Author's Note: You're reading another chapter? Awesome! Thanks so much! Please review if you have the time, I really appreciate it :) Anyway, today we get to the reaping. Duh duh DUN! Well, if you've ever read any Hunger Games fanfiction, you know what happens next. Not to spoil it for you or anything. But even with that, there are still some little bits that you might not expect, so get ready. :D

Also, I realize that the title and summary have changed. Yes, I did that. And to be honest, they'll probably change again, or at least the title, as the story continues. It's called a working title right? I don't know this one still seems way too long. If you have any title ideas as the story progresses let me know! And if you have ideas for things to happen within the story, they will definitely be taken into consideration, because I still don't know what's going to happen to Alexis myself. (sort of spoiler but not really: I haven't actually decided whether or not she'll win yet! So that must show you how much of this is up in the air right now, so if you have any input at all, it will be much appreciated! Thanks!

I do not own any rights to the Hunger Games trilogy.

Chapter 3 - Reaping Day/The Storm

"ALEX! WAKE UP! WE HAVE TO GET TO REAPING!"

You'd think that with getting up at dawn everyday, I'd get to at least have a little break for reaping day. But no, reaping in District Four is bright and early in the morning. At least we don't have to spend the rest of the day worrying about it then.

Except this year, I thought, we'll be worried about Cassius.

I get ready quickly, washing my dark hair and pulling it up into a messy bun. It doesn't really matter what I do with my hair, mom will end up fussing over it and redoing it anyway.

I slip on my new dress, the one that matches Annie's. I didn't see all the details of it last night, but I can now see that it was definitely worth more than the price. The dress is a soft green-blue colour that shimmers in the sun, as if I'm wearing the ocean. The neck is lined with a beautiful embroidered pattern in a light blue. I can't wait to see Annie in the same one.

The best part of the dress is probably the way is shows off my eyes. My eyes are rare, even for District Four. Most of us have bright greens and blues, but mine are quite strange. A quiet brown rim gives way to bright rings of green, blue, and purple before reaching my pupils, topped with flecks of a silvery blue colour, like ice.

I walk over to the kitchen where my parents are huddled together, tense. They must have heard about Cassius.

My dad looks up from his tea and gives a weak smile, "You look beautiful sweetheart. Where did you get that lovely dress?"

"Annie and I bought them yesterday. We have matching ones now."

My mom comes over and pokes playfully at my hair. "Something will have to be done about this though. Give me a minute."

My mom sits me down at the table and hands me some bread, made from the hard tesserae grain. She begins to slowly untangle my hair with her remaining hand. My mom had an accident with a shark many years ago, resulting in the loss of her arm. Because fishing is mostly relies on dexterity, she isn't able to get much done anymore.

A few minutes later, she finishes. I walk over to our mirror and see she's done a much nicer bun with my hair. Pieces curl a bit around it and down my cheeks, framing my round face. It's very similar to what I had done in my earlier, messier version, except the chaos that is my wild wavy hair is much more controlled.

Moments later, there's a knock at the door, but the door flies open before any of us has a chance to move towards it. Unsuprisingly, Brooke, my best friend, bursts in, in a bit of a mess, as usual. Her ponytail is lopsided and she's holding what seems to be her reaping outfit in her hands, still wearing her pyjamas. She runs over to me, talking as fast as humanely possible, as per normal.

"Alex! You look so nice, oh my goodness where did you get that dress? Is it new, yes it must be new, I haven't seen it before and I've seen all your reaping clothes haven't I? It really brings out your eyes, this one. I still have to put mine on, can I use your room? Thanks!" She manages to fit a quick hug somewhere in there and then flies off again, closing my bedroom door a bit too fast and having fly open again. My dad chuckles.

"That one's always had too much to say all at once, hasn't she?"

Moments later, Brooke is ready to go, reaping clothes on and hair fixed. We say goodbye to my parents and walk towards Annie's house. On the way, I fill her in on Cassius.

"Yikes, that's no good." she says, once I've finished. "But he'll be okay won't he? He's always been so good in training."

I nod, trying to convince myself as much as convince Brooke. "I'm sure he'll do great."

Annie's waiting for us outside her house. When Brooke sees her, she goes off on a whole speech about how next year we all need to match. "You guys are so cute, you look like sisters. Except Annie has lighter hair. And Lex, you've always had your gorgeous eyes."

"We'd better get going, we're going to be late." I say, brushing off the compliment. Annie leads us to the square, giggling a little bit. I know it seems a bit weird, but I've always been singled out for my eyes. They're different, strange, and they've always been a bit more curse than a gift. They're pretty, sure, but the stares I get at school are really too much. People say I'm unnatural, because of them. Brooke and Annie always tell me they're just jealous. I'm not convinced that's always the case.

The square is quite full by the time we get there. Our escort, Zéle, is apparently waiting to make a grand entrance this year, as he's nowhere to be found. Good, I can only look at him for so long.

It turns out Finnick, last year's victor, is already being put to work as a mentor. He used to be in my year in school, but, of course, he doesn't have to go anymore. It's a shame, he was one of the only people who understood my feelings about my eyes, he has a similar problem with his good looks. But the difference is, his sponsor were right, he's really handsome. And me? I'm just the girl with the crazy eyes. Not the beautiful eyes, the mesmerizing eyes. Just plain creepy. Nice, huh?

I nod to Finnick as Brooke and I leave Annie and go stand right in the middle of the crowd with the fifteen year olds. He winks back and I smile, knowing that's just what he does now. I look over at the woman who sits next to him, and see that it's Nereida, the victor of the 57th Hunger Games. Looks like they finally gave poor Mags a break, after her success last year with Finnick.

The mayor begins the reaping now, telling us about the Dark Days, and all that. I mean really, this stuff happened almost 70 years ago, can't the Capitol just let it go? There's next to no one left who was alive during the Dark Days anyway.

I realize I've begun to tune out when suddenly Zéle is there, his bright blue hair and green skin always scaring me awake. It's not just that though. I believe that he actually tries to "blend in" with us in District Four, you know, so we like him more. Or make that, at all. Unfortunately for him, dressing as a merman, tail, scales, bare chest, and all, isn't the way to win over a district crowd. He's crossing over the boys' bowl, as he always does first. I don't have a second to pray to stop what's about to happen when I hear Cassius' voice yell, "I volunteer as tribute!"

Zéle's fish-like face breaks into what I believe is a grin, as Cassius walks confidently up to the stage. "And what is your name?"

"I am Cassius Achille, and I'm ready for whatever the Hunger Games have for me." I'm sure he's playing the Capitol just right. I can just imagine legions of fans just waiting to sponsor him, just as they did Finnick. Finnick himself, however, has a sour look on his face. Perhaps he recognizes Cassius through me or Annie.

Meanwhile, Cassius is looking just as a tribute should, smirking at the crowd, looking over the girls as if he's ready to slaughter any one of us. It's making me sick, I've never seen him like this before. He knows Annie and me are among these girls, doesn't he? Does he care?

Just then, Zéle comes back to the microphone, a slip of paper that probably doesn't matter in his hand. But, why has no one volunteered yet? Usually they do by now…

"And our female tribute is…Alexis Lace!"

And all eyes turn to me.