"Why don't you do something to keep your mind off the Hunger Games?" Mom suggests.
"I don't want to do anything, Mom," I mutter.
"Come on, Amber. Even your brother's distracting himself. He's running on roofs with Golberg."
"Really? He should really stop doing that."
"Please, Amber. You're making it worse."
"Fine!" I snap. I get to my feet and storm out the front door.
I stand outside, for a few minutes. I don't actually have a plan. In the distance I see Kembrith preparing to jump to another roof, with Golberg close behind him.
With a sigh, I walk in front of the houses. I have school tomorrow. It seems like last Thursday was so long ago. We didn't have school Friday. I didn't know then that it was most likely my last day to see Kailey.
I think of Kailey in the Training Center. What if she ends up on everyone's kill list?
I start crying hard but don't stop walking.
When I reach Carson's house I knock on the door. I don't want him to see me like this, but do I really have a choice?
Dillah opens the door. She sees me and yells over her shoulder, "Carson!" Then she turns back to me.
"I'm sorry."
I nod, because what else can I do?
Carson comes up behind his sister. Dillah leaves the room.
Carson walks outside and closes the door behind us.
I sit down on the step and wipe my face. I must look terrible.
Carson puts his arm around me and I burst into tears. Right when I thought I was finished.
Carson points up at the roof. "Is that your brother standing on my roof?"
I laugh through my tears. "Probably."
Kembrith and Golberg climb down the roof and come to join us.
Kembrith sits beside me, burying his face into my leg. I don't push him away.
"The Games won't start for at least another week." Golberg says. "Kailey's fine."
"She won't be when the Games start," I whimper. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have taken tesserae. I shouldn't have let her volunteer. I shouldn't have-"
"Sh!" Carson puts his hand over my mouth. "Stop blaming yourself."
"You just don't want to admit that it's my fault." I sob.
Carson groans and looks at Kembrith. "Will you calm her down?"
"You think I haven't tried?" Kembrith asks.
Carson shrugs. "I just don't want to see her like this."
I suddenly realize that it is starting to get dark. Perfect excuse to go home.
"Our parents will get worried if we're not back soon." I stand up and wipe away my tears. "Come on, Kembrith."
Kembrith doesn't complain. He walks beside me on the way home and doesn't climb on any roofs.
...
12 spaces remaining! Hurry, hurry, hurry! They fill up fast!
Please try to send in boy tributes. I can't take district preferences anymore. There are too little spaces left that I have to squeeze them in where I can.
