I tried to improve it! so here it is! hope you like it and please review!
i do not own hunger games or any of its characters.
I was standing in a line of girls all around my age. We were at the reaping of district 4. All the girls looked scared because there was a chance that their name was going to be called, I didn't mind. I wanted to be called, and if I wasn't I was going to volunteer. I wasn't scared because I wanted to win for my father. He was a fishermen, and because of the Capitol he is now dead. I want to prove that the Capitol won't beat me, and that I will triumph. When I found out why my dad was killed I asked finnick to help me train for the games. He always turned me down but I was persistent. He finally gave in and taught me everything he knew. I'm now 16 and I'm ready for the games. I looked up to the stage where a weird looking woman was coming up to the microphone.
She tapped it several times before speaking. "Hello district 4! I'm Philiet Oarcona! And I will be your districts escort this year!" I noticed that her skin tone was slightly pink, not like blushing pink but like literally pink! Her short blue and pink hair cropped her face that had a massive amount of makeup on.
"Now I welcome you to the 74th annual hunger games reaping! May the odds be ever in your favor. But before we choose our tributes we have a video clip straight from the Capitol! Oh how exciting!" The video began to play showing the dark days when district 13 rebelled against the Capitol and how they made the hunger games just to keep the districts in line.
The clip was finally over and the woman named Philiet came back on the stage.
"I just love watching that!" She chirped.
"And now time to select our district 4 tributes! First the lady." My heart was beating a little faster than usual. She walks over to a clear glass bowl that contains many names of the females In Our district from the ages of 12 to 18. I clenched the fabric of the dress finnick brought me. The woman stuck her pale pink hand into the bowl and picked a rectangular piece if paper and unfolded it. There was a large smile on the woman's face.
"Lindsey Park!" She yelled. That wasn't my name. I looked around the sea of girls until I saw a girl around 13 walking up to the stage. She looked utterly terrified.
"Come on up dear." Philiet made the young girl stand beside her.
"Now would anyone like to Volunteer?" The young girl known as Lindsey looked around the crowd To see if anybody would. I walked out to the open isle.
"I Volunteer!" I spoke in a confident voice. Lindsey looked relieved and happy. She got off the stage and I replaced her spot next to Philiet.
"What is your name dear?" She put the microphone close to my mouth.
"Leona Soulheart." I spoke in a monotone voice.
"Fantastic! Now onto the young men!" She went to a bowl on the other side of the stage and picked another piece of paper.
"Ryker Kennedy?" She once again chirped out the name as if she was calling a bingo number.
I looked over to the boys side and saw a tall male around 17 come up. He was very handsome I won't deny that. He had a smug grin on his face obviously determined to win this thing too.
"Any volunteers?" There was a silence. She continued to speak again. "Lady's and gentlemen! Our district 4 tributes! Shake hands." The last part she whispered to us.
I looked over to shake Rykers hand, he had his hand out and I shook it. Philiet led us into the justice building and peacekeepers led us into separate rooms. Obviously for visitors, but I had nobody. No friends because I was always to busy training with finnick. Everybody always thought i was odd, nobady wanted to talk to me while i was in school or the orphanage. i was the outcast that sat alone just waiting for a peacekeeper to take me out of this room. Once the peackeeper went into the room that i was in, he took me out and I was led into a car out side of the justice building along with Ryker and Philiet. She kept blabbing about who knows what. I looked out my window and saw the car take us to the train station. We were quickly bombarded with cameras in our faces but peacekeepers made sure we got onto the train.
Philiet told Ryker and I to have a seat on the couches that were in one of the train cars. We took our seats and waited for Philiet to come back with finnick, our mentor.
"Ahh Leo! Nice to see you again!" Finnick sat down across from me.
"Nice to see you again too finny." I called him by his nickname,
It kinda bothered him a little and I always teased him about it. He rolled his eyes
"Anyways, districts 1,2,3 are already here. The train has to pick up the rest of the tributes so it's going to take a while before we actually get to the Capitol. You guys will also be apart of the careers pack, if you see districts 1 & 2, don't show weaknesses. You can tell who they are by how intimidating and ignorant they are." He finished giving us a quick run-down of things and after he was done we ate lunch. I tasted almost everything on the table considering I almost always eat fish. Everything was so good! I've never tasted food and sweets like this before. After I finished stuffing my face I decided to take a quick tour of the train. I headed to what was called the bar car which was a train compartment with a bar (duh) with various drinks. I looked around the room and noticed four people talking but stopped when they noticed me come in. I walked over to the bar to where the Avox was standing ready to serve anybody's drinks. The four people were two girls and two boys. One girl was short with a scowl on her face with dark black hair. The other girl was absolutely stunning, I could already tell she was a snooty stuck up bitch. One of the boys was slender and tall with sandy colored hair. The last boy was- holy mother of panem! He was the most beautiful and sexy guy I have ever seen. He was tall and fit, So fit that you can see his muscular figure through his semi tight t-shirt. He had perfect features and everything. He was just smirking at me. I told the Avox what I wanted and he gave it to me. The group of four still hasn't said anything since I walked in. I grabbed my drink and sat on a small arm chair. The blonde stunning girl came up to me.
