Nat Jennings POV District 1

"Wake up, Nat. It's the day of the reaping." Carrie said poking me in the cheek.

"Unghhhhh." I grunted rolling over on my stomach.

"Get up, now!" Carrie's mom hollers from the kitchen downstairs.

"Kay!" We both call at the same time. We both laugh and stand up to get ready. I put on my white skirt and my blue lacy short sleeved shirt. I put on my locket and open it. I sigh looking at my family portrait. I feel my lips quiver as I recall that dreaded day.

I was at my districts training center practicing my aim with knife throwing when I heard shouts outside. Somehow I knew it was my family in danger. I ran out the building ignoring my couch's shouts. I got there in time to see half of my home collapse. I shrieked running towards the remains of my house praying my family got out. I knew the didn't but, I kept running. I could've touched the other half when it came crashing down. I dodged a brick that almost claimed my life. I started sobbing hysterically. I couldn't move. Two little hands had to pull me away from the remanding of my home, my family, my world. The tow hands belonged to Carrie and she brought me to her home hand dealt with all of my crap. Within days I was welcomed to her home and family.

I shook my head to come back to the present. I blinked away my tears of hurt and gratitude. I grabbed a brush and brushed my long black hair looking in the cracked mirror. My gray eyes looked up and down my long slender body. They rested on my face. Would I survive the Hunger Games? I thought of all my years of training and how I won't have a family that will distract me. Yes, I think I would. At least I would have a better chance than most. I smiled knowing I would never be reaped. Only volunteers participated in the Hunger games from our district so I had no need to worry. Why they volunteer is a wonder to me because your just signing your death sentence. At lest our district has a shot of winning..I went down to the kitchen and grabbed a piece of toast and nibbled on it until Carrie came down from the bathroom, grabbed an apple and we left to see who would volunteer this year.

We arrived at the town Meeting Hall right as I popped the last piece of toast in my mouth. It was so pretty here. I gasped looking up at our districts escort. You literaly had to look up. Gosh, he's tall. At least eight feet tall and green. I wondered if he was sick or just born like that.

"Wow, was he born that tall? And what about his skin? Is hesick or just weirdly colored?" I asked Carrie. She looked at me as if I was stupid or something. "What?"

"He's altered to be that way, you ignorant fool!" she replied rudely.

"Well I didn't know we could do that!" I answered angrily, which doesn't happen often.

"We can't. The Capitol can." She said pulling me towards the seventeen-year-old section.

We stood there mimicking the Mayor as he begun his speech. We both knew it from heart. He needs to come up with a new speech because the one he was giving now was not original at all. We both giggled when one of us did something but, they thing that sent me laughing out loud was at the end, when he turned the time to our districts escort, and Carrie's face mimicked the Mayor's worried face. I laughed but, Carrie didn't instead she looked distressed. Wow, I never could have kept a face like that for more than 2 seconds unless I meant it. I fell silent when the escort announced his name was Crayono. Like Crayono. I smiled as I thought of the giant in a huge crayon costume. I shook the thought away as he pulled a paper slip out of the bowl.

"Ari Ishastic!" he shouted in the mike. We all covered our ears and looked for the 'lucky girl'. She walked out of the twelve year old section. She was not career material. She would never make it passed the bloodbath. I looked to see who would volunteer until I recalled who she was. Her father was a peacekeeper. No one was going to volunteer. I heard shouts and screams. Her parents. Her siblings. Her family. All of which she had I didn't. I now knew why people volunteer for others. Because they have something to live for while you don't. I sucked in a huge breath and shouted two words that saved one life and might've ended another.

"I volunteer!"

"Why did you do that, you fool!" Carrie shrieked." I told you NEVER do anything stupid and this qualifies as stupid!"

"Carrie, I have no family, she does. I have no siblings, she does. I have no home, she does. I have nothing to lose, she does" I explained knowing it wouldn't change anything.

" You have me! Our family! Our home! Our siblings! Your life! You have everything!" she half sobbed half-shrieked.

"I have a chance to come back she doesn't." I said." It's too late! I'll try my hardest to come back." I promised as the peacekeepers took her away.

"No! You will come back. Promise m-" the door cut her off. I sat down knowing no one else would come. But the door opened and in stepped a peacekeeper. He came towards me and I cringed. Usually when a peacekeeper come towards you pain follows quickly after but, he wrapped is arms around me and started thanking me. It took me a moment to realize that this is Ari's father.

"Take care of yourself out there." He told me. I nodded.

"Will you watch my friends family? Carrie's family?" I asked.

"Of course just promise me one thing. Come home. District one needs more saints like you." He said wiping tears from his eyes.

"I promise." I said promising him and Carrie as well as myself.