Changing the Game Chapter 1: One who changes everything, a hunger games fanfic

A/N: I'm trying this one more time, this is kind of a re-write of 'Just Because My Eyes Are Closed Doesn't Mean I Can't See'. I have this great, great, great story in my head, it's been a long time since I've done any writing, so I'm just trying to get some practice in. It would mean the world to me if you could read and review. Please let me know what you think…is my writing bad…is the plot bad…is it overdone…I want to hear what you think whether it's positive or negative! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games

Chapter 1 : The one who changes everything

(Katniss)

I wake up just before the sun comes up and it takes me a few seconds to figure out where I am. It's something that I hate about myself, kind of like my fatal flaw. If I don't recognize my surroundings the moment my eyes open, I'm frozen for a moment as it takes my brain those few split seconds to put the pieces together.

I look around the room, and right next to me, in this huge bed is my best friend Madge; curled up in a little ball with her curly blonde locks tangled around her pillow. Today is Reaping Day, which means that I spent the night at Madge's house last night. It's a tradition we started when we were twelve years old. Every year on the eve of reaping day, we have a girl's night. I stay the night at her house and for this one night out of the year, we pretend that we are normal girls. We fix our hair, put make up on, we do girl talk and we even talk about boys. We spend this night pretending that we aren't terrified out of our minds.

Nearly seventy-five years ago just after the Dark Days, The Capitol created this thing called 'The Hunger Games.' In each district, they hold a lottery of sorts which consist of putting each child's name from the ages of twelve to eighteen into a large reaping bowl. One male and one female 'tribute' is selected to represent their district where they will be sent into an arena to fight to the death until only one remains. The 'Victor' of the games will then be bathed in riches, to never again have to go into another arena. It's also a good way for The Capitol to keep up with the population, as each child must sign in with the attendant, they don't want to leave anyone out of their big celebration. It's all bullshit if you ask me.

Once I'm fully awake I grab my clothes and head into the hallway bathroom which is just outside of Madge's room. Madge's house is so gigantic that my entire house could fit in her bedroom alone. Madge's dad is the mayor of District Twelve, and a lot of people think it's weird that we are best friends since she is the mayor's daughter and I am the daughter of a poor coal miner from the seam. I guess to them it just seems like a weird fit, people from town and people from the seam usually go out of their way to avoid each other. But I've never been one to form to the normal social standards that society expects of us.

Madge and I have always been really quiet people who keep to ourselves at school, and the other kids would tend to avoid us. From the time we started school, our teachers would pair us together for group assignments; the other children having already picked their friends to partner up with. At first, we would just sit together without talking, and then one day, Madge asked me to teach her how to braid her hair like mine. It was then that we realized that we actually enjoyed each other's company, and not just because our teachers shoved us together. Ever since then, she's been my best friend, and I hers.

I shut the bathroom door behind me and change into my clothes, folding up the pajama's Madge let me wear last night. Pajamas are too inconsequential for me to waste money on, I usually just wear one of my dad's old t-shirts and some ripped up cotton pants. But I do so look forward to my sleepover's with Madge to wear her silky-soft pajamas.

I brush my teeth and splash some water onto my face in hopes of washing the sleep away. I spend so much time at Madge's house, her dad bought me a toothbrush to keep here. I tried to pay him back for it, but he adamantly refuses every attempt made on my part. I snuck him some extra blueberries once without him knowing, so I feel like we're even now; I don't like owing people as much as I don't like unfair trades. Once I'm done, I sneak back into Madge's room and place the folded pajamas on the foot of her bed and then I walk over to her desk. I grab the closest pen I can find and small piece of paper so that I can leave her a note. Once I'm satisfied with it, I sign my name and put the cap back on the pen. I fold the paper in half and place it next to her sleeping form.

I tiptoe down the stairs, not wanting to wake anyone up at this hour. I open the door expecting to see the sun, but it's still too early; probably no later than five o'clock. I'm so used to getting up early to hunt that my body always wakes up before the sun rises. But today is a special day; I'm meeting someone.

