The 100th Hunger games

Chapter 2

I always for some reason get up early on reaping day. Maybe it's the nerves that I may never see this place again. I go put on a t shirt, some jeans, and my lace up boots.

Time to tame my hair. I do as good as I can to put my curly blonde hair in a french braid, which turns out pretty well. I tip toe down stairs, trying not to wake everyone up.

It's harder than you would think because the stairs are old and creek, but I manage to make it out the door without disturbing anyone. I take my time walking through district 12. There's not much here, except memories.

"Wren", I hear a familiar voice shout at me.

I turn around and see my best friend, Charity, running towards me. She jumps on me and I nearly fall to the ground, but I manage to keep my balance.

"Charity",I huff, "Please get off my me."

She gets off of me laughing. Charity is one of them people that is always happy and positive.

"Are you nervous", she asks me.

"No more nervous than I usually am", I reply.

We walk to the hob and sit at the counter and order some stew. I take a bite of the stew and I feel like I took a bite of heaven. They make the best stew here.

"I better go get ready", Charity says.
"Me too", I say getting up.
We part our separate ways. She lives on the other side of district 12, a long ways away from my house.
I start walking to my house, but I get a weird feeling someone's watching me. I turn around and I see Jempson staring at me.

"What do you want", I ask.

"I was wanting to walk you home", he says.

"My house is literally 3 minutes away from here", I say.

He laughs nervously and blushes.

I tap my foot waiting for him to say something, but she just stares at the ground kicking a rock.

"Fine you can walk me home", I say.

He smiles and walks up beside me. "So you nervous about the reaping", he asks. I shrug. "I'm guessing your not", I say.

"What makes you think that", he asks.

"Your Jempson Nithercot", I nearly yell, " You don't have to worry about when your next meal is. I'm pretty sure your daddy would make sure that you wouldn't step one foot in the arena."

"I have just as much as a chance you do", he says, "How many times is your name in? 7...8?"

"25", I say.

He turns his head to look at me. He has no idea what I go through. Were standing in front of my house. "Bye", I mutter and I go inside.

I see mom standing in the living room fixing Librae's hair. Her hair has a braid trailing in the back of her hair and the rest flows on her back. She's wearing a dark blue overall dress with a light pink blouse under it. She has a silver bracelet with a rose engraved in it "You look so beautiful", I tell her.

"Thank you", says and hugs me.

"You can look pretty too if you go get ready", my mom says.

I run upstairs to find what to wear. On my bed is a white button up dress. Sitting on the dress is a gold locket shaped like a rose with a w engraved in it. If you couldn't tell were a little obsessed with roses. When my mother and aunt were little they didn't have much. All they had of value was a small rose garden. She has always loved roses. Libre's middle name is Rosaline. There's a note on the dress and I pick it up to read it.

It says: Wren, This was a dress your aunt Wren wore to her last reaping. She would want you to wear it. This is the locket that was her token in the games. Open it.

-Mom

I put the note down and open the locket. Inside is a picture of Mom and Aunt Wren as teenagers and a picture of me, Librae, and dad. The pictures makes me smile. I don't think I've seen a picture of Aunt Wren. She looks just like me. It's kind of weird.

I change into the dress, which fits perfectly, and I decide what to do with my hair. All I do is take the french braid down and I fix it and but it back up.

I walk down stairs to see my parents and Librae waiting for me. "It's time to go", mom says. I nod and we walk out of the house. I always give it a glance before going, not knowing if I will see it again.

We follow the trail of people making their way to the town square. I see Charity walking out of her house. She still manages to keep a smile on her face, but her spirit isn't as high as usual. She comes and walks with us. We don't say anything on the way there.

When we can see the sign-in table, our parents can't continue with us. Mom and dad hug me and Librae before going. Dad mouths, "See you soon", before leaving us.

"Does it hurt", Librae asks.

"Just a little, but that's the last thing on your mind", I say.

It's her turn to sign in. She gives the lady her hand and squints her eyes. The lady pricks her finger and swipes it on the paper.

"You can go", she says blankly. Librae opens her eyes and walks away.

"Next." I walk up and give her my hand. My eyes scan for Librae. I find her being motioned with the 12 year old section. I feel the familiar sting in my finger, but I quickly ignore it. I find Charity through the crowd and stand by her with the other 16 year olds.

Jempson's dad comes on stage and makes the same stupid speech every year that I never care to listen to. I tap my foot while waiting to for the names to be drawn.

Finally District 12's escort, Hectra Autry, comes on stage. She looks as bizarre as usual coming out in a pink sun dress, a flowered cape, a bright green wig, and heels that looks impossible to walk in. She smiles with her hot pink lips and starts her introduction speech. Her appearance makes me cringe. I wonder how these capital clowns look at us.

"Now let's begin", she cheers. She walks to the one ball that holds all of our names. Her hand glides around the ball and comes up with a slip of paper.

"The first tribute of the fourth Quarter Quell from District 12 is..." I hold my breath trying to calm all nerves.

She opens the folded paper and says, "Nelly Collins." I release my breath relieved it's not me or Librae. But that's when I realize...

Oh no. That's Librae's friend.

Nelly and her family are very poor and so Nelly is all skin and bones. I see her slowly walk out of the crowd and make her way to the stage.

Librae and Nelly are like me and Charity. We are close enough to where I would volunteer for her if I needed to...

Wait. I scan for Librae and I find her struggling to get out of the crowd.

She's going volunteer for her.