Chapter 1: District 12
(A/N): Thanks for taking the time to read! This is the first crossover fanfiction I'm doing and I would really appreciate feedback! I was as original as possible doing this, neither referring to the Hunger Games storyline nor other Glee/Hunger Games crossover fanfictions. Hope you enjoy! Read, Review, Follow! Oh, and I included Ryder (Blake Jenner who won the Glee Project Season 2) in the fic. You'll see if he's a main character or not ;) Most importantly, have fun!
P.S: I may not be able to post regularly, my major exams are coming soon but I'll definitely post after that! And there will be a time span from 30 Nov to 9 Dec that I will be overseas, so no posting then too!
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, nor do I own The Hunger Games. If I did… Hehehe
The cool breeze found its way through the streets of District 12, making the District cooler than it usually was. It was the night before the reapings. Before District 12's escort would dip their hand into two bowls and pull out a name from each, before two unfortunate tributes from District 12 would be forced into the Hunger Games to face certain death. As like every year, the teenagers of District 12 roamed the streets, enjoying whatever they could before they would face the possibility of being reaped. No one wanted to spend their (possible) last night in District 12 weeping. They preferred to enjoy whatever they still had. Of course, they made sure not to cause too much of a ruckus and alert the peacekeepers. They could kill whenever and whoever they wanted. Some teens still celebrated grandly though, to the extent of buying a whole loaf of bread from the Mellarks' bakery. As did 4 friends that solemn night.
"So… The 67th Hunger Games already, huh… I still remember watching some scenes from the 2nd Quarter Quell when I was 1 years old… Time sure flies." remarked the only girl in the group, Rachel Berry, in an attempt to start up a conversation. Her usually long, flowing hair was tied into a bun that night, and like every other girl in the District she wore a simple dress. Her big doe eyes stared daggers at the three men in front of her, almost seeming to chide them for not replying her immediately.
"Oh, uh, yeah, Rachel. Sorry for zoning out. I guess we're all just too occupied with the fact that after tomorrow, we will never have to worry about getting reaped again. We are 18 after all. We're free men after tomorrow!" exclaimed Rachel's next-door-neighbour Ryder, until he met the glare in her eyes. "Oh fine, free men and women after tomorrow" he continued with a slight laugh. Ryder was probably the only guy in the group who was willing to snap out of his thoughts to answer Berry, and like every other guy in the District, he wore a checkered shirt tucked into a pair of jeans.
"That ain't true man. We still have to worry about our children in the future, and our grandchildren too." came the pessimistic reply from Azimio. He may have looked like a hardcore troublemaker on the surface, but underneath, he was just another normal, vulnerable boy with weaknesses. Still, make him mad and he'd clobber you.
"Which is why I've decided to be a bachelor in the future!" was the impulsive response from the fourth member in the clique, Noah Puckerman, as a joke. His real name was Noah, but everybody simply called him Puck. He liked it that way as well; he felt 'Puck' was a more badass name. He and Azimio may have had many spats, but in the end they still had a great bromance together. Just like how Ryder and Rachel had a brother – sister relationship.
"Are you serious Puck? You've got to be kidding. How could you live your life not settling down with the one you love? Without marrying each other under the blazing sun, in a beautiful chapel? Without staying with your lover where…" – Rachel's voice droned on as the boys looked at each other and sniggered. She was caught up in one of her fantasies again.
The night continued and consisted of them eating, cracking jokes, and light – heartedly asking Rachel to 'shut up and eat her slice of bread' on occasion. They were great friends, and in the end just wanted to enjoy a great meal together. Just as Ryder finished his last bite, he felt a tiny, gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked to his left to see Rachel looking sorrowfully at him.
"Ryder… What if I get reaped tomorrow? What if one of you guys and I get reaped tomorrow? I don't want to get reaped, when I'm so close to escaping that wretched ceremony, and especially not with you guys. How could any of us kill each other..?" whimpered an insecure Rachel, tears welling up in her brown eyes.
"Hey, hey, don't worry about that Rachel. All four of us never once applied for tesserae, so we have the minimum number of reaping votes. 7, that's all. I heard that there's a boy in the District – John was his name, I think – he has 10 family members including himself, and he applied for tesserae for all of them. He's been extremely lucky for the past 6 years, but tomorrow he'll have 77 reaping votes. So don't worry, the odds are in our favour. It's our last possible reaping," Ryder consoled Rachel, a supportive smile plastered on his face. His words seemed to ignite hope in Rachel, for she began to smile and took her final bite of bread. Puck and Azimio just continued to quietly eat, both secretly also having the same questions in mind as well, in actual fact.
After a few more light conversations, the troop decided to call it a day and headed home. Rachel Barbara Berry flopped on her bed after having said good night to her dad and daddy, Hiram and Leroy Berry. Both her dads had never been reaped, and she was thankful for that. She didn't know how they would have turned out had they survived the Hunger Games. A fate worse than death? While some victors were fine, Rachel had heard stories of other victors who destroyed their lives after the games; becoming alcoholics, attempting suicide, becoming mentally unstable and the list goes on. She would have hated to see either of her dads in that state. Deciding to get enough beauty sleep for tomorrow, Rachel eventually allowed herself to drift off to sleep.
"Tomorrow," she thought to herself mid-drift.
Noah Puckerman headed straight to his room after the outing. As usual, after tucking his mother into bed and kissing her good night, he simply took off his checkered shirt and jeans and literally pounced on his bed without bathing. Water was scarce in the District and he needed to conserve what little his family had for surviving. Clad in his white singlet and boxers, he let wild thoughts run through his mind. The 67th Hunger Games was tomorrow. Oh, how he hated the games so much. After all, they took his father away in the 58th Hunger Games and made his mother go mad. He still recalled watching it on the TVs at home and school when he was 9 years old, as the peacekeepers had forced everyone in the District to watch it.
His father had made allies with the careers, having impressed them with his brute strength when he scored an 11 during the assessment with sponsors. Or so he thought. Just four days into the games, when it was down to the final 9, they saw him as a weak link and the leader of the careers decapitated him. That scene had replayed in Puck's mind every day at least once since then. Sure, the careers in those games were eventually killed off, and if Puck remembered correctly the girl from district 4 (Hollow Holiday, or something like that) was crowned Victor, but Puck still felt a sense of hatred - towards the Capitol, towards the other districts, towards the games… Towards a lot of things actually. But Rachel was always there to comfort him. She was his best friend, ever since they were 5. She knew him inside out, as did he for her. Puck shuddered at the possibility of being reaped with her.
"If that happens," he mumbled to himself mid-drift of sleeping, "I'd kill everyone until we were the final 2. I'd tell her what a great friend she's been to me. And then I'd kill myself."
(A/N): So what do you think? Review and give me feedback, thanks! And if you really like it, share with your friends! By the way, I have another fic, it's an interactive fanfictional Glee Project Competition. Check it out, I would really appreciate it if you contribute contenders as well for me to start the fic competition! Thanks! :D