The dull morning light shines through my grubby window, and I peel my eyes open picking off the sleep as I yawn. I've dreaded this day every year it's come, reaping day! Or what my brothers say Satan's waiting room, you wait for your name to be drawn if it isn't, you're on God's side. I throw my sheets aside and drag my feet over to the corridor finding my way through morning grogginess of the empty creaky house. Pushing open the door, the three beds in front of me are occupied by large lumps each snoring. I creep up to the first bed and pull on the covers. A moan responds shifting over and lifting up his sheets inviting me in.
"Happy Birthday ugly," he says, his morning breath blowing on my face. His arm wraps around me and I snuggle closer to him as he strokes my hair.
"What a great day for a birthday aye?" I say sarcastically but there's no response. A minute passes and I speak up.
"Jason what if I'm chosen?"
He turns facing the ceiling and sighs, before turning to me.
"You won't be Asha, I promise you that,"
I see in his eyes show determination but also grief.
I curl up on his chest as he squeezes me tighter. Although he may look rough on the outside he looks peaceful as he sleeps.
I hear a lot of gossip about Jason , some even say he's bought disgrace to the family. I mean he's not perfect, but people don't give him a chance.
He's a drop out at sixteen, constantly in fights, been arrested twice and and whipped once before. But in retrospect he's so gentle, warm hearted but stubborn and strong willed. To be honest I see a lot of my father in him.
My dad's friend Thom, once told me that my father was once whipped for illegally hunting inside the woods of district 12, and was in love with the famous Katniss Everdeen but she ran off with a baker in the end, or so they tell me.
"You, birthday girl mustn't be unhappy you hear me?" Jason whispers before smothering me with a pillow. He scoops me up under his arm as I squeal and throws me onto Avan's bed and he makes a sound like a dying whale.
"Asha I swear when I get my hands on you your dead!" I see Michael snicker and I stick my finger up at Avan.
"its my birthday I do what I want!" And with that Michael and Avan leap on me pinning my to the floor threatening to give me a Chinese burn, in the end we all end up play fighting. Of course I may be weaker than them and I'm a girl which is a major disadvantage but that doesn't' t mean I don't put up a good fight. We end up ganging up on Avan until Dad storms in.
"What on earth is going on in he... ASHA!" I currently have Avan in a choke hold. But of course he can't stop snickering as he pries my arms off around Avan's neck.
"Your breakfast is down stairs guys, just letting you know, we have an hour to get ready before we have to be in the square, so get off a your ass's and get downstairs."
After wolfing down a large meal of bacon and eggs dad returns from the kitchen with a small cupcake, in the centre of it is a candle and my name and a large 17 neatly iced at the edge.
"Dad! I said not to make a big deal out of it!" He smiles as I smack Michaels hand away as he licks the icing.
"Its not the best day for celebrating something so useless," I mumble. I'm the only kid in our family eligible for the reaping so of course there all nervous for me.
"Hey kiddo, you'll be fine" He says with a sympathetic smile.
"just eat your cake and shut-up princess" Jason jokes around. I instantly know the only person capable of making something so perfect. Peeta the baker, I admire his work and as hard as it for dad to admit it he has a sweet tooth for Peeta's treats.
After cleaning up I manage to get to the bathroom first to get ready for the reaping. Although I have to admit I did have some help from Michael on what to wear, he's always been good at that stuff. I know I'm not the most girliest girl in town, hell let's face it I've grown up with three brothers and a dad who makes weapons for a living. I drag myself to the mirror and examine myself it the mirror as Michael brushes through my hair until its a silky brown curtain under my ribs.
Somehow he manages to curl it letting loose ringlets roll down my back, and parts it is the middle. I pull on a light, blue dress which I have the urge to tug down because it flows above my knee and I feel exposed because the top half is tight. A pair of black flats and I'm done.
" Well isn't my sister a little stunner!" he exclaims, proud of his efforts. I give a shy smile before shoving him away from the door preparing to make my way down stairs before my dad stops me.
" You look beautiful! I hardly recognise you," He hands me a small ring and smiles, "Your mother wanted you to have it, she'd be proud of you," I study the gold vine which fits perfectly on my finger.
"thank you," I say as I wrap my arms around him. My mother died giving birth to me, I think that's one reason why my dad is so protective over me, to lighten the mood ii clear my throat and speak
"Honestly gifts aren't my thing."
"For a fact I know that Asha, I just like to see you suffer,"
The five of us walk along the Victors village path but I can't bumping dad into the bushes and playing around. Until a voice holds me up short and I turn to Peeta Mellark, instead of wearing his apron he's smartly dressed and managed to gel back his blonde curls
"Happy birthday Asha," He calls catching up to my family. He gives a polite nod although the tension between him and my dad is noticeable. A few steps of awkward silence passes,
"Thank you for the cake," I ask a little too formally.
"No problem at all, glad you enjoyed it," he answers back, again a minute of silence passes between the two of us.
"I thought you might have needed something to calm your nerves today, but I'm sure you'll be fine," he adds but then oddly stops in his tracks, I turn to see his jaw lock tightly and his balled fists.
" Mr Mellark? Are you okay?" I ask, by this time my family are at least a hundred metres ahead of us.
"I'm sorry, I... I just came to wish you all luck, I ha... have to get back." he says while turning and marching in the complete opposite direction.
But I completely understand, anyone you had gone through that trauma, unusual behaviour is expectable for them. I can't even imagine what goes through his mind and i don't want to either. I shake my head clearing the thought and sprinting back to my dad.
"what did Peeta want?" he asks questionably.
"Oh nothing," I reply quickly, "Just wished me luck that's all."
As we nearer the square, I see the top of everyone's head and the large murmurs from the crowd. My hands tense up but Jason slips his in mine and squeezes it tightly.
"Come on let's get this over and done with Ash."
After a quick hug from everyone, I go to mark my name off and when the lady takes my blood my name comes up on the scanner.
"Asha Grey, aren't you a Hawthorn? " she ask questionably, her grip is firm on my wrist which makes me feel even more uneasy.
"And that is none of your business," I say as I pull my hand back and glare at her. I've been told never to talk about my surname hence why we changed it after the war when the rebels won. The capitol managed to take over once, as they always do. Since my dad was a rebel leader I don't think our family would be on good terms with the Capitol.
My palms are sweaty as I make my way over to my age group. I get stares from all angles and even get the few catty girls talking about me behind my back, which makes me tug my dress down even further.
My age group is by the front but I have no friends to greet me there. I must have a force field around me because when I take my place in the crowd everyone seems to move away from me.
I just shrug it off, no one wants to mess with Jason's sister, he may beat up your family, I can imagine them whispering. The Capitol fashion has seemed to dull down now, thank god! Although they do wear hideous flamboyant colours they've managed t fit in with the rest of Panem.
Our district Twelve escort makes his way to the stage, his slick black hair greased back into a pony tail, and he wears a bright green suit along with a purple dress shirt.
"District 12 this is going to be the best games yet! I can just can feel it in the air, we'll shall we get started!" announces and makes his way over to large glass balls, in front of two large screens which will show the tributes for the 99th Hunger Games.
He'll call the names soon and then all hell will break loose.