I'm up especially early this morning, making my way to the fence. The streets are quieter than usual with families huddled inside, spending what could be their last moments together. It's always like this the morning of the reaping. I listen for the faint humming of electricity, and hear nothing as usual. I slip through the hole in the fence and silently make my way through woods outside of district twelve following the familiar path to the rock where I will meet Katniss, my best friend and hunting partner for the last five years, the girl I've been in love with for almost 2. I retrieve my bow from the hollowed out log and hurry to meet her. We don't have much time this morning, and we need to catch something for the supper our families always have when the reaping is over, and we are safe for another year. This is year is bitter sweet, while is is my last year eligible, it is my brother Rory's, first. I can't help but be nervous, my name is in that glass bowl 42 times. I brush it off for now and check my snares on my way through the forest. I find three rabbits, quickly reset my traps and continued on, already impressed with todays haul.

I come over the hill and see Katniss right where I knew she would be. Her back is to me as she sits on the ledge. She is leaned back on her hands with her face towards the sky, enjoying the rays of sun as it warms her face. She looks at peace, she looks beautiful. She hears me approaching and turns toward me and smiles, her rare smile, the one reserved just for me here in these woods. I sit next to her and pull the loaf for bread out of my bag and hand it to her. "No way!" she says disbelief evident in her voice, "is this real?". I laugh as she breaks it in half and watches the steam rise out of the still warm loaf. "Of course its real" I say, as I take my half. "Happy Hunger Games" I say in my best capitol accent. "And may the odds be ever in your favor" she finishes and plops a juicy blackberry in her mouth. We finish our breakfast in comfortable silence. I can tell she's nervous, but I know her well enough not to comment on it. We get up and start making our way further into the woods. she walks in front of me, her steps light, her bow in her hands and an arrow notched, ready to strike. we hear a rustling in the bushes as two squirrels race out and up a tree, we take aim and release in near perfect synchronization, and impale both squirrels with our arrows. It's years of practice and our knowledge of each other that allows us to work seamlessly together, to be able to communicate without speaking a single word.

After gathering some edible plants and berries, we have more than enough to feed our families. we hid our weapons in the log and make our way back to the fence. We walk back through meadow till we get to her house. Just as I'm about to walk off in the direction of my home, she reaches out and pulls me into a hug. At first I stand still, shocked by her uncharacteristic display of affection, then I wrap my arms around her taking in the smell of her hair, the steady beat of her heart and the feeling of her breath against my chest. I close my eyes and whisper "it will be ok, I'll see you when its over", she nods against my chest, releases me, and heads inside without a word. I walk back to my house with a smile on my face. Maybe she feels something for me like I feel for her, maybe one day soon I'll work up to courage to do something to let her know what she means to me. As I walk through the door, my mom is busy trying to get Rory looking presentable, as Vick and Posy play on the floor, too young to really understand what today means. I slip off my boots and go to the wash basin where she has already heated water. I scrub the dirt off as best I can before I put on my best clothes. When I'm dressed I look over and see Rory fidgeting with the collar on his shirt, obviously nervous but trying to be brave. I look over at him and give him a small smile and a nod, as we leave to go to the square.

I check in at the gate and watch as Rory is shuffled through the line of 12 year olds, they all look terrified. I go and stand by all the other boys my age and search the crowd for Katniss, I catch her eyes and she gives me a small reassuring smile, which I try to return. Next I look for Rory who is now stand with the other 12 year old boys and the front of the square, still nervously playing with the collar of his shirt. By this time the Mayor has taken the stage, along with Effie Trinket, the brightly colored escort, and Haymitch Abernathy, our town drunk and only living Victor. Haymitch says something to Effie and she looks appalled trying to scoot as for from him as possible. The Mayor begins his long speech about the history of Panam and the Dark Days that are now responsible for the Hunger Games. I tuned him out, its the same speech every year. Katniss catches my eye with an exaggerated yawn, and I try to stifle a laugh and look serious. All to soon Effie is at the podium. "Ladies first!" she calls as she walks to the glass bowl on her left. She swishes her hand around a few times, for dramatic effect. All I can think is anyone but Katniss, please anyone but her. "Brooke Carver!" I let out the breath I've been holding and see Katniss breath a sigh of relief. I watch as a girl from the 15 year old section is pushed up on stage, head down, fighting tears. While a women, probably her mother lets out a scream. "Now for the Boys!" Effie chirps, like she's not about to sentence another child to die. I hold my breath again, the square is silent. "Gale Hawthorne!" her voice rings out.

I feel like I'm watching the scene unfold from outside my body. My legs move on their own accord, carrying my up to the stage. I catch Rory's eyes by the front row, his bottom lip trembles like he's about to cry. My mother in the corner is stone faced trying to keep it together, holding on to Posy and Vick as the fail to understand what happening. My eyes finally land on Katniss, who is wide eyed, but sending me a clear message. I must be strong. I square my shoulders and put on my most neutral face, trying to give the impression that I am unfazed and not afraid. My eyes still locked with hers, drawing strength from her. She gives me a slight nod, reassuring me and letting my know I'm succeeding in my effort to look strong and confident. Rachel and I shake hands as Effie announces "the District Twelve tributes for the 73rd Hunger Games." After some polite applause, I'm ushered into the justice building. They lock me in a room to await the goodbyes from my family. This is the last time I will see them. That thought nearly breaks my mask, but I must be strong, or at least appear to be. My family comes running in and my mother immediately grabs ahold of me, finally letting her tears fall. Posy starting crying, not understanding why everyone is so upset. Rory's fighting to be strong. I release my mother and grab him in a big hug. I whisper in his ear "You have to be strong now ok? You take care of mom, Vick and Posy while I'm gone. You're the man of the house now." He nods to me, unable to speak. I grab Vick in a big hug and tell him I love him. I cling to my mother once again and tell her I love her and that I will be ok. She tells me she loves me, over and over, pleading with me to come home. I tell her I will try, though I'm not sure either of us really believe it. I kiss Posy's forehead, just as the peace keeper wrenches them away from me. My little sister screams and reaches for me, but there is nothing I can do as the door slams shut. A few moments later, Katniss busts through the door. She runs straight to me and clings to me and I to her. "Don't let them starve" I plead with her. "Never" she says "You have to come back, I know you can, you have all the skills. You can win." This is the first time I entertained the fact that maybe I could win. Could I come home a Victor? It's possible. She reaches in her pocket and pulls something out and presses it into my hand. Its a small crystal, probably quartz, carved into a heart. It's attached to a thin, gold chain. "My father made it for me, before he died. I want you to have it, for you token, to remind you of all the people here who love you. Who need you to come home alive." I'm about to refuse to take something so special, but before I can speak she leans up on toes and plants a light kiss on my lips. I can't help but smile, despite the situation I'm in. I lean in and kiss her again, she wraps her arms around my neck. She pulls away with tears in her eyes. She blinks them away and hardens her expression "If anyone can win, you can. I know you can make it home." The certainty in her voice gives me strength. I can't give up, I will come home. I look at her with the same fierce expression she gave me and say "I will." As I say it the peace keepers snatch her from me, before I can say anything else, the door is slammed in my face.