A/N: Here y'all are... THE NEXT CHAPTER! I'll (probably) post the next one today as well, as I have it almost finished. Or, I may not, and I may update my other two stories... i don't know...

I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES!

The next time I woke up, the sun was shining through the window. Lilly was curled up on her bed, snuggling Zoe, who was wide-awake.

"Moring Isa." She whispered, as not to wake up Lilly.

"Moring."

"Isaac went downstairs. So did William."

With those words, Lilly woke up and accidentally hit Zoe in the mouth.

"Ow!" Zoe yelped, and pushed Lilly off the bed. They started to argue and fight. Screaming to be heard, I told them both to go downstairs. They gave me an angry look and stalked down the stairs. I was finally left alone to dress. My Reaping dress is a worn out, tired-looking yellow…thing. It's too short in the arms, too tight across the chest, and ends well above my knees. It's the nicest thing I own. Dressing took a little longer than normal, as I had to be careful not to rip the dress. It would be Zoe's next year. I was planning on doing something nice with my hair, but gave up, too tired to do anything of the sort. So, instead, I gathered it into a bun on the top of my head and ran down to the kitchen. Everyone was sitting around the table, all dressed except for Lilly.

"Lilly! Go get dressed!" I exclaimed. "The Reaping's in less than an hour!" She stuck out her tongue and flounced upstairs.

Gazing around the room, I saw everyone looked nervous. Especially Isaac. We both knew that the odds of one of us going were ridiculously high. But, we had to put on a brave face for the rest of them. Especially Sammy and Lilly.

"Isaac, you wait for Lilly. I'll bring everyone else down."

He nodded and the rest of the kids got up. Zoe is the next oldest, at sixteen, and then there's William, who's 14. Lilly's 13 and Sammy's 12. Then there's the little kids: Maria, 11; Josiah, 9; Clark, 8; Tabitha, 6; Annie, 5; Eliza, 4 and the baby, Leo who's 2. Zoe picked up Leo and walked outside, William held Annie and Eliza's hands and Sammy held Tabitha's hand. I motioned for Maria, Josiah and Clark to go outside, and I brought up the rear. Watching them all walk together made me almost cry. I knew that it was very possible that I wouldn't be walking home with them. It was likely that I would have to say good-bye to them later today.

"Issy… are you crying?" Maria asked, her big brown eyes full of concern.

"N-no. Something just-flew in my eye."

"Oh." She answered, not convinced.

We walked in silence for the rest of the time it took to get to the Reaping Stage.

"Maria!" I said quickly. She turned and looked at me.

"Take the kids, and bring them into the stands. I'll find you all afterwards, don't wander!"

She nodded and led them into the audience. I watched them go, committing to memory how Tabitha fiddles with her hair as she walks, how Josiah is constantly making hue movements with his hands, how little Eliza always trips over her feet, how…

"Hey! Get a move on!"

The voice snaps me from my reverie, and, embarrassed, I walk quickly to the seventeen girl's section. Zoe is behind me with the other sixteen year olds, whispering something under her breath. Suddenly, I realize I haven't seen Isaac or Lilly for a while. Craning my neck, I glimpse Lilly's curly brown hair and Isaac's red Reaping shirt. I sigh with relief. If you're late to the Reapings, you get punished. Badly.

Up on the stage, a person moves, and gets up. It's Pontius Brookwater, the Capitol man who's been District 11's escort for as long as anyone can remember. He's one of the more… outlandish dressers of the Capitol. At least, I think so. I haven't really seen that many Capitol people in my life. But, I'm pretty sure Pontius is… out there. His skin is dyed a deep magenta that clashes brilliantly with his lime green hair that's cut short to his head on one side and long.

How, I wonder. How does this appear attractive?

I watch him walk over to the microphone that's placed in the exact center of the stage.

"Welcome district 11 to the Reaping for the 37th Hunger Games. Aren't we excited?"

A little twelve year old started to cry, her racking sobs clearly audible above the silence that greeted Pontius's question.

"Tears of joy, eh?"

The girl's sobbing grew louder. Please just get on with it, I silently begged him. Please.

"All right! We'll have ladies first!" He strode over to the glass bowl, filled with our names, and filled with promises of death. His long magenta fingers fished around in the bowl, making a dramatic performance. He nearly pulled one out, then shook his head, and placed it back. The twelve-year-old's sobs were hysterical now. Finally, finally, he pulled a slip from the bowl and triumphantly brandished it above his head. Slowly as possible, he made his way to the stage, and unfolded the paper.

"And our, lucky, lucky girl is-"

A/N: CLIFF HANGER! :D