I jump out of bed excitedly as I realise the day has finally come. I've been waiting for this moment since forever, my first reaping! That's usually not what you expect from a 12 year old right? Well I'm not like other 12 year olds, it's been my dream to be in the games since I was 4. I watch them every year knowing one day that will be me raising my arms in victory after the final battle.
Being from district 2, we have a victor almost every year. Someday soon I'll be a victor. Most people volunteer when they are 18 years old but why wait? I'm not waiting another 6 years to be in the games. Today I would volunteer, today would change my life, today is the start of my journey to fame and fortune.
I have been training for this moment since I was 6 years old and now I'm deadly. I can throw spears, handle a sword, wield axes, shoot bow and arrow, and throw knives. Knives are my specialty, I never miss but I'm pretty much lethal with every weapon. I know I'm gonna be underestimated since I'm 12 but that's the biggest mistake a tribute can make. These games were made for me.
My mother has set out my reaping outfit on my bed. I nearly gag when I see it. It's a frilly light pink dress that goes just above my knees. It is sleeveless and puffs out at the bottom. Next to my bed there are sparkly pink high heels. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing this! This outfit is so not me, I hate wearing dresses. I'm a total tomboy, I just wanna wear shorts and a simple top but I know I can't.
I sigh and bring the outfit to the bathroom. I take a quick shower then put on the outfit. I look at the mirror and burst into laughter, I look like those girly girls who can't even lift a sword! I dry my hair and flipped it back. I know I can't do anything with my hair, it's too smooth. My friends say it's just too perfect but I just hate it.
I walk downstairs and immediately smell a divine feast of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and hash browns. My mother always makes special delicacies on special occasions. What could possibly be more special then my first reaping?
" You look beautiful Michelle!" My mother says smiling.
My father laughs at me, I never would wear something like this. I glare at him and he goes back to reading the newspaper and drinking his coffee.
" No I don't! This is the ugliest outfit ever!" I say angrily to my mother.
" Oh please, it is gorgeous!" She says.
" Ewwww, I hate it!" I respond.
She sighs and sets a plate of bacon, eggs, hash browns and fruit on the table with a glass of orange juice. I sit down and dig in, my parents soon join me. Within 10 minutes I'm finished and completely stuffed.
" Thanks mom, I going to go meet Stephanie. I'll meet you at the reaping" I say and get up. I walk out the door and start jogging but immediately realise that these heels were not made for walking. I slowly walk the rest of the way to Steph's and my meeting spot.
I walk through up a small hill and reach the meadow filled with flowers and trees. I go to our tree and find Steph already at the top of it.
" Hey Michelle" she says waving.
She climbs down a few branches and when she is 10 feet from the ground she jumps.
" Hey Steph" I answer.
Steph's long brown hair is curled nicely and her lashes are long as usual. She wears light pink lip stick, blush, and pink eyeshadow. She wears a navy blue spaghetti strap sundress with ruffles on the bottom. The dress brings out her her blue green eyes.
" Happy hunger games!" she says happily, trying to hide her fear.
" And may the odds be ever in your favour!" I respond with the foolish Capitol accent.
" The odds have haven't been in my favour so far" She says sadly
Steph has a deathly fear of the hunger games. I wouldn't blame her after what happened 4 years ago. Her brother Shawn was reaped for the hunger games at the age of 14. Nobody volunteered for him which is rare for our district. He was strong and he was well trained but the other careers were much stronger. He had planned to volunteer at the age of 18. He never even got to see his eighteenth birthday. This would've been the year Shawn volunteered.
I remember watching those games with Steph. The poor girl was cringing at every moment. That was the first year that Steph had seen the games. Despite the fact that Shawn was 14 years old, he did quite well. The arena that year was a swamp, one of the most disgusting areas so far with its muddy waters and mushy grasses. But Shawn used that to his advantage using it as a camouflage. Only revealing himself when he had to get food. With this tactic, he lasted to the top 6 before his own district partner found him and brutally slaughtered him. Poor Steph has been mentally scarred ever since.
We have gotten a lot closer since what happened, I was always there for her when she needed someone to comfort her. Poor Steph didn't deserve that, she is one of the nicest people I know. Then again most of the people I know are vicious and bloodthirsty. She is also smart, pretty, athletic and trustworthy. When she laughs, I laugh. When she cries, I cry. We are can never be separated.
I haven't told I'm going to volunteer yet, she wouldn't let me. Losing her brother was bad enough, if Steph lost me she would totally lose it.
" Are you nervous for the reaping?" I ask her.
" No, really? What about you?" She answers sarcastically.
" Not really, even if we are chosen there are gonna be tons of people wanting to volunteer" I reassure.
" So shall we go?" She asks me.
" Sure" I say.
We silently walk to the square which is a 10 minute walk. When we get there we sign in and stand in the front with all the other nervous 12 year olds.
Within a few minutes our clown of an escort, Josephine Frezzo, appears on stage. She wears about 10 layers of yellow make up on her face. Pathetic as usual I think to myself. She doesn't deserve to be the escort of district 2. She wears an ugly long brown dress with a pink ribbon. Her shoes are 8 inch dark purple heels.
She babbles on about how we brought this upon ourselves but I say it is an award. That's the best punishment ever! She reads out district 2's seemingly endless list of victors. Then she starts with the interesting stuff.
" Now the time has come to select one courageous young man and woman for the honour of representing district 2 in the 124th annual hunger games! Ladies first!" She says excitedly.
She plunges her hand in the bowl marked 'Ladies' and grabs a slip.
Steph and I hold hands waiting for the name to be called.
" Stephanie Scott" She says and Steph let's go of my hand.
A tear slips down her cheek as she makes her way to the stage.
" Don't worry, I got this" I whisper to her.
" I volunteer!" I shout out.
