AN: Thank you for choosing my fanfic to read! Please see the Author's Note after the chapter has ended for more details about this fanfic, but, for now, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, any of its characters, or places. Because, if I did, Gale and Katniss would get together. Just saying.

"Most of us can recognize the end from a mile away, but the beginning always slips up on us, lulling us into thinking what we're living through is yet another moment, in yet another day."

― Steve Yarbrough

The cool breeze ruffles my curly dark brown hair as I sit on the shores of a small secluded beach. The waves seem lethargic as they slowly recede back into the ocean, leaving behind small bits of shells and seaweed. The seagulls circle overhead, calling out to each other in their warbled high-pitched language. The sun's brilliant rays warm me from head to toe as I stretch my limbs and let out a yawn. It is amazing how comforting nature can be to a troubled soul. I sigh, enjoying the serenity of it all. My Zen mood, however, is short-lived as my horse whinnies impatiently, kicking up the sand at his hooves.

"Be patient, Bolt." I chide, mostly because the sand is being kicked towards me. He seems to get the point, because he immediately stops kicking and whining. However, he sneaks in a snort, letting me know that he still doesn't want to be here and is mad that I woke him up at an ungodly hour of 6:00 AM for a ride along the shore.

Today is Reaping Day, and even though I'm not among the elite few candidates that Mayor Cantoral handpicked to be District 4's tributes for the 73rd Annual Hunger Games, my friend is. Asher is brave and strong, Mayor Cantoral would've been an idiot to rule him out as a possible tribute, but I wish that he wasn't chosen. When he told me that the Mayor chose him as a candidate, all I could feel was fear and sheer dread fill the pit of my stomach. But, all Asher wants is to be a victor like his father. It's what he's been working for his entire life. Who am I to dampen his spirits?

I feel a slight nudge from behind. I turn around to see Bolt nudging me again with his white-tipped snout. He whinnies and tries again to get me to my feet.

"Alright, we're going home!" I say. I get up from the shore and dust some sand off of my pants. I mount my tall black Shire horse with a huff and get him to a slow canter back towards home.

The ride back towards the district is quiet and peaceful. No one's really in the streets, except some dedicated vendors, determined to sell the last bit of their wares. I steer Bolt towards an old woman dozing in a ragged straw chair behind the counter of her stall. Her sleeping form is almost hidden from view behind the colorful canopy of her booth. I dismount in front of the shabby structure and call out to the woman. "Mrs. Rodriguez!" No answer. Maybe I should say it louder? "Mrs. Rodriguez!" Man, this lady's one heavy sleeper! "MRS. RODRIGUEZ!"

The old woman jolts awake with a panicked look in her eyes. "What's wrong hija? Is the District under attack? ¡Dios mío!"

"No, Mrs. Rodriguez." I say. "I'm just here to get some breakfast and do a bit of shopping."

Mrs. Rodriguez shakes her head. "Shopping should be the least of your worries. I hear that friend of yours might be a tribute."

I nod and let my gaze drop to the cobblestone street. "I try not to think about it."

She sighs. "Echa mano a la ligera; soltar a la ligera. Este es uno de los grandes secretos de la felicidad en el amor. Mi abuela would always say that to me, when I was feeling down about a boy."

"What does it mean?"

She smiles at me. "Take hold lightly; let go lightly. This is one of the great secrets of felicity in love."

I let out a giggle. "We're not in love, Mrs. Rodriguez. We're just friends. Always have and always will."

"El amor es la amistad prendida fuego por el fuego. Love is friendship set on fire."

I laugh. "We really aren't in love."

"Have it your way." She sighs.

I pick up a couple of things from her store and put them into Bolt's saddlebag. After I say my goodbyes, Bolt and I head to the bakery to pick up some pastries for breakfast. I decide to buy a couple of loaves as well, to save mom the trouble of coming here later on during the week.

Bolt and I arrive home just in time to see Asher saunter his way up our front porch. He's dressed in a very fancy crimson silk dress shirt with a black vest, tie, and pants. He turns around with a smirk adorning his flawless features and runs a hand through his wild blonde hair.

"You're late, milady!" He calls. "Reaping starts in thirty minutes!"

"It can't be!" I respond, "The baker told me I had an hour!" I steer Bolt towards the porch and dismount in front of Asher.

He frowns at me. "You do know that you live thirty minutes away from the bakery, right?"

"Dammit!" I curse as I rush Bolt to his stable. I tie the poor horse up and throw a handful of feed into his bucket. "Sorry boy, I'll give you more when I come back." I sprint back towards the house and blow past Asher. "Give me ten minutes, okay?" I yank open the door and dash up the steps to my room. After throwing some random dress from my closet onto the bed, I tear off the clothes I've been wearing and change into it. I dive to the floor and grab the first pair of shoes I find from under my bed. Lucky for me, they're my favorite black flats and match perfectly with my dress. I run out of my room, shoes in hand, and jump down the stairs two steps at a time. I meet Asher at the door and slip on my shoes. "Are we making good time?"

"Yeah." He replies. "By the way, you look great."

"Thanks." I say. "Now let's get going."

