SNOW DAY! Haha, sorry that was really exciting to wake up to now I just have my fingers crossed that the power doesn't go out.

Chapter 29

For the first time all week I fall asleep to the comforting fact that the next day I will see Prim. I dream of her all night and think of her the whole morning. I eat one of her left over omelets.

I walk to school. I know that they're still there, but I don't hear the rumors anymore. I don't really hear anything but Prim's voice echoing off the sides of my head. It won't be long.

Kristina doesn't try talking to me. I don't see Nahla this morning. Not to sound mean, but I honestly don't care. I'm perfectly content to be left alone with my own thoughts.

I go to my locker and start pulling out notebook and putting away others. Something in the back catches my eye. I pull it out and stare at it in curiosity and confusion. It's a costume.

"Hey Nicole." I turn to see who has spoken. Nahla gives a quick, very short burst of laughter, "You actually responded to that."

"Guess so," I force a chuckle out of myself.

Nahla starts to unzip her purple backpack to pull something out. I watch her face turn to a concerned expression, "I was wondering if you could tell me what this is."

I stare at the shimmering silver dress in sorrow. I hate to be the one to bring bad news, "Nahla, I'm so sorry…"

"What is it Nick?" her tone sounds harsh and slightly annoyed.

"It sounds to me like you already know what it is."

She throws it down on the ground in anger, "Don't tell me that means what I think it means." She whispers but it's more of a quieted yell.

I bend over and pick up the thin cloth, "If it makes you feel any better, I got one too. I'm sure everyone going into the games got one. Even Prim."

She bites her lip and looks like she might cry but like she mentioned before, she does not cry. Not a tear. "Will I get to talk to her before hand? I mean I know I don't know her but I'd really like to talk to someone who's been through this before."

"Well I've been through it."

She lets out a nervous giggle, "No offense, but I'm not going to talk about this with a dude."

"Oh," I try to hide my embarrassment with a laugh, "Yeah of course. I'm sure Prim would be happy to, err, help you through this."

Nahla smiles, "Thanks." She takes the dress from my hands. We both stand there and listen to the long repetitious ring of the first bell. "Well, I should probably get to class."

She turns and walks away, "Bye Nahla."

"Bye Nicole." I can't help but smile.

I gather the rest of my things and go to English. I'm nearly bouncing in my seat as I wait for the end of the day when I will be reaped and see Prim.

The dismissal bell of the last class rings. I watch as groups of friends from together so they can walk together to the town center. I am surprised to see Nahla walk up to me. Her eyes are anxious and terrified, "I figured we could walk together."

"Yeah, of course."

We follow the crowd to the packed town center. Up on a stage are two huge spheres with thousands of sheets of paper inside. Nahla and I both knew that only our names were written on those sheets.

Every body talks and wonders out loud about what they think is going on. It's not until a tall, thin woman takes the stage that the crowd silences. I can tell she is older, maybe late forties, but her age is not obvious. What are obvious; however, are how many plastic surgery operations the woman has had. Her whole face looks like it has been pulled back to smooth wrinkles. She looks fake. And plastic.

She clears her throat as if to get our attention but she's already got it. "Hello citizens of District 4." Everyone remains silent, "My name is Linda Lou and I will be District 4's district escort." The crowd seems puzzled. Why wouldn't they be? They still have no idea what's going on. "The Capitol has decided to restore the old tradition of the HUNGER GAMES!" she is smiling hugely like it's the best thing in the world. "The Hunger Games give residents of the twelve districts a chance to show their skill, potential, but most of all their personality to those watching in the Capitol and the rest of Panem. We will draw a girl name," she gestures her hand to the sphere on her right, "And a boy name," she gestures to the one on her left. "The two lucky tributes will get to battle it out with 22 other contestants of the other districts. May the odds be ever in your favor."

She walks over to the girl sphere never letting that fake smile fade from her mouth. She reaches her hand deep into the sphere and pulls out a sheet. I look to my left to see Nahla popping her neck, readying herself for what comes next. "Nahla Waters." A simultaneous gasp is heard through the crowd as Nahla walks up to take her place on the stage. She no longer looks afraid or upset. She looks focused and to be quite honest, fearless.

