Grey sat on the edge of the nimble bed. His Mother stroke his back affectionately, as his father before called him a Sissy. Not that it was bad, Grey's heard much worse from his father. It just had a worse impact because it was reaping day.

All of Grey's life, he somehow managed to escape being thrown in the arena. Every year he's anxiety lessened, but the secret fear he held stayed put. He'd sometimes loose his composure, and his calloused hands would shake. In the end, his mother always settled him down, being the sweet woman she was.

He sighs, as his mother leaves the tiny bedroom. Standing up, he looks into a dusty mirror, keeping his face expressionless as always, and runs his fingers through his hair. He exits the quaint room, the small house and general, as him and his family make their way to the center square.

The smell of fresh pine wafted through his nose, as bits of shaved wood stuck to his wet shoes. The sound of axes hitting trees loud and clear in the crisp,cool air. Red, yellow, and brown leaves littered the an elegant eye catcher. Dew clung to single strands of grass, gleaming.

When they got to center square, he jumped in line. Not literally. Though his feet did seem to be suspended in air for a moment. Once the device draws blood from his hand, he quickly wipes it off. Slowly he walks to the 17 year old section. most of them seemed gloomy or depressed. All solmen and straight faced.

He looked at all the food deprived faces, cheeks sunken in, eyes glazed over like they were zombies. He feels a ting of pain, knowing what its like to be hungry. Honestly, Grey always managed to find food. Nobody knows how he did it, but he does.

Several scared 12 year olds were shaking slightly, eyes large and frightened. They're entire bodies were like putty, flinching at every noise. Whilst others stood tall and proud, the hot sun soaking up the wetness of dew upon there faces.

The sun was hot upon Grey's back, boring heat through his white, long sleeved shirt. His worn, blue jeans had a smudge of dirt on them, but he didn't care in the moment. All he was worried about was the reapings. He wouldn't be picked. No, he woudn't. He'd make sure of it.

Elm softly places her lips on Yohan's. He kisses her back softly. Not wanting to ruin the moment, she deepens the kiss. The, soft, pink flesh upon hers gave her shivers up her spine. In a good way.

Elm has had many boyfriends, so many she's lost count. But Yohan, he was different. He always treated her with care, comforting her when someone got hurt. Everyday they'd spend time together, laughing, talking about te oddest things. Strange things really. From the sounds birds made to Capitol propaganda.

She could never be this open with others, never. She couldn't even think straight around him. So many things were running across her mind as they kissed. The feel of his lips, how he smelled of sawdust and pine.

She breaks away, an odd sense of worry overcoming her. She shudders slightly, her golden brown hair moving as she stood up.

"Yohan, do you think I'll be reaped this year?" she asks worridly, twidling with her thumbs... a habit she's had for as long as she can remember.

Yohan walks over slowly, he leads her back to the couch. He then looks straight into her brown eyes.

"I won't allow it." he says, kissing her forehead, she buries her head in th crook of his neck.

"Thanks bu-"

He interrupts her with a kiss, he pulls away. She giggles looking into his green eyes. "You're perfect." she whispers, poking his nose.

He chuckles and gets up, holding out his hand, he says. "Shall we?"

She giggles again. "We shall!"

He spins her around, and dips her. She laughs as he twirls her again. They dance for abit, before kissing once more.

"Ugh! Get a room!" Her younger brother. Oak says.

The just laugh into the kiss, Elm's eyes shining bright.

She breaks away, and walks up to her 13 year brother. "You're so weird." she smiles, ruffling his hair.

"Mom told me to come get you." he says, already walking away.

"For what?" she asks, dumbfounded.

Oak groans. "Reapings idiot." he says, and walks out.

"Crap! Yohan, we should get going!" she says, jumping about, getting her black flats on.

"Come on, let's go!" he says, grabbing her hand.

"Welcome! Everyone, to the 2000th Hunger games! As always, ladies first!" the escort says, walking over to the large bowl.

Extending her long, blue hand, she daintly picks a name. "Primrose Everdeen!" she cries out, laughing. "Sorry folks, an indoor Capitol joke!"

She chuckles again. "Okay, this years tribute is... Elm Wanewood!" she cries out.

Elm lets out a whimper, shakily she walks out to the carpet. Her eyes welled up, and tears cascaded down her face. She fell to the ground, wiping away tears, she gets up. She couldn't be reaped, nom she wouldn't allow it!

Yohan pushes his way through the crowd.

"I can volunteer!" he whispers. "We can go together!"

Elm looks at him through teary eyes. "No, please don't" she says hoarsely.

