Chapter 1: Family
Buttercup POV
"They are not going to pick you."
That was what the Professor always told me and my sisters when we were eligible to be in the Hunger Games. For the seven years our names were in the glass balls, he was always right.
Tomorrow was the reaping for the thirty fifth Hunger Games. One girl and one boy tribute would be selected and shipped off to Citysville to prepare to be in the Hunger Games.
From Townsville, twenty four tributes will be selected, two from each district. Townsville had been separated into twelve districts for a long time now. Me, my family, my sisters, and their families lived in District 12.
Let me fill you in, my name is Buttercup Jojo. I'm married to Butch Jojo and we have a daughter, Ally. My sisters, Bubbles and Blossom married Boomer and Brick. Bubbles and Boomer have a son, Andrew, and Brick and Blossom also have a son, Anthony. Anthony and Andrew were both older than Ally by a year, but they both treated her like a little sister. They would almost never let any boys near her (much to Butch's pleasure), they teased her, and they pulled pranks on each other.
We all worried at every reaping that one of our children will be selected as a tribute. Anthony and Andrew were sixteen, meaning their names have been placed in the drawing five times each and Ally was fifteen, her name was in the drawing four times.
"Mom?" Ally's voice penetrated my thoughts.
"Yes, Ally?" I asked.
"I'm going to Starbucks with Spade." She informed me.
"Alright. Be back by six." I told her.
She pulled her bag over her shoulder and left.
Spade was her best friend, and Ace's oldest son. Ace and I have been good friends for years, which is why our children are so close.
As I watched Ally leave, I noticed how nothing can bring her down. She was always too busy living in the moment to worry about what was coming.
Ally POV
I ordered a Double Chocolaty Chip and met with Spade in the corner booth of Starbucks.
"Hey, Ally." He smiled as he hugged me.
"Hey, Spade." I greeted.
"So what's up?" He asked as he sat across from me.
"My Mom's worried about tomorrow." I answered.
"Can you blame her? I'm worried too, aren't you?" He asked.
"What for?" I asked.
"Aren't you scared they're going to pick you?" He asked.
"Why? There's a really small chance they will. There are only four slips of paper with my name among the five hundred that are in there." I said.
"You never know. But even if they do pick you, I would volunteer as tribute." He took a sip of his White Chocolate Mocha.
"You can't. Only family members can do that." I argued.
"I bet your cousins would happily volunteer." He laughed.
"They can't, they're nit girls. Besides, they wouldn't get the chance. If I do get selected, I'm going to refuse any volunteers." I said.
"Well, here's to you not being chosen." Spade raised his drink.
"And here's to you." I raised my drink.