Brenton Aldair-13(D12M)
I'll never understand why no one else in my family enjoys walking around in the Seam. I mean I understand why my dad and Lambert don't but they've always thought they were better than everyone else so for them walking through the Seam would be tantamount to torture, but I can't for the life of me understand why Kalique and Cobell hate this place.
"Brenton….Brenton wait for me!"
I stop and spin around to see my best friend Dayla sprinting toward me her long blond hair flipping every which way as she tries to squeeze every ounce of speed out of her legs she can. I offer her a welcoming smile and wave as she quickly closes the last few feet between us only to crash into me with the force of a runaway train. I manage to roll her off me and scramble to my feet in time to offer her my hand as she attempts to pull herself back to her feet, her pale cheeks a cute shade of scarlet at the embarrassment of having tackled me in front of half the district.
"Sorry Brenton, you were closer than I thought you were."
"Sure I was, and I'm sure that one jarring tackle was a total accident too. Right?"
"It...It was. I'm so sorry, did I hurt you or something?"
I want to keep my tough guy persona up for a little longer but I can't think of anything else to say and the hurt look in her eyes is almost too much for me to handle anyway. I feel my previously impassive face slowly give way to a big grin and by the time I start to laugh she's all but howling herself.
"You really had me going there for a second Brenton."
"Did I really? I didn't think I was a good enough actor to pull that one off on you Dayla."
"Well you are, so try not to do it anymore. For a second, I thought you might really be mad at me."
"How could I ever be mad at you Dayla? I mean you and I have had our ups and downs but you're my best friend, but I do have a question?"
"Of course you do Brenton. Well out with it, just because you're cute doesn't mean I want to stand here like an idiot all day."
"I...I'm….I'm what?"
"I called you cute Brenton, it's the easiest way to fluster you after all."
"It is not, you….You take that back right now Dayla!"
"Or what?"
"I….I….I don't know. Why do you have to be so….So."
"So what, cute, annoying, playful?"
"Well, the last two for sure, the jury's still out on the first one."
"Now who's being mean?"
"I never said you were mean Dayla, I just….You're doing it again aren't you?"
"Doing what Brenton?"
"You are aren't you. Come on Dayla this isn't fair, I'm not as good at this as you are."
"Ok, I'll stop trying to befuddle you, Brenton, now what was it you wanted to ask me a moment ago?"
What did I want to ask her, I mean I can see the thought pattern clear as day in my mind but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. It takes me a second and in the brief pause between us while I'm thinking the unmistakable roar of a hovercraft snaps me back to reality and I instantly remember what my question was, and if the look of fear in Dayla's eyes is any indication she's guessed my question as well.
"Can we not talk about that Brenton, I'm scared enough as it is without talking about it too."
"Why are you worried Dayla, there's not a chance of you getting reaped. Hell, I have a better chance than you do and mines almost zero as it is."
"How can you be sure, though, I mean all the older kids are out and with my two sisters and my mom and dad I'm in the bowl six times and it's only my first year."
"True, but there are girls with twice as many slips in as you. Add in the fact that the twelve and thirteen-year-old girls pool is almost half again as big as mine and you're as safe as safe can be. Relatively speaking of course."
"Are you really telling me to take solace in the fact that somewhere out there in the district is another girl with a better chance of dying than me?"
"I didn't mean it that way Dayla, I just meant that it's not going to be you is all."
"I'm….I'm sorry Brenton, I shouldn't have acted like that. After all, you're just trying to help me feel better."
"Look I was just as scared last year, it's a normal thing to be afraid of this time of year. Just know that you're going to be ok, and if by some miracle you do get reaped I'll be volunteering to help you just a few seconds later."
"You can't volunteer this year Brenton, the president won't let you."
"One that ugly lady on t.v. can't stop me, and two you're not getting reaped so I'll never have to test their conviction on this anyway. Now come on and let's get something to eat before the reaping, I'm starving."
"Didn't your mom make you breakfast?"
"I didn't stick around to find out, after listening to Lambert tell me the changed the rules to ensure little snot-nosed punks like me get reaped all night I left before anyone else woke up."
"Lambert's a real ass Brenton….Pardon my language but he really is."
"That he is, but today's not about him it's about us. So let's go get some food and plan the rest of our day, I'm told it's a good time in the Seam after the reaping if you're not one of the reaped ones that is."