As I sprint through town, eager to reach my destination, I pass the bakery and a smile creeps across my lips. The boy with the beautiful blue eyes and curly blonde hair; hair that tends to cover those eyes invades my thoughts. Peeta Mellark. Peeta, Madge and I are all really good friends, we may even qualify as best friends. Except as of lately, anytime I think about him, I find myself smiling. And it's not just a little smile, it's one of those huge ones that reaches my eyes and no matter how hard I try, I end up showing off some teeth. Realizing that I'm walking at a snail's pace, I pick up my pace, forcing myself to focus; I have somewhere important to be.

I walk through the seam and before I know it, I'm at the fence. No one is allowed past the fence, but again, I'm not one to care much about the rules. If the choice is between breaking the rules or dying of starvation, I'll gladly accept the lashings to feed my family. The fence is supposed to be electrified, but since we are the poorest district, it is almost never on. I slide my tiny frame under the fence and find the path that my father made for me. I grab my bow that is stowed inside of a hollow tree and begin the half a mile trek into the forest and take a seat on a fallen tree.

I am probably the most impatient person in the world, I get up after only less than five minutes looking for something to shoot to pass the time. I take down four squirrels and two rabbits. Just as I'm about to release my arrow into another squirrel, the crunching of leaves distracts me.

"Right through the eye, that's my girl!" I turn in his direction, stowing my bow back in my quiver. I try my hardest to look angry but it's my Dad, and I can never be angry at him. He is one of my favorite people in this world. I run to him, jump into his arms, and hug him as tight as I can. It was exactly sixteen days the last time I saw him.

"Dad! I missed you so much! You can never leave for this long ever again!" I whisper into his ear. Dad went on some kind of secret mission by request of the mayor, but he refuses to give me any details, saying that it's too dangerous. The entire district believes that he's been quarantined to the confines of his bedroom, bedridden with the measles.

"Oh, Lexie, I missed you too, baby girl." I scowl at my dad, pretending to hate the use of my nickname, but we both secretly know that I like it. It's like…a something special that we share. My name is Katniss Alexandria Everdeen, hence the Lexie. Dad never says it around anyone we know, not even Mom or Prim.

"So, how was it?" I ask my Dad.

"You know I can't tell you sweetie." I frown in disappointment.

"Oh, come on! Just give me one little detail. One teeny tiny itsy bitsy little micro-detail. For all I know you went through a magic portal that sent you into a magical land! A magical land with a never-ending supply of food!" I joke around as I hold my arms out and spin around once, as we take the trail that leads us into town.

"Sorry Lex. No can do."

"Okay, well you can't say I didn't try."

"You are nothing if not persistent."

"Yeah. That's what they'll put on my tombstone. Katniss Everdeen, the persistent one."

"Hey, no talking about tombstones. Anyway, so how was your girl's night with Madge?"

Dad and I chat about the unimportant things. He asks about Madge, Mom and Prim and then moves on to Gale and the other Hawthorne's. Finally, he says, "And what about Peeta? Is he staying out of trouble?" And damn that stupid grin. For a few minutes, we pretend that we are normal. That we are just a father and daughter enjoying a morning stroll before we begin our day. That the fear and anxiety of the reaping isn't looming above us.

Dad carries my game bag as we continue down the trail that takes us into town. The peacekeepers who live in District Twelve aren't like the peacekeepers in other districts, but even so, dad would rather that he is carrying the forbidden carcasses. There are so many extra peacekeepers on reaping day, you can never be too careful. Poaching is punishable by death, at least that's what I've heard. Just before we get to the fence, dad stops us in our tracks, having a profoundly serious look on his face.

"Katniss, there is something I need to tell you."

"Ok, dad. What's wrong?"

"Today, something is going to happen. I can't say what, I just want you to know how much I love you. I want you to know how proud I am that you are my daughter. I have raised a strong, confident, fearless, brave young woman. And in this horrible world that we live in, there is good out there. Always remember that. You are strong Katniss, you are so strong and brave, and I believe in you." Then dad slides under the fence, heading for the market.

We make our usual stops in town with those we know aren't afraid to trade with us. We stop by the miller's and get a five-pound bag of flour for a squirrel. We stop by the fabric store and get four yards of gray and white fabric and some ribbon. Our last stop is Mellark's Bakery, and that damn grin resurfaces. God, I hate hormones. Thankfully, it's Peeta's dad who comes to the door. His mom is a witch who hates anyone who is from the seam. She really hates my Dad for some reason, and by extension she completely despises me.

