District 4. Reaping day.
Nixie Easton's POV
I stood in front of my mirror. Staring at the girl I rarely recognized this day of the year. She wore a dark blue dress, black ballet flats, and a blue head band. Her hair was down, just long enough to surround her face. I sighed and looked down at my feet. I despised this day, ever since I could remember. I looked back up to see a dark figure standing in my door way. He wore a pair of black trousers, and a blue t shirt that matched his eyes perfectly. I smiled weakly at him, "Hi Nico. Shouldn't you be at dads?" He walked into the room and stood next to me, "He's down the hall. Mom's in the kitchen. You look nice." I smiled. "It's just missing one thing." He grabbed the necklace that lay on my dresser and placed it around my neck. "Twinsters," he pulled his own necklace from under his shirt collar to show me. His necklace was a yellow, green, and blue fish. Mine was a purple octopus. I gave him another weak smile. "Ok, what's up?" He led me to my bed and we sat down. "Your tresserae…." I mumble. Nico chuckles, "No worries. I'll be fine. Just you watch." I swallow hard. I just don't know if I can watch….
I stood alone in the 14 year old girls section while Nico was in the boys. At least he had friends over there….. I'm not as social as he can be. I looked around and say my parents. My mom was talking to some of her friends and my dad just standing around. He noticed me looking at him and waved. I waved back. The mayor stepped onto the stage and began his speech on the history of Panem. Then the District 4 mentor stepped up to the dishes of names. "Hey everyone! Let's pick the first tribute! I say we mix it up a little and pick a male tribute first!" Shirley Melroy giggled and reached her hand into the bowl and boy names. Nico's name was in there one too many times. I swallowed hard. She pulled out a single paper, "Erik Johnson!" A boy from the 16 year old section to my far right stepped out. Erik Johnson was a really social guy. He had quite a few friends. But I doubt any of them would volunteer for him. He had an older brother too but I can't remember hearing that a sibling volunteered for another sibling since the 74th Hunger Games with Katniss Everdeen and her little sister. He steps up to Shirley and gives her a smile, but anyone could see that it was fake. He stepped off to the side and Shirley stepped back up the bowls. "Ladies next!" Her hand dove into the names and I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding. But the moment later I ended up sucking in a breath. Hard.
Erik Johnson's POV
I stepped up next to Shirley. I hated how preppy she was about everything. Me and my friends Jack, Damien, and Luke used to always make fun of her, and now I feel like that came back to bite me. "Ladies next!" Shirley reached into the bowl of girl names and pulled out a slip. She read the name and it rang a bell, I just wasn't sure why. "Nixie Easton!" A moment passes before a petite girl stepped out of the 14 year old section. She walked up the stage and I could see the water building in her eyes. There were very shocked looks from some of the parents that surrounded the stage. Nixie stood next to me staring off into space. Or maybe she wasn't. She seemed to be looking into the 14 year old boy section at a boy that looked very similar to her. She looked away. And I could see how hurt he looked, even from up here. Nixie looked head and smiled weakly. She was trying not to look like a target for the other tributes. Since I couldn't see myself, I wondered if I was passing at looking like a bad target. "Our District 4 tributes!' Shirley bowed as everyone clapped half heartedly. Nixie and I were led off the stage as everyone dispersed to do our, what could be, final goodbyes.
