When I wake up, the right side of my bed is cold. May probably moved to my Mom's and Dad's bed. Of course. How could I have forgotten. The reapings are today. May was usually a pretty bright person compared to most in district 12, but today she had a right to be nervous. Or terrified.

I sneak out of the house, trying not to wake Mom, Dad, May, or Gerad.

I get up and put on my hunting gear and head into the woods. My family wonder why I go to the woods so much, but I want to keep my Aspen a secret. I reach the Electric fence that never turns on, duck under it, grab my knife from the log, and jog into the woods. I finally reach the small treehouse that Dad built for me and my siblings when we were younger. We would only use it on Saturdays only though, because Dad was off of work at the coal mines that day. I enter the treehouse.

"Hello, Gorgeous" says a voice I know too well.

"Oh, please" I say as I toss my red hair over my shoulder. I sit down next to Aspen. "So, how are you doing?" I only get to see him about twice a week, so I really want to know.

"I'm fine." He says. "But I'm worried about the reapings." Aren't we all. Seriously, who isn't?

We talk about a lot of things for like 20 minutes, both of us trying to forget about the reapings by avoiding conversation, but we can't ignore it.

"So," I say. "How are Celia and Kamber?" Them and Aspen are the only kids from the Leger family entering the Hunger Games out of the seven of them.

"They are just a little bit...scared out of their mind." Aspen frowns.

We talk a little more, but we don't have much time.

Aspen and I have to go hunting for a bit so our families can eat well to celebrate the Reapings. Well, more like celebrate we haven't been picked. I'm seventeen so I am still qualified. More than qualified, because I have practically heaps of Tessarrae. I look into Aspen's green eyes and black hair.

"As much as I hate it, we have to go now, America."

I sigh, get up and head out of the treehouse to go hunting.

I trudge into the Hob, our District 12 blackmarket, with two big squirls hung over my shoulder.

I make some trades, and leave with one of my squirls, and this pretty pin that I found, and I plan on giving it to May when I get home.

When I walk to where I live, I see a little tiny excuse for a house, and I know I'm home. I dump my squirell on the table and walk towards my little sister, who just got home from school.

"Hey, May, I found something pretty for you in the Hob." I say, and take the Mockingjay pin out of my worn out brown pants. Out of my pocket comes a shiny gold circle with a bird design in the middle. "Do you want it?"

May looks at it carefully. She smiles. "Of course!" She gladly takes it. "I love it. Thanks Ames!"

"Anytime." I say. I love how May can get excited over the tiniest things, even though the Hunger Games are starting soon. "And don't worry about the reapings, you only have five slips with your name on it" I add encouragly.

"Okay." May responds.

I walk slowly in a huge line of teenagers, none of them wearing a smile. Neither am I. But what I am wearing is a light, sky blue dress that Mom wore on her wedding. it's nothing fancy, just cotten, but I'm surprised she let me wear it. I love it because blue is my favorite color; It matches my eyes, and contrasts well with my hair.

I am in the line for the reaping of names for the Hunger Games. I look around to see how May is doing. A small flash of red catches my eye, and I see May's hair flying in the breeze. She looks like she's about to puke. It's probably about her nervousness, but it might be because the boy next to her is sweating like crazy.

After standing in the crowds for like thirty minutes, a lady in pink, obviously a capitol woman, with a huge light pink wig, stepped onto the stage. Lady Pink put the microphone to her lips.

"Hello District Tweleve!" Her Capitol accent and cheery voice boomed out of the speakers. "Today we will draw the Tributes from District 12!" She said excitedly.

Silence.

Like she expected anyone to smile or cheer.

She then hurriedly pressed a button on her controller, and a video on a gigantic screen turned on. It went on about uprisings and the Capital, and

"Anyway," says Lady Pink, "My name is Sylvia, and we usually do ladies first, so this year we will do the gentlemen beforehand." She heads over to two huge hollow see through spheres. One for girls, on for boys.

"And the male tribute for District 12 is... " please not Aspen, please not Aspen. "Maxon Shreave!" A blond brown eyed man walked up onto the stage. Wow. Maxon Shreave is the Mayor's son. The games this year will be interesting.

I cross my arms waiting for the next tribute to be reaped.

"And the Female tribute for the 74th Hunger Games..." Lady Pink or Sylvia says shrilly. I squint my eyes waiting as she digs around the bowl for a name. How had I survived the suspence all these years. Lady Pink/Sylvia finally finds a slip in the bowl. She holds it up and quickly reads it.

Then she read it aloud.

"Is... May Singer" She smiles like Those two words aren't my worst nightmare.