Wonder Cratle, 16 1 Day before the Reaping


I pull up on the bar in my huge room, I have one of the biggest rooms in the house, which isn't saying much since you can literally get lost in my house. "148….149….150!" I fall down onto the pillow beneath me and take a few deep breaths. My mom starts nagging me. Her raspy voice vibrates through the house. "Wonder bring your butt downstairs! It's time for school!" I don't give a hoot about school. It's not like I'm going to do anything that school teaches me. I'm going to Volunteer for God's sake! Plus, I'm already smart enough. I make As and Bs without batting an eye.

"No! I don't give a rats ass about school!" I look at my abs in the mirror, I don't care. I'll speak my mind about anything. I hear my mom gasp, then she screams. "Wonder I'm going to get your father!" "Fine. I'll go!" I put on a faded blue shirt and light blue jeans. I don't feel like dealing with my dad, it'll be just one long boring talk from him.

"You look adorable." My mother sighs while smoothing out my shirt. She has to stand on her toes to be able to reach me, thank god that I got my fathers tall gene. "Oh, I don't look adorable mom." "What?! Of course you do!" I start to walk out of the door. "I look sexy!" I shut the door behind me before she can say anything. I drag my feet as I walk to school, at least I won't have to go once I go into the Hunger Games. I've been waiting for this since I was five years old, thank god the rebels didn't ruin it.

"Wonder! Dude, wait up!" I stop in my tracks, I already know it's Cartier. His voice gives it away. Cartier runs up next to me and I smile. "What's up bro?" I met Cartier after the war, but I honestly don't even want to think about the war. I didn't fight in it, but it still affected me.

"My dad told me I'm going to be sent to robotics school. I'm happy, but then he told me it's in District 3. I'm going to miss you." Cartier hugs me and I frown. One of my best buddies is leaving my side, it totally sucks. I guess I'm technically going to leave his side but that's different. I'll be back in weeks. "Can't you just do what everyone else does in District 1 and be happy with that?!" Cartier lets go to me and he turns red. "Hey! It's not my fault I'm smarter than you. Everyone doesn't want to brutally murder people."

He starts walking faster than me and I pull him back by his shirt. I just stare at him, enraged that he talked to me like. He looks at me with wide eyes and his blue eyes shows weakness. I can't beat up one of my friends, even if he is disrespectful. "Fine. I'm proud of you. Not really though." "Dude." He huffs and rolls his eyes. "You're so childish." "I don't care." I shrug and continue to walk. "I know you don't. It's sad. Hey, you can visit me in District 3 after you win." "Oh yeah, true that." He continues to walk by me.

After a few moments of awkward silence, he speaks up. "You know what else sucks about leaving?" "What?" He starts grinning like a dork. "District 3 is full of ugly chicks!" I turn red as I hold in my laugh, in District 1 we have high standards for beauty, being less than acceptable can ruin your life here. Call me vain, call me an asshole, I don't care it's the truth! "Okay, that is true."


Garnet Diamond, 18 Reaping Day


I huff as my brother bangs on the door. "Garnet open the damn door! I gotta pee!" I roll my eyes and apply my lipstick. "Shut up!" He can pee himself for all I care, this is payback from…Well, I bet he'll do something soon. He keeps banging on the door and punches a hole through the door. I hear him groan in pain. "Amethyst! Oh my god! Mom's gonna be-" Before I can even finish I hear mom scream. I swear everyone on the block could hear that. She always does this to us after dad died. Well, most of the time anyway.

I hear her storm to the door and continue to do my makeup. "Amethyst! Garnet! I swear just because it's Reaping day doesn't mean I won't use my belt!" "I'm like 20 years old mom you can't beat me anymore!" I hear Amethyst slam his room door. More arguments break out between them and I just try to block it out. I swear, I'll go crazy if I have to live in this house anymore. This is one of the reasons why I'm Volunteering, but I haven't told my family yet. They would kill me before I even got in the arena.

I look at myself in the mirror. The Academy gave me a beautiful pink dress since I can't afford the really expensive ones. They do not want their volunteers to look ugly on National TV. That'd just be heinous, we have a reputation to keep up. No one wants to sponsor a kid who can't even dress properly for the Reaping.. I breathe heavily, this is it. The day I become basically famous. All of that money will be mine once I win. If I win, I'll probably win.

I open the door and I'm greeted by my mother's red-hot angry face. She looks like she hasn't slept properly in weeks. "Since you kids were taking so long and arguing, no more breakfast for you two. It's cold by now." Amethyst walks out of his room, he has a simple grey tee on and matching pants. "It's gloop anyway?"

Mom just sighs and walks away. Not even putting up a fight. "Hey, it's better than starving." Amethyst looks at me and frowns. "Oh, yeah." I roll my eyes if there is one thing we have in common its deceitfulness, but he's way worse. He lies about everything. He's compulsive. "Save it, Annie. Let's go." Annie is the name I called him when I was small and it just stuck with me.

Annie sprints out of the house and I rush after him, making sure not to trip or get my precious dress dirty. Mom will catch up soon. We have to wait in the back of the line once we get there.

Finally, everyone is situated where they are supposed to be. Both of my friends, Amber and Opal are right beside me. "So are you nervous?!" I turn to face Amber and shake my head. "Why are you so loud? Of course I'm not." I lie straight through my teeth. "I won't be either when it's my turn next year. Hey, you'll be back to mentor me right?" "Hopefully."

I manage a smile and focus on the escort, Sappho who is just as happy as she was last year. "Let us watch this magnificent video." The screen shoes a video, just like it did every year before. It's different than how it was many years ago, it talks about both rebellions but its main focus is the new one. I hate it, it talks about the same war that took my dad away. I block it out until it's over and I hear Sappho's voice.

