Breaking Point Sextet V

Love: The 75th Hunger Games

Chapter Four

District Four Reaping

A/N: Hey, it's District Four in Chapter Four. How fun! Anyway, thanks to Son of Arryn for the wonderful, delightful, roiling, boiling, I think that's enough sea words, Tributes featured in this chapter.

Nerys Pacifica –18- -D4- POV

Today is the last day. Thank goodness. The last day I have to worry about this terror of a Games… well… unless Hal does volunteer, but I don't know if he will be chosen for sure, and I can get him back, and when I do, I can convince him not to, not to leave me and die, just to stay and live… well, hopefully. The current events could still give us trouble, but as long as he doesn't try to kill himself, as long as there is an us, I'll be happy. Whatever, not the time to think of that. I still need to think of a way to get him back. I've tried everything… short of begging, it seems. Maybe it's time to try that too. Not that the begging hasn't been implied, but maybe it's time to do it outright. Not particularly what I'd want, but… my love is more than my pride.

Anyway, I finish tying my pitch black hair back into a ponytail, and then try to reassure myself by smiling at my own sea green eyes. It doesn't work that well, I'm still nervous. I mean, between the Reaping today… and that terrible twist… what if I get Reaped? What will Hal think of me then, pulling him into the Games a year before he's ready? Probably nothing good. Well, I need to face the music… if I survive this Reaping, I'll be free, and then maybe I can go beg Hal, tell him I'm sorry, I'll never do it again… tell him that I understand why he feels how he does, and I do, he deserved better than me, than what I did, but I won't do it again, I won't let him down again, if he'd just give me a second chance. Isn't that normal, a second chance?

Well, I've already wasted too much time staring at the mirror, so I head out into the living room, where my parents are.

"Ah, there you are. Ready to go, Nerys?" Father asks.

"Yes, Dad," I respond.

"Good, let's go," he says, and I open the door for him and Mother.

Halian "Hal" Maui –17- -D4- POV

One year left, and then I can volunteer. I'll finally be able to provide for my family, like I should. I smile at my soft blue eyes, under my curly, copper blonde hair. It doesn't look bad today. I doubt I'll be Reaped, not a year before I'm due to volunteer. I especially don't want to have to go in the Games this year, I might want to win, but this twist is a bit cruel. But anyway, there's a minuscule chance I'm Reaped this year, so that's great, I should be on track to volunteer next year. I double check my suit, not as nice as some, but still somewhat nice, and head out to the living room.

Although this is a good day, I do worry about one thing… but hopefully, she's gotten the message. I mean, it… well, it hurts both of us equally, in a way, or it did, but I'm over her now – I mean, she cheated, why should I be anything but over her? I just wish she would stop these grand gestures to get me back, they're not going to work. They're not going to work.

"Hey, Hal!" Rose and Lily greet me simultaneously as I step out into the living room.

"Hey, you two!" I smile. "How're you two?"

"Oh, wonderful," Rose responds.

"How're you?" Lily, the younger twin (by three minutes) asks.

"Pretty good," I say. "Why are you two so chipper?"

"Oh, no reason," Lily says.

"None at all," Rose adds.

"Riiight," I say. "Of course."

"You might find out later," Rose says.

"Or you might not," Lily finishes.

I chuckle. "I see… or maybe not."

"Hey, kids," Mom says, stepping out with Dad. "How're you all? Ready to go?"

"Yep," I say.

"Yep!" The twins say together.

Mom chuckles. "Okay then. You ready, honey? Have everything?"

Dad nods. "Yes I do, my dear, let's go… hopefully they'll make this quick, I need to do another trip today, make up for what I didn't catch yesterday."

Mom nods. "I know, dear, we don't need to worry about that now."

"Right, of course," Dad smiles. "Let's go, then."

And so, we head out.

Nerys Pacifica –18- -D4- POV

I arrive at the Reaping, and my parents drift off as they always do to the back. They're not around that much… ever, but that's fine. Gives me time to see my friends before the horror show starts anyway. What friends I have left at least… most people don't want to be friends with a cheater. And that's what I am, I suppose. It didn't even last that long. Not to be that girl, but it didn't mean anything either… it was a mistake, a stupid, dumb, teenage mistake, and I just want it to stop hurting and affecting my life. Anyway, time to fix it later. I don't think I'll make a plan for the begging, I think I'll just let it flow from… the heart, so to speak. After all, probably sounds more honest that way, and that's what I want, him to know that I'm being honest, that I do love him and want him back more than anything.

"Nerys! You okay there?" I realize Deria's standing next to me, trying to get my attention.

"Oh, hey, sorry, Deria, didn't see you there," I smile. She's a good friend, one of the few who stuck with me after everybody found out I was cheating.

"It's fine," she responds. "How're you?"

"Fine," I say. "Looking forward to being done with Reapings, you?"

Deria, also eighteen, nods. "Same here. It'll be nice to be done with this part of our lives."

I nod. "Yeah, it will… and y'know, I think I have another plan that might work with Hal that I'll do after this."

She sighs. "Nerys, I know you love him, but I really don't think this… continuing to chase him is good for you. If you just let him go and tried to move on, it'd be better for you, and how people see you too."

I shrug. "I'm already an academy dropout, people aren't going to like me no matter what I do, and nobody will forget that I'm a cheater too, plus, at this point… I'd even like him to say he forgives me, but he will give me a second chance, at some point… I know it."

