Ayame Ryu POV
I crouched on the ground, my black jeans hugging my legs and rendering me nearly invisible in this dark night. My breath came out even and strong as I observed my environment. I knew this situation; I had been through it so many times. I ran forward, keeping low as I glided through the air, landing on a large box. I leaped up, catching the roof of the small store in my grip and hoisted myself up. I pulled myself over to the chimney and glanced inside, staring at the dust and black soot in distaste before I hopped in and climbed down slowly. I hit a small pile of soot and it sprayed down, hitting the ground beneath me with small little noises. I heard a pair of footsteps began to thunder over and froze, tensing every muscle in my body and staying perfectly still. Crap.
"John, stop looking up there, you're making me jumpy" a woman's voice whined.
"Yeah, yeah, alright, but it must be that damn raccoon again," the old man's voice complained, his large stomps signaling his leaving.
"Are you coming to bed?"
"Yeah! I'll be right there," he grumbled, shuffling around
I remained immobile until I began to shake from the strain on my body. After a full minute, I began to shimmy down again, landing on the wooden floor lightly and silently. I bit my lip and looked around before stepping quietly over to the quite large bakery kitchen.
First, I grabbed any food I could find on the counter and snatched a small sack of money left over from the day at work. I then looked through all the cabinets, spotting a small knife and throwing it on the table with the rest of my finds. Finally, I took one last lance all around the shop before shoving all my new findings and loot in my pack and jogging back over to the chimney. I scaled the dirty walls and dashed across the roof and onto street level, wanting you scream out and yell in success. Such a rush made me smile, but I quickly sobered up as I thought of why I was doing this.
I wasn't a thief, which many people would probably think, this was something that I had to do. At home, my family starved, and the bakery had more money than anyone could possibly need. I considered myself really just the modern day Robin Hood.
I hurried across the dirty street and finally came up to my small home. I stepped inside and quietly placed the food on the counter, empting my pack.
I crept back to my bedroom, nibbling on a small slice of bread as I slid into my uncomfortable bed that I shared with my younger brother. I felt my eyes drift close slowly before I slipped into unconsciousness.
The sun hit my eyes early in the morning, I let a small groan and rubbed my fists over my closed eyes. I stretched out my limbs, sitting up and looking around the small room. Nick slept peacefully on the right, and I grinned and pushed his dark hair out of his face. I pealed myself from the bed, pulling on a new shirt and a pair of dark jeans.
When I reached the kitchen, I found my father examining a small loaf of bread in his hands, looking confused.
"Where did you get this?" he asked suspiciously, pointing the bread at me,
"I found it,"
"You can't just find bread" he huffed.
"Don't worry about it, Dad," I said, quickly kissing him on the cheek before I grabbed my small beanie on the counter and stepped out the door.
I closed my eyes, filling my lungs with fresh air before skipping along towards the small flower shop. I found Shinka there helping his mother with their small business
"Ryu!" his mother exclaimed. I smiled, placing both hands on the cart's counter. Shinka grinned at me with his usual crooked smile.
"Hey," he said. I smiled, nodding my head, "and how are you this fine morning?"
"I'm wonderful, and yourself?"
"I'm great," he smiled, looking at his mother, "Hey, Mom, I'm going to take a break. I want to show Ryu something!" He lifted the counter and stepped through.
We ran until we were both around the corner and out of sight, then I turned slightly and attacked him playfully. After I had pulled back, he let out a small chuckle
"Good morning," he whispered, pushing a strand of hair from my face, "You love this thing, don't you?" He pointed to my beanie that had a small panda's face on it with two ears sprouting off the top.
"Yes, it's the last thing my mother gave me as a child…before," I paused, the words caught in my throat. I looked at him helplessly for a second before he pulled me into his chest, whispering soft, reassuring words into my ear.
"It's alright," he murmured.
"I'm fine," he pulled back, investigating my facial expression, "Really."
"Alright," he said, though not totally convinced.
"When are you going to tell your mother?" I asked, changing the subject like a master.
"When I can get her alone. Ever since my father left, she has been too overprotective of us," he said quietly, as if she might overhear, "She won't be glad when she hears that another woman has stolen my heart."
"I did not steal it," I grinned innocently.
"But it's yours." he said, looking me in the eyes. I could have melted there, staring into his dark green eyes.
"So how is…uh," I whimpered, "Your, uh…meow!"
"My cat, you mean?" he chuckled.
"Yes, that thing."
"She's good," he paused, brushing his hand across my cheek, "But don't you think we should talk about that later?"
