Chapter updated: August 23rd, 2016
Hey Guys! This is the first chapter of my first story, The promise of a life! I hope you like it! :) Feel free to Review and/or PM me :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the hunger games. I wish I did, but I don't.
I wake up to crying. Of course she's crying, she's always crying. I slide out of bed and pick up the crying baby from her crib, before she can wake up my mother. Taking a glance at the clock, I sigh to myself: 4:27AM. Wonderful.
Today is reaping day. I should be allowed to sleep in. Last year this time I was in labor– about to give birth. That got me out of the reaping, luckily. So instead of going to the reaping last year, I gave birth to my beautiful baby girl. Yes, she's gotten so much easier over the past year, but it's still hard. I doubt it'll never not be hard.
I head downstairs (after finally getting her to stop crying) to fix myself a mug of hot chocolate and some milk for Trix. "Happy Birthday Trixie," I tell her with a smile. My family and I live in District One, and we've always had a lot of money, so we get to have special Capitolistic things like hot chocolate. Compared to most people in the higher numbered districts, we're very lucky. Trixie lives a comfortable life, and that's what's important to me.
My father works in the Capitol most of the time, so he's back and forth from there and here a lot. But back here, my family owns a very popular jewelry store. Most people from around the district know me from working there part time, so becoming pregnant at sixteen was a pretty huge deal. No one's looked at me the same since I announced it, especially not my own Mother. Too many people automatically assume I'm dirty, a harlot. Even my boyfriend at the time, Trixie's father, shunned me when I told him. I was left with no one supporting me besides from my best friend Carter and my father, who's absent more than he's here.
Me and Carter have been friends forever, since the first day of school. He was held back two grades and was the biggest kid in our class. I remember the teacher was showing us different types of jewels, and she held up a ruby just as Carter had found his way over to me. He started asking me all kinds of questions about my favorite kinds of jewels and I gave him simple answers, telling him my favorite was the ruby. He smiled his still-dazzling smile, and then plopped down into a seat next to me, telling me I was his new friend whether I liked it or not. Of course, me being so tiny at the time would never say no to the biggest kid in class, so we were sworn to be friends from that point on.
Trixie wakes me from my daydream by crying again. Oh no! I grab her up and try my best to sooth her, hoping she won't wake my mother, but by the sounds of the foots coming thumping down the stairs, it's a little too late.
"Shut that damn baby up, Gemma! Dammit!" In moments she's in front of me, hard hand coming in contact with my cheek. Ever since I told her I was pregnant, she became abusive to me – verbally and physically. The smack was hard enough that I nearly fumble over, but I regain my footing, baby still held tight to my chest. "I swear, if you don't do something about that crying I will! I'll bring her to Snow and he'll cut out her tongue!"
My eyes widen because I know she's serious. Her and Snow are friends, I know she wouldn't hesitate to grab my daughter and bring her to him. "Don't you ever talk like that! That's not something to joke about!" My voice is a frantic whisper, eyes hardening into a frightened glare.
She thinks this is absolutely hilarious. She is completely out of herself laughing. "Now, who said I was joking? I'm serious! Shut her up or by the time you get back from the reaping she'll be silent forever." Trixie's stopped crying by this point. I rush up the stairs, leaving my mother with her mouth gaping open. "Excuse me!" she shouts up at me, "Come back here when I'm talking to you!"
I wish dad was here. I sigh to myself. He would never stand for her treating me and Trixie like this, no matter how much 'shame' I bring to the family. He loves Trixie with all of his heart, as much as he loves me. "I'm leaving, I'm done. We're going to stay with Carter." I hear her snort before I slam my door. After gently laying Trixie down and into her crib, I go and grab a suitcase out of my closet to stuff some clothes into. Mine aren't so important- it's Trixie that has a lot to bring. I scramble slightly to get it all, only to realize what's missing is the crib. Shifting her to my bed instead, I do my best to fold it up to bring along.
Rushing to get out, I grab her up to cradle in one hand, slide the folded crib under my arm, and carry the suitcase in the other hand. As soon as I make it to the bottom of the steps, Mother is waiting by the door, arms folded. She looks almost amused. "If you walk out this door right now, you are not welcome back inside my home."
