I do not own the Hunger Game, Suzanne Collins does. Here is chapter 1... Aphrodita Beech and Atlas Williford.
I usually write first person, so this is completely new to me, so please feel free to offer constructive criticism.
District's One's Reaping
"Hey sexy." Aphrodita Beech turns around with her hands on her hips. "What?" she demands. The boy in front of her is a class A) jackass; this is not his only attempt to get into her pants. It isn't that Bise isn't attractive, his blonde, buzz cut give him the jock look that fits his arrogant, cocky attitude which enables girls to throw themselves at him for no logical explanation.
"Have you thought about my offer yet?" "Yep, and now just because you've asked again I want to go to your room and do naughty, naughty things." She rolls her eyes; the sarcasm is practically oozing from her. She turns away and starts to make her way back home when Bise mutters… "Everyone's right. You're a coward just like Hermes was."
In a blink of the eye, Bise is slammed up against the brick wall, his green eyes so large they almost resemble anime eyes, and Aphrodita can feel his accelerating heart beat under her hand. Aphrodita may disagree with a lot of things Hermes says, but she's sick of people calling her a coward because when he was reaped someone else volunteered.
Bise gets a cocky smirk. "Shimmer would do it with me." Aphrodita's pressure increases on Bise's neck allowing her to feel powerful. "You really don't know when to shut up." With a swift movement, she knocks him unconscious.
"Damn." A familiar voice says. Despite trying to remain professional, a smile forces its way to Aphrodita's face. "Jamie." She calls. She runs and hugs him allowing his familiar scent of forest to soothe her. Just being with Jamie instantly relaxes her; they have been best friends for as long as she can remember. "You need to teach me that for when people make fun of my name." "Your name is adorable." Aphrodita says. "Wow, you really know what a guy wants to hear." He mutters as she pulls out her messy bun allowing her curly brown locks to flow.
"Let's take the back road path." She says. She tugs his hand to the pathway allowing a side of her only Jamie sees to come out, but he rains on her parade which is odd considering he is usually a ball of sunshine. "You know frogs are in the back path, right?" Jamie asks. "Stop it. You know frogs gross me out." She hits him playfully. "I didn't know the mighty Aphrodita got scared." She rolls her eyes, but let's the comment slide.
Panic sneers her mind taking a hold of her in the cruel way it does. "I just remembered I was supposed to rush home today to practice because it is the last day to do it." She picks up her pace forgetting Jamie completely; sad she has to miss the birds singing to her on her walk home, but she always is sacrificing what she wants for training.
"Wait! Aphrodita you're not actually volunteering are you!?" Jamie shouts. It's a given that she would volunteer if not chosen. It's her duty. He grabs her hand, surprising her that he caught up to her. "You can't do this. If you die…" She glares. "I'm not going to die though, so I'm going to bring honor to my family's name. I'm actually offended that you thought I'd lose." Silence encloses the area for only a minute as Jamie thinks of how to word his fears without making the matters worse. "If… when you win, I'm scared it will change who you are."
She smiles sassily. "I'm who I am, and the games can't change that. I really do have to go because we know how my parents can get when I'm late for practice." He nods allowing me to be free from his judgmental stares.
She gets home quickly burning off any of the fat she had gained from eating chocolate; she's addicted to the stuff, meaning junk food. "You're late." Aphrodita smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry." Her dad's glare softens. "Being sorry won't help you win the games…"
For what seems like hours, Aphrodita "sweats blood" fighting with Hermes, throwing different weight knifes and spears, exc. in her back garden. "You both are so sweaty." Shimmer crinkles her nose in disgust. "It's what working hard will do to you." Aphrodita says sitting crossed leg on the ground, trying to regain her breath. Every day is a harder task with training because Aphrodita always has to work at enhancing every one of her skills. "I work hard." Shimmer snaps. "Doing what?" Hermes asks. Shimmer doesn't have to work- she's the mayoress' daughter after all- but her family craves riches. Shimmer's beautiful white blonde hair, tan skin and envious green eyes makes her quiet the attractive prostitute, but Hermes doesn't need to know that. "I help my mom here and there." She lies smoothly. "Why don't you ever practice?" Aphrodita asks, just for laughs. "If I did get picked some over enthusiastic future career would volunteer; I'm in the clear. It's my last year anyway." That is true.
