Annabeth Chase, 17, District 3 Female

Today is reaping day, one of the only days of the year that I am off work. Most kids my age have an apprenticeship by now, but I have already completed my apprenticeship and I have been hired for my first job. They say that I'm quite smart, and I acknowledge that I do know a lot, but I think that it is mostly hard work that got me where I am.

I live with my dad, step mom, and two twin brothers, who turned 13 this year. We were all so lucky not to get reaped last year, and I hope it is the same this year. Since reaping day is one of my only days off, I am going to hang out with my best friend, Malcolm, after the reaping. I don't have a very good relationship with my parents, especially my stepmom, and when he found me hanging out in the woods behind his house, he allowed me to move in with them until my parents allowed me back.

I decide to walk to Malcolm house and see what he is up to. I get up, get dressed, and grab a small loaf of bread and cheese that I can share with Malcolm. My family has more money than his, as my dad is pretty high up at the electricity plant and my stepmom is a teacher. It's just him and his dad, and his dad was out of a job for a while.

I walk for about 15 minutes before I arrive at Malcolm's house, then I knock on his door. His dad answers.

"Hi Annabeth, it's nice to see you."

"Hi Mr. Pace, can I see Malcolm?"

"Yeah, come on in. He might be sleeping, but you can wake him up."

"Okay, thank you!"

I walk upstairs to Malcolm's room and knock on the door. No response. I open the door and say, "Wake up, sleepy head! We've got a big day ahead of us!"

"Oh hi Annabeth. What day is it? Oh right, reaping day! I'm excited to spend the day with you! Just let me get changed, and then we can start planning!"

"All right, I'll wait outside your room."

I exit Malcolm's room, and wait for a couple minutes as I hear thumps of various volumes, until he finally stumbles out.

"I'm ready!"

"Great! I brought some bread and cheese for breakfast, do you want to give some to your dad?"

"Aww, that's so nice of you Annabeth! Sure! I'll go give him some now."

We walk downstairs and Malcolm breaks off a piece of the bread and a piece of the cheese for his dad.

"Good morning, Dad! Here's some bread and cheese from Annabeth. We're just going to go for a walk and plan out our day."

"I was wondering what was in that bag. Thank you so much, Annabeth. You really don't have to do this."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all Mr. Pace."

"See you kids later! Don't forget to come early enough to clean yourself up, Malcolm."

"Okay, Dad."

We leave Malcolm's house and walk into the forest that his house backs on to. We walk until we get to a clearing we always go to, where there is a log that is easy to sit on. Once we have sat down, we divide up the bread and cheese and talk about what we will do today.

"Do you have any ideas for today, Annabeth?", Malcolm asks me.

"Well, my dad brought home a circuit board for my brothers recently, but maybe we could borrow it and do some experiments.", I respond.

"Ooh, that sounds fun! I always learn so much with you!"

"You know more than you think, Malcolm. I learn a lot from you too!"

I hear a rustle in the forest and quickly look behind me.

"What is it?", asks Malcolm.

"Probably just a squirrel."

"Do you want to head back home to get ready?"

"Why don't we stay here for a little bit longer and look at the clouds?"

"Yes, let's do it."

I enjoy spending time with Malcolm so much. He is like my brother, but a brother who actually likes me. My twin brothers seem to hate me. They would always bother me when I had to do homework, pull my hair, mess up my clothes, and even put spiders on me. Ugh. I hate spiders. We lay in the sun for a bit, looking up at the clouds. Too soon for my liking it is time to go home and get ready for the reaping.

We head back to Malcolm's house, and then I start walking home. I enter the house and my step mom immediately accosts me.

"Annabeth Chase where have you been! You know I need time to get you looking presentable for the reaping!"

"We have loads of time. What are you talking about?"

"I want to style your hair, and you need to have a shower. What have you been doing? There is grass all over you!"

"Fine. I'll go have a shower, then you can do my hair."

I shower as fast as I can and then put on my best dress. It is a light blue colour, with flowers embroidered on it. I have only ever worn it to reapings before. I head downstairs, and my step mom puts my hair up how she likes it. I prefer my hair to be pulled back in a ponytail at all times, but she thinks it looks pretty when it's down. I see she has dressed up my twin brothers, Bobby and Matthew in nice clothes and brushed their hair too. We head to the reaping. I really hope that I won't get reaped, as I'm finally settling into my life at this job and living with my parents.

Malcolm Pace, 15, District 3 Male

Knock Knock Knock

What could that be? I'm so tired, I'm sure it's just a woodpecker or something. I fall back asleep, but wake up suddenly to see a girl standing over my bed. It's Annabeth, my best friend! We used to always be able to spend time together, but now that she has work every day she has almost no free time.

Annabeth tells me to get ready so that we can eat breakfast, and that she brought some bread and cheese. She is always so kind! My father and I sometimes struggle with money since my father is always in and out of his jobs. She always makes sure we have enough to eat because we gave her a place to stay when she wasn't welcome at home.

Once I am dressed, we head out into the forest behind my house and eat breakfast. Then we spend some time looking at the sky before it is time to get ready for the reaping.

"Bye Annabeth! I'll see after the reaping!" I call to her, as she starts heading home.

She turns around and responds, "Yes! Definitely! See you in a bit!".

We wave to each other, then I head inside my house.

"Hi Malcolm." my dad says, "you came back with enough time to get ready. I'm impressed!"

"Yeah, I'm going to go have a shower, then I will get changed."

"All right. I laid some clothes out for you on your bed. You can wear them, if you want."

"Thanks, Dad!"

I quickly have a shower, dry myself, and then I look at the clothes my dad laid out.

"Oh Dad! Thank you so much!"

"Aww, it's nothing, buddy." he responds.

Once I am dressed we walk to the reaping.

My dad asks me, "Are you nervous, Malcolm?"

"A bit", I confess.

"Don't worry, you have very low chances of getting picked. You're only 15, and you haven't had to take out nearly as many tesserae as a lot of other kids in the district." he says, almost as if he is reassuring himself.

"That's true. I'll try not to be nervous, Dad.", I say, and I do feel a little bit better.

"Well, off you go now." says my Dad as we arrive at the square.

I wait in line to get my finger pricked, and once I am finally finished, I go to my section of 15 year old boys. After everyone has arrived, our escort begins the reaping ceremony.

"Hello District 3, my name is Chenille Evertide, and I will be introducing your tributes for the 103rd Hunger Games!" she announces.

She then plays a video about why the hunger games exists and introduces our victors who are still living. It seems to take forever before she starts choosing the tributes.

"First up we have the girls. Let's see who it is… and we have Annabeth Chase! Come on up darling!"

What? Not Annabeth! I can't believe this. I feel like I'm about to cry as I see Annabeth walk up on to the stage and shake Chenille's hand. I look down as I try to stop myself from crying, and I suddenly hear, "Malcolm Pace! Where are you sweetie?". I gasp and suddenly feel jostles and shoves as the boys around me push me forward to the stage. My tears dry up and I am in shock as I stumble up to the stage.

"Well hello, Malcolm!", Chenille exclaims as she vigorously shakes my hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to announce that your tributes are Annabeth Chase and Malcolm Pace!", Chenille announces very loudly.

"Now shake hands, you two." she demands of us.

I reach over and shake Annabeth's hand. It feels strong and reassuring, and I feel slightly better. I just can't believe that both of us got reaped. What kind of rotten luck is that? I try to hold myself together, and eventually the peacekeepers rush us off to the justice building.