Love is a fickle thing. Never enough for some. Not the right match. Not true love...

                                                                                                       I want to leave her. I love another.

I want to leave him. I love another.

                                                                                                                                      I want her...

I want him...

                                                                                                         But I am owned by another.

But not my heart....

I will be his...

                                                                                                                           She will be mine...

                               Even if it does cost us everything....

~Prologue~

"Katniss Everdeen. Please step forward for your Reaped Match."

Effie Trinket announces.

I get up from my seat, and head up to the stage in front of the Justice Building. I don't look at the side with all my possible Reaped Match's. I look beyond the Square. I never really wanted today to be my day. But it is how the world is. I have to do this. It is the Law. When a woman is of age of 12, she must be put into a Tessera. The same goes for men. The trade off is for signing up, you get more food for your family. But, the more names you will have in the bowls for the Reaping. I signed up at age 12. I had to. My father was killed in an accident at his work in the coal mines. I was left alone to feed my family. My mother went into a dark place. And I couldn't bring her out of it. My sister, Primrose, was too young to go through this. I had to do something to keep us alive. I hunted illegally for food. But it was worth the price of being on watch by the Government. We made it through. Now we are all fed and alive. Maybe not thriving or well, but alive.

When a woman is 16, that is when she is to be Reaped to a match. Luckily for men, they can be as old as 18 to be Reaped. So I could be married to someone as old at 25. The Reaping age limits anyone younger than 16, and older than 25. I do not wish to be married to someone that old, but if it will keep my family alive, I will. I am only 16, my sister is only 12. She has to sign up. And I have to be married and sent to live with my new husband.

I see Effie walk over to the male bowl. She digs around for a moment or so, and then returns to the podium with a name.

"Gale Hawthorne, please step forward to be with your Reaped Match." Effie announces.

I look at Gale coming up to the stage. A bit of relief comes to me. He is someone I know, at least. My best friend. I wouldn't have thought I'd be so lucky. He smiles at me and takes my hand.

"Hey Catnip." He whispers to me.

"Hi." I say.

Effie opens the doors to the Justice Building and we enter. The Mayor has the paperwork and we both sign it. Gale gives me my ring, and I give him mine.

"For this Match to be final, a toast will need to be performed, in the presence of a Peacekeeper." Mayor Undersee explains.

"Of course, Mayor. We'll schedule the Toast." Gale says.

"When it is witnessed, you will be free to be a couple and live on your own." He says.

"Thank you, Mayor." I say.

"I hope the odds have been treated to your favor. Congratulations." He says and shakes both of our hands.

'I know they are.' I think and smile at Gale.

The sad truth is the odds were never in my favor....

Chapter One

Katniss

I thought it would be easy. He's my best friend, after all. But as each day passes by the more I realize how this is not okay.

I shake my head.

I cannot think like this. I cannot afford it. It'll only make things harder.

But I can't help it.

The thoughts get out of my head as fast as they came in as I try to concentrate on that deer in front of me.

I breathe in and out, focusing on the unmoving target, eating some berries unbeknownst to the hunter about to take its life not so far from it.

Then I shoot and the deer falls with an arrow on its eye.

I smile to myself for the accomplishment as I move towards the corpse ready to skin it.

It's a big one. It's going to keep Prim and mum fed for at least a month. I can sell the head for some rich man to use as a decoration as he proudly tells his guests of how he killed the beast with his bare hands and not a girl with an arrow and a bow.

Gale works on the mines, like all men at his age. Women work there too, but they're the minority.

I didn't want to work in the mines. I simply can't. Not after father. That's why I tried to convince Gale not to. I couldn't afford losing my best friend. But he wouldn't listen.

That was our first fight. Of many many others.

We're both unhappy. We both know that. But there's nothing we can do. That's the system, this is how it works.

Our families expect children. Of course they do, we're married after all. The subject randomly appears every damn time I talk with Hazelle, his mother.

