(Crystal) pov.
"Crystal, Wake up" My little 6 year old sister Sammee screams.
"What?" I mumble.
"If you don't wake up I'll get Thomas to wake you up."shit, Thomas is my 17 year old best friend.
"go away ." I moan
"Thomas!" I hear Sammee scream.
I roll over as Thomas walks into the room and sits next to me on the bed.
"Crystal wake up It's reaping day" He says and pushes my short dirty blond hair out of my face.
"So what." I say putting my pillow over my head.
"Well, for one thing if we don't go we'll be punished and for another I want to get some hunting in before it starts." He says.
"Fine, go without me" I say and turn towards the wall.
He sighs and pulls my blankets of while Sammee that traitor opens the curtains.
I moan and still refuse to get up so He scoops me into his arms and walks out into the kitchen
My mom runs over "is she okay?" she asks anxiously and puts a hand on my forhead.
"yea, Just lazy" Thomas says and I struggle in his arms.
He doesn't put me dwn right away so I start kicking and punching him.
I "accidentally" punch his face and he winces and drops me to the floor.
I let out an oomph as I slam into the floor.
"Jeez you got an arm Crystal" He says and pulls me up. "sorry, I didn't mean to drop you"
I pull away from him and wince a little at my now bruised knee. I start walking but wobble from moving this early.
Thomas grabs my arm and leads me to my room and sits me on the bed "get ready." he says as he shuts the door.
I realize we don't have any time left for hunting and pull on jeans and a flowy purple spagetti strap top. I finish off the look with my combat boots, and wobble down the stairs.
Thomas is waiting for me and we walk silently to the reaping are good moods ruined thanks to the idiot capital and these stupid games.
when we get there Thomas gives me a hug and we wish each other good luck.
He walks over to the 17 year old boys section and I walk over to the 15 year old girls section and I stare into his bright green eyes hoping he won't get sent to his death.
This sickening colorful lady walks nto stage goes through a bunch of boring stuff and as always says "Ladies first!" in a very cheerful voice.
I hold my breath as she walks over to the bucket with the girls names in it She pulls out a name and says "Crystal Pence" I start to hyperventilate as what she said sinks in.
I put an emotionless mask on as I walk up to the stage.
I stand there and wait till she calls the guys name hoping it won't be Marco my arch enemy, and guess who she calls come on guess. Marco.
Marco walks onto stage and grins evilly at me.
Oh, god I think and try to hide my look of terror. Thomas must of noticed because he runs up and says he vollunteers for Marco. I stare at Thomas asking him with my eyes if he was an idiot or what?
He sends me a look that says ust trying to protect you. I sigh and look down.
(Thomas) pov.
I glare at Marco as he walks onto stage he had hurt Crystal so many times he wouldn't hesitate to kill her.
I don't know what I'm thinking as I run up and vollunteer for Marco.
Crystal gives me a look that says are you crazy.
I send a look back that says just protecting you. I couldn't let him hurt her she was my best friend.
(Crystal) pov.
Goodbyes go by in a blur as I try to figure out why Thomas would volunteer. I dimly remember hugging my mom and being given a necklace with a black feather on it from Sammee.
- (Later)-
I get on the train and head straight to my room without talking to anyone. I lay down on the very comfortable bed and fall straight to sleep.