Now it's my turn to snort. As soon as dad comes home he'll have me back here faster than anyone would believe. I'll call him in a few hours, after the reaping. I just push past my Mother and walk out into the darkness. I grab Trixie's stroller that's kept outside once I make it out there and place her in it, shoving the crib on top so I have a hand to push. Carter's house is next.
Once there I pound on his door. He lives alone (luckily), in a tiny house. He's nineteen, so yes; it's a bit of a difference from me being seventeen, but it doesn't make any difference. He's safe from the reaping and it's one less thing for me to worry about. "Carter! Please open up! Please!" It's then that I feel the tears rolling down my cheeks and realize I've started to cry. I pound on the door again, a little more frantic this time.
He finally answers, wearing only his boxers. It's so obvious he was no where near ready to get out of bed and he's still half asleep. Squinting open his eyes, he sees me crying and helps me inside, making sure the baby was okay before anything else. "Whoa whoa whoa! What happen, Gem?"
His arms pull me into him, into his chest, and for half a second I forget about my daughter whose fallen asleep in her stroller, "She kicked me out, Carter. I have nowhere to go. What am I going to do?"
"Shh," He soothes, hand running over my hair. "It'll be fine, Gem. You and Trix can stay here for a while. You shouldn't have to be worried about that, not as long as I have a home here."
Just like always, his words are reassuring and the calm me down. So long as he was alive, someone would always have my back. Again he soothes a hand over my hair, twisting the ends around his finger, and for a moment we stay like this. My cries end up being muffled against his bare skin, and once I'm calmed down enough, I pull away from him. "Thank you, Carter. I can never thank you enough. And I'm sorry, by the way."
"Sorry? For what? It's not your fault," Confusion was obvious in his voice.
I flash my eyes down to his boxers, "For… waking you up?" This time my mouth curves into a grin.
"Oh!" His cheeks turn bright pink, a pink brighter than I've ever seen any boy's cheeks turn, and he lets me go to squirm around the bulky stroller to return to his room. It's only a moment later he's back with plaid pajama pants on, boxers no longer obvious.
"Go back to bed. I'm just going to stay up and make sure she's okay, she hasn't slept well tonight," My voice is soft and I reach up to wipe my nose in my sleeve, simply nodding when he asks if I'm sure. As he turns to go back to his room, I murmur another 'thanks' under my breath, before moving around to crouch in front of the stroller. She's pretty sound, so I take her out gently, moving to sit on the couch. "Well, Trix... this is going to be more of a home to either of us than we had before," She's too sleepy to even hear the words, but they're followed by my quiet singing to keep her lulled to sleep.
A few hours later, around half past ten, Carter finally comes downstairs. I must look crazy, eyes tired and hair all over the place, because he asks me if I want to shower. I hand over my little one in answer, knowing she'd be safe and sound with him. He loves playing with her, and he can take care of her well enough. His family has more money than ours, with his uncle and cousin being a victor, so he doesn't even have to work.
After I'm looking suitable enough, and the three of us have full bellies, we head off to the reaping. It's not actually that scary in my district, because there's usually always someone that volunteers. I take Trixie to the seventeen year old section with me. I don't want to leave her, she calms me.
Our Escort walks onto the stage. I recognize her; she was one of our customers once, straight from the Capitol. She was one of the ones that didn't treat me any different when she found out I was pregnant, if anything was excited. "Welcome District One!" She says in her fake Capitol accent, wasting no time. "Isn't this such a lovely district? Let's get on with picking our wonderful tributes for this years games, shall we?"
I grip Trixie tighter, as if someone's going to come and take her away from me. The male tribute is announced first, just like always. "Hunter Mason!" A tiny guy, no older than twelve years old, bursts out crying and makes his way to the stage. I feel bad. She calls for volunteers, and a big group of guys race to the front to come to little Hunter's rescue.
"I'm Ky Green and I volunteer!" The first one to the stage is a big guy. He's really attractive, you can nearly see our Escort's insides melting. His arms are pure muscle and I picture them snapping someone's neck. He scares me.
Our escort squeals in delight, acting as every female in the audience is feeling. "Wonderful! This is going to be so exciting! Now our female tribute! Emma Sto!" I let out a breath I've been holding, relieved. "Is there an Emma Sto here?" She looks around, and no one moves. What happens if the tribute just doesn't walk onto the stage? Would they be dragged up? "Oh!" her voice cuts through my thoughts and I look up; she's bright pink. "I'm sorry! My mistake! The female tribute is Gemma Stone!" I can't react, my body frozen still, apart from the fact that I'm holding my baby tighter. Don't panic, someone will volunteer.
