Disclaimer: Unfortunately, neither of us own The Hunger Games.

A/N: We would like to apologize for any character changes that were made for this chapter.

Chapter One: District One Reaping Day.

Eighteen year Brine Dario walked confidently to the designated section for all boys his age. This was his last year as an eligible contestant for the Hunger Games and this was the year he was going to volunteer. His entire life of training and aspiring all boiled down to this day, this moment, where he would finally take his rightful spot as the district one tribute.

As he walked, he passed the girls section and cringed when he heard the annoyingly high pitched voice of his crazy stalker ex-girlfriend, Keanah Humbler. "Hey Bry Bry!" She screamed as everyone within a four foot radius burst into a fit of giggles at the ridiculous nickname. "I hear you're volunteering this year! That is so incredibly brave of you! Are you nervous? I certainly would be." He just snorted in response, what did he need to be nervous for? He was going to win.

Just as he was about to walk away, she, to his great annoyance, made another attempt at striking up a conversation with him. "Wouldn't it be just so awesome if my name got pulled?" Her entire face lit up at the idea, "I mean, obviously I'm nowhere near as brave as you, and I'd never volunteer, because let me tell you that takes guts, but if I was picked, then I certainly wouldn't complain. Then we could be partners and work together through the games and all of Panem we see how incredibly in love we are and wouldn't that just be so romantic?" Brine Dario had never been scared of anything in his life before, but looking into the crazed eyes of his ex, he finally got a taste of what real terror felt like. Just the thought of being in the games with her made him feel sick. She would be such a liability, with all of that talking she did, he would probably have to kill her within the first five minutes of the game, not that he minded really.

Quickly, he walked away before she had the chance to continue. As he walked he saw in the corner of his eye's a very pregnant girl laughing, no doubt at what had just happened to him. He glared at her and made his way to his section just in time for the reapings to start.

"Welcome all," said their district escort, "to the reaping of the 28th annual Hunger games! I'm sure you're all excited to see who's going to have the honor of participating this year, but first, a couple words from your mayor."

The mayor stood in the center of the stage, behind the podium and smiled at the crowd. He gave the same speech as he did every year which was a very long speech that included the entire history of Panem and the games and how excited he was that this year our district had another chance to gain the honor of having the winning tribute and blah blah blah. No one ever listened and this year was to exception. The guy next to him wasn't even attempting to appear as though he was paying attention. He was shuffling his feet back and forth, periodically glancing nervously at the girls section. Maybe this guy had a crazy stalker ex like he did.

As he continued to stare mindlessly forward, he felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned around to see his best friend, Mack Stevonson, staring at him anxiously, "I hear you were planning on volunteering this year, is it true?" he nodded and his friends' anxious expression turned into a furious one. "How could you volunteer? You promised me that you wouldn't. You promised!" He whispered angrily at him as Brine just stared at him, giving no response. "Know that if you do volunteer, then we are done. You'll have nothing, no one to come back to if you win."

"When I win." Was his only reply.

"And now," the escort yelled into the microphone, "it's time to select our tributes." She stepped in front of the two enormous glass bowls that contained the names of every kid from the ages of thirteen to eighteen in it. "Ladies first?" She asked with a chuckle even though there was nothing funny about the situation. "And the 28th, female tribute is...Keanah Humbler!" There was an excited squeal from the girls section as she began to walk forward, but before she could make it to the stage, another girl stepped forward, the same pregnant girl that had laughed at Brine earlier, and yelled two words that shocked the entire district.

"I volunteer!" The guy standing next to Brine noticeably tensed, it was obvious that he knew the girl. Keanah was clearly upset that someone volunteered but willingly walked back her spot, only stopping to blow a kiss at Brine.

"Well," the escort said, "Isn't this...interesting." she stammered as she pulled out a small cellular phone. "Just give me one moment to take in all of this...excitement." Everyone watched as she talked quietly on her phone for several minutes, obviously distressed. "I'm so sorry for that rude interruption. Now, where is our volunteer? Yes, there you are, why don't you come join us on stage and introduce yourself, yes?"

