A/N: All of the stories are starting to tie in! Yay for obnoxiously long chapters!

Part 6: Lucas Crawford, District 2

Being strong is a bad thing where I come from.

Ahem, that didn't come out right…

Being strong where I come from is practically a plea for more work.

And more work is bad. More work is dangerous.

People like you when you're strong. You have lots of friends and a ton of authority.

And I like authority, I guess… But still, more work is dangerous. I learned it the hard way.

Well, hold on a second.

Let's rewind.

My name is Lucas Crawford. Right now, I'm 18 years old.

I'm from District 2.

I'm tall and blonde and have gray eyes.

And I'm strong, apparently. Because I train a good deal.

I don't think I'd really like to train. I'd rather be walking outside or something of the sort, because I love nature.

But the problem is that training is really the only thing there is to do here. There are no schools, except for Academies to train and learn about survival. I'd like to study biology, or especially astronomy, anything but the fine art of the Hunger Games.

I will never understand why children killing children is amusing to this damn District. Maybe because it's really a good business opportunity for the factories.

I mean, who do you think makes the weapons that are found in the Cornucopia? Who do you think makes the metal sheets for the Cornucopia?

We have it well here at District 2. But there are still tons of factories and still tons of work to be done. Whoever said that every single person here trains all day, every day, is wrong.

There are poor people here, too. And those people are the workers who make weapons.

But, those people are actually paid very well. Because we have great economy here. The Capitol needs us for their Hunger Games or else it would just be some stupid wrestle-fest.

And that, my friends, is how District 2 is so close to the Capitol. Tada.

So, now that the introduction's all over, let me take you through a normal day of my life.

The sun gracefully rises in a wave of oranges, reds and pinks, and it's so beautiful and easy to see. Not.

Whatever beautiful picture you had in you heads, take it out right now. Because it's so not true.

The sun appears out of absolutely nowhere. It's like… it goes from night to morning in the blink of an eye.

So that's the morning.

I get up early. Usually around 5:30.

Today's no exception. I get up and sit up in bed. Looking out the window I once again see the almost kind of slim traces of sunrise in the sky.

Then I get ready to face my day, which doesn't take me very long.

After that I head out to the kitchen for some breakfast.

"Hi Lucas," Mom says. She seems a little sad today.

"Mom, you Ok?"

"I'm fine," she says, "How are you feeling?"

"Good." I finish the banana I'm eating and throw away the peel.

I hate training. With everything in me. But I do it anyways because I have to.

If I don't… I'll be a disgrace to my District. So I take a sword from the rack and half-heartedly swing at a dummy.

I do that for at least two hours. The Academy is practically empty around this time.

Around 8:00 more people start coming in. Groups of friends, happy couples…. I don't have any friends around here. So I hang around and train for a while before giving up and wandering.

People used to think I was homeless.

They know better now.

I walk around my District mindlessly.

Then I grab some lunch and train some more.

This time I use spears instead of swords. And that eats up a couple of hours.

Then I wander my way home.

I'm lucky. Nobody bullies me. Here at 2 there are two different groups of people: the bullies: a big group of friends who hang out constantly. And the freaks: another big group of friends. I don't fit into either group, so I'm just like that third group.

And I hate this time of year because it seems like love's in the air everywhere but around me. I've been seeing couples everywhere.

A girl and a guy, two of the girl "freaks," a couple of the bullies… People writing love letters, with flowers and candy…

Tonight when I get home, my Mom's not in the living room where she usually is.

"Mom?"

I run upstairs to her bedroom, "Mom!"

"In the kitchen," she says. I run downstairs and she's there.

"Sit down." Something's definitely not right.

I sit across from her, confused.

She can't hold in the tears anymore. She cries and I'm left to watch.

"Mom! What's wrong with you?"

"Lucas," she sobs.

I take her hands in mine from across the table.

"What's wrong?"

Suddenly the door bursts open.

"Lucas Crawford?" a guy and a girl in white enter the room.

Peacekeepers?

"What's going on?" I ask, panicking, "I didn't do a damn thing wrong, what's going on?"

"Lucas," the woman says, "The Capitol is fresh out of Peacekeepers and you've been selected to take a position."

The news is stunning. I never thought it would happen to me… Me of all people…

My Mom sobs harder.

Both of them hold out a hand to me. "You're coming with us."

I don't know what else to do. I do as they say.

I stand up calmly and say a sad goodbye to my Mom.

"Love you, Mom…." I whisper, broken, "But maybe I'll find Dad."

Then, without a single tear shed or another word said, I turn around and walk out.

I left it all behind that day. Every single last part of my life.

My Dad was forced to become a Peacekeeper, as well. It was awful. We still don't know where he is.

We are all immediately put on a train and sent to the Capitol to begin our training.

