Hi there! Ugh, I tried so hard on this, but I'm not sure about my writing. I'm sorry if it seems to go so fast..

Disclaimer: I don't own Hunger Games, that's quite obvious xD But I wish I did

I lifted the net, my thin arms struggling under the weight. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Karnel frown, his eyebrows bunching together. He's my boss, I guess you can say. I give him fish, and he gives me money. It was a simple trade. Sometimes I wish I could just keep the fish though, but we weren't allowed too. I always found it very unfair, seeing as we had a lot of resources of water and we couldn't even use it. Some people, like me, were the reason why the Capitol has fish in the first place. We got it for them.

I looked back at Karnel, who was just about to sit in his old and rickety lawn chair that he always kept around. He looked the same as usual, with his deep wrinkles etched into his skin from all the time he spent in the sun. And the light grey hair that was slowly turning white at the roots of his slimy temple. It isn't exactly like he's cruel, he's definitely much nicer than some folks I could mention. But, then again, he isn't exactly very willing to give. He was always ripping others off whenever he had the chance.

He had just opened a bottle and it was already practically drained in a few gulps. A few drops dribbled down his carved face. Then, as if he knew I was watching, he turned towards me and stared through crooked, narrowed eyes. "Let me count the fish," he grunted, rubbing his chin with his sweaty palm. "You never do it right."

I bit back a retort and clenched my hands harder onto the stringy net. I wished I hadn't, because it was already digging into my skin. I took a breath. "I need to get it out first," I answer back, a bit frostily, but I forced it too sound more polite. Didn't he realize how hard this was to lift for a fifteen year old girl? Not to mention a girl who could pass as a twelve year old one. At least there seemed to be a lot of fish stuck in it. The more fish, the more money. The only good thing about working for.

"Well then, hurry up!" snapped Karnel impatiently, throwing out his legs and standing up. Walking over to where I was, he came to a abrupt halt and stood facing me sternly. "If you can't lift it, don't bother coming back, you hear?."

I stiffled a growl and made sure my tongue was in check. I couldn't afford to get into trouble; I needed the money for my family unlike most people here. Mostly, families were rich, or at least had some decent pay, but I was one of those few that weren't. And everyone knew that. But honestly, I can't loose this job, especially since fishing is all I've known since the day I was born. Well, here in district four, almost everyone knows how to fish by the time they could walk. But still, this was the only job that I could do properly.

Summoning the last of my strength, I finally pulled the net up. It took some time, and by the time I was done, my upper arms were trembling and there was a sharp pang in my chest every time I tried to breathe. I thumped it on the ground, watching all the caught fish wriggle like worms. If only I could take them all with me, I thought sourly. They could've fed my whole family for at least a month, considering we only really ate dinner. Unlike some, we skip lunch and sometimes even breakfast. It wasn't always the smartest idea, though.

"Good!" said Karnel, leaning over and snatching it away from me. He dragged them across the dock and brought them farther away from the water. I knew it was only to assure they wouldn't flop back in if they escaped. I saw it happen once. That was one memory I hoped to forget, that's for sure. Karnel poured them on the deck. "Hmm, let's see how many beauties there are. One... two... three... four..." He continued counting them.

"Well, well, thirteen! My lucky number, mmm." Karnel began tossing them back in the net, some of them sliding right through his fingers so that he had to lunge to get them. I bit my lip so I wouldn't burst out laughing. It took a few minutes, but finally he stood up and slung it casually over his shoulder. With one old and blistered hand, he reached into his coat pocket. "Here's your pay, girl. And don't bother coming tomorrow, it's reaping day."

Like I didn't know, I thought sarcastically, itching to roll my eyes at the early sky. I took the money and shoved it down my boot quickly. I didn't bother counting it, I didn't want to waste my breath arguing with the old man that he didn't give me what I should've gotten. He would ignore me anyways.

"I wont," I said, straightening my jacket. "Take care, sir." I waited for him to say something, but he didn't do so, though I believe I caught him nodding once before he slumped back into his chair, the fish cradled in his lap between firm gnarled fingers. Shrugging my somewhat aching shoulders, I turned down the dock and off towards the trail that led to the town. I could at least stop by a shop and get some variety of foods. It is reaping tomorrow, after all. For once, I wanted a decent meal.