"Now let's choose the lucky lady who will represent District 1!" She puts her hand in the bowl and instantly chooses one, not even trying to build up suspense. "Mi-" Before she can even finish I scream at the top of my lungs. "I Volunteer!"

I hear my brother yell at the top of his lungs. "Garnet! Stop! What are you doing!?" I ignore him as I sprint up to the stage. Everyone in the crowd, including me watches as he fights the Peacekeepers to get to me. I feel an urge to tear up but I fight it. How will it look if a tough Career cries in front of everyone? I feel a wave of regret. He gets dragged away and all I can do is ball my fists, holding in my feelings.

Sappho tries not to laugh but she fails, everyone in Panem watched my brother freak out. This will be good for her but not for my brother or me They probably think he's some sort of rebel, but no. I don't think he is. I mean, he does have a problem with lying but I just can't believe that. I'm so stuck in my thoughts that Sappho has to raise her voice at me with annoyance. "Young lady, what's your name sweetheart?!" I turn red slightly and force myself to smile. "Garnet Diamond, I'm 18 years old." "Such a pretty name."

She goes to the boys bowl. "Now for the mighty males." She puts her hand in the bowl and picks a name. "R-" Before she can even say more of the names, two boys yell that they want to Volunteer. Someone must have showed up the boy that was chosen to Volunteer. It's a common occurrence, boys and girls fighting to get to the stage. Whoever does first wins. I watch as the boys fight. The Academies golden boy, Wonder, uppercuts the smaller boy straight in the jaw, knocking him out cold.

Wonder pumps his fists in the air and rushes up to the stage, standing right next to me. "Wow, what's your name big boy." Her voice sounds almost flirtatious, I don't think it's allowed for Escorts to have relations with Tributes. "Wonder Cratle, I am 16 years old!" He sounds so happy and enthusiastic. "Well, you sure have proved yourself as an amazing competitor. Shake hands." Wonder holds out his hand and I grab it, his grip is firm. We both smile at each other and go our separate ways as Sappho says, "Congratulations to the Tributes of the 77th Hunger Games!" I hear the crowds claps and cheers. My ass is going to be on a platter before I even get in the arena...


Wonder Cratle, 16 Goodbyes


I wait in the chair patiently. My parents should be in here soon. I'm right because they walk right into the room as I have that thought. My mom embraces me and cries. "Oh Wonder, I'm going to miss you so much. You're my baby." I grin and hug her back. I'm going to miss my everyone but I can't wait. "I'm so excited mom! I'm finally going to go in!" "I'm proud of you." She kisses my cheek and backs away for my father to get his say. "You're going to do great.. You better." He puts his hands on my shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll be okay."

Mom sighs and wipes the tears away from her eyes. "Don't be too arrogant Wonder, there are 25 other kids who want to win just as bad as you do." Sure, but most of those kids can't even hold a sledgehammer above their heads, let alone take me down. The Peacekeepers come in. "Time to go." My mother gives me one last embrace and kiss. "I love you." "Love you too!" She ruffles my hair and starts to walk out of the door, my father then turns to face me. "I love you." He says. I reply. "I love you too."

I'm alone again and I wait for my friends to come in. All 4 of them come in at the same time. Cartier, Sapphire, Glitter, and Emerald. Cartier is smiling like a dork, Glitter looks like she's about to shake me to death, Emerald, one of my only girlfriends and the most popular girl in school looks like she's going to cry. Sapphire, my best friend out of them all has a tinge of fire in her eyes.

Just as I predicted Glitter screams and starts to shake me. "Oh my god! Wonder you almost killed that little boy!" I push him off of me and the others giggle, except for Emerald. "I was just really excited!" I smile. Sapphire speaks up. "Make it extra special for District 13." "Trust me, they're going to wish they were never born!" Rebels are the reason my mothers' shop was destroyed. We rebuilt it but I won't forgive them for that. District 13 is the breeding ground for Rebels.

Emerald hugs me in tears and I'm taken back. She seemed happy about me Volunteering, but she must have been lying. "I don't want to lose you. I'm going to miss you so much." She starts to sob on my suit, getting snot all over it. "Hey, don't be sad for me. It's my choice and I'm not sorry for it." Emerald looks at me in the eyes, her face shows that she's hurt. She let's go and walks to the corner of the room.

"Dude you didn't have to be so blunt." Cartier says and crosses his arms. "It's true though." I reply and shrug. Sapphire runs to me and squeezes me. "I'm gonna miss you dude. Good luck man." "I'm going to miss you to Sapphire, but I'm so excited." "Aren't you nervous?" Glitter asks. "Honestly, kind of. I'm way more excited though."

Peacekeepers come in and motion my friends out of the room. "Come on, it's time to go." My friends willingly go out of the door without any protest, some of them say good luck and other things. The door shuts and I'm alone again. I'm going to be saying goodbye to my District, but I plan to come back.


Garnet Diamond, 18 Goodbyes


The Peacekeepers shoved me in here and now I'm waiting. I pick the fabric off of the chair and try to wait patiently. Minutes past by and I'm still sitting here. Did everyone just forget about me? That's not possible, my family and friends wouldn't just let me go without saying goodbye.

/Okay, finally I got one Reaping done. I don't know if the rest will be this long, but they will probably be around this length. Sorry for taking so long, I've been playing more video games than writing currently- Anyways, I don't think doing Reapings, train rides, goodbyes, and so on for each character will be a good idea. I don't want to bore myself to death/