A/N: This is my first story. I haven't got great grammar. Please ask if you don't understand anything. I'm hoping I don't disappoint!
"Katniss! This is the last time I'm calling. Get down here! You're going to be late for your last day of school as a single woman." Wow. Prim really knows how to grace someone's morning. Yes, throw the day I'm dreading in my face to get me up.
"Prim, I love you, but please shut your mouth!" I shout sleepily hopping out of bed.
I dress myself, already having a bad morning because she had to bring up my Wedlock reaping. I remember last years wed reaping.
800 eighteen year old boys and girls, 400 of each, a rope separating the genders. Some not even from our own district for more variety, or maybe there was a shortage of boys/girls... Effie, the capitol woman who has hosted District 12's wed lock reaping since it started 5 years ago, when the president wasn't satisfied with the variety of breeding, is bouncing around stage. A boy's name is drawn, and then a girl. They are now wed locked. 1-3 weeks later they will be wedded. This happens to each and every person the age of 18. They're required to have a child birthed, or on it's way before the end of their wedding anniversary. Only 2 children in all, one boy, one girl. If, say for example you have a boy as your first child, then another boy on it's way, you are forced to abort it. Fucked up? That's our government.
I snap out of it and make my way down the stairs.
"You alright?" my mom asks.
"Well tomorrow I'm going to have to call some random boy my fiancé, and in less than a month I'll no longer be an Everdeen. I'm having an absolute blast, mother." I snap sarcastically.
Prim makes a cat noise that sounds along the lines of "RIAYUR" and makes a clawing motion. I glare at her.
"I'm going to school. Bye."
I make it to school and approach the girls locker room, with my luck, I have P.E. first period. Who cares, P.E. is the least of my worries.
"Hey," Madge calls to me as I walk out to the track. Great, the guys are out here as well. One of these boys could possibly my future husband. Yippee. "Hey," I mumble back.
"What's got ya down, Katniss?" she asks.
"Well I was just thinking one of those boys could be my future husband and that I hate my life, the usual."
"Isn't it exciting!" she shouts.
"No! It's horrifying!"
"You're right we'd much rather have hot d4 boys!"
"What'd I hear about District 4?"
Annie jogs up to us, I could see how she'd be interested in district 4. After all, she used to live there until both of her parents died and she was adopted by the florist when she was 13.
"We were just speaking about how we'd much prefer being reaped to a D4 boy!" Madge explains.
"I'd actually prefer not being reaped at all…" I mumble as Annie and Madge start talking about boys.
"EVERDEEN, UNDERSEA, CRESTA, DID I JUST HEAR ONE OF YOU CALL MY QUARTERBACK A SEXY MONGOOSE?" Coach Haymitch shouts to us, obviously drunk.
I don't know how, but the boy's coach has ears like a hawk, and can hear if they aren't sweating enough some how. When he says quarterback, my best friend, Gale Hawthorne, trots over to coach.
"You call me a sexy mongoose, coach?" Gale asks him, confused.
"Not me fool, these girls!" Haymitch gestures to Annie, Madge and I.
Gale raises his eyebrows, and Madge blushes like a tomato. I burst out laughing which causes people to give me weird looks. "That," I interrupt myself with laughter "was all Madge and Annie!"
"NUH UH!" they both shout at the same time.
"Alright, alright! I want a mile out of all 3 of you for arguing! Get on it!" Haymitch demands, and we all groan in unison.
As we begin our mile, Madge and Annie start chatting, and I hear my name, "Huh?" I say. "I asked if you wanted to stay the night at my house tonight." Madge states.
"Oh, sure." I say focusing on the boys playing soccer. There are a few boys that stand out:
Hanson Arkly: The creepiest guy on earth, he's got a pale, pasty face and still plays with children's game cards.
Jem Pascal: The "hottest!" guy in school, according to Madge. He's also the son of the Jeweler, and apparently, is loaded with cash.
And Gale. Out of all the boys, I'd be okay if we got reaped to each other. We've been best friends since we were young, and everyone assumed we were always meant to be.
He notices me looking at him and stops to smile and wave at me. The other team kicks the ball right past him, and into the goal he was supposed to be defending. "GREAT HAWTHORNE, YOU COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL LATER TO FLIRT WITH EVERDEEN!?" his team mates shout to him. Gale blushes and I pretend to not know what's going on.
I've packed my bag for Madge's house, and just as I'm about to walk out the door, my mother stops me. "Katniss," she calls for me, "I've got something for you." she finishes, smiling. She pulls out a handful of cash and places it in my hands.
"It's 50 dollars, I saved it for you, so you could buy a dress."
I haven't even thought about the dress. For once, I'm thankful my mom is here for me.
"Thanks, mom." I give a genuine smile and she pulls me in for a hug.
"Be safe at Madge's." she says.
"I will."
A/N Please review if you would like for me to continue! If you notice anything wrong and need me to fix it, please tell me. Thanks!