In my dreams I see myself laying down with Katniss by my side. I've always had a huge crush on her, ever since I first saw her at school. We never got a chance to talk to each other because I was two grades ahead of her and really shy. Outside of school she never noticed me, but I always notice her. I'm always there for her no matter what.

When she was getting picked on by two older market boys I beat them up for her. I injured my prize goats so I could sell it to her for next to nothing. When she passed out in the freezing rain five winter's ago I carried her to my home. I put her in my bed and put three thick blankets on her so she could warm up. While she slept I got her a new warm outfit and made her a food basket. It had enough cheese, milk, bread, meat, and fish to last her family for a month.

I could have spoke to her then but I was to shy and scared she'd reject me like everyone else, with exception of the Mellarks and my grandma. So I hid, everytime, and watched her. I'm always watching to help her and because I'm slightly obsessed with her.

"RAPTOR!"

My body jerks upright. Standing at the foot of my bed is Flint.

"Hey sleepy head it's lunch time." He announces.

"Alright let me just get dressed."

He nods then leaves the room. With a yawn I stand up and stretch out. Walking to the dresser I grab my shirt and pull it on. After buttoning it up I slip into the slacks and tuck the shirt into them. Once I fasten the button and pull up the zipper I sit on the bed and slip on my, newly polished, black boots. When I'm finished tying up the laces I stand and head out the room.

Niobe, Flint, and Peeta are sitting at the table. There is a empty seat beside Peeta with a plate in front of it. The plate has a hefty cut of meat with mashed potatoes and corn. Beside it is a tall glass of lemonade.

"Wow how much meat did you used." I comment as I sit.

"Pop-pop brought home a whole roasted pig for us to celebrate your last reaping." Flint informs.

"We're planning to have a feast for you." Niobe interjects.

They don't like to think about us being Reaped. To them Peeta and I have no chance of being reaped, which is true. The reaping is geared to punish the poor.

You see every year, each district holds a reaping ceremony. There are two large glass balls that contain slips of paper, one for boys and one for girls. They hold the names of every child, ages 12-18, in the district. Every year your name is added once so by eighteen your name will have be in there seven times. Now here's where it gets unfair.

Each kid can choose to add their name more times in exchange for tessera, which is a small ration of oil and grain. Each tessera has enough oil and grain to supply one family member with food for one year. If you're poor those rations are the difference between life and death. Katniss, at sixteen, has already had her name put in twenty times. While Peeta has had his put in five. My name has been put in seven times. Gale Hathaway, Katniss best friend who is also eighteen, has had his name put in forty-two times.

To say the odds are in our favor is an understatement. It's highly unlikely that someone from the Seams won't be reaped. If I were more confident I would have told her not to. I would have put my name in a thousand times for her.

"I have to go." I state before standing.

I pick up my plate and the juice then walk out the open back door. As quickly as I can, without dropping anything, I walk to the Everdeen house. Prim is peeking out the window, most likely looking for Katniss. When her blue eyes land on me she seems rather shocked. I don't know how people can always seem so shocked to see me. Yes I'm the tallest and bulkiest boy in the district. Plus it's blatantly obvious I don't belong here.

Here there are two groups of people, the miners and the merchants. Each group have specific traits that separate them from each other. Residents of the Seam have dark hair, grey eyes, and an olive complexion. While Residents of the merchant area have paler skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. I don't have any of these traits.

My skin is porcelain with the slightest bit of a sun tan, from my work outside. I have green eyes that seem to get lighter and darker depending on my emotions, usually they're an emerald color. Yes my hair is blonde but it's a lustrous gold color that seems to glow in the sunlight, or so Peeta says. The merchants usually have dull blonde hair. Even Flint's caramel waves are lackluster compared to mine. These distinctive traits mark me for what I truly am, a district 1 reject.

No one here even bothers to speak to me except the Mellarks. I have no friends at all and whenever I'm in the Seam my peers glare at me. Younger kids, like Prim usually seem shocked by my uncommon appearance. Only the mine workers respect me because I've been working in the mines since I was twelve. Also I help them feed their families.

"What are you doing here?" A gruff voice asks.

Turning I see Katniss and her best friend Gale. Looking over him I can't help but notice that I'm taller and more muscular. However my body is thinner and curvy, due to my "ailment". Suddenly the door opens revealing Mr. Everdeen.

"Hello Raptor. Is that for the girls?" She asks.