"Any volunteers to take Nahla's place?"

I see Nahla look up at the sky and take a deep breath. I can almost hear the sarcasm in her voice as she mouths the words, "Yeah, anyone want to take my place?"

"Nobody? Then we'll move on to the boys." She reaches her hand into the second sphere and pulls out a piece of paper. I try to shake away my nerves. "Finnick Odaire."

I walk up and take my stage much like Nahla did. I push all my emotions aside and keep my expression as empty as possible. "Any volunteers to take Finnick's place?"

"Nick," I correct her.

She sounds a little annoyed but continues to smile, "Any volunteers to take Nick's place?"

I let my gaze fall on the crowd. Part of me hopes someone will volunteer for me and I won't have to go through this but the other part, the more dominant part may I add, of me wishes no one will so I can see my Prim tonight. My second wish is answered as no one volunteers.

"Thank you District 4, I'll be back next year." Lindy Lou leads Nahla and I off the stage to talk to us privately. "It's customary for you guys to go inside town hall so you can say goodbye to your friends and family."

We both nod and go inside the building. She leads us to different rooms. I wait impatiently. Who would come see me? I have no one left here. My mom's…. gone. My only friend here is Nahla. Prim's in twelve. I'm surprised to see the door open and a small blond girl walk in. It's Kristina. She doesn't really look upset though. "You knew didn't you? You knew you'd be picked."

Of course, just something new to talk about, "How'd you know?"

"Oh I know everything." She smiles but turns to a more concerned expression. "I'm going to miss having you around Nick. You were a pretty cool kid." She gives me a brief hug and then steps back, "Well I'm going to go say bye to Nahla," a tear forms in her eye, "I don't belief in having beefs with some one who might, uh, who I might not see again."

I nod and she leaves. Soon, the door opens again. This time it's Lucy. She's already got tear stains on her cheeks She takes me up into an enormous hug. This time she respects boundaries and doesn't fish to make out. "We've had some crazy times."

I can't help but laugh at the thought of tying her up with dental floss, "Yeah we have."

"I'm going to miss not having anyone around to steal my car and kidnap me for the weekend."

"I'm going to miss not having anyone to kidnap."

She smiles, "Take care ok?" I nod to her, "Oh and say hi to Prim for me, I have a feeling this isn't as random as they make it out to be."

"Yeah, I'll let her know you said hi."

Lucy leaves and I am left alone until Lindy collects us for the train.

Nahla's pov:

I patiently wait for my family to come and say goodbye. They come in one at a time. First my mom, then my dad. Lastly my little sister, eleven years old, comes in. She falls into my arms and starts crying. "Nahla I love you." This is the first time she's said this out loud. I stroke her tangled hair, "I love you too Kahlan."

My mind keeps racing back to the fight we had a week before. We said some really awful stuff to each other. Well, I guess now is the time to make amends. "Kahlan, I don't think you're ugly."

"And I know Mom and Dad love you just as much as me."

"I didn't mean to laugh when you cried."

"And I didn't mean to drop your toothbrush in the toilet."

"I didn't mean to- you did what now?"

She never answers, she just cries into my arms. There is a knock on the door and Kahlan must leave.

As soon as she walks out, Kristina walks in. "Hey Nahla, you still hate me?"

"Kristina, I never hated you."

"But I said all that stuff about Nick after you specifically told me not to."

I give a half-hearted giggle, "Guess that's why I love you."

She gives me a long hug, "What am I going to do without my bestie?"

"You'll figure something out."

"You have to come back, you hear me? You have to win."

"I'll do everything I can." I doubt that'll be enough.

"You know you're going to have to kill him. Nick I mean."

"I was hoping to just let somebody else do that."

"Well if you're not going to do it… just watch your back ok? You can't be sure who you can trust."

Nick's pov:

Lindy Lou comes to get us and leads us to the train. Here I come Prim. Here I come.

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