Chapter Three: Counting Stars

Old, but I'm not that old

Young, but I'm not that bold

And I don't think the world is sold

On just doing what we're told

Counting Stars, OneRepublic

Albert Spark, 16, District 3 Citizen

As long as Albert was alive, he knew that his father would never truly give up. After his mother died last year, Thomas Spark nearly gave up on living. Albert knew that he would have if he hadn't realized that he needed to look after his fifteen year old son. It had been touch and go on those first days and months after his mother died, but eventually they fell into their new routine. Thomas went to work, made enough for their food and to pay bills, and that was about all.

Albert had learned that he would have to be responsible for actually paying the bills and such. Albert didn't blame his father for essentially withdrawing from the world. He had been devastated after her death, hiding over at his best friend Lani's house to avoid being in the house where she'd passed.

A year later, and it was now Albert's sixth reaping day. He didn't know how it would be, but the first thing that hit him was a keen sense of wrongness. It took him all of a second to realize why. On reaping days, his mother would make breakfast for them, and come into his room with the same joke to wake him up. In her cheerful tone, she would say, "He does not snore, he is nasally repetitive!" This morning, that didn't happen, nor did the smells of pancakes drenched in syrup, sausage, and hot chocolate drift down the hall.

With a groan of tiredness, he pulled himself up and out of bed, pulling on a shirt as he did so. AS he walked out of the room and down the hall, he looked around for his father.

Finally finding him sitting at the counter in the kitchen, Albert said, "Morning, Dad."

With a blink, his dad focused on him and said, "Hey, Albert. Sleep ok?"

Albert rummaged through their refrigerator for a few sausages and milk to make some kind of simple breakfast. "Fine. Nothing important to report." For a while after his mother's death, he had had nightmares, but they had started to cease, for which he was grateful. He hated waking up covered in sweat. He barely remembered the nightmare when he woke, but the feeling of terror remained with him through the day.

Pulling out a pan, Albert started to make sausages for their breakfast. Flipping them onto a plate to drain the grease, he served some to his father before eating some himself. As he lifted a sausage, he caught sight of the bracelet that Lani had made him last year. They had made them just before his mother's death, and he never removed it except to take a bath.

"Albert, are you meeting Lani before the reaping?" Albert looked up in surprise as his father spoke. They so rarely talked anymore for prolonged periods, especially at breakfast.

Albert had been friends with Lani Fuse since they were six years old, and they'd been paired up as seat partners in first grade. They remained close through the years, becoming the siblings they didn't actually have. Lani sometimes seemed much braver than him, as evidenced by the time she stood up to some bullies who he'd been trying to stop bothering a kid a few years ago.

"Yeah, I'm going over to her house and we'll walk to the reaping together." The reaping… Albert would never understand why the capitol felt the need to keep the districts in line in such a horrible way. It was all ultimately up to chance, and Albert could do nothing to protect anyone.

"You've got nineteen entries, right?" Of course, five entries, plus three more every year in tessera until this year, when it had been dropped to two. Albert nodded, as he had a mouthful of sausage.

His father said no more, but Albert saw his face grow darker as they continued to eat. After a few minutes, they finished, and Albert excused himself in the guise of getting ready so he could meet Lani, but he really just needed to escape the tense atmosphere. He had no idea how his father would react if he were reaped, but he didn't think it would be good. He'd heard awful stories about families who lost children to the Games doing awful things both to themselves and others.

Albert made a determined promise as he got ready to leave. I will not be reaped. And If I am, I will survive.

I have to, because if I don't, Dad will probably lose it.

Lani Fuse, 16, District Three Citizen

Waiting at the end of the path by her house, Lani Fuse waited for Albert to arrive. Usually he was here by now, and she had no idea what could be delaying him.

"Lani?" Lani turned around to see her mother walking towards her from their house. "Something wrong, sweetheart?"

Lani shook her head with a sigh. "No, not really. Just waiting for Albert to come, he's usually not so late."

Her mother smirked as she said, "Don't worry, Lani. He was probably caught up at home You get carried away so much." Catching sight of something down the lane, she said, "I told you, there he is." Indeed, Lani saw Albert approaching.

Before Lani turned away, she gave her mother a worried look. "Mom, if I'm reaped…"

Without a word, she enveloped her daughter in a warm embrace. "Lani, I know you're not very physically imposing, but ou do know some survival skills. Remember what I taught you, and don't worry. Okay, honey?"

Lani nodded, her head still against her mother's chest. It was a comfort, and Lani wanted to draw as much as she could before she pulled herself together.

Albert finally made it, and she managed a smile to greet him. "Hey, Al."

"Morning, Lani," he said, returning her smile. "Ready to go?"

Giving her mother one final look, Lani said, "Yeah, let's go ahead and go."

After a short walk, the two made it to the square where the reaping was held. Waiting in the line at the sign in counter, Lani noticed that Albert seemed to buzz with nerves. Lani finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Albert, is something up?" She placed her hand on his arm comfortingly. "Tell me, ou know I'll figure it out eventually."

With a sigh, Albert said, "You know how Dad's been since Mom died last year. I just don't know what he'd do if I got reaped. It's got me worried."

Lani knew how sensitive Albert could get about his father, so she tried to be delicate as she said, "You know we're only a few names out of thousands. You're not going to be reaped, understand?" She gave him a firm look.

He nodded with a rueful smile. "Okay, Lani. Whatever you say."

Eventually they made it through the check in and found places in the sixteen year olds section. Standing among crowds of other people, Lani watched the square continue to fill, people continuing to fill the streets and alleys where screens had been erected for the reaping.

District Three's escort, a rather severe-looking older woman came to the podium with a perfunctory, "May the odds be ever in your favor!" before heading to the first ball that held the girls names. Pulling the slip of paper from the container, she seemingly stalked back to the microphone and read the name of the fated tribute.

"District Three's female tribute this year is Miss Lani Fuse."

The first thing that Lani felt was a jolt of terror. How could it be her? She only had twenty entries, so she had been seemingly safe. Safety in the reaping is ridiculous, she thought. She knew that she was going to die as she slowly made her way past Albert to the stage. Albert stared at her, her own fear mirrored in his eyes.

As she stood next to the escort, she began to think. Her mother had taught her survival skills such as fire making and shelter-making, and even practice with their kitchen knives while cooking. Compared to some tributes, she would stand no chance, but perhaps with luck, she could get past some. Outlasting would have to be her plan.

Their escort gave her a cursory glance before moving over to the boys globe to pick the tribute. Returning to the podium, the boy's name rang across the square.

"Albert Spark," she said.

Lani sought out Albert in the crowd as he approached the stage. His fists clenched at his sides, he took the space beside her. Without a word, she took his hand. It wasn't romantic, but at the moment, Lani needed the reassurance Albert's grip provided.

"The District Three tributes!"

Okay guys, I'm sorry for the delay, but I had familial troubles to take care of. Now hopefully I won't be lying when I say updates will be quick! I hope you enjoy these tributes. Albert was especially intriguing to get in the mindset of. These characters were created by Darthdestiny, so thanks for that!

Now, for some questions to answer!

Who do you like more, Albert or Lani?

For those who submitted: do you think your characters would ally with them?

Will Albert worry too much about his father and not be fully in the arena?

Can Lani's advantages bring her any real advantage in an arena with the Careers?

Will Lani and Albert's close friendship end up with both dead, or could one of them survive?

Next up, District 4! Just putting out a notice, though: I need District 10 and 11 males, so please submit! My reserve fell through and never submitted, so… THANKS SO MUCH! See you in the next chapter, where we'll meet Khanna and Storm.