I wake up with a start. Today's the day. It's Reaping Day. And I am pumped. I am 18 this year, and my parents are letting me volunteer. I've been training for years, and I am one of the best in training. I have extreme confidence I'll win.
My name is Cato Hadley, from District 2. We are the masonry district. The Capitol absolutely loves us. We are the favorites in the Hunger Games we are forced to compete in every year, and we win almost every year. And this year will just add another Victor to the endless list of Victors from District 12.
The light shows it's around 11 o'clock. Oh crap. I have to get up and get ready. My little brother is excited too. He's 15, and he's just as strong as I am. But he's not allowed to volunteer, and if he does, I have to volunteer. Which is fine with me, I am already planning on volunteering no matter who it is. Besides, who doesn't want me to go? I'm known throughout the District, and everyone is sure I could win. I don't blame them, I'm pretty awesome.
I leave my unmade bed and walk to the bathroom and hop in the shower. I take a long shower, washing up carefully, so I look the best I possibly can. I'm going to be on TV, so might as well look nice. As I hop out, I wrap a towel around my waist, and walk back to my bedroom. My mom has laid out and outfit for me. Black pants and a gray shirt with my nice black shoes.
I get dressed in it, and it's 11:45 by the time I'm done. I don't care that I've taken forever, I can take my time all I want. My blonde hair is sticking in every direction, so I head back to the bathroom.
"Cato!" my mom yells from downstairs. I'm not able to fix my hair, which is fine with me. I'm going to be able to come back up here and fix my hair before leaving for the Reaping.
"Yes, mom!" I yell back down. What could the woman want? I'm busy here!
"Come eat!" Oh, food. Well I'll come down right now then.
"Be down in a few!" I was going to style my hair after eating, but I'll just do it right now, because chances are I'm going to forget and end up going to the Reaping with my hair sticking out everywhere, and I'll look stupid.
In the bathroom, I stick my blonde hair up with some gel, and put on a fierce face. I am Cato Hadley. Capitol favorite from District 2. I show no mercy. I start making faces and striking poses, admiring my muscles that I've spent years to build up. That's when my 11 year old little sister, Cailey, comes in.
She giggles as my face turns red. "Cato, what are you doing?" Well, it's not the first time she's caught me admiring my amazing self.
"Um... nothing." I laugh though, and pick her up, throwing her over my shoulder. "Are you excited for you big bro to go compete in the Hunger Games?" I always do this to her, and she loves being thrown over her shoulder. All her little friends have crushes on me. I like the attention though, I mean, I can't help I'm so charming!
She screams with glee. "Yes! You're going to win, obviously!" I love her so much. My younger brother Michael, I don't like. He's quiet and arrogant. He's not that cool, and I am way better looking than him.
"Let's go get some food." I put her down. She smiles, and you can see where she is still missing teeth. My mom put her blonde hair into pig tails. She doesn't have a chance of being reaped, but she still looks nice, for when I go. And she better look nice for when they interview her after I make the top eight.
"I already ate! You were being a lazy head and sleeping late." Cailey pokes my arm. She always gets mad at me for sleeping in, because she likes me to come play early morning games with her. She's starting to train to compete in the Hunger Games one day, and she's starting to get okay with throwing knives.
"I deserve it, I think. Like, I'm going to the Hunger Games, and I'm going to win." Who cares if I'm being arrogant? My little sister doesn't judge. And she doesn't have much idea of what arrogance is. She thinks I'm one of the best people who have ever lived. I won't deny my awesomeness though.
Michael comes walking by me muttering. He's so weird. He's quite scrawny compared to me, but he has the same blonde hair. I hear him say, "Cato gets to go..." he's jealous of the fact that I get to volunteer and he doesn't. Well too bad for him! Besides, he wouldn't make it. He hasn't got the muscles I've spent years building up, and he doesn't train like I do. I think he still wants to compete in the Games and win to show me up. But that's not happening.
