"What?" I stare dumbfounded at Minerva, no one has ever volunteered in district twelve, because it is one of those poor districts that starve and die without the Hunger Games help. I can't believe something like this could ever happen in District Twelve.
"Aeliana, are you watching the same T.V. channel I am? Why don't we watch it again? So that some unobservant person can see the volunteering, they weren't observant to see the first time." With that Minerva has the remote, rewinds and I watch a little girl get reaped. As she goes thru the crowd, an older girl, about sixteen, shouts out, and in one swift moment has the little girl safely behind her back and is saying the words I never thought a person from district 12 would say.
"See, I told you someone had volunteered!" Minerva says smugly to me. I think that Minerva is one of those people who loves being right, and rubs it in other people's faces. Like me right now.
I scowl at her. Honestly, I think I am one of those people who hates it when their wrong and rubs it in other people's faces when their right. That's probably why we are such good friends, it could also be because she has a cat alterations. Either way, I'm glad we are friends.
"We should go meet up with our other friends and cast in our bets on who we think will win this year. If we do it now then we can all watch the tributes board the train together!" That is another one of the thing that gets me so excited for the games. Watching each tribute's journey begin as the train takes them to the capitol.
Minerva quickly agrees with me and before you know it we are off to a place where most people our age hangs out, Octavian's place. Bets are always made at Octavian's house; He is one of the most popular people in school. His dad is also richer than most families, which means that their manor is bigger than most. Octavian rarely rubs in just how much richer he is than us, but on nights like tonight, he always hosts the biggest and best parties for kids in school. So most people come to Octavian's to get a good party, and to bet on whatever tribute their betting on.
I have yet to decide who I will bet on, my family usually bets on underdogs like District Seven, and Five. I think my parents bet on them because even though they're not from power houses like Districts Two and Four, they have a better chance of winning than dirt poor districts like Eleven and Twelve. That's not the real reason, the real reason of why they bet that way, is a couple of years back, my Dad took a dare that he would bet on the weakest tribute, a girl from District Seven, Joanna Mason. She won the Games that year so ever since then my dad has betted on, not-the-weakest-but-not-the strongest-Tribute.
"Aeliana, are you day dreaming again?" Minerva asks me. When I shake my head she pulls on my arm and pulls me right up to Octavian, because we are going to make our bets now.
Octavian has a tattoo for each of the Hunger Games, like for the Seventieth Hunger Games he has a blue trident to symbolize that Finnick from District Four won those games. His tattoos are multicolored and all over his body. Octavian is the most beautiful boy I have ever seen in the Capitol. I can't say he is the most beautiful because Finnick and the boy from district two are better looking in my opinion.
"Who are you betting for? I think I am going to bet ten coins that the girl from District One is going to win." Octavian told us. He looks at Minerva expectantly, and I don't know why but that really ticks me off. I am just as beautiful as Minerva, and the only reason I don't have cat alterations is because my parents won't let me get those yet.
"Well, I bet ten coins that it will be the girl from district twelve that kills the girl you betting on. And I'll also bet five coins that she will be the one to win it all." I angrily say to Octavian before Minerva has time to speak and before I have time to realize what I just betted on.