The 500th Annual Hunger Games

District 2 Reaping

Noelle Darwin's POV:

I stand in the 14 year old section, waiting for our escort to arrive. I've heard rumors that each district gets the same escort this year.

"I wonder where she is?" I ask my best friend Charlotte.

"Probably fixing her wig, or dying her skin," Charlotte answers. We both laugh.

Finally the mayor comes out.

"Sorry everybody, the reaping in District 1 ran a little late, so Alexandra will be here as soon as possible. Go ahead and chat with the people around you while you wait," the mayor says.

"So I guess we all have the same escort. I wonder why?" I say.

"Probably because everybody else quit. They hate the districts," Charlotte says, rolling her eyes.

Finally Alexandra comes on stage.

"Hello District 2, sorry I'm late, the District 1 reaping ran a little bit late, so anyways, on with the reaping. I'm Alexandra Applebottom, and I'm doing the reaping for every district this year. So let's pick our female tributes," Alexandra says.

She walks over to the girls bowl, her heels clicking.

"Cecelia Vesper."

Oh no, that's Charlotte's sister. Charlotte let's out a sob, and I put my arm around her to keep her from collapsing. Cecelia walks up to the stage. She glances at us, and a tear runs down her cheek when she sees Charlotte.

"I'm 17," Cecelia says.

Alexandra walks over to the bowl again and picks a second slip.

"Noelle Darwin."

Crap. Why me? Charlotte is going to have to lose her sister, or her best friend. Or even both.

I let go of Charlotte and make my way to the stage. Cecelia gives me a sad smile.

"I'm 14," I say then stand beside Cecelia.

"Wow, no career girls from district 2," Alexandra says as I pass her with tears straying down my face.

"Allies?" Cecelia whispers. I nod in agreement.

"Now for the boys,"Alexandra says and walks over to the boys bowl. She picks 2 slips then walks over to the microphone.

"Owen Wolf and Wes Lister."

Two younger boys walk to the stage.

"I'm Owen and I'm 13, and I'm a career!!" Owen yells. Alexandra smiles.

"Wonderful, we have a young career in district 1 as well," Alexandra says.

"I'm Wes and I'm 14, and I've done a bit of training, so I'm a bit of a career," Wes says.

"Wonderful. Give a big round of applause for our tributes, Cecelia Vesper, Noelle Darwin, Owen Wolf, and Wes Lister," Alexandra yells and we get led to the Justice Building.

____

I sit on the couch for about 5 minutes before my mother comes in.

"Oh honey!! Please come home to me, you're all I have left!!" My mother says and wraps me in a big hug. My father committed suicide 2 years ago after my older brother Nick was killed in the games. He was a career. The career alliance was all that was left, and they killed my brother first. That's why I'm not a career.

My mother and I sit in a hug for a while then she has to leave.

Right as she leaves, Charlotte comes in.

"Noelle!!" Charlotte says then gives me a hug.

"Charlotte I'm so sorry," I say.

"It's fine, it's not your fault. Cecelia says she'll help you win the first one, then she'll win the second. You could both come home to me," Charlotte says.

She sits down and hands me a necklace.

"It's a best friend necklace. I gave my sister one as well," Charlotte says. The necklace is silver with a small rose pendant on it.

"Thanks Char," I say and give her a hug.

"Times up," the peacekeeper says.

I give Charlotte one last hug then she's led out of the room.