"Excuse me?" She didn't sound polite at all. She crossed her arms across her chest.
"You need to leave, Like now. " She sounded more unfriendly every word she spoke. Guess these people are careers. Dont show weakness! They also fit finnicks description perfectly! This girl isn't intimidating though... Oh well.
I just grinned up at her.
"Look honey, that's not going to happen." I refused to let her think that she was better than me, she didn't intimidate me at all. I took a sip from my drink still looking up at her. Her glare increased. She walked over to her group again and they started to whisper. Except for the tall muscular blonde boy who was still looking at me with his smirk still etched into his perfect face. His icy blue eyes staring into my deep strange silver ones. I guess they decided to go somewhere else because the short girl and the sandy hair colored boy left only leaving the blonde girl and the stunning blonde guy.
"Lets go Cato." the blonde girl tugged at his arm.
"I think I'll stay and have another drink." She groaned and left.
The guy named Cato got another drink and came and sat across from me.
"What district are you from?" He sounded eager to know.
"District 4." I was straight forward and to the point.
He smirked even a bigger smirk if that was possible.
"If you're good enough you can be with us careers." He leaned back into the chair taking a drink from the cup in his hands.
"Oh you're a career?" I feel kinda dumb asking that question because he already said he was a career. "Don't answer that." I added.
He just laughed a little knowing why I said what I did.
"I'm Cato district 2." He took the last drink of his cup.
"Leona. You already know I'm district 4." He gets up to put his empty cup on the bar table.
"Nice to meet ya." He just winked and left. What was that about? Is he always that friendly? I shrugged it off and just went to go into my room. Once I found it i entered to only be amazed at the size. I laid down on my bed trying to think how everything's going to go in the games. I'm going to win. Only me. After sometime of watching panem tv I was called to go to dinner by Philiet. I entered the diner car and saw that Ryker,Finnick, and Philiet had already started eating.
"So nice of you to join us Leo!" Finnick was talking with his mouthful. How did this immature ass win the hunger games? That will remain a mystery to me. Finnick won the games on the 65th hunger games. Most women drool over him but not me. I can't say he's not handsome, but I don't sit and stare at him like some crazed hormonal teenage girl. Like Philiet is doing right now.
I sit down across from him next to Ryker. I started filling my plate but not as much as I got for lunch.
"I met the careers today." I said while stuffing a piece of bread into my mouth.
Finnick almost chocked on some chicken he was chewing.
"Whoa you alright there finny?" I teased.
"What happened?!" He finally swallowed the chicken.
"Well, I entered the bar car to get something to drink and they were in there. It was two girls and two boys. They seemed bothered when I went in there, I sat down on one of the arm chairs drinking my drink when the blonde girl comes up to me and tells me to leave." I paused.
"Please tell me you left." Was what Philiet said snapping out of the Finnick daze she was just in.
"Of course not! I told her that was not going to happen and she seemed really bothered so she went back and told the other three something and two of them left leaving the blonde girl and a blonde guy. She was being annoying for them to leave but he said he was getting another drink and the girl left. The guys name was Cato and he wouldn't stop staring at me, Or smirking."
Finnick still eager to know the rest.
"He sat down across from me asking me what district I was from, I told him and he said that if I was good enough that I could be with the careers. He introduced him self and he is from district 2. That's pretty much it." I continued eating while finnick just sat there sorta wide eyed.
"This could be good or it could be bad." He rubbed his temples and took a deep breath.
"Okay. Well im done. See you guys tomorrow." I grabbed a cookie and got up and left.
I went straight to sleep.
~"Leona. Please win. Show the Capitol that you can beat the odds and that you can beat them." My father spoke as he breathed his last breath.
"NO DAD! PLEASE DON'T GO!" I was shouting at his now lifeless body.
A peacekeeper took me away from my dads body and since my mom died of a sickness I had nobody. I was all alone. The peacekeeper took me to an orphanage in district 4. I always got teased for my eye color.
