A/N: So this is my first proper fanfiction on FanFiction so please review and tell me what you think!

Prologue
I stood up slowly, the joints in my back creaking with age. I gazed at the T.V through my eyes, badly affected by age. I was trying to comprehend what I saw, trying to understand that they would really let it happen again. I stared at the images of a dark haired teenage girl and a blonde boy clinging onto each other as they went up on the ladder to the hovercraft. A smile began to dawn on my face as I heard what the commentator was calling them. 'The star-crossed lovers' he said. I snorted, thinking back to my own games many, many years ago. "Star-crossed lovers," I said to myself,"We were the real star-crossed lovers."

Chapter 1
I woke up shivering early that morning. Of course I had had nightmares, it was the day of the reaping. I pulled my self out of bed and went into the bathroom to get washed and ready in time for the reaping.

My mother came into my room as I was doing my hair. "Would you like a hand?" She asked in her soft voice. I looked at my mother wondering how she could keep herself together on a morning like this. Five of her children were eligible for reaping and even though I was only fourteen the amount of tesserae I had taken made my odds to be picked higher than most eighteen year olds. "Yes please." I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "My poor, poor girl." She said, brushing my silky brown hair. As she was plaiting my hair I began to think about life in District 5. It wasn't too bad. Every day I would get up at six o'clock for my shift in the power factory. Once you were twelve you were able to take six hour shifts on weekdays. After my shift I would head to Victors Village where my mother's close friend Farise, the victor of the 12th Hunger Games lived. He would teach me the things I needed to know to survive the games, like how to use a spear and how to throw knives, anything from survival skills to sword fighting. "Honey?" Said my mother, snapping my out of my daydream. "It's finished." I walked over to our cracked old full length mirror and gazed at myself. "You look beautiful." My mother said. And she was right. I did. My dress was lemon chiffon and reached my knees. An ivory ribbon was tied around my waist to match the ribbons in my hair. The dress had little puff sleeves and embroidery on the chest. The front of my hair was plaited back with the rest tumbling down my shoulders how I liked it.

"Fetch the rest of them, would ya? Asked my older sister and closest friend, Gem. "Sure," I replied. I walked over to the open door and hollered " Marcus, Lavender, Jonathon, Corben, Gabriella, Lucas come on its time to go!"
My mother walked with us anxiously clutching the hands of Gabriella and Lucas who were too young to be reaped. We walked in silence, even Jonathon and Marcus who never stopped joking and messing. When we reached the square mother stopped us and looked at us all tearfully. "I want you all to know that no matter what happens we will always be a family and I will always love you. If your father was here right now-" Mother choked back a sob," he would be very proud of you all." Lavender walked over to mother, tears running down her face and gave her a hug. "We love you too," she sobbed into Mother's dress. "Love you." We chorused. "Okay then," she said wiping her face, "Gem, will you bring Lavender, Feeona, Jonathon and Marcus into the line and make sure the get into the right age group?" "Sure," said Gem, "come on you lot."

I followed Gem into the line and soon -too soon- a female peacekeeper called out "Next!" I stepped forward and held out my hand, trying to catch a glimpse of one of my siblings. She pierced my skin with a needle and squeezed a drop of blood out onto some paper."You can go now." She said. I walked to the 14 year olds section and peered around. I saw Lavender in the 12 year old section, being consoled by a friend, Marcus and Jonathon standing close together with the other 13 year olds, Corben in a big group of 17 year olds and finally I spotted Gem, standing alone in the 18 year old section with her head held proudly looking straight ahead. I noticed that she was the prettiest there by far, I was filled with pride about having the prettiest sister in the district. My heart dropped when I realized what she was looking at. It was the big glass bowl that had my name in it 30 times.3 times because it had to be and the rest was all for tesserae. I wasn't particularly worried about the younger ones as we hadn't let them take tesserae, it was Gem, Corben and I that I was worried about. 30 times,30 times echoed in my head. I gulped as I realised the odds were definitely not in my favour today.

