Shine

Chapter 4

District Six Reapings

Harper Satin –16- -D6- POV

I zip my blue dress and look in the mirror. My dress matches my headband. I smile softly as I think about Hailey. She looked so pretty in her dress the day of the Reaping. And I thought that she had such good odds. She almost made it. Almost. Almost. If only that girl from District One, that Juliet, didn't get her. If only she had seen her coming. If only… there's no use in what ifs. If she was alive, she'd be eighteen now. She'd be almost safe. As it is, I only have two years. I've been training for the past two years, since I was fourteen. Since she died. Just in case. Just in case. I look at my brown eyes in the mirror. I smile again and walk out of the room.

Andrew Spayler –15- -D6- POV

I put on my normal overalls and look in the mirror. I run a still-greasy hand through my brown hair to push it back. I look at my blue eyes in the mirror, then turn away. No point in dressing up for the Reaping, I still have to work today. It's not like I'll get Reaped anyway. I grab my leg brace and put it on before I start walking to the Reaping.

Harper Satin –16- -D6- POV

I reach the Reaping and look around for Jainee. I find her and walk over to her.

"Hey, Jainee!" I say, trying to sound happier than I am.

"Hi, Harper," she says. "How are you doing?"

"A little scared," I say. "But at least I know I'll be prepared if the worst happens. What about you?"

"Don't say that too loudly," Jainee whispers to me, looking around furtively. "But I'm okay. I think I'm prepared, if… if it happens. But let's hope it doesn't, huh?"

"Let's hope so," I say. "Besides, what are the odds it could happen to both of our siblings and then us?"

"Low," she says.

"Right," I say. "Just don't suddenly get compassionate, and we should be fine."
"You know not to volunteer for me, right?" Jainee asks. "Because I won't volunteer for you, and I wouldn't want you to die if I was Reaped."

"Of course, Jainee," I say. "And you know the same."

"Yup," she says. "I should get going. May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!" She shouts as she walks off toward the Female, 15, section.

"District Six! Everybody get ready! The Reaping is about to start!" The District Six escort, Chocolate, says from the stage. I wait in my place, and think of the Reaping two years ago…

The Reaping when they said "The Female Tribute from District Six is… Hailey Satin!" I think of hearing those words. I think of what I wish I had said. I think I hear those words again. In my head, I shout, "I volunteer as Tribute!"

Except that, I realize as I come back to the reality of people clearing a path for me, with surprised looks on their faces, that I didn't say it in my head.

Crap.

I start to breath quick, short breaths, as I walk up on stage. I realize that I'm hyperventilating. I wish I had a bag to breath into, but I don't. I also wish that I could calm down, but I can't. I reach the stage and shake hands with Chocolate before I crumble to the floor, the last thing I see being the stage coming up to hit my face.

Andrew Spayler –16- -D6- POV

I reach the Reaping and wave to a few of my colleagues. They wave back. We're all friendly, although I wouldn't say any of them are my friends. As I walk to my section I wonder what would happen if my sister had lived long enough to be Reaped. I would be nervous out of my mind. She still wouldn't be old enough to be Reaped now, she would still have three years. I would never have been able to volunteer so that I could protect her, only be able to worry about her. Still, I would have loved to be able to worry about her. My thoughts are broken as I hear words that we don't normally hear here in District Six.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" A girl shouts. She walks up to the stage, seeming nervous and scared. When she gets on stage, she faints. That's not good. I wonder why though. She did volunteer, and the name they called wasn't someone related to her. Maybe a friend? I don't know, I'll hear about it in the interview, I guess.

"The Male Tribute from District Six is… Andrew Spayler!"

Well, crap. I start to walk slowly to the stage, although no slower than I normally walk. I can't walk fast ever since my leg was broken my an unfortunate collision of my leg and a coal car. I can walk okay with my brace, but without it, I limp pretty badly. I wonder if they'll let me keep it. I hope so. I walk up onto stage, and shake hands with Chocolate.

"The Tributes from District Six are Harper Satin and Andrew Spayler!"

A/N: Hello everyone! I'm back after a few really busy days! Sorry about the absence, but I'm back, so except more frequent updates and Reapings again! Anyway, thanks to Primione394 and AspiringSteampunk0909 for our wonderful Tributes! What did you think of Andrew and Harper? Who are you rooting for so far? See you all soon, and please keep submitting your Tributes! I currently have 11 out of 24, just under half, so I need thirteen more! Please keep submitting them! More Reapings coming soon!

Tribute list:

D1M: Open

D1F: Diamond Knowles, 18, by Tyquavis (Previous character connection)

D2M: Ares Moretti, 18, by Andii99

D2F: Giselle Serpentine, 16, by Red Roses1000

D3M: Open

D3F: Open

D4M: Open

D4F: Thia Zollis, 15, by JustAPersonReading

D5M: Emery Colt, 17, by Hawkmaid

D5F: Serena Holden, 16, by Andii99

D6M: Andrew Spayler, 15, by AspiringSteampunk0909

D6F: Harper Satin, 16, by Primione394

D7M: Aster Ochs, 17, by Red Roses1000

D7F: Vallory Stensland, 16, by Hawkmaid

D8M: Open

D8F: Rhylee Kaski, 16, by Primione394

D9M: Open

D9F: Open

D10M: Open

D10F: Open

D11M: Open

D11F: Open

D12M: Open

D12F: Open