A/N: 1 000 000 cool points if you can pick up on the subtle tribute (no pun intended) to a fantastic underrated Canadian actor in this chapter :D
Jocelyn's POV:
"Hey, Accalia, Mother wants to know if you're almost ready to leave!" Noki cried. I cringed at the dreaded nickname. My brothers insisted on calling me Accalia just to get on my nerves, a name which meant 'she-wolf'.
Being the youngest child in the family was a struggle at times. I was always the subject of ridicule for my three brothers, Noki, Zachary, and Kin. My sister Ceranne and I got along pretty well most of the time, but she never stood up for me against the boys; she mostly just steered clear whenever they were picking on me.
I couldn't believe Noki was still his pestering self on today of all days. Reaping Day was just a painful reminder to the Bennett family that we have lost three family members to the Hunger Games.
Half of my brothers were killed in those Games, including Andrew, who was always secretly my favourite. He taught me all about hunting and making weapons out of anything. He always made sure I knew how to defend myself, and never, ever, called me Accalia or bullied me like the rest of my brothers. He was eighteen when he died in the games four years ago.
I walked to the kitchen, with my naturally long curly hair tamed, and wearing my brand new pink dress. The boys were pigging out on pancakes and oatmeal. "You know, Accalia, you actually look half decent when you make an effort," Kin laughed. Zachary gave him a high five.
I rolled my eyes. "Where's Ceranne? I'm ready to leave, but I don't want to go by myself."
"She left with Tamion fifteen minutes ago, kid," Zachary said. He was the youngest boy; aged seventeen, but probably the most mature out of the three. "I suppose I can take you in a minute if you like."
"Thanks, Zachary," I managed a smile. Zachary and I were the only ones young enough to be reaped. Noki had just turned nineteen, so he survived his last reaping the previous year.
Moments later Zachary finished scarfing down his breakfast and walked me to town square. We separated once we got there; he went to his age section, and I went to mine. There, we anxiously waited, hoping that neither of us would become a tribute for the 120th Hunger Games.
Jet's POV:
As I walked to town square hand in hand with Marie, I couldn't help but flashback to the moment I had proposed to her.
"Marie Coldwater, I know we're still young, but there is nothing I would rather do than spend the rest of my life with you. If you would agree to marry me, I promise I will take care of you, and I will never let you down."
"You know I can never say no to you, Jet. I love you more than anything."
I smiled at the memory, but now as I looked down as Marie, I thought about our chances of being reaped today. Marie's family was better off than mine, so it had never been necessary for her to take tesserae. Still, she had six slips of paper in that bowl of names.
I, on the other hand, with my poor crippled father who was accidentally shot in the leg on a hunting trip gone wrong, and my mother who had been blind for as long as I could remember, had to take tesserae. I was going into the reaping with my name in the running eighteen times.
My friends didn't understand why I wanted to marry so young. They always told me I'd find someone better, or that I'd be unhappy. They just couldn't see that I would never be unhappy with Marie. I guessed they had never been in love like I was.
I guided Marie to our age section by her waist. She waved to a few of her friends on the way, but let me lead her around. We stood together, but didn't speak.
Marie seemed pretty nervous, so I played with her hair to calm her as best as I could.
Jocelyn's POV:
After an excruciating rendition of the Treaty of Treason by the mayor, our District's escort took the stage. I had been zoned out for the most part during the mayor's speech, but now, I stared straight ahead at full attention, and, although I didn't realize it, held my breath in anxiety.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour! As usual, ladies first!"
I cringed at the cliched line. The escort dipped her hand in the bowl of female names and chose one at random.
"Jocelyn Bennett."
No. Not me. Not another person in my family slaughtered by these games.
How could I ever survive? All I knew how to do was to make meager weapons out of sticks and stones. I could never stand a chance against those trained Careers.
Jet's POV:
The girl whose name was drawn refused to go onstage. It took three Peacekeepers, plenty of cursing on everybody's part, and a whole lot of threats to get her up there to stay. She had come from the section for sixteen year olds, but she was awfully small for her age.
"And now," the escort continued once everything had settled down, although she still sounded frazzled. "Time to choose a male tribute!"
I felt Marie squeeze my hand. I didn't look at her, but I returned the squeeze reassuringly. There was nothing to worry about, or at least, that's what I kept telling myself.
"Come on up here... Jet Sandino!"
Marie's grip tightened drastically on my hand. "Let me go, baby," I whispered, trying to control the emotion in my voice. "I'll be fine."
Her emerald eyes were full of fear and panic. I kissed her quickly on the forehead before walking up to where the escort was waiting impatiently. I guess she thought I would cause another scene.
For the first time, I took a real look at the female tribute named Jocelyn. It startled me, because right away I saw that she was like a smaller version of my Marie. Same black curly hair, same green eyes, same thick, dark eyelashes...
For some reason, at that moment, I decided that I would protect Jocelyn the best I could.
How was that? Let me know! :)
I'm on a vacation with my family at the moment, and dealing with faulty internet connection from the hotel, so if the playlist and outfits are not updated right away, it's because I lost connection temporarily. Be patient, though, I will get those updated soon enough, and if you haven't already done so, make sure to check them out under the Extras for the 120th Hunger Games section on my profile. :)
We'll soon be into to fun stuff! Woot, I can't wait! I have one reaping left to write, but the last three still have to be beta-read by the amazing Orietta Rose :D. After that I'll be posting an update chapter on sponsoring and all those goodies so MAKE SURE YOU READ IT, AND READ IT ALL. It's going to be very important (I would know, because I already wrote it, I'm just waiting until after the reapings to post it XD).
So that's all from me for now. Here is the reaping for District 9. Please enjoy, and REVIEW. =D