An Author's Note is at the bottom of the chapter. Please read if you'd like.

Also, this chapter is dedicated to Phillip Seymour Hoffman (who played Plutarch Heavensbee), who died tragically on February 2, 2014.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Any text taken directly from the novels is also property of Suzanne Collins and I do not claim ownership over it.

Chapter 2

Contrary to popular belief, Delly Cartwright wasn't an idiot.

In her experiences growing up, she had come to realize that people would almost immediately dismiss her as unassuming and unimportant right after meeting her.

Although Delly tried to be as kind and friendly to everyone regardless of how they viewed her, it was only Peeta Mellark who really came close to understanding her. Never one to really stand out (especially with the reputations of his two older brothers), Peeta always seemed to struggle to fit in just as much as she did.

They had become fast friends at a young age, and had become best friends soon after.

She and Madge were also on friendly terms, though not close. But being one of the few Town kids around the same age offered up a type of kinship between them.

Unlike Peeta (who was known for his kindness) and Madge (who was known for her good heart), Delly wasn't known for much of anything.

She initially attributed this to being considered just another "Townie" (as her parents owned a shoe shop), but later came to realize it was also due to not being conventionally attractive (having heard herself be described as a "pasty-faced, lumpy girl with blonde hair" by various people). Thus, people would immediately gloss over her like she wasn't even there.

But Delly was smart. And being smart was a way to survive in District 12.

She learned how to use the fact that no one paid much attention to her to her advantage.

Among other things, she knew that many of the things that went on in District 12 that should be reported to the Capitol weren't.

Thus, in her own way, she became District 12's keeper of secrets (although no one else knew this, of course).

One of the skills Delly prided herself in was reading the subtleties in other people's body language. So, when she saw Katniss rip herself from Madge's hold and attempted to storm through the Peacekeepers to Prim, she knew what Katniss intended to do.

She was going to take Prim's place.

Madge, thinking Katniss was going to get arrested for interfering with the Reaping, attempted to step forward to help but Delly grabbed her arm to hold her back.

"Don't." Delly whispered harshly.

"But-" Madge said as she attempted to break free of Delly's strong hold.

"Madge, don't!" Delly snapped quietly as she tightened her grip. "It's too late for Katniss."

"What are you talking about?" Madge said as she struggled.

"You'll only make more trouble for yourself!" Delly said as she attempted to keep Madge from bringing attention to them. "Katniss chose her fate the moment she stepped into the divide."

Madge was about to ask Delly what she meant, when suddenly, everyone turned as Katniss, giving up trying to get through the Peacekeepers, screamed at the top of her lungs. "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

The whole crowd fell silent (even Madge had stopped struggling) as the significance of what Katniss had done finally registered in their minds.

There hadn't been a volunteer in District 12 in decades.

It fact, it had been so long since someone had volunteered that those on the stage were unsure what to do next, as the correct protocol in regards to District 12 volunteers had become almost forgotten.

Even Effie, the only one from the Capitol (who practically lived for the Games) looked unsure what to do. "I believe we have a volunteer! Em…" she said, trying to mask her confusion by attempting to act as confident and poised as possible. "Mr. Mayor, I-"

Mr. Undersee cut off Effie before she could continue. "What does it matter?" he said, tiredness lacing his words. He waved a hand to beckon Katniss forward. " Let her come forward."

Suddenly, Prim's voice screeched out, breaking the silence that had fallen over the square as Katniss' declaration. "No! No!" Prim yelled as she latched onto her sister.

"Prim, let go!" Katniss said, attempting to shake Prim off. When Prim refused to let go, Gale exited the 18 year old boy's section and forcefully removed Prim from holding onto Katniss. Prim trashed and cried as Gale put her in a strong hold so she couldn't escape.

Delly noticed Madge's panic and whispered in her ear. "He's just going to take Prim to Mrs. Everdeen. As long as he goes back to his spot afterwards, he'll be fine."

Madge nods as both girls see Gale whisper something to Katniss before taking the crying Prim to Mrs. Everdeen, who is standing shell-shocked in the back with the rest of the District's adults.

Now left alone, a pale-faced Katniss slowly make her way up to the stage.

