So…I'm back with another Hunger Games fanfic. This one wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it down. Backstory time! Last summer…almost a year ago now…I went on a cruise with my family. Now, a year later, I decided to write down what I did in the hopes that it would be forever memorialized. Some details in this story are based on real-life experience…aside from the whole "meeting Peeta" thing. Why couldn't that have happened to me? Anyway, others play on things that I experienced and there are still others that were twisted in just for this story.

A word on story structure…though I'm not usually a fan of this type of story, I will be writing a short (chapter-wise) story with long chapters. Therefore, it kinda sorta balances out a little. Once we get going, each chapter will reflect a day with the cruise vacation. It's going to be a lot different than the structure of my other Hunger Games fanfic "Yours To Hold", that's for sure.

Well, I believe that is all. I really hope everyone enjoys this story because I've been wanting to write a Hunger Games AU for the longest time and the opportunity has finally presented itself.

[Linda Ronstadt]
Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moon light
Someone's thinking of me
And loving me tonight

[James Ingram]
Somewhere out there
Someone's saying a prayer
That we'll find one another
In that big somewhere out there

And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star

[Linda Ronstadt]
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky

[Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram]
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true

[musical interlude]

[James Ingram]
And even though I know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be wishing
On the same bright star

[Linda Ronstadt]
And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
It helps to think we're sleeping
Underneath the same big sky

[Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram]
Somewhere out there
If love can see us through (can see us through)
Then we'll be together
Somewhere out there
Out where dreams come true
...

Chapter 1: Preparations

"Can we go on a cruise? I really want to!"

Katniss looked up from her school textbook at the sound of her sister trying to again convince their parents to take a cruise sometime in the near future. How many times was this now that Prim had asked them that question? Katniss has lost count weeks ago…maybe months ago. It was definitely not a new question to be brought up in the Everdeen household.

"Prim, go do your schoolwork," was the answer from their mother. Just like always, their answer neither affirmed or declined their youngest daughter's suggestion.

"I already did my homework. Please, please, please can we go on a cruise? I've always heard that they're so much fun!"

Mrs. Everdeen went back to cooking dinner and Prim, not entirely satisfied by the silent treatment from her mother, went upstairs to their bedroom. Katniss went back to her textbook. She usually tried to get her homework done at school because she knew that it was hard to concentrate on it at home.

Dinner that night was fairly quiet and Katniss briefly wondered if Prim was sick. She was always so energetic and outgoing, the direct opposite of Katniss herself. After dinner, Katniss joined Prim upstairs in their bedroom. She hoped that the quiet upstairs would help her to concentrate on her still unfinished homework.

"I really do want to go on a cruise, Katniss. Do you think Mom and Dad don't want to?" Prim asked her suddenly.

Setting her book aside, Katniss replied, "I don't even begin to understand how they think, but don't worry. Everything will work out. It always does."

"Yeah, I guess so." Prim could tell that Katniss wanted to finish her homework, so she walked to the bookcase and picked up a book to read.

By the time Katniss finished all of her homework, it was late and they had to get to bed for another day of school. Katniss made sure that Prim was comfortably in bed before she switched off the light, but she had no problem getting back to the bed; the streetlamps outside their bedroom window ensured that.

Most nights, it was hard to sleep well. Because the Everdeen family home lie on the main city road, there were many nights where the girls would be woken by emergency response vehicles and there always seemed to be that one idiot who insisted on blaring their radio, despite it being after midnight. Tonight was no exception. The girls had gotten better at sleeping through the loud sounds outside, but it still would wake up Katniss occasionally.

Morning came too soon and Katniss was definitely not a morning person. The alarm, which sat on a nightstand under the window, blared its call and Katniss dragged herself out of bed to shut it off. Once the shrill tone had ceased, she walked over to the other bed and made sure that Prim was awake. When she was satisfied that Prim was fully awake and would not sneak back to sleep, Katniss grabbed her clothes for the day and headed to the bathroom to take a quick shower. After she finished and had changed, she checked her cell phone to see if Gale had texted, but it was then she realized that she had never answered him back. Promising to do it later (since she'd see him soon enough anyway), she headed downstairs to grab a small breakfast.

Right on time, Gale's old, beat-up car pulled up outside. Everyday, he drove Katniss and Prim to school and back home. The girls entered on the right side of the car, Katniss in the passenger seat and Prim in back, to avoid having to walk into the street. Just as he did each day, he stopped at the middle school to drop off Prim, promising to be back as soon as the high school let out…and Katniss was ready.

At the high school after Gale parked his car in the student lot, Gale and Katniss split up, heading to where they needed to go for the day. Sometimes Katniss really hated that Gale was a year older than her. She knew that she would see him at lunch in a few hours, but he was her only friend and she would be completely alone until then.

Just like always, the day dragged by. Between classes, she would sneak in text messages to Gale. She had gotten good at this "hide the phone whenever a teacher passed by" trick. Finally, it was time for lunch. It was a beautiful spring day so Katniss and Gale decided to eat lunch in the school's fenced-in courtyard. Contrary to the rest of the day, lunch always went by so fast and, before Katniss knew it, she was saying goodbye to Gale once again for the rest of the day.

After lunch, Katniss always had trouble concentrating on her classes. Her mind was hours ahead, waiting for the time when she could meet back up with Gale and climb into his car. Finally, the hours passed and, at 2:55 PM, the final bell rang, signaling the end of another day. Katniss quickly exited the class and went to her locker to grab what she needed for that night. She did not want to keep Gale or her little sister waiting. Prim already had to wait close to a half hour each day for Gale to arrive at the middle school.

