(May's POV)
I'm still bawling my eyes out by lunch, choosing to ignore my friends attempts to console me. My parents, not just one but both of them, they... I can't think about it or I'll just start crying again. How. Could. They. Did they not think I could handle the truth. I know exactly what my plans are for after school. mentioned a video store that has all of the games on tape, she said to try to watch them, with parental supervision. Pffsh, I plan on watching the tapes with Lars and Ali. Just need to tell them. "Guys?" I say, at my words they turn and breath sighs of relief at my talking again. "I need to watch the tapes." They open their mouths to say something, but I don't want to hear their protests so I interrupt them. "I don't want to hear it, meet me at the place." The 'place' is an old house thats basically as big as a shed. We found it a few years ago while walking through town, it looked interesting, being one of the only old and abandoned homes left in the district. In what I think was a closet at some point I found an old fashioned blue dress, a worn out pair of boots, and a brown leather jacket, obviously the home of a poor family. Even though the 'house' was a bit burned their tape projector still seemed to work, so it's the perfect place to watch the tapes without the prying eyes in all of our homes. I get up from the lunch table before they can respond and walk to the the library to due some research. Hunger Games...Hunger Games...Hunger Games...ha here we are The Hunger Games Book 3: The start of freedom. The bell rings so I can't start reading it now, so I check it out to save it for a rainy day.
After what seems like a million years the final bell rings and a make my way to the video store making sure to text my mom that I'm with Ali and Lars so she won't be worried. To be fair it isn't a complete lie. I swing open the door making the little bell ring. I look for the two tapes mentioned. The 74th Hunger Games, and The 75th Hunger Games: Quarter Quell. Hm, Quarter Quell, sounds..interesting. I quickly pay, making sure to keep my head down, not wanting to raise any eyebrows at my purchase. Soon, I am out the door and am making my way to the place. As I near I hear my friends whispering voices, "- Of course I do, why do you always assume I'll be the one to run away when something surprising happens?" I can assume that by Lars's response that Ali asked him a question about me.
"I don't know maybe It's because you're a guy." I shake my head at Ali's response and wait for her to explain, as does Lars.
"So? Why does that matter? I've known May just as long as you!"
"Guy's are way less loyal than girls." Ali finishes her sentence like it's a fact set in stone. Before Lars can respond I make make foot steps audible as I enter the house.I don't say anything until I've set up the projector and shut the creaky door as tight as possible. I nod to my friends to sit on the blanket we used when we came here, don't want to get splinters in our butts. They sit and look up at me, waiting for me to speak. I talk a deep breath and my lips part.
"I have the tapes, no objections, we will watch both over a period of time. I doubt I won't need to process what I see on the screen." I finish opening my eyes again, only to be met with their worried faces. I sigh and pop the tape in, and sit in between lars and Ali. The tape starts.
During the reapings my mind refuses to relax, and my heart aches when, during the reaping in district 11, a tiny 12 year old girl strolls, shaking, on to the stage. And then comes the reapings in twelve, nervous to hear my mothers name when the lady dressed like a clown pulls out the slip of paper. "Primrose Everdeen." Wait, what, mom's name was supposed to be called. Then it hits me at the same time it hits my friends, Primrose Everdeen. Mom doesn't have a sister. But did she at one point, if so how did she die, and why wouldn't mom tell me and Brogan about it. Then we hear it. A screaming girl shouting at this Primrose. When the camera pans, all three of us the out a gasp. Standing there, is my mother. I did the math during school, she is 16 during this time, and is already beautiful. She looks so strong, so determined, yet desperate and scared. Lars looks at me and sighs nodding to Ali for them both to move closer to me, probably in attempt to comfort me, but I am much too focused on the screen.
"I volunteer!" Mom shouts, "I volunteer as tribute." So not only was mom in the games, but she volunteered to save her sister from such a horrible fate. I am nothing compared to her right now. I let the silent tears fall when I see Primrose run up to mom, begging her to reconsider. Then a very handsome boy swoops in and lifts Prim off mom, and mom staggers up the stage, hiding her emotions very well. The clown lady and mom exchange talk about her volunteering, and then the lady moves on to the boys.
"Peeta Mellark." I had forgotten that they had both gotten reaped for the moment so I was a little taken back at first, but I quickly recover from my surprise. Thecamera finds dad, and now I see him too as a young boy. He is just as handsome as mom is beautiful at their ages of 16, maybe even more so. His blond curls are tousled in a very boyish way. He blue eyes, filled with shock, still posses kindness. He is muscular, probably from working in the bakery at a young age, and surprisingly also looks kind of beaten up. Dad makes no attempt at hiding his shock, but for some reason I get the feeling it is more towards mom's situation than his own. They shake hands and the screen goes black, about to move on to the next event. I was right about needing to process things.