(A/N):
Sparkles owns Alaina and Jewel
Snowwy owns Skyler and Tabitha
Sunkist owns Laurel and Brook
Stars will come in later in our next story
Sunkist: Okay, I'm the one posting our first chapter! Mainly because I'm havin a hard time falling asleep, so I went ahead and finished editing it, so here it is! first a couple of notes, there are some law twists in our version of the Hunger games, and Time twists too. Just follow along with things, this is the 100th Hunger Games, so yes, we're pretending that Katniss, and Peeta never started a rebellion, instead they were born a couple decades late, along with Haymitch, so yes, this will take a little getting used to, but please don't critisize on our weird time lapses or bending of the Capitol's Laws, this is our version of the Hunger Games with our own OCs'. Also, this is a pre-written story, it was written last year, and now that we've turned 13, we're ready to post, so please, don't give us too many requests, we'd hate to disappoint anyone...
Disclaimer: Sparkles, Snowwy, and Sunkist do not own the Hunger Games (Neither does Stars, I'm not sure if she counts right now)
Chapter 1)
Alaina
It is reaping day.
The second stupid day President Snow made up. I was looking out the window when my little sister Rose tapped me on the shoulder.
"Is today the day?" She asked sleepily.
"Yes, today is the day" I replied, smiling. I know I shouldn't be smiling on reaping day, nobody does, but I did not want my little sister to worry about me. I helped Rose get into her sly blue cotton dress. Then I got dressed in my forest green shirt with puffy sleeves that go up to my elbow, and my black hunting pants. I brushed my tangled hair and put it into a long black braid going down my back. When Rose and I entered the kitchen there was a note stuck to the kitchen table. It read:
Rose and Alaina,
I'm out buying things. Meet you in the town square.
Love Dad.
Of course, out buying liquor. He promised Rose and me that he would stop. I guess lying is in his blood. He lied to my mom when he said he would never love another. But a year ago my mother found out that he was dating a young girl named Mellissa Donahue. She was twenty-three and my dad is in his forties. When he came home one night, my mom and dad had a fight. He slapped her so hard in the face that she got a red hand mark on her cheek. That same night, she moved out and we have not seen her since.
When we got to the town square I had Rose go with Evan Devion. I signed up, and went over to the area where the girls twelve to eighteen years of age were supposed to go. We all waited for two minutes until Tinka Hess climbed on the stage. She said all that was needed to be said, and then she pulled out a name. She waited for a while, to build up the tension. I silently prayed that my name would not be said, but my prayers were not answered.
"Alaina Cedar?" Tinka called out. As I walked up to the stage my whole life flashed before my eyes, The day my father brought me to the mines, The night my little sister was born, The day I fell and broke my leg, The time at school when Evan Devion smiled and said "Hey" to me. I could feel every eye on me. Everything was silent. I am only twelve years old; my name was only put in once! As I sat down in the small green chair, Tinka called out the next girl who will be participating in the Quarter Quell: Tabitha Derickson, my best friend. When she sat down we both looked at each other, I could see that she was crying. I was hiding all my emotions, so nobody could see what I was really feeling. Tabitha clearly had no concern.
Mayor Dockson finished it all up saying blah, blah this, and blah, blah that. Well, that is what I heard in my head anyway. Large men in white suites brought us to a blue room for people to say their final good byes. The first person to visit me was Rose.
"Are you really going?" she asked with her head down.
"I guess I am." I sighed.
"I brought you something," she said. Then she pulled out a rainbow colored anklet with peace signs and music notes on it.
"Thank you so much!" we hugged and said I love you then the big white guard took her away. The second person was, surprisingly, Evan.
"Hey" he said. I tried not to blush as I said "Hey" back.
"Um... look I know your dad is well a drunken addict. So uh my family and I will take care of Rose while you are gone." He burst out. I just sat there silently, and he stared at me. "Is that okay with you?" he asked.
"Yeah, it's OK." I replied. Before the guard came in to say his time is up, out of nowhere he hugged me and told me to promise that I will win this thing. For him, and Rose. I promised.
Then the guards in white took Tabitha and me to a shiny black train, which we will be riding in all the way to the Capitol. I was told to go to my room and Tabitha to hers. I didn't have much stuff. The guards gave us five minutes to pack everything up. Carefully I changed into a Purple shirt with a red heart on the front and denim shorts that go up to my knees. I put on my anklet, and lay down on my bed slowly. While looking up at the ceiling, I heard a knock at the door.
