Shine
Chapter 15
District Nine Reapings
A/N: We're almost there! Only two more Reapings to go after this one! Let's get started! Special thanks to Primrue394 and edespeedy123 for the wonderful Tributes featured in this chapter!
Athena Rye –14- -D9- POV
I zip up my blue dress and stare in the mirror. Today is one of the few days I wear a dress. Normally I just wear pants and shirts. But today is Reaping day, so I dress up. My large brown eyes make contact with each other, and I smile at my medium-short brown hair in the mirror. It's a wavy day for it today, it has small curls at the bottom. I smile for a few seconds more before it fades. I hope mom will be in a good mood today. And if she's not, I guess that I'll spend the day with Aalia and Presley. I walk out into the living room. Mom is waiting.
"Ready to go?" She asks. She's hungover. At least she hasn't started drinking. Yet.
"Yes," I say. And so we leave, without saying anything else.
Isaiah Lemont –15- -D9- POV
I pull on my suit jacket and look at myself in the mirror. This is the only suit I own. I wish I could wear fancier clothes more often, but I can't. My family doesn't have the money. Oh well. I look at my hazel eyes in the mirror and grab a comb for my black hair. I run it through my hair until it looks nice, then walk out into the living room where my mom, Chris – my new stepdad, technically, ugh, and my two new step-siblings, James and Kaylee are waiting.
"Ready to go, honey?" My mom asks.
"Yup," I say.
"Wonderful!" She says. "Let's go, Chris, kids." Ugh. I wish dad was here. I wish he wasn't dead. I wish I had… nevermind. I should get going.
Athena Rye –14- -D9- POV
I leave my mom at the edge of the Reaping. I spot Darcy and Nico at the edge, with Katie and Ellie on their shoulders. Ugh. Cowards. At least they got out, but that's no reason for them not to help me. I don't know why they don't like me. I could live with them. I actually like Katie, and Ellie isn't too bad. But no, they don't like their little sister. Ugh. Turning my attention inwards, I notice Aalia already coming towards me, and Presley looking around. I wave to Presley, and she heads my way.
"Hi, Athena," Aalia says.
"Hi, Aalia," I say. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. What about you? How's your mom?" Aalia asks.
"She's okay today," I say. "Hi, Presley!"
"Hi, girls! What's up?" Presley asks. Where Aalia is dark-skinned with dark hair and about four foot eight, although she's the same age is me, Presley is tall, five-six already at fifteen, and blonde. All the boys love her. Aalia never talks above a whisper, although this one boy does have a thing for her. Not that she'll admit it, even when I try to make her. Oh well.
"Not much with me," I say.
"Not much," Aalia says. "You?"
"I'm doing good," Presley says. "Karen told me that Lisa told her that Josh still has that thing for you, Aalia."
"Why do you talk to Karen and her friends?" I ask. "You know they're so mean. And, yes, Josh has a thing for you, Aalia. Not that you'll admit it."
"Nobody feels that way about me," Aalia says. "Nobody I would like, anyway."
"What's wrong with Josh?" I ask.
"You know I like Brad," she says.
"Okay. But Josh is so much nicer, why not date him?" I ask. Aalia just stares at me. "Okay, okay, fine," I say.
"And Isaiah still has that thing for you," Presley tells me. "You should go out with him. He's really popular and so dreamy… uh, sorry. And besides, he really likes you. Not that he'll ask you out after how badly you rejected him."
"I didn't reject him. I just didn't want to be his friend. He's one of the popular kids," I say.
"A., not wanting to even be his friend is rejecting him, and B., he's actually nice. He's not like the rest of them. He's popular, but he's nice. He's popular because he is nice, not because he's mean," she says.
"If you say so, Li," I say. "But-" I'm interrupted by the District Nine escort, Saturn.
"District Nine! Let's start this Reaping!" Saturn says.
"Okay, Athena, Aalia, I have to go," Presley says. "See you guys later!"
"See you, Li!" I shout after her. Aalia waves, and Presley waves back. Then Saturn starts the Reaping.