"What's wrong with your eyes?! Why are they grey?" My dad always told me that they were silver. But I don't understand. What was so wrong with my eyes? My irises were silver, Big deal. My moms eyes were like that. I also got teased for many other things. I was tall (5"9) but I never listened to any of the remarks or disapprovals people gave me. Finnick always said it was because they were jealous because I was beautiful. I could never see what he was talking about, im not beautiful, my mother was... She was extremely beautiful, but I don't remember her much... She died of a sickness when I was very young. All I see are pictures of her said beauty. Her long sun auburn hair that seemed like silk, her facial bone structure, and her silver eyes that seemed to go on forever... Well, that's how my father used to describe her.
My eyes flashed open, I need something to drink. I got up and left to the bar car to get some juice or something.
Since the Avox wasn't there I decided to jump over the bar counter and get it myself. I poured myself a glass of something blue but it wasn't liquor. I began drinking the tasty blue liquid when I noticed someone sitting on one of the arm chairs.
"You know you didn't have to jump over the bar right? There's a door right there." It was dark so I couldn't see much.
"I couldn't see it."
The figure stood up and the moon light shined on his face. Cato.
"Why are you here so late?" He crossed his arms across his chest.
"I'm pretty sure it's obvious. This is the bar car. filled with all sorts of beverages, even someone like you could figure this out." I heard him chuckle at the witty response.
He got closer to where I was.
"Why are you here is a better question?" I took another drink.
"Well, it's pretty obvious...this is the bar car... And glimmer snuck into my room and she won't leave." Which girl was that?
"Is glimmer the blonde one or the Brunette?" I asked.
"The blonde one. Clove is the short one." He took my glass from my hands and drank out of it. My expression is showing that I'm obviously surprised by his action.
"Shes like obsessed with me. I mean I don't blame her, I'm just that good looking." He had a cocky grin on his face.
"But I wouldn't mind if you were the one in my bed." He leaned against the bar counter to get closer to my face. Surprised was still all over my face. I'm pretty sure I was blushing because my face felt hot.
"Um- I have to go- to my room now." But I didn't move. He just kept on smirking and got a little closer. I finally got my feet to move as turned and found the door he mentioned earlier and left to my room.
I shut the door and locked it once I got in. I can not believe that just happened! He almost kissed me! And what did he mean he wouldn't mind if I was the one in his bed?! Oh god. What's wrong with me! I came here to win, not drool over some hot, sexy, muscular-ugh! Focus Leona! You have to kill him to win. It's No use! I'm still blushing like I'm a girl who's talking to Finnick! I should just try and get some sleep. I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes and let slumber wisp me away.
By the time I woke up it was sunny outside. I looked over to the transparent alarm clock to see that it was 9:00 pm. Man, is Philiet going to kill me. I walked to the diner car to see nobody there. They probably all ate and went to do something else. There was still food on the table and I began to eat some eggs, pancakes, and toast with jam. Every thing is as good as always. I continued to eat as Philiet walked in.
"Why are you up so late?" She managed to say in a very not-so-nice tone.
"I don't know." Was all I said as I continued to eat.
"How late did you stay up last night?" She folded her pink arms across her chest. Last night. Every single memory from last night started flooding back into my mind.
"Um not late at all. Maybe till like 10 or 9." All she did was roll her made up eyes and left with the clacking of her heals behind her.
I continued to eat my breakfast and headed to my room. I turned on the tv to see that they were replaying the reapings from every district. First was district 1. Marvels name was called and the boy from the bar car stepped up to the stage looking confident and proud. All the people clapped for him. Glimmers name was called next and the stunning blonde stepped up the the stage also baring a confident smirk. It skipped to the district 2 reaping, and the girl was called first this time. Clove was called and a short scowling girl came up and people from the district began to clap. The short woman, I believe is their escort, moves to the other bowl on the other side of the stage and picks a name. Guinness Kirk was called and before the boy even had time to go to the stage, a blonde muscular male stepped into the open isle.
"I Volunteer!" He raised his arm and began to walk to the stage as the district clapped and cheers confident that one of the tributes from their district will win.
"What's your name?" The woman puts the microphone to his mouth.
" Cato Hadley." his famous smirk visible on his perfect lips. I just ogled at the bountifulness on the television until the screen shifted to show the district 3 reaping. I waited until it showed my reaping and I stared as Philiet stepped onto the stage and introduced herself. She walked over to the bowl containing the women's names and picked a paper and read the name. I remember this like it was yesterday. Oh wait... It was yesterday. She read Lindsey's name and as soon as she stepped onto the stage looking completely and utterly horrified, I saw myself come out to the isle and Volunteer, Remembering the exact thoughts I was thinking at that very moment. I have to win. The rest of the reapings didn't quite catch my attention but the district 12 did. A woman who was dressed almost as weird as Philiet introduced herself as Effie and soon after the Capitol video was finished playing she spoke again.
