District 8

2 days before the reaping

Pattern "Pat" Fredericks 14

I scramble through the school corridor with my head facing the floor, hoping none of my classmates will spot me and try to torment me. I clutch a book firmly to my chest, the library door in only a few meters away now! I'll go in there as usual, no one ever finds me in there!

I quickly push the door open and shut it behind me, breathing a huge sigh of relief! I walk up to the library desk and place the book down to return it.

"Hi Miss Shaw" I say

Miss Shaw is the librarian and my best friend, well come to think of it she's probably my only friend.

"Oh hi Pat…learn anything new?" she asks as she scans the book in.

"Yeah, I learnt a lot about this scientist that lived a long time ago called Einstein and how he proposed time and space are linked and can be manipulated by gravity" I explain

She looks impressed about all the information I have managed to memorise especially since I normally prefer fiction over nonfiction.

"That's great to hear" She says as she takes three more books from the shelf behind her.

"If you like that then I recommend you try these ones out" She states as she places them on the desk and scans them.

"Thanks I'll have them back in 2 weeks" I say

With that I clutch the books to my chest again and take a deep breath as I prepare to leave the library, I can feel my anxiety already building up! I push the library door open with my shoulder and hesitantly make my way down the corridor until I reach and outside section.

"Hey Pat!" I hear a deep voice call!

Oh no! Please leave me alone, please leave me alone!

Suddenly I feel a larger boy shove me to the ground, my face scrapes along the concrete as I land and the books go flying on the ground. I try to crawl towards the books, Miss Shaw is gonna be so mad and I don't want to upset her! I reach for one of the books however he stomps hard on my hand!

"Ouch!"

He then kicks the books into some mud and stomps on them whilst calling me a nerd. He takes last swing with his foot into my gut, I groan in pain, feeling winded and after what feels like an eternity he finally leaves me alone.

I am lying on the ground, clutching my gut with my injured hand, I think I might just stay here since it's kind of hidden and no one else will find me.

Finally, I begin to push myself back off the ground. I can't just lay down here I guess.

"Are you ok?" I hear a voice ask.

I look up to see a girl kneeling beside me, she has straight black hair, brown eyes and pale skin. Hold on a minute does someone actually care about me!?

I stand up and dust myself up while she picks up my books for me.

"Sorry about your books?" she smiles as she hands them to me.

"Erm…t-thanks" I stutter

She has a big smile on her face.

"If anyone's ever mean to you, you can hang out with us you know" She explains while gesturing to her friends.

I look over to her friends and then back down.

"Thanks" I say again

"Oh I'm Jia by the way" She says

"I'm Pat" I reply before quickly leaving her.

Jia Yang 15

Me and my friends are gathered around in our normal corner spot outside, in the school.

"I can't wait to fall in love with the perfect boy" I say to my friends.

"I know he's out there somewhere" I add looking up to the sky feeling dreamy.

My best friend Melody laughs to herself.

"That might not happen with me around Jia, I'm always on the prowl" She laughs

"Hey it's not a competition Melody!"

My other best friend Keiko lets out a big sigh.

"Can we please talk about something more interesting" She complains

Keiko was always more into academics than boys, some people in our school even call her a nerd but we're not that mean to our friend and plus she helps us with our homework so there's that.

"Well I've been working on a new dress if anyone's interested" My best friend Emma chimes in.

Suddenly I spot a boy being pushed to the ground in the distance and beaten up by a bigger boy, his books are all trodden into the mud!

"I've got to go help him!" I yell

"I guess not then" Emma mumbles

I run over to the boy who is lying on the ground in pain, I just manage to get the first glimpse of him, he has dark curly hair, he is kind of scrawny but also cute. Maybe this is my opportunity?

I start picking up his books, they all seem like science books so he must be intelligent as well.

I kneel down beside him.

"Are you ok?" I ask

He looks up at me and his eyes meet mine for the first time.

I smile at him and hand him his ruined books as he dusts himself off.

"Sorry about your books" I empathise.

"Erm…t-tthanks" He responds.

His voice is very stuttery and nervous, I don't really mind that though.

My best friends start gathering around us.

"If anyone's ever mean to you, you can hang out with us you know" I offer

"Thanks" He repeats

"Oh I'm Jia by the way" I say

"I'm Pat" He stutters

And as fast as I met him he scurries off, holding his muddy books to his chest while looking around at the ground.

I feel Melody step beside me.

"Well he was a real weirdo wasn't he?" She comments

"I thought he was kind of cute in his own way" I reply starring ahead

"So…does anyone wanna see my dress now?" Emma asks

The day of the reaping's in the justice building

I'm sat in the justice building waiting to be taken away by the Peacekeepers, I never thought this day would happen! I guess because my parents always kept me sheltered from the horrors of this world.

My parents already said goodbye and my brother. It was very solemn because I guess they know that they're probably never gonna see me again, even though they didn't say it. Weirdly though I'm not really thinking about them, I'm thinking about my district partner Pat. I met him two days ago, although I doubt he remembers me. He looked really terrified when he was reaped, he was as pale as a ghost. Even though I have been reaped I'm glad it's with him. Maybe I will find love after all? Come one Jia stop being so stupid, that's hardly important now…is it?

And that's all the reapings done! Hope you guys are excited for what's to come next. Thanks to rising balloons for these two, let me know what you think of them!

Theme songs

Jia: Someone To You by BANNERS

Pat: Heavy by Birdtalker