A/N: I recently bought the hunger games tribute guide and the official illustrated movie companion and I noticed a few facts about the reaping and such that were not mentioned in the books. So I am now putting that stuff in! Just letting you guys know in case you are wondering why the heck they are pricking their fingers and such.
Aurora Williams POV
He's somewhere in the house, I know he is. I can tell he didn't go outside. Then I heard the sound of feet crossing the floorboards. Slowly and quietly I make my way in the direction of the noise, keeping my bow loaded at all times. He's quick, so I have to be faster than him.
A sound comes from the left of me, then the right. He's playing games with me now. I know exactly where he is. I turn around and fire my arrow. I watch as the toy arrow falls to the ground after hitting him right in the heart. "You got me!" he says with a smile. He begins pretending to choke up blood and fall to the floor dead.
"And the winner of the 33rd annual hunger games is Aurora Williams!" I proclaim, raising my bow in the air for applause. My brother lies on the floor smiling as I enjoy my victory.
"If you ever get reaped Aurora, I'm sure you'll win," he says raising off the floor and kicking the arrow away.
"Of course I will," I say, "I am the best fighter in the district after all! Nobody can mess with me!"
My brother laughed, "Go get yourself ready for the reaping. You want to look nice if you get caught on camera after all."
I shrug and head to my room to get dressed. My brother has been taking care of me ever since my parents died in a fire when I was six. He was always scared every reaping that they were going to choose me and he would have to watch his little sister die on live TV. So he trained me the best he could hoping for my success.
I gaze out my window catching glimpses of some of the kids heading to the reaping early. I never get to the reaping early. But I never get there late either, or else I would most likely be dead. Getting there early is better than late I guess. So I'd better hurry up.
I pull on my dress, a lovely purple one, and brush out my hair which reaches my waist. My hair is very annoying from time to time but I like it. I take a look in the mirror at myself. I'm really skinny looking and I don't seem very threatening in this outfit. I debate whether I should wear my black dress instead but it seems the purple one looks best on me. I can wear the black one next time.
I walk alongside my brother to the table in the square where the peacekeepers wait. My brother goes to where he is to stand while I wait in line behind several other kids. When I reach the peacekeeper, he pulls on his rubber gloves and quickly pricks my finger. He blots the blood onto a ledger and the scanner passes over my blood. WILLIAMS, AURORA 15/YO
I find the way to my roped off area where the rest of the girls in my year stand. My heart is racing like it does every year. I look back at my brother who watches me from behind all the other kids. His eyes show concern for what fate for me might be lying just ahead. Before we know it, our president's face appears on the large television screen and begins his speech as he does every year.
The capital escort is dressed in a long vibrant green dress with loose sleeves that drop to her sides. She happily tells us what an honer it is to be representing district 5 in the hunger games and suddenly the crowd goes silent as she slowly reaches into the first globe.
Slowly she unfolds the slip of paper with her fingers with perfectly filed nails. She reads the name then looks up and shouts it to the world.
"Aurora Williams!"
Nick diLaurnetis POV
"Nick! Nick!"
I sigh, sometimes I just want some time to myself. To break free of the world of popularity and live my own life for a change. It doesn't seem to be happening though.
"Hello girls," I say turning to the hyper looking girls in my year who seemed to have followed me around all day. "How can I help you?"
They smile and giggle at the sight of me. What can I say? Apparently girls seem to like me! It's really annoying from time to time. I get a lot of attention, but never the attention that I actually want to get. All these girls mean nothing to me, only one face lingers in my mind.
"So what are you going to wear to the reaping Nick? I'm going to wear my baby blue dress with the ribbon. I want to look cute for the cameras after all."
"I think you'll be cute no matter what you wear."
They giggle again. I can't stand that giggling! Why does every girl in this district have to be so... GIRLY? Why can't girls just act like normal people? Like Aurora...
"I'll see you later girls, I gotta go get all dressed up for the cameras. You know, so the capital will be my beauty and all."
I walk away and the horrid giggling continues. I wonder how often Aurora giggles like that? I bet she doesn't very often. Aurora never seemed like the giggly type. She seems perfect in every way to me. Her sarcastic approach towards life, her knowledge on the world, and her fierceness. Oh how I love her fierceness. No girl in all of Panem could be as wonderful as her. But yet, she is unaware of this.
My little brother opens the door for me when I get home and wraps his arms around me tightly. He's scared, scared of the reaping. I reassure him it'll be alright. "You wont get reaped," I tell him.
"But, what if I do Nick?"
"Then you wont go into the games."
"But I have to if I'm reaped! Your not making any sense."
"Trust me," I tell him, "You will not go into the arena."
I'm ready for the reaping. I walk alongside my little brother Pat to the square, where the peacekeeper waits for us at his desk. I watch as Pat stays strong as they prick his finger. DILAURNETIS, PATRICK 12/YO.
He stands near the back while I go closer to the front. I am worried but I'm sure he will be fine. I notice some girls on the other side of the stage smiling and waving in my direction. I smile back and give them a small wave. Then I notice Aurora nearby them. She looks likes shes trying to remain strong.
I turn away from them, trying to focus on the task at hand. The speech was suddenly drawing to a close and the name of the female tribute was suddenly being drawn.
And it was the only girl I ever cared for. Aurora Williams made her way up to the stage where she stood tall and proud. Unlike me, she was completely ready for this.
Then came the boys name. The paper was unfolded and the name was called. "Patrick diLaurnetis!" I had to keep my promise. I volunteered.
I stand beside Aurora on stage. So much for our relationship.