This story is about 15 year old April Crawford a rich girl from District 1.

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Part One: The Career

Chapter One: Why Her?

Scared of what really might happen if I were chosen for the reaping. My young sisters, scared alone only because my parents ignore them. Why? I don't know all I do know is that our parents are always hungover when we do see them. You would think that being from District 1 we would always have our parents working a jewelry shop but in our case my father's father found a diamond mine years ago so we will never be poor or hungry in our lives.

Though Nicole, Kristen and I may not be poor or hungry we still always long something. Love. We three are the only love in a family we have our relatives don't speak to us because my aunt and uncle are still hurt from loosing my cousin Glimmer in last year's games. Though they hate Katniss she's somewhat of an influence to me, even though she killed my cousin.

When I open my eyes I feel empty, tired , numb. My sisters won't have to participate in the games for another two years. Which is good because neither one of them is nearly strong enough nor will ever be. I finally get out of bed put my silk robe over my nightgown to see if my drunken parents or my young sisters are awake yet. When I reach the living room I only find my mother passed out on our marble floor. She smells of alchol and stench. Her once beautiful curled hair is now a blonde mess of knots and tangles.

I kick my mother's hand only to get a groan saying leave me be I'll wake up on my own. I let her be and go to the kitchen. I find young Nicole sneaking a piece of bread that I had made yesterday. Her grins only says that she's been caught red-handed.

" Nicole, what is that in your hand?" I say motherly because our mother is never sober enough to know what's happening.

" I'm uhhh... I got... Umm..." she's searching for words then giggles.

" I won't tell mother's passed out anyway. Do you want some orange juice also?" she nods and sits at the table. She says stuffing her orange juice soaked bread in her mouth.

" Do you think you'll get picked today? You know for reaping."

" I'm not sure it could happen but I don't think it will."she finishes her breakfast.

" I'm going to get Kris. She's up by now."she smiles.

" How can you tell?" I smile back at her.

" Twin abilities. We have powers you know." I nod and she skips happily up the spiral staircase.

After a few moments I hear giggling and footsteps and know Kristen is coming to the kitchen but halfway it stops and then there's a shriek of disgust; she must have saw mother. Then, it contuinues and she comes in with a smile on her face. Though she and Nicole are the same age Nicole has a better grasp on things like this.

" Mommy is sleeping on the floor should we bring her a pillow?" I can never tell her no. So rather than getting her a small breakfast I follow her upstairs to my parent's bedroom. Our father is sleeping, he smell clean unlike my mother we quietly grab a pillow and hurry down stairs.

The last time I woke my father up he was hungover and angry when awaken I was 13 at the time and since I've always been scared to wake him up. Once we get back down stairs we put the pillow under mother's head. Then Kristen skips to the table and sits in her spot. I get her what she asks for: Toast with strawberry jam , hot chocolate and a piece of ham.

" Is that all you want for breakfast?"she nods.

" Sissy will you do my hair like the way yo do yours for the reaping?"I nod and follow her upstairs.

Once we get to her room she opens the door but told me I have to wait a little while so she can clean up. When she finally lets me in the blue curtains let in so much light. She leads me to her make-up table; she's only 10 but she only puts lipgloss and blush that I put on have a lot of clips and ribbons for her hair. I have her sit down in her fluffy chair that sits at the table. She wants me to do her hair with a blue sparkly ribbon. I do my hair like this for school. I take her medium length curls and pull it back with the ribbon as a headband and tie the bow on top. She look like a mini me.

Nicole looks like my father she has brown straight hair and hazel eyes. Her and Kristen are twins just not identical. Kristen and I look exactly like our mother just younger and sober versions. The last time my mother was sober was when the twins were growing up until the age of five then countiuned to drink again. Nicole caught on quick what was going on but Kristen still doesn't understand.

When I'm finished she looks in the mirror and says thank you then she get dressed in her favorite clothes. She's just going to wear a simple blue skirt with a white button up shirt and flats. She's precious.

I go to Nicole's room which is across the hallway. She's getting ready also, she's putting her silky straight hair back in a ponytail with her lucky sruchy. She see's me in the mirror and turns to me with a sad expression on her face.

" April, I love you," tears are in her eyes she knows that anything could happen to me when it comes to the reaping.

" Nicole, you have to be strong for Kristen. She still doesn't understand these things." now there's anger in her eyes the sadness has disapeared.

" No! Kristen needs to be strong and learn and so does everyone else I'm not going to deal with this every year where my best friends and maybe even you have to go and fight for your life."now she's crying and running towards me to hug me. My silk robe has tear marks when she pulls away.

" April , you can't leave us okay no matter how young or who ever gets pulled you have to promise me you won't volunteer." I'm shocked she knows that no matter if I get pulled I may or may not get volunteers.

" I can't promise that. What if little Kaylie Night gets pulled she's my best friend and only 12 ? Or Maya Lorden she's only 14? I love you, Nicole but I'm not promising that." she's angry with me I can see it in her expression.

" If you loved me you wouldn't volunteer."I don't say another word I just leave her to herself. I go to my room to get ready. I don't match Kristen's hair I only pull it into a bun letting to shorter curls fall right on my cheeks. I look down at my wrist where I'm wearing my charm bracelet the only thing I have as a memory of a sober mother.

She gave it to me when it was my 5th birthday two months after she found out she was pregnant. She hadn't started drinking until I was four but it was only for special events which weren't often at the time.

" April, I want you to have this as a token so never forget me this way." I looked at her curiously, did she know she was becoming a drunk.

" Okay, mommy. I will never forget you this way, but why would I forget you ?" I asked but she didn't answer just tipped back her drink, it wasn't alchol ; it was apple juice.

My reaping dress is a white base slip with black lace as a cover, I have white lace leggingd that stop right before my calves; my dress stops at my knees. I slip into my 2in high heels and look in the mirror at the final picture. I feel tear swelling in my eyes. Before I can stop myself I'm crying. I can't leave get pulled, Nicole was right. I hate to admit that a ten year old girl is right and I was wrong.

I call the girls to the kitchen for lunch. Kristen and Nicole are truly two different children. Nicole is mature and tall and acts like an adult, and Kristen is playful and acts like a young child. Not only are their personalities different so are there looks. Kristen bright colors,fluffy skirts looks to me as a role model. Nicole, blacks and white and on ocassion pinks or pale blue but Nicole doesn't trust me or believe me she doesn't even think of me as a sister. I'm only disapointing. Just thinking this make me tear up but I can't cry anymore, Kristen will freak out and Nicole will think even less of me.