Mr. Mellark gives us three loaves of bread for two squirrels. I frown thinking that this trade seems awfully lop sided. We seem to be getting much more than we're giving but Dad doesn't say anything, so I let it go knowing that my dad is one of the fairest men that I know. He would never take something if he didn't feel like it was a fair trade.

"Good luck today, Katniss." Mr. Mellark gives me his gentle smile and then tips his head at dad and says, "Dylan." I'm almost certain there was a hidden message between them just now.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Madge)

I wake up and see the sun's rays peeking through the trees. I stretch my arms and then see a note next to my pillow in which Katniss must have left for me before leaving this morning. Katniss is always gone before I'm awake; it wouldn't surprise me if she left before the sun was even up. I pick up and unfold the note and squint my eyes to get the letters to focus. The note says, "Madge, didn't want to wake you. I love you. Good luck today, I'll meet you at our tree. Katniss Everdeen". I let out a giggle after reading her sloppy signature. I wonder if she thought I wouldn't know who the note was from? I get up and walk to the bathroom. As I'm brushing my teeth, I look into the mirror, and I let out a huge belly laugh at the state of my hair.

After one of my dad's trips from The Capitol he brought back some things that were supposed to be 'all the hype'; this contraption called a curling iron. He also gave me this stuff in a spray can called 'Hair Spray' which is supposed to help the curls stay in place. My hair has a natural curl to it, so all it did was make my hair sticky and made it even harder than it already was to run my hairbrush through my golden locks. My blonde, naturally curly hair was sticking up all over the place; I hope it comes out when I wash my hair.

But first, I need some caffeine to help wake me up. I usually have a cup of tea in the mornings, but today may require a cup of coffee. As the mayor's daughter, we have access to a lot more than the other people in our district do, and my dad tries not to spoil me too much. He once told me 'Madge, you don't want to get used to such nice things…what happens when it's no longer available?' Coffee is a luxury I rarely indulge in, but I think reaping day qualifies as a rare occasion. Especially this reaping day.

I slide my robe on and make my way downstairs to the kitchen. On my way down the stairs, I run into Rose, our maid. She's not actually 'our' maid, her official job title is 'Grounds Keeper of the Mayor's Residence.' Which means that no matter who the mayor is, she is the caretaker of this house. But to us…to me, she is so much more than just a maid. She helps us keep the house clean, does laundry and grocery shopping; normal stuff like that, but she does so much more than I'm sure she's required to. My mom has been sick for as long as I can remember and has spent most of her life in bed. Rose helps take care of my mom, almost like her nurse. When I was little, it was Rose who tucked me in and told me bedtime stories. She would hold me through the nightmares and kiss my boo-boo's. She helped me with my homework, and she was the one I went to when I got my period. So really, she's the closest thing I've ever had to a Mom. She is amazing, and I love her.

"Madge dear, what in the world did you let Katniss do to your hair last night?" She places her hand on top of my head and messes my hair up even more.

"Hey! It was fun!" I give her a glare, but the gleam in my eyes tells her I'm joking. "I'm going to wash it after breakfast." I tell her.

"As long as you had fun, that's all that matters." She says and continues up the stairs.

I get to the kitchen and see that my dad is sitting at the table holding the oversized newspaper in his hands. I grab a mug from the cupboard and begin pouring myself a cup of coffee.

"Morning, Bug." Dad greets me. He called me his little bug when I was a little girl, I guess the name never wore off.

"Morning, Daddy." I respond as I watch the black liquid splash into the bottom of my cup, I stop when my cup is a little more than halfway full.

"Excited for today?" Dad says with a little too much enthusiasm, but I see the concern written all over his face. We learned a long time ago that our house was bugged. Thankfully only for audio so, we put a show on for The Capitol, but we've learned how to speak in code and read in-between the lines.

"So excited, Daddy. I can't wait to see what this year's games will be like!" After that, we just chat about irrelevant things, until we hear the chime of the doorbell.

"I'm with Gracie!" We hear Rose yell from upstairs. Gracie is my mom.

"Madge, do you mind getting it? I need to run up to my office and make some calls before the day gets started. But you'll meet me in the basement once you're ready?"

"Yes Daddy."