"Come in" I mumbled. Tabitha came in and lay down next to me and we studied the ceiling together silently.
"Do you think I can survive?" She slowly asked as if she shouldn't have asked me. It took me a long time before I finally answered.
"If you know how to survive." I whispered.
"Come on girls, Dinner is ready." Tinka informed us. Thank goodness! Skipping breakfast wasn't a very good idea. The dining table was long, filled with a feast for a king! Tabitha sat across from me and Tinka sat at one end of the long table.
"Augh!" she yelled while pulling the tips of her hair.
"What's wrong?" Tabitha asked.
"Your idiot of a mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, is drunk, and he puked in my room!" she huffed.
"What are you talking 'bout colorful crayon" Haymitch bubbled. Tabitha and I shared a look, and tried to hold in our laughs, but we just couldn't! What Haymitch said was true; Tinka does look like a colorful crayon. Her green hair is gelled up to a point, she wore all green, probably to match her ridiculous hair. Tinka looked at us harshly and we stopped laughing. The rest of dinner was silent.
"Ahhhhh!" Tabitha squealed, waking me up from my dream of Evan and me.
"What?" I half-asked, half-yelled at her. She didn't get mad at me, but she did point out the window. I looked out the window to see the sparkling city that was the capitol
Laurel
I bite my lip. This was my first Hunger Games reaping, and I already had five entries; one for each of my parents, another for my older brother, one for me, and one required entry. The first four were just for the tesserae, not like I thought that I would be chosen. The odds were most certainly not in my favor, however. Most District four kids do not have to apply for tesserae, unlike me.
My parents never made it far in school. They had to quit and work for the fishing industry when they were eight; to support their family. I frowned and the outfit Mom had picked out; a green spaghetti strap shirt with a matching laced skirt. I pulled it on, and nudged Billy awake.
I would have been waking up my older sister Margaret, like I did two years ago, but she's dead. She was the only one my parents allowed to get a job. She was also the eldest, at 18 years old, three years older than Billy at the time, and 8 years older than me.
"Dude, not cool." Billy grumbled.
"It's reaping day, stupid. You might as well get up." I told him. Billy gets up and pulls himself into his trousers and dress shoes. I twirl one lock of my orange hair on my finger. It would be hard getting into the careers group if I was chosen. I am nothing like Billy. I am nowhere near stocky or strong, or even big. Most of the kids in school call me 'weedy', and they're right. I am skinny, pale, and a redhead. Perfect combo, no?
I head out into the square. Billy was only sucking it up in my face. He always did. That was because this year, only girls went into the arena. Stupid President.
"Tough luck Laurel!" Billy laughed. Did I mention he hates me? He and I actually used to be really close. I remember back when he actually acted like a big brother, back before Margaret died. Since then, he has grown bitter.
I glance up at our announcer, Berthia Tendrickson. This year she's wearing a midnight blue wig and many layers of white and black makeup. She reaches into the class bowl containing the names of this year's possible tributes. There is only one bowl on the table today. The 100th Hunger Games Quarter Quell will only include girls. I close my eyes and pray that the slip of paper Berthia pulls out does not have my name written on it.
"Laurel Moonseed!" I'm sure my mouth gapes open. Out of thousands of entries, why did it have to be me? I walk stiffly onto the stage next to Berthia. I hear the groan of the crowd. District four hates it when 12 year olds get reaped, mainly because they're no fun to bet with, and usually die within the first day or two. That will probably be likley for me.
"And Becky Robinson!" Oh no, not Becky. She's District fours' most stupid, most vicious girl. Becky is blonde. She's your exact idea of a "Perfect Girl", but without the blue eyes. She has slightly tan skin and pure black eyes. Becky jumps in the air in delight. She has been waiting for this her whole life. Becky's at least half a foot taller, and way bigger than me. Berthia smiles at us joyfully. "Everyone clap for this year's District Four tributes!"
Becky and I are led into the Justice Building, where we say our goodbyes; first Mom, then Dad, then Billy, then my best friend, Gwyneth.
"Here; take this." She tells me, holding out a blue bracelet with a silver peace sign on it. I bite my lip.
"Hey, is this-?"