Looking at the huge plate and to tall glass I realize one person won't be able to eat all of this. With a bashful smile I nod. The woman takes them with a sweet thank you before ordering Katniss inside. The girl scoffs but enters none the less. Gale glares at me as I walk past him. I pick up my pace and jog all the way to my basement.

I have at least thirty minutes to kill so I might as well sell the rest of my stuff. Pulling the black plastic box from under the table I quickly fill it with the jars of fat, organs, bones, paws, head, and hide. I might just sell all these items to the merchants for money, I don't have time to haggle and bargain. After closing the box I heft it onto my shoulder then make my way upstairs.

I exit my home and walk all the way to the merchant area, more specifically the Butcher shop.

"Hello Raptor, what do you have there?" He asks as I place the container on his counter.

Rather than answer I open the box and let him examine the items inside. He takes the organs and bones then gives me twenty bucks. It may not seem like a lot but here a twenty is equivalent to a hundred dollars.

"Pleasure doing business with you." I say as I pick up my box.

I walk out of his shop then head to the tailor's shop. When I walk into the store he comes right to me.

"What do you have today boy?" He asks in a snobbish tone.

Before I cane set the box down he opens it. With a smirk he takes the fur and paws then slips fifteen bucks in my pocket.

"Go away before you run off what little customers I have." He hisses while closing my box.

I roll my eyes then exit his store. All I have left is the head and I know one person who will want it. When I reach the big house near the square I set the box down and knock on the oak double doors. Before anyone answers people start to fill the streets. Damn I'll have to get my money later.

With a sigh I join the crowd of people heading to the square. There are bright banners hanging on the buildings but they don't take away from the grimness in the air. The vultures, I mean camera crews, perched on the rooftops aren't really helping to lighten the mood. It's a pity cause the square is really the only peaceful place here. Especially on a star studded night when it's vacant and lit by a beautiful full moon. I love to come out here and lay down when my day gets to stressful, which is pretty much every day for me.

When I reach my designated roped area, in the front with the other eighteen year olds, I wait for the reaping to begin. The space only gets tighter as my peers crowd into our area. Looking around I see Peeta standing in the sixteen year olds area. He looks so nervous I wanna walk over and hug him. I should have said something kind to him before I left.

With a sigh I look down then back up at the stage in front of the justice building. There are three chairs on the right side of the stage and a podium in the center. Two of the three chairs are filled. In one seat is Mayor Undersee. He's a tall balding man with a slight pudgy belly. Next to him sits our districts Capital escort, Effie Trinket. She has on a spring green suit and her hair is a fusha pink this year. They mutter while looking back at the empty seat. As soon as the clock strikes two the mayor stands and walks to the podium.

He begins to tell the history of Panem. Of course he goes through the long version starting with the disasters that destroyed what was once know as North America. Panem rose from it's ashes starting with the perfect Capital then thirteen districts. Well there use to be thirteen districts.

See even back then the Capital was corrupt, so much so the districts rebelled. District 13, the district that lead the rebellion, was destroyed to keep the defeated twelve from trying again.

To add insult to injury the Capital created the Treaty of Treason. They claim they did it so we don't forget the rebellion, better know as the Dark Days. Really it's just a show of how big their dick is, I mean how powerful they are. This "treaty" orders the twelve districts to provide one child of each sex to participate in what they call the Hunger Games.

These participant are called tributes and there are usually 24 to start. The only time there were more was during the second Quarter Quell, the twenty-fifth year mark of the districts defeat. Each district had to provide four tributes that year. Anyway theses tributes are imprisoned in an "out doors" area, which just so happens to have cameras all over the place, with a specific and deadly environment. For almost a month and a half the tributes must fight to the death till only one is left. This "Victor" is rewarded with a life of luxury in his or her district until he or she dies.

All of this is there way to keep us in check. They take kids and force them to kill each other while everyone watches. Some are brutalized others fall victim to the environment they are in. There may have been a suicide once or twice but I don't really know, I never watch the Games.

That however has nothing to do with the Game itself just some personal baggage I can't really shake.

"Here is a list of all the victors from district 12. Doe Wiltshire and Haymitch Abernathy."

That's a shame in the past seventy-four years district twelve has only had two Victors. One was a butchers daughter who won the tenth Hunger Game sixty-four years ago. The second is a forty year old drunk. His father was a merchant but everyone refuses to talk about him or the rest of Haymitch's family. When I asked Pop-pop about them he said they paid for his sins in the game.