I open the front door, forgetting all about my crazy hair. It is the one person I least want to see me looking like I do. "Hi, Gale."

"Undersee." He tips his head to greet me. "I've got strawberries." Gale is a man of few words.

I feel my face getting hot, and I'm sure my cheeks have turned some shade of red. Maybe as red as the strawberries he's holding. Gale used to hate me; he thought I was a spoiled brat. In his eyes, I was the rich mayor's daughter and he couldn't understand why Katniss would ever be friends with me. He seems to tolerate me now, I'm not sure what changed. I have always had a crush on him. He is just the most beautiful person I know with his dark hair, piercing gray eyes, broad shoulders and a smile that melts my soul. Sadly, the smile is never for me. And he's so tall, at least 6' 2". And maybe I'm just imagining it, but I think he's been hating me less as of lately.

"Sure. Do you want to come inside while I get the money?"

"I'm pretty dirty, Undersee, I wouldn't want to ruin your shiny floors or anything." I can't tell if he's serious, or if that is sarcasm. I go with sarcasm and grab his arm to pull him inside, slamming the door behind him.

"If you stand exactly right here in this square of the floor, it should be ok. But you can't move from this spot." He gives me a grin. I return with the coins and plop them in his hand, making a 'clinking' sound as they land.

"This is too much" Gale eyes me suspiciously.

"Dad says extra for today. Just take it." Gale is about to walk out the door, but then he turns to me, grabs my arm almost affectionately and says,

"Undersee, your hair is insane." That is completely not what I expected. He smiles, turns his back to me, and is gone. I take a few deep breaths to try and slow my heart down. Once I have achieved my goal, I chug the rest of my coffee, wash my cup out, and head upstairs to start getting ready.

Today is going to be a day to remember, and I have my part to play.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Dylan Everdeen)

I took the tunnel in the mines that led me to the secret meeting place that Ric told me about. Apparently, many years ago the districts tried to rebel, and there are secret tunnels connecting the districts that The Capitol is unaware of. I hear footsteps and talking and turn around to shine my flashlight on the intruder.

"Apple Foxtrot Mango Juniper." I recognize the voice as belonging to our mayor, Alaric Undersee who recites the code we use to identify ourselves.

"Ric, you scared the shit out of me, I thought you were a peacekeeper." I jump back, startled that he isn't alone. Walking next to him is his daughter, Madge. "What the hell, Ric? Do you know how dangerous it is for her to be here?" Just then, we hear footsteps again, but before we can see anything, he lets his presence be known.

"Apple Foxtrot Mango Juniper." It's the voice of Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor of District Twelve.

"She figured it out on her own and demanded to come with me. I couldn't stop her."

"We don't have time to play around. Everything is all set; everyone knows their part."

"You're sure Trinket's on board?" I ask Haymitch. This entire plan depends on the capitol bred woman.

"Trinket's not what she appears to be, yes she knows what to do. You've got the pin?" Haymitch looks to Ric, who places his hand on Madge's back.

"Madge is planning to give it to her as her district token." I think I see Haymitch give Madge a smile, or maybe it was a grimace.

"Last chance for anyone to back out, after today there is no turning back." Haymitch says.

Everyone is silent until Madge speaks up.

"What if they call Peeta's name? She won't come home without him, you know. Maybe you need to give Miss Trinket a random boys' name to call."

"Madge honey, there are over a thousand boys' names in the reaping bowl, Peeta's name is barely in there. Stop worrying so much." Ric tries to reassure her, but I can tell she isn't convinced.

"Alright, we need to get the hell out of here. I'll see you guys in the square." Haymitch says with a worried look in his eye.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Katniss)

"Ladies first!" I hear Effie Trinket, our district escort say in her capitol affected accent, way too happy to be here voice. 'Please not me, not me.' I think to myself over and over. My name is in the reaping ball forty-six times. I had forbidden Prim to take out any tesserae, so her name is only in there once, so she's basically safe. I keep repeating 'Please not me' over and over that I've completely lost focus from the sound of Effie Trinket's voice.

"PRIMROSE EVERDEEN!" Effie Trinket yells out. Whew..Safe for another year. Wait. What. No. What did she say? She didn't. She couldn't have. Prim's name is only in there once. What are the chances of that happening? My body is frozen in place as my brain processes what this means.

