Hey, y'all! This is the rewritten version of the story! I will be putting my own family in here, mostly because I think it would be cool, just changing the names around. Please bear with me as I do have actual books to write as well. Love y'all!
Chapter 1:
Fifteen year old Nikki Swift lay gasping in her bed, covered in a slight sheen of sweat. This was the day of the reaping. Her blue-grey eyes were uncovered as she pushed her dark brown curls out of her face. Whatever was going to happen today, it didn't feel good. She looked across the room to her sister's bed. The girl had turned twelve five months ago, so this would be her first reaping. Sure enough, the redhead sat up sharply with a gasp. Nikki got out of bed and walked over to her sister's bed. "Addie, it's okay. I had a nightmare too."
"Really?" Addie asked, lifting forest green eyes to her sister's face.
"Really." Nikki brushed a hand over Addie's tight ringlets. "My nightmare was about you getting reaped and I couldn't do anything about it. My voice wouldn't work and my body wouldn't move." She shuddered. "I know it's unrealistic, since your name is only in their once, but that's my fear," Nikki admitted.
Addie leaned forward to hug her big sister. "In my nightmare, I was called forward at the reaping, too, but you were nowhere in sight. Neither were mom and dad."
"Well, we don't have to worry about that right now," Nikki said, holding her little sister tightly. "Why don't you get a quick bath while I make breakfast? Hopefully, we can surprise mom and dad this morning, hmm?"
"Okay," Addie said, pulling away and getting out of bed to get ready for the day.
Nikki sighed as she moved to the bedroom door, still in her nightgown, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. She grabbed the eggs and bacon for breakfast, thinking about her life now. When she was Addie's age, she had stepped up to help her family out. Her dad worked in the mines six days a week and her mom worked two jobs to make ends meet. Her mom worked as a doctor in District twelve, and helped out at the bakery. Nikki had wanted to help her family since she was becoming a teenager, so she picked up shifts at the bakery after school and grabbed more rations... adding her name to the reaping bowl more times each year. Now she was fifteen, just a month shy of her sixteenth birthday, and she dreaded seeing Effie Trinket pull a name from the bowl.
"I'm back," Addie said as she came into the kitchen. "I left the water in the tub like you keep reminding me."
"Thanks, Addie." Nikki placed two plates with bacon and eggs in front of Addie. She didn't want to waste water when there were so many without fresh water. "In just a moment, I'll have the other two plates ready. Will you go get mom and dad?"
"Sure."
Nikki went back to cooking, making sure that the eggs didn't burn, before she heard her parents coming down the hall. She plated the scrambled eggs and placed the plates on the counter. "Food's done."
"Thanks, Nikki," her mother said, grabbing a plate. She looked exhausted.
"Did you get any sleep, mama?" Nikki asked.
"A little," Marielle Swift admitted. She looked at her eldest child. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I was just worrying last night."
Nikki huffed as the rest of the family grabbed their plates. "Mama, I'll always worry about you." They sat down and ate, and Addie took the plates to the sink. "Thanks, Addie," she said before standing up. "I'm going to get ready for the day."
A few hours later, Nikki and Addie stepped into line for the reaping. "They're going to prick your finger and press your finger to a page. Then they'll scan your blood to see if you are really you." Addie giggled slightly at that comment. Nikki smiled briefly before continuing. "You'll stand with girls your own age. I'll probably stand with other fifteen year olds, or stand with the sixteen year olds. I'll see you after the reaping."
Addie nodded. "I hope that everything goes well for us today."
"Me too, sis." Nikki watched as Addie was checked in and then walking away. When it was her turn, Nikki looked away from the needle and then she was let go to stand with the other girls. Nikki was distracted as the film played. She wanted this day to go smoothly, but things didn't always go to plan. She looked over at the boys, seeing Gale look behind her, most likely at Katniss, and a little ways away was Peeta. He was the baker's son, and Nikki sometimes worked with him during her after school shifts, but they never really talked beyond discussing their work. To be honest with herself, Nikki had to admit that she was rather shy around Peeta. Not to mention that he only really talked about Katniss with his father.
Effie Trinket stepped forward and started speaking. "Ladies first!" She walked over to the glass bowl with the girls' names in it. She reached in, and pulled out a slip of paper. Smoothing it out, ignoring all of the held breaths, Effie read out the name.
Nikki Swift. Her breath stilled in her chest. She felt her body become numb as she slowly walked through the girls to the walking path. Her hair hung down her back in a tight braid, and she pulled it around to the front to mess with it. Her eyes were huge in her shock. Nikki was about to pass her sister when the redhead grabbed her hand. "Addie."
"You can't go, Nikki," she cried.
Nikki looked into the other girl's eyes. They were about the same height. "I have to. It's going to be okay, Addie. Go to mom and dad," she said, glancing back at their parents. Marielle and Tomas Swift were pale. Turning back to Addie, Nikki said, "They could use your support. Chin up, Addie." Addie hugged her tightly before she was off running to their parents.