Maia's POV 5:07 A.M. - Reaping Day
I wake up early on Reaping Day, earlier than when the rooster crows to wake District 11. I didn't get much sleep last night. I kept tossing and turning, worrying about my family and my friend Shawn. We've been friends since we were little- our families work in the same orchard. I kept thinking about the twenty slips in the reaping bowl -among hundreds, maybe thousands- with my best friend's name on them. Shawn had to take extra tesserae because he was the oldest eligible child in his family for the Hunger Games. His siblings, Olivia, 7; Juno, 19; Jacob, 10; Emily, 12; Tori, 4; and Sydney, who is still just a tiny 4 month old baby, probably wouldn't make it without him. He works two jobs, one in the orchard, and one in the post office, not counting school, just to help make ends meet. I flopped back down onto my bed, watching the sun rise and worrying still.
Shawn's POV 5:10
It's Reaping Day today. I can't say I'm not scared with twenty pieces of paper in the Reaping Bowl with my name on it, but that's not the reason of my nervousness. I know I should be worried for Emily, since it's her first Reaping, but I can't say she's the reason of my anxiety. She only has one slip because I took all the tesserae. Maia. Sixteen slips with the words Maia Thompson on them. Maia and I, we're inseparable; we're almost always together, some of our neighbors even think we are siblings.
I hurriedly get dressed, and run to Maia's window. I knock on her window and slip a note under the screen.
Meet at our place
Maia's POV: 5:12- Reaping Day
I jump up and run to the meadow. There's a small hill in it, covered with high grass and beautiful flowers during this time of year. The perfect place to watch the sun rise. Shawn's already there, breakfast in tow. We link hands, feeling the sun's rays on our bare skin.
Emily Blank:
I don't like reaping day. Never have, never will. I have to fight myself to let the Peacekeeper prick my finger. Our escort bumbles up to the stage, racing through the video of the Dark days.
"And now the main event!" He states. "Emily Blank!" I can't believe my ears. No. This can't be happening. Shawn took the tesserae. I had one slip. Wait a second. Someone volunteered. Maia just saved my life. "And now the boys. Shawn Blank." Maia and Shawn are officially declared tributes. I can't bear witness.