The only living victor stumbles onto the stage a drunken mess, like usual. He's hollering about how he needed a strong drink or something. I can't really tell through his slurred vocabulary. He flops into the third empty seat. Everyone claps dutifully, because if you don't you get beat for being rude. Haymitch, completely dazed and confused, starts trying to hug Effie. She just barely slips out of his grasps causing him to fall off his seat.

Both the Mayor and Effie look embarrassed at the his antics. I must admit I'm kinda embarrassed to. All of this is televised for the other districts and the capital to watch. His antics are making us look bad.

"Now I give the floor to Effie Trinket."

The woman bounces over to the podium as the mayor rushes back to his seat. She's overly chipper, as usual, I'm guessing she doesn't know that Haymitch knocked her wig to the side a bit. She'll probably hit him later. Like usual I tune out her bullshit by looking for Katniss.

I don't see here but I do see Peeta again. His eyes meet mine causing us both to smile.

"Ladies first!" Effie announces, drawing my attention back to her.

I watch as she she reaches in the glass bowl and pulls out a single paper slip.

"Primrose Everdeen!" She announces.

My heart sinks because I know what's going to happen next. Prim is Katniss's little sister, my love would never let anything bad happen to her.

"I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" A broken voice yells.

My heart shatters into a thousand tiny pieces. Katniss steps forward as the Peacekeepers surround her.

"Lovely! But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, um." Effie pauses to think for a moment.

"What does it matter? Let her come forward." The Mayor says in a pained tone.

"No, Katniss! No! You can't go!" Prim calls as she clutches Katniss's waist.

The older girl tries to push her little sister away but the girl refuses to let her go. Gale walks over to them and grabs Prim. Katniss walks up to the stage then ascends the few steps to stand in front of everyone.

"Well, bravo! That's the spirit of the Games! What is your name?" The woman asks joyfully.

"Katniss Everdeen."

"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on, everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"

I kinda want to slap the naivety out of this poor women. She must honestly believe that these games are glorious. Looking back at Katniss I can't help but marvel at how strong and confident she looks. As tears leak from my eyes I touch the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips then hold it out to her. The rest of the crowd slowly follows suit.

When we lower our hands I see her demeanor change. She's on the verge of tears, I can tell.

"Look at her. Look at this one!" Haymitch yells while standing up.

He staggers over to Katniss then slings his arm over her shoulder.

"I like her sh-she has...SPUNK!"

The man then turns to the camera and yells, "More than you!"

Suddenly he plummet off stage knocking himself unconscious. While the camera zooms in on him Katniss wipes away her tears.

"What an exciting day!" Effie pipes, trying to spin the situation.

"But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!"

The woman reaches into another bowl then pulls out a ne slip. She unfolds it then reads.

"Peeta Mellark!"

I look at the boy his face looks like the life has been drained out of him. He straightens himself up then starts walking up to the stage.

"Ah now would anyone like to volunteer to take his place?" Effie asks.

"I volunteer as tribute!" I call while stepping forward.

Effie's eyes light up when she sees me.

"Two volunteers in district 12 how wonderful!" The Escort boasts.

Peeta looks at me as tears seep from his eyes. While I walk up to the stage he steps down. We meet each other half way then he hugs me.

"I'm sorry." The boy whispers in my ear.

I kiss his temple then pull away. Taking a deep breath I walk up the steps and stand beside Katniss. Effie grabs my hand then pulls me up to the podium.

"Please oh valiant tribute tell us your name?"

"Raptor Herveaux." I state.

Her eyes widen as she looks at me.

"Herveaux? Are you related to Lord, Sapphire, Gloss, and Cashmere Herveaux?" She inquiries.

"Yes. Lord and Sapphire are my parents. Gloss and Cashmere are my older siblings." I confirm.

"How dose a district 1 boy end up here?"

"Effie save some questions for Caesar why don't you." I chuckle in a charming tone.

She smiles then nods. I step back so I'm standing beside Katniss. I wonder if she knows me. Or is she worried about what I'll do in the games. Looking at her I meet her grey eyes, there's fear in them. No Katniss please don't be scared of me, I'll never hurt you.

"Now shake hands you two." The mayor orders softly.

I slowly approach the girl then take her hand. Our eyes meet again and I try as hard as I can to show my true intentions. She squeezes my hand then releases it.