Aria: District One
My annoying alarm clock startles me awake. I roll over and quickly put an end to the noisy buzzing with my fist. Then I cringe, realizing the racket I must have created. But Mike only moans quietly in protest of the new day and shifts beside me. I glance across the room at our mother, Ella, who continues to snore. That could have ended up worse. I tell myself. I roll back over to face Mike and my eyes catch the tiny bit of sunrise shining through the window above our bed. I smile tiredly. I love watching the sunrise in the morning, well, when I get up that early. I peer back down at Mike. His eyes are now wide open and watching me.
"Aria," He whispers worriedly, "It's Reaping day." My heart drops. I almost forgot. Deep breaths, Aria.
"Yes, I know." Then a sigh.
"Are you going to make breakfast?" He murmurs, to not awaken Ella. I nod. I would never forget to make breakfast. Mike grins weakly although his lips tremble as he leaps out of bed. Mike and I have to share a bed, although, I do not mind. We've been bunking together since we were small. Then I too get out of bed and meet Mike in the kitchen. He's already gotten the ingredients out. I grin at his eagerness.
"You remember how to slice the potatoes, right?" I ask. He nods quickly.
"Just as you've been teaching me." I can tell he is proud of his recently newfound knowledge of cooking his favorite breakfast. I watch my little brother as he carefully cut the potatoes. I watch him mostly. His eyes are wide and tired. Without meaning to, my hand caresses his cheek. He jumps slightly as if he's nervous.
"You haven't slept." It wasn't a question but he continues to prepare the potatoes. He shakes his head.
"I couldn't, too worried." He admits. I try to smile but my lips quiver, instead, I purse my lips.
"Me too." I remove my lingering hand and focus my attention to finishing the rest of breakfast. With the frying pan over heat, I pour milk into the bottom of the pan. Next, I shred the cheese and add that into the milk. I have been teaching Mike how to cook for a while now. Ever since I thought that we might have to go and fight the games. If I have to go, then at least Mike can provide for Ella because she certainly cannot. "Are you finished with the potatoes?" I ask Mike, leaning over to see his work. He beams proudly back at me and scrapes the sliced rounds into the pan. "Go on." I motion with the wooden spoon. "Stir it." He takes the spoon in my hand and begins to mix it all around. I tousle his hair playfully. But Mike turns to a more serious note.
"I don't want you to leave, Aria. I would miss this. You being here for me. I don't want to leave." Mike says it so quietly that I stop. I turn to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders.
"I won't and neither will you, don't worry so much, little brother." I try to say it jokingly but it comes out more choked. I keep my expression steady as I step away from him to retrieve the dishes.
"Are you okay?" He questions. He knows that he's upset me on this touchy subject.
"Yeah, fine." I reply, my back to him. I wipe my eyes. Nothing gets me more teary eyed than my own younger brother trying to comfort me. I am the sister, I should be comforting him. Crouching down, I take out three mismatched plates and three forks from the cabinet. "Don't worry," I add, "there are a lot of other willing people to take our place, even if we do get called up." He shrugs, keeping his eyes down at the food.
"I suppose, but you never know." He replies quietly. Then Ella shuffles in, hair sticking up every which way. She yawns and moves towards me.
"Smells wonderful." She murmurs, kissing my temple. She does the same to Mike with an added squeeze of the shoulders.
"Good morning, Ella." I reply politely as I set the table. Ella plops down at the table and yawns again.
"How is work, Mike?" She suddenly asks. Mike shrugs again then sighs. He started working at one of the many factories for Capitol luxuries a few months back to help support our family. I help by laundering others clothing as well as going to school. I have a suspicion that Ella doesn't do anything with her time while we are gone, probably reminisce about Byron, her husband and our father. Maybe she is still hurting from when he died even though it has been years.
"Well, I haven't been injured yet. Or sucked into a machine." Mike answers glumly.
"Indeed." Ella nods. I hurry over to Mike and the stovetop.
