Ariabella: The Tribute Who Danced (A Hunger Games Fanfic) Book 1

2.

"Ariabella!!" I hear my mom yell from the kitchen.

I sit up in bed and stretch, kicking the blankets off of me.

I get up and slowly walk downstairs.

"Breakfast won't be ready for a little, so go get ready for the reaping," my mother says without turning around.

I turn back around and head upstairs.

I go into the bathroom and get a bath before going to my room to find what I'll wear to the reaping.

Eventually, I decide on a white dress with a purple ribbon around the waist.

I quickly french braid my brown hair from my left ear to my right shoulder.

I run downstairs, hungry.

I sit down next to Avia and look at the food in front of me.

Pancakes.

"Pancakes!? Mom, this is rare!!" I say with excitement.

"Well, I had extra ingredients," says my mom, turning back to finish the last pancake.

I take a bite of the fluffy pancake coated with maple syrup and fresh blueberries. Delicious.

I look over at the clock. The reaping starts in twenty minutes.

"Mom I'm going to leave now, I told Vivietta and Eris that I'd meet them at Vivietta's house before the reaping," I say and stand up.

"Ok dear, I'll see you there," my mother says.

I stand up to leave, but realize I forgot my necklace.

I run up to my room and search my dresser for it. Finally I find it, a silver necklace with a blue gem on it, a Sapphire to be exact. My father bought it for me on my 6th birthday. That was back before he left. The necklace is the only real thing I have left of him. I've worn it ever since.

I quickly run out the door and sprint to Vivietta's house. I'm already late.

"I'm here," I say, out of breath.

"Oh hey," Vivietta says as I walk into the kitchen. Eris and her twelve year old brother Jeremy are sitting at the table.

"Hey Jeremy," I say.

He just waves. He's obviously too nervous to speak, since it's his first reaping.

Soon, Vivietta's brother Vic comes down the stairs and we head out.

____

We get to the reaping and quickly sign in. Vivietta, Eris, and I head to the 15 year old section and Jeremy and Vic head to the 12 year old section.

"Welcomeeee," says our escort, Chrysanthemum. This year her hair is a faded lime green and her outfit is lime green.

"Today, we will select our lovely young man and lady to represent District 12 in the 145th Annual Hunger Games!!" Chrysanthemum yells.

The video starts and Eris rolls her eyes. Vivietta and I giggle a bit at her.

When it ends, Chrysanthemum walks over to the girls bowl and takes her time picking a slip.

Finally, after what feels like eternity, she picks a slip.

She walks over to the microphone and reads the name loud and clear.

"Ariabella Fox"

I feel my body stiffen. Vivietta cries out and Eris grabs me. My mind somehow makes my body start towards the stage. Vivietta is still crying behind me.

I finally make my way to the stage.

I notice Avia and Aaron hugging eachother, crying.

I gulp.

"My name is Ariabella, I'm fifteen," I say quietly into the microphone Chrysanthemum is holding out towards me.

"You have a beautiful name dear, I recognize you from the capitol dance company," Chrysanthemum says and I nod. I feel a tear run down my cheek.

Chrysanthemum walks over to the boys and picks a slip a lot quicker than the girls.

"Grayson Pritchard"

Oh no, not him.

I look over and watch him come out of the sixteen year old section. So he's a little less than a year older than me. My birthday is in a couple days.

Crap, I'll be in the games on my birthday.

Grayson walks up to the stage, his bluish gray eyes full of fear.

I imagine mine look the same.

"Our tributes, Ariabella Fox and Grayson Pritchard," Chrysanthemum says and she motions for us to shake hands.

I look at him as our hands touch.

He looks at me and I can tell there is only one thing on his mind.

Fear.

____

My family hurries into the room in the Justice building.

"Aria, win for me!!" Avia says as she sits on my lap, tears in her eyes.

"I will," I say.

Aaron sits next to me and Adam on my mother's lap. We sit in one big hug until our time is up.

"I love you!!" I call as they're led out.

Another peacekeeper comes to take me to the train.

Which will take me to my death.