Hey ya'll! I was able to get this done a lot sooner than I expected. I promise that once The games start, the chapters will get longer! Enjoy! *Note* I do not own The Hunger Games

Chapter 2

When I wake up the next morning, I have a sinking feeling in my stomach. I roll out of bed and go to take a shower. When I get out, my mom is waiting for me to help get me ready.

"How should we do your hair?" she asks excitedly. "I don't care, curl it I guess." I respond groggily. It takes about an hour to do my hair because it's so long and thick.

After my hair is done, she starts on my makeup. "Don't go overboard, ok mom?" I tell her. "I'll try" She replies with a wink. When she's done, she tells me I can't look in the mirror until my dress is on to complete the look. I sigh and agree with her.

I feel the fabric of my dress slip over my head. I then step into my shoes, comfy flats. "You look beautiful" my mom whispers with tears in her eyes. When I turn around I'm surprised to see my mom was right.

My long, dark hair is in soft curls that fall to the middle of my back. My makeup is natural looking but brings out the flecks of gold in my dark eyes. My dress is sky blue and falls above my knees. On another girl it would probably be longer but on my 5'8" frame, it's just the right length. It's strapless which shows off my toned shoulders and arms.

It's also fitted in the torso so that it enhances my shape. My eyes travel past the dress down my muscular thighs and calves to my feet. My shoes are soft white ballet flats. If I'm going to be standing most of the day, I'm going to be comfortable.

My little sister peeks into the room. This year is her first reaping but I'm afraid that if she is reaped she won't be ready to compete. She didn't ever excel in training like I did. If she goes to the games she would probably be killed in the bloodbath. I would never let that happen, I would volunteer in a heartbeat for her.

"Are you ready to go Sage?" my mom asks her. "Yes, I think so." She replies quietly. I can tell she's terrified. I was too, at my first reaping. Just then the phone by my bed rings. I go and answer it and hear Cato on the other end. "You ready?" he asks. "Yep, you" I ask. "As ready as I'll ever be. I'll be over there in 5 minutes to walk with you to the town square, ok?" He asks. "Ok, see you then." I respond.

5 minutes later, I hear a knock on the door and know that it's Cato. I walk to the door to answer it, "Hey" "Hey, whoa." He cuts off short. "What? Too much?" I ask while fidgeting with my dress. "No, it's just that you so look amazing" he staggers out as he looks me up and down.

"Yeah, sure" I respond sarcastically. "Honestly, you look really good." He replies with a grin. After a few very awkward seconds, we are finally on our way to the town square.

By the time we get there, there's already a huge crowd of bystanders waiting to see who will be competing in the games this year. We get out fingers pricked and blood stamped and are ushered into our roped off age groups.

Our mayor comes onstage and begins the introductions of District 2's previous Victor's who will be this year's tributes' mentors. We have a lot because we're a career district, but two stand out to me. They are Brutus and Enorbia, the most well known Victors of our District. I'm sure that they are the lead mentors. Everyone else is probably just there to rope in sponsors.

After all the introductions, they play the Video that they play every year. It talks about the uprisings that started the war, how the government got the Districts back in order and the reason for The Hunger Games.

Before I know it our District escort Kish is up on stage and getting ready to draw the name from the girl's bowl. All I can think about is how I don't want it to be my sister. Her odds of being picked are very slim. Kish reaches into the bowl and pulls out a slip of paper. The whole time, as walks back to the microphone, I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. "Sage Soto!" he yells out happily. My heart sinks as I watch my sister slowly start to walk forward towards the stage. I can't let her do this. I can't. "I volunteer!" I yell, every head in the square turns to look at me. "I volunteer as tribute!" I yell again. "Well by all means! Come on up here young lady!" "And, what is your name?" he asks once I've mounted the stage. "Clove Soto" I state plainly. I've already wiped my face of any emotions, I can't look weak. "Well! That must have been your sister wasn't it?" "Yes, she is." I reply bluntly.

"Ok, let's move onto the boys." Kish says as he walks over to the boy's reaping bowl. He picks a slip of paper from the top and walks back to the center of the stage. "Martin Gilroy! "Before the boy can even leave his group, I hear a familiar voice. "I volunteer!" I look over and Cato's already half way up the stage. "And what is your name, young man?" he asks Cato when he's up by us. "Cato Knight" he states.

"Well, let's have a round of applause for District 2's tribute for this year's Hunger Games!" The crowd erupts in applause and I know that they are confident that this year's Victor will be from District 2.

"Go on, shake hands." Kish tells us. Cato reaches out his hand and I grip it firmly.

I haven't seen him since this morning and when he looks me in the eyes I see sadness. Sadness that only one of us can return. We release our grip and turn to be ushered into the Justice Building where we'll get to say goodbye to our families. I'm taken to an upstairs room that has heavy wooden doors. The Peacekeepers lock the door after the put me inside. I spend a few minutes just studying the doors until my mom and dad come into the room followed by my sister.

My dad hugs me "I'm proud of you Clove" he whispers into my ear and then releases me. I'm then engulfed into a double hug from my mom and sister. "You weren't supposed to volunteer until next year!" my mom sobs. I can already tell this is going to be very hard for her. "I had to! I couldn't let Sage go in there! She isn't well trained enough!" I retaliate. "I could have handled it. Why did you volunteer?" she asks "Trust me Sage you couldn't have. And I did it because I love you and it would kill me to watch you die." I respond. "So, you're going to watch Cato die?" she almost shouts at me.

Cato's always been like the big brother to her. I can't even answer her.

Just then, peacekeepers come in the door and grab my family saying that their time is up. As they pull my sister off of me she starts to shout. When she's almost out the door, she starts to shout "I love you! I love you, Clove! You can do this! You can w-" She's cut off by the door closing. I know what she said though.

I'm trapped in my thoughts while I wait for a Peacekeeper to come get me. My mind is racing with questions. Can I win? Do I want to win? What would it be like to come back home? Am I going to watch him die? I would never be the same again. Who am I kidding; no one ever is after they win The Games. There are just too many bad memories.

Most Victors end up trying to wipe away the pain with drugs or alcohol. A famous Victor who did that is Haymitch Abernathy from District 12. Nobody has ever seen him sober since before he was reaped 24 years ago.

I realize I'd rather die than have to go through the pain of living with all the guilt and memories. I just wouldn't be able to take it. But, I know who would handle it a whole lot better than me. It's then that I know who District 2's Victor will be this year. And it sure as heck won't be me.

I hope ya'll like it! Please review! Thanks!