This chapter is about the reaping. I hope this chapter will be good because I write things as I go. XD So yeah... ENJOY! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games.

Rue

I was next in line. I grimaced as they pricked my finger to get a sample of my blood. When they were done, I immediately went to the thirteen year old section. A few minutes later, I find to my disgust that I am standing next to Felicia.

'Well, hello there dear friend." She says. I roll my eyes, "Like we were ever friends." I mumbled. As more people came in, I feel the reaping will start soon. Itake a glance at the eighteen year old section and I see Dave looking dumbfoundly on the stage. Although it's his last year of eligibility, he's still scared. I can see it in his eyes. When he finally snaps out of his daydream, he looks at me. "You okay?" I mouthed to him. He nodded then stared back at the stage. I sighed then turned to it as well.

It was silent. Everyone was waiting for Effie Trinket to come out and pick the names who will die in the arena. I close my eyes for a second then I hear her voice, "Welcome, everybody! To the 86th Annual Hunger Games!" She exclaims in her Capitol accent. I look at mom who looks as annoyed as usual at Effie and try to hold in my laughter. "As usual, we will show you a special film the Capitol has brought to you!"

Like everything counts. Almost everybody, except the twelve year olds, have seen this already. I ignore it and take a glance at dave. He's rolling his eyes at the screen and I smile at him. I turn back at the stage and see mom and dad look at the screen. I can see it in their eyes they don't want to watch it. Effie is reciting the last words as the clip finished. "Oh, how touching!" She exclaims. Like it was so touching, I thought.

"Time to find out our tributes!" She says. My heart is pumping and beating really fast. I am so nervous. I hope it's not me, Dave or Finn, I thought repeatedly. "Ladies first!" She says before she walks to the bowl with all the girls' names in there. I close my eyes and took deep breaths. Effie reaches into the bowl, searching for the right piece of slip. She takes out one slip indicating the name that will go into the arena. She walks back to her microphone stand and opens the slip.

"Felicia Hawthorne!" Effie exclaims. NO! NO, NOT HER!, I scream in my head. Everyone is looking at the girl next to me right now. Her eyes show fear and she's trembling like crazy. Before she could walk to the stage, I stop her, "No, Felicia, you're not going up there." She looks at me confused, "But I got reap-" "I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" I scream. Everyone gasps at my stunt. Mom and dad have their eyes wide open. Mom is clutching onto dads' arm. Felicia pulls me back when I try to walk onto the stage, "No, Rue! Don't do this!" She screams. I shake my head, "I can do this, Felicia. Don't worry." She's crying now. I let go of her grip and she tries to follow me but the peacekeeper stops her. I walk up the stage and everyone has their eyes on me, most filled with sorrow. I look at mom and dad. Mom is now on dad's shoulder.

"What's your name?" Effie asks me. "Rue. Rue Mellark." I reply. She turns back to the microphone and says glumly, "Gentlemen." She goes over to the boys' bowl and picks up a random slip then reads it out loud, "Harold Kea—" "I volunteer!" someone shouts. The voice sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before? The person who shouted comes out of the line and I almost choked. "Another volunteer!" Effie's back to her excited self again. "Come!" She says, gesturing the boy. He goes up the stage and stands up straight, "What's your name?" Effie asks.

"Dave Hawthorne." I close my eyes as he said his name. I can't believe my own best friend would volunteer himself to be in these games. And it's his last year of eligibility! I can't believe he would do something like this! "Our volunteers or District 12!" Effie exclaims, "Now, shake hands." I can't look at him. Not directly in the eye. I shake Dave's hand while looking down on the ground. Almost immediately, they take us into the Justice building where we'll say our goodbyes.

I am placed in a room which has a lot of fancy furniture. The mayor must have a great life, doesn't he? Anyways, I probably expect my family to come here. Obviously not Dave. He's going to say goodbye to is own family. The door slams open, "Three minutes." The peacekeeper says. My parents go inside the room and sit right next to me. "Rue..." My mom begins. "Look, I'm sorry mom. I thought what I was doing was right." I mumbled. She sighs, "It's not that, it's just that-" "Katniss, calm down. Remember what we talked about years ago." dad says to mom. She immediately calms down and starts talking again, "We will begin talking strategies after the opening ceremonies, alright?" I nod my head. "Rue, you can do this." Dad says. I shake my head.