"It's the bracelet that Summer, you, and I found that day a couple years back. If you do die, remember us, please. Take it as your token! You have to!" Gwyneth insists. I take it, knowing that she is right.
"You're going down, fish breath." Becky whispers as we board the train.
Dinner's all right, and Finnick, who is going to be our mentor, is pretty nice. He is kind of young, and I think Becky likes him a bit, their ages aren't' too far apart. He is twenty-four, and she is eighteen.
The good thing is that Finnick is helping me more, clearly because my parents could not afford the secret training program for the games. Of course, Becky has taken thousands of courses, and masters the sword. The only thing I can handle is a spear, but I guess I am pretty good at it.
The next thing I know, Berthia's knocking on my door saying to get ready for a big day! I look out the window, and the towers of the Capitol loom before me, spreading like the pop up book Margaret used to read to me when I was eight. I gulp. If I had a choice, this would be the last place I wanted to die in, though it is not like the Capitol offers many choices.
Skyler
I realized instantly what I had woken to: The Quarter Quell. It's held every twenty-five years. My skinny mattress is cold, but I'm not afraid of anything. I'm not afraid that my name might be picked. Except, my little sister, Eliza; she is twelve. This will be her first reaping. Her name put in the globe only once. What if her name is picked, out of the thousands there are? What I could do to keep her from that? She's such an angel, and she has never been afraid of anything. She was always the first person to do something, and she almost never cried. She is strong, just like me, but it is not fair. She tosses in her bed, and I watch. Her little face squished against the pillow. My little brother Terence mumbles to himself in his bed. He's only eleven, so I do not worry about him.
I sit up, and get dressed. I pull my t-shirt over my head and then I retreat to putting on my lumber cutting jacket. I have nothing special to wear to the reaping, but Eliza has a little lace-trimmed dress, made of beautiful white satin. It used to belong to our mother. I rid of the thought quickly. I pull my feet into my knee high steel-toed boots, and lace them up tightly. There's a cracked mirror in the corner, and I gingerly walk over to my dresser, grab my comb and head for the mirror. It takes some time to get the comb through the tangles in my hair, but when I'm done, it lies perfectly straight on my head. I pull a rubber band over it and wrap it around a few times to secure it. On good days I'll leave my hair down. Next, I retrieve my gloves. They cover up all the way to my elbow, and they don't have fingers; just perfect for gripping my axe. Suddenly, my little sister gets up, rubbing her eyes. I walk over to her, my boots clicking on the wooden floor. She looks up at me.
"Skyler, you look so sad. Why?" She asked me sleepily. I looked at her, and bent down on my knees.
"Today's the reaping, remember? We have to get you ready." I mumbled in a monotone voice. She nodded and I walked over to our little closet, the door creaking open. I pulled out the white satin dress with the lacey trimmed edges and set it at the foot of her bed. She has seen it so many times, but she claimed this time it was the most beautiful dress she had ever laid eyes on. I helped her put it on, and then I combed her silky brown hair until it shone like the morning sky. I helped her with her boots, and then I woke up Terence.
He didn't care. He was just trying to be smart with me. He's never really liked me. He always told me it was my fault that mom and dad died, and that maybe if I were as strong as I said I was I could have saved them. He's always hated me. I told him to get dressed, because he's never let me dress him, and then we all eat breakfast. It consists of a few edible leaves and berries, and a tiny bit of rabbit stew with what little rabbit we have left. I dictate Eliza and keep reminding her not to spill anything on that white dress of hers, because stains on white fabric are hard to get out. When breakfast was finished, we waited until noon, and then we trudged hand in hand to the middle of town.
Our mayor was standing in front of the town hall, He reads what is required of him, and then he walks over to the glass globe with all of our names in it. This year's Quarter Quell theme was for each district to send two girl tributes. We stood hand in hand, and I watched families praying that it wasn't their child who had to go. The mayor's assistant walked up on stage. Her name was Crissy Ferinton. She smiled at everyone, and gave her little speech, about how much of an honor it was to be here today, but we all knew she was just as broken inside as we were. She reached into the glass ball and pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper. I squeezed Eliza's hand and prayed silently to myself. Crissy called out the name.