"Look, Nerys, I know you think that, but -," she's cut off by Bella Trinket's voice from onstage.

"Hello, and welcome to the District Four Reapings!" Bella shouts from onstage. "Everyone, places please!"

I force a smile. "Well, we better get going."

She nods. "Yeah… yeah, guess so. We'll finish this later."

A minute or so after we get to our section, Bella starts the Reaping. "I'm sure you're all familiar with the twist, please do note that if you're Reaped, you will be required to say aloud the name of the person you love most. Now, let's see who the lucky Tribute is!" She selects a piece of paper and unfolds it. "The Tribute from District Four is… Nerys Pacifica!" Well, that's… how ironic, almost poetic in its irony, I suppose. The Games I had trained for, but eventually decided to abandon, had decided they wanted me after all. I suppose there's no escaping from the Hunger Games, not if they really want you to come. Well, I guess I need to move. It won't do for me to be dragged up by Peacekeepers.

I repeat my name for Bella, and she smiles. "Well, Nerys Pacifica, who is the person you love most?"

Oh no… I had forgotten about this for a second. I notice the screen in front of me, with one name on it… Halian Maui. Yep, that's it. He's going to hate me… not that I can blame him.

"The person I love most is Halian Maui!"

Halian "Hal" Maui –17- -D4- POV

I arrive at the games, and am mildly surprised to see Teresa coming over to me already. She and I don't talk much these days, honestly, but at least she's stuck through me with everything.

"Hey, Hal," she smiles at me, loose blonde hair flowing out behind her, "How's life?"

"Pretty good, all things considered," I respond. "You?"

"Same here," she says. "Anyway, I'm sure you've got other people you wanted to talk to, but I just wanted to ask what you'd think about getting some dinner, just to talk, tonight?"

"Oh, that sounds good," I say. We usually try to talk once or so a month, and it's been around that since our last deep talk.

"Awesome," she says. "See you later then. Marigold's at five?"

"Sounds like a plan," I smile.

"Cool then, see ya," she walks off, just as Paulina and Ross walk over. There are a lot of twins in my life, it occurs to me. Two pairs of twins, huh. Twin twins?

"Hi, Hal," Paulina says.

"How're you?" Ross asks.

"Pretty good, you two?" I ask.

"Oh, good," Paulina answers for both of them.

"Want to hang out with us, maybe get some dinner?" Ross asks. "After the Reaping, that is."

"Oh, I'd love too, but I just made plans with Teresa," I say. "Maybe lunch?"

"That works," Paulina says. "We should get Kale too."

Ross and I nod in agreement. "We'll round him up after the Reaping," I say.

"Hello, and welcome to the District Four Reapings!" Ah, that'd be the delightful Bella Trinket. Best to get started then.

"Well, time for us to go, I guess," I say. "Good luck, everyone."

Everyone nods. No volunteers this year, after all, nobody's going to put the person they love's life at stake just for money or glory… and if they would, do they even truly love that person? And with those fun thoughts, we all head to our sections.

I have to admit, I'm surprised that Nerys got Reaped. I mean, what are the odds? The girl who ran away from the Games drastically, the girl who would have nervous breakdowns thinking about them… is Reaped. I feel bad for her, and more so for whoever ends up being her District Partner and having to protect her. I wonder who she loves… wait, it could be me, couldn't it? Oh crap, don't be me, don't be me, don't be me, don't be me. Don't still love me, Nerys, don't do it, don't do it. I'm not ready, I need a year more of training. And… well, I don't think I'd want to kill her. She might've betrayed me horribly, but I don't want her to die, just not be in my life anymore.

"The person I love most is Halian Maui!" Why! Why? Why do you insist on pretending you love me after you cheated on me, a year and a quarter into the relationship you started? Why?! Whatever, I need to look confident if I have any chance of winning. I've been training for years after all, I can probably pull this off.

I stride up to the stage and take my position by Nerys, avoiding looking at her as I repeat my name for Bella.

"The Tributes from District Four are Nerys Pacifica and Halian Maui!"

A/N: Well, three Reapings down, and slightly less than half the Tributes in, counting reservations! It's getting exciting! We have six so far, all with interesting unique relationships, so who are your favorites, and who are your least favorites? Do you think all of the pairs will stick together, or that some will break up? Questions, questions. I'd be interested to see your answers, and I'll see you all soon in another District!

Tribute List:

D1R: Open

D1L: Open

D2R: Reserved for BeeBoo15

D2L: Reserved for BeeBoo15

D3R: Open

D3L: Open

D4R: Nerys Pacifica, 18, by Son of Arryn

D4L: Halian "Hal" Maui, 17, by Son of Arryn

D5R: Daisy Brownstone, 15, by chcolate

D5L: Matilda 'Mattie' Edlington, 17, by chcolate

D6R: Reserved for TheWatcherofTheVoid

D6L: Reserved for TheWatchedofTheVoid

D7R: Open

D7L: Open

D8R: Open

D8L: Open

D9R: Open

D9L: Open

D10R: Gadge Paddet, 17, by Professor R.J Lupin1

D10L: Simon Hazel, 17 by Professor R.J Lupin1

D11R: Open

D11L: Open

D12R: Open

D12L: Open