District 2 Reaping:
Ashlar Brick POV:
I woke up early in the morning to make sure I could go for my early morning run before I had to come back and get ready for the reaping. In my Academy I was chosen three months ago to volunteer for the Games. Obviously I was excited, but once I found out I would be volunteering with Katrina Roxen, I instantly felt sick to my stomach.
Katrina's parents own both of the Combat Academy's. In 2, boys are in one academy and girls are in another. Same goes for the workers, all male trainers are in the boy's academy and all females are in the girl's academy. Katrina's dad, Morson Roxen, is the head of my academy and he is one tough guy. He can use any kind of weapon, even if it is not technically categorized as a weapon. I don't know Katrina's mom that well, but if she married Morson then I can guess she acts the same as him. And if those two had a daughter then she is probably one bad ass. I mean I can fight, I'm good with a spear, but Katrina's probably good with everything.
Once I finished my jog, I headed inside for a glass of water. My dad is sitting at the table eating his breakfast. "Hey Ash, are you excited for today?" he asks. "Yeah, I had a great run so I'm already pumped", I reply. "Great! Now go upstairs and take a shower. You can't smell like that when you volunteer", he says while chuckling. "Ok, ok I get the message". I head upstairs and turn on the shower. I hop inside and wash everything all in a matter of ten minutes. I hop out, dry off, and head to my closet. I pull out a nice black dress shirt and a nice dark pair of khakis. I get dressed and then I go in my shoe closet and pull out my nice pair of black dress shoes. I slip them on and comb through my damp hair and continue to comb until it's barely wet. I then decide I'm ready and I go downstairs.
When I get downstairs I realize my mother is not ready yet. "Mom!" I call upstairs. "It's time to go! You're not volunteering today, I am!" "Coming!" I hear my mother yell. She comes down the stairs slowly because she's wearing heels. She's also wearing a bright green dress to match her eyes. "Mom, why did you get so dressed up?" I ask. "Because, my son is volunteering and the cameras are bound to find your father and I in the crowd. We have to look our best! Isn't that right dear?" she asks my dad. "Oh, yes dear", my dad replies. My mother has this weird thing about image. Usually people in 2 are so passionate about training that they don't care what they look like, but not my mother. She was born into a wealthy family and she has never worked a day in her life. She has never set foot in a Combat Academy because she told her parents it was gross to hold weapons so her parents gave tons of money to District 2 so she wouldn't have to join. She's kind of out of place here in 2; she really belongs in the Capitol.
We head out the door and onto the path that leads to the Hall of Justice where the Mayor, Victors from 2, and Escort wait for everyone to arrive. I wait in line to get my finger pricked then I head over to the 18 year old male tribute section. After about 20 minutes our escort, RuPern Longivita, comes out wearing a purple wig, and a black tux that has huge rhinestones on the collar. At least it's not like last year, I think to myself. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen of District 2 to the reaping of this year's Hunger Games!" he booms into the microphone. "As it has always been, ladies are first!" he speaks. I've always thought RuPern wasn't a total Capitolite because he isn't as talkative as other Capitolite's. "Dortha Rocker!" he exclaims. Katrina jumps out of her place and yells "I volunteer as tribute!" "Amazing! Please come up here hot stuff and tell everyone your name!" RuPern exclaims. She says her name and then RuPern is telling the crowd that he will pick the male tribute. "Bron Jons!" he beams. Bron is a big guy that is my age but it's not his turn to shine, its mine. As Bron mounts the stage I yell "I volunteer as tribute!" "Excellent and sir please state your name!" RuPern says into the microphone. "Ashlar Brick", I say beaming. "And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we have your District 2 tributes, Katrina Roxen and Ashlar Brick!"
We are marched inside the Hall of Justice building and our both placed in room across from one another. I wait a few minutes before my parents burst through the door holding out their arms for a hug. "We are so proud of you!" my father says. "You do us proud now. I can't wait to be on camera for the final 8 interview!" my mother exclaims. I'm used to my mother thinking about herself, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love me more than anything. "I know, just wait for the Games! I will put on an epic show", I say to my parents. They continue hugging me until my mother pulls away abruptly. "Oh! You need a token! Well, I think I have just the thing!" she says. She opens her purse and pulls out a small silver circle. "What is it?" I ask. I've never seen this before. "It's called a silver stone. My great-grandfather found it during the first rebellion. It's been passed down generation after generation. It usually gets passed down at weddings, but I thought this would be the appropriate time", she says trying to hold back a tear. "Mother, it's a wonderful token, the most wonderful token actually. Thank you so much!" I say. "Times up", the Peacekeeper says. "We love you!" my father says. And with that my parents were gone. My friends came to see me after my parents but after that I was alone holding my stone waiting to go to the train station.
Katrina Roxen POV:
I throw my dagger exactly in the middle of the target on the opposite side of the room. "Excellent Katrina, now pick up the bow and arrows, run, and hit every single bull's eye", my mother says. "Yes ma'am", I reply. I go and do as my mother told me to do, and I didn't miss a single shot. "Good job. I think we are done. You have to get ready for the reaping today", my mother says. "But ma'am, can we go one on one just for a few minutes. When the clock hits 8:00 I swear I will stop", I ask. "Ok, but one time", my mother replies. We go at it but eventually my mom drops her leg and swings it under me so I fall flat on my back. She then drops her full weight on my chest and waits until I say "I forfeit!" "You did well, but you have to watch my whole body at all times. You got tired so you started to only watch my upper half", my mother explains to me as we exit the Combat Academy. "Yes, ma'am, I will remember", I reply.