"Brook Azela!" She called out loudly. I knew who that was. Brook is fifteen. I know her from the orphanage here in District seven. She walked up on stage without a single hint of any emotion. Brook shook hands with the mayor and Crissy, and then turned to the viewers, an illuminating smile on her face, but we all knew it was fake. Crissy grinned. "Such motivation! How about we all give her a big round of applause?" she hollered, clapping loudly. Only one or two participated in this, and then Crissy continued. She swirled her hand around, and we could all see how indulging she made it look. I gripped Eliza's hand tightly. May the odds be ever in your favor, Eliza. I closed my eyes.
All was silent. Crissy cleared her throat. "Our second tribute is...Skyler Crossten!" I almost choked. That was my name she had just called. Only fourteen years old. My name was only in there five times, once for my brother, once for my sister, and my three required entries. Eliza wouldn't let go of me. I shot a glance at her.
"Eliza, you're just making it harder! Let go of me!" I yelled at her. I saw my 'boyfriend' Joshua Steepelson coming up behind my little sister. I looked at him. He grabbed Eliza in his strong arms and withstood her violent kicking and screaming.
"Please Eliza, you know you're hurting your sister with all of your tears...please hush." he mumbled, trying to calm her down. She finally stopped her crying and Joshua set her down. His eyes locked with mine, and I instantly grabbed him by the neck and kissed him. I knew it was wrong of me to do so in front of everyone, because it might pose as my weakness, but this was the last time I would ever get to see him. I let go and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Promise me you'll take care of Terence and Eliza. They trust you. Don't you dare let them out of your sight!" my voice rose from a whisper to a shout to conceal my tears, and Joshua knew it. He nodded, placing his hand on my smooth, delicate face.
"I promise you, Skyler Crossten, that I will not let them out of my sight for one second, but you have to promise, promise me that you will come back? Promise." he said, the crowd still waiting for me to get on the stage. I felt like all eyes were on me, but I did not care.
"Josh-you know...I can never promise you-" but he cut me off.
"You have to come back, your family needs you. I need you. Please, you have to come back to Me." he pleaded. I knew the replay of this would be on every television tonight, and everyone would watch it. They did not even know what I was capable of yet, but this would judge how the people would rate me.
I took a step back, and gave Joshua a stinging slap on the face.
"I can't promise you that I'm going to survive this, so don't you dare ask me to!" I screamed, turning around. What would the viewers say to that? Joshua stumbled, looking at me confused. I walked confidently toward the steps, holding back my tears, and Eliza screamed out my name. I dismissed it, trying to grin. I walked up the steps and shook hands with the mayor and Crissy, then took my place sitting next to Brook. I looked at her wearily. Crissy hollered loudly with great enthusiasm.
"What an entrance! Only fourteen and she's already got the spunk!" she made a fist pump motion at the crowd. Really? I thought to myself. Did you really just say I've got 'spunk?' That's...that's totally lame Ms. Ferinton. Get a job. I cursed silently to myself, still grinning. I forced myself not to look in Joshua's general direction. Soon both Brook and I were taken into 'custody' and I was left in a separate room in the Justice Building. Joshua and my brother and sister came to visit me; Joshua's face was still red where I had hit him. I stood up, knowing that there weren't any cameras around, and fell crying into his arms. We both sat down on the couch for a while, and he just held me in his arms, rocking me back and forth. He hands me a wooden bracelet after a while, as I wipe the tears from my eyes. My face is blotched in wretched red spots. I look at it through the tears still beading up in my eyes. I run my fingers across it gently, feeling the beautifully stenciled handwork under my soft fingers. He closes me hand over it.
"This is your token from me. Please take it." he whispered, kissing my hair and inhaling. "You're my everything. I'll think about you every day." I let out a sad laugh.
"Please don't talk like that Josh. You're going to make me cry. I can't look like that in front of Brook and the cameras, not to mention Johanna Mason. She's going to be our mentor. I can't look weak in front of her." Eliza was sitting next to me, clutching to my gloved hand.
"Do you really have to go Skyler? We're going to die without you." she mumbled. I frowned.
"Don't say that. Joshua's a good guy. He'll take care of you until I get back. And when I do, I promise we'll all be able to afford anything. You just keep watching and I'll be home before you can count to three." I said, holding her hand. But that means I'll have to kill Brook, or at least...she'll have to die. She doesn't deserve that. But I have to win. I have to get back to my family. Suddenly, they were taken away from me, and it felt like part of me was being ripped in two. It was likely that I was never going see them again.
