Hello everyone! So, this is the first chapter of Common Sense after I edited it (although I changed quite a bit so it's probably kinda different).

So yeah, it's longer than this chapter originally was (by 1,000 words or so) and hopefully it's not worse than the original chapter was :s

Anyway, I'm going back to my hobbit hole to finish editing the rest of these bad boys.

Chapter 1 - Reapings and Goodbyes

"Does she have to do this every time?" Cora mutters, grunting shortly at the end, presumably after being hit by a stray elbow from one of the less coordinated girls in District Three. Chances are that she's just talking to herself (wouldn't be the first time I caught her foul mouthing the purple-haired escort), but the way we're packed so tightly together has her positioned so that she's uncomfortably close and her mouth is right at my ear, making it almost impossible for me to distinguish whether or not her comment was directed at me.

Harley, however, has no qualms about whether she's interrupting an important mental conversation. "She has to," she replies, somewhat snarky. "I mean it's not as though anyone's going to volunteer because getting viciously murdered on television sounds fun."

"Although that would be an interesting turn of events," I chime in.

Cora's head snaps around to mine and even though I try to keep my eyes focused on the Capitol escort droning on about the honour winning The Games would bring to our district and families, I can feel my friend's icy eyes drilling holes in my head. "Adelina Herene, are you implying that you want someone to volunteer?"

I shrug. "Why not?" This time I turn to my friends. Cora looks shocked, like I've just unveiled a plan to actually volunteer for these games. Harley, on the other hand, looks to be seriously considering the option. "At least they would actually want to be in the games," I hurry to validate my opinion. "It's better than some twelve year old being picked again. I mean, they really don't stand a chance."

I mentally slap myself for my words when I see Harley's face pale. I turn to take back my words, but I'm interrupted by the high pitched squeal of the microphone at the centre of the stage.

"Ahem, well then," Seraphina Sentel says, mostly to herself as she attempts to singlehandedly fix the height of the microphone stand, causing yet another loud squeak of protest to burst from the speakers. To her credit, most appliances in District Three, having been built from the parts not sent to the Capitol, never work properly, and Seraphina hadn't given up and tried throwing the microphone off the stage in a fit of rage yet, so she's doing pretty well considering. Graciously giving up on what we could all tell was a losing battle, she leans down to compensate for the stands low height, clasps her hands together and her smile becomes ever brighter as she says the words we were all hoping (in complete and utter vain) that she'd forget about."Are you ready to find out who your female tribute is?" she asks in a way that's supposed to make people cheer in response. Of course, none of us give her the satisfaction, though I can faintly hear a girl a few rows behind me giggling, most likely at the way her purple hair is piled up on top of her head causing her to resemble one of the Capitol delicacies I've seen in promo photos for the build-up to The Games.

"Oh, shut up!" Cora not-so-quietly reprimands the giggling girl, causing a few smiles, even one from Harley who has spent the most part of the day worrying herself sick about the outcome of the day even though, out of the three of us, Cora has the highest chance of being picked, her younger sister, Jenna, recently turned twelve and has been entered in The Reaping this year.

"Cheer up Cora," I nudge her lightly, trying my best to keep my voice low so as not to attract the attention of the Peacekeepers. "A little fun doesn't hurt right now."

Cora turns her attention to Harley, her expression softening slightly, but the sympathy is gone in a second when she elbows me in ribs and gestures to the stage, where I turn my attention just in time to watch as Seraphina dips a perfectly manicured hand into the raffle, taking her time, keeping us all on the edge for as long as possible. Finally she picks out a piece of paper, unfolds it and pauses, a slow smile forming on her purple lips that seems to say 'I've got a secret and I can't wait to tell you all about it' andreads aloud in her crisp voice the words that I've been dreading to hear:

"Adelina Herene."

My whole body freezes, there's a brief moment when I look around desperately; hoping that Seraphina will announce that it was a mistake, or that there's another girl by the name of Adelina Herene somewhere in the crowd.

But after a few, long seconds of complete silence, it becomes painfully obvious that I'm the only one Seraphina could be talking about. I spare a quick, desperate look at my friends. Harley's grip on my arm has loosened considerably, like she's just waiting for me to disappear, and Cora's not even looking at me, glaring daggers at Seraphina instead.

