Author's Note: Hi friends, well we've finished district 4! I actually think we're making fairly good time too. I hope you're enjoying these, contrary to what other writers have said I'm having a great time writing the reapings. I love you guys' characters. They're so emotionally charged and it's really great for me to get to develop them and connect with them as I write. As I said before, when I do have to kill quite a few off in the bloodbath (mind you, I wish I didn't, but I must) I'll make sure your character has at least some special "camera time" if you will before they go down. Thanks and leave me a review! Enjoy!


"Grammy? I'm going into to town to trade!" I shout and get a snore in return.

I roll my eyes and hurry off. I should've suspected they'd be asleep. They usually are, I mean, they're my grandparents.

"Hey, where are you going Scarlett?" I turn in surprise to see my thirteen year old sister, Ivy, her blue eyes inquistive.

"Going to market. Want to come?"

"Oh yes!" She says, her face brightening.

"Oh, first you better brush your hair. It's a mess." I laugh, rumpling her tangled blonde locks.

"Fine, fine." She sighs, brushing away my hand and hurrying inside.

"What are you two arguing about now?" Calls Oliver, my twelve year old brother, from around the corner.

"Not arguing, " I correct, "discussing. I shouldn't expect young children like you to understand."

Oliver throws me a dirty look. "I'm not a child!" He growls, and he's right. He's much more mature than the boys my age, but it's still fun for me to tease him.

"Oh did I hurt your feelings sweetheart?" I say playfully in a voice you'd use to talk to a baby.

"Sure, whatever." Oliver replies dismissively and leaves.

When Ivy's finally ready to go we head on one last trade in town before the reaping. As we walk I think back to yesterday. I probably shouldn't have, but I skipped school to go out boating on the little skiff that had once belonged to my parents. It's not as easy to boat anymore. Not after I was in a fishing accent in which a hook caught me in the eye and left me blind in the left, but that was already several years ago and I've adapted. I was planning to head over to what we call the "upper" shore, but apparently I'm not allowed there anymore. It's "reserved" for the town citizens, aka the rich citizens. It was fine though. I'm used to boating at the lower shore. It's closer to my house anyways.

Ivy and I take the trail the leads to town. We start off at the edge of our neighborhood, where all the little sea shacks of fishermen are. As we continue to follow the trail the homes get nicer and nicer until you reach town.

"Hey Scarlett, what're you doing in town so close to reaping time?" Asks my good friend Troy, his dark eyes sparkling in the light.

"Oh, just making some last minute trades." I smile, gesturing to my basket.

He nods. "Father let me off the boat early today, as you know I usually have to work full time, but I can't miss the reaping. Even if I wish I could."

I shake my head in agreement and we wave goodbye. None of us from our side of the district believe in the Games. It's just a big joke, like sending kids to their deaths is going to solve anything?

I send Ivy off to trade the shells I found at the shore yesterday for some lobster. We don't get lobster often because it takes a lot to trade for, but the shells I found we particularly good and recently everyone in the Capitol has been dying for shell jewelry, which is supposedly the new fad.

"How many did they give you?" I ask, when Ivy returns with the basket.

"Two."

"Two? Are you kidding me?"

Ivy looks uneasy.

"That's fantastic! I never even expected those shells to go for at least one let alone two!"

Ivy smiles and we hurry back to the trail we came from. It's not much longer until the reaping and we still have to get ready.

Once home, I sit the basket of lobsters on the table and hurry to my room. We'll feast tonight, Phoenix and I will.

I comb my hair carefully then slide back a blue headband onto it. I look in my closet to find but one dress, that's the one I'll be wearing. It's rather pretty, sleeveless, blue and white stripped, and it comes to my knees. The finishing touch if my pearl necklace. I think back to the day I got it. Phoenix and I were down on the lower shore. We'd been fishing for dinner when we came up with a clam, which is quite rare to find on the lower shore. When Phoenix had finally pried it open we'd found a beautiful, glistening, white pearl inside. I'd insisted he keep it since he lives all by himself and has an even more strenuous life then I do, but instead he put it on a chain and gave it to me. Ever since it's been a symbol of our friendship and I wear it often.

I hurry and fetch Ivy and Oliver, hoping not to wake my grandparents and head outside.

"Now, whatever happens today we'll be alright. No one needs to worry." I say as calmly as I can. Ivy's fine, but Oliver looks a little nervous, after all, all newbies to the reapings do.

"Hey little sis." Comes a familiar voice from behind.

I whirl around, "Where've you been all morning Jay? We have to go!" I snap at my elder brother who's sixteen.

"I've been…out. Besides, I'm ready to go. You going to go find your lovebird before you go?"

I roll my eyes and don't answer. I know he means Phoenix, but there's nothing but friendship between us. Jay is just an idiot, but he's my brother. I love him.

I meet Phoenix a few houses down. He's looking rather dapper in his collared shirt and slacks. We hurry back with the others and use the trail to get to town square.

"Name?" Asks a peacekeeper.

"Scarlett Willows."

"Where are you shoes?"

"I'm against them."

The peacekeeper shakes his head and rolls his eyes. "Proceed."

Luno, our escort, has a crazy ocean wave hair style this year complete with a surfboard hair clip.

I completely ignore the Capitol video, unlike some of the Careers, and begin to anxiously await the end of the reaping so I can surprise Phoenix with the fact that I have two lobsters we can all share for dinner.

"Our female tribute for the 47th Annual Hunger Games will be… Scarlett Willows!" He shouts with a crazy grin.

It hits me. I'm the tribute. But surely there's a Career girl, or someone, anyone who will volunteer for me? I look pleadingly at the faces of the other district four girls as I pass them, hoping to gain the sympathy of any one of them, but as soon as I make it to the stage and am standing next to Lune, it becomes clear. No one is taking my place.

I shake hands with the male tribute. A Career who'd just taken the place of who I assume to be his younger brother, an honorable move.

My legs are shaking as I turn into the town hall where my family has bust through the door.

"Someone should've volunteered for you." Jay said, shaking his head. "I mean, there were plenty of Career girls out there, why didn't they volunteer?"

I don't answer.

"Be careful…" Ivy tells me, her eyes welling up with tears.

"And stay alive! I want you back fully breathing." Oliver grins, trying to lighten the mood.

We all share a group hug and then Phoenix comes in.

"Scarlett…" He starts, then we envelope each other in a huge hug.

"Thank you. Thank you for everything. All the wonderful memories and the…"

"No, no. This is only the beginning. You're not saying goodbye yet Scarlett."

I smile up into his sweet caramel eyes and messy chestnut hair.

"You should take this…sell it. I know you're having trouble keeping the house ever since your Mother passed." I tell him and begin to take off the pearl necklace.

"No, keep it. It'll be your token. When you feel as if you can't make it any further, look at it and think of all of us back home waiting for you."

He hug one more time and then he leaves.

I guess we won't be having a lobster feast tonight after all.