it from happening but she was still always wary of the sun. Despite it being the most important day of the year, it was habit. She'd stay out of the sun until the broadcast began.

"Join your age group!" a muffled voice shouted. A metal tip dug into her back and shoved her forward.

Or not.

She winced as the sun glare blinded her. In the momentary whiteness, she slammed into a body.

"Hey there, watch your step," a voice said.
She recognized that voice. Recognized it very well.

Ayn recoiled. Her vision returned, she glared at the tall boy. Perfect hair. Perfect eyes. Perfect body.

"You alright?" he asked with a mocking smile. Perfect plastic smile.

"I'm fine," she hissed. Before he could say anything else, she walked away as quickly as she could.

She made sure she had made it a good distance away from him and then began looking for her friend. She spotted the familiar head of long black hair. She ignored the hushed whispers and giggling as she pushed through the teenagers to Tala.
Tala saw her and mouthed a greeting.

"Just ignore them," Tala said when they were finally side by side.

"That's what I've been doing these last-" She fell silent as the tall boy with perfect hair walked in front of them.

"-years," she finished. The words were thick with bitterness.

"You still blame him," Tala sighed.

"Sorry," Ayn said, "I know you love him."

"Not love!" Tala hushed. "Don't say that out loud!"

Ayn smiled as she pried Tala's hand off her mouth. "Fine, not love. Just a huge, huge," she dropped her voice to a whisper, "crush."

Ayn had to fight off another pair off flailing arms from an embarrassed Tala. They sobered as the mayor began his speech. Ayn's smile died. Only Tala could act so shameless on a day like this. Despite the fact that Tala had a huge family and took rations for her six siblings every year, she didn't seem worried at all.

Ayn was uncomfortable among the quiet group of 'seventeens'. Couldn't the mayor get on with it already? Everybody had heard his speech before, they didn't want to hear it again. She told herself to ignore him and hope the best for Tala instead.

"And now for our escort, Mr. Harris!" the mayor finally announced.

They were going to choose the names now. She turned to Tala and tried to give a reassuring smile, but Ayn's hands were also shaking. She clasped her hands together as an attempt to stop the trembling.

District Seven's permanently pissed escort sauntered onto the stage. Nelson Harris was probably the least enthusiastic escort there was. He constantly acted like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed and had what seemed like a permanent scowl on his face. At least today he was wearing sunglasses, Ayn thought. Normally one could see Nelson's eyes, which disturbingly had no pupils or irises. Strangely as an escort, it was the only feature that he had ever had surgically altered. He skin was a normal tone, pale peach, and his long hair was a natural dark brown. Nelson was also strangely young for an escort, probably still in his teens. Also, strangely, Nelson was never enthusiastic or glad about anything. But overall, Ayn thought, Nelson was simply strange.

Nelson sighed loudly and grabbed the microphone.

"Hello, citizens of District Seven," he said in a bored tone. "The Hunger Games have finally come. Cheers."

He reached in a glass orb and drew a name, not bothering to announce if it was the boy or girl tribute. The orbs were labelled anyways. One thing the citizens had to love about Nelson, he didn't care to embellish the horror of the selection.

"Gorgeous Tellins," Nelson stated bluntly. However, from his arched eyebrow, you could also tell he was surprised by the extravagant name.

Ayn's head snapped up. Gorgeous? Of all people? Sure, she didn't like him, but not so much that she wanted him to die. She realized this was the first year that she actually knew the tribute. She started to feel pity for Gorgeous, almost feeling that her hate for him was ridiculous. Almost.

Ayn wasn't the only one who was surprised. Almost all the teenagers were muttering with astonishment. Gorgeous' reputation of being…well, him, was known throughout. The teenager Ayn had hated so much made his way up the stage with a surprisingly easy-going attitude. No one could see the storm of emotions that was going through his head. He could mask his feelings so well.

He was smiling with such a relaxed confidence, Ayn almost stopped pitying him.

"You're Gorgeous Tellins?" Nelson asked drily.

Gorgeous gave a perfect plastic smile and said, "My friends just call me Gorgeous, Mr. Harris."

"Sure, whatever."

Ayn would have grinned but Gorgeous was going to fight for his life in a few days. She looked at Nelson. Maybe his pessimist behavior was just because he realized that too. As Nelson picked the female tribute, Ayn shook the thought out of her head. How could she be contemplating over the escort's behavior when her friend could become a tribute? Then her eyes widened. Tala could be sent into the arena with…Gorgeous. Tala's normally optimistic and calm air was broken. She was shaking so badly, Ayn could see her trembles. She looked as if she could pass out any second.

Unlike most of the "fans" Gorgeous had, Tala genuinely cared for him. She wasn't just one of those girls were shrieked his name at odd times, she actually thought that he was a great guy.

Tala's horror was so apparent, Ayn felt as if she had to do something. She gripped Tala's quivering hand. Tala couldn't be chosen, Ayn thought. She hadn't been chosen for the past five years-why should that change this year? Her name was among the million pieces of papers there were. Still, Ayn couldn't help but panic as Nelson reached into the second glass orb. She tightened her grip.