District 7 Reaping

Ah, district 7, the home of last story's victor. Now don't be fooled; I like the tributes submitted here so they have got a chance. That said, I like a lot of tributes… anywho, I thought I should give anyone who is new to my stories a brief history lesson in terms of why everyone talks like the hunger games haven't been going on very long.

A year after the rebellion, Paylor came up with the idea of Mockingjay Day; a day to celebrate the rebels' victory.

On the 25th Mockingjay Day, Paylor was shot and her son Salem took over.

Salem is basically a dickhead dictator who reintroduced peacekeepers, divisions of the districts and most importantly, the Hunger Games.

So you see, before the Hunger Games in my last story (the 76th Hunger Games), there hadn't been a Hunger Games in 25 years. That's why nobody is closely related to anyone who was in the games and I've had to make things up e.g. Foxface AKA Finch being somebody's aunt instead of their sister. I hope I have cleared things up. Enjoy the Chapter and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favour!

Nicole Jade Smith POV

"Ok so stretch your arm right back" I do as he instructs me "Now put your left foot forward."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Who's the best axe thrower in district 7?"

I hurl the axe so hard it breaks through the target and onto the wall.

"Don't flatter yourself sweetie" I grin.

"Oh Queen of the Axes; I'm not worthy" Cole bows mockingly.

"Shut up."

I go to hit him on the head when he pulls me in and kisses me. If I were the type to brag, I could easily go on for hours about how lucky I am to find someone like Cole; who matches my strengths almost perfectly. But I'm not.

"So, were you thinking of volunteering this year?" I'm careful with my words; we're divided on our views of the Capitol and the games.

I know Cole would win and being a victor is hot.

"Not again; Nicole you know those games just breed bone headed Career victors with more muscle than brains. I wouldn't stand a chance."

"Last year the winner was a girl from here and before the rebellion a girl from district 12 won; district 12, Cole."

"Look, I just don't wanna parade around for those snotty bigots."

"I suppose I could then. It's my last year anyway."

"No! I don't want you to get hurt, Nicole. Don't you see that?"

We're both quiet for a moment. Then I put my arms around him and say-

"Ok honey, I won't go if you don't want me to."

Before we can kiss again, I spot a girl from my class, Flora, walking through the street. I pull away from Cole, run outside to her and pull a necklace, fresh from district 1, out of my pocket.

"Hey Flora!" she looks up and I throw her the necklace "You owe me and don't forget. If you don't get me the money" I mime slitting my throat to her and she scarpers.

"You could just give stuff to them as gifts you know, considering your aunt is the mayor of district 7" Cole comes up behind me.

I keep my back turned from him.

"You know as well as I do things are tight around here. If they knew I was the mayor's niece, everyone would want something; for free" I hear the cynicism is my voice.

"I would never do that to you" I feel Cole's eyes burning into the back of my head like a guilt laser and turn around.

"That's because you care about me."

We head to the justice building and I wonder what this year's reaping will bring. I wish Cole would let me volunteer. Because my aunt is the Mayor and my mom is rich anyway (my dad was shot for poaching when I was 7) I barely ever get tesserae. Anyway, it's only fair someone who actually wants to be the games competes; why send some poor little kid in there?

Lewis Simmons POV

The first thing I hear as I wake up is my mother's screams. But I'm not disturbed. In fact, I laugh. I run downstairs to the kitchen. When I walk in, there stands my mother, soaking wet and glaring at my sniggering brothers Kyden and Noel.

"Lewis!" she growls "I don't suppose you had anything to do with this?"

"No mom; it wasn't me" I say, trying to seem innocent.

"What about you two?" she looks at my brothers.

"Whoever did this is clearly extremely immature" Kyden has supressed his sniggers to a small smirk.