Asher nods and we both run towards the Plaza as fast as we can. We make it there and register just in time. Before we separate, I grab his hand. "Whatever happens today, happens alright?"

He smiles. "Right."

I let go of his hand and wave goodbye. He waves back, and we both turn around and walk towards our respective sections. If he gets picked today, as his friend I should congratulate him and wish him well. As his friend, I should smile and tell him that he'll dominate the competition and bring pride to District 4. But, I can't. I can't wish him well. I can't smile and know that he'll dominate the competition because I don't and neither does he. If he gets picked, there will always be a feeling in the back of my head that the next time I'll see him face to face will be at his funeral. If he gets picked, instead of wishing him well and bidding him a brief goodbye before he heads off to the Capitol, we'll be saying our final farewells. I find my spot next to another one of my friends, Clair, and smile at her. She smiles back and grabs my hand.

She gives my hand a gentle squeeze and whispers, "He'll be okay."

Clair is my only female friend and confident concerning Asher. The small brunette just has a certain aura about her that soothes and calms me down no matter what the situation. I sigh and whisper back, "I hope so."

The anthem of Panem blares from the numerous loud speakers surrounding the stage in front of us as our district's escort, Aurelius, struts forward. Aurelius is young, I'm guessing, and wears the same thing every Reaping; an extravagant navy blue pinstripe suit accented with gold anchor-shaped buttons.

"Welcome all," his voice booms over the loudspeaker, "to District 4's reaping for the 73rd annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!" He grins at the crowd, probably trying to turn up his charm for the wealthy Capitol ladies back at home.

"As you know," he continues, "one extremely lucky boy and girl will be chosen to receive the privilege- no, the honor of representing District 4 in the Hunger Games!"

Yeah, what an honor.

"Now, without further ado, let us begin!"

My attention is brought to the two giant glass balls erected on each side of the stage; one filled with all the names of every male child in District 4 and the other was filled with all the names of every female child in District 4-mine included. I watch with baited breath as Aurelius dips his slender fingers into the ball on the right. "Ladies first." He purrs.

A silence washes over the crowd as Aurelius swirls his hand through the glass ball. Finally, after a minute of waiting, he pulls out a single slip. He ever so slowly unravels the slip and pauses before reading the name. "Theresa Gayle!" He calls out. The sea of fourteen year old girls parts to reveal a thin brunette with freckles. She walks with her head held high and without fear.

Once she's on the stage, Aurelius puts his arm around her and calls out again, "Any volunteers willing to take little Theresa's place?"

"I volunteer!" A voice answers from in back of me. I turn around to get a good look at the female tribute for this year. She's tall and has long wavy black hair with piercing blue eyes. She struts forward, a smile plastered on her face.

"And who might you be?" Aurelius smirks down at her, eyes a bit lidded. There's a rumor- and this is just a rumor- that Aurelius has a bit of fun with the female tributes before the Games. Personally, I don't believe that it's a bit true.

"My name is Lillian Gray."

"Are there any objections to Lillian Gray's volunteer?" Silence greeted Aurelius's statement. "Very well. Congratulations, Lillian, for being this year's female tribute! Let's give her a round of applause!" Everyone frowns and gives Lillian a couple of half-hearted claps.

Lillian climbs the steps to mount the stage and gives Theresa a brief handshake before joining Aurelius at his side. "Now for the boys!" Aurelius announces.

He walks toward the other glass ball and does the same procedure he did for the girls. 'This is it', I keep thinking. 'What happens, happens', becomes my mantra as I repeat the statement without pausing inside my head. Screw it! 'Please not Asher' I think. 'Anyone but him!'

I close my eyes and look down. "Nathan Riordan" He calls. My eyes open and I watch as a stocky guy walks forward with his head held high and pushes a couple of the boys that were near him out of his way. He jumps up on stage and glares at the crowd.

Aurelius laughs nervously before shaking Nathan's hand.
"Any volunteers?"

Silence.

"Alrighty then! Let's give a round of applause for our tributes!" I could feel anger roll off the crowd like waves as everyone reluctantly gives Lillian and Nathan another round of half-hearted claps. Aurelius, sensing the mood and in fear of a riot, immediately concludes the ceremony. "Happy Hunger Games everyone! May the odds be ever in your favor!"

Five Peacekeepers march toward the stage and usher the tributes and Aurelius toward a sleek black car that will take them to the train station, where the tributes will say their final farewells. I watch Nathan and Lillian walk toward the car and step in, the confident expressions on their faces never wavering.

AN: So this is the first chapter of my new Hunger Games fanfic. I really wanted Suzanne Collins to let us explore more of the world of Panem (through Katniss' eyes of course), because I wanted to know more about all the different districts. So, I thought to myself why not create a character to explore it! This story will be filled with a mixture of official facts and not-so-official ones about District 4 and all the other events and districts this story will contain. Anywho, thanks for reading the first chapter of my story and feel free to leave a review!

PS Some District 4 citizens might speak in Spanish for some parts of the story. I got the idea from a theory presented in a Hunger Games book I was reading and it really made sense!