District 6: Anderson Piely (13) Pov-

"Mom, Tim is being gross."

"Andy started it."

"Did not."

"Did too."

"Did not."

"Please. Stop." Mom turns away from the sink to face Tim and me. "Can you two please just be quiet and at least pretend to get along this morning?" She brings her fingers to the bridge of her nose, giving it a good pinch as she closes her eyes. "I didn't get much sleep last night, so I really need some quiet."

"Yeah. Okay. I'll be quiet." I frown. "It's just that I'm trying to eat breakfast, but Tim keeps doing nasty stuff with his food."

"Only because you kept making that slurping sound that I hate." My little brother spits.

"That's my eating sound." I shrug.

"No it isn't. You never eat like that when Dad's home."

I get quiet, and take a nervous glance at Mom. She has that face on again. The one where the sides of her lips fold into a grimace, and the creases in her forehead become more prominent against her pale skin. Tim and I aren't supposed to mention our father because Mom always ends up crying and embarrassing us.

As her eyes become watery, I suddenly remember something really important I have to do for school and Tim exclaims that he forgot to flush the toilet. The two of us leave the woman crying in the kitchen.

I don't understand why she gets so upset about Dad. He left her for a younger, hotter woman. I mean, his girlfriend, Isabella, is really a looker. Last year, when Dad invited me over to his house for dinner, I decided I was in love with her. I didn't care that she was with my Dad.

"Andy!" Tim whispers from the doorway to my room. "What are we going to do? She just doesn't stop crying."

"Stop mentioning Dad, idiot." I scowl.

"Well, he's my Dad. It's not like I can ignore him."

"You should try." I cross my arms. Tim takes a few more steps into my room, closing the door behind him.

"Maybe if we get her a boyfriend she'll be happier."

"And how are we going to do that? She's not pretty like she was ten years ago. She's just wrinkly and ugly."

"That's not nice." Tim snaps. "She's our Mom."

"I'm just being honest." I shrug. "I would have done the same thing as Dad."

Tim gets that angry look on his eleven-year-old face. His eyebrows twist into a line. He slams my door on the way out.

I plop onto my bed, and think about Dad's girlfriend.

District 6: Hadley Paxton (15) Pov-

"Good morning, sir." I smile at the peacekeeper in front of me.

"Name?"

"Hadley Paxton." He grabs my hand, jabbing a needle into my finger. I cringe as he smears the small drops of blood on the slot next to my name. "Have a nice day." I wave as I head away from the line. He is too busy to answer.

It doesn't matter. I know life must be hard as a peacekeeper; everyone runs away from you, and the few that aren't terrified curse at you. I'm just trying to bring a little light to their day.

Markus slides his hand into mine.

"I still don't get why you're so focused on making everyone like you. Am I not enough?" He plants a quick kiss on my lips. I chuckle.

"I'm just trying to make everyone get along. And you are enough for me. You always will be."

Markus smiles. His bright blonde hair is almost too stunning to look at in the midday sun. Markus has been my boyfriend for almost three years now, and I couldn't be happier about it.

"I'd better get to the boy's section. But, I'll see you after the reapings, okay?" Markus gives my hand one last squeeze, before heading off.

"Hadley!" Sera races over to me, a huge grin plastered across her face.

"Hey, girl!" I give her a hug. "You look absolutely beautiful. Did your Mom make this dress, too?"

Sera nods, running her hands across the red fabric. Some kids think it weird that Sera's mother makes all her clothes, but I always think Sera looks beautiful in anything she wears.

"You look beautiful too, Hadley."

"Not as gorgeous as you." I shoot back, positively beaming.

"Guys, have you seen my little brother?" Harlow stops momentarily beside Sera and I. Her usual calm expression, had given way to a wild wide-eyed air. "He's real short. Blonde hair…was crying his eyes out last time I saw."

"Sorry." Sera shakes her head.

"I don't know where to look, anymore. Two minutes ago he was standing right by that boy over there and now he's just disappeared."

"Here. I'll help you find him." I grab Harlow's sweaty hand.

"You don't have to. The reapings are about to start. I don't want you to get in trouble or anything."

"I'll always have time to help a friend out." I smile.

"Oh. Wait a second." Harlow lets out a heavy sigh. "I forgot. I took him to the twelve-year-old section. Wow, I'm just an air-head."

"No. You're not. You're probably just nervous."

Harlow looks at me, a slightly annoyed glint in her green eyes. "You can call me an air-head sometimes, Hadley. It's not against the rules or anything to stop being overly-nice for a second."

"I've not overly-nice." I say. "I'm just being a good friend."

"Look. I'll see you later." She wanders over to her section. Harlow is a great girl; sometimes she acts sort of strange, though. She gets upset over the littlest things.

I'm about to head over to the 15-year-old section when I see a little girl standing by a group of eighteen-year-old boys. She's crying, and obviously lost. It's probably her first reaping. I approach her, kneeling down so I can look her in the eyes.

"Hey. Are you looking for the other twelve-year-olds?"

She shakes her head.

