The next morning, I felt better, so after letting Apollo and Mae know that I was going to go home, I started walking. I promised that I would keep in touch though. When I got home, Willow embrace me into a hug. Carter and Dad were looking at me with concerned eyes. I had forgotten about the quarter quell, but as I remembered it, I felt a wave of sickness run over me.
The next few months, I read and drew, mainly reading about survival skills for if I was thrown back into the arena again. I also hung out with Apollo and Mae. We've became friends. On the day of the reaping, I woke up shaking. Yesterday, Johanna, Finnick, Haymitch, Mags and I had all talked, helping one another with our nerves.
I threw on a plain, black dress with spaghetti cross straps. I put on a cream sweater that stopped a little before my knees. I let my wavy, dark hair tumble down to a little after my shoulders. I let my eyes sweep over my room, wondering if I should take anything else, and on second thought, I slipped my notebook and pencil into my pocket.
I headed downstairs where I was greeted by my Dad and Carter. They were sitting on chairs at the table, but neither were eating anything. "Hello, Ada. Do you want breakfast?" My dad greeted me. "No thanks, I'm not very hungry. I'm gonna go out to town square early. See you there!" I signed, before opening up the door and beginning my walk there.
Although it was early, there were already plenty of people there, setting things up. "Ada!" A voice behind me said. When I whirled around, I saw that it was Apollo. He ran up to me and gave me a big hug. We broke apart, and started chatting. Soon, Callon was getting ready to get on stage, so I had to go check in. Apollo leaned down and gave me a short kiss on the cheek. "For good luck." He briefly explained, before smiling at me and running back to his sister, Mae.
I went to the check in table, and they pricked my finger. I headed to the female side, and saw Wireless standing there as well. I guess there were only four victors, because then Callon started the reaping ceremony. He played the film, the babbled on, smiling. I could tell that none of the victors were really listening.
"Ladies first!" He said, and walked over to the glass bowl containing two names. He plucked one out, and I held my breath as he read it. "Ada Latier."
I could fell all of the camera's on me, but all I could do was stand there frozen. "I volunteer." A strong voice came from my left. My dad walked up to the stage. Callon looked extremely shocked. "Well, I'm sorry, but uh, I'm not sure...that men can volunteer, for um, woman..."
Beetee gave him such a death glare that I'm not sue how Callon didn't just melt into the floor, but Callon must not have wanted to be killed from him. "Uhm, I'm sure there are protocols somewhere for this situation, but I guess that I just draw another name from the female bowl?" He squeaked, putting his hand into the female bowl for the second time today. He hand clutched the only other name in the bowl, pulled it out and read it aloud. "The female tribute from district three is...Wiress Bradn!" Wireless walked bravely to the stage and climbed the stairs.
Callon had them shake hands, before saying, "Great! Now ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 75th hunger games!"
Afterward, peacekeepers dragged them into the justice building. I found Carter, and grabbed his arm, running to see our Dad. "Dad!" Carter cried, running to hug Beetee. Tears were trickling down my cheeks, but I didn't bother to wipe them away. "Dad, why did you do that?" I asked him. "Because I didn't want to see my daughter go back into the arena. I love you Ada." He responded.
I ran to hug him. I could wetness on my shoulder, so I could tell that my Dad was crying, something that I didn't want to ever see. "You're going to mentor Wiress this year, and I know it's going to be weird, but you have to try your best." My Dad told me, and I nodded. Peacekeepers entered the room, so I knew that our time was up. They escorted us onto the train, where I went to my room, and collapsed on my bed to sleep until dinner.
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*This is the dress Ada wears to the reaping. The image doesn't belong to me, I found it on the internet.*