Noel stays silent as usual. He hasn't spoken since he lost his girlfriend when he was 16; he's the only one who knows what really happened but he won't say. That was three years ago. My brother Kyden on the other hand can't talk enough. He used to be a lot of fun but sometimes he's boring and grown up. My dad died when I was 5; there was an accident in the forest. My mom had to work alone to provide for us for a while. Luckily, Kyden works now too, but I don't believe my mom when she says we're not struggling. We are.

"Honestly; you boys! You'll be the death of me. Does anyone want oatmea-arrh!" she is showered with oats as the cupboard door swings open.

Mom's face is almost purple. We don't laugh this time.

"Would you please tell me" her whispers are so sharp none of us even breathe loudly "That you all have to pull these stupid pranks on the most stressful day of the year?"

I can answer that; but I'd rather not. I've pulled pranks on my both reaping days. I only do it because- well, because it kind of lightens the mood; for me anyway, and my brothers. I wish my mom would laugh at it more though. She hasn't laughed as much since the Hunger Games begun again. I'm terrified of getting reaped; I'm the only one getting tesserae and sometimes I have to get a lot. I just try and keep positive. Before my mom can question us further there is a knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" I've never ran to a door so fast in my life.

I answer the door and to my happiness it's my friend Jem.

"Hey Lewis" he grins.

"Let's go! Bye mom, we're going to the reaping!" I call quickly; I grab Lewis's t-shirt and make a run for it.

Nicole Jade Smith POV

"Hello ladies and gentleman. I am Talia Morris, but you may know me as Chickie from Capitol TV's The Real Housewives of the Capitol" her huge teeth reflect the faces of every person in the crowd.

I saw that show once; the Capitol may have style but "Chickie" does not. She's wearing a dress of white feathers and her hair has been died bright red; she looks like a chicken. As she walks over to the reaping bowl, I hear my friend Destiny wince.

"What is it?" I hiss.

She ignores me, her eyes on the reaping bowl. After a repeat of last year's routine, where Chickie picked out about 7 reaping papers just so she could get one she could read, a peacekeeper is by her side, just in case she does it again. Sure enough, the peacekeeper has to whisper the pronunciation of the name. Chickie rolls her eyes.

"Well that's a dumb name" she sneers "Desteenee Nunez."

Destiny gasps. I look at her slender frame; her muscles are still quite small and her legs are like pins. She isn't ready for this yet.

"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"

Destiny looks at me gratefully, tears of joy in her eyes. She mouths "Thank you" at me and I run up to the stage. Thanks Chickie, you just got me into the Hunger Games.

Lewis Simmons POV

The girl who volunteered is tall and she's one of the older tributes, maybe an 18 year old. She's muscular too and I'm suddenly even more scared than before. Chickie goes over to the boy's reaping bowl, with her reading peacekeeper following her. She picks out one sticking out right at the top and unfolds it. The peacekeeper goes to whisper the name but she pushes his face away.

"I can read this one! Gosh, did you think I'm dumb or something?" she shrieks "Jem Willis!"

"I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"

Oh thank god. Who volunteered? As I'm waiting for the person to come forward I suddenly realise everyone is looking at me. Is it me? Did I just volunteer? I slowly walk up to the stage as if I've been reaped and this is all down to bad luck.

"What's your name sweetie pie?" Talia's face looks like a clown's so close up.

"Lewis. Lewis Simmons" I stammer in a quiet voice.

Chickie goes back to microphone and I keep my head down. The other girl, Nicole I think her name is, looks over at me, with an indescribable expression.

"Ladies and gentleman, Nicole Jade Smith and Lewis Simmons" Chickie walks over to us but just as she is about to say something, I throw up on her shoes.

Nicole Jade Smith POV

Chickie squeal for a good couple of minutes while calling Lewis a "digusting little brat" and "a grotesque worm" which, in retrospect, can't exactly help his confidence levels right now. I don't know why he volunteered but by the look on his face, it certainly wasn't anything to do with bringing pride to his district. I'm glad, otherwise he might want me to be his ally and I'm not doing that. The Capitol will think I'm weak. I mean I have sympathy for the kid but he's none of my concern. In the justice building Destiny comes up right away shortly followed by my other friend Tierney and Cole. Nicole puts her arms around me and sobs into my t-shirt.