Effie immediately grabbed her and almost pushed her right in front of the mic.

"Now I bet my buttons that was your sister, wasn't it?" She said as excitedly as possible, and barely waiting for Katniss to answer, she continued. "And your name?"

"Katniss Everdeen." Katniss said in the most monotone voice ever. Delly figured Katniss was still in shock about everything that had happened in the past ten minutes.

Delly tuned out the rest of Effie's conversation with Katniss, knowing that Effie would keep asking asinine questions until the male tribute was chosen.

Effie had to keep the Capitol entertained after all.

Delly was so into her thoughts, she barely heard Effie read the name District 12's male tribute, and when it suddenly clicked who Effie called, Delly gasped in horror.

Peeta had been reaped.

When Max heard Effie call out Peeta's name as he stood patrolling the 18 year old boy's section, the first thing Max thought was Maze.

Max knew how much Maze lived for his brother, and knowing that Peeta was going into the Games must be killing him right now.

Unlike Katniss volunteering for Prim, Max knew that no one would do the same for Peeta.

Barm wouldn't because he always held animosity toward Peeta. Maze, while he would have taken Peeta's place had he been younger, was now too old to volunteer.

Even Max wished things could be different, as in recent months he had taken a shine to the baker's boy, who was always so kind and courteous to him even though he didn't need to be.

After all, Max was the impetus for the fracturing of the Mellark family dynamic.

With a heavy heart, Max walked to the 16 year old boys section to collect Peeta. The section began to split as they saw him approach, leaving a shell-shocked Peeta standing alone.

Max slowly walked to Peeta and grabbed his shoulder. That seemed to wake Peeta out of his stupor. Max could tell the moment Peeta understood the gravity of the situation he was forced into.

Before he could panic, Max tightened his grip and quickly whispered in his ear. "Don't show them that you are weak." Max knew that from this point forward, all eyes would be on Peeta, and looking weak would not put the odds in his favor when it came time to get sponsors.

Peeta seemed to have got Max's underlining meaning, and he took a deep breath to calm himself.

They both walked into the center aisle, and Max escorted Peeta to the stairs of the stage. Peeta turned and gave a slight nod to Max in thanks before climbing up to the stage to stand next to Katniss.

With that done, Max turned around and began to walk back to his post near the 18 year old boys section.

He was thankful his Peacekeeper outfit obscured the top half of his face, as the Capitol forbid them from making attachments with the citizens of the Districts until their tenure was up. He would be in big trouble if they saw the sadness in his eyes as he made his way back to his post.

Just as he got there, he faintly heard a commotion coming from the back of the adult section, and could see the adults in the front attempt to act like nothing was going on. Thankfully, it wasn't loud enough for everyone one in the square to hear it, but Max knew that the longer it went unattended, the higher the likelihood of it getting noticed.

It wouldn't do anybody good if District 12 was put on the Capitol's radar. No, Max knew it needed to be dealt with quickly and quietly as possible.

Giving a nod to Darius to signal that he would investigate, Max quickly entered the adult section and moved to the back. There, he saw a struggling Maze being held back by Thom and Bristel, who were trying to keep him from running to get Peeta.

Thom was attempting to use some rope to tie Maze down, but Maze's flailing was giving Thom some struggle.

"Shut him up! He's going to get us arrested!" Thom hissed, attempting to hold Maze down, succeeding in getting rope around one hand.

"I'm trying! I'm trying!" Bristel said, panicking as she grabbed her handkerchief and (using it to make a makeshift gag) stuffed it in Maze's mouth.

"Let me go!" Maze yelled in between attempts to spit the gag out of his mouth. "Peeta! Peeta!"

Regardless of his personal feelings toward Maze, Max knew it was time to step in before things could escalate further.

Not having time to think of a better way to calm Maze down, he walked over and punched Maze across the face to silence him as quickly as possible.

Ignoring the shocked (and somewhat fearful) looks from Bristel and Thom, Max bent down and pulled the sniffling Maze into a hug.

"Ze, there's nothing you can do." Max said as soothingly as he could as he wrapped her arms around Maze. "Now you have to calm down. If they catch you disrupting the Reaping, the Capitol will have to be notified I won't be able to do anything to stop it."

