Chp 2: As if The Odds Where In My Favor Tessa's POV
Our district is known for the lovely luxury which is obviously abundant, but for some twisted reasoning school is not luxurious. And for the last sixteen minutes of class, Alejandro points that out, distracting Sunny and me from one of the expensive classes, Glass Work for intermediate learners. Sure, it's so cool, but an hour and thirty minutes on reaping day makes it as exciting as crafting history, because we're all anxious for the reaping.
"Isn't it a shame that we have this class, even though today is reaping day?" I yawn, holding the mini blowtorch that melts the glass away from me, and onto the yellow bead, narrowly avoiding singeing my eyebrows off. Sunny laughs at my failed attempts at rounding the final touches on my bead.
"Smooth," she snorts, successfully rounding the little pendant of her, skiing on a trip to district 2.
"Alright class!" Mrs. Daily says, and we look up, and stop our projects. "We will start clean up early because of the reaping."
We start putting out art away, and Alejandro strikes a conversation about the reaping.
"Which districts do you think are going to be in a group this year?" he asks, stacking aprons.
"My money's on 2, 1, 4 and 6, if district 6 aren't being brats this year," she says, rinsing paintbrushes.
The thought of district 1 and 6 together makes me snort. "Isn't six always?" I say. Alejandro laughs.
"Yeah, district six is a lousy excuse for a district," Sunny says.
"Your face is a lousy excuse!" I say, using the joke. "Oh, that one was good."
"Suuree," Alejandro says. We make our way out the door, and I head home for my reaping dress, forgetting for one minute the possibility of me being chosen, because of Alejandro and Sunny.
In the center of town, I stand with my family and Alejandro, in the knee length sun yellow dress, that has crossing straps over my shoulders, causing me to itch right below the collar bone. I shrug the dress off my shoulder and squirm. Alejandro notices my discomfort, and I stop moving, and sit up, heat rising to my cheeks.
"Welcome!" Janie Lant is suddenly is on the stage, in her perfect district 8 clothes. "Another new tape games, another new reaping!"
She sounds so happy, as if four people didn't die last game, as if two might die this year.
"We are going to have three contestants due to all those pretty little faces out there, in the growing population!" Groans escaped from the crowd, and Janie just smiled. Again. "Now, we want our first girl, don't we?"
I held my breath.
"Our girl is- Tessa Baldwin!"
"Excuse em- what?" I spluttered, interrupting. Alejandro stiffened next to me.
"Tessa?" Janie looked around the crowd. I stood up and walked forward, smiling at the camera, my jaw muscles working at a hundred miles per hour, feeling wrong in my mouth.
"Tell the camera something!" Janie chirped, gesturing at the cameras hanging.
"Uh, okay, I guess I'll say wazzup?" I said, then immediately regretted it. It sounded stupid. Bu it got a huge laugh from the crowd.
"Alright let's choose our second girl!" Janie said, straightening.
"Sunny Lils is our girl!" Janie said.
Sunny froze, but then smiled, and I felt relieved. If Sunny was on my team, I wouldn't lose.
"And now we'll see our boy tribute!" Janie tweets.
"Alejandro Absher!"
What?!
Alejandro comes up to the stage, with his brow furrowed, like it might all be a mistake. He stands next to me, and mutters.
"We are in the games?" He asks, as if he is too shocked. I like how he said we.
"No we're just playing tribute," I say sarcastically.
"It's not the right time for it," he says. Sunny bobs next to us.
"Oh great, we have to capture each other." She says. "At least, if someone kills one of us, they're is servitude."
I nod along, without thinking, as a procession of Stock keepers lead us to the Mayor's manor, where we can see our families and friends. Unfortunately, my friends are with me.
HaHaha. As if the odds where in my favor.
We arrive at the place, and I get to sit down on the luxury sofa, that came directly from the finest crafters of district 8.
"Mom!" I say, as she enters the room. My voice sounds strangled, and I gulp down hard. Silly.
"Hi, Tessa," she says, "I brought you an item." She brings out a solid gold locket. My locket.
I run it in my palm. I made it only a few years ago, its solid gold, with a design needle point thin etched into it, with black ink in the space. Inside is a picture of me and mom, dad and my dog, Rally. On the other side, is a picture of me and Alejandro.
"Thanks mom," I say quietly.
"Win, will you?" she smiles at me.
"Of course," I respond softly. I run it along the lines of my hand, the cool gold smooth against my skin. I hear footsteps, and the stock keepers come in.
"Goodbye, Tessa." Mom waves, and then, she's gone. I sit next to Alejandro and Sunny, as Janie comes in.
"Well!" She says. "Let's go to the train!"
"She's too enthusiastic." Sunny grumbles. I crack a smile.
"Let's go!" Janie grins at us.
I board the train, off to district 2.
"May the odds be in your favor?" Alejandro says, going to his room.
"As if the odds where in my favor!" I call back, and disappear around the bend, with Sunny.