A/N: This takes place in the early Panem in which there are no 'Hunger Games' nor Government control. This verse is a reality which contains the characters of the 75th Hunger Games and more. Districts exist but symbolise States instead. Please review.
I: PILOT
"This semester will be your hardest. You'll be tested, treated like adults and earn a hierarchy over the rest of the students. Never before have we had an all-District school before. Yet it has been a success and so will you. Being in your second to last year of High-School you will be expected to achieve your goals and work your way into everyday life. So good luck and May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor." The principle of Panems Elite District School, Effie Trinket, beamed. Her purple hair curled out into a high afro, the orange eyeliner and lipstick joined with her exotically colored suite of mango and orange, enough to cause a migraine.
Students who sat before her were of Districts one to thirteen. Only ten were designated from each District to attend this school, given an Official Selection Test. It tested intelligence in Mathematics, English and Science. It tested strength in Sports, Hunting and Weaponry. I tested how much your parents earned. This fairly stated nearly everyone who attended this school had money. Not everyone.
The students sat in front of her where all Eleventh Grade students. All were becoming Monitors, the lowest stage of Prefects. "Now, when the bell rings you will be escorted into Lunch Time. Goodbye." Trinket nodded walking from the Centre stage into the back room.
Once the bell had rung all students stood and row by row, walked out of the hall and outside. It was a bright day, brighter than most days.
A young girl of sixteen; Katniss Everdeen sat by herself as she thought of her Mom and Sister, Prim back in her District. Since she was from a further District she had to sleep in the schools dorm. Districts one, two and three were the only students allowed to go home.
"Hey, Catnip." Gale sat beside her putting his lunch tray on the steps of the hall biting into his burger as he looked at her.
"Hey, Gale." Katniss murmured thoughtfully. She nibbled a chip as she stared at the floor a slight frown in her expression.
"Thinking about District 12 again? Katniss it's nearly the end of the semester. You'll see them in a few weeks." Gale reassured her. They had just got back from a break, every break they came back to be reminded of their position in this school.
"I know. Just pisses me off. Why do they get to go home and we don't?" Katniss had asked this so many times it became rhetorical.
"Ah well. At least we are here." Gale shrugged resting against the wall looking up at the blue sky above them.
"You can't say you don't miss home either. I mean, those days in the woods? Hunting and trading?" Katniss raised a brow. Her and Gale had hunted for fun since they were younger. Katniss's father and Gale's had taught them before they passed.
"Every day." Gale looked down, "But we can't focus on days like that all the time. Things change and this is good for us."
"I guess you are right." Katniss nodded. She looked across the grounds and saw Peeta Mellark a fellow student from District 12. She'd known him from the bakery. She traded with his father of course Peeta knew it. They spoke occasionally but Peeta just didn't fit with her.
"Heads up it's the Careers." Gale nudged Katnis picking up his tray and moving. But he stopped halfway turning to see Katniss hadn't budged. It was typical Katniss always rebellious to the rules. The Careers were the royals of the school. Rich, beautiful, successful and just better than the rest of the students at the school. They all were from Districts one, two and four sometimes from three.
"Hey, Kitty." Cato, the tall, handsome, blonde guy smirked. His intimidating personality showing from the whole ground as people turned and watched. Katniss looked forward and smiled.
"Cato." She muttered casually.
"Don't get comfortable here. It's our spot now. You should know that by now." Cato spoke as if supervising her.
"Not this time it isn't." Katniss stood and looked at the group of the Careers. There seemed to be Freshmen with them the youngest since was Clove who'd recently joined them.
"Ooh. So what is this? A stand against the force?" Cato raised his hands chuckling at her.
"Cato… let's just move. It's only a seat." Glimmer rested her hand on his shoulder looking at him then Katniss. She was a bitch. In Freshman year she pulled Katniss' knickers down when they changed for sports.
"No, Glim. I want to know who the fuck this amateur thinks she is." Cato said firmly looking at Glimmer, who stepped away anxiously, then at Katniss.
"I'm not moving. This is stupid. You don't control anyone in this school. Oh, by the way. I'm Katniss. That's who the fuck I am." Katniss snapped.
"Hm. Interesting, Kitty." Cato tilted his head crossing his arms again as he stared Katniss up and down with hate. Everyone knew he was a dominant character.
"Don't worry, Cato. She'll move." Clove told him walking forward toward Katniss. Mistaking her movements Katniss swung at Clove smacking her to the floor.
"We have it in mind to exclude you from this school after that use of inappropriate behavior! Attacking a student in such a manner! Although, your files show me you are intelligent and a hard worker so you'll be taken to the Quarter Block for the week." Trinket slapped down Katniss' file standing from her hair.
