AN: So I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I'm trying to make the chapters longer now so they'll be better for everyone to read. Thanks!

We all quietly file into the square. Everything looks different on reaping day. Cameras and large banners are placed along the roofs of the buildings and all the stores are closed. Everyone must be here, whether you're a child or not.

I find my place among the crowd with a few girls from my school. We glance at each nervously and I smile. Today is the day. My fate is depending on Cato and his decisions.

I try to look for him but I can't spot him. The crowd is large and it's a miracle we even fit half of the population of our district. The people without children going into the reaping have to watch the reaping in several streets on a large projected screen.

But at the moment, I can't see him. It's most likely he's hanging around the boys in his grade, preparing for the next few moment.

The atmosphere is buzzing with excitement and many are trying to anticipate what will happen. Looking over to the adults, a few are taking bets on who they think will either be reaped or volunteer. By what I hear, I'm in the mix- as well as Cato. It's almost as if people except us to go in, that they know us so well that it's just of our nature to go in and risk our life. But here, we see the games as something completely honourable, an opportunity for adventure. Something truly amazing.

My lust to get in the arena is admirable here, I'm so determined to do this, whether it be this year or the next. I will go in and fight. The thought makes me smirk.

At two thirty, it's clear that everyone's here and the reaping is proceeded.

From inside the justice building, Mayor Mills, Enobaria- a past victor- and Anika, our escort from the Capitol make their way onto the stage and into their allocated seats.

What brings attention is the fluorescent blue colour of Anika's wig and a matching pair of glittery heels the exact same colour.

The mayor steps up to the podium and tells us about the concept of the games. Like the games, the speech is annual and I know it like the back of my hand. We all do.

Once Mayor Mills is finished, she sits back down and welcomes Anika to the stage. She jumps up excitedly and bops her way to the stage in her usual manner. She gives the crowd a giant smile and explains about how much of an honour it is to be here.

She smiles between breath and continues to speak, "Thank you, thank you. Now shall we start with the reaping?"

She loiters over to the other side of the stage towards the two ginormous glass bowls which decide our fate. One has the boys, the other, the girls.

"So who should we start with?" Anika walks over to the boys' bowl, "How about we mix it up for a change? Boys first!"

The crowd goes silent as she moves her around around the bowl, deciding which paper to choose. There are thousands of slips there, and she digs her hand into the centre and finally chooses the slip.

"Neptune Brown!"

The name is familiar, I've met him once, or seen him in school. But the boy doesn't have time to even mount the stage when Cato's hand shoots up and the next thing, he's screaming "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute of the 74th Hunger Games!"

I feel like someone's ripped out my heart. I'm shattered. His voice rings in my ears, 'I volunteer!', over and over. I can't go in, as much as I'd like to. I can't believe he did this.

Cato confidently makes his way up and smiles at Anika.

"Now what is your name, young man?"

"Cato Hadley," he says without hesitation.

"Now lets give a warm welcome to our male tribute!" Anika cheers and the crowd roars, "Okay, now it's time to select our female tribute!"

Once again, she moves her hand throughout the bowl and chooses a slip a lot quicker than last time.

Clearing her throat, she reads, "Clove Kentwell!"

It takes me a minute to register this, and I sigh. It's everything that I've wanted but at the same time, I don't want to go. Not with Cato there. It's tragedy.

But I can't show my pain. A show a great smile and walk up to the stage, and shake Cato's hand, glaring at him as he glances at me. Confusion is spread across his face but I look away with guilt.

Yes, I feel bad about my actions towards him, not talking for months, and now, treating him as if he's done something wrong. It wasn't planned to be like this, we never intended to go together. I took a risk, but we're both going in. And now, it's too late for both of us.

Besides the fact that we'll be in the arena together, I can't be happier. My dreams all come true. I have to put my feelings aside- I will win this.