A/N: I know that I said in the last chapter I would update every Friday, I couldnt last friday, sorry! I'm really busy, I have Algebra EOC next week, finals the week after. But I get out June 22 then I'll have more time to write! But I'll be at summer camp from July 13-16. And I'm going to the Carribbean in August for 9 days, fun! But I wont be able to update then.

I felt bad for not uploading so I made this one really long :)

I don't own The Hunger Games, if I did, why would I be in school right now?

Did you guys see the MTV awards? I was so mad at Twilight, but happy that Hunger Games stars won a ton of awards :)

Okay, you can read now:


CHAPTER 9: THE REAPING:

Peeta and I are sitting on stage next to Effie. Since the world already knows he's alive and is technically a victor, he'll be mentoring with me. I watch as all the eight- teen year olds walk into the square. It looks like there's about fifty girls and fifty guys. I notice that the bowls have way more slips of paper than 50. These are the oldest siblings, so they have signed up for tesserae many times. I know Gale must have his name in there more than forty times. Effie stands up and does her little model walk over to the microphone.

Peeta leans over and speaks in my ear, "You're shaking, you know that?" I look down to see that my hands are shaking.

"I'm nervous that Gale will be reaped."

"I understand." Effie stands up and model walks over to the microphone. She taps on it twice to silence the crowd.

"Welcome, welcome and happy hunger games!" She started babbling about the Capitol, the rebellion, stuff like that. I zoned out and came back into reality when she called the female tribute's name.

"Delly Cartwright!" Peeta squeezed my hand. Delly and Peeta have been friends forever. I see Delly go up to the stage.

"Now for the boys." Effie says and does her little model walk over to the glass bowl on the other side of the stage. With her manicured nails she reaches into the bowl and slowly digs around for a name. I can feel my heart beating faster. Gale will be reaped, I know it.

"Gale Hawthorne!" Gale can't go in the arena, he has a family to take care of and he's been being stubborn and won't take money from me. I see Gale walking up to the stage. I look out in the audience and see Hazel crying, I feel so bad for her but there's nothing I can do. I have to go to the Capitol.

"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be even in your favor." Effie smiles at the crowd then turns to take Gale and Delly to their rooms where their families will say their good byes.

"Are you okay?" Peeta asks me.

"I don't know, how about you?"

"I don't know either, but it'll be okay. We're both here and alive so there is no reason why we can't get the both of them out safely." Peeta reassures me.

"I know, but I can't help but worry that something will go wrong." I tell him.

"Don't think like that. We're the ones in control now. Haymitch is gone; he'll probably go rot in his house. We're the ones that send them gifts; we will send them at the right time like Haymitch did for you." Peeta says.

"I guess you're right."

"Girl on fire, time to board the train; you have to be there before your tributes." I hear someone say behind me. Only one person calls me girl on fire. I turn around to see Cinna walking across the stage towards us.

"Cinna, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the Capitol?" I ask confused.

"District 12 has new stylists and prep teams. Portia and I couldn't handle leaving our favorite victors." I stand to hug him. He's helped me so much the first few months after the games. I'm grateful that he and Portia are our stylists again because it would be too weird with someone else.

"Come on, we need to get you two on the train. Your tributes will be there in about 20 minutes and we need you too to be ready for their arrival." Cinna says and walks us to the train station. We get on and go sit down on the couch in the living compartment.

"I have to see to somethings. I will see you at dinner." Cinna says then walks off. Peeta and I are left to wait for Gale and Delly.

Gale's POV

Effie takes me to a peacekeeper who takes me to this small room.

"Get in and wait for your family." He tells me. I walk in and go to the window. I look out and see the square emptying of people. Some luck I have, first my best friend gets reaped. Then she falls in love with baker boy and now I got reaped. I hear the door open; I turn around and am tackled in a hug by my mom and siblings.

"Gale!" My mom says and lets me go.

"Mom, I'll be okay. Katniss is there and she can help me." I reassure her. I look down at Rory and Vick. "I know I said not to take anything from the Everdeen's, but since I can't provide food and Katniss can't either; you have to. If Mrs. Everdeen or Prim offers you something you need to take it and thank them. Understand?" I tell my brothers, they both nod.

"Gale please be smart and strong." Rory says.

"I will don't worry. I'll also try my hardest to bring Delly back too. Hopefully I'll get back and we can be neighbors with Katniss and Prim."