Later they take me onto the train, and I'm escorted to my room. It's across the hall from Brook's, and I guess that is okay. She seems okay. I head back to the last car, where she talks to me for a bit after we've settled in, but then we're being called to dinner by Crissy. She asks us if we want to be trained separately or together and surprisingly, we want to be together. I never knew she would give that answer.
The food is extraordinary. There are delicacies that I have never seen before, and it's hard to show my manner when all I want to do is eat. Other than that, we really do not talk. I glance at Brook a few times during the meal, and once or twice Johanna asks us questions.
I end up crying myself to sleep with the train tracks clacking as my comfort noise. I don't let Joshua's bracelet out of my sight, even if it is uncomfortable to wear in my sleep. I have to turn my pillow over multiple times so that my tears don't engulf the whole thing, but somehow I manage to get to sleep. My dreams are as if I'm cutting lumber just I always have done, the sound of my axe making contact with the hard wood; the sweat beading on my forehead. It's almost as if I can touch Joshua, and I'm barely in reach, when my dreams are shattered by the loud banging across the hall. Someone's trying to wake Brook up.
Jewel
The morning of the reaping, I am sitting on my beat up bed next to my four-year-old puppy Missy.
"Missy do you know what today is?" I ask her. I am not crazy, but I am lonely. The night that I was born my mom ran away because she suddenly decided that she couldn't handle a little baby girl. So my dad took days off of his work. He could not take a lot of days off of work, or else he might have gotten in really big trouble. So our neighbor Ms. Kluwskies daughter, April, took care of me for fifty dollars a week. One day my dad was too tired because he was taking care of me all night, so he fell asleep on the job and got killed as a punishment. So now I live alone in my old house and April comes in everyday to check up on me.
I hear the door slam shut, and I know April has arrived at the scene to get me ready. She is so lucky she's twenty-three and out of the risk of getting reaped.
"Today is the reaping Missy." I say to the small pup, as if she didn't know.
"Hey! I'm here to help you get ready for this very special day!" April cheerfully hollers. I see her coming into my room holding a beautiful purple strapless dress with a poufy skirt and silver diamonds at the bottom. "This used to be mine, and I think you would look amazing in it!" April whispers happily. All I do is gape at the thing.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Dress up!" April smiles. I shed my sleep clothes and slip into it, along with a pair of purple flats that April has brought me. Even April doesn't have enough money to buy the expensive makeup that the capitol has, so she just applies a bit of Vaseline on my lips to make them shine. Then, she drags me out of the door and onto the street.
April takes me to our town square where she signs me up and I stand next to the other fourteen-year-old girls. I just stood there thinking about Wendall Shrue, or Wen for short and why he doesn't like me. I have white skin that shines in the sunlight, light brown hair that's not too long or too short. Then I think of why Wen really doesn't like me. I have bangs that go right on top of my eyes, and freckles! Maybe if I didn't have freckles he would like me. I stopped thinking when Marley Livington said
"Jewel Krovski!" I walked slowly to the stage my mind going blank. I sat down in the big grey chair. Then Marley called out "Emeralda Jones?" I stiffened and my face turned white as a ghost. Emeralda Jones was the school bully. You could hear her feet shuffle then loud thumps climbing up the stairs. Then she sat in the other chair. Emeralda was really tan, with black hair pulled into princess lea buns at the side of her head, she had a mole on her chin that could scare the fudge out of you, her dark blue eyes were lined with eye liner and she had dark red lipstick on, she wore all black and her shoe laces were the color green.
Emeralda gave me a scary look, like she was examining competition already. Then she grinned. I must have failed her test. We were sent to the Justice Building where loved ones and friends could say goodbye. First Wen visits me; I was really surprised when he walked in. His red hair was spiked up, and it made his head look like it was in flames.
"Jewel, can I tell you something?" he asked
"You can tell me anything" I said but then regretted it. He laughed. When he laughs, his eyes seem to turn from Light blue, to baby blue.
"Um well I have had a huge crush on you since the 3rd grade." He says in one breath. I smiled.
"Me too!" I said way too excitedly.
"Well I have not had a crush on myself since the 3rd grade; I've had a crush on you!" I say. He laughs again.
"I want you to win this for me, okay?" He asks.