"What if I can't?" I ask him. "We're going to be here for you, alright? We're going to try anything to help you to survive." He says, not really answering my question. I nod and look down. The room became silent. It seems like our three minutes have been used because the pecaekeeper comes back. My parents leave the room and I have to wait for my next visitor.

Suddenly, Finn storms into the room and pulls me into a tight hug. "Uhmm, Finn? You're suffocating me." I say. He pulls away and laughs nervously, "Sorry. I'm just really going to miss you, Rue." I sigh, "You don't think I'm gonna make it, do you?" He frowns, "Since when did I say that? I know you can do this Rue." He says. It was silent for a moment.

"I've seen you hunt." he mumbles. I jolt my head up, "Since when did you know?" I exclaim. He scratches his neck, "I knew for a long time, Rue. I just didn't say anything." I sigh. "Remember, I have faith in you. You can do this." "I have absolutely no faith in myself." I say to him. He sighs, "rue, stop being so pessimistic." It's true. I'm always so pessimistic while he's the opposite. Heck, we don't even look alike.

"Time's up." the peacekeeper says. Finn and I have one last hug before he's taken away by the peacekeeper. What if he's right? What if I can do this? No. I can't. I'm only thirteen. I can't win. Dave's most likely to win. I know it. Suddenly, the door slams open and I see Felicia with puffy, red eyes. She comes over and hugs me, "I'm sorry you had to do this." she mumbles.

"I wanted to do it. It's not your fault." I say. She pulls away and looks at me, "Promise me you'll win these games." I'm shocked. I don't know if I can. I can pull a bow and arrow in the arena but will they have one? Will the arena be like mom and dads' games? I don't want to think of the arena just yet but I'm just hoping it will have a forest scene. I snap back to reality and realize I need to answer her. I don't want her to be upset. I don't want to hurt her feelings since her brother and I are going into the games in a few weeks.

"I-I p-promise." I say. I may not even have the chance. Maybe I'll survive a few days but not win. That's impossible. Felicia hugs me again, "I'm sorry for being mean to you. I was always jealous of you." "Jealous of me?" I ask confused, "But why?" She sighs, "Well, duh! You're the daughter of two victors!" She paused for a while before starting again, "And most guys do like you." She mumbles.

Guys like me? I don't even think they do. Some have asked me out but I was too young, okay? "Okay..." I say awkwardly. She smiles, "I'll explain everything after you win." I nod my head with a slight smile on my face. The peacekeeper comes in and tells her to leave, "You promised, Rue!" She shouts before the door closes. Great, I need to win now. Two people believe in me. Well, hopefully my parents as well. The peacekeeper tells me to follow Effie to the car. I get up and do as told.

I step inside the train and I am amazed by how fancy it looks. Mom showed me a picture of the train before and it looks even more breathtaking in person. It's even more fancy than the Justice Building. What happens if we get to the Capitol? Even MORE fancy stuff. Anyways, Dave and I sit down waiting for our mentors (also known as my parents) to come. We sit there, not talking.

My parents come in and sit opposite us. It was very silent and awkward at first until dad spoke up, "So, when do you want to start?"

"Whenever he wants to." I mumbled, obviously talking about Dave. Dave glares at me, "Why are you mad all of a sudden?" I roll my eyes, "I'm not mad." "You are." He says. "You just don't understand me." He rolls his eyes and continues, "I've known you since we were little, Rue. I know everything about you." "You do?" I say sarcastically, "My brother knows more than you so stop acting like I'm your little sister." "You are my little sister." He says. "I volunteered to help your sister!" I shout, fighting back. "And I volunteered to help you because you're like my sister!" He shouts.

"Mom, where's my room?" I ask. "Effie! Show them to their rooms please." Mom says to Effie. She escorts us to our rooms and I just storm into mine. I start crying on the pillow. My friendship with Dave is ruined. Everything is ruined. I hate the games. I hate the Capitol. I hate everything they forced us into.

I just wanna go home.

That's it for this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. :) Next chapter is more of when they are in the train and when they arrive at the Capitol. :D