Lauren P.O.V

I braided my hair as I tucked in the back of my dress, the mirror had the big crack in it from the day I punched it at another reaping. I still hated that god damn thing, but dad wanted it there so it had to stay. I tied the ribbon around my waist and pulled the bottom of my dress down. I walked out the room to the kitchen where dad sat drinking a very bland coffee.

"Hey dad." I said lightly.

"Morning sweetie." He said kissing my forehead. I smiled and ate what was left of the porridge; the mood was gloomy as it was every year on this day. I tried to smile but I knew this was killing dad, ever since mum died he had kept me so close to his side. It was possible that I could be called and leave his side forever.

"I will be back; I have to go see Athalia." I said. Athalia was my best friend; we met at the gate when I was five and promised that we would never tell anyone, ever since then we hunted together and did everything else together.

He nodded as I walked out.

"I will see you at the reaping! " I called out behind me. Athalia was sixteen, a year younger than me. Her father was killed in a mine explosion and not soon after her mother got sick and died. She was definitely a lone sailor.

She was also very beautiful, her long brown hair flowed to just beneath her pants line and her white skin was beautiful with rose red cheeks and big blue eyes, dark eye brows and lashes as well. I always told her but she didn't care, she didn't think she was beautiful not since those peace keepers whipped the living crap out of her. Scars lined her stomach and back.

I walked to the gate to see if she was there which she was; she smiled with her pearly white chops as soon as she saw me.

"A special occasion?" She asked looking at my outfit.

"Come on, you have to get ready."

"I'm sick of bowing to the capitol like they are god." She said moving past the fence that was never active. She caught up to me in her normal hunting gear.

"Well for the time being we have to, at least until we are eighteen." I said trying to sound reasonable. She scoffed.

"I will probably be called this year, knowing my luck. Put my names in so many times to survive, to keep you out of it." She laughed coldly. She hated this more than I did; her older brother died in the hunger games when she was eleven. She hated the capitol with all her heart.

"I will be fine, take a bath and get ready. I will meet you at the reaping." I said walking back to the house. She put her knives back on her leg clasps and ran back home. As I walked back children were all in their finest, I hated that killing was a time to dress up. I felt and arm slip around my waist and I turned to see my Hunter before I could even say anything he kissed me. His dark brown eyes and tanned skin bore into my green eyes. I smiled at him and pulled him into the old abandoned shed. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Hey." I gaped once I released. He smiled and kissed me again.

"Hey." He said. I sighed; I knew how many times he had to put his name in to feed his family.

"You look beautiful; I can't believe we have to do this again." He sighed. I pulled his face to look at me then put my hand on his cheek.

"I love you, remember that."

"I love you too." He kissed my fingers than looked back up at me.

"If I get chosen-"I cut him off with tears in my eyes.

"No Hunter don't talk like that, we will be fine we always are." I whispered tears spilling from my eyes. I couldn't let him go, because there was a very good chance he would die if he went and I couldn't lose him and either could his family. He chuckled lightly then kissed me again, god I loved him. More than anyone could ever imagine, if he went into the hunger games. I would volunteer, no two ways about it.

Athalia P.O.V

I couldn't believe I was wearing a dress, I never wear dresses. I pulled my hair up into a bun because I had always loved it when my mother had done it for me. I smiled at the memory pulling on some shoes that weren't hunting boots.

I quickly ran out the house to the reaping. I didn't have many friends, just Lauren who was my best friend. Everyone else just wants to be your friend as soon as they hear you can hunt. I shook it off and walked faster so I would hopefully catch Lauren and Hunter before the reaping. I heard sobs the whole way down to the court yard where they announced it, a lot of people stared at me. Kaleb was killed in the hunger games, he lasted a fair way though better than most people expected.

I brushed them off when I saw Lauren and Hunter. Hunter was a smart arse and the town bad boy, in truth I had to save his butt a couple of times for Lauren but he was a nice kid. He just had a hot temper.

"Athalia!" She called to me, I ran over in line with her while the woman took her blood, then Hunter's than mine. I cringed as I heard another child wail, I quickly walked off with them.

"May the odds be ever in your favour." I mumbled and Lauren smirked, Hunter did too.

I saw Katniss and Peeta the victors from our district in the lines behind us. I stared at my feet as I reached my line. A new woman with green hair and the most bizarre colours on her face stepped out with a smile plastered over her face.

"Welcome! To this year's reaping! Today the capitol will select one fine young woman and male to compete in the ultimate sacrifice! Let us start with the fine young women of district twelve!" She announced. Peppie that is what her name was. Rip off of Effie.

She put her hand in the big round bowl and pulled out a single slip of paper. I held my breath as she pulled it out and twirled it around her finger. Ugh just get on with it, I hate how they did that. Dragged it on.

She finally opened it with the polished finger nails and spoke into the micro phone.

"Lauren Whishart!" My jaw dropped and my heart started to ache. I turned to her, her face was pale white as tears started to build up in her eyes. She walked forward pulling her dress down, no. I couldn't let this happen. I pushed through the people as the peace keepers pushed me back.

"No!" I screamed. Lauren turned around to face me and shook her head her green eyes telling me to not do this. How could I not? Her father needed her, Hunter needed her and so did everyone else. She knew what I was about to do.

"I volunteer! Stop, I volunteer as tribute!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. The whole crows turned to me as Peppie smiled broadly.

"We have a volunteer! I just knew it, District twelve you never disappoint! Come up here darling?" She asked me. Lauren ran to me but was being pulled back. Hunter came out grabbing her and wording thank-you to me; I nodded and walked to the stage. The woman's hand was cold as she helped me onto the stage.

"What's your name tribute?"

"Athalia…Athalia Galloway"

"Athalia! I presume the sister of Kaleb Galloway, he was just a handsome devil that one. Well Athalia that was very noble, but don't worry you will not be alone! We have another handsome tribute lined up for you!" She said enthusiastically. She plucked another name out; the crowd were staring at me as Lauren was being dragged away by Hunter. I felt tears spring in my eyes, no I swallowed them. No way was I going to look weak to all of these people.

"Nikkolas Mellark!" I heard the crow gasp. I was expecting that, everyone knew it was a real joy to have the victor's child in the hunger games. I looked over to the eighteen year old boy, his blonde hair shone as he stepped forward.

"Well, this is a turn of events!" She called. He held out his hand to me, he looked about seventeen or eighteen. I was the youngest of both of us. I sighed and shook his hands.

"Give our tributes a round of applause." No one clapped. The kissed there three fingers then held them up at us, Peppie's face tightened but she soon smiled again and walked forward. I found myself moving my lips along with hers.

"And may the odds be ever in your favour."