When I see peacekeepers starting to move, I know I have to go to the stage, and a little path is cleared among the other girls for me. Don't panic, someone will volunteer. Don't panic, someone will volunteer. Don't panic, someone will volunteer. I hear gasps coming from the audience, so I turn to look at them. I then realize I'm holding Trixie, and that's what they're shocked about.
"Are there any volunteers?" No one moves. Please. Please, I have a little daughter. I'm shouting in my head. How could no one volunteer when there's a baby in my arms? "Looks like there are no volunteers! You're Gemma, correct?" I nod silently. "And who is this?" She nods in Trix's direction.
"This is Trixie, my daughter." I say in barely a whisper. Any louder and I'm scared my voice will crumble into tears.
"Well well well… that is just too bad! The odds were certainly not in your favourite this year!" she turns back to the audience, "Looks like that's it for the reaping for District One! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Ky shakes my hand before very gently rubbing Trix's. For a big guy, he seems very gentle, and he smiles at both of us as we're lead off the stage. Maybe he isn't so bad.
I can't seem to move. As soon as Ky disappeared from view, it's as if everything crumbled inside of me. I fall to the ground, clutching my baby and crying. At least if I die, she won't remember me enough to miss me. Peacekeepers come and grab my arms, barking at me to move before they have to use force. "Don't touch me, don't touch me! I'll move! Stop!" My voice is a strangled wail I don't recognize, and they let go, waiting for me to willingly follow.
They push me into a room, and my body finds a couch before I collapse onto the floor. I'm surprised Trixie hasn't cried throughout this whole time. Carter bursts into my room, rushing over to me. He's my only visitor, so I spend the hour with him. "She's going to kill her, Carter," I manage to spit out between sobs. Despite knowing I'm about to enter an arena filled with horrors beyond what I can imagine, the little piece of life in my arms is the only thing I can be worried about at the moment. Dying without knowing she's safe would be the cruelest torture imaginable.
"What! Who?" He cradles me into his chest, much like I'm doing to Trixie.
"My mother. She told me this morning she would take her to President Snow, and- and-" I can't finish it, I break down in sobs. I'm a sputtering mess.
"Sh, Gemma. It's okay. I promise you she won't touch her. Okay? I'll keep Trixie with me until you get home." His words are so final, as if he already knows I'm going to come home a victor, a murderer.
I look up at him, "I'm not going to come home, though, Carter."
"Yes you are. You aren't just fighting for your life Gemma. You're fighting for hers too. You need to pretend you can't do anything, then show them all in the arena, okay? Don't show them what you can do. Fake it." His words are a rushed whisper and I know what he's saying. I've been training for the games as long as I can remember, until my belly started to show, and it was to hard to move around. Then I stopped. But I remember everything, I know how to fight. If I could play the hopeless mother character, the girl that had never trained before and just wants to be home, then maybe I could take people by surprise and have a chance.
"I'll try-"
"No. Not good enough. I want you to promise me you'll come home, Gemma."
"Fine. I promise."
Then he does the unimaginable. Carter kisses me. He kisses me! I kiss him back, of course, almost as if my life depended on it. "You need to. Not just for Trix, but for me. I'm in love with you, Gem. I always have been."
This brings on a whole new round of tears for me, and I hug him and tell him I love him too. Perhaps we were always meant to be, since that very first day he sat himself down beside me. He pulls away from me to instead empty the contents of his pocket. It's a necklace with a ruby on the end of it, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. "Oh… Carter." I don't know what to say.
He smiles and places it around my neck. The ruby is in the shape of a heart. "I was going to give it to you for your birthday, but now's a better time, I think. Take it as your token?"
"Of course! I love it. Thank you so much Carter."
Then a peacekeeper comes in the door and says it's time to leave. I kiss Trixie's head, promise her I'll come home to her and that I love her before painfully handing her to Carter. He's almost out the door when he turns around, "I'll see you soon, okay?"
I smile a true smile that I haven't shown in ages, "I'll see you soon." Then he's gone, and I'm not sure if I'll see him again.