I listened to the sound of animals in their natural habitat, the soft whisper of the wind, and the tinkling streams that glistened underneath the blazing sun. As I got further down the winding dirt road, the more and more people I saw. I even tried waving to a few of them that I recognized, but they usually didn't wave back. I don't think anyone would remember a plain thing like me. They're probably wondering who that weird girl was, and why was flapping her hand.

By the time I reached town, my hair was slick with sweat, and my hitched breaths were uneven. I had walked a little more than a mile, and my bones felt of lead. It usually wasn't this hard for me, but the work I had to do for Karnel was tiring. I crossed the paths and sat down outside a shop and tried regaining my energy. My head was pounding so hard that I almost didn't hear my name being shouted.

"Valta!" I didn't look up, but I did hear the footsteps of someone running up to me. I immediately knew who it was and relaxed my tensed muscles. It was my only friend, Tune. Her real name was Tuna, but she didn't like when others called her that. I wouldn't either, if I was named after a fish. I got kind of lucky, and my mother named me Valtameri, which meant Ocean. Pretty meaning, I guess, but the wording? Not really.

"Hey there, Tune," I said, finally looking up and peering at her through half opened eyes. I lifted my hand over my head so that it shaded my face from the light. "How's it going?"

"Hey! Not much, but, you know," she panted, collapsing beside me in a heap. She cracked her knuckles and stretched her legs. I raised an eyebrow and she dramatically fanned herself with short fingers. "What? That had to be five feet I ran!"

I laughed, wacking her shoulder, not wanting to state the fact that if she got tired just for running a few feet, then she could never make it in the games if she tried. Even if she could run, she couldn't. She was a little bigger then most, because unlike me, she didn't have to work to get her food. She had a decent place to live and a nice bed. Me? I sleep on the floor with a few sheets. She didn't know what it felt like to try and survive.

She smiled back, though it looked a little strained. Maybe she was thinking about the games as well? I didn't know. I watched as she tucked strands of her straw-like blonde hair behind her ear.

"So," said Tune, trying to change the subject. "What's with your foot?"

I stared at her in surprise, but I was mostly confused. What about my foot? I looked down, and I suddenly realized. My foot was awkwardly placed at an angle because of the money I stashed inside it. I looked back up at er. "Oh, nothing's wrong with my foot, don't worry. I was just doing my morning work at Karnel's place, and this is the pay he gave me. Actually, I came here to get some things. Maybe bread or something."

"Oh, well, that's good?" Tune said, though it sounded more like a question, as if she wasn't sure if it was okay. "I came up here to get some fresh fish, but then I ran, you know, five feet, into you." Her blue eyes were sparkling with laughter.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back to try and avoid the sun. It wasn't as bright as it was earlier, but I still could feel the heat radiating off my skin. I had a feeling I was going to get a sun burn. My complexion was very pale, and it was hard to get my skin to darken. I hated it. "I wish it would start raining," I muttered mostly to myself. "Free water, huh?"

"True," agreed Tune, wrapping her tanned arms around her knees. She didn't have my skin, fortunately. "But then you can't go down to the docks until it stops."

"Not really," I said as people shot us dirty looks because they were forced to swerve around us. "I could always sneak down but, wouldn't want to risk that, would I? Anyways, I meant that it should rain right now. It's not like I'll be going to Karnel's anytime soon, we've got reaping tomorrow."

"Oh yeah," muttered Tune dryly. "I keep forgeting about that." She played with the string on her green shirt. "Well, more like I don't want to remember. Everyone in school is like, so excited, did you know? They want to be chosen. I feel like we're the only different people in district four."

I didn't say anything even though I completely agreed with her. I did not want to be reaped at all. I didn't want to die, or see others die, just to entertain the Capitol. Like Tune, I would not make it either. Sure, I could swim, I could catch fish, but, take that away and I got nothing at all. I don't have good aim, I don't know much about surviving outdoors, I know nothing. I guess I could hold a heavy weapon after all the nets I had to carry, but that didn't mean I knew how to use one.