Downstairs, we have a huge meal. Sandwiches, fruit, and some fried potatoes. Oh how I love Reaping day! Especially this particular reaping day. I sit down, and start eating. My mom starts talking about how proud she is of me. And I listen, even though she tells me every day how proud she is of me. Hey, I like the attention.
"Oh Cato! You're going to win and make us rich! It will be a great life. You're huge, great with weapons, and especially hand to hand combat. No doubt you'll win, unless the Capitol kills you. But they'll love you, so they won't." my mom beams with pride at the fact that I, Cato Hadley, am her son. And the Capitol will love me. I'm from District 2, they love us!
"Thank you mom. Thanks for the encouragement!" I wolf down my food after I say that, and the next time I look at the clock around 1. But that's after practicing with Cailey a little bit. I always train with her every day, and she looks forward to it. "I'm gonna go brush my teeth, and go train with Cailey a little bit more, okay?"
"Sounds good Cato." My mom says with a smile. She takes my plate and puts it in the sink as I rise, and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I love my mom, she's pretty cool. She's young too, so she still remembers what it's like to be a teenager. My friends love her because she's easy going.
"Cato!" It's Cailey. "Are you going to kill people?" Well duh.
I smile. But then I see her face. She looks worried, that killing people maybe isn't the best thing. So I say what's best for her. "Maybe, but when the time comes, I might have to. You do want me to come home, don't you? And how can I do that without killing at least one person?"
She doesn't smile, but droops her shoulders. "When you win, I don't want you to be changed." Then she walks away to her room. What does that mean?
Who cares what she thinks about it? You can't win the Games if you don't kill a few people. But I plan on killing as many as possible, I just didn't want to tell my little sister that. Michael knows for a fact that I will kill anyone, even my district partner, to win. That might depend. If it's one of my friends, I'll just abandon her and let someone else get her. If it's someone I hate, I'll kill them at first chance.
But if it's Clove...
Clove is my best friend. We grew up together. She was always there for me, and she still is. She's 16, though, but I've kind of fallen in love with her. I think she feels the same way. Cailey swears she does based on the way she's seen her looking at me. I don't see it, but I hope so. When I win, she'll definitely love me, and we can get married. But honestly, I know she probably loves me. I love her. And we have kissed once, and it was one of the best days of my life.
It was a Saturday afternoon, I had been training all day. I was sitting outside of the gymnasium where we trained. Everyone had left to go hang out in the square. But I was waiting for Clove. We were going to go hang out, and she had to wait a couple of minutes. Then, she walked out, smiling. I asked her why she was so happy, and she said that she made all of the knives into the heart of all the dummies today, and was promoted to expert level. I was so happy for her. She sat down on the step next to me. I don't know what she was talking about, I was just staring at her lips. I wanted to kiss them so bad. They were just waiting for me. So I went in and kissed her. She stopped talking, closed her eyes. After a few seconds, I let go. Her face was shocked, but I knew she had liked it. She kissed me again, and wrapped her arms around my neck as I put my hands on her waist. It was magical, and I felt a spark. Once she stopped kissing me, she walked away, her face red, without saying a word. That's when I knew I was in love.
But these Games aren't about romance, it's about killing people to win, no matter how much it changes you. You just have to get out of there alive. And I intend on getting out of that arena alive, no matter what it takes. It will be a tough couple of weeks in the arena, but I will make it.
I go and brush my teeth, then go to my room and sit on my unmade bed. There's a picture of Clove on my nightstand. I hold it in my hands and look at it. Crying is what would make me feel better, but I don't cry. Clove will be here at home, safe and sound, for when I get back.
I remember that I was going to help Cailey train, so I walk outside and help her throw knives for a little bit. Somehow, even though I know I'm coming home, I have the feeling this will be the last time I'm training her. So I teach her how to use my signature weapon, the sword. She has fun swinging around a fake sword until my mom calls for us. I smile, knowing how happy she is she has me to teach her.
After training her a little more, my mother calls me. "Cato! Time to go!"
It's time.
I head inside to the front room with Cailey, where my mom, dad, and Cailey are waiting. "Let's go!" I exclaim, actually really excited.