Yohan looks to her angerily. "Seriously?! I don't care! I can protect you! I-"

More tears cascaded down her face as his words. His sweet, sweet words. His voice. No, it was to late to be worrying about such a thing. She could worry later.

Yohan sighed, wiping away her tears as peacekeepers pushed through the crowd, roughly grabbing on to each of her arms. Elm squirms a bit, looking to Yohan for help, bu he just looks away as she's carried to the stage...

"Well, onto the boys!" the escort says, staring off into the crowd.

Plucking a name out she goes over to the microphone. "Grey Hollows!" she calls out.

Closing his eyes, he accepts his fate. He walks to the stage with a blank expression.

"Let us welcome this years tributes! Elm and Grey!"

The crowd stays silent, as this years tributes make there way to the final goodbye room...

Grey Hollows Final Goodbyes

"You can't win! You're a whiny baby!" his dad exclaims, pacing in the small room.

His mother, teary eyed hugs him again. "You can win, I know you can!"

"I will Mama." he says, kissing his mothers soft hair.

Grey fingers his Aviator jacket, feeling rough leather between his fingers.

"Son, I want that jacket back." his Dad practically demands.

Grey sighs, slipping out of it. He looks at the blue patch. "Can I take this?" he asks.

"No, you don't deserve it idiot." he dad says, yanking the coat away from him.

"Wood! Just give him the patch." his mother says, eyes flaring.

Grumbling incoherently, his father hands him the blue airplane.

"Thanks." Grey smiles abit.

"Time's up!" a peacekeeper's voice says.

"I love you." his mom says, for what seems like the 19th time. He hugs her quickly, as they are dragged out. "I love you too!" he says after the door closes.

He sighs, looking to the door. He wonderd who his next visitors would be.

The door opens quietly as his friends all piled in.

He perked up a bit. "Wait, where's Cane?" he asks, a hint of desperation in his voice. His brother hadn't come in yet and he was starting to get worried.

"What? No hello?" Calvin chuckles, bringing Grey into a man hug.

Grey allows a small smile but quickly looks serious again. "Have you seen Cane?" he asks again.

Willow steps forward a little, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "I saw him earlier, he looked really upset."

"He sure did! But G-man! You're shirt really compliments them eyes!" Calvin says, smiling from ear to ear.

Grey smiles again at his friends attempt to lighten the mood. Though it wasn't very heavy in the first place.

Calvin high fives himself in success and does a little jig.

"Well," Grey says, clsaping his hands together. "I guess I'm about to die." he gives a false smile.

Willow's face darkens. "Don't say that! You can win! You WILL win.." she runs up to him, hugging him in full force.

"One minute!" the harsh voice of a peacekeeper calls.

Grey feels Willow tense slightly, and returns the hug. "Hey..." she whispers into his ear. Calvin looks to Grey anxiously.

"What?" he asks, a little harsher than intended.

"I've always had a small crush on you... kinda." she says, letting go.

"Times up!" the peacekeeper says, opening the door.

"Remember... You can do it!" Willow smiles, waving a bit before scurrying out the door.

"You too afro!" the peacekeeper says to Calvin.

"Don't forget me bud! Go win, kay kay?" he says, quickly exiting as well. The door closes with a thud as Grey is left pondering what just happened.

Elm's Final goodbyes

After she and her family parted, saying several 'I love you's' and 'you can win' Yohan walks in slowly. Elm runs to him

She sobs into Yohan's arms, he comforts her, holding back his own tears as well. "You can win this." he whispers. "I know you can."

"How was I reaped? I never got tesserae! I never did anything wrong! Maybe they got the wro-" she rambles, squeezing him tighter. He strokes her hair, kissing her forehead.

"Please come home." he begs, tears threatining to spill.

"I can. I'll try." she says.

"I have something for you. I just finished it two days ago." he says, he holds out a necklace. A wooden heart, with small, wooden beads. 'Forever' was carved into the gorgeous heart.

"It's beautiful.." she breathes.

"Do you know what this means?" he asks, gesturing to the neckalace.

"What?" she asks, wanting to hear his voice.

"It means you have my heart... forever. It's a promise I will always keep. I love you Elm." he says.

Elm hugs him and kisses his cheek. "You have mine...forever. I love you too." she says, kissing his lips one more time.

"I'm just really frightened." she says, her voice trembling.

"Time's up!" a peacekeeper says.

"I love you!" Elm says, kissing him once more.

"I love you too!" he says, being dragged away.

Elm cried in to her hands. She slumps down, her tears staining her shirt. She may never see her family again. Nor she may never feel Yohan's embrace... His soft, warm arms that were her safe haven. The ones that always comfort her, the ones she'd never feel again...