"I wouldn't know Brenton, I'm not one to go out and celebrate someone else's misfortune."
"Then we'll find something else to do, but first we eat. I refuse to stand in the square and sweat profusely on an empty stomach, come on."
I grab her by the hand and take off at a quick jog toward a small fruit stand near the outskirts of the Hob where the two of us search through a basket of spoiled fruit in search of the one or two edible pieces most likely buried at the bottom of the basket. As I sift through the squishy piles I catch sight of Dayla smiling and for a moment, I feel the same little fluttering feeling in my stomach that always seems to happen when I'm with her. I'm not sure what it is but I know that I like it, at least, I think I do. Then again there's no reason to worry about it or try to rush into anything, after all, the two of us have a long time to decide just what this feeling might mean for the two of us.
Brooke Kolstad-13(D12F)
I hate today, I mean I miss Hilt every day but reaping day is especially hard for my mom and dad which makes it that much harder for me too. I can't stand what today does to my mom and dad, I know they don't blame Onyx or any of the other mentors for what happened to Hilt, at least, my mom doesn't anymore, but I can still see the hurt in their eyes every time the four of them walk out on stage and Hilt isn't with them.
"Stop this Brooke, getting yourself all worked up before the reapings isn't going to do anyone any good."
I slip out of the relative warmth of my bed and set my bare feet on the cold floor below. I immediately regret this and it takes all my willpower not to yank my feet back into bed and curl up in the safety of my blankets. Instead I quickly scoop up a pair of socks from the basket beside my bed and slip them on and make my way out of my room and into the kitchen before I can think twice about it.
I do my best to move as quietly as I can as to not wake up my parents but my caution is pointless as the two of them are already sitting at the table having coffee and talking quietly when I walk in. My mom turns toward me and offers a rather warm but clearly forced smile as she brushes the last vestiges of tears off her cheek before getting up and wrapping me in a rather forceful hug.
"Sorry baby did your dad and I wake you?"
"Dear if I know Brooke she's probably been up just as long as we have, the only reason she's just coming out now was for our benefit."
"Don't be so cynical Burnet, I'm sure she just woke up."
"Actually mom dad's right, I've been up for a little while now."
"Then why are you just coming out now? Is everything ok babe?"
"Everything's fine mom, I was just thinking is all."
"Well because you spent so much time 'thinking' you're going to have to eat fast if you want to do it at all. We don't want to be late for…."
"Do you have to bring that up now Burnet?"
"Is there a better time to bring it up Charity?"
"Guys please don't do this, not today at least."
My plea falls on deaf ears and before I know what's happening my parents are embroiled in a battle of wills as my dad tries to undo the damage while my mom breaks down in tears while flinging accusations at anyone and everyone she can think of. After a few seconds, it's pretty hard to decipher just what's being said but I manage to pick up words like Onyx, Haymitch and make you proud before I can't take it anymore.
"STOP IT! JUST STOP IT!"
My outburst catches my parents by surprise as it's a rare event for me to raise my voice even in the heat of the moment and for a second the two of them just sit there in a stunned silence, until my composure shatters and I break down in tears.
"Brooke I'm...I'm sorry, your mom and I kind of forget just how hard this time of year is for you. We just….Let our emotions get in the way and that's not fair to you."
"Your father's right, we tend to forget just how close you and Hilt were before he….Before he died."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, I know this is hard for you guys too. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get ready for the reaping."
"Do you want me to fix you some food first Brooke?"
"No thank you mom, I'll eat when I get home."
I quickly slip out of the room before my composure can break again and only when I'm safely back in my room do I allow the tears to flow freely down my cheeks. I bury my face in my pillow and scream for what seems like forever until my voice finally gives out and the strain of forcing more sound nearly causes me to puke. I lay on my bed for a few more seconds before rolling off and wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my night-shirt as I shuffle towards my closet and grab the first remotely dressy looking thing I can find and slipping it over my head before I can change my mind.
