The Hunger Games: 76th

Chapter four: Leo

           I wake up once again with her by my side. My best dreams are reality when I am with her. I look at her with her eyes still closed and brush her silky brown hair away from her face. I close my eyes and lean in until her lips meet mine.

     She still rests as I decide to sit on my side of the bed organizing my thoughts. Work. That's what I have planned for today and frankly for everyday. I look back at my beautiful girlfriend and realize her father is to thank for this. He is a poor man as well as I and was willing to give his consent for us to live together on our own. Its my job to protect and provide for her. I won't fail in doing this. She doesn't know this, but today is the day I will propose.

        I kiss her once again and this one brings her to life.

       "Hey," She says to me with one eye open. "I had a bad dream."

        "Well it's over now, I'm here," I assure her.

         "Today is the day of the reaping you know," she says. The reaping. Something I have escaped for five years. Something that I lost my best friend to. I completely forgot the reaping was today. In this district all work is excused on this day.

       "Then we best get going," I say lividly. She immediately gets moving. One thing about her is she loves to be on time. As I get dressed I think about how every year my fear of getting picked lessens. Then I think about my proposal. Should I do it now? Should I wait until after the reaping? My thoughts are suddenly interrupted by her luscious body as she pulls off her clothes and exchanges them with fresh clean ones. She has no shame in getting naked in front of me because she knows how much I love it. When she is fully dressed she turns and winks at me. I have to consciously make sure my mouth doesn't fly open. My mental state has been postponed until I realize she's ready and I am still in my underwear.

      "Come on Leo we haven't got all day," she says teasingly. She knows what she's doing. I begin getting dressed again and bad thoughts continue to haunt my brain as they do every year. Thankfully we are both eighteen and after this last year we can finally start our lives together without this lingering fear. To save her the agony of being late I quickly throw something on.

       "You can wait outside babe I'll be right there," I say as I kiss her. She goes outside which creates my opportunity to grab the ring I've saved up for all year. I've decided on proposing on our way back from the reaping in the streets in front of everyone. Finally I'm out the door and we're on our way.

          I hate that we have to separate, but it's part of the rules. Boys on one side and girls on the other. We are at the reaping in our separate squares. I pick a spot where I can see her. She's looking on my side with squinted eyes but can't seem to find me.

       "Kamla!" I yell for her waving. She spots me smiling and waving back. The kids seem to have filled in to its fullest capacity and now I'm looking for them to get started. Not so far ahead I see a boy with a yellow suite. If I was a criminal I'd make it a priority to rob him. Just as this genius idea crosses my mind, Rita Usher takes the stage.

       "Hello everyone," she says. "For those who do not know me I am Rita Usher hosting this year's District 8 reaping." We know who you are Rita. She continues to talk about the history of Panem and all I can think about is Kamla. After today our lives will change forever. I tune back in right before she begins to pull the names from the giant glass box. "Ladies first." She pulls the name and reads it out loud. "Kamla Havlock."

      No, this can't be. How? W-why? I look at Kamla and her face breaks me. My angel has been deceived. The fear in her eyes makes me scream on the inside. I want to object but how can I. I want a redo but they can't. My brain is spinning at a peek right when she reads the next name. "Racko Brosner."

        "I VOLUNTEER!" I say much louder than intended but I don't care. My voice echoes and most of the boys around me flinch.

        "Well look at that," says Rita. "We have a volunteer. Come on up."

       I walk very urgently to the stage which builds to everyone's confusion. Halfway down the isle I am at a full sprint until I reach Kamla kissing her as passionately as I ever have. I hear gasps in the audience. I feel the force of guards pulling me off and I break myself away.

        "Well look at that!" says Rita elatedly. "Your new tributes of District 8!"

        I look at Kamla separated on the other side of the stage. People will call me crazy for this but I honestly think we both will get through this alive, because as long as I have her I am the luckiest man in Panem.