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Chapter 1
I wake up the morning of the reaping and am very excited as I rose up and swept my black short locks into a messy bun and began to get up to get ready. I am definitely going to win these games if I get picked.
I swiftly get up and head over to my chocolate brown dresser and pull out a light green long sleeve button up top and a pair of khaki colored pants. I threw them softly on my bed and went into my bathroom and looked into the mirror at myself and thought, I now hope I don't get picked for the games, I don't want to die. I frowned at the thought of it. "I'm not going to die!" I laugh at the sound of that accusation I just said aloud.
I pull off my sweats and tank and toss them to the side over by my window. I picked up my new pair of pants and shirt, and slipped them on. I undid my messy bun and let my locks fall to my shoulders; I got my comb and straightened my hair. I took a look into my mirror and realized, I looked amazing right now, and I need to meet up with Cato.
Cato is my absolute best friend and I have known him since we were little kids. He is 18 and I just turned 15, but we have known each other for at least 5 years, and that's a long time to keep a friend. I looked at the time on my wall clock and it read 6:35 AM. I don't think my parents or my little sister would be up yet. I crept downstairs since I saw no one yet. I went into the kitchen and still saw no one so I poured me a glass of apple juice and sat in my living room and turned on the TV in front of me on a wall.
"And today, is the start of the 74th annual Hunger Games! For all the districts of Panem, this years Hunger Games may be like the others, fierce, sad, exhilarating and amazing! We will check in later with the live footage from this year's reapings on which tributes from all 12 districts and to see who our competitors will be this year! I am President Cornelius Snow, and I thank all of Panem and wish you all good luck and May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!" and the channel was off and snowy. I looked outside at all the little children dancing and prancing around carrying loafs of bread and bags of cookies from the local bakery, and I just realized I still need to go to meet Cato, I went back upstairs and combed my hair through once more and took a scrap piece of paper and wrote simply, 'Cato Baanier" and I lay it on the table in our dining room and grabbed the keys to my little bug like car and proceeded to the front door.
Cars were only available in the wealthier districts, mostly the career districts, which are 1, 2, and 4. The careers are the ones who make the most valuable products, like, District 1, they produce luxuries, like, fabrics, and fancies like so. District 2, where Cato and I live, we produce masonry like stone work and such, and help rebuild broken and tore up cities and Districts in the country of Panem. And District 4, they are masters for fishing and provide fish through out all of Panem. So that concludes the introduction of the Careers.
Once I got to my car I quickly put the key in the ignition and drove to Cato's house. Once I got there, I got out, locked my doors, and walked up to his front door.
I knocked on the high wooden door with a crescent window in the top. His home is almost as big as mine, 2 floors, and 3 rooms. Very nice. The brass doorknob turned and Cato's mother opened the door. She is tall, skinny, blonde, and is very fierce, just like Cato. "Hi Mrs. Baanier!" I said to her as she grabbed my hand and pulled me in. She hugged me and yelled up to Cato, "Cato! Honey! Clove is here!" not even one second passed until Cato yelled back, "I'll be down in a minute! One second!" I heard some rustling and then instead of Cato, his little brother Blair came down instead first. "Hey Clove!" he said, running over to give me a hug. He was already 12 now and just turned it too. This would be his and my little sister's first year at the reaping. I am really hoping they don't get picked, but I know they won't. Cato came down and he was already dressed too and was wearing a light blue button up top, tucked in and dark black slacks with black dress shoes and his hair was usual, like mine. His blonde hair was spiked up in the front and he came down the stairs, being careful not to fall. "Hey," he smiled. He came over and hugged me and Blair interrupted, "So, do I need to get ready Momma?" "Sorry, you go on and do whatever, it's only 7 AM, and Cato, be back before 11 O.K.?" his mother stated, Cato nodded and kissed his mother goodbye and hugged Blair tight and came back over to me.
"Whoa! You got the car today!" Cato screeched once we got to his driveway to where I had parked my car. "Yeah, my parents, nor Willow were up yet, so I just got it and came over here, you wanna' go to get some breakfast?" I asked as I unlocked the car and got in. Cato followed and got in in the front seat next to me. "Where do you wanna' go? Out to town?" he asked. "Yeah, let's go to Darius'" I replied and I nodded in agreement and we were off.
