Ian Bowditch, District 8, 16
"I'm scared," said Aileana as Ian stroked her hair. They were sitting on a large piece of driftwood, starting out at the foggy sky over a silver lake. She sat up and turned to meet Ian in the eye.
"What if my sister gets reaped?" asked Aileana, worried. Ian sighed, and attempted to comfort her.
"What are the chances? It's only her first year." He didn't want to say it, but he was thinking, "You should be more worried about yourself..."
Ian led Aileana onto her feet.
"Anyway, I should go back home to cook my father some food." He kissed her on the cheek, then trudged away.
He rushed home to catch his father's lunch time. Rushing to the kitchen, he pulled the fridge door open, only to find a few pieces of bread from District 11.
Ian sighed, hoping that he could've prepared something better for them to eat. After all, the good food would've made him and his father forget about what day it was. It was Reaping Day.
Ian slowly opened his father's bedroom door and placed the tray of bread on his table. He sat down as they ate together. Ian didn't think that his father knew what day it was. So many months passing by in a whirlwind had made him lose track of time.
But Ian didn't want to mention it. His father was dying, and Ian didn't want him to know that he might be about to too. He looked down on his father's old table and found a gleaming gold ring on it. Instantly, he realized it was his mom's wedding ring. Secretly, he slipped it on and left.
After lunch, Ian walked to Aileana's house to pick her up so that they could walk to the reaping together. She was dressed in a beautiful frock that sparkled a bright blue with every turn. They held hands as they silently walked towards the Reaping.
Ian knew what was on her mind, and didn't want to disturb her thoughts, so he kept quiet. They only split hands when they approached the Peacekeepers that took our blood.
"Boys 16 over here," Ian heard a Peacekeeper shout, waving his arms towards himself. He walked over to his section. A group of boys were heading towards the same section, when one of them nudged Ian. "Hey! Watch it!" he said, clearly annoyed.
"What's wrong lover boy? Missing your girlfriend?" they teased. Ian's cheeks turned a bright red, and his voice shook as he defended himself.
"Just-just get out of my space," he said. The group of boys walked away, mocking him behind his back.
Alana, the district escort, stepped onto the stage. Each step in her tall high heels boomed on the hard wooden platform. Unlike most escorts, Alana was very nice and sympathetic for her tributes. Ian yawned as the mayor walked on stage and gave his speech, and then turned his attention to Alana when she was about to put her hand into the glass bowl of the girls names.
She seemed to fish her hand around in the bowl for ages, until she pulled out a slip of thin, crisp paper.
"Give it up for our female tribute, Mallory!" Alana shouted. Ian gasped when he heard Aileana's sister's name, and was heartbroken when he heard her scream.
"I volunteer," Aileana said, "I volunteer as tribute!" pushing her way up to the front. Standing on the large stage, Alana asked her what her name was. "Aileana," she mumbled back.
Alana then reached into the boy's glass bowl of names. Ian though it couldn't get any worse, but it certainly did. She held a name of the next tribute in her hand.
"And for our male tribute, we have Ian!" Alana shouted. His heart didn't even jump when he heard his name. Aileana screamed and looked straight at the broadcasting cameras, shouting, "YOU'RE HORRIBLE! A HORRIFIC MONSTER!" hoping that the Capitol would see her pain.
Peacekeepers restrained her form potentially smashing the cameramen to pieces, while Ian casually ignored her. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and strode up to the stage.
Common lovers had become star crossed lovers.