Jay Reeve

Jay has always felt that who he is as a person is the combination of two people. People see his tall lean body, messy hair and green eyes, and they see the fun loving laid back guy that plays immature pranks and is always wearing a smile. Jay's parents look at him and see their quiet middle child that never seemed to do anything, and his sisters never seem to see him at all. It is said in psychology that people act certain ways in order to protect themselves. The two personalities that make up the singular Jay Reeve need each other. The quiet Jay needs the prankster Jay in order to be noticed and to get the basic human interaction that people need to survive, and the prankster Jay needs the quiet and calm Jay for balance and tranquility.

Today was Reaping day and the day started as normally as ever. Jay was already up with his nose in a book when he heard the commotion of his sisters' discussion about what to wear. About the time the conversation reached a dull roar, Jay exited the quiet of his room and was able to slip unnoticed through the hallway avoiding his sisters, a feat that he would have accomplished regardless of if he tried or not, but the fact that he tried makes him feel a little better. After showering, Jay put on his best jeans and a white shirt and went to the kitchen to get some breakfast. Instead of getting worked up over his appearance like his sisters, Jay skipped the fuss for more reading time. Jay didn't see the point; no matter what he did he wouldn't look much better than normal. While the morning's commotion continued, Jay sat in silence reading a book he had read numerous times. The characters in his favorite story comforted him more than friends or family have ever been able to. Just as Jay got to the ever familiar climax in the story knocks on the door shook him from his reading. His group of friends gathered at his house to walk to the square together. "Great," Jay thought to himself, "Time to walk with my friends." Jay got up not bothering to say goodbye to his family. He knew they wouldn't notice anyway.

Immediately Jay sprang up from his seat and pretended to stumble in order to lighten the mood for his friends. Jay would rather have them laugh than ask about his book. As he crossed the threshold of the door a smile immediately forced its way onto his face, a force of habit at this point. If anyone would look closely enough at Jay they would see his eyes betray his true feelings. Everything about Jay's physical presence emanated joy, except for his eyes. Jay's bright green eyes lacked the light of someone who was genuinely happy. While walking, Jay rattled through his usual arsenal of jokes and childish pranks which received the usual laughs, a well oiled machine that required little effort.

Upon arriving at the square Jay exchanged pleasantries with his peers and he took his place in his roped off section. Right as the Mayor took his place at the podium Jay made a farting noise that made his friends laugh but only frustrated the Mayor and the Peacekeepers. During the entire event Jay made silly comments whenever he could to keep his friends distracted from what was about to happen. The female tribute was picked and then it was time for the male. The joker in Jay was gone and the quite Jay took over the second the Escort called his name out.

As Jay walked to the stage an inner battle went on. Should he be sad that he was probably going to die, or should he get on stage and laugh because after all why not show that he's not afraid. Once onstage his mind was made up and Jay was going to laugh, but when he opened his mouth his laughter was gone and all it had left behind was a quiet little gasp. Determined not to appear sad Jay quickly hid behind his signature crooked smile. Scanning the crowd, his friends returned his smile, and his family looked at him with their same plain look. For some reason this failure on the part of his family to acknowledge him caused a painful jab in his chest. Jay didn't understand, he was going to die and although his family would be sad they still didn't see him for who he really was. Jay decided right then and there that the quiet part of him and the prankster part of him would have to take a back seat to the newest part. Because from now on there would be no more shy introvert, nor the clown, only a survivor. A survivor who wouldn't let his family devalue him, a survivor whose friends would truly understand his inner workings, and a survivor who would make it back to his house and finish his book, because, after all, he had just gotten to the good part.

Evalyn Whaltey

Evalyn inhaled deeply, eyes closed, holding the breath in so long that it finally burst from her nose and mouth minutes later. She opened her eyes and gazed happily over the field of cows that her family owned and milked for various dairy products that they sent regularly to the Capitol. Evalyn loved the smell of the cows. She loved everything about them. "MOOOO" she shouted at them, a farewell as she left the corral to wander nonchalantly down to the Reapings. Along the way, Evalyn stopped at many other pens and pastures, taking the opportunity to greet the other cows in her District. To her great confusion, most of the people in her District steered clear of Evalyn. She thought maybe she smelled bad from all the time she spent milking and caring for the cows, but really the inhabitants of District 10 were all a little wary about Evalyn's obsession with cattle and her overall mental state. But Evalyn was happy, and her family loved her quirky personality, even if everyone else thought she was just a tad crazy. So it was as the train rolled out, carrying her away from her beloved pasture lands that the thought finally sank into her head. Evalyn might never see her beloved bovines again, and the tears welled in her eyes.