"Why so eager?" Michael asks, as if he doesn't know. What a little idiot. Oh wait, he's just probably trying to get on my nerves.
"Like you don't know, stupid," I say. Michael hangs his head and looks at the ground after I say that, and Cailey looks at me, a little disappointed. Whatever, she can think what she wants, but Michael did kind of deserve it.
My mom and dad say nothing, but they love me the most anyway, so I get away with things. Besides Cailey. Everyone loves Cailey. Who wouldn't love her? She's the most adorable sweetest thing ever, and she's great at making someone feel guilty.
The five of us walk to the Town Square, where all of the 12-18 year olds in the district are gathering for the Reaping. Michael and I stand in line to get our finger pricked. It doesn't hurt much, but it stings. Oh well, I'll have more pain to endure in the arena.
At the town square, all the 12 year olds go to the back, and the oldest go to the front. I'm in the front, and put on a look of confidence. I spot Clove standing on the girls' side, and she flashes me a smirk.
I smirk back, and mouth, "Volunteering." She understands and nods.
The bell strikes 2 o'clock, signaling the time for the Reaping. Our escort, Aurelia and whatever her last name is, is sitting on the stage, along with the two mentors, Brutus and Enobaria. The mayor, a muscular man with blonde hair, walks onto the stage. He gives a speech, and does the usual. Talk about the dark days, blah blah blah. I'm not even listening, I'm just looking at Clove, while she looks at me.
I really don't care, I just want this Reaping to get on with so the Hunger Games can get here faster. Finally, after all the boring stuff, Aurelia walks to the bowls holding the slips of paper.
"Ladies first!" she says.
She pulls out a slip of paper. "Clove Greenleaf!"
What? Clove? No! It can't be Clove! Clove, my love. My girl. But I still have to volunteer. Or maybe I won't, Clove can win anyway. She's a good fighter. The best knife thrower in District 2. She'll win. And I will cheer her on!
Clove walks up to the stage and looks at me. She looks like she's going to cry. I nod at her, and mouth, "You can win." Since we are so close, she gets it. She smirks, and walks up to the stage confidently. Based on her reaction, she knows I'm not going to volunteer, no matter who it is.
"Well, here we are! Clove Greenleaf!" Aurelia claps, as do the rest of the audience. I smile and give her a thumbs up. Clove smirks.
Aurelia asks for volunteers, but no one does. They all know Clove, she wouldn't let anyone.
"Now for the boys." Aurelia walks over to the bowl, and draws out a slip of paper. She walks back to the podium. "Michael Hadley."
Michael? Oh god! I have to volunteer. I'll be shunned. Not volunteering for my own brother when I'm one of the most promising candidates in the whole Hunger Games will definitely get me shunned. Clove looks at me again, the face she makes, she knows I'm going to volunteer. Michael looks at me with a face that says, "Please volunteer."
Aurelia asks for tributes, and I know this is what I have to do. I have to volunteer.
I look back and see Cailey and my mother. My mother waves her arm, as to tell me to volunteer. Cailey gives me her adorable puppy dog eyes, and I know I have to volunteer. I sigh.
As Michael is about to walk up to the stage, I lunge forward. "I volunteer as tribute!"
I get a huge round of applause as I'm escorted to the stage. I try to look proud, but on the inside I'm dying. Clove just looks at me with a really sad face, and tries to be strong. But I know she's upset I volunteered, because she wanted to win and come home to me. Now only one of us can win. At least I already told her I loved her.
"What is your name?" Aurelia asks me.
"Cato Hadley."
"That's your brother for sure! How nice to volunteer for him!" Aurelia looks excited. I would be, if the female tribute was anyone but Clove. "Such an honor!"
"Here we are! The tributes from District 2! Clove Greenleaf and Cato Hadley!" Aurelia announces as everyone applauds. I put on my game face, trying to look fierce, and that I show no mercy.
Then we are escorted into the Justice Building, where we will be able to say our final good byes to our families.