The only respomse I managed was a small squeaking noise. Yes, I know, pitiful, but I couldn't help it. I always became this mushy goo-ball of emotion whenever he was around. He was the only person who could make this happen to me. He leaned in, slowly brushing is soft lips against mine. I smiled against his embrace, wrapping my arms around his neck. Today was the day of the Reaping and if he or I were picked, I needed to be sure that he knew exactly how I felt for him.
Jake Thresh POV
"Jake, Jake!" I heard the squeal pierce my ears. I let out a deep sigh of frustration before turning around.
"Hey Minny," I muttered, feeling trapped against a wall as she bounded up.
"Hi, so are you going right now to the Reaping, 'cause if you are, I can go with you, 'cause my mom told me it would be fine and you know that I am old enough now to make my own decisions, " she paused, taking a large gulp of air, "So if you are going now, I would want to go with you, 'cause after you saved my from that fire, I really, like, see life in a total new way and I don't think I will ever see anything the same…. any other man." I jumped back, my eyes wide with worry.
"Uh, that's really interesting, Minny. Really!" I said, looking over my shoulder and holding my hands up, "but right now I am actually going to my Aunt's…but I'll meet you at the Reaping or something." I took two small steps back.
"Do you want me to go with you to your Aunt's, I mean, everyone says she is kind of a crazy, you might need me there," she said quickly, taking the same two small steps towards me.
"NO! Uh, no thank you, that's fine," I speedily turned and walked away. Jeez, that little kid scared me. I wish I would have gotten someone else to save her that night, anyone else but me.
I came up to the small home where my aunt lived; it was a home made of old bricks with the shingles falling off and windows broken. The place was a dump.
I walked in, swinging the almost fallen off door to find my aunt sitting up straight on a small chair. Her eyes whipped toward my face, quickly gliding over me.
"Jake! JAKE!" she yelled, taking my hands shakily.
"Yes, Aunt Josephine?" I asked calmly.
"DO not! I tell you, do not go to the Reaping today! Murderous things will happen, horrible terrible things!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Danger! Danger!" she murmured, placing one hand on her forehead and stepping back.
"Josephine!" I said, trying to stabilize her, "Here, my mom told me to give you this!" I handed her a small basket with eggs, milk, and sugar. She took it, looking down at it as if she had never seen any of these items before in her life. She mumbled something under her breath, placing the basket on the table.
"I have to go, but are you going to okay here?" I asked. She looked at me with her spaced out eyes.
"NO! Jake must not leave! DANGER!"
"I won't go to the Reaping!" I assured her, placing her down in a nearby chair .
"Jake will not go?"
"No, now I will get Helen to come and help you," I said pausing, "but I need to go. Home, I need to go home right now." I gave my aunt a quick kiss on the cheek and left, walking to the house next door and knocking. An old woman came to the door with a grin.
"Jake! Hello, how can I help you?" she asked sweetly.
"Can you go over to Josephine? I think she needs some company," I said, "I would stay, but the Reaping starts in five minutes, sorry."
"Oh, of course!" she smiled before walking out and into my aunt's house. I let out a sigh and began walking in a haze to the Reaping, thinking of my crazy ol' Aunt Josephine.
"Ladies first!" the lady squeaked as she opened the paper on stage, "As…Ayame Ry…Ryu!"
She stuttered and stumbled over her name, but as I looked over, everyone seemed to understand. A small girl looking to be about fifteen started to march to the stage, looking regretful and sad. Her hair was bunched up into a panda beanie that looked a little too young for her head.
A boy cried out, pushing through the crowed. He was followed by two younger girls, all looking to be her siblings. They walked up together, hand-in-hand, before she pulled away, stepping onto the stage.
"And the male that will be going to the 1003rd Hunger Games is…" she paused, taking a deep breath "Jake Thresh!" Oh. Now I knew what Aunt Josephine meant by danger, danger. Danger, because I was the one that was being picked. Shit.
I slowly stepped forward before I heard a long wail and a clatter of feet.
"Jake, Jake, that's you! Oh no, how can this be, no it just can't! This is a nightmare! Minny, wake up! Wake up, Minny! No, it's not working!" Minny yelled, pinching herself and making a scene. I let a deep sigh of frustration before spinning around.
"Minny! It's alright, we were never meant to be together! I never loved you and you never loved me, all I did was save you from that stupid fire! We will not grow old together and we will not - will not - ever get married!" I shouted before stomping off. I would rather spend a million nights in the arena than have to hear another word from her.
Thank you Fazzems and please please review, remember if you are not reviewing your tribute will probably die more quickly, only one last reaping!