The Reaping – Semolina's POV

I'm moving, how am I moving? I'm pretty sure I'm still sleeping.

Thump!

Ow, that hurt, what was that?

I opened my eyes, I was on the floor. Above me was Alice, my older sister.

She had long, straight, dark brown hair and light brown eyes. She was 18 and 2 years older than me.

"What am I doing on the floor?" I asked.

"I dragged you out of bed. You need to get ready for the reaping," she replied.

I groaned, "You could've just shaken me awake."

"That's boring. I like seeing you on the floor," she replied happily.

I pushed her out of my room and got ready.

I looked through my closet, what could I wear to the reaping? I spotted a salmon colored dress; I had worn this during my third reaping. I'm sure I could still fit in it. I put the dress on after I showered. Sure enough, it still fit me.

I spun around, it fluffed up. The dress used to be a little bit below my knees, but now it had come up. I smoothed the dress out and sighed. I need to get more dresses.

I walked out of my room and went towards the kitchen.

"Morning Lina," my parents said in unison.

"Morning," I replied. "Alice dragged me out of bed and put me on the floor." I said, yawning.

Alice and my younger brother, Collin, high-fived each other. I gave them glares.

Collin was 12; he was absolutely annoying most of the time. He had dark red hair, like me, and dark brown eyes.

"Alice, don't do that again," my mother warned her.

"Say sorry too," my father ordered her.

"Sorry," Alice said in a monotone voice.

"Whatever," I replied.

"Go on out to the Reaping, you guys don't want to be late." My father told us.

I grabbed an apple and headed out.

"We'll be there in a bit," my mother said.

I went out the door and headed towards the Justice Building. I looked around; there were hundreds of people already heading there. We walked and stepped in line.

Alice stepped in front of me, "Move. I'm supposed to sign in before you."

"No you're not," I said, pushing her.

She pushed me behind her, I pushed her back.

"Will you stop?" The guy in front of us said.

Alice glared at him, "No." Alice pushed me behind her.

"Stop or you'll get in trouble with the Peacekeepers," he said sternly.

The guy was as tall as Alice. He had dark brown eyes and short dirty blond hair.

"Why do you care?" Alice snapped.

"I don't, just stop. You'll cause trouble for all of us," he said.

Alice glared at him again and reluctantly fell behind me. I gave her a triumphant look and turned my back on her.

Minutes later, it was the guy's turn in front of me. I peeked to see who he was. Luke Cassano, 16. I thought he was 18.

When I got in front of the line, the Peacekeeper took my finger and pricked it. I cringed. I'll never get used to that. I walked off to the section of 16 year olds. I waited for half an hour for the Reaping to start.

"Hello everyone!" Our escort, Quinn Denzel, said.

The first thing I noticed was that she didn't have her skin colored as purple anymore, yay! Last year she looked absolutely terrifying. This year her skin stayed her normal tanned color. She was wearing a bright green dress with matching shoes. She also had her hair colored in a shade of light blue.

"Let's start this year's Reapings with the Capitol film!" She continued.

The film played, it told us about the history of Panem and the Hunger Games. I tuned the words out; we already learned this in school anyway.

I thought about Capitol, they're so lucky they don't have to participate in the Games every year.

When I snapped back into the world, I noticed that Quinn was already talking. I probably missed the Treaty of Treason.

She was reading something from a letter. "We all have ladies as our tributes this year!" She announced. Relived sighs filled the boys' side of the crowd while strangled cries and gasps filled the girls'. I was one of the ones who gasped.

Quinn ran to the bowl that had all the girls' names in it. She scrambled the names in the bowl and took one out. She ran back to the microphone, almost tripping. She straightened up and announced the name.

"Semolina Carvalho!" Quinn announced.

I stiffened up and walked slowly to the stage. When I got on the stage, Quinn gave me a small smile and ran back to the bowl. I gave her one back.

I searched the crowd for Alice and Collin. I spotted Alice first; she had a stunned expression on her face. I looked away, searching for Collin now. He looked like he was about to cry. I had to look away, if not I was going to cry too.

She announced the other name. That last tribute for the Quarter Quell. "Adelle Montero!"

The girl walked to the stage calmly. When she stepped front of me I noticed she was tall, taller than me. But she looked like she was only 13. She had shoulder length dark wavy hair and light brown eyes.

We shook hands and faced the crowd.

"District 9! I present to you, your Quarter Quell representatives, Semolina Carvalho and Adelle Montero!" Quinn announced. "Happy Hunger Games and May the odds be ever in your favor!" She continued.

I searched the crowd for my parents, my mother was crying and my father had a sad expression on. I smiled weakly at them, trying to reassure them it was fine. But it wasn't fine. They knew that.