District 12: Hunter Knight (15) Pov-
"Okay, now keep really quiet." I whisper.
"You don't actually think this is going to work, Hunter. Do you?" Reyna asks.
"It's going to work." Flint mutters.
"Yes. I've been working at this for the past week." I smile as I see Adrian Millet strolling down the street. He's got his hands shoved in his pockets, wearing his normal cocky grin. "This is going to be hilarious." I mouth to Flint and Reyna. I pull the tooth from my pocket, and toss it out of the bush we're hiding behind. The tooth was a gift from Reyna. Her little brother just lost it.
Adrian stops walking as the tooth hits his foot. His eyebrows come together as he reaches down to touch it. As soon as his fingers come in contact with the tooth, I jump out of the bush and situate myself right behind the boy. He stands up, slowly straightening his back. I clear my throat, and as soon as he sees me he jumps backwards.
"Where did you come from?" He asks, the concern in his voice evident.
"Didn't you call me?"
"No. I…uh." He takes a step away from me, looking back down at the tooth. "It's true? You're actually the…"
I wait for him to choke out the word. But, he seems unable to do so.
"You have to remember it's a secret and you can't tell anyone." I whisper.
"I promise your secret is safe with me. And if you ever need anything, I'm at your service."
I wait until Adrian has turned the corner, before turning to where Flint and Reyna now jump up from behind the shrub.
"Unbelievable." Flint says, shaking his head.
"What did I tell you guys?"
"I'm still confused. So, basically you've tricked him into thinking you're the tooth fairy and every time anyone comes in contact with a human tooth you pop up out of thin air?"
"Exactly."
"Unbelievable." Flint repeats.
"Thank you." I lean forward in a bow. "Now I believe you two both owe me a loaf of bread."
Flint rolls his eyes. "You didn't actually think I would be able to afford a whole loaf of bread."
"Hey, it was part of the deal." I mutter. "If I make someone over the age of thirteen believe in the tooth fairy, you guys both buy me one loaf of bread."
"Wait a month and maybe I'll be able to hook you up with one." Reyna says, smirking.
"Fine." I groan, putting my hands over my stomach. "I suppose I'll just have to survive hungry for another month."
Flint gives me a friendly punch in the arm. "Welcome to the club."
"Man…" Reyna turns to stare at me. "I never knew Adrian was that stupid."
"I always did." I grin. "You can tell from the way his jaw moves when he talks."
Reyna snorts. "You always notice the weirdest things."
I shrug. Flint's hand grasps Reyna's, and they share a look. It's that boyfriend-girlfriend look.
I've been best friends with Flint and Reyna since I started school. And they only just started dating a few months ago. Mostly it's okay, but sometimes they get all weird and intimate and then I figure it's time for me to go take a walk by myself.
"Well, I'll see you guys later. I'm just going to…go and…go over there." I motion vaguely down the street.
"Yeah. See you at the reapings, right?"
"You bet." I smile, and hurry across the sullied streets of district 12.
District 12: Kasey Spalik (16) Pov-
District 12 always looks depressing, even on the beautiful spring day that happens to be the reapings.
I get to the reapings as late as possible, so I don't have to stand around and listen to the other girls my age get all worried and annoying.
I slip next to Eleanor as I arrive and offer her the only smile I've handed out all day. Eleanor is my only friend. I don't much like people in general. I think people are frustrating and selfish. But Eleanor is an exception.
District 12's escort, Midnight Lacie, is just as depressing as district 12. She wears a despondent expression even when she talks about how exciting this year is going to be. I pay very close attention to every word she says, and with every pause I find something dreadful about either the way she has phrased her sentences or the way her accent drowns her words.
Eleanor's hand brushes against my arm. "Don't worry." She whispers.
"I'm not worried." I answer. She should remember when I think about the reapings I don't get worried or sad because of what happened to my sister. I just get angry.
"I would like to take this time to pick our female tribute." Midnight attempts to smile, but her slim cheeks turn it into a grimace. Most girls throughout the audience hold their breath. I just watch Midnight plunge her hand into the bowl full of girls names and I think about how much I hate her fingers. It was her carefully manicured fingernails that held that piece of paper with my sister's name on it. "Kasey Spalik."