There are about 20 other teens there and I recognize none of them. They're all quiet, some are standing like I am, some are sitting.

The scenery passes by and I stare out the window.

Then I do see someone I recognize. She's sitting, staring out the window opposite from mine.

She has short but straight brownish red hair, with maroon eyes. I know her to be one of the "freaks…" a lesbian, if I remember right.

She's curled up into a ball, head popping up to watch the scenery fly by.

I sit next to her, watching her scenery.

She looks up suddenly. "Um… Hi?"

I have no idea how to react… I haven't really talked to people besides my Mom…

"Hello?" she says, irritated, waving a hand in front of my face.

I blink, still thinking of what kind of greeting would justify my coming and appearing out of nowhere.

"State your business!"

I try to choke out something when she repeats herself, "Try again. State your business."

I think some more, finally coming up with a sentence when she says, with a slight chuckle, "You're something else, do you know that? Are you mute or something?"

"No! No, I'm not mute… I just…"

"Wanted to make friends, eh?"

I nod, "Guess so."

"So… Who are you?"

I should've expected that because I don't talk to a lot of people, but the question throws me for a loop.

"L…Lucas Crawford… District 2."

She laughs ever-so-slightly. "I'm teasing," she says. "My friends and I promised that the first thing we'd ask if you ever opened your damn yap would be who are you. Seems a little dumb now…"

I shrug, "Whatever."

"Do you know me?"

"Your name's something like… Um…"

She waits as I stumble on words.

"Rouge, right?"

She nods, "Another word for the color red." She bites her lip, drawing my attention to her red lipstick.

"Right. So you didn't know about this either, I'm guessing."

"We got the enlistment letter this morning. My whole family was devastated."

"What about your friends?"

She shrugs, biting her lip again, but this time I think it's out of guilt. "I didn't really tell them."

"Oh." I nod, even though I don't really understand.

"Don't think they're gonna be so thrilled when they find out."

"I don't think they'll care. As long as you can shoot a gun 'nd stuff."

"Words of such wisdom," she says sarcastically.

I laugh slightly, something that I'm glad I can do. "I'm a pretty wise person."

"So they say."

"Who?"

"A couple of my friends. Had little crushes on you at periods of time. The only nice kid who isn't creepy."

"But… You're friends with boys, mostly…."

She shrugs, rolling her eyes, "Well duh. Aren't you observant?"

The thought of gay guys crushing on me is a little unsettling.

I shrug, "Um… Right."

She laughs, "Not used to us, are ya?"

I nod slowly.

The train screeches to a stop at District One.

"I hope I get assigned to District Two," she says thoughtfully, "Or One…"

"Guess it all depends…"

She shrugs, "I guess. Just saying, it'd be nice."

I nod.

The train lurches forward again and we are suddenly engulfed in darkness on our way to wherever the hell we're going.

I can't see Rouge but I hear her among the quiet whispering. "I can't believe they took us," she squeaks. "That they took me. From my family… From the girl I loved…"

"That sucks."

"Sucks is an understatement," she says sadly.

I nod. "Yeah…"

We sit in silence for the rest of the ride.

Training was a long and hard process. It made me even stronger than I was before, though.

Rouge changed from the sad girl I knew before to a strong, determined, angry beast of a girl.

And that's dangerous.

It's the last day of training and before we gather, Rouge finally seems like herself.

"What if I get to go to 2?" She asks, "We could get home, Lucas!"

"We could, couldn't we?" I think of my Mom. I could see her again. Still live in my house… And bear authority… I smile.

"That'd be so great," she says, grinning.

"So so great!"

She grins and takes my hand in hers, and we walk to our post together.

Our trainer stands in front of us, a clipboard in her hands.

"Today, Peacekeepers, you get your District Assignments!" her expression remains as hard as stone.

"You will find out today where you will be assigned, and each of you will get a ten-minute-phone call to any person of your choosing. Then you will all be shipped off to assume your positions."

We all stand at firm attention like we're supposed to.

She starts at the end of the line opposite to ours. That means Rouge will be last.

"Aaron Wilder! Home District: Capitol. Assignment…" she pauses a second to build suspense. The kid looks like he's going to pee his pants he's so nervous and excited. "District 1."

He smiles immediately and exhales the breath he was holding.

"Next…."

She goes through the line of people, all ranging in age from 18 to about 30.

"Patrick Stevens. Home District: 2. Assignment… District 6."

"Michael Pierce. Home District: 1. Assignment… District 4."

The room fills with ooooooooo's and aaaaahhhhh's of the jealous recruits.

"Alden-James Hudson."

"It's AJ!" he interjects.

"Home District," she continues with a glare, "One. Assignment…. District 7."

And so it goes on, until she finally gets to me. I'm ready to burst with terrible nervousness and excitement.

"Lucas Crawford."

