Disclaimer: As much as I want to I don't own the hunger games :( One day though...
My hands were clasped between my mothers. "Paula, please. Promise me. Promise me you won't volunteer for some girl you don't know. Or even one you do know. Please. Don't put me through that again."
I knew instantly what she meant. I had a brother who was picked as a tribute five years ago. He was twelve. Killed by a district 4 career within 3 days.
I'm fifteen and have my name in the glass balls 4 times. Mum doesn't include getting picked out because she is an optimist and believes four out of thousands of slips is nothing.
I nod and tell Mum she has nothing to worry about- I'll be sensible.
Before long I'm sitting outside on a bucket and staring into nothingness. I only come to my senses when I realise there is some one standing nearby.
I look up and realise it is only Waiham, my neighbour and eternal best friend. We are so close people that don't know us believe we are siblings.
"Nervous?" He asks. I am about to nod when I bust into tears.
I'm surprised at myself. I hardly ever cry.
Waiham sits down next to me and puts his arm lovingly around me. I cry into his shoulder.
We stay like that for a while until we hear my mum calling for me. I stand up, scrubbing at my tears with the back of my hand.
"Good luck" I say to him as he is eighteen and it is his last reaping.
"And my the odds be ever in your favour," he replies, with a ghost of a grin around his lips. I walk round to the front door and find my mother standing there. She says she has put an outfit on my bed for the reaping. I walk into the bedroom and find a violet dress lying on the bed. I put it on, wash and head to the town centre to stand with my year group. I find Aliana in the midst of the chaos and we hold hands tightly. She is my other best friend. I couldn't live with out her.
Lizzi Blakewell, our district escort, steps out onto the stage. A message from President Bain is shown and then she steps up to the podium.
"Welcome district 11 to the 53rd hunger games!" God, her voice is so high I feel like slapping her purple highlights out of her hair.
"Ladies first!" she giggles.
I hold my breath.
"PAULA WILLIAMS!" she announces out. I stand still in shock before walking up to the podium like a zombie. Please someone volunteer, please someone volunteer, please someone volunteer' I chant inside my head.
No- one does.
"Now for the gentlemen!" Lizzie squeals. The slapping feeling gets stronger. "Jordan..."
"I volunteer."
I stand still wondering who call out. When I see who it is I go into shock. He walks up the stage and shakes Lizzi's hand.
"What's your name, dearie?" she asks.
"Waiham. Waiham Blake"