I take a few steps forward, glaring at Midnight. I think about how this has to be a joke. But, I don't freak out like some of the other girls have. I make the trek up to stage, and on the way make a point to glower at anyone who looks my way. Midnight rests a hand on my shoulder as I stand beside her. I flick her hand off me, recoiling.
"You have to ask for volunteers." I hiss. She looks taken aback for a moment.
"Yes…of course." She lets out a deep breath. "Any volunteers?"
The longer the silence goes on for, the more anger fills my chest. I glare at the pitying faces staring up at me. Why doesn't one of the eighteen-year-olds suck up their fear and volunteer for me?
"Okay, then. Kasey is officially our female tribute. Let's have a round of applause!"
The sick thing is that a couple of people clap.
District 12: Hunter Knight (15) Pov-
Kasey looks like one cold girl. She just stands on stage, her hands lying limply at her sides, and glares out at the crowd, her long dark brown hair blowing slightly in the wind. When I look up at the screen I can see her silver-blue eyes focused on the camera, a hate so strong inside of them. I look away quickly.
"Okay. I'm going to pick a boy now if that's okay with everyone." Midnight doesn't wait for an answer from the crowd. She closes her eyes as she picks a name, as though having to prove that she can't tell whom she's choosing. She waits to open her eyes until she's unfolded the small piece of paper. "Hunter Knight."
Flint takes a sharp breath. His whole body seems to freeze, and the next thing I know he's gripping onto my arm, and whispering into my ear, "I got this, dude. I can take your place."
"No." I murmur.
"Hunter Knight?" Midnight repeats.
"Right here!" I stumble through the other fifteen-year-olds so I can make my way up to stage. I don't really know where to look when I get onto stage. After glancing once at Kasey, who glares back at me, I try doing her thing of staring at the cameras, but that gets kind of awkward, so I try turning my attention towards the crowd, but all the sad faces I get back make me uncomfortable.
Reyna throws her arms around me, sobbing into my shirt. "Oh man, I'm going to miss you." She whispers.
"It's okay." I pat her on the shoulder. "It's not like I'm for sure going to die."
"You know you could have let me volunteer for you." Flint mumbles from behind Reyna.
"That would be messed up." I tell him. "And anyway, it's not as though I'm completely idiotic. I have a pretty rational head on my shoulders. We all know I'm better of than those kids who get themselves killed before the games even begin. Remember that boy last year?" I'm laughing, even though I didn't find it particularly funny at the time. In fact, I found it particularly horrendous at the time.
Flint gives my hand a weird, longer than necessary, hand shake which turns into him just holding my hand and staring at me as though he's about to cry. We both realize the awkwardness at about the same time. Flint pulls his hand back into his pocket and rubs the back of his neck. "Good luck." He mutters, before walking back outside of the justice building with Reyna.
My parents are in next. Neither of them is crying, though I can tell they're both trying hard to keep their eyes dry to appear strong for me. I don't know why parents do that. But, I don't complain because tears always just make heavy situations even heavier.
District 12: Kasey Spalik (16) Pov-
My mother comes to say goodbye, her hand on Daniel's shoulder. They both seem unable to say anything for the first few moments. They can't even approach me. I have to say the first words.
"Do take care of yourselves while I'm gone." I mutter, casually.
"Kasey…" My mother says. "Don't worry about-"
"I'm not worried."
"I know you must be scared-"
"I'm not scared." I tell her. My eyes run over her tear stained face. I know I'm not going to win. But, I'm not going to tell her that. "There is no reason to fret."
"Well. You have to be very careful…one mistake and…" She closes her mouth. "Don't end up like Clarissa." Daniel says. I stare down at my little brother for a moment.
"I'm nothing like our older sister. I don't lose easily. And I'm going to do everything in my power to win these games." I cock my head to the left, studying the still nervous expressions of my mother and brother. I know there's nothing left to say to make them feel better. I run a hand through my hair, letting out a careful sigh. "But, do take care of yourselves while I'm gone."
There we go! The reapings are now over! So, why not drop a review and tell me what you guys think?
Also, now you guys can PM me with your top choices for a partner for your tribute. Here's how it's going to work: You can send me your top three choices for a partner and any tributes you really don't want as a partner for your tribute. I'm just going to try and make as many people get their first choices as possible. I know this process seems a little confusing, but i think it's going to work. :)
Answer to last question: Falcon's brother's name is Kai.