I'll be yours (not finished)

The reaping

© 2008 Susan Collins

© 2012 John Green

I force my eyes open to the smell of that sickly fume stench that hovers over District 12. I look at my bed in hope to find Esset snuggled up to me but she's not there. "Es?" I glance over to my clock to find that it's nearly 7 o'clock. The reaping starts at 10. May the odds ever be in your favour. Yeah, sure! Esset hates this day, the poor thing always thinks I'm going to be picked but because of father, I don't have to sign up for tesserae. On my lap I find a loaf of bread, jam and butter. Es makes extra money by selling her cows milk, cheese and butter, mum makes jam too, so we always had something to drink and eat - if we could steal the bread.

I push myself up with my elbows and shout for Es. About five seconds later, she stumbles in in her blue nightie.

"Come here Essey," I call waiting for her to do so. After a slight hesitation, she sits beside me before wiping her puffy red eyes. "Es, I'm not going to get picked because I only have to put my name in six times whereas other people in 12 have to sign up for tesserae. You know this!" I frown as tears streak down her face. "Hey Essey," I tap her shoulder. "Want to go and see Hazelle?" I grin in hope she'll agree. She looks at me like I'm crazy but smiles back.

"Will she braid my hair?" She sniffs as she leans on my shoulder.

"Yes of course, you know she loves your long hair."

"Why is her hair so short?" She perks.

"Because she cut it when she was 14... but it didn't go very well." I laugh at the memory of watching her cut her hair of whilst I cut my own.

"Will Hazelle be ok?" She asks with a slight wobble.

"Um..." Hazelles father wouldn't take any of fathers victor winnings so every year Hazelle has to sign up for 4 tesserae. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Ten times in isn't much Es." I force a smile onto my cheeks until she's convinced and trots off.

"Mother!" I click my fingers in front of her face but she doesn't twitch or blink or even look away. "Mother! I'm signing up for tesserae for Hazelle by the way." I snap.

"Son, I know you're close with Hazelle and I understand why you'd want to sign up for her but, well, we can't afford loosing you to some poor tramps who are going to die sooner or later!" Father shouts from the kitchen. I glare up at him in his hunting jacket and wool lined boots - a rare treasure in 12. I take a deep breathe in and exhale jaggedly. He didn't just call my best friend a...

"Father, take that back! She's just like us before the Games! You... You're a monster!" I scream, charging towards him with my fists balled. He grabs my head with his huge hand and stops me as I reach out my fists to punch.

"Augustus Waters, you are forbidden to sign for tesserae, she will not be chosen, alright! Now... Go to your room!"

"But I nee-"

"I forbid any actions towards Hazelle! Do you understand?" He bellows down. I nod shyly and tiptoe of.

"Es! Come on, do you want Hazelle to braid your hair or not?" I sigh as she spins round to show me her blue pleated dress.

"Do you like it Gussy?" She curtsies.

"Please, don't call me Gussy its Gus or Agustus. And yes, it looks amazing. I like the lace on the rims." I comment.

"Oh, thank you Gus, mother sewed the lace, isn't it fabulous!" She grins, showing of her pearly whites. I smile and nod.

"Come on now Es!" I laugh and tickle her tummy.

"Stop! Stop it!" She squeals, falling to the floor.

"Ugh fine! Come on though, Hazelles waiting!" I pick her up and shut the front door behind me with my foot.

Hazelles house is right in the centre of the town square, it's a rotten old thing, falling apart and covered in thick coal dust. The road from the victors village is long and tedious but its a nice opportunity to talk where there's nobody around to listen in. Hazelle and I walk down here a lot to my house just to kill time. She's always going on about how they should close the mines on Fridays or Saturdays as well as Sundays so she can see her father. Her mother died when she had Hazelle so she has to look after herself until late. We let her stay in our spare room most nights though.

"Hazelle Grace?" I knock on the door three times until she answers. A grin creeps across my face as we hug each other tightly. "Hey you!" I tap her nose with my pinky.

"Hi Gus." She smiles and tucks her boy short hair behind her ear. She looks down to a shy Esset and smiles once more. "Es! Want me to braid your hair again? Oh I love your dress! I wish I could afford something like that! I look like an idiot in this old thing!" She sighs and pats down her yellow frock.

"You look amazing Haze!" I wink. "Oh! Here, I brought you some breakfast." I pass her the loaf, jam and Essets butter. She looks down in astonishment and chuckles.

"Wow! All this... For me? Thanks Gussy." She hugs me again and tucks in. "And hey, may the odds be ever in your favour!" She laughs with a mouthful of bread.

I look at her and sigh, wow she's beautiful. "Ummm, Haze, Hazelle, um, oh gosh. This is harder than I'd of thought." She looks at me confused. "Do you mind if I sign up for your family's share of tesserae? Your father won't find out, it's a win-win; you and your father get the grain and oil, you don't get picked and... Hopefully neither do I." I smile in my awkward way. Her eyebrows fly up in realisation and shakes her head furiously.

"No, no, no! It's my responsibility not yours Gus, please just don't bother." She sighs. I take her smooth hand but she slips away and quietly closes the door. What the hell just happened? I let my mind wonder down to Esset who is sitting on a step winding her hair around a finger.

"Come on Es, we're going!" I say between my teeth.

"But I want her to do my hair! Who's going to plat it n-" She starts to object but I quiet her.

"Esset! We are going home now, I will plat your hair just get up!" I pull at her ear and people start giving us weird looks but I brush every single thought from my mind and watch Esset struggle out of my tight grip on her ear lobe. There's something wrong, I know I can't hear what she's saying, her lips are moving and everyone's hands reach out to stop me. All very slowly like in the old occasional broadcasting of District 13, blurred like our television. "Hazelle! Hazelle! No Hazelle!" In my mind a vision flickers. It's an unmistakable vision of Hazelle... Blood gushes from her chest where a knife is dug into her heart.

I look around for Hazelle. I need to tell her something. But what? I'd only know when I see her. A faint call of my name gets me viciously staring at the girls, the Peacekeepers must be going mad but I keep searching. "Hazelle!" I shout whilst Uto holds me back. "Hazelle!" Everything mutes out except Hazelle who is staring intensely at Effie Trinket in her purple fruit wig. I follow her gaze the dull stage. Please don't pick Hazelle, Please don't pick Hazelle. Please don't pick Hazelle! I think over and over as more images of her slaughtering creep into my mind.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour! I am so delighted to represent the... Unique... District 12. I am honoured to be here with you all." Effie giggles and clears her throat. "Ladies first!" Please don't pick Hazelle, Please don't pick Hazelle. Please don't pick Hazelle! Please don't pick Hazelle, Please don't pick Hazelle. Please don't pick Hazelle! "Hazelle Grace Lancaster!" She thrills. "Up to the stage Hazelle!" Her sharp chin points into the crowd. I collapse to the floor in tears as my best friend shuffles down the walkway in her yellow tunic. I catch a glimpse of her colourless face, suddenly the dark circles and sags in her cheeks appear and her body shakes. No ones volunteering.