"Aphrodita," her mom's voice rings. "I know I should be practicing…" Apdrodita trails off. "No, it's time for you to get ready for the reaping." Aphrodita's heart rate quickens for only second before she regains her composure. She can do this and she WILL win.
Aphrodita follows her mom into her spacious room where she has whatever she could possibly want, thanks to her parents. "I laid out a couple dresses that I thought would make you gain the most sponsors," Her smile is filled with such love that you wouldn't have thought that just earlier she was pushing Aphrodita past her breaking point. Aphrodita trails her fingers across the different fabrics laid on her bed from silk to cotton. The colors are almost blinding.
"I really like this one." The dress is a peach- not the horrendous orange color- that would show off some cleavage and her long pale legs with three simple ruffles on the top. "I thought you would choose that one." Her mom hands her some nude heels that reveal her pedicure polished toes, but also reveal her star like birthmark on her left ankle. After a bangle, tan clutch, and dangly earrings are added Aphrodita's mother seems satisfied. But, seven simple words change that. "Now what to do with your hair?" her mom taps her chin.
(-)(-)(-)
"I'm really scared." Diamond, Atlas Williford's' twelve year old sister whispers. Unlike Atlas' raven black hair, Diamond has golden blonde hair- that almost seems to glow. "You're not honestly scared about the reaping are you?" Atlas asks. He's tossing up an apple and catching it while he and his sister are attempting to enjoy some air in their background until the reaping. "Look at me, Atlas. I'm weak." She whispers. Atlas loves to look cool and strong, but in the inside his heart is breaking for his little sister. She's his world.
"Can you promise me you won't volunteer?" she asks whilst snatching the apple from his hands. "I'm not promising that and you know that Diamond." He mutters. It is not only his duty, but it is his desire to be more than just a district one member. "But, aren't you scared of the other district members?" she asks. "Nope." He says smiling. It's not only their hair that contrasts; it's almost everything about them including their opinions on killing because Atlas has a motto "survival of the fittest".
"Can you help me get distracted?" she asks her ocean clue eyes gleaming with hope. "I mean I guess, but I have to get back for one last practice. Let's make it quick." He says. Diamond smiles- her fears long forgotten. Of course, she brings Atlas to the one place he absolutely didn't want to go, the Beech's Perfume Store.
"Aphrodita take over the store for a moment." Mr. Beech calls leaving the room. "Why here Diamond? Shouldn't we be going somewhere fun before the reaping?" She huffs. "I was trying to distract myself from the reaping, thanks for the reminder." Aphrodita walks into the store, and Atlas can't help but think she looks a little attractive.
"You look nice. Are you excited for the reaping?" She squints her eyes. "I wouldn't say excited," she says. "Can I get this?" Diamond asks putting a small purple vile on the table, and Aphrodita nods accepting the cash Diamond offers her. The perfume scent Diamond bought is tremendously too strong, so the sweet lavender fragrance wrapped around Atlas as well.
"Do you want to go practice together?" Atlas asks Aphrodita. Aprodita looks like the type to volunteer because she has the same "craving to be more" glint in her eye Atlas has, so he wants to test his probable competitions. "It would be an unfair advantage for me." she replies. Aphrodita and Atlas saw each other around the academy, but they don't really know each other.
"Okay… okay… I'll allow you to think that, for now. See you at the reaping. Oh, and may the odds be ever in your favor." He smiles cockily before leaving out of the perfume shop.
"Now can we go home?" Atlas asks. Diamond nods hesitantly, her hands are shaking slightly and her heart rate is accelerating. "What about going to see Raff?" Atlas asks feeling guilty again, even if technically it isn't his fault that she is terrified. Diamond nods, closing her eyes trying to calm the raging storm inside of her.
