Part 3- Goodbyes

Peacekeepers escort Kate and I into the Justice Building, A grand structure made out of gold and royal blue sandstone. Once we are inside the peacekeepers separate us and escort us into separate rooms.

The inside is amazing. It is decked in red velvet and has a velvet sofa and chairs as well as a blue velvet carpet. I take a seat on the sofa and the hour visiting time begins.

My first visitor is my friend Jasmine. She is holding a small black box. She sits down beside me and starts to speak.

"Laura, you've got to win. I know that we haven't been friends for long but I feel like I've know you forever. I couldn't bear to see you die," she says

"Thanks Jas. That's really sweet of you," I reply

I give her a big hug and we sit in the embrace until she pulls away.

"I'd like you to wear this in the arena," she holds out the small box and opens it. It holds a silver watch.

"Oh my gosh. It's beautiful. Jasmine,are you sure you want me to wear this?"

"Yes, it was my brothers. You know, before he..." she gives a little cough. "passed." Her brother lost his life to the Hunger Games. He made it to the top two so he did very well, but Jas has never gotten over it. "It's made out of pearls and can tell the time and date and adjusts to whatever time-zone you're in,"

"Thank you so much. I will do everything in my power to win." I say

We hug again and a bell rings to signal that the fifteen minutes with my first visitor is up.

My next visitor comes in. It's my other next door neighbour, Caleb. "Laura, I love you." His expression is serious and his brow is creased. His shining blue eyes locked on me. He walks over to me and brushes a piece of red hair out of my face.

I remember when I first saw Caleb. He was going out of his house with a trident, obviously going fishing. I was about to meet up with Kate to go swimming. It was a hot July day and virtually everyone was going to the beach. I left the house to go to a secret beach spot that Kate and I had discovered a year earlier when the beach was packed. I got Kate and we left. We had walked ahead of Caleb and I caught a glimpse of him. His eyes radiating a magnificent blue, perfectly chiselled nose, immaculate bronze hair. He was attractive, to say the least. We had made it to our spot and it turned out Caleb had followed us, not wanting to wield a trident on a packed beach. I was messing around with Kate, having a water fight and he saw me. His eyes were locked on me. I must have looked terrible. My hair all over the place, in my eyes, plastered to my face. I wanted to flee. For some reason, he came over to me.

"Hi, I'm Caleb," He had said, his voice low but as a sweet as honey

"I'm Laura," I replied, my voice wavering.

After that, he just left. I knew he lived next door to me, but I didn't know his name or anything. Until that moment.

I snap back to reality and find that Caleb is closer to me than he could ever be. His hand is resting on my cheek, his skin warm. He leans in and kisses me. It's like a surge of electric. His lips are feathery and mild. I have butterflies in my stomach as he pulls away.

"I have loved you ever since I saw you on that July day. I still remember it you know," He says, almost whispering.

"Funny, I remember it too," I say.

Then I realise. I am in love with Caleb.

"I love you too Caleb," I say.

He gives me one last kiss and leaves as silently as he came in.

My parents come in next. It is obvious that that they have been crying, eyes are red and puffy. My Mother composes herself and starts to speak.

"You have got to try to win. We love you with all our hearts," she says, pleading.

"Remember your training. We will sponsor you. We will do everything in our power to make sure that the train journey isn't your first and you last." My father says.

I inherited his looks. Bright red hair, green eyes and tanned skin. Most people from district four have green or blue eyes. Everyone has tanned skin from fishing on the sun all day. Most people have bronze or blonde hair. Red is a rarity.

"We'd like you to wear this in the arena," My mother holds out an amazing charm necklace made out of gold. It has a tiny little fish made out of silver with a blue crystal for the eye, a tiny rope net, a trident with a coral tip and a locket. I open it and find a picture of my mother and father on their wedding day. They are both smiling and my father is holding my mother as they stand in the sea. Behind them is a dazzling sunset.

"It's, It's beautiful," I manage to stammer out.

"We carry it on us every reaping in case you get picked," my mother chokes out, tears streaming down her face.

I hug them both until a peacekeeper drags us apart. "I love you!" I shout as they are yanked from my grasp.