District 7
Jack Rowan was a stereotypical "lumberjack" as some people might call him. He looked like one, definitely acted like one...Even smelled like one, but the scent of sweat and pine trees was certainly very odd.
Three years ago, at age 14 his father had died and he had taken over the family lumber business.
His Mom called to him that he needed to take a shower before the reaping. He reluctantly leaned his axe against a tree and headed inside.
Roxanne March wanted the reaping just to be done already so she could change out of this dress. It was extremely itchy and in the hot sun she was sweating quite a lot.
The escort, Talia, takes a name from the glass ball. The name is Roxanne March. It takes a couple seconds for her to register the name before she takes a cautious step forward.
Johanna Mason, who is standing on the stage with the escort and the mayor, sneered at her, clearly thinking she wasn't much.
When the boy's name is called he doesn't just come up like she did. He says something.
He says "No."
Jack doesn't really realize what he's saying. He doesn't realize that what he said could get him killed...if he wasn't going to be killed anyway.
The Peacekeepers come at him with their guns raised, but instead of a gun there's an axe at his throat.
"Pretend you're struggling," a voice whispers. Johanna.
A couple seconds later she backs off suddenly.
A Peacekeeper shoved a gun into his back, shoving him forward. And this time, he goes with them.
District 8
The ball was going in and Jay Alson knew it. The other team's goalie, Caleb Fletcher, never had a chance. The game was over and Jay's team had won. Again.
Jay sat down in the grass with his water bottle, and his best friend, Eric Marin, said, "Nice job dude."
He smirked. "I don't need you to tell me that."
Eric nudged him. "Hey, here comes your sister."
His twin sister Ashley was in almost every way his opposite. She was quiet, bad at sports, and a loner at school. Of course, she still could give out some pretty cruel insults when she wanted to, and she was pretty strong for a girl, but still...
"Mom says to come home and get ready for the reaping," she said.
"I am your elder and you have no right to tell me when I should be home," Jay mocked.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine you do look like an old geezer anyway," she starts to walk away. When she's at the edge of the soccer field she calls back, "Thanks for the water!"
She's stolen his water bottle! That meant war!
Ashley Alson stood shoved next to her brother and all the rest of the sixteen year olds. Thankfully, he'd showered, so he wasn't still sweating from playing soccer.
"Ashley Alson? Where are you?" the escort asked, confused. The escort called her?! Her palms began to sweat as she took steps forward. Oh no, everyone was staring at her. She could barely even do presentations at school without passing out, now the cameras all over the town square were trained on her...This was bad...This was very bad...
Jay heard his sister get called. The cameras were broadcasting to all of Panem showing her...Wait. Cameras?
No way. His little sister, the resident Nobody of District 8, was now one of the most famous people in the country? She was actually getting more attention than him for once!
And he would not just let that slide.
So when the escort calls the name Jonathan Fleming he yells "I volunteer!"
All right. He was in it to win it.