Six more months pass by, and I'm watching the Reapings at home with Dad and Aquilo. Mom's out doing publicity things, not that I particularly care. My stomach churns, and I can still recall hearing the Quell twist boom in my ears when the announcement was made.

"As a reminder to our districts that the mistakes they make rebelling against the Capitol will follow them into adulthood, the Reaping age bracket has been changed from 12 to 18, to 16 to 21. Volunteers will still be permitted. As an addition, the Victor of these Games will receive the hand of Head Gamemaker Artemisia Tremblay's daughter, Tatiana Tremblay, in marriage."

I still don't know how I feel about this twist. I don't know if I can feel anything about it at all. It's still hard to feel anything these days, despite managing to finish my first year of college by the skin of my teeth. Nothing has changed much in my daily routine. Getting out of bed in the mornings is still a struggle, leaving me lying there and wondering if maybe I should just wither away within the blanket. Wondering if anyone would even notice if I did, or if anybody would care at all.

Don't be stupid, Tati. Your brain is playing tricks on you again. People do care, more than you realize. I hate having to remind myself of this all the time, even if I need it.

I just pick at the remains of my lunch instead, pushing food around so it looks like I've eaten more than I actually did. I've been trying to gain my appetite back at home, eating more than I normally eat just so as to not worry my parents. It's not like I'm starving or anything.

While we wait for the Reaping recaps, I try to picture my life as a wife. Goodness knows I wouldn't be reduced to a piece of meat for my spouse to ravage or anything like that, my parents would never stand for their strong and independent daughter becoming a lowly, passive servant in her own household. I try to imagine having a husband and try to imagine the things I'd do with him. Or wife. Either way, it's still the same result.

We'd go on dates together. Okay, I guess that's not too bad, if I even have the energy for them. Maybe just going out to get a sip of coffee at a cafe, which wouldn't be the end of the world. They might hold my hand. That would be fine. It'd be nice to have someone to hold onto.

But kissing…I don't know. I've never seen the appeal and it always kinda comes off as gross to me. What if it tastes weird? Why would you even wanna trade saliva with someone? Why does it have to make such a wet noise? Why the hell do people even like it?

Then there's…the other parts of being intimate. The acts of sharing a bed, of seeing each other naked, of…of making love. That's just gross. I try to grimace too much as the Reaping recaps begin to play. God, if I thought kissing was disgusting, I sure am in trouble if my spouse ever decides they want to have sex.

Do I tell them? Should I tell them I'm not into stuff like kissing and sex? It seems to have fallen upon deaf ears with my parents. But I can't see myself doing any of that mushy romantic stuff. With anyone: boy, girl, both, or neither. Sex is just a word to me, not a passion or a want. I definitely don't want it. But what is it that's too hard for people to understand that?

Anyways, the Reaping recaps are about to begin, so I decide to just keep my thoughts to myself and focus on that. Normally, my dad and I like to trade snide comments about the tributes and joke about who we'd theoretically sponsor, since we're technically not allowed to do that due to my mom's status as Head Gamemaker, but I'm just not feeling it right now. I'd much rather take a nap instead, but I need to stay awake in the daytime or I won't sleep tonight. Besides, this won't take too long to sit through.

District 1 goes first, as they always do. Two volunteers approach the stage. They are introduced as Midas Glazier, a 19 year-old, and 21 year old Chanel Luxardo. Both smile and wave to the crowd, who cheer for them excitedly.

Next up is District 2. The first volunteer is a 21 year-old woman named Beatrix Aegis. She looks very determined, not cracking a smile and only scowling instead. The second volunteer is a 20 year-old named Cyrus True, who waves politely at the crowd.

Afterwards comes District 3. 18 year-old Vevo Vineca climbs the stage and doesn't look the least bit scared or bothered. A 16 year-old boy is called, but is suddenly replaced by a volunteer. Despite choosing to go into the Games willingly, 19 year-old Cordin Sanchez looks absolutely terrified.

