Koy Baker POV District 4

I woke up sore from yesterdays training session. I sat up and groaned as a stretched my aching muscles. I got up and grabbed a towel and looked at my alarm clock. 6:15 a. m. Perfect. A ran out the door and tackled one of my cousins and best friends, Jerome.

"Whoa their Koy. In a hurry?" My other best friend, Jerome's twin brother, Kemper said steadying me.

"Just excited. "I replied. We both laughed at Jerome who glared at me. He stood up and playfully pushed me. We talked as we walked out the door and towards the lake.

"Well, well, well. Koy and his gang have returned." We all turned to see Latisha standing there in her bikini. Not that I was surprised to see that she came to the lake because everyone in the district came here but I was surprised to see that she was here this early. I looked over her shoulder (not that I had to stretch she was barely 5"7 and a was at least 6 foot) and saw there was at least eight other girls all lying around in there bikinis. They must have heard that we were coming to the lake before the reaping. I laughed and walked pass her and took off my shirt. I turned to see that every girl was watching. They all turned away when I made eye contact except Latisha who simply adverted her eyes to the scar on my left shoulder blade. It was shaped like a trident and it marked that I was a thief and that I got branded for it. I assumed that it made others think I was the 'bad boy' of the district but it actually marked that I stood up for my little sister Calli when she stole something.

"Well Latisha, if you are done staring, I would like a little privacy now." I said sarcastically. It was too early to think of a good remark. I stripped down to my boxers and dove in the lake.

…

I got dressed in my black pants and white dress shirt and went over to the little box on my dresser and pulled out my token. A necklace that has a silver trident on the end, my little sister gave it to me. I walked out my door and ran into my cousin Mika who was banging on the bathroom door.

"Your little sister is taking forever!" he shouted towards the door.

"Calli hurry up!" Jerome and Kemper shouted at the same time. We all laughed and she walked out the bathroom door rolling her eyes. I pushed them all out of the way and shut and locked the door behind me. They all shouted and banged the door.

"I'm the oldest so I should get to go first!" I shouted over their racket. I turned towards the mirror and made a halfhearted attempt to make my light brown hair lay flat but of course it remained looking like bed hair. I rolled my sea green eyes as I opened the door and the all fought to get in next.

I went downstairs and ate breakfast with my mom and dad, and Calli. After a while when Mika, Jerome, and Kemper were ready we all walked to the reaping together.

…

Once we got there we went our separate ways. Mom and Dad went to the spectators' section, I went to the seventeen year old section, Jerome and Kemper went to the sixteen year old section, Mika went to the fifteen year old section, and Calli went to the fourteen year old section. I stared at Calli terrified she might be chosen and let out a gust of air when it wasn't her. Then a I took in a huge breath of air and was terrified that it might be one of my cousins.

"Koy Baker!" Our escort shouted I was relieved it wasn't one of them until I realized it was me. I forced my legs to move up towards the stage and nothing else mattered. I forced my arm to lift and grab her hand and shake it. I was totally lost.

…

I sat there with my family not processing anything they said except that they love me and can't wait till I get back. I hugged them all one more time when the peacekeeper to them away and sat back down waiting for it to be time to go.

Authors note: Sorry it took me so long to update I was horribly sick and had to go to the hospital for awhile. Hopefully I get better soon. (Fingers crossed)