"as always Ladies first." She walked to the reaping bowl and picked a girls name
"Primrose Everdeen!" The camera zoomed In on a little girl no older than 13 possibly, as she walked out into the isle. Another girl came out and looked older, maybe 17? She started screaming the little girls name.
"I VOLUNTER! I Volenteer as tribute!" She sounded really panicked. The little girl known as prim was screaming and saying 'no' in a loud manner. A 18 looking year old boy stepped out and picked up the girl and took her to whom I believe is her mother. The Burnett walked up to the stage and Effie asked her her name.
"Katniss Everdeen." That explains a lot. They are sisters. Effie also pointed it out. Effie walked over to the males reaping bowl and pulled out a paper and read off the name.
"Peeta Mellark!" A blonde steps up and looks like he's going to puke but he doesn't. The reapings end and I turn off the television. I lay down and take a nap until Finnick wakes me to tell me it's dinner time. Did I really miss lunch? My stomach made a really weird noise to answer my question. Yup! I got up and went into the diet car and severed myself a load of food and began to scarf down food.
"Very attractive Leo." Sarcasm was all over the sentence Finnick just produced.
"Wuh? Um ungry!" I say with food still in my mouth.
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Did Philiet have to make a fuss out of everything? Ryker just laughed. I finished eating and went back into my room and stared at the metal roof of the train. My eyes feeling heavy and I fall asleep. I dream of cold blue eyes and knowing fully well to whom they belonged to. I was running through a forest and I was panting and heaving, someone was following me, someone fast. They released a wolf like laugh and continued to chase me. I tripped over a root on the ground and fell over and turned around to face my killer. A devil smirk was on his cold maniac like face and blue icy eyes staring down at me, murder visible in the cold eyes.
"Don't worry, it's over now." He laughed and hacked my neck with his silver blade, blood emitting from my wound as I bleed out and all I see is black.
I dart up in my bed panting. I clutch my neck and realize that it was just a dream. What if that does happen? What if Cato is the one to kill me?' He's not! You're going to win!' My conscious yells at me. I went into the bathroom and splashed some water onto my face. As soon as I felt refreshed I dried my face and went back into my room. I looked at the digital click and it read '5:40 am' great, now I'm not going to be able to go back to sleep. I laid back in my bed and closed my eyes hoping that I would go back to sleep. I fail and sit back up. Ugh why did I have to have such a terrible dream? I walk out and go into the lounge car and see Ryker sitting and looking out the window. I go sit next to him and I look at him.
He looks over at me seeing that I had just arrived and he smiled.
"What are you doing up so early?" He seemed to just have woken up a few moments before me because his voice sounded tired.
"I had a nightmare. It'd odd because I usually don't have nightmares about the upcoming games." I tuck my legs close to my chest.
"I had my first tonight, but it was weird. I died in the bloodbath, I'm sure I will make it further than that!" He puts on a fake pout.
"It's not really a dream to make a big fuss about but I didn't want to go back to sleep seeing that Philiet would just wake me up in an hour or two." He sighs.
"I had a dream that someone was chasing me and I tripped, the man that was going to kill me had icy blue eyes and killed me while I was down. It was frightening." He looked at me and then back out the window.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I'm scared..." His masculine voice still hung with tiredness.
"Me too.." He looked back at me.
"Don't worry though, I know we will make it far." We smiled at each other and started to feel tired again. I rested my head against his shoulder and slept for a little.
By the time I was awake my head was rested on Rykers lap and he was still looking out the train window with dark marks under his eyes. Was he really that determined to stay up? I sat back up and whipped a little bit of saliva off my lip. Eww! Was I drooling? I hope he didn't notice...
He looked at me and chuckled.
"What?" Dang, I think he noticed.
"You know you drool when you sleep?" Oh fuck! I knew it.
"I do not!" I try to avoid having this conversation with him but we already are so no point in avoiding it.
"Here," he handed me a damp napkin, "proof. I wiped most of it off"
"You could have spit in this yourself!" I threw it at his head.
"If you say so..." He got up and stretched his arms over his head whiles yawning.
"I think breakfast is ready and I'm hungry." He walked out of the car into the next train car.