Then it's District 4, the last of the Career districts. A 16 year-old girl named Coral Rawlins rushes forward to volunteer before the escort can even call the first name out, climbing the stage and glancing smugly at the audience. Then another 16 year-old is called out, Gaius Julianum. Shocked whispers ripple through the crowd, but nobody volunteers for the clearly upset Gaius.

District 5 first has 18 year-old Irie Gardenia, who bursts into tears upon hearing her name get called. She has to be helped up to the stage by a Peacekeeper. 17 year-old Ari McBride is called next. He shoves his hands into his pockets and keeps his eyes low as he walks up.

District 6 produces a pair of twins: 21 year-old Braydyn Gupta is called up first, but nobody in the crowd moves. Then a man rushes forward, announcing he volunteers. He introduces himself as Kaydyn Gupta, Braydyn's twin brother, and carefully guides his sister up to the stage as she clutches a teddy bear to her chest.

District 7's first tribute is a 19 year-old man named Kai Wilson who scowls as he stomps his way up to the stage. Then an 18 year-old named Hyacinth Tassakou is called up. She smiles as she makes her way to the stage, but a close up of her face reveals the tears in her eyes.

Next comes District 8. 19 year-old Shadow Kurosaki's name is called first and he quietly slinks onto the stage without a word or showing any emotion. Then 18 year-old Cassandra Segemir is called. She clutches her hands to her chest and rapidly blinks back tears.

Then is District 9. A 19 year-old woman comes stomping out onto the stage first, growling at the escort and demanding into the microphone to be referred to as Roxy Arroyo instead of her deadname. In comparison, the quieter 21 year-old Indigo Riordan looks absolutely shocked to have their name called.

District 10 has two younger tributes, with 16 year-old Judd Cooper and 17 year-old Belinda Jamme being called to the stage. Both have tears in their eyes and Judd appears to be completely shaking while Belinda looks…oddly excited. Huh.

For District 11, 21 year-old Sorrel Thatcher is called first and looks almost bored with his predicament. 18 year-old Cayenne Domigo lets out a couple of swears when she hears her name, but still makes her way onstage without complaint.

And lastly, there's District 12. 20 year-old Ajax Soot and 17 year-old Emberly Brooks both appear completely resigned to their fates, as if they seem to already think they don't stand a chance at all.

With that, the Reapings are over. I announce I'm going up to my room. Dad just nods and Aquilo doesn't seem to care. It's not just because I'm tired or anything, but I need some time to process everything that's just happened.

One of those 24 tributes will win the Hunger Games. One of them will become my future spouse. It feels so oddly…wrong. I can't explain how, but I know it just does.

The tributes for the 150th Hunger Games:

D1M: Midas Glazier, 19
D1F: Chanel Luxardo, 21

D2M: Cyrus True, 20
D2F: Beatrix Aegis, 21

D3M: Cordin Sanchez, 19
D3F: Vevo Vineca, 18

D4M: Gaius Julianum, 16
D4F: Coral Rawlins, 16

D5M: Ari McBride, 17
D5F: Irie Gardenia, 18

D6M: Kaydyn Gupta, 21
D6F: Braydyn Gupta, 21

D7M: Kai Wilson, 19
D7F: Hyacinth Leilani Tassakou, 18

D8M: Shadow Kurosaki, 19
D8F: Cassandra Segemir, 18

D9M: Roxy Arroyo, 19
D9F: Indigo Riordan, 21

D10M: Judd Cooper, 16
D10F: Belinda Jamme, 17

D11M: Sorrel Thatcher, 21
D11F: Cayenne Domigo, 18

D12M: Ajax Soot, 20
D12F: Emberly Brooks, 17

So here's the tributes for the 150th Games! Is there anyone you're interested in?

Next chapter will be a bit of filler to see how Tati is adjusting to the Reaping. See you all then,

-Vr