This is co-authored by a friend of mine who doesn't have an FF account, so I can't give her a shoutout :(
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. :-|
Chapter One: Enchanted
"Hey, Cato!" shouts my best friend, Gladius.
"Hey." I walk over to him.
"So, you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
He laughs as if I said something ridiculous. "The announcement, of course! Everyone knows they're going to pick you to volunteer this year." Oh yeah. The reaping. Every year they pick-
Well, maybe I should start at the beginning. My name is Cato Ludwig. I live in Panem, a place that used to be called North America. I don't know if that means there is a South America too, as I've never been outside of my hometown, District 2. Panem is divided into fourteen sections: a Capitol and thirteen districts. 74 years ago, there was a rebellion among the districts. District 2 was the only one smart enough to go back to the Capitol. With our weapons, the Capitol won the war and destroyed District 13. But that wasn't the end. To punish the Districts, the Capitol started the Hunger Games. Every year, each District must send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in a fight to the death. In the end there is only one survivor. In most Districts, the little wimps spend their time hoping they don't get Reaped. But here in District 2, people don't want to be picked for a different reason. Winning is a huge honor. But if you get reaped, someone is likely to volunteer, and you won't be able to participate. In the past, we had some problems with the number of volunteers. So this year, our trainers decided to hold a contest. Everyone who was planning on volunteering would take a series of physical tests. The guy and the girl who got the highest scores would volunteer. Gladius and I were at the pre-Games party, where they would soon announce who was to volunteer.
I look around. Music is playing and couples are dancing. I notice a girl standing off to the side with a bored expression on her face. She has long brown hair and is dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, with a simple green t-shirt that makes her eyes sparkle. Gladius sees me looking at her and rolls his eyes.
"That's Clove Fuhrman. Her nickname is Four Leaf Clover 'cause it's rumored that she keeps four knives with her at all times. She's only 16, but she'll probably win the volunteering contest next year."
"She's kinda pretty," I remark.
Gladius stares at me, dumbfounded. "Are you serious? You, Cato Ludwig, are the toughest guy in the academy, you could get any girl you wanted, and you go for Clover?"
"Well, no. I just think she's kinda-"
"Are you gonna ask her to dance or what?"
"What?"
"Ask her!"
"But you just said-"
"I'm bipolar, man, now go!"
Okay. I need to make some new friends. Gladius is insane. I look over at that Clove girl again. I don't know what I was thinking when I said she's kinda pretty. She's beautiful.
I walk up to her. "Hi. I'm Cato Ludwig."
She glances at me. "Hi?"
"Umm...You're Clove, right?"
She looks at me, her eyebrows raised. "Yes...?"
"Uhh...Would you...care to dance...with me?" I cringe. That didn't come out right. I wasn't supposed to be nervous... I'm Cato! I straighten my back and look her in the eyes.
The corners of her mouth relax into a grin. "Sure, why not?" I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor. I put my other hand on her waist and we start dancing to a slow song. Forward, back, forward, back. One, two, three, One, two, three. I spin her, and it feels so natural when she spins back around and faces me, her hazel eyes sparkling. Before I knew it, the dance was over. I smile and say goodbye to Clove. I walk back over to Gladius, who's watching with a smile on his face. He opens his mouth to say something, but he's cut off by loud voice.
"Okay, guys and gals! The time you have all been waiting for HAS COME! I am going to announce the lucky winners of our first annual volunteering contest! I am proud to announce that the male tribute representing us iiiiis...CATO LUDWIG!" I'm blinded by the spotlight hitting me. There's a ton of cheering and clapping.
Gladius grins. "Congrats, man!"
I'm overcome with all the thoughts and emotion soaring through me. I'd known this was going to happen, so why am I so surprised? I guess it's because my biggest dreams are finally playing out. I am going to compete in the Hunger Games!