Maze paled as Max's words sink in. There had been rumors about what happened to people who were arrested and sent to the Capitol, and none of it was good.

He nodded, taking deep breaths in order to calm down. "Okay…Okay."

Max gave him a quick kiss before standing up and straightening out his clothes. He looked at Bristel and Thom, both who had slightly scared expressions on their faces. No doubt they were afraid of getting arrested themselves, if not for "disturbing" the Reaping, but because they attempted to restrain the boyfriend of a Peacekeeper.

"Take care of him, okay?" He asked quietly. Shocked that nothing was going to happen to them, they both nodded in agreement.

Satisfied, Max gave Maze one more look before walking out of the adult section and back to his original station as silently as possible.

Darius was the only one who noticed his return and gave him an inquisitive look to make sure everything was okay. Max nodded in return to show that everything was handled.

Max made it just in time, as the Mayor has just about wrapped up reading The Treaty of Treason.

Putting the piece of paper down, the Mayor motioned for Peeta and Katniss to shake hands.

Surprising everyone, Effie rushed in and grabbed their hands before they can break about and raised them high.

"Let's give a big round of applause to this year's newest tributes!"

Silence.

After a few seconds of this, Max could see Effie give an uneasy look to the audience, unsure what to do.

To the everlasting credit of District 12, they hold their silence. Even the ones holding betting slips, the ones who are usually beyond caring. Probably because both Katniss and Peeta had something of a reputation throughout the District.

Instead, they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage.

Max and Darius shared uneasy looks. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Hopefully, the Peacekeepers didn't have to step-in to "take care of things."

Then something unexpected happens.

At first one, then another, until almost every member of the crowd touched the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and hold them out to Katniss and Peeta.

At first Max was confused on what they were doing, but then a memory slams into him in full force.

"It's an old and rarely used symbol in our District." Maze said, running his fingers though Max's hair as they lay in bed together, with Max using Maze's stomach as a pillow.

"Really?" Max said, still unused to the customs of District 12, even though he had spent the past four years in District 2 undergoing Peacekeeper training – which only gave him a surface rundown on each District. "I saw some people do it at a funeral, and wondered what it meant. We didn't have anything like that where I used to live."

"In that situation, it means goodbye to someone you love." Maze said, leaning down to give a kiss to Max's temple. "But it can also be a sign of thanks and admiration."

Max is silent as he processes Maze's words. "That's nice…that you have something special to say goodbye to the people you love."

Max's eyes widened seeing everyone raise their hands. No doubt the Capitol is watching this. Hopefully, people (especially President Snow) didn't understand what the significance of District 12's actions represented.

Or else there would be trouble.

Suddenly, the anthem of Panem plays, signaling the end of the Reaping.

Author's Notes:

Delly Cartwright's friendships – Something partially from my own mind. Delly has been noted in canon to have been very close (and probably best friends) with Peeta. However, as she is a Town girl, it would not be out of the realm of possibility that she would be sort of friends with Madge, both being the same age and moved in the same social circles, being both "Townies."

Delly Cartwright's personality – Katniss reveals very little about Delly in The Hunger Games, besides just a physical description and that she was also in the same class as her and Peeta. She was also described as being extremely friendly and smiles at everyone, and was said to admire Katniss. Because Katniss knows very little about Delly even though they are in the same class (which is no doubt very small), I ran with that to make Delly someone people gloss over but who uses it to her advantage while including her canon characteristics. This will be important later in the story.

Bristel and Thom – I know that in canon, they don't get introduced into Catching Fire, but they are Gale's friends, and I find it odd that Katniss had never mentioned them in The Hunger Games. So I decided to introduce them early.

District 12 sign – I decided to place it after both Peeta and Katniss are reaped partially for dramatic reasons but also because Peeta did have just as much of a reputation in the District as Katniss did, and was known for his kindness and generosity towards others (made even more significant especially since everyone knew he suffered abuse from his mother). I'd like to think that the District respected both Katniss and Peeta (in different ways of course) that the symbol would be a sign of respect to both of them.