I have to call my parents sir and ma'am when I am training because they do not want to give me any special treatment for being their daughter. The only special treatment I get is in the morning when they arrive, which is a half an hour before the trainees arrive. Then, I get to stretch and maybe throw a few daggers before anyone shows up. But, anyone could come early if they really wanted too.
We arrive at my huge house and walk in through our stained glass front door. "Welcome, how was training today?" my favorite butler, Raul, asks. "It was good, Mother got me again though", I say with a pout. "Keep that attitude up and you will die in the Bloodbath", my mother says with a chuckle. I laugh and walk to the bathroom. I turn on the shower and walk in. I take me time because I have to look my best being that I am going to volunteer today. I walk out and then I head towards my bedroom. I walk to my closet and pull out the dress I have been waiting to wear ever since my parents bought is as a present for me. It was their way of telling me I was the female picked to volunteer. It was a skin tight black dress with thin straps and a straight neckline. It was the most beautiful dress I have ever laid eyes on. I pull it on and it comes to my mid thigh. I then put my black pumps on that show my toes. I walk to my mirror and start brushing my long dark brown hair. It didn't take long to get the tangles out being that my hair is so thin. I then pull my hair up into a high pony and put a bump at the top so it looks like my hair has volume. I look myself over one more time in the mirror before I head downstairs.
I walked down slowly because I wanted to build suspense for my parents. Sure, they have seen the dress before, but I wasn't allowed to put it on until today. When I finally reach the end I turn around and I hear my parents gasp. "Oh, Kat you look absolutely stunning!" my mother exclaims. "We picked the right dress", my father says. My father doesn't show much emotion, so when he smiled it meant the world to me. "Thank you both so much! You are the best!" I say to them. "Come on, you don't want to be late today", my father says. I nod my head and then head for the door. We round the corner and I stop to get my finger pricked. "I'll see you in a few", I say to my parents. They nod and walk to the right where the adults wait.
I walk straight and find the 17 year old female tribute section. I picked the spot right on the corner so it would be easier for me to get out. I got bored, so I started walking to the 18 year old male tribute section where my boyfriend, Tony, is waiting. "Hey!" he says to me. "Hey", I say back. I don't talk much to people other than my parents, so when I met Tony I knew that he was the one for me because he doesn't talk much either. "Nervous?" he asks. "No", I reply. "Well, I better get back to my spot" I tell him. "Ok, I will come see you after you volunteer", he says. "Ok", I say with a smile. I walk back to my section just in time because the Peacekeepers start to make their way to the stage.
Our escort makes his way to the stage. He always has a different hair color every year but he surprisingly has good taste in clothes. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen of District 2 to the reaping of this year's Hunger Games!" he bursts into the microphone. I like our escort; he's not overly talkative, just like me. He walks over and picks a girl named Dortha who is 14. She's very good, but she's not ready for the Games yet. "I volunteer as tribute!" I say while moving out of my place in the section. "Amazing! Please come up here hot stuff and tell everyone your name!" our escort exclaims. "Katrina Roxen!" I say into the microphone. It was a little nerve-racking being up on the stage, but I got over it quickly. Our escort picks the males name and the guy who is supposed to volunteer this year volunteers and walks on stage. He's very tall, but not very muscular. That's weird that my father picked him, I think to myself. Oh well, he must be really good at a certain weapon. "And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we have your District 2 tributes, Katrina Roxen and Ashlar Brick!" our escort booms. We then get marched into separate rooms where we wait for any visitors. Tony comes in first.
"Hey", he says. "Hey", I say back. "You did really good, volunteering", he says with a smile. "Thank you. It was pretty nerve-racking but I got over that quickly", I say to him. "I have something for you", he says. I immideatly have a puzzled look on my face. "What did you get me?" I ask. He pulls out a bracelet from his pocket. He hands it to me. It's gold and plain, but on the inside it says To: Kat, Love: Tony. A tear rolls down my cheek. "You didn't have too. Thank you so much Tony I love it!" I say. "And I love you", he says to me. I am taken aback by that because we have never said that to each other before. I know that we love each other but we have never said it to each other. "I, I love you too", I say to him. "Times up", a peacekeeper says to us. He turns around and plants a gentle kiss over my cheek. I smile and then wait for my parents.
When my parents come in they immideatly sit down on the couch and hug me. "We love you and be safe. Don't go for anything that you want, only go for what you need", my father says. "Yes sir", I reply. "Only ally with people that are strong, but can be easily killed later", my mother says. "Yes ma'am", I reply. "They are bound to put a bow and arrows or daggers in there for you. When you see them, only have eyes for them because those are going to be your best friends", my father says. My mother starts to say something else but is cut off by the peacekeeper that says "times up". "Be safe", they say in unison. "I will, I love you both!" I reply. And with that I am left alone with no advice from my parents for the first time in my life.