Tess- Salty'n'sweet

Aaron- Just another Nebula

Tess Larson

14

~Victors lose what's most important - and the rest lose their lives. Either way, I can say goodbye, because Tess will not come back, not really~

If you see me I'll be sleeping. It's kinda my only hobby. Well that and swimming but since we moved away, I've not been able to that so.. sleeping it is.

I wake up later than usual, it's the reaping and if I get the chance to sleep in, I'll take it. I'm not lazy really, I just have nothing better to do. Normally, my mom would be telling me to wake up but now she's pregnant she's been sleeping as much as me.

I don't hate life or anything, in fact I love it- mostly. But today I'd the horror known as the reapings. I want to be asleep for as much as today as possible, I don't want to think about it.

I'm kinda squeamish about death, I've had a lot of first hand experience with it- not that I remember. I know my biological mother is dead, but I don't know how. I'd ask my dad but I don't know where he is either.

I don't live in the orphanage, I guess I'm lucky like that, but I wish I knew my real parents. Heck, I wish I knew my real birthday. I celebrate it on February the 14th, the day my foster parents found me, but I wish I knew my real age. I say I'm 14 but I could be 13 or 15 for all I know. My biological parents decided it would be a good idea to not register me so until I was about 2 I didn't legally exist.

I don't dwell on that though, as far as I'm concerned I'm 14 and my real parents are Jocelyn and Cade. All I know about my biological family is that my biological mother was called Teresa, which is now my name.

No one knows that thank god, I'm Tess to everyone else.

I walk downstairs to the smell of pancakes, not normal pancakes though. Papa is kinda a health nut so they normally involve some kinda fruit. Today it's my favourite- blueberry.

Papa gives me a plate and puts two pancakes on it, I sit at the table eating hungrily. "I chose a dress for you to wear Tessie," Mom says, "It's one of my old dresses."

I smile at mom. Her old clothes are gorgeous and it means a lot to me whenever I'm allowed to wear them. It helps reassure me that I'm just as much her daughter as my little sibling.

I can't wait to meet her or him.

After I've finished eating we go upstairs and mom hands me the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. It's white with ruffles. We seem to have been about the same size as teenagers even though I'm short with too long limbs and mom is tall and graceful.

I put it on and smile at my reflection, I'm not pretty with too thick eyebrows and short messy hair but I look alright.

Aaron Miller

12

~I'd tell you to go to hell but I don't want to see you there~

"Grandpaaaaaa." I say, dragging out the last syllable, "Can I go feed the chickens?"

Grandpa looks conflicted, he wants to say no I can tell, but he diesjt want to deny me of something I enjoy doing.

"Maybe tomorrow," he finally says, and I smile. Suddenly my smile disappears.

"What if I'm reaped?" I say, not really caring about the chickens anymore. I don't wanna get reaped and die. I wanna live.

"You don't have any tesserae." He says, it's not an answer but he's trying to make me feel better so it doesn't matter.

"What's for breakfast?" I can tell by his face that he is pleased to get off topics like the reaping.

"Cereal or toast. What would you prefer?" I don't really like either but grandad isn't rich. All his money is going to paying off my parents debt.

They're in jail at the moment. 9 takes stealing really seriously and it wasn't like they were just stealing food. They were caught taking a necklace out of a jewellery shop, best they were hoping to do with it I don't know.

They weren't bad thiefs but they got cocky.

To top things off, Grandad is pretty sick. Some days, like today, he's okay but others he's coughing all over the place and even fainting. So all our money is going towards medicine and debt and we can't afford to get more than the essentials. Then, we also have to feed the chickens, although that isn't too expensive and at least we can eat or sell their eggs.

"I'll have toast, thanks." I eat my toast quickly before shoving on black shorts and my best, cleanest t shirt.

"Bye Granddad, see you later," I say, hugging his too frail body.

I walk out of her house, hoping the reaping finishes quickly.

Tess Larson

The square is packed with people my age and you can almost smell the fear. Maybe that's mean to say but it's kinda true. The body sweats when nervous, and almost everyone here is.

We have the same escort every year but each year she dresses up as a different animal. She fails to disappoint, with fake ears, whiskers a catsuit and even a tail, she's a black cat.

If she thinks she looks good she's mistaken.

She starts her speech enthusiastically, as if we really listen. I don't zone out like most of my peers but I don't really take it in either.

"And now to find out who the female tribute will be!" She says enthusiastically, "Teresa Larson!"

I feel stupid admitting in but I got kinda confused for a minute. My name isn't used much- if at all.

I start laughing to myself as I walk up. I don't want to look crazy but I can't help it.

Aaron Miller

I don't recognise the girl, but her reaction was one I'd never forget. She fucking laughed.

I couldn't help but be a bit creeped out by her, though she seemed unassuming, barely older than me.

"Thank you Teresa. Now the male tribute will be Aaron Miller!"

I'd like to say I took this calmly.

I didn't.

I screamed and started swearing.

In my defence, see how calm you are when you're faced with fucking dying.

It's better then laughing.

Tess Larson

I'm sitting with Mom and Papa, sort of crying when I suddenly realise something.

"Mom," I say, "When- if I die, you'll tell Baby about me won't you?"

I hate the fact that I'll never meet him or her, being told about could be the next best thing.

In response, my mom hugs me.

"Here's your token," papa hands to me my bracelet and I slip it onto my wrist.

Aaron Miller

I don't have a token. Grandad has nothing he can give me. I don't mind too much though. I'm not a sentimental person and I'd be terrified of losing- or worse, breaking something.

I wonder if Mom and dad know yet. Will they be being told now or after I die? Grandad has already visited me, said his goodbyes and I've never been a friendly person so no one else comes to visit me.

Not long to go! At the time I'm writing this, we just had the 6 reaping.

Who was your favourite?

Fun fact: Heart attacks are more likely to happen on a Monday.

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