I'm fourteen years old. I couldn't possibly be reaped for the Hunger Games. We are a Career district, and so even if I am, there will be a volunteer. I squeeze Annie's hand as we walk to the Square. We're best friends now, practically inseparable except for classes. She's looking a bit nervous. She doesn't have any tesserae of course, but she's still eligible. She has two slips in thousands. Annie will never be picked for the Games; I'll make sure of it.
Geranium Linse, our escort, bounces out. He's followed by our Victors. There's Mags Kipling, a woman of about seventy. She hasn't given into drink or morphling, like some of the others, but she's old. Then there's Ripple Addison, a man of sixty five, followed by Wave Fuller, a fifty-something. We had a dry spell (ha! District four, a dry spell) for about twenty years, and then there's Raine Liz, Drizzle Fuller, and the victor of three years back, Naiada Greene. Most of them are addicted to alchohol or morphling, so our mentors our limited. This year, we have Naiada and Mags.
"Hello District Four! What a pleasure to be here to announce your tributes for the Sixty Fifth Hunger Games! Only ten more years till the Quarter Quell! How exciting! Now, let's introduce your Victors!" He goes through the list, telling their names, the year they won, and a blurb about them. As soon as he finishes, the mayor gives the traditional speech. Geranium goes back up to the glass bowls and winks. "So, District Four, are you ready? I think we'll do…ladies first." He sticks his grotesquely tattooed hand in the bowl and pulls out a slip. It's not Annie, it can't be Annie, and it's not her. "Brooke Tawny!" He calls out. A blonde sixteen year old walks from her section to the stage. She has a poker face on, so I can't tell whether she's excited or scared. I look over at Annie, who still looks nervous. Why would she look nervous? "Finnick Odair!"
That's not my name. That can't be my name. I know Finnick Odair, he's in my class and he's in my house and he's wearing my clothes and he's me. I am Finnick Odair. I am a tribute in the sixty-fifth Hunger Games. I feel my legs wobble up to the stage, and, as if I am outside my body, I see myself smiling and winking and mugging up to the camera. I shake hands with Brooke and hope she will not kill me, and that I will not kill her.
We go into the waiting room to be visited. My family comes in first, of course. My mother cries and my father pats me on the shoulder. I'm not that close with my family, so I know they will not suffer greatly if I die. The next person that enters the room is, of course, Annie. She's grown into a beautiful young woman, so different from the girl I met many years ago. I stand up and hug her, letting her know that I'll be safe, I'll win, just to come back to her.
"Finnick. I…I love you." I stare at her, at Annie's big brown eyes, so full of innocence. "You're like a brother to me. And more. Finnick, please, come back." I nod. .
"I will, Annie, I will. I love you too." It's the first time either of us has spoken the words to each other in this way. This will not be a goodbye. "Remember. No matter what happens, no matter how I act, or what I say, I'm doing it to win. To come home to you."
The Peacekeepers enter the room and tell me it's time to go. I peck Annie on the lips, and hold her hands in mine. "I love you."
**capitol'sfavorite**