POV Sofia
I sit and think. Ugh. This sucks. I knew that my name was always going into the reaping ball, but now it's just me and Sienna. Sienna is my best friend. I am so stuck. I can't decide if I would volunteer for her. I mean, I'm PRETTY sure she would volunteer for me. I mean, that's what friends are for right?! Right? Crap.
POV Toby
Either me or Jackson or going into the Hunger Games. Ok. I can accept that. What I can't accept the fact that one of us is going to be brotherless for the rest of our lives. Would I volunteer? Pull a Katniss Everdeen? I mean, he's my little brother. When Dad died, I swore that I would protect Jackson. But now?... I don't know. I really don't want to die.
POV Sofia
The next few weeks go by so quickly. It seems like yesterday that fateful card was read. Now the day of the reaping has arrived. I wash in the shower, a luxury most people don't have here. I squat in the hot water, contemplating. Should I volunteer is Sienna's name is called. No. Right? She will hopefully volunteer for me if my name is called. I hope. Ugh I am so torn! I really do like Sienna. She's very sweet. Oh, screw this whole thing. I step out of the shower, and turn the water off. I wrap a towel around my body, and run to my room. There I spot the pink and white checkered dress I had laid out before my shower. I rub my hair dry, and put the dress on. I struggle to get my fingers around my back, and then manage to cling to the zipper and pull it up.
Tyler runs in, and gives me a hug, which I have to fend off, because other wise my dress will get wrinkled. I lean over and give him a kiss though.
Mom walks into the room. She looks so pretty. Hey! I just had a thought! If I go into the games, then she, Ms. Madge, and Mr. Haymitch will be our mentors! That wouldn't be quite as bad then.
She turns to me. "It's time to go." She takes Ty's hand and pulls him to her, and they walk out the door. I follow close behind. Dad is waiting out in the living room. He takes Tyler from Mom, because she has to be introduced as a previous victor. We walk outside, and are almost immediately greeted by Sienna and her family. We make small talk as we walk to the square, the gravel crunching beneath our feet, but I can feel the tension building between us. Moments later we aren't speaking.
POV Toby
I am sitting in the square shaking. My hands are blurry from all the trembling. My words are all stutters. People are filing into the square. I spot Sienna and Sofia, and walk over to them. I don't know them immensly well, as we are in different grades at school, but our parents are friends, and we often have dinner together. I am dressed in a cotten blue shirt and slacks. My shoes are so polished that I can see my reflection in them. My hair is swept to the left side. I look nothing like my normal self. Jackson is with the 13 year olds. He looks like a mini fake me. I breathe. In. Out. In. Out. I still don't understand why everyone else is here. It's not like they're going to be reaped. I feel like screaming. Tinkera Lacerey mounts the stage. She has been the escort since Effie Trinket retired and married Haymitch.
She looks scary. She looks like a lion with her giant golden wig and squinty yellow eyes, which I hope are from contacts. She purrs. "Welcome to the 4th quarter quell. This year is huge! The new president and head gamemaker Seneca Crane, has decided, since it's so important, the winner will get TRIPLE the winnings this year!" The end of her sentence sounds like a question. She beams. "We have had four winners in District 12. Katniss Everdeen, Haymitch Abernathy, and Madge Owens" She pauses as they enter the stage from the Justice Building. I spy my mother and let out a sigh of relief. Tinkera gives a happy clap. "Ladies first!"
POV Sofia
I will say that I hate Tinkera. She sends so many kids to their death so easily. But now, I'm hoping that she'll come through and save me. She reaches in the bowl, and I watch her claw like fingers touch both names repatedly. Sienna. Sofia. Sienna. Sofia. Suddenly she snatches one. She marches back over to the mic, and slowly unfolds the paper. Time slows done. My heart beats. The crowd is silent. I breathe. My soul wimpers.
"Sofia Hawthorne."
Damn.
POV Toby
I watch as Sofia's name is called. Sienna looks relieved, and I know that she is not going to volunteer. I see Sofia slowly move through the crowd and up to the stairs. She makes no sound, but her body langauge says she is terrified. She walks to the stage. Tinkera asks for volunteers, but as I predicted, Sienna stays silent. Tinkera ignores this, and gives Sofia an awkward embrace, which, to her credit, she does not return. Tinkera seems to sense that she is invading something, and stands up. She teeters over to the other bowl that contaon only my name and Jacksons. "Time for the boys!" She fishes around and pulls out a piece. She carefully unfolds it, and clears her throat. "Jackson Owens." Oh God. Before I know what is happening, words have come out of my mouth. "I volunteer."