AN: Please, please I would love constructive criticism! Do you think it's a little too rushed! I would love suggestions, help, anything! This is my VERY FIRST fanfic, so please give me all the CC you can!

Today is the day of the reaping. I want to say that I'm not worried. I've been through this drawing for four years and never been called. My parents don't let me take out tesserae. So what should I have to worry about?

Instead, I try to forget and worry about the young ones. The tiny little twelve year olds that haven't quite yet hit their growth spurt. That walk to the reaping in their reaping clothes, trembling in fear, knowing that in a moment's notice they could be sent to a death trap. It's awful.

It's worse of you have nothing to live for. If there's nothing waiting for you back here. That's why when I freak out about the reaping I feel selfish. I have a good life for the most part.

I just wish I could help. But it's not like we can do anything about it. The Peacekeepers are in the way of our freedom.

As I walk to the center of District 12, I try not to think about it. I recall the old folktales I've heard around the Seam. About the unified place this once was. North America. A country of freedom. Where every person counts. You choose your leader. You choose the laws.

How could such a glorious place back then be subject to the haunting games now?

Of course my mind has drifted back to the Hunger Games. I look around me. The crowd of kids and parents shuffle around me. Sometimes they don't cry. It's like they run out of tears. The thing is, I still have plenty and I never use them. I wish you could give your tears away, because sometimes you need a good cry.

Everyone is quiet around me except for the first–year kids, who only really murmer. I go up to one of the lady Peacekeepers for my finger to get pricked and she asks me for my name.

I answer, "Peeta Mellark," and she marks me in.

Peeta Mellark. Son of a baker. I like my life until the reaping. Because my life before the reaping is simple. I help my parents bake and I go to school. But when the reaping comes around again each year, I just become part of a big game, even if I'm not called. I become part of District 12 and Panem and being subject to all of this.

I keep walking as I think.

Usually I can forget. My family doesn't live in the Seam so it's easy, because most of us have food and a home. There aren't reminders unless we cross town and pass the Seam on our way. Unless a Peacekeeper says something to us. Unless it's the reaping and-

I hear screeching. What is it? Who was called?

And all the sudden I see Katniss up on the stage with the Capitol lady, Effie Trinket. And I know this is the worst thing that I've experienced. Because Effie Trinket doesn't even deserve to be on that stage next to her. Because Katniss has already suffered so much harm. Her father was one of the many to die in the coal-mining accident.

I know her. She lives in the Seam with her mother and sister Prim. And she brings my father squirrels. I guess she hunts in the meadow. I've seen her hanging around the Hob a lot and I've seen her at school. And I've watched her walk home everyday because I couldn't understand how so many terrible things could happen to her and she could just keep walking.

Unless the love of your life is up on that stage, you can get through anything. But how am I supposed to watch her die?

Effie pushes her bleach white hand back again into the drawing of boy names, but I'm hardly aware of the motion because everyone is putting their hands up with three fingers. And I am about to do the same, but before I do, I start to mouth the words, "I love you-," and suddenly my name is called.

Peeta Mellark.

Son of a baker.

Is going into the arena.