District 8 Reaping

Leah Velvet D8F 12

"Leah are you in there?" I hear Alex yell from the hallway. I turn off the flashlight that I was using to read my book under the covers.

I take the cover off and I yell "Yeah I'm in here!" I yell at him.

He walks into my room and smiles. "Hey Leah, you want to walk to the reaping together? I'll give you time to get ready." He says. He is just standing there, I can tell he looks a little nervous, but I don't point it out to avoid awkwardness.

"Yeah, we can! If you give me time and no whining" I say as I start to push him out the door.

"Me? Whining? I don't know what you're talking about!" he says as he turns to face the door.

"Sureeeeee," I say as I giggle and shut the door. Now I have to get ready. This is one of the parts that I do not like. I'm not the biggest fan of the reaping but it is part of life, so I deal with it. It's the only thing I really have to worry about now throughout the year since I spend most my time in my bed reading or playing with Alex. He's the same age as me and since my parents are always at work I have a lot of free time.

I feel bad that my parents have to work a lot, but it was their choice not to make me work anymore because of what happened when I was 7 or 8 I think. I was in one of the factories and I was finishing this white peacekeeper outfit, since us in 8 make most of the clothes the capitol uses, and I hear this terrible, terrible scream and I turn to pinpoint the source of the scream and I see this woman. A very young women and she is getting pulled off the ground and up by her hair but the machine. Thank goodness someone was quick and the used a knife to cut her down and she was ok but that was probably my last straw and I freaked out.

I told my parents that I'm ok to go back but they won't let me insist that I'll be safer at home.

So, I stay at home, read, and play with Alex. I don't have much of a social life besides Alex because I don't work anymore so I'm just quiet and, in my shell, constantly.

Its weird though because I'm not in my shell with Alex. It's something about him that gets me out of it and makes me laugh. I think it's because we are best friends so I'm more comfortable with him. I'm not sure but whatever it is it's nice.

Anyways I go to my closet and find this dress my mother left for me. This absolutely stunning beige dress with red flowers on it. I guess for my first reaping my mother wants me to look desirable and you can tell its handmade.

I know it's possible ill get reaped since I did take out tesserae to help my parents out so they both could home a few hours of the day. So, this dress would make me look like I'm 12 instead of 8 since I am short and I'm very skinny.

Anyways I hope I won't get reaped and live my life in peace. Who knows I might get married one day and have kids.

If live that long. I hope so.

Woolworth Saint-Cloud D8M 15

"What did you just say to me? I ask a kid who's 17.

"I said your family and you are a bunch of rich punks and who deserve the worst," A kid named Bradley said as he pushes me. I know I shouldn't let my temper get the worst of me, but it does this time. I take a swing and hit him right in the jaw.

He falls and glares at me. "I'm not taking your crap today, I got other stuff to do. I just spit on him and I walk away. I guess all those boxing lessons paid off.

Ugh, this is what I get for being a Saint-Cloud.

We own a couple of the factories here in 8 and apparently the management isn't the nicest around with the poor conditions, so I get it taken out on me when I try to be the best I can be. I feed the poor. I try my best to work in the factories and donate the money to the others, but I guess it can't over shadow how bad my parents are to their workers. Its ok I can defend myself. I don't tell anyone what I do so everyone thinks I am just a spoiled little brat with a bad temper.

That's ok though I deal with it. I hurry home, so I can get washed up and ready in time for the reaping and I am met at the front door by my best friend Quilt. She is technically a maid, but we've grown close and we are best friends.

"Oh my god, what happened to your hands?!" She says and as she says this, and I look down and my knuckles have blood on them.

"don't worry it's not mine, I didn't realize he bled so much" I say as I wipe my hands on my shirt. "

Stop that, come on

come get washed up," She says as she takes me by the hand and leads me to the kitchen. She smiles and starts washing the blood off my hands.

"You gotta stop hitting people when the are being mean to you, it makes it worse," She says as she sighs.

"Well the pick on me for my crazy hair enough already, it'll get worse if I don't do something about it". I say as I look down kinda ashamed because I know she is right.

She kisses me on the cheek and says, "Its ok, I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself just be careful, now go get ready before your parents see us together." She says as she walks towards the quarters. We've been a couple in secret for 4 months now. I think I love her. I think I now what love is? I'm not sure but I really like her, but my parents would fire her if they knew we were together so for now, it is a secret.

Anyways I go up and get ready and I try to fix my hair, but my fiery red hair is still out of control. It matches well with my freckles and my big ears. First, I get teased for my looks then for my family.

It'll be ok, though everything is always ok.

Leah Velvet

I meet Alex outside for we can walk to the reaping together. "Hey, Leah after the reaping my family invited you over for dinner if you want? So, you don't have to eat dinner alone again." He says.

He instantly looks like he felt bad about saying that, but I know he meant that in the nicest way possible, so I just smile and say, "Of course I would love to" We walk the rest of the way to the reaping in silence.

We both check in back to back and I tell him ill see him right after, so we can play. I walk to the 12-year-old section and stand with all the other girls who look terrified to be at their first reaping like I am.

I wait patiently and kinda nervously while the women where this ridiculous outfit plays this video. It looks bigger now that I am standing in the roped off sections instead of the crowd. She prances pretty elegantly over towards the bowl and pulls a slip. I hold my breath as she reads the name. "Leah Velvet!" next thing I know I am being pulled off the ground.

Did I faint?

Turns out I did. I start thinking about what the capitol is thinking of the scared little twelve-year-old who fainted. I start to think that this is not a great start.

This is going to be a long adventure.

This may even be my last.

Woolworth Saint-Cloud

"Bye guys I'll see you after the reaping!" I yell at my parents as I walk out the door and walk towards the reaping with Quilt. We hold hands on the way to the reaping and we get glares. We get glares from the wealthier families and the not so wealthy families, but we don't care.

I'm doing it to calm down Quilt a little bit because she has taken out Tesserae even though I tried to convince her not to and she's nervous about the reaping. I walk her all the way through check-in and drop her off at the 15-year-old section. "Everything is going to be ok, ill see you in a bit," I tell Quilt as I walk towards my own section.

I don't bother paying attention the dumb video and just brace myself when the silly looking escort pulls the girl name. hoping it isn't Quilt she yells "Leah Velvet!"

I sigh in relief then I hear gasps and I see the peacekeepers carrying a girl she looks like she's 9 but she must be Leah. She finally comes to and she looks groggy. I'm stuck there feeling bad for her when I hear the boy's name being called

"Woolworth Saint-Cloud!"

Holy S*** that's me.

I want to go on a rampage but then I realize. I have to be calm. Sponsors could be watching. I have to start preparing if I want to come home.

I'm going to come home.

Only three more reapings to go! A big thank you for everyone who has been keeping up with my story! Let me know what you all think of these two from 8! Next chapter should be shortly! As always don't forget to review! thank you all for all the support! Until next time.