Katniss felt a lump in her throat. The Quarter Block was a detention centre for the students who had done wrong. Miss homework for weeks, fighting, use of offensive language and violence to any staff or the school itself. Sat across the other side of the school in a tall brick building, it was always busy normally with the Career boys who fought a lot to show off their strength.
"I'm sorry. I was just standing up for myself. Maybe you should look at how Clove and Cato reacted, weren't so nice when I was being made fun of." Katniss stood.
"Miss Dale will escort you to the Quarter Block, Miss Everdeen." Trinket sighed sipping a glass of water looking out the window. Katniss shook her head in distaste as she turned and left the room.
Entering the corridor she heard footsteps race toward her. Looking over in its direction, Katniss saw Peeta Mellark. "Thank god I caught you." Peeta gasped from the running.
"Peeta, what do you want?" Katniss asked him rolling her eyes as joined her side as she walked to the secretary's office.
"I'll defend you. Gale asked me about it and I agreed to stand up for you." Peeta stopped Katniss, "You won't have to go if we explain it all!"
"Peeta, you're mad." Katniss shook her head, "I disobeyed their stupid rules, I can't escape this." She shook her head looking away.
"We will get you out, Katniss. Don't you worry!" Peeta assured her. The office door opened and Miss Dale's entered the hall scolding at them both.
"Mr Mellark and Miss Everdeen. What do you think you are doing?" She asked irritably looking from Katniss to Peeta her eyes narrowed into a glare.
"I was sent to you by Principle Trinket. I have to go to the Quarter Block." Katniss glanced at Peeta as she spoke. Peeta shied away turning red in the cheeks.
"Right. And Mr Mellark?" Miss Dale eyed him suspiciously.
"Oh! Well, um…" Peeta struggled for words looking at Katniss for help. Katniss sighed and looked at him coming up with an excuse for him.
"Peeta took me to Principle Trinket's office. He wanted to make sure I got here okay." Katniss lied. She was convincing as Miss Dale nodded and shut the door after her waving for Katniss to follow her down the hall.
"Come on Miss Everdeen. Mr Mellark, go back to class." Miss Dale said.
"Yes, Miss." Peeta nodded looking over at Katniss mouthing 'don't worry'. Katniss followed Miss Dale down the corridor again, rolling her eyes at Peeta. What an idiot. He always had wild ideas in their old school.
The long walk to the Quarter Block was a quiet one. Katniss followed two steps behind Miss Dale her arms folded and her face expressionless. As they approached the Block the noise from inside made Katniss curious. It was like walking up to a big party.
Miss Dale groaned pushing open the door so hard it kept open until Katniss had passed it. Following her inside down the corridor they stopped at the entrance to a big hall. There had to be at least twenty students in there throwing stuff and circled around, chanting and laughing.
"Break it up! Break it up!" Miss Dale slapped her hands together the other staff pulling students from the circle. Katniss watched with interest.
As the students thinned, in the middle was reveal two boys fighting. One of which was Marvel. A Career. No wondering why, he was the main fighter in the group.
Katniss watched as Marvel was pulled from the small boy who scrambled to his feet running to his room. Marvel yelled and pulled from the member of staff storming into what they call 'The Calming Corner'.
"Stupid, right?" A voice spoke from behind Katniss. Turning, Katniss saw a skinny red head, a resemblance to a fox.
"Yeah. But it's expected of him." Katniss replied dropping her arms. This girl seemed harmless to her. She seemed quite friendly but she must've done something to end up in here.
"Hey, I'm Fox Face." The girl held out her hand. "You're Katniss I had a few classes with you in Sophomore year."
"Fox Face?" Katniss frowned, "Um, yeah I guess I remember."
"Fox Face, I look like a Fox apparently. Nicknames stick." Fox Face shrugged.
"Tell me about it." Katniss sniggered turning forward again seeing marvel sat in the corner with his head in his hands angrily muttering to himself.
"Miss Everdeen." Miss Dale walked over holding a few files in her arm. "This way please." She led Katniss to a door by the corner Marvel was sat in. Marvel stared up at her, staring back Katniss looked forward biting her tongue. Once the door was unlocked she followed Miss Dale in.
"This is your room. You'll be in here for the rest of the week. Here is your key, any problems ask any of the staff." Miss Dale gave her a key and walked out.
Katniss held the key and looked around her, a chest of draws, small bed, TV and mirror. It looked like this was to be her new home for the week. For a moment she kind of hoped Peeta stuck to his promise.