Finishing, Katniss met up with Gale and they walked out to his car together. Just like everyday, he asked her the familiar question. "How were your classes today, Catnip?"

With a small smile, Katniss gave him her usual answer. "Slow."

Just like always, when all the student drivers tried to leave at the same time, a mini-traffic jam occurred. Katniss always felt bad for making her little sister wait, but Gale always did his best to get there as soon as he could. Once a pattern for exiting the parking lot was established, it was always easier to leave, but sometimes it would take awhile for the other drivers to catch on to the pattern.

Once they had exited the parking lot, Gale was able to make it to the middle school in five minutes. Like always, Prim was waiting outside for them to arrive. Gale drove in through the bus loop and parked near the main entrance of the school. As soon as the car was stopped, Prim climbed into the same seat she had chosen in the morning, the seat she always sat in when she rode in Gale's car.

It didn't take long for Gale to arrive at the Everdeen house. Unlike in the morning, he would let them off in the alleyway behind their home. Katniss and Prim exited the car. They waved as he drove off and then Katniss let them into the fence that led to their backyard.

When they got to the back porch, Katniss found that the backdoor was locked. Their parents must've gone out. She pulled out her key and let them into the house. They began their homework and it wasn't long before their parents entered through the same door that Katniss and Prim had entered in earlier.

Upon entering, they did not say why they were out and the girls didn't pry. It really didn't matter to them if their parents were there or not when they got home from school. In fact, many days, they were both working and would not return home for a few hours later.

That night, dinner was quiet. Katniss could tell that something was up because it was never this quiet at dinner. She didn't have to wait long for the news, though. Her parents seemed eager to share.

"For vacation this summer," their father began, "we've booked a 5-day cruise to Bermuda."

The news was barely out before Prim squealed, "Really! Yay! Thank you! Thank you!"

Katniss gave a soft smile. It always was like Prim to get over-excited like this.

"That will be at the end of July. We figured that would give us enough time to prepare since it's only mid-April right now." He pulled out the magazine that a travel agent must've given to it. "You two can look at this after dinner. It gives details about the layout of the ship and some things you can expect when onboard."

"Can I look at it first, please, Katniss? I really wanna see it!"

Katniss nodded in agreement. This trip had been her little sister's idea anyway.

"Just some things that we wanted to pass along," their mother picked up the discussion next. "There is one night, usually the second night, that is a formal dinner. That means you have to look really, really nice…Katniss."

Grimacing, Katniss knew why her mother had singled her out. She was very tomboy-ish, taking after her father and influenced by Gale.

"Yeah, yeah…I get it," she mumbled.

"Now, we have to board by 1PM on that Saturday. It easily takes an hour to drive to the harbor and that's not even counting traffic and anything else that may come up along the way. We've decided to book a hotel for one night near the harbor…and near the stadiums, Katniss."

Perking up, Katniss's mindset changed immediately. "The baseball stadium? Let's go see a live game." She had never been to one and watching it TV was definitely not the way to experience games all the time. There was nothing like seeing a live game…or so she had been told by Gale. He'd been to a couple games.

"We'll think about it," her father continued, "It depends on several factors. Anyway, our hotel has a shuttle to the stadiums and to the dock, as well. We are planning to utilize that shuttle. As for other details, I'll let you two look at the book first and then we'll answer questions…if we can."

After dinner, Prim grabbed the book and ran to the living room. When Katniss found her later, the youngest Everdeen was still flipping back and forth through its pages.

"This looks so cool. I can't wait. I wish it could be July now!"

With a laugh, Katniss told her, "You have to be patient. July will get here when it gets here."

"Here, Katniss! Take a look at the book. Then you can be excited too." Prim turned around and passed the book up to her older sister who had taken a seat on the couch.

Katniss looked through the book, flipping through details about the ship, its rooms, its various deck levels, and restaurants. As she was reading, one thing caught her attention and she asked her dad about it as he entered the room.

"Wait, you have to pay to use cell phones and the internet?"

"Yeah, sorry that I didn't tell you about that, Katniss, but that was something that we learned today. Also, you would be charged roaming charges if you make calls or text on Bermuda too. Hate to break it to you, but Gale won't exist to you for those five days…unless you want to pay and no boy is worth that kinda money. Sorry, honey."

Katniss passed the book back to Prim and that was when the nervousness set in. None of them had ever been on a ship before, but Katniss was sure that if any of them were to get seasick it would be her. She tended to have that kind of luck. Not only that, but how could she survive five days without talking to Gale? He was her only friend. I can see it already. This is going to be the worst vacation ever.

Well, there we have it. The first chapter. A very expository-style chapter. There was a lot of groundwork that needed to be laid for the story. It should start picking up soon. I did warn about long chapters, right?

I was very much like Katniss about my cruise. Nervous and not thrilled about not being able to talk to one of my good friends for five days. However, that's where the similarities this chapter end. I even based the schools off of ones that I did not go to but am familiar with.

Oh, I've already started work on the soundtrack for this fanfic. There is a good arrangement and I'm excited to introduce them within the story at their times.

This whole story has been planned out, so suggestions are not necessary. I hope that everyone enjoyed the first chapter and the second chapter should be out soon.

Posted: July 19, 2012