I followed and eventually we were both in the diner car ready to eat. Finnick was already at the table along with Philiet.
I walked over and sat at Rykers side and began to eat the delicious food on my plate. After eating, me and Ryker went back into the lounge car, we sat on the couch we were previously on.
"What's your weapon specialty?" Ryker lays down on the couch and sets his legs on my lap. I stare at his pant covered legs in confusion for a bit and look up.
"Well Finnick trained me and I really don't have a specialty, I'm good with a lot of weapons But I have favorites." He gave me an odd look.
"Well, what are they?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Throwing knives and bow and arrow, I like long distance attacks."
"I prefer up-close and personal." We heard a male voice and I think I know who it is...
The boy to which the voice belonged to sat across form Ryker and I.
"Gives me an advantage because of my strength." Cato is smirking now. Does he ever NOT have a smirk on his face? It's sexy though... BUT NOT THE POINT! I shake my head.
Cato eyes wonder to Rykers legs on my lap.
"You guys together or what?" The smirk whipped off his face, but if I'm right it will come back soon.
Ryker laughs a little.
"No, just felt like stretching my legs. And besides she's not my type." He puts his arms behind his head.
What does he mean not his type?
"Then what is your type?" I cross my arms. I'm more offended then I should be. I shouldn't be offended at all!
"I don't know." He shrugs. Was he being serious?! I don't like him but still! Am I not likable?
"Mad? Do you like him or something?" Cato's voice was heard again.
"NO! Of course not! He's 'not my type'" I try and mock Rykers voice but miserably failing.
Cato lets out a laugh.
"Alright then. What's your specialty weapon?" He looks over at Ryker.
"You'll just have to wait and see!" Ryker gets up and heads towards the door.
"Well, I'm going to take a nap, farewell!" He exits the train car and leaves me with mr. Smirky pants. He just leans back on the chair he's in and looks at me.
"Have a staring problem?" I raise my eyebrow.
"Only if I like what I see." He grins. Well this got weird very fast! How am I suppose to respond to that?! Does he like me or does he just think I'm pretty? Does it matter?
"Thank you?" Confusion clear in my voice.
"That a question?" No just confused about your signals.
"Well was it a compliment?"
He nods and continues to grin.
"Well thank you." I say again slightly less confused.
"Can I ask you something?" He gets up and sits next to me.
"Yeah, but I won't guaranty ill answer."
"What's up with your eyes? They are sliver." Silver... He didn't say ugly gray... I smile at the words he chose.
"My mothers eyes are- were sliver. She had a birth defect and it was passed to me... People, they make fun of me and insult me because they say my eyes are strange and ugly. They say they are an ugly gray color." I look down at my lap.
"Your eyes are like nothing I've ever seen. Beautiful."
I look up. " you think so?" He just nods, and I smile.
"Thank you. I have to ask you something too."
"What?" He asks with curious icy blue eyes. The ones from my dream... Nightmare. I shake it off and continue with my question.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" The expression on his face softens a bit.
"Well... You intrigue me, when you volunteered for the games, I saw determination in your silvery eyes. I saw that you were confident to win. If you didn't show all that, I wouldn't even bother talking to you."
Well isn't that comforting?
He gets up
"I'll se you around." He stuffs his hands into his pockets and leaves.
What does he mean? If I were to show anything else besides the will to win he wouldn't talk to me? He confuses me every day. I stare out the window until I hear someone else come in.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize some one was in here." It was a soft male voice.
I look up and see a boy with blonde hair, but darker than Cato's, he was standing at the door. I recognize him, but from where?
"Don't worry about it, you can join me if you'd like?"
He closes the door and comes to sit across from me.
" I'm Peeta Mellark." OH! He's the district 12 tribute. He puts his hand out for me to shake.
I gladly take it.
"I'm Leona Soulheart."
" yeah, I saw the reapings." He pulled back his arm.
"I did too, that girl, katniss is it?, well she's really brave to Volenteer for her sister." I can see his face slightly flush.
"Yeah, she's great, why did you Volunteer?" He looked like he wanted to change the subject.
"I don't really know you, so I don't feel comfortable telling you that, plus we will most likely be at each others throats at one point and I can't show my weaknesses." I looks out the train window. I didn't want to share something that could be used against me in anyway during the games.
"Well, that's fine. If you don't want to you don't have to." I didn't looks at him, just kept staring out the window. Wait! If he's from district 12 then we should already be on our way to the Capitol! I just realized that. ~face-palm~ wow, I feel really stupid.
"Sorry, but I have to go." I get up and exit the lounge car and head for my room. Some sleeping is in order.