"Peeta too! He's really nice." Vick says, this comment bugs me.

"Oh yeah, sure, Peeta too." I say. Then the peacekeeper comes in.

"Times up, time to go." He says. My mother, Rory, Vick and Posy start to walk out. Posy turns around, runs to me and hugs my legs.

"Good luck, Gale." She says then runs back out to our mom. I sit on the couch that's in here for about five minutes then the peacekeeper comes in.

"Time to go on the train; your mentors are waiting." I stand up and walk out the door and out of the building. I don't wait for the peacekeeper to catch up. I walk straight to the train station and onto the train. I stand a couple feet away from the door way and decide to wait for Delly before I go look for Katniss.

Delly's POV

I'm practically shoved into this tiny room that my family is supposed to say good bye to me in. I sit on the couch and cry. I'm terrified, being reaped has always been my greatest fear and now it came true. I hate Effie a little for pulling my name out of the bowl, but she didn't know; and I doubt she cares about the tributes she draws. I look up from my crying when the door opened. My mom and dad came in and sat to my left and right. They both hug me.

"Sweetheart, it'll be fine. You have Gale Hawthorne as your district partner. You two can win." My dad tells me.

"Mrs. Everdeen told me that Gale taught Katniss some of what she knows and Katniss taught Gale some of what she knows. Delly, you are extremely safe." My mom tells me.

"I know that I am safe, the newest victors are my mentors. But it's a quarter quell, what if it's worse than last years? Also there's going to be all 18 year olds, I don't want to take on a career." I tell my parents.

"You'll be with Gale the whole time in the arena. He is like a career."

"Yeah, but-." The peacekeeper cut me off.

"Sorry, time to go." I hug my parents one last time.

"Good luck sweetheart." My mom says and kisses my cheek then walks out the open door.

I sit on the couch crying by myself for about five more minutes, and then the peacekeeper comes back in. I'm not expecting anyone else to come. I know if Peeta wouldn't be mentoring he would've come.

"Time to board the train." He says and motions for me to go with him out the door. We walk out of the building and through the square, which is now empty. When we get to the train station I get on and immediately see Gale.

"How long have you been standing here?" I ask.

"Only about two minutes." He says. "Come on, an attendant told me that Katniss and Peeta and in the living compartment. Let's go talk to them about the games." He says and we walk to where Katniss and Peeta are. After seeing their games I half expected them to be snuggling close to each other. But they are watching the reapings from the other districts. Peeta and Katniss see us and smile.

Katniss' POV

Gale and Delly walk in the room. I would say something, but I think Gale and I are still a little rocky. Peeta like normal is the first to speak.

"Hi Delly, Gale." He says.

"Hi." Delly replies quietly.

"What kind of Competition is there this year?" Gale asks. This is a question I can easily answer.

"Lauren and Justin from District 1, they look pretty tough. Alexis and Conner from District 2 look kind of tough, but not as much as District 1. Shelby and Tyler from District 3 look harmless. Courtney and Logan from District 4 look like they're ready to stab you with a trident, watch out for them. Taylor and Stephen from District 5 look like they would make nice allies. Gabriella and Josh from District 6 look tough. Sarah and Corey from District 7 look too nice to hurt anyone, plus Corey looks like someone who doesn't really take things seriously. Ashley and Hunter from District 8 look harmless. Rylee and Tristan from District 9 look weak. Jessica and Marcos from District 10 look tough; they're really big boned looking. Lyndsey and Cameron from District 11 look tough too." I tell them.

"So are most of them tough?" Delly asked. She looked scared.

"Some of them look tough, most look weak. It's hard to tell by a reaping though. They could be acting like I did last year. I tried to act tough and stay together, but on the inside I wanted to start crying; if I did cry, I would've looked weak and in the games, weak is bad unless that's your strategy." I tell Delly and Gale.

"Will we make strategies?" Delly asks.

"Yeah, at the Capitol before you're interview with Caesar, you'll have a two on one meeting with us and we'll figure out your strategy." Peeta tells her. I feel the train start to move and look out the window. We're on our way to the Capitol.


My name is Lauren and I'm from District 1, so I wanted to put that in there :) Please review! If you do, I'll PM you and give you Ice lolly's (If you talk to Lauren Hutcherson on Hunger Games Arena, you'll get it.)

~~~MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!~~~