maybe i'm wasting my young years
maybe... we are, we are
"Are you ready, Bailey?" Ivy says, her face softening as she looks at her daughter.
Bailey's own face is much sharper than it was a year ago, making her look far older than her not quite sixteen years. She adjusts her sweater - a soft cream wool, her favourite - and smooths down her trousers, then nods. She's a victor now, and not even worry for Colton entering his second year in the reaping will change that. She has to act okay.
Colton's reaping outfit is much nicer this year, though he keeps fussing with his collar and complaining that his shoes are too tight. He does it just to ease his sister's nerves.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," he says.
"I do, buddy. I have to be there because I'm a victor now, and besides, I want to be there for you," Bailey replies.
"It might be fun, though. Sitting up there on the stage, looking all important. You'd better not go thinking you're better than the rest of us," Colton says, then grins.
Bailey doesn't tell him that she thinks of herself as the worst person in the world, right after President Snow and Cella, that awful girl from District Ten.
The walk to the square is grim, and Bailey can't help feeling a twinge of guilt in her stomach as she sees her schoolmates in their faded reaping clothes. She gives Colton a quick kiss on the cheek and takes her place on the stage between Ember and Haymitch. Her hand automatically reaches out to find Ember's. His expression is drawn, clearly remembering how his sister's death sentence was signed exactly a year ago.
Haymitch is the only one who doesn't seem anxious, and he's leaning over and speaking to Acacia about how they decide who will mentor the tributes. They've already decided to spare Ember and Bailey the pain, though both are still officially on standby in case anything goes wrong.
At two o'clock the mayor steps up to begin his speech. Everyone tunes out - they've heard it all before. The only additions are the three new victors, two of whom shouldn't even be there.
Maximus, surprisingly lacking his usual verve, hops forward and begins his own stupid spiel.
"Welcome, welcome! Last year was very special indeed, as not only did we celebrate the second Quarter Quell, but we also gained three new victors! This year we go back to choosing one young man and woman to represent District Twelve in the Fifty-first Hunger Games! Why don't we shake things up a bit and do gentlemen first?"
Bailey's throat tightens as Maximus carefully chooses a name. Not Colton, not Colton, not Colton!
Maximus inhales ceremoniously, drawing out the moment. "Emmett Rushmore!"
Her breath comes loose in a great sigh of relief as the boy, a blonde merchants' kid who looks pretty ticked off, makes his way to the stage. She tunes out the introduction of this new tribute, because it's fine. Colton is safe.
Then Maximus is calling out a name that makes her want to cry.
"Maysilee Donner!"
THE END
YOU ARE READING
Snowdrop ➳ A Hunger Games Story {Wattys 2019}
FanfictionNOTE: This is a re-write of the original book, however I did not want to simply edit the existing chapters since it might not qualify for the Wattys, and deleting chapters gets rid of the reads for that particular chapter. "And now we honour our fif...