(-)(-)(-)
They get to Raff's house quickly where he is throwing knifes at a target. Atlas smiles and tackles Raff. "What the hell is wrong with you? I could have gotten cut!" He glares. "But, you didn't…" Atlas points out. "Why are you here?" he grumbles never taking his eyes of his knife. Raff knows how Atlas works. "I wanted to practice, and we need to show Diamond how to win a fight." Raff throws the knife towards Atlas spiking him on the ear. "You cut me!" "Revenge is a pain in the ass isn't it?" Raff asks. The bickering continues to go on throughout the entire fight.
(-)(-)(-)
Okay, we need to get ready." Atlas is breathing heavy form overexertion. Raff is on the ground doing the same trying to ignore the darkness clouding his vision. "I think I need to work on my form." Atlas mutters. "Yes, you did horrible." Raff rolls his eyes. Diamond and Atlas walk home in silence, the tension so thick you can feel it. "Aren't most kids your age excited for their first year, this is district one after all?" Diamond nods. "It seems like everyone is excited except me, but I don't know why I'm the only one scared."
It takes the family only a few minutes to get to where the reaping will occur. Unintentionally, Atlas begins feeling angry at Diamond's nervousness because he can feel it in the air. "Will you just try to relax?" he snaps. Tears slip down Diamond's face, silently like a phantom and just like a phantom, Atlas will be haunted by the image. Diamond looks away when her finger gets pricked for blood and winces slightly. Atlas isn't nervous; he is actually quite confident that he will win the games because all of the hours he devoted his life to practice.
Once they are all in formation the screen turns on revealing President East standing proud in front of all of her people. Her smile feels fake on her face, and is starting to make her cheeks hurt.
"For the 75th annual Hunger Games and our 3rd quarter quill …" she stops and reaches her hand in the bowl for formalities, really because they all say the same thing. "…the tribute's lives will be connected with each other. If your district partner dies, so do you." There is silence on the screen for only a second; everyone soaking in the new information. Cheers erupt breaking the fragile silence.
Aphrodita stares at the screen replaying the theme in her mind over and over again, and Atlas grimaces at the thought of having to protect someone or else facing the consequences of death. The usual video comes up adding a portion about Katniss and Peeta's execution, but Atlas can't say he's paying attention because his anger is enveloping him. He wants to punch someone, but he has to stand there, tense.
"Now time for the reaping, ladies first." Emerald, district one's escort chimes heading towards the "giant fish bowl". Atlas' eyes trail over to Diamond; her shaking is visible from here. Emerald takes her time reaching into the bowl, for effect.
Emerald smiles into the crowd and unfolds the paper slowly. Diamond's heart is the only sound she can hear. Her eyes meet Atlas' and she seems to gain strength from that. "Diamond Williford," Emerald's voice rings. Atlas' anger is quickly forgotten, replaced by worry. He now knows he has to volunteer to protect her, so they will be champions because he won't have to kill her. Aphrodita looks at the blonde filled with sympathy because she is so frail and fragile, the wind could probably knock her over.
"I volunteer as tribute!" Aphrodita says proudly beating the voice that was trying to overpower her. "Well then, come on up."
"What…" Emerald begins before Diamond grabs the microphone to put on a show because that is what she requires for sponsors. "I am Aphrodita Beech." She looks right into the camera hopefully looking directly into the capitols' soulless' eyes. Emerald was ticked at first, but Aphrodita's boldness almost makes up for it, almost.
"Now, the boys." Emerald walks over to the fish bowl, and one thought is swarming around Atlas' head; he has to volunteer to protect the girl that saved his sister. "Bise Shatter." Aphrodita's eyes widen unintentionally silently praying to God that someone else will volunteer. "I volunteer as tribute!" Atlas' yells because people were already starting to try and volunteer first. The cocky smirk on his face is masking the small ounce of fear in him. "What is your name?" Emerald asks. "Atlas Williford," Emerald grabs both of their hands.
"Districts one's tributes!" she holds up the hands, and Aphrodita and Atlas' eyes meet, and the same thought crosses their mind. 'We're going to win this.'
Thank you Jamie64 and Swan's Feather for the tips! Here are some virtual cookies (::)(::)(::).
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