"Valta?" questioned Tune, and I snapped out of my thoughts. "What's going to happen? I mean, what's going to happen if one of us are reaped? I know you don't want to think about it, I don't either! But, just say that we are. What will we do? I don't want to die."

Staring into her face, I could see her lower lip quivering. I could see the panic in her eyes. I ignored my fear and summonded sympathy for my friend. She was truely more afraid of the games than I was. It's not like I'm surprised, I always knew she was deathly afraid of, well, death. I also knew talking about it wont help that much, but maybe I could at least give her some comfort. Goodness knows how many times she's comforted me.

"You have nothing to worry about," I said, smiling a bit. "If you were reaped, I'd volunteer for you. In fact, I probably wouldn't need to do so! There's always about four or more people who would."

Tune gave a shaky grin. "Oh yeah, forgot about that too. But, if you were reaped, I'd volunteer for you as well. You're my best friend."

I nodded, uncomfortable. I hated moments like this, and the feeling I always got. If there was one thing I didn't want to talk about, it was this. So I hastily tried to change the subject. "So, what do you think about working with me? Karnel is always looking for helpers, and you could get extra money. Besides, it gets boring with that old man around. It'd be good to have a friend to talk too."

Before I could even finish, Tune was already hunched over laughing, the games forgotten. She clutched her stomach, giggling as if it was the last thing she'd do. "Valta, you are hilarious! But in all honesty, can you imagine me getting a job? You'd have to kill me first!"

Dont' worry, I'm about too, I thought, glaring at her. I don't know how she found that funny, but I was getting really annoyed all of a sudden. Maybe it was from the heat. "You know, it's a very nice feeling knowing you worked for your things then having it given to you like charity, Tune. Besides, you can't not have a job your whole life."

"Yes I can," said Tune, a bit miffled. "Just because you don't have money doesn't mean we all don't, okay? Sorry, I just mean, I have my parents. No, not like that!" She looked at me in horror. "I didn't mean it like that, I swear. I just mean, my parents will always provide for me, that's what parents do, okay?"

At the mention of parents I had stopped listening. And I was angry. I mentally slashed the conversation we had had just before and slowly stood up. "Guess what? Your parents are going to die one day whether you like it or not. What are you going to do then?"

She stood up too. "Nevermind, Valtameri. Nevermind, I'm just going to go home, okay? Go buy your, um, bread or something. I'll get the fish another day..."

"No," I demanded, trying to grab her arm. "Listen, answer my question. What are you going to do then? Listen..."

She slowly shook her head though. "I heard enough. I just want to go home."

"Okay, fine," I muttered, letting go over her hand. I instantly felt guilty. I wasn't really sure what just happened. "See you at the reaping tomorrow?" I watched her go up the road and ignore my question. I felt a moment of anger before I pushed it away. I can't stay mad forever. She wouldn't stay mad. I was her best friend, and she was mine.

I realized I was still staring, stunned. Well, that escalated quickly, I couldn't help but think.

Turning away, I walked into the shop. I felt like my head was in a daze, I wasn't even sure what I was buying. All I knew was that I had already paid the guy, left, and was on my way home. It was a lonely walk, and no matter how hard I tried to forget what Tune said, I couldn't. And I couldn't forget what I said to her, too. Was I being too harsh? Well, I was telling the truth. Her parents won't stay alive forever, mine didn't.

I immediately wished I hadn't thought that. Even though it was years ago, the memory was still fresh in my mind. My mother, she had gotten very desperate and hungry. She needed to feed us, her only family left, so she went to the docks at night and tried catching some fish in her grandmother's small boat. But it didn't go so well. She was caught. They tried stopping her, but mother wouldn't. When they started coming her way, she panicked and dived into the water, never coming back up. Days later, I went to her funeral, staring at an empty casket because they never found a body.

It was worse with my father. After she died he tried providing for us, but he couldn't keep up. He barely got any rest, and he barely got any food. He refused. That's when he got violently sick, and we spent months trying to help him, to take care of him. But once again, he refused. He even said many times that he wanted to die. And I got very angry. He was going to abandon us just like our mother did. I yelled at him for hours, trying to make him toughen up and pull through it...

The next morning I had woken up, and he was dead. I still never forgave myself.

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And I hope you enjoyed!