"Ladies first! The Female Tribute from District Nine is..." I feel a sense of dread as Saturn unfolds the paper. I wonder why. I hope that Presley and Aalia don't get picked. I hope I don't get picked. But that won't happen. Right? "Athena Rye!" That's not good. That's not good. I walk up to the stage, slowly, taking deep breaths to calm myself. I think that I manage to stay outwardly calm, even though I'm freaking out on the inside.
Isaiah Lemont –15- -D9- POV
I leave my family at the edge of the Reaping and look for my friends. I have a lot of friends, but I want to talk to one in particular.
"Hey, Isaiah!" Eli shouts as he walks over. Eli is my age, with brown hair and eyes, average height.
"Hey, Eli," I say. "What's up?"
"Not much, what's up with you, bro?" Eli asks.
"Not much. Hey, have you seen Athena?" I ask.
"What is with you and that girl?" Eli asks. "You could have, like, any girl, and you want the quiet one who doesn't like you because you're popular? She's not even that pretty."
"Now why would you say that?" I ask. "Besides, what does it matter if I like her? That just means you can have one more of those girls you like."
"So I can have Elena?" Eli asks. "You know she likes you, and she's like, really pretty. And nice, and..."
"Eli?"
"Wha- oh, sorry. So, you don't want to go out with her?" Eli asks.
"No, you can ask her," I say.
"You're gonna be regretting this when you finally get it through your head that Athena doesn't want to go out with you," Eli says.
"Whatever," I say. "Like Elena would want to go out with you."
"And why wouldn't she?" Eli asks.
"Because she likes me, like you said. Duh," I say. "No, she probably will go out with you. As long as she knows I told you to ask her."
"You think so?" He asks.
"I do. And if you don't ask her after the Reaping, I'll do it for you," I say.
"Whoa! Shots fired," Eli laughs. "Okay, bro. I will."
"District Nine! Let's start this Reaping!" Saturn Mustang says from onstage. I and Eli quiet down and wait. "The Female Tribute from District Nine is… Athena-" No. Please no. Not my Athena. Some other Athena. Please, please, not my Athena. "Rye!" No. No. No. No. No, no, no, no, no! Not Athena. Not her. I see her walk to the stage. She looks emotionless like she's in shock. No. I can't bear seeing her like this. No. I start to cry.
"Hey, man, you alright?" Eli whispers to me. "Look, it'll be okay, okay? It'll be okay." I nod, although I don't really believe it'll be okay. How can it be okay? Athena was just Reaped, and… and… and… I have to pay attention again, it's the boys' turn.
"The Male Tribute from District Nine is… Isaiah Lemont!" Well, I guess it's not going to be alright. What are the odds? Me and Athena. This is crazy. Oh well. Maybe I stand a good chance. Unless… what about Athena?
"The Tributes from District Nine are Athena Rye and Isaiah Lemont!"
A/N: Another one bites the dust! Only two more Reapings to go! So, what did you guys think of this Reaping and our wonderful Tributes? Special thanks to Primrue394 and edespeedy123 again for the wonderful Tributes! Please submit your wonderful Tribute now, we only have one spot remaining! Thank you all for reading!
Tribute list:
D1M: Lustero Aldor, 17, by Yugi-Smallymcsmall
D1F: Diamond Knowles, 18, by Tyquavis (Previous character connection)
D2M: Ares Moretti, 18, by Andii99
D2F: Giselle Serpentine, 16, by Red Roses1000
D3M: Becquerel 'Bec' Grey, 15, by foxfox12
D3F: Clear Palatino, 12, by foxfox12
D4M: Falcon Lockdust, 17, by Nautics
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: Silk Daisly, 16, by IIJamesII
D8F: Rhylee Kaski, 16, by Primione394
D9M: Isaiah Lemont, 15, by edespeedy123
D9F: Athena Rye, 14, by Primrue394
D10M: Kayne Lytch, 13, by IIJamesII
D10F: Kayra Dawnbreeze, 13. by Yugi-Smallymcsmall
D11M: Open
D11F: Reserved for edespeedy123
D12M: Char Afland, 14, by GrimlyFiendishly
D12F: Camelia Lloha, 12, by Primrue394
