Hey again

Life's been really retarded lately, so sorry about the slow updates . I'll update when I can.

chasingafterstarlight- Haha thanks. I was debating who to cast as who so at the end I kinda chose Jade as Katniss, Andre as Gale, Cat as Prim, Trina as Effie...and you'll see the rest of the cast in either this chapter or the next

Disclaimer- .-. Okayyyyy uhhh guess what? I wrote Victorious AND the Hunger Games! Wait- no I didn't. If you thought I did then o.O

Chapter 2- The Tributes

The color drains from Cat's face, leaving her paler than me and whiter than paper. She can't believe that this happened. She numbly pushes past me and starts slowly walking towards the stage, her tears glistening in the sunlight like diamonds as they silently fall down her cheeks. The whole place is screaming silence at the top of it's lungs. The shock of everyone seems to drain the energy out of the place, since most of them know Cat. And how helpless she is.

My mind is reeling and I almost collapse to the ground. Cat of all people, Cat is going to fight in the Games. Some random girl grabs my arm and holds me up. I look at my cousins face and see the pure terror and shock of being chosen written all over her face. I stand up and shake the girl's arm off me. "Cat!" I manage to choke out, running forward towards her. They all part to let me through to her.

Two guards step out and grab me, pinning my arms behind my back. I thrash at them and kick them, but the only tighten my grip on me, cutting off my circulation. "Let me go," I growl, but they don't seem to notice...or care. "I volunteer!" I hear my self scream. They immediately let go of my arms and I crash to the ground, dust flying up into my face. I ignore the stinging feeling in my eyes and their offers of helping me up, running to Cat and pushing her behind me. "I volunteer as tribute."

"No!" she cries, clinging tightly to my waist as tears pour down her small face as I try to walk forward to the stage. It's all I can do to keep the tears fromm rolling down my face as well. "Cat let me go," I say quietly but firmly. She sobs harder and grips tighter on my waist, making it harder to breathe each passing second while sobbing as violently as the day she saw her parents' lifeless bodies. "Let go."

She shakes her head, her body trembling with spasms of sobbing and shaking. Somewhere from around the back of the crowd, Andre comes and grabs Cat, gently pulling her away from me. She refuses and he's forced to rip her away from me, her nails scratching my skin through the fabric. I wince slightly as the pain sears throughout my waist, but I try not to let the pain show much on my face. She screams , crying and kicking him but he holds her firmly. "Up you go Jade," he says, his voice thick as if he's trying to hold back tears.

I nod in his direction in silent thanks as I mount the stage. Trina's shocked expression passes in a second as she regains her composure and she grabs my arm, helping me onto the stage. For a second I think we'll both fall until I regain my balance and she lets go of me "Well, isn't this an exciting day?" she says in her usual chippy tone. "What's your name?" She points the microphone in my direction.

"Jadelyn West," I manage to choke out, grateful that I'm still able to speak, even if I feel like I'm gonna either puke or fall over. Wouldn't that make a scene?

"Brave thing you did there. Uh, who's this girl that you would put your life on the line for?" she asks, raising an eyebrow slightly We've never had a volunteer before in the history of Region 12...today I was the first.

There are many answers that I could tell her about who Cat is. Adopted sister. Best friend. Cousin. Relative. Family friend. "She's my sister," I say quietly. I feel Cat looking at me and I give a weak smile for her sake, but I don't dare to look at her to avoid crying.

"Oh, she is," Trina trills, donning a huge fake smile. Man I'd love to just slap her right now. "Let's have a huge round of applause for the first volunteer ever in the history of Region 12, Jadelyn West!"She applauds quite loudly until she realizes that she's the only one clapping.

Instead, the people of Region 12 look at me mournfully and press the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips, holding it out to me. I choke back a sob at the gesture, one rarely even seen at funerals anymore. It's a sign of saying goodbye who meant a lot to you. I mean that much to people?

"Well," Trina says, unsure of what to make of this gesture. "Let's find out who our male tribute is!" She walks awkwardly over to the glass bowl containing the names of the boys' names as my heart's pounding in my head. God, please don't let it be Andre, please don't let it be Andre, please don't let it be-

"Beckett Oliver," she reads out, looking at the crowd. Nonononononono. Please tell me I heard wrong. Please tell me I'm just sleeping. This isn't real, this isn't happening, I'll wake up in a few minutes to Cat singing some random Taylor Swift song. But the odds aren't in my favor today.

A tall, tanned, muscular boy with long, pitch black hair stands up from somewhere in the crowd. His dark, coffee colored eyes dart from me to Trina to the audience, and back again as he takes his place on the other side of her. My eyes meet his and I gulp uncomfortably.

There is no possible way he can remember me. He was always one of the guys in school that girls were all over and guys wanted to be his best friend, while I was the dark, hostile mean girl that no one understood could have a relation to the ever happy Cat Valentine. His family lived in the richer side of town while mine lived in the poorer. We only had a brief interaction ten years ago, during one of the darker days. One interaction I knew I would never forget...

Sorry this is a bit shorter but I didn't have as much time to write it.

-DAN