Every eye was on Tirzah de Lune as she slowly waddled to the stage, hand on her swollen belly. She had no regrets what-so-ever of her decision, she wanted this. As she walked pass the boy's section she saw him her old boyfriend, the one who left her when he learned about her pregnancy. He was starting at her, desperately trying to make eye contact, but she just walked on, never once glancing at him.

She climbed up onto the stage and introduced herself to all of district one, then took her rightful seat at the back of the stage and waited patiently.

"And now for our male tribute." She put her hand in the bowl and swirled it around, trying to make it look like she was mixing up the names. Then her hand closed on one and she pulled it out. "Our male tribute is...Llyde Haafe!" The guy standing next to Brine looked up, shocked. What a cruel fate awaited him, he wondered as he slowly began to walk to the stage, hoping someone might volunteer.

Back in the crowds, Brine hesitated, just for one minute, thinking about what Mack had said to him. He looked behind him to see that he was still there, just looking at him. He walked up to he best friend and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to do this." He just nodded and looked away. Brine worked his way towards the front of the crowd and yelled, "I volunteer!"

[*]

Brine waited in the room the guards put him in. He knew that this was the room in which he would be saying his final farewell's to all of those who came to say goodbye. The first to walk in were his parents. His mother immediately ran up to him and hugged him. "I love you" she whispered in his ear.

His father came up to him and, not being of the 'touchy-feely' type, shook his hand. "You know I've never supported your decision to volunteer, but I want you to know that I'm very proud of you son. I want you to take this with you into the games as your token." he said as he handed Brine his first ever gold coin that he had earned many years earlier. "Good luck out there." After one more hug from his mother, his parents where escorted out of the room, and Keanah walked in.

Immediately, she ran up to him and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Bry Bry, I'll miss you so much!" she screamed as she began kissing every inch of his face. He tried to push her off, but the attempts were useless, he just stood there waiting for the guards to come and take her away, and thankfully, that didn't take to long. As the dragged her out, Mack walked in.

"Hey." He said softly. "How're you feeling?"

"Alright I guess, I just can't wait for the games to actually start."

"You really think you can win, don't you?"

"Absolutely."

"Good. Because if you don't then I'll have to find a new best friend, and that's too much work for a lazy person." He said with a grin.

"I'll keep that in mind." He walked up to Mack and hugged him, "I'll miss you, man." As they pulled apart, Mack leaned down and kiss Brine softly on the lips.

"Promise me you'll come back?" He whispered, his forehead resting against Brine's.

"I promise." He said as he leaned in for one last kiss. The guards came in and took Mack away and Brine was left alone with is thoughts.

Meanwhile, in a small room down the hall, Tirzah, sat alone in her visiting room, not expecting any visitors. But to her surprise she did have one, Llyde Haafe, her ex-boyfriend.

"What are you doing here?" Tirzah asked, not happy to see his face.

"I don't understand why you did this. It's stupid. You're gonna die in the first few seconds! You're eight months pregnant! You can barely walk!" Llyde exclaimed.

"I'm suprised you even remembered how many months it's been, you haven't seemed to remember how to talk to me."

"You know I'm not ready for this...a baby."

"Well it looks like you won't have to be." Tirzah said without emotion as the guards took Llyde away.

"Is there anyone else that wants to see me?" She asked the guards.

"No miss."

Her parents hadn't come to see her before she died. Old Loki and Sera, always demanding the best of their daughter. No love was ever thrown her way. They had practically exiled her when she got pregnant. Well, they'll be the laughing stock of Panem when a District One girl dies, right away. District One with their finely tuned warriors with no emotion. She's excited to make a laughing stock of her district. Thinking thoughts like that make it easier not to think about the actual death part.

A/N: So? What do you think of the first chapter? Tell us in a review!