I can feel all eyes on me as I make my way slowly up to the stage. Many display looks of pity, there's the occasional smile or two as they silently celebrate their safety for yet another year is confirmed. There are some faces that I recognise from school, people who I see every day, occasionally sit next to in class, I can see their faces slowly transform from relief to sympathetic as they catch my gaze. As I walk up the steps to the stage I try not to look at Seraphina, who's usual bright and cheery smile just seems vicious and predator-like, the way a murderer would smile as they catch their victim who was so close to escape.

I try and stay as still as possible while I wait as Seraphina begins the painstakingly process to pick the male tribute again. My eyes are flickering between the crowd again, searching desperately for a familiar face before settling on Cora and Harley's faces. I feel anger bubbling in the pit of my stomach at the sight of them. While, of course, I'd hate for them to risk their lives for me, but couldn't they have shown some open sign of sadness? After all we have known each other since we were five. If one of them were chosen I would've been on the verge of volunteering myself. I'm so caught up in this idea that I miss the name of my fellow tribute, only snapping back to reality in time to see a skinny boy, maybe a year or two younger than me, make his way up to the stage. He trips on the wooden stairs on the way up, and even though no one laughs I can see his face is bright red. He won't meet my eyes or anyone else's but he's probably fighting back tears, the way I so desperately want to.

I wonder how he'll die in the arena. Maybe he'll fall out of his hiding place and get ripped apart by vicious Careers. I hastily look away from the boy, trying to shake the awful image of his throat torn out, the way one of the Victors from District Two did to her last victim years ago.

Oh shit, don't cry, don't cry now. I bite my lip and close my eyes, trying to wash out my surroundings and Seraphina's droning voice as she asks for any volunteers and is, of course, met with complete silence. You can cry later, but not here and not for him.

My eyes snap open when Seraphina clears her throat and looks at me pointedly. With a jolt I shake the boy's outstretched hand and give him a weak, shaky smile which is meant to be reassuring. I don't think it looks very positive.

Both The Boy and I sit in complete silence as a Peacekeeper walks us down the quiet hallway to the rooms where we'll say our last goodbyes. The Boy seems to be holding back tears and I'm trying to produce them. I haven't felt the need to cry since we were hurried away from the stage and the watchful eyes of our district members. In a way I envy him. The way that he's already come to terms with this, he'll be able to make the most of his goodbyes, while I'll end with a simple hug and leave so many things unsaid.

We stop so suddenly that I almost walk straight into the Peacekeeper. He opens the door immediately to out left and gestures for me to walk inside. "Wait here," he tells me before shutting the door behind him.

The room that I'm given is large, but extremely bland and boring with pure white walls and carpet with a couch and small, round coffee table holding a small box of tissues, as the only items of furniture. No window. I guess they don't want to risk me jumping out. I sit on the couch and wait for the parade of tears that I know will overcome me soon. Most likely in public where I don't want them to be seen.

"Ada!" Cora's voice makes me jump in shock. I didn't even hear her open the door. Cora is one of the only people who call me by my full name instead of my much preferred nickname, so hearing her call me by it gives me a surprise. The look on her face causes any feelings of anger towards her to fade.

"Cora," I say as she runs across the room to wrap in a ferocious hug.

"I'm so sorry," she tells me, not loosening her grip. Cora's never been one for open displays of emotion (or emotions that weren't annoyance or anger), so her new persona astonishes me.

Because she thinks that this is the last time she'll see you, a small, unwelcome voice reminds me. She wouldn't be this way if she thought you had a chance at coming back.

I ignore the pessimistic voice and focus on my friend. "Hey, what are you sorry for? It's not your fault," I soothe a she releases her grip on me and grabs a tissue, dabbing at her dry eyes.

"I know, I know." Her voice is thick with emotion as she crunches the tissue into her hand and slumps down on the couch, dragging me down with her. "But – " she cuts off abruptly and looks at me. "Oh God, I'm sorry. This isn't about me. How are you feeling? Are you okay? Worried? Scared? It's okay to be scared, I would be too if I were going to die-"

"Oh gee Cora, thanks for the vote of confidence," I interrupt her. I mean it as a joke but her face pales and she looks ready to burst into real tears this time.

"No, I didn't mean it like that!" she protests, half scolding, and I almost smile because she's half back to normal.

I never find out how Cora did mean it because at that moment Harley entered, red faced and panting like she'd just run a marathon.