A hush descended on the square as our district's escort Fushia Flutterby marched onto the stage, her heels clacking. "Hello boys and girls, are we all excited?" She asked, "I know I am!" Her enthusiasm was met with grim faces. The video behind her began to play, telling us the history of Panem. I didn't pay attention but it didn't really matter because we all knew all knew off by heart anyway though. We all knew that Panem rose from the ashes of a place called 'North America'. We all knew that up until the rebellion there was thirteen districts and the Capitol. We all knew that twelve districts were defeated and that as an example the thirteenth was obliterated and so people wouldn't rebel again the hunger games were formed by the late President Snow and carried on by his son. We all knew it wasn't fair too.

As the video finished up Fushia stepped forward. "Oh wasn't that just thrilling?" she asked in her silly Capitol accent. She stepped up to the glass bowls and nearly fell on her eight inch fuschia coloured shoes .The square tittered at how stupid she looked in her bedazzled tweed suit that matched her heels perfectly and huge pink curly wig. I glanced behind her as she righted herself to our district's remaining victors. There were three. Farise who was the youngest at about 25, Diane who was roughly 30 and Cleo a sprightly 65 year old. Farise winked at me as Fuschia exclaimed "Now let the 21st annual hunger games begin! Ladies first, and may the odds be ever in your favour!" She placed her hand in the bowl and pulled out a name.'Please don't be me, please don't be me,' I prayed. "And the female tribute is Gem Hart!"

My throat closed as my sister, my confidant and my closest friend walked up to the stage. "Gem!" I cried out, "Any volunteers?" asked Fuschia, "I volunteer!" I screamed "I volunteer!" "A volunteer!" cried Fuschia, "How exciting! Come up here child," she said, beckoning me forward. I walked up confidently- I hoped- trying to clear my face. My family were looking from me to Gem with horrified expressions. "What is your name dearie?" Asked Fuschia peering at me," My name is Feeona Hart" I said confidently my voice ringing out across the square. "And why did you volunteer?" Why did I volunteer, I thought to myself. To save my sister. But also for my family. Gem was the anchor of the family especially since father died. If Gem died too I don't think we'd cope. I know my family loves me but they don't need me like they needed Gem. I didn't say that though. "To save my sister," I said, "and to win!" The crowd cheered and Fuschia said something along the lines of "Isn't this exciting!" I wasn't paying attention though because Gem had thrown her self into my arms "Oh Fee," she whispered into my ear. Gem was escorted back into the crowd and Fuschia plunged her hand into the second bowl and pulled out another slip of paper. "And the male tribute is... Burke Field!" I let out a sigh of relief mingled with sadness. I was relieved because Burke and I were pretty good friends but sad because we both had the same fate. But with one difference, I thought, as Burke a hefty 17 year old stepped forward, I was coming out alive

The peacekeepers escorted us into the Justice Building. They brought us to two small sitting rooms to say our goodbyes. I took some deep breaths and tried not to cry. It wouldn't be good to have a blotchy face for the cameras. The doors opened and my siblings poured in. I caught a glimpse of my mother yelling at Farise. That was odd. She never yelled. "Oh Fee!" wailed Gem, "Guys don't worry okay," I said. My siblings sat down on the plush carpet to listen to me,"I swear, I am coming out alive," "Fee?" asked Gem,"Will you wear this as your token?" and she handed me a small blue necklace with a silver chain and several small gemstones on it like sapphires and amythests. "Of course," I said, fastening it to my wrist. My mother then walked in and came straight over to me, taking Gem's place beside me. "My brave girl," she murmured hugging me,"stay strong. When you're at the Cornucopia grab what's nearest to you and run. There will probably be a forest so run into that, find a water source and sleep in a tree. You're good at climbing and swimming and Farise has been training you and he says he'll help you and-" "Times up," said a peacekeeper, poking his head around the door. "I love you guys okay? No matter what you see on the screen I will always love you." I told them, hugging them. "Love you mum. So much." "I love you so much and I'll see you soon." She whispered. "Okay, come with me Miss Hart." said the grim-faced peacekeeper. With one last glimpse at my sobbing family, I put on a confident face and walked steadily through the dozens of cameras, stepping onto the train and leaving District 5 and life how I knew it, behind.