" Do you think you'll get picked today? You know for reaping."
" I'm not sure it could happen but I don't think it will."she finishes her breakfast.
" I'm going to get Kris. She's up by now."she smiles.
" How can you tell?" I smile back at her.
" Twin abilities. We have powers you know." I nod and she skips happily up the spiral staircase.
After a few moments I hear giggling and footsteps and know Kristen is coming to the kitchen but halfway it stops and then there's a shriek of disgust; she must have saw mother. Then, it contuinues and she comes in with a smile on her face. Though she and Nicole are the same age Nicole has a better grasp on things like this.
" Mommy is sleeping on the floor should we bring her a pillow?" I can never tell her no. So rather than getting her a small breakfast I follow her upstairs to my parent's bedroom. Our father is sleeping, he smell clean unlike my mother we quietly grab a pillow and hurry down stairs.
The last time I woke my father up he was hungover and angry when awaken I was 13 at the time and since I've always been scared to wake him up. Once we get back down stairs we put the pillow under mother's head. Then Kristen skips to the table and sits in her spot. I get her what she asks for: Toast with strawberry jam , hot chocolate and a piece of ham.
" Is that all you want for breakfast?"she nods.
" Sissy will you do my hair like the way yo do yours for the reaping?"I nod and follow her upstairs.
Once we get to her room she opens the door but told me I have to wait a little while so she can clean up. When she finally lets me in the blue curtains let in so much light. She leads me to her make-up table; she's only 10 but she only puts lipgloss and blush that I put on have a lot of clips and ribbons for her hair. I have her sit down in her fluffy chair that sits at the table. She wants me to do her hair with a blue sparkly ribbon. I do my hair like this for school. I take her medium length curls and pull it back with the ribbon as a headband and tie the bow on top. She look like a mini me.
Nicole looks like my father she has brown straight hair and hazel eyes. Her and Kristen are twins just not identical. Kristen and I look exactly like our mother just younger and sober versions. The last time my mother was sober was when the twins were growing up until the age of five then countiuned to drink again. Nicole caught on quick what was going on but Kristen still doesn't understand.
When I'm finished she looks in the mirror and says thank you then she get dressed in her favorite clothes. She's just going to wear a simple blue skirt with a white button up shirt and flats. She's precious.
I go to Nicole's room which is across the hallway. She's getting ready also, she's putting her silky straight hair back in a ponytail with her lucky sruchy. She see's me in the mirror and turns to me with a sad expression on her face.
" April, I love you," tears are in her eyes she knows that anything could happen to me when it comes to the reaping.
" Nicole, you have to be strong for Kristen. She still doesn't understand these things." now there's anger in her eyes the sadness has disapeared.
" No! Kristen needs to be strong and learn and so does everyone else I'm not going to deal with this every year where my best friends and maybe even you have to go and fight for your life."now she's crying and running towards me to hug me. My silk robe has tear marks when she pulls away.
" April , you can't leave us okay no matter how young or who ever gets pulled you have to promise me you won't volunteer." I'm shocked she knows that no matter if I get pulled I may or may not get volunteers.
" I can't promise that. What if little Kaylie Night gets pulled she's my best friend and only 12 ? Or Maya Lorden she's only 14? I love you, Nicole but I'm not promising that." she's angry with me I can see it in her expression.
" If you loved me you wouldn't volunteer."I don't say another word I just leave her to herself. I go to my room to get ready. I don't match Kristen's hair I only pull it into a bun letting to shorter curls fall right on my cheeks. I look down at my wrist where I'm wearing my charm bracelet the only thing I have as a memory of a sober mother.
She gave it to me when it was my 5th birthday two months after she found out she was pregnant. She hadn't started drinking until I was four but it was only for special events which weren't often at the time.
" April, I want you to have this as a token so never forget me this way." I looked at her curiously, did she know she was becoming a drunk.
" Okay, mommy. I will never forget you this way, but why would I forget you ?" I asked but she didn't answer just tipped back her drink, it wasn't alchol ; it was apple juice.
My reaping dress is a white base slip with black lace as a cover, I have white lace leggingd that stop right before my calves; my dress stops at my knees. I slip into my 2in high heels and look in the mirror at the final picture. I feel tear swelling in my eyes. Before I can stop myself I'm crying. I can't leave get pulled, Nicole was right. I hate to admit that a ten year old girl is right and I was wrong.
I call the girls to the kitchen for lunch. Kristen and Nicole are truly two different children. Nicole is mature and tall and acts like an adult, and Kristen is playful and acts like a young child. Not only are their personalities different so are there looks. Kristen bright colors,fluffy skirts looks to me as a role model. Nicole, blacks and white and on ocassion pinks or pale blue but Nicole doesn't trust me or believe me she doesn't even think of me as a sister. I'm only disapointing. Just thinking this make me tear up but I can't cry anymore, Kristen will freak out and Nicole will think even less of me. Kaylie's crying now and is on her knees. I can tell that by my words I'm the reason she's crying. I may be from the richest family in the whole district but that doesn't mean I would never have to participate in the games I just thought with my youngest friend as a possible tribute that I'd be pleased with myself if she or I never get drawed but the odds were not in our favor.
