Chapter 2:

No. Her, of all people? I can't stand it when twelve year olds are picked to be in the games. They have almost no chance of winning.

I jolt out of my trance when I hear someone shouting from the side. I snap my head towards the person: Alessandra. She is shouting for someone to take Rosalinda's place.

I hear the sound of desperation in her voice, and it tears me apart inside. I couldn't let my best friend be in this much distress. But no one was going to volunteer for Rosalinda. Even though everyone loves her, they care too much about their own lives.

I know what I have to do. I look over at Alessandra and make eye contact with her. She can tell exactly what I am about to do. "No, Lauren! Don't do it!"

But I turn away from her. I look towards the stage and see that Rosalinda is almost there. She's so small, and I start thinking about how the Career tributes will be massive compared to her, and how they'll easily be able to overwhelm her with their strength. This only makes my decision resolute.

"I volunteer!" I shout out in a clear voice. I start to walk towards the stage. I keep my head held high; I don't want the other tributes thinking I am weak. Besides, this is exactly what I have been dreaming of my entire life.

I finally make my way to the stage. Cresselia is practically bouncing out of happiness. It's not often that District 7 has a volunteer. "Great! Now what's your name?" she asks cheerfully.

"Lauren Diamond," I say proudly. I look at the crowd and my eyes meet with Kendall. I can tell that he is worried about me, he has always tried to protect me. I give him a smile to let him know that I'll be ok.

While this exchange has been going on, Cresselia has walked across the stage to pick the boy tribute. And I thought the Reaping couldn't get worse today with who was picked.

Chris Mitchell.

The love of my life. Picked to be in the Hunger Games. If one of us makes it out, then the other is dead. I start shaking my head no in denial.

"No, no, no, no, no!" I quietly mumble. Great, I'm going to have an emotional breakdown in front of all of Panem.

But then I hear someone's voice shouting out that they volunteer: Kendall.

He walks onto the stage and is greeted by Cresselia. "Wow another volunteer!" she says cheerfully. "Now what's your name?"

"Kendall Knight," he says with a pained look at me. I know how hard this must be for him, to volunteer to be in something he has despised his entire life. And he knows that he will most likely not make it out; not if I am to, which is quite obviously his plan.

"I'm guessing you two must be siblings!" Cresselia says happily. "Now shake hands you two."

We do as we're told and then the anthem starts playing. I glance over at Stefan, and notice that for once he doesn't look bored. Probably because of the excitement that two people volunteered, and their siblings. The anthem ends and we are brought into the Justice Building by the peacekeepers.

I sit in my room, waiting for my first visitor to walk in. James opens the door and I give him a hug.

"Listen to me, Lauren," he begins in a stern voice. "I think you have the potential to win the games. Make sure you get an ax right away, that will help you the most. Stay away from the Career tributes, they will only kill you later on. And make sure you help out Kendall, you're his only hope for making it past the bloodbath."

I nod my head in response, knowing he is right. "I love you, James."

The peacekeepers then walk in to take him away. "I love you too Lauren! Remember what I said," he shouts as he is being walked out the door.

The door shuts and I sit back down on the couch, waiting for the next person. I don't have to wait too long. The door opens and Alessandra and Rosalinda walk in.

Alessandra runs to me and squeezes me in a tight hug. "Lauren, thank you so much! I don't know what I would have done if she had to go and fight, and I had to sit here and watch her die," she says through her sobs.

I rub her back and try to sooth her. "Shh, it's alright, she's not going anywhere," I say. "I had to volunteer for her. No one else was going to, and I knew you couldn't. She is like a sister to me, and I needed to protect her." I'm starting to get a little teary eyed.

Rosalinda starts pulling on my sleeve. "Lauren, thank you for saving my life. I brought something," she says has she reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a necklace that has two axes in an "X" on it. "I know that each tribute is allowed to have a token, and I want you to have this as yours. My father gave it to me when I was younger. But since your so skilled with axes, I think it's fitting to have as your token. And it will be something to remind you of everyone at home."

I take the necklace and put it around my neck. "Thank you, Rosalinda. This is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me," I say with a smile. I pull her into a hug, but then the peacekeepers walk in. Then they're gone.

Chris walks in and I run into his arms. I can't help but start crying. He was so close to having to go into the arena, and face almost certain death.

We just sit holding each other for a few minutes. Then Chris begins to talk. "I visited Kendall. To ask him why he volunteered for me. He did it all to protect you. He said he knows how much I mean to you, and he didn't want you to have to live without me, should you win. So he volunteered to protect you, so you would be happy." He pauses briefly. "And when you do win the games, I want to marry you," he says with a smile.

"Of course, Chris," I say through my tears. "I love you," I say and hug him again.

Two peacekeepers walk in. One to take Chris and the other to lead me to the train station. I wipe my tears away as we walk out of the building. I get to ride in a car for the first time, going to the station. There are cameras everywhere, trying to get the best view of the District 7 tributes. We meet up with Kendall at the station. I grab his hand, suddenly realizing that my time left with my older brother, is very limited.