The 4th Quarter Quell : A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 2 : District 01

Amara Greengaze

I was jotting down something in my notebook when my textbook slammed in front of me, making me jump. "What?" April said innocently, looking down at me with her hand still on my textbook. I swatted her away irritably. "Come on, you're studying on the day off?" I raised my eyebrows. She sighed. "I don't even know why I ask. What else would you be doing?" We shared a smile and I looked back at my textbook, but April was still holding it in position. I knew she was stronger than me, and there was no chance of me getting my book back in a struggle. I flicked a curl behind my ear. "So, did you want something?"

"Other than to watch you jump ten feet into the air?" I swatted at her again. "Fine. Miss Rosesmith said that we all needed to 'get down there' because 'Madam President Cecelia Snow could be on any second now!'" I chuckled slightly at the outright mockery of Miss Rosesmith, but no one in the community home liked her. I reluctantly pushed my chair away from my desk and strode down the steep stairs, April galloping behind me as loudly as the factories on a work day. "Greengazes, you're late!" She shrieked, tapping the dreaded leather strap against her hand.

"It's my fault, ma'am. I was goofing off instead of getting Amara downstairs." It wasn't the complete truth, but it wasn't a lie either. I was about to speak up and say that it was my fault because I didn't want to come downstairs, but April shot me a glance to shut me up. In that moment of silence came the sickening crack of the leather strap against her side. Two more followed one to her torso and one that grazed from the side of her face down to her chest. April didn't show a sign of pain, and I knew that if I rushed forward and frantically asked if she was okay she'd be more embarrassed than being whipped in front of the entire orphan population. Instead, I cooked up a plot in my head to get revenge on Miss Rosesmith. It couldn't be too hard. The woman noticed everything, but she was also just plain stupid.

April Greengaze

My face burned from the leather strap, but I remained indifferent as I walked over to the television. "This seat's VIP only, Greenie."

"Do I count as VIP if I bash your face in?" I responded, my tone hardening instantly as I looked into the cruel eyes of none other than Tassel Whitestar. The kid was my long-term bully. He made fun of me since we could walk, with only a year of age between us. He didn't seem to mind Amara, probably since she would never say anything against anyone. Unfortunately, I didn't seem to know when to keep my mouth shut, and that brought trouble with me everywhere. "It's not like you can, Greenie. Not with those weak little twig arms of yo-" I cut him off by punching him square in the mouth with my "weak little twig arms." I smirked as the other boys who just laughed along with his bullying stiffened. He spat a mouthful of blood onto his shirt. "You're gonna pay, Greenie." He got up off the couch, and I shifted my weight, ready for a fight. He flung a fist at my face, but I dodged and rolled onto the couch. He looked like he was about to leap on top of me and rip me to shreds like a mutation, but Amara got there first. She was strong for her small size and grabbed one of Tassel's arms like a vice. That girl had a grip of pure steel, I thought proudly as I watched her shove Tassel aside. "Leave my sister alone," She said in her soft voice. But with the silence of everyone around pounding with my heartbeat, Amara might as well have screamed "Leave my sister alone!" off a mountainside. Tassel shook his arm and Amara released him, only for him to throw another punch. Right to the still stinging mark from Miss Rosesmith hitting me with her belt.

I swear literal stars flashed before my eyes. I winced back and fell on the couch. I could take pain that I knew was coming, but the fight was over. That dirty... Next thing I know Amara's fist is in his gut and she slams him against a wall. Holding his collar so hard he's spluttering, she hisses, "You lay hands on my sister one more time, you won't be able to walk again." Tassel tries for a smirk, but his eternal confidence falters as Amara steps back. "April Greengaze!" Miss Rosesmith yells. Amara quickly shoves her hair behind her ears, our hair length the only way Miss Rosesmith could tell us apart. I quickly stand up and step by Amara's side. Then we pull a trick that always worked in our favor. We grabbed hands and spun around in circles. Now whatever question she would ask, we would both answer in the favor of whoever was in trouble, which in this case was Amara. "Which one of you was just fighting that boy?" She said angrily.

"It was me, Ma'am," I said and stepped forward at the same time as Amara did the same thing. Fortunately, the television clicked on with our president standing there and saved us from further confrontation as Rosesmith squealed and excitedly yelled for everyone to shut up. It worked pretty effectively. As she announced the Quarter Quell, hosting 13 Hunger Games this year, Amara and I locked eyes. We could both go into one arena, then the other, and both emerge victorious. Something neither of us could accomplish on our own. I knew Amara would never volunteer... Unless I did. I could proudly say that my sister would fight to the ends of the earth for me.

And I would do the same for her.