Ready to see how the Reaping went down in District 2? In proofreading, I noticed some of my shifts in time/situations are a little rough. Any suggestion on breaking that up with plot or with physical characters? Oh, and please review! I want to get better at this, and that's only gonna happen if ya give me some feedback. Gracias!

District 2 Reaping

Cassidy Taylor, 17

My eyes flutter open. I don't even have to look at my clock to know what time it is. It's exactly 6:53 A.M. My internal clock is never wrong. I spring out of bed and run my usual 2-mile route around my neighborhood. It doesn't matter to me that it's Reaping Day. That's no excuse to ruin my schedule.

I stop at my best friend Sonya's house for breakfast. It's not that I don't love my family or don't like my mom's cooking. It's just nice to mix it up. Plus, I love Sonya and her mother. Their house is my home away from home.

"Are you nervous about today?" asks Sonya.

"Of course not. I've been training for years. I plan to volunteer next year anyways."

"You are so brave Cassidy. I could never even imagine going into the arena. I know it's suppose to be an honor and everything, but I would be so scared…"

I just smile. "It's alright Sonya. You know I would volunteer for you in a heartbeat."

At this point, Sonya breaks down into tears. I love my best friend, but I just don't do that weepy emotional bullshit. Emotions are for the weak. And I'm not weak.

After breakfast I head home to shower and put on my reaping clothes. My father is a manager of one of the stone quarries outside of the Main District. So our family always has enough money. I've always had nice things, but I try not to brag about it. I don't want others to see my as a total bitch.

As I head downstairs, I'm greeted by the voices of my brother and sister.

"MOOOOM Joey took my purse again!" Joy screeched.

"NU-UH," shouted Joey. "I DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING. SHE'S LYING."

They both started to wrestle. All I could do was laugh. My siblings were 13-years-old, but acted like they were 8. I love them anyways. I mean, how couldn't you love your siblings?

"Darling you look BEAUTIFUL in that dress!" my mother exclaims as she walks into the living room. "Sean, don't you think Cassidy is just GORGEOUS?"

"Uh-huh," my dad nods as he walks past. My father is a man of few words. I can't understand how my mother fell for a man who can barely have a conversation.

I look over myself in the hallway mirror. I guess I do look good. I recently cut my hair extremely short. It looks sort of like a boys haircut, but I think it looks fantastic on me. I never really thought I was exceptionally pretty, but my family and friends always talk about my bone structure and long legs and such. Whatever. Physical beauty never really mattered to me.

Before I knew it, we were headed to the town center. Most people were nervous about the reaping. I never was. I mean, I take care of myself and I've been training with makeshift weapons for years now. My family knows, but we never really talk about it. I don't think they know I want to volunteer though.

For some reason, the Hunger Games have always fascinated me. It's the ultimate challenge. Deep down I knew that one-day, I would take that challenge.

Claudius Ziamba, 18

I slowly open my eyes. It's nice, sleeping in. Reaping Day is the only day I can ever sleep in. Not even on holidays. Such is the life of a lowly quarry worker.

I've been stuck in the quarry ever since my dad got hurt 2 years ago. There was an accident and he became paralyzed from the waist down. So I had to take his spot at the quarry. It became my job to provide for my family, to make sure there was food on our table. I was only 16.

But there were benefits to the manual labor I performed 364 days a year. I got to drop out of school, which I hated anyways. Also, I became strong. Really strong. I've always been a big kid, but since working at the quarry I've gained a lot of muscle. I can pick up a tray of stone that weighs 200 pounds with no problem.

My mother tries her best as a seamstress, but she never really makes much. My father is stuck at home caring for my 5 little siblings. We are dirt poor. There's been nights we've all gone to be hungry. Those nights I can see the pain in my little brother and sister's faces. I can hear my mother weep from her bedroom because she can't provide. Even I cry. But only in my room, long after everyone has gone to bed. I can't cry in front of my family. I'm the strong one. I have to be the backbone of my family, because no one else can be. Not yet.

You would think being from District 2, the Capitol would go easy on us. But no. I'm one of like 10 kids in the whole district that had to sign up for tessera. But I don't care. I will do whatever it takes to protect and feed my family. Even if it means volunteering for the Hunger Games.

I walk downstairs for breakfast. This morning was a feast- a biscuit and sausage link for everyone. My siblings are excited, nibbling at their food trying to make it last as long as possible.

"So what do you think the arena will be like this year?" my brother Florian asks. He's 16, the next oldest. If I die in the arena, he's the one who will have to take my spot in the quarry.

The twins Theodosius and Theodora start talking at the same time.

"I hope it is jungle full with tigers and lions and-" starts Theodora.

"Psh. I don't care. I just hope it's epic," says Theodosius.

"LAVA. VOLCANOES AND LAVA!" shouts Avitus. Avitus is barely 7 years old. He's still a baby.

"Quite down and finish your breakfast," my mother says solemnly. I've spoken to my parents about my decision to volunteer for the Hunger Games. They aren't happy. They are afraid of losing me. But they know why I am doing it.

"Come on buttercup," my dad says as he picks up my sister Helena and plops her on his lap. "Time to head to the Reaping."

My father leads the family out the door. As I'm about to walk out of the house, my mother grabs my arm.

"Claudius…. Please. Don't do it. We will find a way to get by."

