The Hunger Games-One Direction Edition

Chapter Two

Lauren’s Point of View

The anthem finishes and we are taken to the Justice Building where our loved ones can visit us and tell us their good-byes. My first visitors are Kylie and my Mother, and I watch them fight the urge to run to me as I stay on the couch. Kylie sits on my left and I hug her tightly as my Mother hugs us both. We sit like this for almost five minutes before I start giving instructions. If they are careful, they will make it on the garden and whatever the animals produce.

The Peacekeepers are ushering them out and after I hug them both and tell them,"I love you." For Kylie’s sake, I will try to win, but if I cannot then I will not go down without a fight. They were the only visitors, and I secretly thanked any god that existed that I had not cried because the station we travel to by car is buzzing with reporters and the cameras.

Niall on the other hand looks like he has been crying all morning, his eyes rimmed with bright red and tear streaks staining his face. I know this will fool very few people due to his slim build and broad shoulders. We go to board the train when I feel someone tap my shoulder, and I glance behind me to see the mayor’s daughter, Maggie. She is holding a golden pin out to me, her eyes wide and chest heaving from running a distance.

"Here, this is for you!" she whispers before she hurriedly pins it onto my chest, then before I can thank her, she kisses my cheek and disappears into the crowd. Why was there such desperation in her brown eyes? I shook my head and climbed into the train behind Effie, the door sliding shut behind us. We began to move and I made my way through the tribute train to my room. Our quarters consisted of a bedroom, a dressing area and a bathroom with hot or cold running water. The wardrobes have fancy and gorgeous clothes in them, and Effie has told us that we can do anything up until supper in an hour or so.

I take a hot shower and after I dry off I change into a dark blue blouse and black pants. I take my remaining free-time to look at the pin Maggie rushed into my possession. It’s solid gold, and could feed a family for well over a month, but what really caught my eye was the shape. The top slightly curved out, and I recognized the shape as an eighth note. I had learned to play guitar when I was younger and I also found that I had a talent for singing, so this was something familiar to grasp onto. I was wondering why I had gotten this when Effie came to retrieve me for supper, my stomach growling. I followed her down the hall and into a fancy looking dining room, Niall already helping himself to the food.

"Where’s Adrienne?" Effie asked, glancing at the empty chair in-between my spot and Niall’s.

"I think she was going to get something to drink; she said she had a headache earlier," Niall replied before digging into his heaping plate of food.

"Well, I don’t blame the poor thing." She sat across from us as the supper was served in courses. I gorged myself, and after I was sure I could hold no more, my stomach began to churn. My stomach wasn’t used to food this rich, even though it seemed like Niall was used to it. After I made sure the food wasn’t going to make a re-appearance, we go to another compartment to watch the re-cap of the reapings.

A handful catch my eye-Louis of One Direction from District Five, Harry of One Direction from District Eleven along with a pretty, young girl with scared brown eyes. Zayn of One Direction from District One, Liam of One Direction from District Four, also with a pretty girl that looked to be at least seventeen. They show District Twelve last and my pain and protectiveness of Kylie is evident in my voice, then the anthem plays and the screen goes black. I hurry to my room, exhaustion tugging at my limbs as I glance out the window. I wonder what district’s lights are shining in the distance when I am climbing into my bed, and with a sigh I fall asleep.

Early morning light leaks into my room as I hear Effie’s voice pipe up to announce that today was going to be "a big, big, big day!" I tiredly put on a gray shirt and dark pants, remembering at the last moment to wear my golden pin as I hurried to the dining room. Adrienne is sitting next to Niall and she waves me over to the seat next to her. I am served a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and pancakes topped with chocolate chips and whipped cream as soon as I sit down. I notice a cup of rich brown liquid and I sip on it as I realize that it’s hot chocolate.