"Welcome welcome, as we celebrate the 99th anniversary of the Hunger Games" said the representative from the capitol. I wanted to roll my eyes.
'Of course, she would be happy at the fact that we die in what only they call a sport.' I thought bitterly. I changed a glance at the boy's side trying to find my best friend, who I have been in love with for years. I found him, and he was already looking at me.
'Jasper.' Just thinking of him made my stomach tie in knots. He rolled his eyes at me, and I knew that he was thinking the same thing that I am. I giggled, causing the girls around me to stare at me as if I'd grown another head.
"Now we have a very special film, brought to you all the way from the capitol." I turned my head toward the screen as the guard walked past. The film didn't tell us anything we didn't already know from history class.
Our ancestors rose up against the government and in retribution the government created "the games" as punishment. I looked back at Jasper and saw him mouthing the words. They show the same film every year.
" I just love that" the capitol representative said, her voice coming out all airy and high.
"Okay the time has come for us to chose a courageous young man and woman for the HONOR of representing district 12 in this year's arena. As always ladies first." She teetered over to the bowl on her left and stuck her hand in and shuffled around for a moment before she pulled out a slip like she just pulled out a prize. She walked back over to the mic and read out,
"Alice Masen." My eyes snapped over to Jasper as the widened, and his did the same. I whipped my head around as I saw my sister started to walk up to the stage. I pushed my way through the crowd and into the aisle before I was stopped by the peacekeepers.
"Alice!" I called, and her head whipped around, her eyes wide and frightened. I began to fight against the hold on my arms, but when I found that I couldn't release the grip I did the only thing that I could think of to save Alice.
"I volunteer. I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute." I shouted, shoving the stunned peacekeepers out of my way on the way to my sister. I hugged my sister, telling her to go find mom. She shook her head before running off, crying. The peacekeepers grabbed my elbows, and led me to the stairs leading to the stage.
"What is your name dear?"
"Isabella Swan."
"Did you know the girl you volunteered for." I nodded.
"She's my sister." The representative looked confused.
"You have different last names though."
"She and I have the same mom." She nodded, before shaking her head and leaning into the mic.
"Your female tribute from district 12 Isabella Swan." She said, and waited. Slowly one by one the spectators raised their index, middle, and ring fingers to their lips, kissed them, and held them in the air.
JasperPOV-
When they surrounded Bella, my heart was hammering. She had volunteered to save her sister.
'She's a tribute in the games now.' I thought, making my heart clench painfully. I barely heard as the representative had her introduce herself. I didn't hear anything until the representative said.
"Wonderful, and now for the men." She walked over and stuck her hand in the bowl, shuffling around like she was trying to find the prize. She walked over to the mic after pulling out the slip and read out.
"Jasper Whitlock." I took a deep breath and held my head high as I stepped forward. The boys parted. Once I was up on the stage, and the representative man-handled both Bella and I until we stood where she wanted us, she then introduced us one more time.
"Your tributes for the 99th annual hunger games. Isabella Swan and Jasper Whitlock." She paused, and unsure what she was waiting for we did too, and we just stared out into the masses. Slowly, just like with Bella, the crowd raised their three fingers to their mouth, kissed them and raised them in the air.
The peacekeepers grabbed mine and Bella's elbows and whipped us around and into the justice building. We were led to separate rooms. They all but shoved Bella into a room and posted two peacekeepers outside her door before opening the door across the hall and doing the same to me.
It was approximately half hour later that my family walked in. My mother, Meredith, walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
"Oh, my boy. You surely have the worst luck." I pulled away, looking down at her 5'2" self.
"We knew it was always a possibility the I would get chosen. Everyone has that fear, except the children in the capitol." She shook her head.
"I meant being chosen with the woman you are in love with. We all know the rules, only one winner." I looked at her.
"How did you…" She but me off.
"A mother knows, but we don't have time. Be safe my darling." She hugged me again before stepping aside. My father walked up to me and shook my hand.
"You know how to fight. You will win." Just then the peacekeeper came in and stated,
"Times up." They looked at me one more time before walking out the door.
'That was the last time I will see my parents. Either way I lose. If I win Bella dies, if I die, I'll never get the chance to tell her how I feel.' I thought to myself. When the peacekeepers came back, I was still thinking.
'What do I do?'