Rachel felt very numb. She had heard April read Lindy's name, but it was muffled like she had on earmuffs. But Kurt's shriek snapped her out of it quickly enough. Kurt's father, Burt was begging for volunteers, they couldn't take his little girl away from him, and tears sprung to his eyes. Kurt was hysterical also, and Lindy just looked shocked. She was staring at that dreaded little slip with her name on it, practically immobile. Without thinking, Rachel pushed away the kids in front of her and choked out "Take me instead."
The crowds focus immediately shifted to her. Shelby gasped, but didn't cry like Burt had. Rachel knew her mother loved her, but the loss of her dad had hurt her much more than the loss of Rachel ever could. A silence filled the Town Square as Rachel walked up to the stage, trying to hold her head high. She felt like crying, but she knew she couldn't appear weak, not to the other tributes, her competitors.
April, who seemed to finally notice the tension, put on another one of her freakishly white-toothed smiles, and said "And now for the boy tribute!" She grabs a name off the top and gives a brief dramatic pause before yelling "Kurt Hummel!" Burt's tears, which had just begun to subside, start pouring out again and Lindy's start rushing out, at full force too. Rachel gasps like the wind has been knocked out of her. No, no, no, no, NO! Her head is screaming. Of all the people that she would have to fight to the death with, it had to be Kurt. Kurt, her best friend, Kurt, who she could never kill. Burt was begging, again, for volunteers, but this time there was no Rachel to step up.
Kurt reluctantly pulled himself away from his weeping family and up to the stage. His knees were shaking with fear, but he still managed a confident expression. Even April looks sorry for them now, but she manages a smile. The rest of the evening is a blur and Rachel and Kurt both, though they look composed, are freaking out. They struggle through Panem's Anthem before being rushed into a room in the Justice Building. Surprisingly, Rachel's mother is the first to visit them. She rushes over to embrace Rachel with her bony, weak arms and begins whispering to her daughter in a shaky voice, "Rachel, baby I'm so sorry." Rachel shook her head "It's not your fault, Mom. You couldn't help who was reaped and that I… volunteered." A tear rolled down Shelby's face and she continued "No no, I didn't mean the reaping. I meant the last years of your life. I've been pretty much… dead, leaving you to fend for yourself. I should have been there, John was your dad too and you needed me." Shelby paused so her voice wouldn't crack "I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though I haven't been showing it well, I love you sweetie." Rachel nodded; she was crying too now, tears she had held in longer than she realized. "I love you too mom." She whispered. Her mom gave her a last hug and left the room, never mentioning the Games. It was easier that way.
After Shelby left, a bunch of kids from school came. Kurt and Rachel had never even spoken to some of them, but all of them vehemently wished the two luck and good fortune. Burt and Lindy came too, it took them longer than Rachel had expected but judging by the absence of Burt's sobs, Rachel figured they had been trying to compose themselves outside. Burt talked to Kurt for a long while and hugged him, Lindy cut in every once in a while with a voice marred by tears. Rachel looked away and tried to zone out what Burt was saying; it felt too personal for her to hear. When Burt and Lindy finished with Kurt they turned to Rachel. Lindy gave her a hug and a whispered "thank you" and turned to wait for her father. Burt looked at Rachel and whispered "Thank you so much Rachel, for saving Lindy like that. It was very brave and I am so grateful. I owe you." His voice broke off at the end and Rachel knew the part that was being unsaid. "I owe you" the words rung in her ears, if you make it.