Chapter 2: The 100th Annual Reaping

I wake up to the smell of toast. I yawn and stretch out on my bed. I glance over at the clock that's hanging above my closet and realize what time it is. I jump up and run down the stairs without getting dressed.

"Why has no one decided to wake me up yet!" Everyone glances down at my night gown and I blush. "Well, for 1, we weren't finish breakfast."

I look at the clock in the kitchen and sigh. "The clock in my room must be busted. It says it's 11." The clock in the kitchen says it's only 9, that means it must have died while I was sleeping. "I'll be back, I got to change I guess."

Prim runs over. "Wait! I want you to wear something special today!" I glance at her as she runs over to her room and comes out with a pink knee-length dress. "Oh! It's...really pretty!" I say as she hands it to me. Totally not something I personally would wear.

"I wore it to my last reaping! And since I don't have a daughter, I thought you could wear it!"

Well now I definitely can't decline to wear it. "Awe, won't you look cute!" I look over and see Charl sitting at the table. He's my younger cousin, he's 15 and he's pretty cool. He's about 3 inches taller than me, even though he's younger. Then again I'm only 5 feet 2 inches, so I'm pretty short.

"Won't she?" Prim yells. She ushers me upstairs. "Now go try it on! I already put the flats on your dresser."

Well, at least their flats. If they were anything but flat I wouldn't wear them. I walk into my bedroom and glance at the shoes. Not too bad.

I really can't say "my room". It's my aunt's guess room, I just happen to stay here whenever I come back to District 12 for the reapings, or just for the hell of it.

I put on the dress and the shoes then look at the mirror that's in the room. Other than my hair, I look pretty decent. I quickly brush my hair and smile, then walk downstairs.

"Hey Ti..." I look over and see Phil standing at the table. "Tig, wow! You look amazing! I have never seen you wear a dress before!" I smile and then smirk. "Yeah and more than likely it will be the last so take it all in!" I twirl around and giggle and he laughs. Charl walks down in a suit and I laugh. "You're suit makes you look like you're going to a funeral." I quickly stop laughing, realize it's probably going to be a few people's funeral…

Phil notices my emotions suddenly change and walks over. "Or a wedding." Charl smiles and walks over. To the table and sits down. "So what's for breakfast?"

I walk over and sit beside him, and Phil sits beside me. "Toast and eggs." Prim says as she places the plates in front of all of us.

"Awesome!" Phil screams. He digs in. "I hardly get to eat this stuff." The last part is muffled and I giggle and I start to eat. It's hard to imagine everyone here not being able to eat like this everyday.

"So, you guys," Charl says. "It's your last reaping, right?"

I nod and look at Phil. "Last year!"

I start to think, maybe I should volunteer this year. I know my mom would have to treat me the same as the other kids in the arena, but I really want to be able to prove to everyone that I'm just as strong...if not stronger and smarter than my mom! But, if I die, then there's a lot of people who would be really upset, and possibly disappointed...I'd have to think about this really hard before I actually do this.

"Tigris?" Prim says my name and I snap back to Earth. "What?"

"We asked you who you think will be chosen this year?"

I think about all the kids and everybody who's names are going to be in the bowl. "I have no idea."

"I think it's going to be the Hollow twins. Their names are in there a lot, and their both 16 so it's going to be even worse," Charl states.

"Yeah, their names are in there more than me," Phil says.

We finish eating and walk to the reaping area. We glance at all the people already here. "It's not suppose to start for another hour and everyone's already here." Prim is right, everyone is almost here. Everyone is probably trying to befriend everyone because of the two people winning thing. It would be a good idea.

We walk around and talk to a bunch of people and find out that's exactly why everyone is here. They're all trying to befriend everyone of the opposite sex. Like I said, it's a pretty decent idea. Me and Phil sit down away from everyone and start to talk about the games.

"I feel like I'm going to end up getting chosen," he says.

"Why's that?" I take a look at the Hollow twins and notice they're holding hands. They're probably thinking the same thing as Phil is.

"Just, the chances are pretty high." He sees where I'm looking. "His is a little higher, isn't it?"

I nod and glance over at Charl and his friend Ralph. "Ralph's name is only in there 15 times, since Charl has fed him and his family whenever possible." Phil nods. "Yeah, I wish you were here, my name wouldn't have been in there that often." I smile and look up at him. "Whatever happens, promise me if you get chosen, you'll win though. You've hunted, so that's like practicing."

"No duh. I'll try to win..." he pauses then looks down at me. "For you, I'll try."

I blush and look out at the groups of people. We sit there for the rest of the time before we have to stand up and walk to our spots. We get our fingers pricked and walk to where we have to stand. I stand in the back with the rest of the 18 year olds. I glance over at Phil and notice he's staring at me. I wonder if he can read my mind and knows what I'm going to end up doing.

"Welcome everyone to the 100th Annual Reapings for the Hunger Games!" I look up at the stage and see Thimble, our escort. She goes on through her script and we watch the movie. After, she walks over to the girl's bowl and reaches in. She pulls out a slip of paper and walks back over to the microphone.

"This year's female tribute is..." she opens the slip and glances around. "Mint Kassel!" I jump and gasp. Kassel, that's Phil's last name. And Mint, that's his sister! She's only 14! She's younger than Charl! I look over at Phil and see his face go pale white. I run out into the open and yell, "I volunteer!" I run over to Mint, who is already in the open aisle and gasps as she sees me.

"No! Tigris! What are you..." I cover her mouth and start to tear. "No, don't. Just go back to your parents."

I walk up to the stage and can hear a bunch of whispers. I whisper into Thimble's ear, "Don't use my last name. Use Pikler." Pikler is my aunts last name, that way other tributes who watch this don't know my real last name, and who my mother is.

She nods. "Looks like Tigris Pikler is going to be our tribute for the ladies!" She glances over at me and sighs. She knows me, since every year after the reapings we all ride back on the train together. I look out and see my dad almost in tears, and Phil who looks like he's about to collapse.

"Now for the gentleman!" Thimble walks over to the jar and pulls out a name. "Charl…Pikler..." she says. She slowly glances at me and I gasp. I'll have to protect him with my life. If we both make it, that would make it…

"I volunteer!" I glance out at who broke into my thoughts. It was Phil. I start to cry and fall on the stage. I was relieved, yet also scared.

Thimble glances back and forth, and realizes what just happened. "Looks like we have another volunteer, named Phil Kassel."

I can hear everyone gasp and start talking and mumbling. What just happened? We just volunteered for each others families.