I sit against the door of a bathroom stall and take deep breaths. Despite my best efforts, tears are still streaming down my face. I should have known… I should have realized that there was a growing rift between me and Diana, and done my best to repair it. Instead, I kept pushing what I wanted onto her until everything just exploded in my face.
I don't want our friendship to be over, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is, I think sadly as I grab another tissue from the box next to me and blow my nose.
"Mizuki?"
That's Gaia's voice. I could really use some comfort right now, so I respond.
"Hey Gaia, what is it?"
"Can I talk to you?" my friend asks gently. "If you need some time to yourself that's okay too, but let me know if you need anything."
I smile. Gaia is always so sweet and kind, unlike me. I may be the extraverted leader-like figure in my friend group, but Gaia is the eldest and always has great advice.
"I don't know," I say, bundling up my used tissues and throwing them in the trash. "I just don't want Diana volunteering for the Games and throwing her life away, but I could've gone about it better. Now I think she doesn't even want to be my friend anymore."
"We don't know that," Gaia says. "Maybe all of us just need some time to calm down. Maybe after some time has passed, you can talk to Diana and say you're sorry and that you still want to be friends. I'm sure she'll understand because you two have been friends for so long."
"I hope," I sigh. "But this has been going on for a while now - Diana wanting to volunteer when I don't want her to, I mean. What if she decides that she doesn't want to be my friend anymore because I keep getting in her way?"
"I don't think Diana would stop being friends with you over that," Gaia says. "If she's really your friend, she'll understand that you're only trying to stop her from going into the Games because you care about her."
"What if she doesn't, though?" I fret. "And what if she decides that she still wants to go into the Games and won't change her mind no matter what I say?"
"Hmm, that'd be a problem, but I think we're getting ahead of ourselves," Gaia says. "Do you want to stay here and train, or go to the Snowflake Dessert Lounge? I think we should give Diana some time to herself for now so we can all cool down. You can apologize to her and sort things out with her after the Reaping."
"Alright," I say, smiling slightly from my friend's comfort. "As for training or desserts, why not both? Since we're here already we can train for about thirty minutes, and then grab a dessert."
"Sounds good," Gaia says, and I hear shuffling as she walks out of the restroom. "I'll let Carlos and Taiga know that you'll be right out."
"Thanks, Gaia," I say, standing up slowly and wiping away my last tears. "Tell Carlos and Taiga to meet me at the throwing stars. It'd be nice to work on my aim and stuff, take my mind off everything."
"Alright, we'll meet you there."
I wait until Gaia has left the restroom before stepping out of the stall and heading to the sink to wash the remnants of my crying session away. Truth to be told, I prefer working with knives, but I'm not sure if I can handle that crowded station right now.
Just as planned, my friends and I train for thirty minutes and then grab some food at the Snowflake Dessert Lounge. I feel a twinge of sadness at Diana not being with us, but Gaia, Carlos, and Taiga help distract me from my worries. When it's time for us to get ready for the Reaping, Gaia calls her guardian to pick us up and send us home.
I arrive back at my house with plenty of time to spare, but I still make sure to greet my family and then go upstairs to my room to change. Kazue and I share a room, so we end up getting into our Reaping outfits together.
"I've always thought Alice blue looked great on you," Kazue says with a smile as she puts a pink accessory into her hair.
"Ugh, dresses are annoying, but I see what you mean," I say, grinning as I plop down onto my bed. "Are you ready to go down?"
"Just a minute," Kazue says, smoothing out her pink dress, which is considerably frillier than mine. "You know that I like to look pretty."
"Well, you do you," I say with a chuckle. "I'm just fine with looking okay and presentable if I'm Reaped and get to go on stage a bit."
"Ooh, I hope you get Reaped," Kazue gushes. "Imagine being on stage with everyone's eyes on you as you get your moment of fame before Athena volunteers! I know that I would love it, at least."
"Yeah, it'd be pretty neat if I was Reaped," I say with a smile.
A/N: This story is now closed, so thank you all for your submissions! The final tribute list can be found on my profile, but I'll also put it here.
Tributes:
(Female/Male indicates the gender the tribute was Reaped as and not necessarily their actual gender)
District 1 Female: Bree Jansun, age 12 (submitted by IIJamesII)
District 1 Male: Serpentine Dravil, age 18 (submitted by 66samvr)
District 2 Female: Mizuki Slater, age 13 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 2 Male: Vitya Flynn, age 18 (submitted by laelarra)
District 3 Female: Tasha Novell, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 3 Male: Electro Qual, age 12 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 4 Female: Aldoria Ades, age 12 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 4 Male: Harbor Pellican, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 5 Female: Zippina Darwin, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 5 Male: Julian Day, age 17 (submitted by spaceMars)
District 6 Female: Ebony Dorle, age 17 (submitted by DragonoftheStars1429)
District 6 Male: Alethio Carr, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 7 Female: Acacia Oakes, age 14 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 7 Male: Zephyr McKinnon, age 13 (submitted by Golden Moon Huntress)
District 8 Female: Chantilly Weaver, age 16 (submitted by notthebrave)
District 8 Male: Sash Raish, age 15 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 9 Female: Kyva Farro, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 9 Male: Thomas Collins, age 18 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 10 Female: Jayla Horstow, age 14 (submitted by IIJamesII)
District 10 Male: Alberto Barbera, age 16 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 11 Female: Felicity Tiffins, age 18 (submitted by LordShiro)
District 11 Male: Sporos Trail, age 14 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 12 Female: Argentina Macri-Kirchner, age 12 (submitted by santiago. poncini20)
District 12 Male: Arvo Ligeit, age 17 (submitted by tristes7)
Chapter Question: Do you think Mizuki's friendship with Diana is over?
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Thanks for reading, and have a great day! I'll see you all hopefully soon!