"I don't want to get reaped." She chokes out.

"Are you scared?" I ask.

The girl nods, sniffing quietly.

"Don't be scared, honey. Here, look into my eyes." I say, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Do I look scared?"

The girl gets really still for a moment before shaking her head.

"Exactly. And I've been going to the reapings for 4 years now. You shouldn't be scared. I promise you won't be picked."

"Hey! What are you doing? Get your hands off my little sister!" One of the eighteen-year-olds grabs the girl, and glares at me. "What a creep." The boy shakes his head as I hurry away.

Sometimes being the good guy doesn't work out so well. But, that doesn't mean I'm going to stop. I don't care how many people think I'm a creep, or wish I would just call them an airhead sometimes.

The world needs more good guys.

District 6: Anderson Piely (13) Pov-

I hate reaping day. It sucks. I don't understand why people can't have chairs to sit in, instead of making their feet and back hurt with the hours of standing still, crammed between nervous kids.

I scowl, watching district 6's escort go on and on about the capitol and the history of the hunger games. When she finally gets to choose a tribute, I lend half of my attention to her.

"Hadley Paxton!"

Some blonde girl starts crying. And a bunch of peacekeepers have to escort her to stage.

No one volunteers for her.

I kind of feel sorry for her. It must really suck to get reaped. And she doesn't look like a girl who is about to turn into a killing machine.

Again I zone out and stare at my shoes while the boy tribute is picked. Someone gives me a shove in the back. I spin around.

"Um, excuse me, could you please not hit me?" I grumble.

The boy shares a look with his friend.

"You're Anderson Piely, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Uh…dude…you just got reaped."


"Holy crap, Andy. I can't believe it…you're going to die."

"Shut up, Tim." I whisper.

"I'm sorry, Andy. I'm sorry for not being a better little brother."

"I said shut up." I turn away from him so he can't see the tears that threaten to spill out of my eyes.

Mom pulls me into a suffocating hug. She whispers all of these words to me. That it's going to be okay. That I just have to remember the end brings new beginnings. I pull away from her.

"You guys don't have to act like such jerks. I'm not going to die. I can't believe you guys think I'm going to."

"Andy…" Mom sobs. Her dark hair spills in front of her face. People say I look like my mother; or how she used to look. I have her same pale skin, and thick dark locks. Though, I got my father's grey eyes.

"No. I don't want to hear any more from you guys. You can go. Tell the peacekeepers I only want to see Dad. Everyone else can go." I keep my back to them, and only once the door closes do I let out a long sigh.

It feels like a long time before another person's footsteps pad across the cold floor.

"Andy?" I instantly recognize the sweat, sugary voice as belonging to Isabella. I turn around so I can get a good look at her beautiful tan skin and long blonde hair. "Andy. Your father…he's really busy. But, he wanted me to tell you that he loves you."

I continue staring at her, desperately trying to memorize the way the corners of her mouth naturally turn down in an irresistible pout. "Thank you for coming. You know, you were just the person I wanted to see."

"Oh."

"Isabella?"

"Yes, Andy?"

"Do you ever think about me?"

"Of course. I mean, your father talks about you a lot. You're a great kid."

"What do you think about me?"

"Like I said…I think you're a great kid."

"Do you ever think about kissing me?"

"Wow…um…" She bites her lip, blinking her hazel eyes. "Andy. You've just turned thirteen…I'm twenty-six."

"Yeah. Well, my Dad's forty-five."

She swallows, staring at me. Eventually she whispers, "Okay."

And so I stand on my toes, and lay my lips on hers. She tastes like a mix of cherries and coffee. Just the way I imagined.

District 6: Hadley Paxton (15) Pov-

Sera and Harlow make their goodbyes quick. They each give me a hug, and a couple of words of encouragement through their sobs. Harlow mentions that I don't have to call her an airhead if I don't want to.

Markus is the next one in. He isn't crying. I'm the one that sobs into his shirt. He just holds me, remaining completely silent. I can always tell when Markus is upset because he just gets really quiet, and isn't the same friendly, bubbly person he usually is.

"I'm going to miss you." I mumble. Markus puts his hands on my shoulders, and looks into my blue eyes.

"Just come back, okay?"

I sniff, quickly wiping my eyes. "I'll try."

I hate to see the hurt in his eyes. "Please, come back. I don't care what you have to do to come back. Just, please tell me you'll come back."

I can only offer him a quick kiss on the lips.

My parents look completely torn apart when they enter the room. I don't know how I would feel if my only child just got reaped.

"I love you, Hadley," Mom whispers into my hair. Her gentle hands draped around me.

"I love you, too."

"Please come back, honey." My father's voice is strained.

"I'm going to do all that I can. Don't worry yourselves too sick, okay?" I look into Mom's soft blue eyes, then Dad's light green ones. "I promise you guys that no matter what happens you're going to be okay. And even if I don't make it back I'm going to be here. I'm going to be watching out for you two. Always."

Answer to last question: The rat was male

New question: What color are Hadley's father's eyes?