I think she can't help it. She lost her husband in the same accident and dad died. And now her children are almost all grown up and getting married.

I know mum wants them too, I can see it in her eyes but she does not dare to speak. Prim is almost in her age to get Reaped and she would soon be alone.

I guess I'm lucky Gale seems to think the same way I do. We can't afford children in a world where they can marry complete strangers and never be able to really find someone to be happy with. Or even choosing to be by themselves.

I try to change the topic of my thoughts but my mind tricks me every time. I guess this is going to be like this for a long time from now on.

... ... ... ... ...

It's almost nightfall when I get home. I can see Gale's already home for the lights are on inside the small stone house that we call home.

Standing on the door, not too far is the sofa and right in front of it our TV. Today it is turned on some comedy show, so I guess Gale is really home.

"I'm home. I brought a deer or half of it." I call out only to hear snores in response. Today must've been a tough day for him to sleep in the couch.

I turn off the TV and take a look at my sleeping husband snoring in the couch making it look like it was made for kids.

Gale's always been big even as a kid. Broad shoulders, olive skin, black hair and grey eyes like me. He's two years older than me and I've always looked at him as my big brother (if you'd know any less you've guess he'd be at least my cousin) but the odds weren't really in our favour. I smile to myself wondering how he can snore even when he's sleeping on his stomach.

I shake him until he's awake. Which takes quite some time. He must be really tired.

"What?" He says lazily.

"I'm home. Did you make dinner?"

"Nah. Too tired"

"Look, I brought deer!" I say showing him the half deer in my game bag.

His once sleepy eyes open so much I fear they're going to fall from his skull.

"Oh my goodness! This is going to last at least a month of so!" He says happily.

"How did you manage?"

"It was eating quietly not so far away from me, so I took the shot" I say shrugging my shoulders and trying not to smile too much. "Okay so let's make dinner"

He simply nods and we head to the kitchen which is in the same room as the dining room, hall and living room. Apart from the 3 in one room, we've got a room with a bed for us to sleep and a bathroom. It's not too much but it's home.

"So..." Gale says as he cuts the deer "I stopped at Mom before coming home"

"And? Is she okay" I ask while chopping some onions.

"Yeah. She just kept bugging me again about us having children."

I stop chopping. I knew we would have to talk about it someday. I try to stay calm and still.

"And what did you say" I try to sound as normal as possible.

"That we would talk." He says now looking at me. I move my eyes from his and continue to chop the onion.

"Don't you already know what I think about children?"

"Yeah but I've been thinking about it for a while and it doesn't sound like a bad idea"

"You- WHAT?!" I almost scream "No!"

"I mean it-" I cut him short before he can say anything else.

"No, Gale! Never! I thought you knew about it" I try to sound calm but fail miserably.

"I know that Catnip but, I mean, we're not really hap-"

"And what makes you think that a child you make this any better? We were never meant to be together like this Gale! You're my best friend!" I say

"I know that bu-"

"No buts, Gale. My answer is no. Never!" I scream.

Gale, whose face is as red as a tomato, breathes in as if to calm himself down.

"You can't say no forever. You know it's expected. That's why they make us marry so early!"

"Yes I can. And I know that but I won't! I have a choice and I'm sticking with it. Why can't you understand that?!" I storm out of the house without giving him time to speak.

I walk without noticing where I'm going. The tears clouds my eyesight while others stream down my cheeks. Before I know it I'm standing right in front of the District's bakery. They seem to be ready to close.

I suppose it's not bad idea to grab a baked good.

The first thing I notice as I enter the building is two bright blue eyes staring at me.

Hey guys! What do you think? Me and my lovely new best friend and partner, @EVERLARK_4ever  hope you like it! Give her a follow too, k? More will come out soon! Let either one of us know by Pm or comment what you think and what should happen! Lots of Love! Leave a vote and comment! Baii! ❤❤❤❤ ^~^

-Zeffie and Fanight!