It takes me a minute to adjust my dress and to my relative surprise I managed to grab the soft green one that seems to be the only one that doesn't require me to carry the hem while I'm walking. I take another second to adjust it properly before putting my hair up in as good a bun as I can manage on my own before slipping back out of my room to find my parents waiting by the door, both their faces slick with tears though they both do their best to avoid me seeing it. As the three of us head out the door and join the moving mass toward the town square I can't help but feel bad for them, I mean sure I lost my brother to the games but they lost their son, their first-born and now they have to worry about me too.
As we turn the corner and the Justice building comes into view I decide to do something nice for the two of them tonight, after all Hilt told me to take care of mom and dad when he got reaped so the least I can do is cook them a nice dinner tonight, give them a little peace and happiness on this most terrible of days.
Luell Berring-13(D5M)
"Luell, Abner I'm not going to tell you again, hurry up and get ready so you can eat before we leave."
"It's Abner's fault mom, he's hogging the bathroom."
"He's lying mom, I've been out for almost five minutes. He's just avoiding going in and brushing his teeth like he should."
"Luell go brush your teeth, and Abner if you're done then get down here and eat. NOW!"
My brother Abner sticks his tongue out at me before darting out of the room just inches ahead of the balled up shirt I tossed at his head. Resigned to my fate I pick up my shirt and do the best to smooth out the wrinkles before slipping it over my head and heading into the bathroom where much to my surprise I find my dad waiting for me with an annoyed look on his face.
"Come on Luell your mom is having a fit because you're not ready yet and I'm on the receiving end of ninety percent of her wrath because of it."
"Why? It's not your fault Abner and I are slow."
"No, but she's convinced that I told the two of you to drag ass like this to make her mad."
"But you did tell us to do it dad, and that was the exact reason you quoted when you told us too."
"Shh Luell, you don't want you, mom, to hear you saying that do you?"
"Wouldn't that just shift the trouble off me and onto you, though?"
"Possibly, but it might just get you grounded this weekend too."
My dad makes a good point, and as much as I like to be a part of his jokes on mom sometimes they get too complicated or turn bad quick like this one did. Then again I don't know what possessed my dad to pick reaping day to play this joke on my mom, I mean a school day would have been just as good and not have run the risk of getting us in real trouble.
"I'm sorry dad, I'll hurry up. Also I didn't mean to make mom mad or anything like that."
"It's not your fault son it's mine, I was hoping this would help her laugh a little and relax after last night's announcement but it seems to have had the exact opposite effect. However we're only exasperating it by talking so brush quick and get down stairs before she blows her top."
For half a second I'm tempted to see just what that might look like but I think better of it and quickly brush my teeth and slip my shoes on before bounding downstairs and slipping into my chair at the table maybe half a second in front of yet another call from my mom to hurry up.
"It's about time Luell, here's your oatmeal. Now eat quick so we can get to the reapings before the two of you are late."
I hate oatmeal, like if I was starving and all there was to eat was oatmeal I'd almost rather starve, but one curt look from my dad kills any potential rebuttal from me and I try to power through the bowl as quick as I can. It takes a little effort and more than one more look from my dad but I manage to finish my bowl without gagging so at least I have that to be proud of.
"I'm done mom, and so is Abner."
"Well, this is certainly a change boys, normally it takes me a half-dozen threats to get you to eat breakfast that fast. What did you break?"
"Nothing mom, well nothing that wasn't already broken anyway but that was all Abner's fault."
"Tattletale!"
"Enough you two, Edric when we get home discipline Abner please."
"Of course dear, I have just the punishment in mind."
"For the last time, Edric reading comic books isn't a punishment."
"You don't do it for fun dear."
"But they do hun, now hurry up and put your bowls in the sink and let's go."
Abner and I put our bowls in the sink and I run a little water in them while my parents get their jackets on and fetch ours out of the closet.
"I can't believe you rated me out Luell."
"Come on Abner mom already knew we'd broken the lamp in the room, me lying would have gotten both of us in trouble instead of just you."
"Still you said you wouldn't tell on me, you lied."
Man, my brother can be a pain, then again maybe it's because he's so much like mom and I'm more like dad. Either way, he'll get some crap punishment that I'll end up helping him with anyway and I'll make it up to him with a new comic book this weekend. After all, I've got plenty of time to make it up to him.
"Boys let's go, you're going to be late!"
Emiliana "Emi" Jameson-13(D5F)
"Mom will you take Rory please, he won't sit still for me."
"What's wrong Emi I couldn't hear you in the other room?"
