What? What did she say? My mind is going so slow and my vision is blurred. I think my grandmother just said my name. I feel myself falling. "Rainee!" My best friend, Delta, grabs my arm and hoists me back up. Her rainbow colored eyes are dark and mournful. "What just happened?" I asked, dazed as I brushed my blue hair out of my eyes. "You're the girl tribute." Delta said and wiped her nose on her long, purple sleeve. She wasn't one to cry easily. I could see the resistance in her eyes. I begin to blink, not even beginning to process what just happened. I look around. Everybody is looking at me. Even Denim. Denim is looking at me. The one who screamed at my grandmother earlier.
I like Demin. I have liked him, and he doesn't like me back. I know this for a fact, at how he glares at me. His father was killed in a murder involving my father and uncle. He hates my grandmother. He hates my family. He hates me.
I can't help it, what they did. I love Denim, and he's all I ever think about. Out of all the people I could like, my heart chooses him. I can't even bear to look at him. I don't even know why I like him. Is it his tan skin, or gray eyes? His grandparents moved from District 12 to live here. Blue isn't really his hair color. It's not mine, either. I dyed it to look like his. My hair is actually a ginger, and with my white skin and freckles, I looked horrendous. I got the freckles removed and my hair dyed when I was thirteen. That was two years ago, when I was absolutely obsessed with looking pretty.
I slowly walk up to the stage, and avoid any eye contact with my grandmother, who I stand next to while she draws the boy name. I glance over at the piece of paper.
My grandmother says loudly, "The boy tribute will be Mitta Cornask." I looked over into the crowd. A boy with skin dyed green and short blonde hair stood up with absolute fear in his shiny, gold eyes. Mitta hesitates and takes a very slow step onto the stage, right next to me. I keep my head lowered to the ground, still trying to keep my eyes, which were watering up, avoiding anybody. All of a sudden, a voice screams out. "I volunteer!"
I look up. Denim Coleins scrambles up to the stage and nudged Mitta off, who's eyes are glazed over from fear. Mitta runs off and exits the Banquet Hall.
Denim stands up and looks straight at me. I count the seconds we are staring into each other's eyes. One...two...three...
I couldn't stand it anymore. I knew why he volunteered.
He wants to kill me.