As the sunlight begins to creep through the thin blue curtains of my room, I sit up in bed, expecting to see my mother asleep in the bed next to me, but she isn't there. I hear pans in the kitchen, and realise that she's already up.
Pulling on a simple blue vest top and black trousers I enter the main room to see my older brothers, Palmer and Oleaster, sat looking gravely into their bowls. It's just a simple porridge made of grain today, as usual, but no one's eating.
"Dahlia, dear," my mother smiles. "You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep." I murmur.
She nods, understanding. It may be my last year of being in the Reaping, but I am still nervous. Everyone is. Palmer and Oleaster aren't in the Reaping anymore, Palmer being 19 years old, and Oleaster 21. I am only 18, however, and therefore still young enough to be in the games.
"I gave your dress to Hazelle yesterday." My mother says. "You should go and get it from her now."
I nodded, and pulled on a black leather jacket. I pick up the pile of dresses from the table next to my chair and put them in a black bag, neatly folded. I left without saying anything, shutting the door lightly behind me. We live in the Merchant, and Hazelle and her family live in The Seam, so I have to walk past the town square and out of The Merchant to get there. As I walk through I square, though it's early morning, large scaffolding and pillars are being errected outside the Justice Building for the Reaping. The Peacekeepers stand with guns by their sides and dressed in pristine, white uniforms, and their presence urges me on quickly. In a few minutes I have reached the Seam and Hazelle's house.
Knocking on the door, I notice the curtains aren't open, and I wonder if I'm too early. I turn round, looking back towards The Merchant, wondering if I should just go home. But then I heard the look and the door, and the jingle of keys, and the door is pulled open to reveal a graved-face Gale.
"Dahlia?" He asks.
"I brought your clothes back." I say, handing him the black bag. He takes it, and nods. "And your mom has my dress for the..." I trail off, looking at him. He nods again.
"Mom?" He calls, turning back to the house.
I see her get up from where I stand outside, with a small Posy in her arms. I smile as she gurgles.
There was no feeling of friendship between myself and Gale today. None of what we have experienced for the past few months. Why? Because the Reaping has consumed everything. Today is not a day for obvious friendship, because if you open yourself up too much, you're more likely to get hurt. Tomorrow would be a different story. We would laugh and joke, talk for a while. I would probably go inside to play with Posy, or help Hazelle with some of the washing, but not today. I have things I need to do. People I need to see.
"Here you go, dear." Hazelle smiles, handing me my dress. She has no bag to put it in, but I don't mind.
"Keep the bag." I say, pointing to the sack in Gale's arms, and turn to leave.
"Lia!" He calls, when I'm 20 yards or so away.
I turn, strands of blonde hair flying loose from my ponytail as I do.
"I'll see you later." He says.
I nod. "Fifteen minutes?"
"Ten." He replied, and I nod again, turning and beginning to walk home.
I head back toward The Merchant, and into the square, where banners with the Capitol's symbol on are already being put up on the scaffolding.
The Peacekeepers don't give me a second glance as I walk quickly through the square, to home.