Rilly Jarson – District 8
Every year, my friend, Lyssa and I have a sleepover the day before the Reapings. We want to spend as much time as we can together in case one of us gets reaped. Usually, we will sit in my bedroom, just talking. We know we'll be tired the next morning, but it doesn't stop us.
"What do you think will happen if one of us gets reaped tomorrow?" Lyssa asks me. She would ask me that question every year for the last four years.
I reply the same thing every year. "Then the other will have to stay strong." I also tell her to look after my younger brother, Benson, should I go to the Games. He's only seven and he won't be able to survive without me. He depends on me. My parents are good people, taking care of the two of us. But, Benson looks up to me. He practically worships me and the ground I walk on.
We wake up the next morning. Lyssa goes into the bathroom as I search for a simple green dress to wear. Green is my favorite color, particularly light green. I slip on the dress and Lyssa comes back to the room to braid my hair to the side. It takes a while to comb my tangled blonde hair. I can't live without my long hair. My mother, who is far more beautiful than I, has the same hair. I want to say that I have something that my mother has. My brother looks a lot like my father.
"You're very pretty, Rilly," Lyssa says, combing her fingers through my hair. Truth be told, Lyssa is far more beautiful with her auburn hair, tan skin, and emerald eyes. Benson bounds into the room, jumping on my bed.
"Mom says it's time to come downstairs!" he says loudly. Lyssa and I laugh. She finishes tying off the braid and we head down to the kitchen. My mother is making breakfast for Lyssa and the rest of my family.
"I hope you two had a nice night," my mom says. We both nod and sit down.
My father reads a book as he sits with us. "Good morning, ladies and gentleman." He smiles at the two of us and sips his morning coffee.
Benson, as usual, bounces in his seat excitedly. We finish breakfast rather quickly. The Reaping will start in about an hour and we want to get there before the crowd comes in.
I hold Benson's hand and skip with Lyssa. We carry on casual conversation. "Pan is so cute!" Lyssa says. "I heard he's going to ask you out."
"That's a lie," I reply, laughing. "Why would he ask me out?"
"Cause you're gorgeous, baby," Lyssa says.
We reach the District Square. There aren't too many people at the moment, so we can mingle with other people. Pan stands in the seventeen year old section, surrounded by a bunch of girls. Of course. Benson runs away from me, heading to the twelve and under section. Soon, my parents will be here.
Lyssa and I stand in the sixteen year old section. "There's Pan. Here's his chance. He is totally going to ask you out!" she squeals excitedly.
"Shh! Shhh! Quiet down," I whisper. "Don't let him hear you?"
"Why not? It's true! He's totally going to ask you. I heard it from Tamara who heard it from Pansy who heard it from Gavin who heard it from Dante. He's totally going to ask you out!"
"You have told me that about a billion times now!" I laugh. Pan escapes his group of fangirls and saunters over towards me.
"Okay, now, shut up!" Lyssa says, wacking me in the arm.
"Ow!" I take my hand, slapping her back.
"Stop it!" She grins, pushing me playfully.
Pan stands in front of me, hands in his pockets. He flips his short hair to the side. Lyssa turns around so he doesn't focus on her. Of course, he would never ask her out since she has a reputation of liking girls. Most people hate her or are scared of her, but she's my best friend and I'll be with her until the end.
"Rilly," Pan says, flashing an attractive grin. "So, after that Reaping, I was wondering if you wanted to do something together."
Lyssa snickers and I step on her foot to stop her. "Really?" I reply, pretending to act surprised. "And what would be do together?"
"Anything you want to do," Pan says. I can't help but gawk at his features. He's like a genetically perfect god or something.
"Sure." I smile. Pan winks at me and walks away. Lyssa turns around slowly, then bursts out into laugher.
"What did I say?" she tells me.
"You were right."
"I'm sorry, what?" Lyssa says, smirking. "Who's right?"
"You were." I stick out my tongue and we hug. We mingle some more, conversing with other friends. Within twenty minutes, the District Square is filled. The Mayor steps to the front of the stage and gives the history of Panem speech. It's old news; just about everyone knows the history of our country.
Our escort, Tellia Denim, who is dressing in cotton candy pink and blue, scurries across the stage. She's probably the world's worst escort. She is basically bipolar and is a hot mess. She twirls around and speaks into the microphone.
"Welcome! Welcome! This year is the 35th Annual Hunger Games. It's time to choose one boy and girl," Tellia says in a nasally Capitol accent. There are two bowls to her right and she stands behind them. "Well, let's see who our lovely boy tribute is!"
In a second, she whips out a slip of paper. She holds it up, jumping up and down a couple of times. She makes her way back to the mic and tells us the tribute's name. "Corduroy Dowlas!" A boy emerges from the thirteen year old section. He seems to be a tad nervous. He passes me and goes up the stage stairs. Our District Victor, Vinny Remedus, lounges in his seat. He nods to Corduroy, but doesn't say anything.
"Now, for the lovely girl," Tellia continues.
Lyssa grips my hand tightly. Hopefully, we won't be picked. But, if one of us does, we know what we're supposed to do: be strong and look after each other's family.
"What a beautiful name!" Tellia shrieks. "Rilly Jarson!"
Everything slows down. My heart stops beating and suddenly, I can't breathe. I can't hear anything. Lyssa stares at me, horror in her eyes. My braid flies across my chest as I spin around. Tears drip down my face.
"Rilly!" The scream is heartbreaking and shrill. It sends chills down my spine. There's only one other person who could scream like that, besides Lyssa. Benson. "No!" Benson tears himself away from our mother.
"Benson! Stop!" my mother yells.
Benson runs after me as I'm heading for the stairs. He grabs my legs, not letting go. "Please! Stop! You can't go to the Games!" He seems like an innocent boy, but he knows all about the Games. He knows what happens to twenty three tributes every year. Most of the time, he despises the one tribute that wins every year, the one that usually belongs to the Career Districts.
"Stop, Benson," I say. I peel him from my side, then get on my knees. I stroke his hair, holding back tears. "Just stop. I'll see you in the Justice Building." I kiss his forehead and quickly bound up the stairs. Pan gawks at me visibly upset. Lyssa cries silently and tugs at her hair. I shake Corduroy's hand. He's got a smirk plastered across his face. Vinny shakes his head at him, but refuses to say anything.
"Congratulate our tributes! Corduroy Dowlas and Rilly Jarson!" The crowd claps a little bit, but nothing more. No cheers, nothing. The cameras are aimed towards us and the Peacekeepers start to clear the area.
I close my eyes and whisper to myself, over and over again.
"Stay strong."
