You want to know what sucks? I had about 17 chapters written down last summer, but then I thought, Who's going to even read this story? And threw them away, bored. Well now I have inspiration for it, made it great, but I feel like the chapters aren't as good as the original. Sucks. So anyway…

Takes place during the scene where Gale and Katniss are having the conversation about the bread in the woods. Right before the Reaping. So have fun.

Chapter 1: The Reaping

"Gale shush." Katniss whispered pre- Gales ranting about the Capita and the Games. Gale looked to the spot that Katniss was staring at and frowned. A tiny, child sized, diamond studded boot was poking out from behind a tree. A little girl was spying on them… In the woods of all places!

"So… Katniss." Gale said nonchalantly, standing up. He stretched while taking steps towards the trees.

"What do you think about the trees? I think their really grown this time of the year." He said in a calm and soothing voice, but Katniss's senses flared up.

"Gale be careful." She warned as he braced against the tree.

"I'm not going to hurt any one." He said light and airy, as if talking to the light breeze.

"Gale, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Katniss pleaded, waiting for the attack that was sure to come. "She's only a kid; she might get scared and hurt you."

"Katniss," Gale chuckled, leaning around the tree for a look. "I've got this."

Katniss waited for a few seconds. Gale murmured for a few seconds to whoever was there, but then leaned down.

"Well it's official Katniss. This discarded boot would like to meet you." Gale said, and with a chuckle, picked it up and threw it playfully at Katniss. She laughed.

"So it's just a boot? It looked like there was someone there." She smirked, kicking the boot aside.

"Yeah it did. And now that I think of it," Gale said, scratching his forehead in thought. "It wasn't there an hour ago when I came here. And if that boot was here, there would have had to be someone to wear it." He voiced what Katniss was thinking.

"Yeah. Who do we know in District 12 that can afford sparkly and expensive looking boots?" She asked sarcastically.

"No one. Katniss they can barely afford a meal, why would they buy sparkly boots? Duh!" Gale said with an air of obviousness, and Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Well, the reaping isn't for an hour or so, you want to head back?" Katniss said, standing up.

"Sure. Let's check the traps on the way back-!" Gale shut up instantly when the air filled with what sounded like a little girl screaming. She sounded hurt.

"NO!" She shouted.

"Oh no." Gale breathed, and Katniss and he took off in the direction of her screaming. Gale had the boot clutched in his hand, whereas Katniss had her arrow perched in hers.

"Just through here." Gale gestured through two large bushes. They both crashed through the bushes and their weapons were up. Katniss and Gale looked over to the sobbing girl, and then around at the grassy clearing they were in. The both of them stopped beside the little girl, she was crouched behind Gale's snare trap, staring in horror at the tight string around the rabbit's neck.

"Are you okay?" Katniss asked, kneeling down next to her. She knew at once that the girl was bothered by the sight of the deceased rabbit, just like her own sister Prim would have been.

"The bunny fell into that rope, and then the rope chocked it!" She sobbed, pointing at the dead rabbit again. Gale put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay; it died for a good purpose though. It's dead because it's going to go in my stomach." Gale said, patting her on the shoulder.

"Gale shut up." Katniss rolled her eyes. "What are you doing out here all alone? Don't you know it's dangerous out here?" Katniss sighed, taking the chance to really study the little girl. She didn't look as if she was from District 12 at all.

District 12 was a very poor community. The clothes Katniss and Gale were wearing were rough and dirty. Whereas the clothes the little girl was wearing were well put together and fancy looking. She looked as if she had just came off the runway. Makeup was not an affordable thing in District 12, from the seam all the way to the townies, but she had the face to prove she was richer then any of the people in the town at least. Probably the richest person in the District, Katniss noted.

She had dark brown hair, long and braided like Katniss's, but was cleaner and looked freshly done. Her body wasn't thin and bony like any body in District 12. In fact she looked well fed and full.

Most of the people in the District either had brown hair and grey eyes, or blonde hair and blue eyes. But she had brown hair and bright, brown orbs for eyes. She was Prim's height, but couldn't have been older then twelve.

"I know its dangerous here. But you don't have to worry about me, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." She spoke in a prideful voice, pulling out a shiny knife that she admired close up.

"Whoa kid, where'd you get that?" Gale said quietly, stepping back, Katniss did the same.

"Clove gave it to me. She's my brother's best friend." She shrugged, cutting the rabbit loose. Katniss and Gale exchanged weird looks but didn't say anything.

"Here. I suppose you want to eat this." She said, sounding bored. She held out the rabbit to Gale, who laughed.

"You're alright kid." He chuckled when he had the rabbit strapped in his belt.

"Where's your family?" Katniss asked, and her eyes widened in realization when she noticed that the girl was only wearing one boot. One sparkly, diamond incrusted boot.

"At home, in a whole different district, can I have my shoe back? I'm going to need that." She sighed, holding out her hand. Gale gave her the boot, and they watched her silently put it on.

"Wait a minute, what District are you from?" Katniss asked.