Once we got to Darius' diner, Cato and I came up to the door and rung the little glass bell at the wooden shelf hanging on the wall. "Ah! Clove! You brought a friend!" he said coming towards me and Cato. "Ah, yes, Darius, this is Cato, my best friend you could ever have!" I finished and Cato hugged me tight. I glared up at him but it didn't mean he had to budge. I laughed. "Nice to meet you!" Cato said, reaching out to shake Darius' hand. He responded by shaking it back. "Would you two like a table? For two?" Darius joked. I nodded and he showed us a table.
Once Cato and I had sat down, Darius handed Cato a menu but not me. "Why doesn't she get a menu?" Cato asked Darius, jabbing a finger towards me. "She has been here so many times, she doesn't need no menu! You, on the other hand, need a menu. I never have seen you before boy!" Darius finished and walked off. "It's true, I already know what I want." I snickered at Cato, and he had a great comeback, "Well, what is it?" "It's 2 waffles, a side of strawberries, 2 sausage links, a hot chocolate and water." I finished. I usually end up getting that every time I'm here with my sister, Willow, my parents, or even some of my other friends. "Oh, I think I'll get that, but maybe like blueberries instead of strawberries." Cato chuckled.
Once we had ordered and finished time had flown, it was already 9:30 AM. We spent 3 hours sitting there and talking, but we haven't even brought up anything about the reaping but I think now is the time.
Once we got in my car we drove back over to my house and sat in the living room in silence for a couple of moments. My parents were both up now and Willow was trying to get ready. Once she was done, she came down and Cato ran up to hug her. "Cato!" she squealed. 'Hey kiddo, how's it going? Are you scared?" he asked and I got up to greet them. She nodded and he stroked her long black hair, similar to mine, "It'll be O.K." and he planted a small peck on her little forehead and she ran back upstairs to finish putting up her hair with my mother. My father was out at the moment to go do last minute errands for the reaping. Cato and I were alone again and we went to sit on the couch.
"Have you ever thought, that, my name is in there 7 times, and yours, 4?" Cato asked. "You won't get picked. I know. And neither will Willow or Blair." He said, grabbing my hand. "We'll be ok. Some people have their name in there over 30 times. They are more likely to get picked." He continued. "I know, I'm just worried. I've lasted 4 whole years, and you've lasted 6. I just, I don't know what to think of it." I said head down. I know that Cato and I have trained each year for the games; I just don't like being up in the time of it, and especially having both our younger siblings for the first time.
"I know one thing! We need to go! It's already 10:15! Cato, I called your mother and she's going to meet us there." My mother called from upstairs and her, my father, and Willow all came down, Willow was dressed in a similar green dress with her long black her pulled to a side ponytail.
Since the town square was almost right across the street, we all walked. Cato, Willow, and I all went to get signed in. we had to line up if we were in a group, oldest to youngest. So Cato was first. I watched as a peacekeeper took his hand and stuck a pin in his arm and took some blood, "What's your name, kid?" the peacekeeper asked him. "Cato Baanier" he responded, she wrote it down on a piece of paper next to a drop of his blood, "Age?" they asked again. "18" he replied blankly, and she wrote it down next to his name. "Next!" they screamed and he moved out of the way to wait on us.
"Name?" they asked after she pricked me for blood. "Clove Fairsteed" I responded. "Age" "15" I said, sounding almost completely helpless. "Next!" she yelled again and I moved to where Cato was standing. He grabbed me in a hug and we watched as Willow got her blood drawn and Blair, they both moved over to us and we wished them goodbye, "It'll be ok!" I convinced Willow, Cato hugged me tight once and we all headed in our different directions. Cato, Me, Blair, and Willow all got in spots where we can all see each other.
"Ah! Welcome Welcome! To the 74th Annual Hunger Games! We will start with the ladies!" The announcer boomed through the microphone after the announcement of how The Hunger Games got started.
She dips her hand down in a big bowl of names of all us girls, she clears her throat and reads the name out loud. My heart stops as I finally realize, the name, "Ah! Willow Fairsteed!" and I almost lost it completely as I saw my little 12 year old sister walk out onto the isle and Cato and Blair are now both crying and Cato looks over to me and mouths, 'Go,' and I do exactly what he said and I ran, pushing through the crowd and ran up into the isle and I raised my hand and screamed "I volunteer as tribute!" and I stopped, trying to hide my red puffy eyes. And the crowd stopped and I caught a glimpse of Cato who was now crying twice as hard but being silent about it. Great, I am in The Games, The Hunger Games.