It's not until I'm watching Prim walking to the steps that lead up to the stage with her shirt sticking out of the back of her skirt, like a little duck. Little duck. I'm no longer paralyzed as I can feel the blood rushing back into my body. I run up to her and jump in front of her; it's like I'm hiding her behind me so that I can keep her safe. And then I say something that no one from our district has ever said.

"I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute!"

"Well, well, a volunteer! District Twelve's very first volunteer! What is your name dear?" Effie asks me once I am ushered up to the stage.

"Katniss Everdeen" I tell her.

"Bust my buttons! I bet you're her sister. Didn't want her to steal all the glory, now did we?" I want to punch her in the face and then slap the wig off her head and say 'No, you stupid capitol escort, she is my sister, I love her, and I don't want her to die or have to kill people'. My mother and sister are healers not fighters. Prim cries when she sees an injured animal, there is no way she would make it five minutes in an arena. I can feel the stinging behind my eyes, and I have to bite my tongue so that I don't cry. I will not show these people any weakness, they are unworthy of my tears.

"Ok, now for the boys!" Effie continues, but I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I don't even have time to think about who I don't want her to call, when she says the name of a boy who should never be sent off into The Hunger Games. A boy with the purest of hearts, the kindest of souls. It's as if the universe is out to get me.

"Peeta Mellark"

A tear falls out of my eye, and I quickly wipe it away, hoping that no one saw. Peeta bravely walks up to the stage with his head held high and a smile on his face. He is putting on a brave face, but I know him too well; he's terrified. He takes his place on the stage right next to me and takes my hand. I don't think that tributes normally do that, only when they are instructed to shake hands.

"HEY! I like her! She's got spunk! More then YOU, and YOU!" It's Haymitch Abernathy, District Twelve's only victor who stands up, swaying in his drunken state as he talks, pointing his finger accusingly. Who is he talking to anyway? He points his finger at the camera when he said his last 'And You.' Was he talking to The Capitol? Then he falls backwards, stumbling into Effie, causing her wig to be noticeably crooked. At least that makes me smile.

I am completely shocked; did he really just do that? Effie adjusts her wig but fails to calibrate it back to its' center. She eventually gives up, shoves Haymitch back into his seat and picks up the microphone.

"Let's give a big round of applause for the tributes of District Twelve; Katniss Everdeen, and Peeta Mellark!" Effie instructs the crowd, but there is no applause. Instead, I see everyone kiss their first three fingers, and then hold them up in the air. It's our district's symbol of respect. It means honor. It means thank you. It means goodbye to someone you love. I don't know whether to feel proud or sad at this gesture. Are they telling me that they're proud of me for taking my sisters place, or are they telling me good-bye, as no one from District Twelve has made it home in twenty-four years.

Peeta and I are ushered off to the Justice Building, where we get one hour to say our goodbyes to family and friends. They allow four minutes for each visitor, not nearly long enough to say what needs to be said to your loved ones for the last time, because for twenty-three of us, we'll never see our families again.

I don't even realize that Peeta and I haven't let go of each other until someone is sending us off in opposite directions and I squeeze his hand harder, not wanting to let go. I finally release my grip and am shoved into a room, and the door slams shut behind me. I sit down on the couch which is placed at the center of the room, and I'm still just too shocked to really grasp what I've done. What has happened. Then it hits me. 'I volunteered for Prim. Peeta was reaped. Peeta and I are going into the games. Together.' I rub my hands on the couch, noticing how soft the fabric is. I think it's velvet. It's a deep reddish burgundy color. I only know this because one time my dad brought home a ribbon for Prim and said it was made from velvet.

Suddenly, the door swings open and Prim runs into my arms with tears streaming down her face.

"Katniss, oh Katniss! You can't, I don't want you to- to…" I rub circles on her back as she cries.

"Prim, it's okay. Shhh." I try and soothe her. My words seem to bring her back into focus and she sobers.

"Katniss, you could do it, you know. I just know you can. Promise me you'll try; promise me you'll try to win!" She begs me. I can never deny Prim anything, so I placate her. I don't think I have a chance. I'm tiny, underfed, and the other tributes are sure to be so much stronger than me. In some of the other districts, they are allowed to train, they are actually encouraged to train, and their tributes are huge, like giants. And unlike me, they are well fed. Here in District Twelve, we never have enough food, even the merchant families.

