Disclaimer: I don't own the HG or MR…I wish I did but… nope.

That evening at dinner things had been exceptionally awkward. Rosie had been poking at her food and glancing at my mom every once in a while, and my mom had her jaw set tightly.

"Girls," As soon as my mom said this Rosie sat up straighter.

"Yes?" She said slowly.

"It has come to my attention that… one of you has been asking about the Hunger Games," Mom looked at both of us.

Fear took form on Rosie's face, "Oh… the – "

My mom turned her attention to Rosie, "I think it is time you know, please come outside with me."

The color drained out of Rosie's face, "I don't have to know – "

"It's time you have."

Rosie shook her head, "Dessity says that I don't want to know what it is."

My mom turned and glared at me, "Dessity..."

I wanted to sink in my seat, "She asked me earlier today – "

"Well no more questions about it, come on Rosie,"

I could hear Rosie gulp from a thousand miles away as she walked outside with our mom.

"Poor Rosie…" I said under my breath.

"Poor Roozie!" Avery giggled.

I managed to half smile, "That's right, she's going through a hard time right now."

"Poor Roozie!" Avery giggled again.

I looked down at my plate, which was still loaded with mashed beets and gritty bread. My mother said that I got the most mashed beets because, "a fifteen year old girl needs healthy beets in every meal." Truthfully, I hated beets, and I wasn't too crazy about the homemade gritty bread my mom made either.

"I wish we could just go to the bakery in town," I groaned as I took a small nibble of the bread.

"Blech, dat yuk yuk!" Avery made a face, and then sneezed.

I nodded my head, "I'm with you girlie."

After a few more nibbles of my bread my mom and Rosie came back into the house. Rosie's face was red as if she had been crying, and mom's face looked sad.

"Well, "she said, "Let's continue with dinner…"

Rosie didn't look like she wanted to eat at all, so she asked mom if she could go outside.

"Why – of course Rosie…"

I watched Rosie walk out the door, I felt so bad for her, "Mom, I'm not hungry either, could I go out and talk to Rosie?"

My mom's face softened, "Yes, as of right now, I think she really needs you."

I nodded, "Thanks Mom."

I stood up and walked to the door. When I got outside Rosie was sitting on the old rocking chair that we kept on our porch. She had tear stains on her cheeks, and I could still hear her sniffling.

"Hey, "I said softly.

Rosie looked up with surprise on her face, "Oh… hi Dessity…"

"How are you holding up?"

More tears came from Rosie, "I – I'm scared for you…"

"Why me?" I was stunned.

"Because you could get picked in six days," Rosie cried.

I hugged her, "I won't get picked…"

"You won't?" I could see a hint of hope in Rosie's eyes.

"No, of course not,"

"You promise?"

I looked down, I didn't want to tell her that I didn't know if I was going to get picked or not, "I – I don't know Rosie, we'll see."

Rosie had a confused look on her face as I started to walk down the road, "Tell Mom I'm going out for another walk!" I yelled to her as I continued to walk.

I walked all the way to the fences, without even knowing it, I knew that James was hiding in the tree to the left of the fences a little ways back in the woods.

I ran to the edge of the fence and started to dig, I had a shirt with slits in the back hiding under some of the dirt just in case I wasn't wearing one. And at the time, I wasn't.

I grabbed I shirt and ran to an old shack that stood in front of the fences. I quickly changed, and then charged out and flew over the fence.

"Hey, you came," James smiled.

"Sure I did," I smiled smugly.

James and I began to fly around over the woods, we started out with small talk, and then James made things get really weird.

"So, what did you have for dinner?" He asked.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't know, just wondering," He shrugged.

"I had mashed beets and something that my mom defines as bread," I rolled my eyes.

James laughed, "I had – get this – you ready?"

I nodded, he smiled, "Beet stew."

"Ew… I'd rather go hungry."

James looked down, "Speaking of hunger…"

Here it comes, I thought, he's going to talk about the Games.

"Are you nervous?" He asked.

I shrugged, "Not as nervous as my little sister."

"Is it her first year in the reaping?" He asked.

I laughed and shook my head, "No, she's eight years old, hopefully they wont send kids that age into the arena."

James blushed and then looked down, "It's my fourth year…"

"My third,"

"So that's how old you are," James glanced at me.

"What?"

"You're fifteen, it's you're third year."

"Oh," I nodded, "Yeah."

We flew in silence, I looked down at the ground, I could see a few deer run by but that was it.

"Hey Dessity?"

I looked at James, "Yeah?"

"I'm really glad I met you, because… you know – you're wings." James' said as he scratched his neck.

I smiled, "You too…bird boy."