"Will you take Rory so I can finish getting ready please?"
"I thought you were already finished dear."
"I was until Rory threw up all over my dress, now I have to change before I go."
"Why's that dear, you hoping to impress someone?"
Leave it to my dad to ask a stupidly uncomfortable question at a time like this, I mean even if I did it's not like I'd want to go to the reapings covered in mashed banana barf anyway. I roll my eyes and pass my very upset little brother off to my dad while my mom tries to suppress a laugh at the sight of me as I dart back upstairs and into my room where I quickly strip off my puke covered dress and tear through my closet in a vain attempt to find something even half as good looking. Finally I'm forced to settle for the only other clean one that doesn't require me to change my underclothes for fear of them showing through the fabric.
I quickly slip it on and head back downstairs where my parents are fighting tooth and nail with Rory to get him to put his jacket on. I offer an exasperated sigh and shake my head at him even as I bend down and gently slip the slick polyester fabric around his shoulders before giving him a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Rory why do you have to be such a little terror?"
"Nut uh."
"Yes you are, would your big sister lie to you about this?"
"Muh hu."
"You think I'd lie, me?"
"Muh hu."
"Mom are you and dad filling my siblings head with nonsense again?"
The three of us enjoy a good laugh at this while Rory stares up at us as if we'd all lost our minds and he's not sure if he should find them for us or join in the fun. I quickly scoop him up in my arms and plant another kiss on his forehead before the four of us slip out the door and head towards the town square and the reaping.
To say I'm nervous about this year is an understatement, I mean the odds of someone from Five volunteering were slim to none but I still felt a whole lot safer with five other age groups ahead of me with slips in the ball. This year I think the max number of slips any one girl has in the ball is seven and Neralia has three younger siblings and her dad has been out of work with a broken back. I mean I don't want to see anyone get reaped for the games but I really hope it's not her, it'd be so unfair for the one time she took help to lead her to the games. Then again I hope it's not me either, or anyone else I know, but with only two age groups it's almost certainly to be someone from my age. After all we have at best twice as many chances of getting reaped as one of the twelves does, sure there are outliers on both ends but in general everyone my age as twice as good a chance of getting reaped as they do. it's just not fair that us little ones are being punished for the older kids mistakes.
"Is everything ok Emi? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine, just a little nervous is all."
"I see, Edna take Rory and go find us a spot. I'll make sure Emi get's checked in then I'll be over."
My mom looks like she want's to protest but instead she just takes Rory from me and heads away while he tries to squirm out of her arms and back into mine. After a few seconds of silence my dad turns back to me and with a serious look I've never seen from him before wraps me in a hug before whispering into my ear.
"It's ok to be afraid Emi, your mother and I are terrified too."
"You both seem so calm though."
"We have to be dear, if you or Rory saw just how scared we are how do you think you would react, little loan him?"
"I….I think I understand dad. But what do I do if it's me, how do I…."
"It's not going to be you Emi, there's no chance of that."
"But there is, I mean sure it's a small one but it's still a possibility dad."
"It's not going to happen Emi so there's no reason to worry about it."
"I hope you're right dad, I don't know what I would do if I got reaped."
"You'd be the same strong and independent young women you already are, and you'd find your way home to us a victor."
I throw my arms around my dad again and give him the biggest hug I can muster before a peacekeeper storms up and tears me from his arms and shoves me into one of the check in lines. As I shuffle forward with the other late arrivals I can't help but wonder who among us in line and those already waiting in the square is about to have their lives destroyed, and if any of this will make up for the crimes none of us actually committed?
A/N: First off a special thanks to LokiThisIsMadness, Skyflapple, Jabber Blabber Ink, and xQueen-Of-Applesx for Brenton, Brooke, Luell, and Emiliana respectively. Well this takes care of the Pre Reapings chapter and I hope to have the Reapings up around Wednesday as long as I can force myself to do my homework for my English class in a timely manner. But enough about me, on to questions :)
1. What did you think of the first batch of tributes?
2. Did any of them really jump out and grab you as characters?
3. How was the chapter overall?
4. What can I do to make each chapter more enjoyable for you as a reader?
Other then that as always please review and let me know what you think of the chapter and the tributes we just met. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I look forward to seeing all of you at the next update. :D