"Of course, I'll try. I'll try to win for you." My lie seems to appease my beautiful sister as I see the sparkle in her blue eyes, almost identical to my mother's eyes.

"You could do it; you know? Win I mean. You're smart!"

"Yeah, and I'm fast too." I play her little game.

"And you can hunt!" She wraps her tiny arms around me, and we sit there wrapped in each other's arms.

"Of course, Katniss will try. She will try, and she will come back to us, just you wait and see, Primmy!" It's my dad's voice; I didn't even realize that he and mom were in here as I was so focused on my sister.

Mom and Dad come up to me and we all join in a family hug circle

"Katniss, you remember what I told you this morning." Dad says as he squeezes me a little tighter.

Mom tells me she loves me, and she just knows that we'll see each other again. At her words, I can feel the stinging in my eyes, and allow the tears to fall. I give myself this time to be weak with my parents. When they're done holding me, I watch as mom and Prim walk out the door, and it's just me and dad. He hugs me so tight; I have to struggle for air and my head is squished in the crook of his neck. But as he hugs me, he whispers in my ear. If I didn't have the trained ears of a hunter, I would never have heard him.

"Lexie, you and Peeta stay a team. All the way to the end." He kisses my forehead and turns to leave, and the door closes behind them. I can't believe what I just heard. Did I hear him right? Did he really just say that?

Before I have time to think about it, the door is opening again, revealing the beautiful, tear streaked face of Madge. She runs into my arms and then pulls back, places both of her hands on each of my shoulders.

"Katniss, you are the bravest, strongest, smartest person that I know, and I just know that you'll figure it out. I am counting on you to be there for my birthday dinner." She starts fumbling with her gold mockingjay pin on her dress, takes it off, and pins it onto my dress. "Will you wear this as your district token? They let you take a token into the arena with you, something to remind you of home. Will you wear this? Please?" She looks at me with a sense of urgency. She is looking at me as if this little pin could very well save my life.

"Yes, Madge. Thank you, Madge, for being my fr-" I wipe the tear that rolls down my cheek. I want to tell her that she's been the best friend anyone could ever ask for, I want to tell her how much I love her, how much our time together means to me, but she's having none of it.

"No, Katniss. No goodbyes. You tell me what you want when you come home ok?" And just like that, she's gone.

Within seconds, the door is opening again, and with it is my friend Gale. Other than Madge and Peeta, he is my closest friend. The mining accident that injured my father took Gale's father forever. Just after that he found me checking out his snares in the woods, and he became my hunting partner.

"Listen Katniss, you can do this, you hear me? You can win this thing; all you have to do is show those game makers what you can do with a bow. They'll put one in there for you, I'm certain of it. If they don't, then you make one."

"But I'm not…-"

"No, Katniss. A weak bow is better than no bow. You can win these games, you've got something no one else does." He taps at his temple referring to brains.

"I'll help your family, just like we promised." He pulls me to him holding me in a hug. I guess it was longer than it seemed, because just then, peacekeepers come in telling him that his time is up.

I'm pretty sure that was the last of my visitors when there is a knock at the door and Peeta's dad walks through. He hands me a brown paper bag with the top folded over, on the front of it are the initials 'MB' in elegant script, displaying the Mellark Bakery logo. He sits beside me and is silent for a moment. Peeta resembles his dad so much, it hurts me to look at him. Will Peeta ever get the chance to get those wrinkles around his eyes? Or will he ever have enough birthdays to wake up to find gray hairs? The resemblance ends there as Peeta always knows what to say; he has a beautiful way with words. For a moment, I believe that we'll spend our entire time in silence, just as he surprises me.

"You're going to be ok" A tear falls down his cheek. He reaches over and pulls me into a hug and then leaves. After that, I am all alone. I don't understand what has just happened. It's too much. I need to think about what everyone has said to me. Mostly my dad. What did he mean?

…..

0o0o

…..

(Haymitch)

She's the one, I knew it the second Trinket called out the little girls' name. I saw the spark in her eye, I saw the pure hatred, the anger, the defiance. I've seen the girl in the hob before, making trades with her dad and honestly, I didn't see anything too special about her. But I saw it today; she's gonna be the one who changes everything.