"Thank you so much Nicole; I know you'll do better than me in there. You're so strong" she compliments through her floods of tears.

"It's ok" I hug her carefully, almost afraid she'll smash to pieces like glass; well fragile by nature, fragile by build.

She leaves backing out; her eyes drip tears but she still smiles. Destiny's nice really, if not a bit over emotional. Tierney follows her out but not before saying-

"Good luck girl; don't you let them Careers take advantage of your talents if you let them use them."

Cole takes both of my hands.

"Listen, I know you wanted to volunteer anyway, but I'm glad you did it for the right reasons" he kisses me softly on the forehead.

"Err, yeah" I feel myself blushing in guilt.

"You did volunteer for Destiny right?"

"Yes; I mean, that was the main reason."

Cole pulls away from me and looks me right in the eyes.

"What do you mean the main reason? Did you just use Destiny as an excuse?"

"No; Cole, it wasn't like that."

"Look me the eyes and tell me you didn't volunteer for the glory."

I try to say the words but they don't come out. I just stammer the word "I" and cough a little. Cole turns his back on me.

"Cole; Cole wait! Please wait!" I cry "It's not what you think!"

I run up to him but he suddenly swerves round.

"You know I really want to believe that. We're through Nicole."

He slams the door behind him.

"Cole! Cole, don't leave me. Don't leave me please" I start to cry and sit down in the armchair.

I look at the ring on my finger; Cole got it for me. My crying stops fairly quickly and I just go into a sort of emotionless state. My family come in but I barely pay attention. Words come out of my mouth like robotic, automatic messages. One thought just plays on my mind.

I'll make him sorry.

Lewis Simmons POV

I pace around the room in panic until my family come in. When my family come in, I continue pacing.

"Lewis?" my mom holds me straight "Why did you volunteer?"

"Jem" I say the single word as if it says everything, which in a way it does.

"I'm sorry buddy" Kyden ruffles my hair playfully but keeps a sad smile on his face.

Noel doesn't say anything; he just sort of stares at me in sympathy.

"So, have you got a tribute token?" Kyden asks.

I shake my head.

"Well maybe we should make you one" my mom smiles, pulling off my father's wedding ring (placed over hers; she didn't want to get rid of it) "Pass me your chain Kyden."

She threads the ring through the chain.

"There; now you can think of all of us when you're in the arena" Kyden suggests.

Noel looks over as if he's considering what he could add. He holds his hand out and my mom passes him the chain in response. He pulls out what looks like a canister of paint. Covering the ring to protect it, he sprays the steel chain so it shines like silver. After saying our goodbyes, they all leave and then it's Jem's turn.

"Hi" Jem says.

"Hi" I reply.

"So… you volunteered for me."

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I didn't wanna see you die."

"But you wanna die yourself. Oh wait, sorry. You won't die."

"Pfft, let's face it, I probably will."

We stand staring at each other a little longer before Jem leaves. But just as he opens the door he throws a crumpled up piece of paper at me and gives me a wicked smile. I fold it up and put it away. I don't know why I don't feel as scared; maybe my brain's just given up in advance.

Ok, I need to make some apologies.

I'm sorry if that last bit sucked; I just wanted to get this chapter done but I'm really tired.

I'm sorry to Lewis Simmons' creator (who unfortunately I've forgotten) for leaving out the twins; I just didn't have anywhere to add them.

I'm sorry I forgot who Lewis Simmons' creator was.

District 8 will definitely be up tomorrow as long as I don't have a power cut or something as it shouldn't take too long. It'll be shorter because Angel will only have two POVs instead of three since you know about her life already. Seeya then.