I bounce on my feet, excited, even though we're technically not supposed to.

"Home District…2."

I say it with her in my head. I already know this.

Now for the part I don't know. I close my eyes, hoping for her to say District 2.

"Assignment…."

She seems to pause FOREVER. I'm not sure if it's just because I look like an afraid, nervous puppy, or if it's the same amount of time she used for everyone and it just seems like forever.

"District 7."

District 7.

District Seven.

District Three plus Four. District Five plus Two, District Ten minus Three, District 7.

My Dad's in District 11. My Mom's in District 2. I'm not going to see either of them in a long time.

But District 7 doesn't seem so bad. There's lots of nature, lots of trees. I like that. I could live with that.

Then I zone back in to hear Rouge's District.

Part of me hopes it's 7 as well.

Part of me hopes it's 2. She could pass messages on to my family, and she at least could be happy at home with her family.

"Rouge Beauregard."

Her eyes dart around nervously.

"Home District: 2."

She gulps, keeping her chin up.

"Assignment…."

Rouge is trying not to be afraid.

"District 12."

Everyone nods sympathetically.

Absolutely nobody wants to go to 12. The farthest away from anyone they knew. And Rouge was the only one.

"Aaron. You get to call first." She says, taking him back with her.

"District…." She chokes out the words, "Twelve…"

The most starving, run-down, beat-up place in the world. And Rouge has to go there. Alone.

"I'm so sorry…" I whisper.

"I'm fine," she finally says, "I'm fine. I'll just… Go to District 12 and catch bad guys…"

But she accepts my hug. And she blinks away tears.

She whispers in my ear, so quietly nobody can hear, "Oh, Lucas… What am I gonna do?"

"You'll find someone in 12, that's what… You found someone here."

"But…" her words are cut off by sobs. Muffled in my shoulder.

"I… I'll make this right."

No response. Just sobs.

"Patrick! Phone call."

I rub her back, "We'll get out of this."

"How?" she finally choke out, "I'll never see them again. None of them."

"I'll get you there."

She nods quietly.

We sit in silence until it's my turn to make the phone call.

"Sit tight."

I walk to the room and pick up the receiver.

I shakily press the numbers and hear my mom's voice.

"Lucas?"

"Mom," I say, suddenly feeling even number than with Rouge.

"Lucas!"

"I'm going to District 7."

"7?"

"Yes. But we might be able to see each other again someday."

She's crying again. I can tell.

"Oh, Lucas!"

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, dear," she whispers, tears in her voice.

"I'll never forget where I came from. Don't forget me, or dad. Please."

"I won't… I swear…" she chokes out.

"Time's up! Say your goodbyes!"

"I have to go now. I love you so much," I say, and my Mom sobs.

"Lucas! Please! Don't go for real! Don't go forever!"

But they make me hang up on her.

And that's it.

Rouge is more herself on the train. Guess she said whatever she needed to say in her phone call.

"Can't believe I'm going to District 12," she says, clearly broken.

"Me neither," making a joke is risky, but she appreciates it a little.

"You're not so bad, Crawford."

"Thanks. You're a lot more awesome than I thought."

She manages a smile.

Then I get a tablet and write to her. We're getting out of here.

She looks at it and writes back, How?

You escape. I escape. We run away together.

You really think that'll work.

She says out loud, "Idiot."

I'm serious. Give me a week. Then sneak out of your District. Hopefully I'll be near enough to find you. But if not we need a signal.

She clicks and whistles like a bird. I impersonate her.

Good that?

Good that.

We rip the paper off the tablet and I rip it.

"You don't have to be so rageful," she says naturally, "I just beat you at Tic-Tac-Toe."

I try not to crack a smile. "Well you shouldn't have!"

"I cornered you."

I sigh, rolling my eyes naturally.

She smiles sweetly.

"Now stopping at District 6!"

They read off the list of names.

"Next stop, District 7! Should be around 15-20 minutes, so be prepared."

Rouge squeaks, and throws her arms around my neck. We hug the whole rest of the way to my new District. She buries her face in my shoulder. I do everything in my power not to cry.

"Now arriving in District 7!" it seems too soon.

"Lucas Crawford, AJ Hudson…"

"So this is goodbye," I say.

"It is…" she says, struggling to hold back tears.

I hug her one last time and whisper quietly, "Give me a week."

Then I give her a nod and she smiles through tears, nodding back. Then I walk out of the train to my new District: but not for long.

"Wow," AJ says, amazed at the trees, "Look at this place!"

"It's sure interesting, ain't it?" another boy asks.

"For sure…"

We all walk around, in those itchy uniforms, looking at the people.

There's one that catches my eye. I'm not sure if it's because she's the only one there with long hair, or…

Wow, she's pretty.

She looks exhausted, though. Tired and a little grouchy.

