Cultur Spring, District Eleven male (17)

Every year on the day before the Reaping my family had a big dinner together. It was kind of silly if you thought really deeply about it. We should celebrate after the Reaping when we knew we were all safe. And also the kids in my family all took out tesserae at least once a year. If we didn't have this big feast that might have let someone take out one less tesserae. But what were the odds of that? Statistics usually seemed unreal to most people.

There was something special about this year. I didn't know what my family would think of Summer. My mother kept dropping hints that it was time for me to get married, but not like this. She had it in her head that she was the only one who knew what was right for her darling son. This wasn't the dark ages anymore. No one had arranged marriages.

My brother Basil was the first to notice Summer as we walked through the doorway. I stepped in front of her protectively when I saw the way he was looking at her. Summer noticed his gaze and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh, Cultur!" my mother said as she opened her arms to hug me. As she released me she took notice of Summer. "And… who's this?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

"This is my girlfriend, Summer," I said.

"How delightful," my mother said, her tone and face indicating it was anything but. She tried to show Summer to a spot at the opposite end of the dinner table and frowned when I sat next to her anyway.

The room seemed freezing cold as we all started what was supposed to be a happy family tradition. Clearly there was someone here who wasn't considered family. Summer tried a few nervous jokes and compliments and was met with stony silence.

"Summer," my mother said, speaking to her for the first time since dinner began. Summer perked up hopefully. "Perhaps we could help you buy a jacket sometime? It must be embarrassing to have so little clothing." She looked pointedly at Summer's exposed shoulders and upper chest in her black dress. Summer shrank down in her chair. I was about to say something when Basil broke in.

"It's fine. Cultur can leave it on the nightstand," he said.

I shot up, my chair almost toppling behind me. "What's your problem?" I asked as Basil rose to meet me.

"Just wondering why you brought trash into the house," Basil said.

I didn't even think before I punched him. He was halfway to the ground before I realized what I'd done. He got to his feet, blood streaming from his nose, and I felt Summer's hands on my arm as she tried to drag me away.

Outside the house I held Summer as she cried.

"Baby, it's okay. They don't know what they're talking about." Summer was still crying so I pressed on. "They're nothing. They're nothing compared to you. We're gonna be together, okay? I got a plan. I'm gonna take care of us forever."

Summer looked up, tears streaking her face. "How?" she asked.

"I'm going to volunteer for the Hunger Games."


Soleil Kingston, District Eleven female (17)

It was amazing the difference a single person could make. The world always seemed like a harsh and judgemental place. Everyone was waiting for me to make a mistake, most of all my mother. There was nowhere I could not be afraid. Nowhere but with Axel.

I still couldn't believe there was a ring on my finger. I remembered how much my hand shook when Axel slid on the shining brass circle. It must have taken him weeks to be able to afford it. It was as smooth and reflective as the surface of the ocean. I could picture him sitting and polishing it while he got up the nerve to ask me. I hadn't seen it coming, not one bit. I couldn't dream of someone wanting to marry me. Not Soleil, always nervous and shy and never achieving what people expected of her. I couldn't believe Axel wanted me just like I was.

My head rested on Axel's shoulder as we sat together on his fingers were intertwined and I could feel the weight of his hand pressing my ring into my skin. I loved how being with him felt like home. All he had was one room in a workers' dormitory but we could make it our home. We'd hardly ever be in it anyways. I liked being outside more than I liked a roof over my head.

"Let's have the wedding out in my field," I said. "I was thinking instead of walking to meet you I could ride on Max." In all the world there was one thing I was confident I was good at. Horseback riding was the one connection I had left with my father. It would be like he was still here to walk with me down the aisle.

"I don't know how to ride a horse," Axel said. "Maybe I could ride with you? I'd have to be behind you then, holding on to you. Maybe my hands would slide up a bit by accident?"

"You can't wait one more day?" I asked as I blushed.

"Baby, I can't wait one more hour," Axel said. He turned and kissed me. As he pulled away his face fell.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked.

"I don't want to wait at all. But maybe we shouldn't before… you know," Axel said.

Before the Reaping. It was the one thing that could destroy everything. I was so close to having everything I wanted in the world and one thing still lingered in both of our minds. I didn't want to think about it. I wanted to be happy.

"You're right," I admitted. I tried to put on a smile. "I could hardly enjoy our honeymoon if we had that hanging over our heads."

Axel held me close. "It's gonna be okay. We've gotten through this many. Just a few more days. Then everything will be right."