Life or Death

Reaping

Chapter 4

Reaping

So we walk to the reaping. Nick, his sister who is 13 and, my sister, brother, and my self. As we walk Nick looks at Kadi and they both wink. Kadi walks next too his sister now and Nick grabs my hand and pulls me away.

"I needed to say goodbye that's why I kissed you." he says to me looking into my eyes.

"So your goodbye is a kiss?" I ask unsure.

"Ya, but then I watched from my window what happened with Jaiden. And now I know your gone for good now." how could Nick say I was gone for good now? Did he actually think I might actually get reaped? Did he think I would die, think I wasn't good enough, strong enough?

"So did you really think I would just be gone. I wasn't really that strong that good? Why do you think I practiced everyday in the back alley? I skipped school almost everyday or at least left early to go train. What Nick, what was it that really made you kiss me?" He looks upset now but I know it was good for me to say that since according to him I'm about to die.

They prick my finger and I stand with Nick's sisters in the girls section. On to the stage comes Effie trinket and behind her stand Peeta and Katniss. I'm scared that it will be me but I'm even more afraid of losing Nick or Jaiden because my name wasn't reaped.

Effie makes all her announcements and she walks toward that girls bowl. She pulls the name and walks back to the mic. She unfolds it an reads aloud.........

"Alexandra Mesina." Nick's little sister. I look at him. He puts his head down and says a prayer. I instantly know what I have to do so I shout out..........

"I volunteer!!" I push my way through the crowd and run up to Alexandra.

"It's ok your not going to the games." I say looking into her brown shiny eyes. Before Nick became worried about me and worried about other guys hurting me that's what his eyes used to look like. I pull her in for a hug. I feel the tears run down her check and on my shoulder.

"Please win. But not for me for him. For Nick he loves you." I pull away and look at her. Push her hair behind her shoulder that's when I see the pin on her shirt. It has a 12. My lucky number. I rub my finger over it and admire it.

"Take it. He meant to give it to you. He had me keep it safe." she says and then I remove it from her dress. I hold it in the palm if my hand and then she takes it and places it on my right upper arm.

"Thank you." I whisper and then kiss her on the head.

Nick steps out of line and leads her back to there mother. But before she gets to far she says to me once more "win for him!" after she says that I turn and walk to the stage. I shake both Peeta and Katniss's hands before I take my spot on the stage.

Effie Trinket asks me a few questions before she moved to the boys.

As she approaches the glass with the boys names on them my eyes meet Jaiden and he gives me a promising look that he will defend me.

"Alexander Ezell" she reads from the card. As Alex makes his way up to the stage I think I'm going to war with him. An easy kill but all he has is speed and hieght.

Before Alex is 10ft from the stage Jaiden steps out of line to volunteer. Alex is shocked but is more pleased then cuz now he doesn't have to risk his life. Jaiden comes up to the stage. My face blank. I search for Nick. I can't find him. I try to search the audience but still no sight of him. Was he upset? Worried I would die? These questions run through my head while I try to find the answer.

I shake hands with Jaiden an we are escorted to the rooms where our loved ones come to say good bye.

Kadi walks in. My first visitor.

"Win. That's all u have to do now. All these long days training are going to pay off now. But don't win for me. Win for Nick." y does everyone keep telling me to win for Nick. I know he loves me. Why should I win when he already thinks I will die. Not to start an argument I just answer ok and hug her once more. She leaves and I feel that she is sad but confident in me.

The door swings open. It's Nick. I Jump into his arms.

"Everyone says I have to win for you and I will." I feel my tears rush down my face. But for once I feel a real tear fall from Nick's eye. I pull away and stare into his eyes while he is still holding me.

"Don't win for me. Win for the life you just saved." He looks deep into my eyes. Then notices the pin. "12" he says faintly. "12". Then his last words are...... "your cold gray eyes with a hint of green will be the color I will never forget. Now go out there and show then who you really are." He pulls me in for one last hug before he says...."i love you but what I love most is to see you happy so you show the world your true love for Jaiden." he walks out leaving me speechless. How can I when I know my best friend loved me.

After about 5 more minutes sitting there trying to figure out my problems Katniss shows up at my door.

"Your like me you know."

"How. You killed the president and was the leader of the rebellion. I'm going to die in a game I didn't want to play in." Ask looking her in the eyes.

"You saved that girls life an I have seen you train before. Never thought the now would be so popular. But you sacrificed your life for her and no one would do that if they didn't mean anything to them. Why?" she asks.

"My best friend. His little sister. I couldn't let her die. It should have been me since the beginning going to the arena. Not her." I say still trying to find the answers to my questions.

"And the boy who volunteered. Who was he?" she asks wanting to know more.

"The boy who loves me. Who makes me crazy. I like him. Been my crush forever. Just told me he loved me. Entered his name 59 times just to try and save me." I say trying to figure out who I really love. How could I chose between the two.

"Don't worry Peeta and I have asked that Haymitch come with us so we will have all the help we can get. I can tell your nervous by the look in your eyes." she says with a slanted smirk. I smirk back and she stands and waves me to the door. This is my last walk in the street of district 12. My last look at my family of 12 before I leave. I say a silent prayer and look up in the sky and say to my aunt......."please help me...pleade,"

I see Jaiden walking with Peeta. Alexander and Alex and Wes all walking behind him. Alex shouts out.....

"Don't let her die.." and Alexander shouts.......

"You saved me know you have to save her...." And lastly Wes shouts......

"We are you two first sponsors..... we have been saving up the day you said u loved her." I laugh at the comments in the inside but just keep my serious look on the outside.

Before the train door closes Jaiden grabs my hand turns me to face the crowed and raises our intertwined hands in the air. I don't think he realizes we are being filmed live in all the districts and Capitol. Everyone just saw that. We are the first to die now. Thanks a lot we now have targets in our backs.