Hey guys! It's me and today I'll be writing my first Hunger Games FanFic! Make sure to check out my other stories as well as my profile! Thanks so much!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES

I wake up, my eyes squinting at the bright morning sun that streams through my window. I am scared. What will happen today?

My name is in there forty-something times. My still-sleepy brain has no idea how many. I look at the time and groan. Time to wake up.

I roll out of bed and walk to the baths. I take an ice cold bath and emerge shivering, three towels wrapped around me in an attempt to get warmer. I look through my drawers for some clothes and pull out my best shirt and pants.

Today's the Reaping and I must look my best.

I pull them on and struggle to dry my hair with the already wet towel. Finally I give up and run a comb through it. The sun will dry it.

It's still early so I run outside and into the woods, ready for a little bit of hunting before the horrors that await me later on. I run and run and then I see her.

Katniss Everdeen.

Gorgeous, beautiful, amazing Katniss Everdeen.

My best friend. Nothing more.

She aims her bow at a poor deer and I take pity on it. "What are you going to do with all of that meat?" I ask loudly, scaring her and causing her to miss her aim. She swears at me angrily but I just chuckle.

"Gale! I almost had it! Do you know how long it's been since I've seen one of those?" she pummels me with her fists but I grab them gently and put them down at her sides. I pick up a rock and throw it at a tree and she immediately spins around and lets an arrow fly. She hits a bird and we both laugh.

How cruel we are.

But hunting is the only way to survive around here.

She grabs her catch and I leave her, ready to go home and get prepped. We part ways, her to the Black Market, and me towards home. We don't look back. We'll see each other soon.

I file in with the rest of the boys my age. Men, really, now that we're both eighteen. I take a deep breath. It's my last year. One more Reaping and I'll be safe. I follow a boy in blue dress clothes in front of me until we reach the arena and see the platform. I stand in my row and search the crowds for Katniss. There's Prim. Her first year. I am praying for her as well as myself and Katniss.

All of a sudden, Katniss's black braid comes into view and my heart starts to beat a little faster, no matter how hard I try to stop it. She looks at me and I stare back. We don't smile. Not yet. Nobody should smile too much today.

Then the video starts. "War, terrible war," I mouth to Katniss. She offers a little grin at that but only a little. I feel comforted in lightening the mood and turn to the video that they show every year. It explains the Hunger Games and why we have it.

Finally, it's over. Well, that's my last time seeing it. Never again will I have to watch that Godforsaken video.

A tall woman wearing an outrageously put together outfit and a tall curly blonde wig steps up to the platform. "Happy Hunger Games!" she says with over enthusiasm. "And may the odds be ever in your favor!" She walks across the stage and says, "Ladies first."

She shakes the glass ball with the tons of slips of papers and slowly reaches her hand in with her lavishly painted fingernails. She picks one and then drops it and then moves her hand around. Finally, she grabs one near the bottom and takes it back to the microphone in the center of the stage.

She carefully unfolds the paper and reads the name. She clears her throat. The crowd is silent.

"Primrose Everdeen."

No.

It can't be.

Not Prim.

Katniss! I look to Katniss who looks shocked. I look around for Prim and I see her slowly walking up to the stage. She fixes the back of her shirt as she walks and her braids swing in the sunlight.

All of a sudden, Katniss jumps to life.

"No! No! Prim! Prim!" She grabs her sister's arm and stands in front of her. "No!" Peacekeepers start to walk towards her and grab her from behind. She fights them and screams,

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

A hush fills the crowd. Katniss walks up to the stage and Effie takes her by the arm. "Oh dear. Our first Volunteer." Down below, I hear Prim screaming for Katniss. My heart aches for her. And for Katniss.

Oh my God. Katniss is up there.

I want to do something but there is nothing I can do. All of a sudden, I think to myself, Please call my name. Please.

Effie asks Katniss for her name and Katniss's voice is strong. I'm proud of her all of a sudden. A tear rolls down her cheek but her face is otherwise void of emotion.

Effie takes a deep breath and says, "And now for the boys." She walks to the opposite end of the stage. Katniss still stands in the center, her gray eyes stoic.

Effie has a slip of paper and she walks back. I cross my fingers and pray for something I've always wanted the exact opposite of.

"Our male tribute from District 12 is… Peeta Mellark."

The crowd turns to look at a blonde, rather short boy with a cleft chin and blue eyes. I hate him. I hate him.

I know what I have to do. Peeta starts to walk up the stage, his eyes unfeeling and his face a mask of calm. I step forward. I take a deep breath.

And I scream, "I volunteer as Tribute!"

Please R&R! Thanks!

Malaynamonkey2004

(this is based on the movies but FF only has a book fandom)