I breathe a sigh of relief. It's not me! Wait a second...Jade Meadows! It's not me, it's my sister!

All those times that I said how much I hated her and how I wish she was gone, come rushing back to me. I feel dizzy, with relief and terror. I shake my head. What can I do?

I look behind me and see Father pleading with a Peacekeeper. Rowan and Marsh have their fists balled up, their jaws clenched. I can't let this happen. They love Jade, I mean, she's so loveable. I'm not. She's easy to get along with. I'm not. My family couldn't survive without her, they could me.  Rowan and Marsh could possibly have time to hunt, and collect plants for food. Father definitely could, if he would just try. If I had the time, I could even teach Jade.

The kids around me are casting glances at me. I know what I have to do, no matter how hard it is. Part of me hopes that the Capitol won't allow it, but I push the thought away. They must allow it! After all, it could make the games more interesting.

"Stop, please! I'll do it!" I choke.

Jade spins around, her eyes wide. The Peacekeepers turn around as well.

"You volunteer?" Juniper squeaks in disbelief.

"Y-yes. I volunteer as tribute." I quickly reply.

I run to Jade. For once I feel sorry for her. I grab her hand, "I'm sorry... be strong for me!"

She tries to push me away, to mount the stage, but I push back; a little harder than I intended. She falls to the ground, tears begin to run down her cheeks.

I fight to stay strong. Before anyone can touch me, I run up the stairs to the stage. I look into the audience, everyone is staring with wide eyes. Jade is being dragged by a Peacekeeper, my guess is she'll be taken back to where Rowan and Marsh are.

I know Jade wouldn't survive a day in the games, I just hope that I can.

I can feel Juniper staring at my outfit with disgust. She probably thinks that my dress is a true "horror".

"Well, I do believe that this young lady here is our first ever volunteer in the Hunger Games!" Juniper shouts into her microphone.

Really? I'm the first ever volunteer? That's odd. I thought that tons of kids with siblings would have the heart to volunteer. I guess love for family only goes so far in the Hunger Games.

"Now, Dearie, what is your name?" Juniper asks, her voice ending in a high pitched squeal.

I have no desire to answer. She's just a piece of the Capitol's filth. But I do it anyways, "Annabeth, Annabeth Meadows." I snarl.

Juniper takes a few steps back, "A fierce girl for someone so small!" She lets out a small chuckle.

My mind flashes back to that horrible day. I remember saying goodbye to Mother. Now I have to say goodbye to everyone else I care about. I feel like I'm in a daze.

Without really thinking, I press my three left fingers to my lips and raise them into the air.

There's a gasp somewhere in the crowd. Then, there is silence, absolute silence. Even the bubbly Juniper is quiet.

I look back into the crowd, to see my family. Rowan has his arm around Jade, who's crying. Marsh and Father are looking  at me with tears in their eyes. My family raises their three fingers in the air as well.

Row by row, all of District Twelve puts their three fingers from their left hand into the air. I don't know what to think! How could one small action of mine, lead to such a large response? I almost feel... touched.

"Well, that was some excitement! Now, let's move on to the boys!" Juniper screeches, interrupting my, and the district's, strange way of saying goodbye.

I struggle to keep back a sob. I must remain strong. I know that if I show any weakness, It'll definitely be shown to the other tributes, and I can't have that happening. I can't seem weak!

I look over to the glass bowl that holds the name of the unlucky boy who will probably end up dying, beside me.

Juniper's hand seems to float, then it dives into the bowl. She fumbles around until a piece of paper unfolds in her hands. She bounces back to the microphone and reads, in her stupid Capitol accent, "Blaze Worth!"

Luckily, I've never heard of the name in my life. I scan the crowd for the unlucky kid. I just hope it's not a twelve year old. I don't want to feel like I have to protect him.

A dark haired, muscular boy steps out of the crowd, with a very surprised look on his face. Peacekeepers rush over, and escort him to the stage. He came from the fifteen year old section, so he probably had more of a chance of getting picked.

He mounts the stage, and I'm stunned. He looks like all he's done his whole life is lift weights. He has at least one hundred and twenty pounds on me. He seems well built and fit. And most of all, well fed.

"Do we have any volunteers?" Juniper asks, shooting me a smile.

The whole place goes silent, no one makes a sound.

Guess this is her first time asking for volunteers. She must feel 'honored'.

"That's too bad!" Juniper whines, "Now, you two, go ahead and shake hands.

I don't make eye contact with the boy, but I can feel his burning stare. I know that I'm one of the targets that he'll go for. So basically, I'm shaking hands with my future murderer. I reach out and shake his rough hand.

After he lets go, Juniper bounces around  on stage, "Happy Hunger Games District Twelve!" Her voice gets squeakier,"And may the odds be ever in your favor!"