"District 2."

Katniss and Gale chocked, and the girl watched them amused.

"What's wrong with you two?" She asked. Katniss shook her head as if to clear her mind.

"That's impossible! District 2 must be at least a thousand miles away. How long have you been in these woods by yourself?" Gale asked, shocked.

"Two whole years!" She shouted, angry.

"Two years?! What's your name, we have to tell someone." Katniss breathed.

"My name is Bella Alexander, and you aren't telling anyone." Bella sneered, pointing her knife at Katniss.

'Wait a minute, we won't tell anyone." Gale assured her, but Katniss furiously turned to him. "What do you mean we're not telling anyone? She'll die out here!"

"If you haven't noticed Katnip," Bella sneered, and Gale grinned at the nickname he had given Katniss. "I have managed to survive for two whole years without being killed or found, thanks to the training from my dearest brother. I can take care of myself because that's how I was raised. I am not a child!" She snapped, turning around with a whip of her braid, and disappeared with a swift run

"Gale, we have to go after her-!"

"Katnip," Gale sighed. "She's obviously been trained to survive. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"But-!"

"But if it makes you happy, after the reaping we'll go and find her, and give her some help with hunting."

"Where will she sleep? What if she sleeps in trees? Or on the ground? She's so small Gale, did you see the way she was looking at that bunny? She looked iike she was going to cry! She reminds me of Prim-!"

"Prim? No. I think she reminds me of you." Gale said, but Katniss rolled her eyes.

"You know what, after the reaping, we'll go back and find her, and I'm inviting her into my house. I don't know what I'd do if it she was in danger, and we had the chance to save her but didn't do it. She's got to be younger then Prim!"

"Invite her into you house? Katniss, you saw her back there, she's got too much pride. She won't accept."

"Then I'll drag her into my house."

"That'll be a pleasant story to tell the neighbors."

"Shut up Gale."

…

Bella stood in the group of twelve year old girls patiently. She had never missed a reaping, and being out in the woods wasn't going to change that. She was finally of age, and she was tired of staying in the woods. She was going into the games this year. And she was coming back a victor.

Or not coming back at all.

The annual Hunger Games video was being played on the big screen and she couldn't help but think of two years ago, when she was thrown out of her own house. Her brother had been at the Academy for the day, and she was left alone at home with her father, who absolutely hated her. She was doted upon by her brother, but ever since her mother had died, her father had hated her for looking like her mother. His eldest son Cato was his favorite

And so when Cato was at school one day, her father realized that Cato was 'Constantly Distracted' by taking care of his sister, and that Bella was a waste of space.

After a massive fight, he had chased her to the fence and she was forced to flee.

"Life sucks without Cato." She sighed as the video ended. Once I win, I'm going home to get my brother." She muttered quietly.

"Oh I just love that!" Effie Trinket said on stage, moving over to the glass ball labeled, 'girls'.

Every girl around her tensed, and they were all frightened. Bella noticed hat she stood out among everyone. While everyone one else's dress contained a faded dirty blue, and mostly white, she wore a bright and shiny, red dress. She wondered vaguely which one of the girls around her was the Prim she had heard Katniss and Gale speak of.

"Primrose Everdeen." Effie said clearly, announcing the name clearly. The air was tense and the girl standing beside Bella froze. Prim. Interesting. Prim looked around slowly as everyone turned to her in shock and sadness.

She walked forward slowly, looking around as they cleared a path for her. Prim looked as if she was looking for help, for her savior.

"She's the walking dead." Bella sighed. "Dead within five minutes of the game. She's like a little flower." Bella groaned, stepping forward. Prim turned around to look her in the eye when Bella squeezed her shoulder comfortingly.

"I volunteer." Bella shouted, her voice loud and proud, and the adrenaline in her body was going crazy as she realized what she was doing.

""I volunteer, as tribute." Bella said, pushing Prim behind her as she walked forward towards the stage. Everyone watched her in shock and surprise as she came to a stop on the stage, right next to Effie.

"My oh my, our first volunteer for District 12! What's your name sweetie?" Effie smiled at her wildly.

"My name, Is Bella Alexander!" Bella shouted, her voice going out into the crowd loudly. Prim, who hadn't moved from her spot in the aisle, watched Bella with gratefulness, but frowned at the idea of Bella taking her place in the games.

"Okay, now the boys." Effie chirped excitedly. She reached into the bowl labeled 'boys' and read the name of the card.

"Peeta Mellark."

A blonde boy joined Bella up on the stage, looking so sad. His mouth was wide open with shock as he looked out towards the crowd. Bella could tell he was crying.

"I give District 12 their two tributes. Peeta Mellark, and Bella Alexander! Shake hands." Effie announced, and Peeta shook Bella's hand, meeting Bella's hardened glare with a kind look.

"You're going down bread boy." She whispered quietly, with the most innocent smile on her face. To anyone watching, it seemed that they were having a pleasant, conversation.

"Oh…" Peeta said his eyes widening. "What did I do?"

"You were chosen as tribute."