"Okay." I promise. Before he leaves, he kisses me on the forehead and says,
"You're amazing, I believe in you." The next person to visit me was April, she was crying. This was the first time I had ever seen her cry, because she is usually so perky. Then I saw that she was holding Missy. I started to cry too, but Missy barked at me probably saying 'Don't cry, Jewel'. I stopped but April couldn't.
"Here, this is Missy's collar, wear it as your token." she choked out. I took the brown leather that had Missy's name carefully put onto a silver circle, hanging on the collar. I put it on my wrist and looked up at April. We hugged and said good-bye, and I pet Missy before they were taken away. Then the peacekeepers in their deathly white uniforms take my arm and march me to the train.
I entered the red train that would be my home for at least 2 hours. District 1 is super close to the capital, so our trip won't be long. Marley told me that Emeralda had a lot of people visiting her so she will be on in a few minutes. That was hard to believe considering everyone is scared of her. Marley is our mentor apparently, so when Emeralda finally got on she asked if we would like to work together or alone. We both said alone.
I walked to my room, which was across from the bully's room. I took off my dress and put on a red shirt saying 'live, love, work' with a smiley face on it, and grey Capri's. I pulled my boring straight hair into a ponytail and lay down on my bed. I held my token in front of my face to study it more. It had words engraved on the inside of the collar. It said, I will always love you. I put it on my wrist again and cried.
"Knock, knock!" Marley sings. I sat up, before I could say "Come in", she barges into the room. "Here you go sweetie, your dinner." she hands me a tray, and then put the other 3 on the desk next to the bed. After she put them down she sped out of the room, forgetting to close the door. I wanted you yell after her 'Crazy lady, you forgot to close the door!' but I didn't want her to get angry with me. I got up to close the door but Emeralda stopped me.
"Hey do you want your food?" she said harshly.
"Um, no." I said scared. So she pushes the door open walked into my room, and took the three trays on the desk.
"Thanks stick." she grinned. She took 2 trays with meat and 1 tray with candy, but she left the tray on the bed, which was filled with veggies. Ha. Maybe that's why she's so fat! I thought. Finally the train stopped. I stared out the window. Outside was the most beautiful city I have ever witnessed, with towering buildings that reflected the sunlight, as if they were made of pure crystal. The bustle of the city was more that I was ever used to, but what really caught my eye was the tallest building of all, near the center of down. The training building, where the tributes are prepared like pigs for slaughter.
Brook
I wake up to the burn of the sun on my back, along with the freezing contrast of the shade on my front.
"Brook, are you up?" asked my sister, Milla.
"I am now." I grumbled.
I drag myself out of bed and throw open the curtains to let in some light. Then, I walk over to the dusty mirror on the wall, picking up my hairbrush. I braid my dirt brown hair behind my head and pull my black t-shirt on over my undershirt. I throw my lumber jacket on over that, along with a pair of short half finger-gloves. I go into the closet and pull out a small yellow dress that I sewed for Milla.
"Wow, it's so pretty, Brook!" she exclaims.
"And it's just for you." I say. I help her into the dress.
Mom and Dad are dead; Milla and I live in a small orphanage. We were placed there when a falling tree crushed Mom and Dad got hanged for attempting escape. Then Shelby, my older sister got invited to the capitol for a top wood crafting job. I haven't seen her since, and I honestly don't care, because she's left me here to care for Milla all by myself. I open the door into the hallway a crack. Will, a boy who lives a couple doors over, is sitting on one of the benches attached to the wall, reading a book.
He looks up to the sound of my door opening, and to the sound of Milla preparing breakfast in the background.
"Hey." He gives me a faint smile, and gets up. "Need any help?"
"Uh, no we're fine, thanks. And, good luck."
"Thanks."
Milla walks over as I close the door. I smile at her, "Go sit down, I'll make breakfast, we don't want your dress getting dirty." Then, I head over to the small kitchen and fry a couple of eggs that Milla and I have been saving up for. I open a cupboard and take out a small box of candies I have saved from the last time someone from District 7 won, and give one to Milla. We sit down to a silent breakfast.
I walk out of the orphanage, bumping into Will again. This time, he just nods and gives Milla and me a small smile, then heads into the crowd. I go and sign in, standing among the halved group of kids. There are no boys in the crowd today, just girls.