"Lucas!" AJ snaps me out of my confusion.

"Hunh? Oh, um, sorry…"

"Come on. Walk forward."

I stumble after them.

That night, I gather supplies for my big escape.

That girl flashes before my eyes almost every time I blink. I can barely stop thinking about her.

I can't keep thinking of her… I need to focus. Escape tonight. Find Rouge.

I sneak quietly out of our new hut. I couldn't sleep there, anyways. The woods is confusing, even with a flashlight, but I swallow my fear and walk until I hear the hum of electricity.

A fence. Now the second hard part. Finding an opening.

Then I hear footsteps. I turn around and that girl is there. From before. I'm almost positive.

"You want out, too?" she asked, stepping towards me. Her voice is a lot different than I imagined it to sound.

I think. How should I answer this?

"Tell me about it," she mutters sarcastically upon my lack of response.

"Do you know how to get out?"

She scoffs, "Do I know how to get out?" She laughs slightly, "Of course. It was also how I got in."

"You got in?"

"I'm from District 8," she confesses, "And I left my twin brother behind."

"Why'd you leave?"

She sniffles, a tear rolling down her face, "It's…"

"Never mind," I say quickly, "Doesn't matter."

She nods thankfully.

"So you're leaving?"

"Plan to."

"What's your name?" she asks quietly, then adds a giggle, "So I can deny everything they ask about you."

I smile, "Lucas. You?"

"I'm Emma," she whispers, reaching out to shake my hand.

I take it.

She suddenly pulls back. "You're a Peacekeeper," she whispers, shocked.

"I was forced," I whisper quickly, and all fear flies out of her.

"You were?"

"I was. How could you tell?"

"My District is all about making fabric. I know these things."

I smile, "You're a smart cookie."

"Thanks. So you really have to go, eh? I think I could've liked you."

"I think I could've liked you, too. Eh, I'll be back. Possibly."

"Ok. If you meet someone with ginger hair and green eyes, tell him Emma said hi. His name is Jack. He's a huge jokester."

I nod, "I'll make sure to keep a lookout."

"Thanks." She stands on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek, "Good luck."

I feel my temperature rising and a blush forming on my face and down my neck. "Th…Thanks."

Then I get on my hands and knees and use my flashlight to illuminate the hole in the fence. Then I crawl through.

After a week of passing fences, trekking and sleeping, I come up to the fence that's hopefully from District 12. I immediately click and make bird noises, still thinking of Emma, but ready to see Rouge again.

I keep clicking for at least an hour, and start to panic.

What if I'm in the wrong place?

What if she's blowing me off?

What if-

I hear footsteps.

I'm tackled and my affectionate friend hugs me and sobs.

"Rouge! You're-"

"I can't believe I did it!" she cries.

"Did what?"

"I… I… I…"

"You?"

"I was on duty…" she says, then gasps for air, "And there was this guy," she gasps again, "And I caused it!"

"Caused what?"

She puts both hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look into her eyes.

"Sixty… Whippings… Lucas. Sixty."

"Sixty?!" I ask, surprised.

"SIXTY!" she said, "AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY WAS WATCHING! THE POOR GUY WAS PRACTICALLY DEAD! AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT!"

"Oh Rouge…"

She whispers in my ear, "They threatened me, Lucas. They threatened me that if I didn't turn in someone that they'd shoot me. I had to! But now I just feel awful," she says.

"Come on," I say quietly, "Let's go…"

I start walking and she follows, still crying.

We walk for the day and stop at night.

The next day, we keep walking. Suddenly, we hear a loud noise.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?"

"Sh!" I say, pushing her along. I hide in a bush. She hides next to me.

Suddenly, when I look up, a metal thing is flying down at us. "ROUGE!"

I roll out of the way and look over.

She's impaled.

And her body's going back up to that hovercraft.

I get up and run. I run as fast as I can in the other direction, not stopping to listen for the small explosion that I hear.

Then I run into a completely barren area and see a person there.

"He made it!" the boy says, flailing a camera around, "He made it!"

"The girl?" another boy appears beside him.

"No… But the boy made it!"

"Come on." The dark-haired boy takes me by the shoulders and takes me inside.

But it was the other boy that caught my attention.

Tall, thin, ginger hair and green eyes.

Can't be. It can't be. Just a coincidence.

"I'm Rizzo. This is-"

"Call me Jax now. I just don't like how Jack sounds in a high-tech place like this."

And I grin and realize, It's him.

FATE

Lucas made it to District 13 and gave Jack the knowledge that Emma was alive and well. It was one of the only things that kept Jack sane throughout the revolution. Lucas was right: he did see Emma again. They reunited and fell in love after the revolution was over. Just not where everyone thought… But, that's another story. He became a general for District 13 and never forgot Rouge, his best friend who helped him through.