I help Kaylie up so she can leave the stage.
" April, what about the twins and your- your parents?" she says in between sobs.
" The girls know how to cook and clean and Nicole will be in charge because she's more mature." Kaylie's hugging me letting her tears fall. The Peacekeepers have to pry her off and she's kicking them and screaming I only look away and refocus myself on the twins, Kristen's crying and Nicole's angry and frustrated.
Kaylie's crying now and is on her knees. I can tell that by my words I'm the reason she's crying. I may be from the richest family in the whole district but that doesn't mean I would never have to participate in the games I just thought with my youngest friend as a possible tribute that I'd be pleased with myself if she or I never get drawed but the odds were not in our favor.
I help Kaylie up so she can leave the stage.
" April, what about the twins and your- your parents?" she says in between sobs.
" The girls know how to cook and clean and Nicole will be in charge because she's more mature." Kaylie's hugging me letting her tears fall. The Peacekeepers have to pry her off and she's kicking them and screaming I only look away and refocus myself on the twins, Kristen's crying and Nicole's angry and frustrated.
" Okay, now onto the boys." Quinn interupts the cry fest in a far to cheerful voice. I'm only praying my crush Craige doesn't get picked. Craige and I grew up together. I doubt he knows who I am though. Just because we grew up together doesn't neccassarilly mean he knew me. He is tall and muscular, he is the strongest in my class. His heigth is around 6'5 which make me feel tiny because I'm only 5'3. His hair is a dirty blonde color and his eyes light up like blue crystals. His younger sister is best friend with Kristen. Her name is Krystal, she has the same eyes as him.
Quinn reaches her hand into the bowl and reads the name as clearly as possible and I thought I was done with the weeping until the train to the Capitol. She reads the worst name I could think of.
"Craige Washington." there his name was on that slip and by the look of his face I knew he was going to be a career I just didn't want it to be that way. I feel my eyes swelling in tears yet again. I want to beg for someone to volunteer for him but with his streghth I know there's no wa that will happen. Mayor Diamond read the treaty of treason and I all I able to do is watch the girls, my girls and Craige's sister Krystal she's even more clueless than Kristen.
Mayor Diamond finishes and the anthem plays then two peacekeepers guide me into a room inside the Justice Building. The room is simple white curtains,white couch, a glass coffee table and white marble floors. I know the girls will be in any minute comes in first running towards me crying.
" April please come back, okay? I need you here so does momma and daddy." I need to tell her why they're always "sleeping" or why they're always thirsty for " giggle" juice. Nicole sits down crosses her legs and waitsfor me to answer Kristen she knows I have to tell her.
" Kristen, Mom and Dad are drunks." I say this so stiffly like it was nothing. She stops hugging me pulling away looking straight into my eyes. She's dissapointed, she knows what a drunk is and what they do. She's stopped crying.
" Why do you say that? Did Nicole tell you this because they don't love her?" she says now looking at Nicole with rage in her eyes.
" Kristen, have you ever noticed that Mommy is always asleep on the floor and not in bed and Dad, always angry when he's mad. Well, alchol does that to adults, and Nicole did not say this because she's not loved by them, they don't love any of us. They're too drunk to know what love is." she doesn't say anything more but goodbye, then Nic comes and hugs me not crying but teary-eyed and say the words I never wanted for her to say.
"Don't die out there, Kristen's going to need you. I won't." then she pulls away and leaves holding Kristen's hand. Only two more people come in, Maya and Kaylie. Kaylie comes in first still upset that I might be dying.
" Why would you do it? Volunteer for me. You are the only thing those girls have, the only love." she's sobbing even more.
" I did it because I love you , too. Not just the girls. I'm not the only love those girls have they have you and Maya and each other."
" But, I'm only two years older than the twins why do you think I can care for them I can't do anything but heal cut or bruises." I smile at her trying to lighten the mood. She smiles back.
" Healing is how you'll help and Maya can cook and well as the girls." she hugs me and smiles with tears in her eyes.
" I love you, April come back safe okay?" I smile and nod, she leaves and Maya comes running in with a red mark on her face. " Maya! What in God's name happened?" she's panting rubbing her face.
" I...went..to..." she trails off and tumbles to the ground. I help her up onto the white couch. She starts again but I interupt her before she can contuinue.
" Who did this to you?" I say as calmly as possible.
" The... Peacekeepers, they hit me because I screamed when they pulled Kaylie's name. I was scared for her that no one would volunteer." she's sobbing still holding her cheek.
" It's okay." I now have Maya in my lap when the peacekeepers come in tell Maya she has to leave or she'll need another "lesson". She nods and leaves following them then Cahsmere and Quinn come in.
" Time to get to the train this year's a Quarter Quell which is very important." Quinn is always cheerfull it's getting very annoying. Cashemere is trying not to laugh which doesn't work because as soon as Quinn leaves me and her both are laughing. Once we get to the train, I go in after Quinn and Cahsmere and I'm the last one in before I enter I stop at the door turn around and look at what i'm leaving behind.
Quinn guides Craige and I to our rooms mine is across the hall from Craige's. She tells me where Cashmere's room is if I have questions or concern. I nod and wait for her to leave.