Jeramy stands in front of the stage, his tears gone, his eyes no longer red and puffy.
"I volunteer as tribute." He says again as she steps up to the stage. I shake my head in denial. Jer, my Jer would never do this. He would never send us both to a sudden death. He could live on, find new friends, marry a girl from school and live happily ever after, but no. He ha chosen to die with me, and I don't know if I can ever forgive him. Anger fills my body and I want to go and slap him, but I can't do that in front of everyone.
"Very well." Claudia says excited and hurries the other boy down from the stage, and Jeramy takes his place
"What is your name young boy?" She asks him, with her blue lipstick, Capitol face, and hair.
"Jeramy Grey." Jeramy says. He doesn't blink, and he doesn't look at me. Maybe he's to scared to face the fact that he volunteered for a small boy, and took his place to fight to death with me in the hunger games.
"Let's give them a round of applause!" Claude almost jumps up and down where she stands. District 7 never has volunteers, not like the careers in district 1,2 and 4. Maybe she thinks that this will move her up to a better district. Not the career district but maybe 3 or 5, but I don't think Jeramy's little act of impulsive bravery will get her anywhere.
No one in the crowd claps. They all know us, some of them might think that we are a couple, some of them know is from school and know that we are best friends. Some might know me from the flower shop, and him for helping me there. The silence still hangs in the air. The last salute to us. The last goodby to two teenagers.
Claudia realises at some point that it won't do her any good standing here staring at the silent crowd of district 7. Everything is still. If I dropped my earring I think everyone could hear it drop. With a firm grip on my yellow dress she drags me and Jeramy into the justice building, and out of sight.
"You have 15 minutes to say goodbye." Claudia says as we come inside.
"I don't have anyone to say goodbye to." Jeramy says and looks at me. His eyes tells me that he isn't sad. It's true, he doesn't have anyone that loves him, besides me and my parents. His mom ran away along time ago, and he assumes that she is dead, and if she's not she won't come back, and his dad died from heartbreak many years ago. He has been sleeping at his Aunts house, and at day he has been at school or with me.
"My parents aren't coming, they are busy making the flower decorations for the tribute parade" I say. The urge to reach out and take Jer's hand is there, but I keep myself from doing it. I'm still to angry to feel sorry for him.
"Yes, the Woods family. Well then, let's get you to the train."
We walk to the train. It's warm outside, an I remember the hot days after the reaping when I use to help my parents with making flower decorations. Year after year they got bigger and bigger, more spectacular, and more unnatural. My dad has his own laboratory backstage where he makes flowers that don't exist. Blue roses, purple sunflowers, neon pink flowers, things that only the Capitol could accept. This year I'm not going to be a part of that, I'm going to be in the tribute parade. I'm going to watch the finished work of my parents.
There's no one left in the square as we walk over to the train platform. No one is there to say goodby to us. Maybe if was painful enough to watch us get reaped, maybe they are telling my parents right now. I don't think I would be strong enough if my they ever made it before the train leaves.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Claudia says as we reach the platform
"Yeah killing people is so much fun." I snap back in a sarcastic voice.
"Rose stop it..." Jer reaches out for my hand, but I don't take it.
"You don't understand Jeramy." I never call him that, but I'm so angry. Angry because volunteered, angry that I might have to watch him get killed. After all there's only going to be one winner. What am I going to do if he dies. He's my best friend, and one of the only friends I have.
Jer doesn't argue with me, he just walks by my side as we mount the train. I'm too angry to register all the jewlery, the food, the furniture. I walk past all the rings that would make me gasp, and out of the room to the other rooms in the train, but before I get that far a voice stops me.