She has tears in her eyes. The sorrowful look in her eyes pains me to no end.

"Momma….." I whisper. "I have to. The kids will never be hungry again. We will have a real house. I have too. For them."

Cassidy Taylor, 17

"So I heard that he broke up with Susanna because she was making out with Joseph at the party last weekend. Like, I can't even believe Susanna would ever do that. But so many people saw her. I never picked her out to be the slutty type…"

Terri never shuts up. She's walking along with Sonya and I to the reaping. I mean we really are all friends. And Terri is a sweet girl. But sometimes she just goes on and on and on and…

"OH MY GOD did I tell you about what Zachary did?"

"SHUT UP TERRI," shouts Sonya.

We all stop dead in our tracks. Sonya isn't the explosive type.

"Sorry. I'm just really tense today…" she mumbles.

We walk the rest of the way in silence. We stand together in the 17-year-old girls pen as we wait for the Reaping to begin. Usually it's pretty boring. But our Escort is new this year. It's a woman now, and she looks like a walrus. Really. She's a humongous creature, wearing a brown wrinkly dress. Her hair is long and unnaturally blonde. I will never understand Capitol Citizens.

After a bunch of speeches, it's time for the drawing of the names. Walrus Lady reaches her hand into the giant glass ball and reads out a name.

"CASSIDY TAYLOR!"

I hear a shriek from the adult's section. My mother. I see Sonya sobbing on the ground. Terri is just clinging to my arm. I'm a little shocked at first. This wasn't in my plan. I was going to volunteer next year. But I remove myself from Teri and walk to the stage.

I try to tell my self to relax. I have been training. I'm ready for this. It's just a little bit early, that's all. By the time I reach the stage, I'm calm. I give the Escort a hug and smile and wave to the crowd. I'm ready for this.

"Alright, time to draw the lucky boy!" says the Escort. She even sounds like a walrus.

"EZEKIEL CLEMMENS!"

"I, CONRAD SOMERS, VOLUNTEER"

Claudius Ziamba, 18

What? No. This is MY year.

"I, CLAUDIUS ZIAMBA VOLUNTEER!" I scream as I run to the stage. But it's too late. This Conrad kid is already there.

"Oh my, TWO volunteers this year! I'm sorry Claudius bu-"

"Listen you," I growl as I grab the kid by his shirt. He can't be older than 15. "I'm volunteering. Look at you. You're just a babe. You can't even grow a beard yet. Go back to the audience. You wouldn't make it past the Cornicopia."

I throw the kid to the ground. The entire town square is silent.

"I withdraw my name, if that's OK," the kid squeaked.

"Uh, that's not really protocol," the Escort starts. She looks ridiculous. Like a giant shit with a wig on. I just glare at her.

"But since we have another volunteer, I guess we can make an exception," she stammers. "District 1, I give you your Tributes Cassidy Taylor and Claudius Ziamba!"

A slow clap starts. I take my place on stage and shake hands with the girl. She gives me the once over and smiles.

"Just a little excited there huh?" she smirks.

"What can I say? It's my turn to win."

"Too bad buddy. I've got it in the bag this year."

I think I'm going to like her.

~v~

The goodbyes were the hardest part. A few friends from when I went to school and some men I met in the quarry stopped by, but I didn't care about them. I just wanted to be with my family. My siblings are bawling. As in, little Helena and Theodora can barely breath. For some reason, this gets to me. I let the tears flow.

"Listen to me," I say as I hold Florian's face in my hands. Be strong. You're a man now. You're strong. I know you are. I need you to be strong. They need you to be strong."

He just nods his head. I gather all of them into one giant hug. I remind myself this is the reason I'm doing this. For Florian, Theodosius, Theodora, Helena, and Avitus. I will give them a better life.

The Peacekeepers come all too soon. As my family is forced out of the room, my dad just looks at me and says, "Win. I know you can. I expect you home in a few weeks."

And with that, my family is gone.

Cassidy Taylor, 17

The train ride to the Capitol isn't long at all. But in that time, I don't get to know much about Cladius. He is a huge guy. Gotta be at least 6'4. And he is BUILT. He head looks like it has been recently shaved, and he has deep gray eyes and a really chiseled face. He is just so…. Rugged. And manly. If I wasn't planning on eventually killing him, I would probably find him extremely attractive. He is quite though, doesn't like to talk much. It's annoying, really. Halfway through the lunch on the train I finally snap.

"Listen bud, you better start warming up to me. Once we get into that arena, we're allies and-"

"I don't do allies. I work alone," he barks.

I just laugh. "Seriously? You're a Career. If you're not part of the pack, you will be hunted down immediately."

"She's right you know," Thorson adds. District 2 is never short on Victors, so they take turns being mentors. This year, Thorson and Enobaria were our mentors.

"I mean, don't you actually watch the Hunger Games?" I say snidely.

"Sorry, I've missed most of the last two years. The whole working 10 to 12 hours a day in the quarry makes it hard to keep up on Capitol entertainment," Claudius shouts as he barges out of the dining room.

The rest of us just finish our meal in silence. I may have royally pissed off Claudius, but I gained some valuable insight. He has a chip on his shoulder. I mean, I don't blame him. The quarry is a shitty place. But I will win him back. Once we get to the training sessions and he sees what I can do, he will take me as an ally. I'm pretty badass if I do say so myself.