Heart of a Willow (51st Annual Hunger Games)

Part Two - In This Together

I haven't got far from my house when a pair of hands cover my eyes from behind. Although clean, the smell of pine trees lingers on the skin. 

"Guess who?" he says, laughing a little.

i smile to myself. "Caesar Flickerman? Wait. No, President Snow?" i push up the hands and turn around. "Oh, i would never have guessed a fine handsome lad... Hello, Noah"

"Heya Leigha. Take any tessarae this year?" his expression is serious. I shake my head and he lets out a sigh of relief. "Good, four is too many times for the likes of me."

  Noah is my best friend. He has been since we were little. No one really liked us a lot so we always stayed together. But now many people see us as more of a couple. To be honest we do act like it a lot but we always deny it when people ask.

"Good Luck today, Noah" I say a little quiet. He looks down at me. His smile fades a little but then he grabs my hand.

"I don't need luck. I have you. I always have had you, I just took you for granted " he says. "Let's go and sign in"

  We walk over to were a rope separates two lines. One for boys, the other for girls. Our hands still linked together. We used to get called for it but then the others accepted that at least we had someone's hand to hold.

  "I'll see you on the other side" He gives me a hug and walks to his line. i join up the other and start to focus on other things.

    Within a few minutes i am at the front of the line. A peacekeeper stretches out her hand to me. I place my hand over hers, she grabs it and quickly pricks my finger. Then she presses it down on a piece of paper.

 "Ok, you can go now"

 I walk over to where the sixteen year olds stand and wait for everyone to take there place. Looking around, all I can see other than children is the white uniforms of the peacekeepers. Patrolling and making sure no one causes a riot in the crowds.

  I see Noah, hands stuffed in his pockets. I can see his struggle to not mess up his hair. He hates it being flat. I don't know why, I should really ask him. He looks around and I manage to catch his attention. I smile weakly at him and he does the same back.

    Then everyone's head is turned to the stage. Well who wouldn't want to see a walking, talking rainbow? Or what people would think to be one. District Seven's escort, Petrenella, was walking up to the microphone on centre stage.

"Welcome, to the reaping of the Fifty-first annual hunger games. Now, I have brought you a video from the Capitol. How exciting!" she pips and holds her hand up in the way of the screen.

    It's not exciting. Especially if you have seen it four time already. It goes through the same thing. Of how we rebelled against the Capitol, how twelve were defeated and the thirteenth obliterated. Then why we have these stupid games.

    "Now, i think we should start with the boys this year, hmm." she says and walks over to the glass ball that holds thousands of names. 

   She rumages through them and pulls a slip out. She opens it in front of the microphone and reads out the name.

  "Noah Pasquell" she calls. And right now, i hate her.

   I watch as Noah looks up as he realises and then glances at me. I want to be strong for him. I feel tears. Why did he have to get reaped? It's not fair. It's my fault because he said he needs me and not luck. I feel faint but I want to scream.

  "Come on up" Petrenella stands at the top of the steps as Noah slowly walks up. "Let's give our very latest male tribute a big round of applause"

  Everyone claps but stops after a few seconds.

 "Time for the girls" like before, she trotts over to the other glass podium and rumages through until she pulls up a slip. With Noah being slightly taller than her, he should be able to see the name of the unfortunate girl before she reads it.

   Petrenella opens the slip and I swear you would have to drop Noah's chin off the wooden floor. I now know what is coming. I can see it in his eyes as he looks at me.

  "Leigha Hancock"

   I keep my face straight and start off through the crowd of girls and into the isle. I walk up as quickly as possible as I feel a thousand pair of eyes burning through my back. Why me and him? Why him and me? It's not fair! I was wrong, and i,suppose I brought this all on myself.

    As I guessed, my stupid sister didn't volunteer for my place. As I stand beside Petrenella i spot her at the front, smirking up at me.

  "Congratulations to our newest tributes; Noah Pasquell and Leigha Hancock "

  I face Noah and we shake hands. Then a squad of peacekeepers takes us into the Justice Building for our final goodbyes.

   Two doors are ahead of us. One for Noah and one for me. We are about to get separated when Noah grabs my hand.

 "i don't know how but I promise, we are in this together and we'll do this together"

  Then he lets go and we go into separate rooms. Now i could really use an axe.