"Lovely." I grin, turning off the stove. Mike shreds the last minute cheese on top just as I previously instructed him and he carries the pan to the table. As we all dig into the meal, I find that I cannot eat much. It smells so good but my appetite depletes by the second. I cannot think straight. I feel sick and I excuse myself from the table to go lay down. Awhile later, Mike comes to me.
"We have to get dressed." He says. The noises of Ella washing dishes from the other room drowns out our conversation. I want to sob. I don't want to go and leave them but I have this strong feeling that that is exactly what is going to happen. I desperately grasp Mike's hand and pull him down onto the bed beside me. "What is it, Aria?" He asks, waiting eagerly. His eyes are so worried and at the same time so understanding. I am the older sister, this is not supposed to happen. But contrary to what I have been telling myself, I begin to cry into Mike's shoulder. Ugly sobs rack my body and my brother rubs my back soothingly. Beginning to calm down, I sit up. "A wise girl once told me not to worry because there are a lot of other willing people to take our place, even if we do get called up." He strokes my cheek. I nod, taking a shaky breath. "We should get dressed." He adds. Again, I nod, then stand.
Mike's reassurance doesn't make me feel any better, though. Unlike most kids our age, we are not training to be careers. Frankly, I am terrified of being chosen even though, in District One, my chances are nearly at zero because of all the volunteers. Even though… the thought still frightens me. Although, there are those very rare years where no one volunteers because their training is not over.
Mike drags me back to my senses when he pulls the large, dusty brown box out from under our bed. Again, I take a deep breath and I finally feel calmed down. He plops the box on the bed and removes the cover. I inhale quickly. I always love seeing the lovely pastel green velvet dress that Byron originally gave to Ella as a wedding gift. Even though seeing the dress means only two things: death or Reaping day. You can imagine how wealthy he must have been. Turning away from Mike, I slip out of my clothes and pull the dress on over my head. The material feels so wonderful against my bare skin. I glance over my shoulder at Mike who is buttoning his pants.
"Can you zip me up?" I ask. He nods and steps closer. I brush my hair out of the way and he zips it. "Thanks."
"Don't forget the rest." He replies. I turn to the box. I always forget that there is also a pearl necklace and matching bracelet and white slip on shoes. I smile. I love wearing all these fancy clothes, I feel so elegant. I add the finishing items and glance into the mirror. I sigh. My dark hair is piled up in a messy bun, strands of hair hanging down in my face. I brush them back with my hand. I look beautiful in a tragic way, like I am later going to my own funeral, which in a way I guess I am. Mike comes up behind me to look at his reflection and I retreat to our bed. Since Ella ran over to a friend's house quickly, I strike up a conversation with Mike.
"You look nice in Byron's suit." I say. He glances back at me in the mirror.
"You are lovely as well, Aria." Then I feel the tears in my throat again. I launch myself up at Mike. He catches me in his arms.
"I am so scared." I whimper into his shoulder. Tears streak my face. "If anything happens to me, I love you, Mike." He holds me comfortingly.
"I love you, too, Aria." He murmurs. We are silent until Ella walks in the front door. We pull away from each other and I wipe my face. She obviously realizes something is wrong but dismisses it. We don't have time right now. "Ready to go to the Square?" She asks us both. We nod and she walks back out. I grab Mike's hand and we walk out together. We will brave the horrors together. All I ask is that Mike will be safe at home.
*Author note: YES! *the authors shouts triumphantly to herself as she finally finishes typing up her new rewritten chapter* Anyway, hello, my lovelies! I would like to thank you for sticking with me throughout that horrible hiatus of mine. *shudders* Or if you are a new reader, then welcome! Any questions or comments, PM me or send a review. Also, I would love it if you participated in my poll of who you would like to see win the games! Next time I will add in a chart of who belongs to each District (because I have currently misplaced it, oops!). Thank you! Sleep well, my lovelies. And fly on~