Crissy Ferinton, our announcer, walks up onto the stage. She fumbles in the bowl and calls out a name.
My name. "Brook Azela!"
Oh my god. I'm going to the hunger games. I walk up stiffly, showing absolutely no emotion. Then, when I shake hands with the mayor and turn to the crowd, I give my most mischievous smile at the cameras as if to day Screw you President Snow, I'll kick your butt.
The next name called is Skyler Crossten. Skyler's a girl from my orphanage. She's a year younger than me, 14. She's got two siblings, one younger brother named Terrance and a 12-year-old sister named Eliza. There's this huge scene where she slaps her boyfriend and all that, and Crissy says that she has 'spunk', and makes this weird fist pump motion. That causes her weird suit-like shirt to pull up, and she takes a couple of minutes to pull it down. This lady needs a demotion to District ten or something, she sucks at this.
I glance at Skyler and give her a nod. She manages a small smile, and we head off into the justice building.
I don't get many visitors. Just Milla, who cries and cries, and surprisingly, Will, who gives me a token. It's a short line of baby blue string.
"It's a headband," he says. "Take it as your token. I'll take care of Milla for you." I thank him, and leave the justice building.
Crissy leads us into a huge, sleek, grey train decorated with swirls of white paint surrounding a gold Capitol emblem. If I was allowed to shout something, I would have thrown thousands of colorful words at it, but that would cost my head, so I bite my lip, and let Crissy lead me onto the first step to my death.
The Train is actually all right, it is much roomier than the ones District seven uses to export lumber to the Capitol. I get a room across the hall from Skyler's. It is nice, with a bed and all, but I do not really like rooms, so I walk out to the last car and hang there. Skyler joins me after a while.
"Happy Hunger Games. Looks like the odds aren't in our favor." I grumble
"I guess so." She replies. And we just stand there in silence, watching the trees of District Seven disappear behind us. I hope that Milla will do fine without me, and that Will will take care of her. The very thought of Milla make my eyes mist up, but I do not let the tears fall. The next thing I hear is Crissy calling us in for dinner.
Skyler glances at me, and I shrug, following her into the train. The place where we're supposed to eat is two cars away, enough for me to swallow my tears and take a deep breath before going in. Johanna Mason is District seven's only female victor. And she is really crazy.
"So kids, you kids want to be trained together or separately?" She asks.
"Together." Skyler and I say at the same time.
"Alright, looks like it's unanimous." Johanna smiles.
Dinner's pretty much silent, and I excuse myself early. I practically cry myself to sleep, which is something I haven't done since my parents died. I let the tears fall now, thinking that that might have been the last time I ever saw anyone I particularly cared about.
The pounding on my door the next morning makes me immediately think of the day the peacekeepers pounded on our house door that day my father was killed. I shoot up, and glance over, only to find myself in a train, not the cozy room Milla and I shared in our old house.
"Wake up, wake up! It's going to be a very big day!" Crissy is shouting. I instinctively stumble over to my window, and pull open the curtains, revealing the threateningly tall Capitol buildings.
"I am so going to die" I whisper.
Tabitha
It's early in the morning, maybe around six o'clock, but I'm not sure. My hair is a mess, and my arm aches from laying on it all night. My hair is something you could call it dirty blond, and no matter what you do, it's almost impossible to get all of the knots out of it. It seems that I was chewing on my bangs in my sleep, because they're damp from saliva.
I am an only child, and I live in District 12 with my mother and my father. My mother once competed in the hunger games, and was our victor. But she will not be helping with the Quarter Quell this year. Instead, we're going to get Haymitch Abernathy. Boring, old Haymitch Abernathy. Oh, and did I mention he is almost always drunk? Anyway, that is what the tributes are in for this year.
I watch my mom walk around the room, getting things organized. She notices I am awake and tells me to get out of bed and put on my reaping clothes. The outfit in total consists of a gray velvet dress –which goes perfectly with my 'great' District 12- and a pair of stockings.
I also have to wear high top boots that are extremely stiff when I walk. My mother sits down beside me and combs my hair. She has a gentle touch. She never jerks at the knots or pulls at the big clumps of hair. She just works her way through them until my hair is so beautiful.
"Too bad District twelve isn't as lovely as your hair." She told me that once when I was very little. We sit down for breakfast and we try to get a few laughs our before we have to head to the town square.
