♫Chapter One꒰ა♡໒꒱

Instructions

❀Chapter 1⁀➴ ◇─◇──◇─────◇──◇─◇ I woke up that morning from the sound of mockingjays singing their songs, awakening the mountain of District Twelve. I slowly sat up, realization sinking in as I sighed thinking about the next day. Tomorrow would be the very first Quarter Quell, and the twenty-fifth Hunger Games. I was terrified of what President Snow Would say about how the tributes would be chosen tonight. And I could only pray that it wouldn't be me or any of my friends. I quickly changed out of my pajamas into my favorite white dress with slightly puffy sleeves, brown ankle length boots, and I brushed my long wavy dark brown hair. I tried not to think about my name being called tomorrow...but I couldn't help but imagine Effie Trinket calling, "Aveline Ebony, yes come up here dear!" And the horrifying days that would follow. I walked down the rickety steps of my small little cabin home. I stare at myself in the small mirror in the bathroom for a second, before turning away. My gray Seam eyes are sparkling, but my olive skin looks much paler than usual. I realize I'm shaking a little, and I take a deep breath as I look in the kitchen for any food I can have for breakfast, before finally finding a small carton of eggs and a single slice of bread. I fry the eggs and put them on the hard bread, hoping to soften it, and practically gulp down my cup of milk. The house is eerily quiet, as usual. I'm an orphan, and I'm sixteen years old. My family died when I was eight, so I've been fending for myself for quite a while. My only relatives are the Baird Family. But I hardly ever go to see them, shy and awkward. I knew Lucy Gray, my aunt, before she died from childbirth, and Lenore Dove, her eleven-year-old daughter. Lenore and I are friends, although there's a five-year age gap. She's really sweet, and she did give me her mother's guitar, but I don't know...I guess we both just don't talk to each other much. Plus, she never really talks about her past...and why Lucy Gray seems to be hidden in secret for so long. Sighing, I stand up and walk outside breathing in the fresh air. The sky is completely cloudless, and it is a very beautiful July day. I can't help but think about the two tributes who will probably never have a day like this again tomorrow...and plead in my head that I will not be the girl. I grab the ancient beautiful guitar, and take it with me to the meadow, laying down in the soft wildflowers and grass for a moment, before strumming it and singing a song under my breath. "Roses are red, skies are blue, forests green, and dreams can come true. The mockingjays are black, sunflowers yellow, waterfalls shimmer silver, shining through the day.... these are the things that you can't take away. No matter what the rich man, ever says any day. They can't be bought by the coin, only by the heart. These are things that can never be apart. These are the things of nature's royalty, richer than the king, and grander than the queen. Oh, the capitol can't compete, with nature's beauties. Sunsets are orange, butterflies are violet, the heart of your lover is gold, and no one can deny it. These are things that the things that you can't take away! No matter what the rich man, says any day. They can't be bought by the coin, only by the heart. These are the things that can't be taken apart. Oh, the capitol can't compete...with natures beauties...." The last note on my guitar echoed through the meadow. That was one of the songs I had written myself, although I knew I could never sing it in front of anyone besides Lenore Dove or Alex....yes yes, we'll get to him in a second. The thought of Alex made my heart flutter a little, and I put my guitar back inside, before walking through the streets of District Twelve. Children were walking to school together, thin and pale, dressed in raggedy clothes. It made me very sad to see them like that, at least when my parents had died, they had left me all of their money, clothes, and valuables. Plus, Lenore Dove had leant me some of her own things. Soon, I arrive at the March family's apothecary shop, where eleven-year-old Astrid sits at the front counter, selling medicines. She smiles at me and waves wearily, pulling a strand of her blonde hair out of her face. She gestures to the back of the store, and I hurry back there. I find Alex, tall and handsome with his dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, digging in a trunk in the storage room. I clear my throat, and he turns around, a mischievous grin on his face. He gives me a small hug, and my face flushes a little. " Hey Ave." He says, smiling. " Hey Alex." I say, smiling back. He grabs a small box of herbs for the medicines, and quickly gave it to Astrid, before running over to talk some more to me. "Want to go to the-?" I point out the window at the woods. He grins, and we both go outside, casually, but quickly, hurrying to the meadow. Chapter 2 Link: now out!