I sat on a plush blue chair in front of my mirror as mother silently curls my hair. My mind was set off from the curling by a book. I was never really fond of the hair curler, it makes a buzzing noise and it pulls my hair every single time.
I eye Dusk as he walks around the hallway outside my room. Dusk was pacing around, his blond hair gelled to stay in one place. Dusk wore a light blue dress shirt with a tie.
"Stop moving," mother commanded. She wanted everything to be perfect, especially towards me. She doesn't really pay as much attention to me than Dusk, probably because our gender.
I never took on how I look being so serious on my mother. It's not like life or death. Same with other people. They spend their time trying to look like someone they're not. It's just the Reaping. Do I want to dress up all nice because there's going to be people dying in our district?
"Finally," I sighed, jumping off my chair. My light blue dress making it harder for me to do so.
"Don't jump, it'll ruin your hair,"
"Okay!" I yelled, running downstairs, my hair bouncing in each step. The clock almost touching the one.
I grab Dusk's arm and we head out to the door, ready for the Reaping, our parents trailing behind. The Reaping is always held in the town square, where every single District hosts their Reaping.
The square is a nice, marbled area in the middle of the district, in front of our Justice Building. Resturaunts and food places were around it and at night, it's always lit up with bright, neon, colors. The smell of bakery pastries filled the whole square. Genders and age groups were roped off, people unable to be reaped are in another roped off area. Camera crews were everywhere, perched on a large crane, right on the stage, behind the people that are about to be reaped.
The stage was filled with two glass bowls, one containing the females, one containing the males. My name was filed in two times, and Dusk was six, his last year of the Reaping. On the stage are two filled chairs. One, filled with our mayor, Mayor Brunner. The second one, filled with District One's escort, Volumnia.
Volumnia is like any other creepy Capitol citizen. She has very pale skin, probably powder. Her hair is straight, reaching to her elbows, her hair colored gold. She wore, what looks like really uncomfortable attire. The way it seems to pinch her body in a way that you can't go into any other position. Her golden, glittery dress makes squeak noises when she sits.
Mayor Brunner is a pudgy man, but not really obese. He has a mustache that trails to his jaw. And always wear a tall hat that shields his eyes away from the light.
Me and Dusk had our blood sampled, then both of us get escorted by Peacekeepers to our age group. Boys on the left, girls on the right, older ones in front, younger ones in the back. Ash and Dusk were no where to be seen by now. Since we are in the richest district in Panem, why can't we have chairs to sit on?
"Welcome," Volumnia sang, her voice booming in my ears. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Now, the ladies, are always first,"
I hold my breath as her hand goes inside the bowl. Volumnia's hand stops for a second. She holds the white slip of paper, her golden glove glistening from the sun. Slowly, she opens the crisp paper, her fingers smoothing it out.
"Gemini Whishart,"
I feel my whole body heating up. A hand goes on my back. I turn and find Tillus, escorting me to the stage. Everything stopped.
"I'm sorry," I hear Tillus whisper.
I reach the stage, staring in the crowd. I spot Catri minding her own business. No volunteers this year. Volumnia gave me those creepy Capitol smiles, where their smile is so big that you can't see their eyes. Mayor Brunner gave me a pitiful smile. I see Dusk who looked at the floor, his skin suddenly turned pale. Ash stared at me. My parents have horrified looks.
It felt like all of our air was sucked out.
"Now, for our male tributes," she began, her hand going to the other bowl. "Silver Goldingham,"
Before the pale, dark haired boy can step any further, another voice came booming out. "I volunteer!"
Everyone turned to see Lumin Gasford, the male who was supposed to volunteer for whoever got called up. Lumin had dark brown hair and autumn-like eyes. Right when you see him, you can automatically see that he's going to win. Lumin walked up to the stage giving me a crooked smile. He gives everyone a crooked smile.
"What is your name, young man?" Volumnia asked, her Capitol accent emphasizing their s.
"Lumin Gasford,"
"Well. Lets give a round of applause to our District One tributes, Gemini Whishart and Lumin Gasford!"
No applause were given. Too stunned for having no female tribute volunteers, probably.
Me and Lumin stand back as Mayor Brunner reads the Treaty of Treason, a long, boring speech that is mandatory to be read. I jump on one foot then the other. Me and the male tribute shakes hands as the anthem plays. I look at the citizens one last time, then the Peacekeepers escorted us inside the Justice Building.
I am now in a room. Alone. I sit on a squishy, cream colored couch and wait for someone to get me out.
The tall, oak door opened. My parents walked in. I wasn't very fond of my parents, actually. They always tell me what to do, even though that seems normal. But they make my decisions for me. They always say, Oh you're a grown woman, and all that, but shouldn't a grown woman h ave her parents decide on what to do?
I kept a straight face on the whole time as they talked about my childhood. They even told me all the mistakes I've commited, which is a lot.
Both of them walked out when a Peacekeeper said the time is up and Dusk came in. I hugged him and burst into tears. I could feel his tears in my shoulder. This is the first time we ever hugged. Ever. I looked into his blue eyes, the last time I'll ever see them. He places me on his lap, his heat, always radiating off of him.
"I-I really can't lose you," Dusk said, his voice unstable. I never seen Dusk cry when we're not watching a movie or he's reading a book. Or it's not really noticeable. He usually puts his head to his lap and cry there. "I really can't. You might not see it, but I do. You might hate me for eternity, even though it seems like it, I'll never hate you,"
"All that time I've been acting like-"
"Your time is up, sir," a Peacekeeper interrupted.
"I love you, Gem," Dusk whispered, kissing the top of my head.
Dusk left, having Ash coming in. He gives me a smile. I suddenly felt like someone stuck a knife in my chest. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and smiled back.
Ash comes closer to me, his hands going on my jaw. He's actually kissing me. Ash's lip felt soft to mine. I run my hands through his hair one last time, feeling them flick back down once my hands let go of them. I heard Ash mumble something, but I couldn't understand. I wanted to stay here forever, this time forever.
"Gem. I have to go," he said, probably again. I cried in his shirt, again. The thought of me dying, leaving Ash behind just to go to the afterlife leaves me heart broken. "Don't cry, Gem. You're going to win, your parents will be the biggest sponsors ever," Ash kisses me in the jaw, I could feel his throat tense up a bit.
"Sir, your time-" a Peacekeeper began.
"I know," Ash said, facing the Peacekeeper, then looked back at me. "Win it. For the both of us,"
Those were the last words I ever heard from him before the Peacekeeper took him away. I wipe my face as a ton of news reporters were in on me and Lumin's faces. Lumin looked fine, calm, emotionless. Me, I had my face redden and streaked with tears.
Once we reached inside the train, I knew that there is no going back.