When we get there, it's jam-packed, and I see my best friend, Alaina standing a few people to my right. Tinka gets on stage and smiles. This year, the Quarter Quell requires two girl tributes. I cross my fingers for both Alaina and I.
"Alaina Cedar?" I gasped. Alaina? How could her name have been drawn? But as much as I loved her, I didn't step forward to volunteer. She looked at me briefly, and walked up to Tinka. I watched and held back any sign of emotion. Tinka reached in the ball for the next time. "Ehem, a Miss Tabitha Derickson?" she asked, looking out in the crowd.
I could see Alaina's face contort to a frown. I looked at my mother and father, and then made my way slowly out of the crowd of thousands. I shook hands with the adults on the stage and sat down beside Alaina. I had to hide my face so I could cry, and I knew Alaina understood. It felt like the eyes of the crowd were burning us. It was almost like I could feel the heat of their stares on my skin. It hurt. I felt like I was going to break. I knew Alaina was trying so hard not to show any signs of emotion, but we were like sisters. I was only a year older than her. We could almost always tell what the other person was feeling.
After a few required speeches, Alaina and I were taken to the Justice Building, by the dreaded Peacekeepers in their white uniforms. My mother and father came to visit me. They gave me a bright orange headband and a woven bracelet.
"Make sure you camouflage that band when you enter the arena though," my father warned me in a hushed whisper. "But we knew you loved the color orange. It'll give you a piece of home." We exchanged hugs and kisses, and then they were taken from me.
After we left the Justice Building we headed toward our train. It was bullet black, and so, extremely shiny. We boarded it and were soon taken to our rooms. We were given five minutes to get everything settled. I took off my dress and my shoes, replacing them with a nice, orange tank top and khaki shorts. I also wear my favorite pair of canvas shoes, and make sure the laces are snug. I carefully take my headband out of my bag and put in around my head, tying it securely. I lifted by bangs in front of it, and then tied on my bracelet. I felt safe wearing these.
I was feeling kind of lonely, so I walked over to Alaina's room and knocked on the door.
"Come in." I was relieved that she was there. I walked in and lay down on the bed beside her, and we studied the ceiling together. After a little bit, I asked her a question.
"Do you... think I can... survive?" I mumbled, still looking up at the ceiling. She turned to look at me, her hands behind her head.
"If you know how to survive." she whispered back. We heard Tinka knocking at the door suddenly. She must have known I wasn't in my room.
"Girls! Dinner's ready." She called, and we got off of the bed and headed toward the dining room. I sat across from Alaina, and we smiled secretly at each other. This was such a huge feast! We could feed our families for weeks with this stuff. Suddenly, Tinka let out a scream from her end of the table. I jumped.
"What's wrong?" I asked. She pulled at the tips of her hair and moaned.
"Your idiot of a mentor, Haymitch Abernathy got drunk and puked in my room!" she huffed, arms crossed. "This was brand new carpet too!" Haymitch mumbled.
" What are...are you… T-talking 'bout... colorful… Crayon...?" he bubbled, stuttering and hiccupping all at the same time. Alaina and I exchanged glances, and couldn't hold in our laughter. We giggled, and I accidently pounded my fist on the table a couple of times. It was true.
Haymitch is almost always drunk, and Tinka did look a lot like a colorful crayon. Her green hair is almost always gelled to a point, and she almost always wore green. She really did look like a crayon. A green one too. Why couldn't she be orange? Tinka gave us both a harsh look, and we shut ourselves up. The rest of diner was pretty much quiet, other than Haymitch's random out loud thoughts here and there.
So, after dinner we went back to our rooms, I took a shower, but it took some time to figure out what all the buttons did. The water could get extremely hot in there! Afterward, I settled down in my bed.
In the morning, I got up and drowsily looked out the window. I jumped back and squealed, really loud. Unfortunately, I woke up Alaina in the process. She screamed at me from across the hall.
"Tabitha! What the fudge did you do that for!" I could hear the exasperation in her voice.
"Look out the window!" I laughed, pressing my hands against the cold glass, leaving my handprints on it. We were right in front of the Capitol.
Sunkist: So What do you think? is it terrible? Is it good? Is it totally awesome? Is it supermegafoxyawesomehot? Anything we could work on? I'll try to get someone else to do the (A/N)s, but it will mostly be me and Sparkles