"Ada!" She exclaimed as she made her way over to our spot on the couch, squeezing between me and Cora to give me a (somewhat sweaty) hug. "I came here as fast as I could," she told me. "Jenna wanted to go home so I had to find Mom and then run over –"

"Harley, relax. Cora hasn't even been here for a minute, you're not late." I laugh weakly.

Like Cora, Harley ignores any attempt at optimism and goes straight for the upsetting truth. Unlike Cora, Harley isn't good at not-crying. "It's not fair," she mumbles, burying her face into my shoulder while I wrap my arm around her shoulder. "It's just not fair."

"I know but," I pause here, taking a moment to wonder what the most suitable thing to say would be. "That's just what happens sometimes. You gotta live with what you got."

Except for the living part, cause chances are I'll be dead within a week.

Harley looks up at me, oddly serious. "And you will. Live that is." She wipes her eyes with her sleeve and takes a few deep breathes, though I can see she's still trying not to cry. "Listen to me very carefully Adelina Herene," she tells me. "You are not going to die. You will find a way to win or I will find a way to bring you back from the dead so I can kill you myself."

I grin, but I wish she hadn't sat up because right now I need a hug more than ever. "In that case,
I try to keep my voice light, "I'll try my hardest. Just for you, Harls."

"No." This time it's Cora who speaks, her voice hollow, like she's trying to convince herself as well as me. "Trying isn't good enough. Trying is just an excuse. You have to actually come home."

"Don't worry you guys," I reach around Harley and punch her lightly in the shoulder. "You know me, I'll be back to annoy you in no time. I promise." Harley nods slowly, like it's a valid promise, though we both know that it can't be done. Like when I was younger and promised them that I'd find a way to get rid of The Hunger Games when I twelve, so none of us would have to go to another reaping.

Cora looks disappointed. "I think your Grandma wants to see you now," she says, standing abruptly.

I nod and follow her up, pulling a reluctant Harley off the couch and into one last hug. "I'll miss you," I mumble into her shoulder.

"Hey, save the sappy stuff for my funeral," Harley tries to choke out a smile as she pulls away. "Just..." Harley trails off, twisting her hands together awkwardly, like she's trying not to hug me one last time, "Come back."

I don't bother giving her false reassurances, instead watching in silence as she leaves. I turn, prepared to say my farewell to Cora, but she's already left. I figured she'd do something along those lines. She never was one for emotional stuff like this. In a way I'm glad. This way I don't have to see her cry.

I wait silently for a moment for my next visitor, after a while when no one appears I stand up and walk as close to the door as I can without raising suspicion from the Peacekeeper guarding me.. "Grandma?" I call as I peer out of the door. "You can come in now."

She walks in a few seconds later, her walking stick looking like it's there for fashion, rather than her inability to walk without it. I can't help the small smile spreads across my face when I see the woman who practically raised me. Unlike Cora and Harley, Grandma doesn't say anything. The room is filled with a peaceful silence that brings the reality of the situation crashing down on me. She doesn't cry like Harley or Cora, but instead engages me in a fierce hug with strength that I didn't know that her frail bones possessed. It's when I see her that I finally break down.

I don't know how long we stand there, me leaning down on her shoulder and crying my heart out, but it's exactly what I needed from her.

"Don't cry," is the first thing that she says to me. Her voice is steady as she pats my head soothingly. "You just need to be strong Adelina. You're smart, remember that, you can find a way to get out."

Oh God, she's going to be all on her own, seems to be all I'm capable of thinking. I'm the last one she has left, and I'm leaving her.

"I'm going to die." I mumble, a statement of fact, before pulling away from her shoulder. "Grandma, I'm going to die." I can feel my voice break at the end, hysteria creeping in.

"Oh hush, don't talk like that." Grandma scolds wiping away the tears from my eyes. I notice that she doesn't deny it.

A sharp knock on the door from the Peacekeeper outside signals the end of our time. Quick as lightning, my Grandma pulls me back down to her height. "You be strong Adelina," she tells me, grabbing my hand and discreetly passing me something wrapped in cloth before giving me a final nod of approval and leaving.

As the door closes behind her I just manage to pick up the rest of what she was saying.

"You'll do good."

I suppose that 'doing good' is the best that I'll be able to hope for.