I woke up, more like sat up. I couldn't sleep all night. The worst part was that it was the Seventy-Fifth Games, so Its a Quarter Quell. I'm wondering why he hasn't announced the special thing about the Quarter Quell yet. It must be a huge surprise. "You up?" my sister asked, coming to my bed.
"I've been up all night." I replied.
"Me too." Natalie replied.
"Let's get ready." I said. "We should wear something nice." I added. She nodded and ran to the closet. I looked inside and saw a dress I had worn when I was twelve.
"Can I wear this? It brought you luck on your first year." Natalie asked. I nodded and she smiled. She ran into the bathroom and started to get changed.
I looked through my small closet to see what to wear. I saw my mothers dress that she wore when she went into the reaping. My eyes watered as I took it out. I set it on the bed and gazed at it with a pained expression. I knew I couldn't go over the border in this, so I left it out and jumped out the window. Hopefully they didn't notice I was gone.
I went under the fence and walked to the hollow tree. I noticed Katniss's bow and arrows were not there. I grabbed my bow and started through the woods. Maybe I'll see her. As I trudged on I saw a Mockingjay. I whistled Rue's tune and it sent the sound trough the woods. "Cleo." I heard Katniss say.
I smiled and went towards the sound. When I saw her we embraced each other in a hug.
"It's early." she said.
I nodded knowing what she meant. "The election should be before the games." I add.
She smiles. "I agree,"
"You'll be a trainer this year."
She stopped smiling. "Yeah, I can't believe it's almost been a year."
I nod. We turn and start walking. "Promise me, that if I am reaped, you'll take care of my family." I say.
"I promise." she replies. She didn't dare tell me not to think that, that could be true, I could be reaped.
After a while of hunting, we came back with two turkeys, some roots and strawberries, three squirrels, and a flower for Katniss's mom.
"Bye." I called after her.
"I'm coming with you." she said as we went into the hob.
I laughed. I gave Greasy Sae a squirrel and she gave me a bowl and some cash. Next I went to a new guy who had just set up shop. "Hey, new here?" I say as I walk up. He nods. "What do you take?" I ask him.
"Cash, and plants." he says.
"What's your name?" I ask him as I give him some roots.
"Jacob." he says, handing me some money.
"I'm Cleo." I say. "What do you sell?"
"Lots of things," Jacob replies.
"Have anything yet?" I ask.
"Yep." he puts a few objects on the table. I immediately see a small compass.
"Where did you get this?" I ask, looking at it.
"Its been in my friends family for a while, but he died in a mine explosion the other day." he says sadly.
I nod. "How much?" I ask, something looks really familiar about it.
"To much." he says. "I only put it out for people to see, the price on it is so high that people won't want it."
I nod. He must really miss that friend.
"My friend was Gale Hawthorne." Katniss turns toward him.
"What!?" she yells.
Jacob nods and backs away.
Katniss bursts into tears and runs out of the hob, dropping the flower. I turn back to look at him. "Nice," I say.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know she had a 'thing' for him." he replied.
"They're cousins." I lied.
He looked at his feet. "Sorry, good luck later today." he says.
"Thanks," I reply. As I walk away, I pay a visit to an old beaten down stand that no one has used for years. I looked at its old features. It had caught on fire a long time ago, killing the owner.
I left the hob and gave the strawberries to the mayor. He gave me a good amount of money and I headed to my house.
I climbed into the window to find my dress untouched. As I walked into the bathroom, I looked behind me. I smiled as I slipped into the bath.
When I got out I dried my hair and put on the dress. I went downstairs to find my sister and father sitting in the living room. I sat beside my sister and she gave me some bread. "Thanks." I said.
"You're welcome." she said smiling.
"Why are you so happy?" I asked.
"The Quell is that 12 to 15 year olds won't have to go in." she says smiling.
I hug her. "You don't have a chance!" I say excitedly.
"Yeah, but you will, and they also said they plan on making it last for 2 years, sending in more tributes every week." My mouth dropped to the floor.
"Tw-Two years." I said. She nods and we look at my father.
"Its time to go." he says and we stand up.
As we walk to the door, I pet the cat that comes to the door in the winter. "Bye Cash." I say. My sister had named in Cashmere, but I call it Cash.
"Cleo, hurry up." Natalie calls. I walk faster to catch up.
I check in and am rallied into the 17 year old section. I wave at Katniss sitting on the stage. Peeta was beside her, and so was the mayor. Effie Trinket walked up to the microphone and smiled. "Welcome to the reaping of the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games. Now as always, ladies first." she walks up to the bowl filled with hundreds of names, a lot of them mine. "Cleo Brandshaw." she claps. Everyone turns and looks towards me.
I slowly walked towards the stage. I looked for my little sister, and when I saw her, her face was filled with worry. I have to be strong, I have to win this. When I got up, I looked out over the crowd. Greasey Sae had tears in her eyes. I looked to the new vendor in the hob, Jacob. He completely avoided eye contact. Then I looked at Katniss.
"Now for the gentlemen." she said walking towards the bowl. "Ryan Rodgers." she announced.
I watched as his mother screamed. "No!" she yelled. Peacekeepers had to hold her back. He walked up, slowly and quietly, no emotion on his face. His broad shoulders swayed as he walked up the stairs. He looked strong, but I could see he was kind underneath the emotionless face. He glanced at me and looked back at the crowd, avoiding the direction of his mother.
"May the odds be ever in your favor." Effie said, going into the Justice building. I completely zoned out. We were escorted and put into separate rooms. First my father and sister came in.
"Cleo!" she yelled and we hugged. "I love you." she said, tears in her eyes.
"I love you too." we sat down on the velvet couch and she laid her head on my shoulder. "Dad, you need to be strong, and careful in the mines. You need to talk to Katniss, she promised to help." I said to him, I need Natalie to stay alive. My father nods.
"Promise me you'll win." she says. I nod and she hugs me tighter.
A peacekeeper walked in and took them away.
Next Jacob came inside. "Here." he handed me the compass.
"What?" I asked.
"For your token, I put it on a chain for you." he said, smiling the best he could.
"Thank you." I said, hugging him.
"Times up." Another Peacekeeper came in.
"Bye." he called. They escorted me to the train and I sat down in a seat. The train started moving, and I watched as the last of District 12 faded away.
