A yell wakes me from my slumber. I spring up alert, looking around for who caused the yell. I calmed down after realizing it was my father waking me up. I let out a long sigh, wishing I could collapse onto my nice, warm bed. But the fact that once my father wakes me up and I fall back asleep, a bucket of water 'mysteriously' dumps itself onto my face, keeps me from sleeping. Suddenly it dawns on me, today's the reaping. My palms start to sweat, as my heartbeat accelerates. I'm more scared than I was when it was my first reaping. A year ago when my best friend Chris and I were only 13 years old, he was reaped for the 64th Hunger year of the 64th annual Hunger Games, district 4 had no victor. Nobody volunteered and I'm pretty no one will this year.

I carefully riffle though my clothes till I came to my reaping clothes, which is the best outfit I owned. We always been OK money-wise, but I just didn't need fancy clothes. In fact they bothered me, so it's a rare occasion when I wear something nice. After putting the outfit on I bound the stairs to where my father was solemnly frying fish. On the table laid two teal colored plates. My dad in one swift movement, had a fried fish lying on each plate. This was a reaping tradition that we always did, my dad would always cook fish for breakfast, instead of the usual bacon and eggs. "So son." my dad begins, and after a short pause continues, "If the odds are not in your favor, and God forbid, you are reaped, make sure everyone believes that you are overjoyed at such an honor. OK?" "Yes dad, I understand, this way captolites will want to sponsor me." I respond, used to this talk that I had before every reaping since I turned 12. We finish breakfast in an awkward silence, which made up most of the time I spent with my dad.

We start the short walk to the town's square, when we run into Chris's family, the Cresta's. My dad starts idly chatting to Alex, Chris's mom. I slow my pace to match his 12 year old sister's speed. I could see her dragging her feet slowly hoping she would miss the reaping, but we both know it doesn't work that way. "So Annie, today's your first reaping eh?" I say. She nods quickly, she always been a sweet girl, even though we never talked much, just pleasant greetings whenever we ran into each other. "Come one sunshine lighten up." I grin trying to diffuse the tensions and ease her worried mind. She smiles softly showing off her dimples that I never realized she had. "Ooo someone got dimples." I tease, prodding the newly shown dimple with my index finger. Her grin widen, as she tucked a piece of brown hair behind her ear revealing a pretty bracelet.

The bracelet looked hand woven, with small shells between the knots. As I was gonna ask where she got it, the tension in the air, became thick. A glance at my surroundings made me realized we were right in front of the town square. Annie grasped her mom's hand tightly, as my dad clasped his hand my shoulder. We journeyed to the entrance. Our parents parted ways, giving words of good luck, as me and Annie went to get our fingers pricked. A female peacekeeper pricked my finger drawing blood. She placed it onto something that I only seen in procession of the capitol. Finnick Odair age 14 popped onto the screen, as she ushered me to take me place with the other boys my age. I turn around to tell Annie something, and see her getting her finger pricked. "Good luck." to my surprise she answers breaking her silence. "You too."

I stand in place with the other boys. I find some friends in my class and we begin to joke around. It's that or show how scared out of our minds we are. Within 15 minutes every has arrived so Mallory Picket strolls to the reaping ball. Mallory Picket may perhaps be the ugliest thing I ever laid eyes on. Her hair, pinpoint straight, an unnatural yellow that obviously dyed, falls down her back. Her eyeliner, or whatever it is, follows her eyelash line till it flicks upwards at the ends, to her eyebrows connecting the eyeliner with them. Her face obviously is dyed white. She peppily announces the 65th annual Hunger Games. She then starts the usual video about how the Hunger Games commits good, taming the people of the districts. I am disgusted, more disgusted than I ever thought possible. "Ladies first!" she chirps.

She digs her pale white hand into the bowl, swirling her hand around until she is satisfied pulling up a white piece of folded paper. "Andrea Sea!" she announces. A broad shouldered girl emerges from the roped off 18 year old section. She struts to the stage showing no emotion, her short blond hair swinging as she walks. She climbs the stage steps as Mallory announces "What a fine young tribute! Now onto the boys!" She prances to the boy's reaping bowl. This time she simply plucks off the first paper she can grasp. She slowly lifts it for dramatic effect. Unfolding the paper she reads the name. "Finnick Odair! Come on up! Don't be shy!" My heart sunk lower than I ever thought possible. I closed my eyes hoping it be an awful dream. I slowly open my eyes to see Mallory becoming impatient. So I stroll to the stage placing a grin to my face, as if it was an honor, not a ticket to my death. "Why aren't you handsome!" she says as I arrive next to her.

"Now tributes shake hands." Andrea squeezes my hand tight as if she can't wait for the arena. I'm sure she can't. We're herded inside into a fancy room to say goodbye before they ship us off to our deaths. First is my dad. He enters saying no words and just embraces me tightly. "I love you son." He finally speaks. "I love you too dad." I respond, truly meaning it. He might not say much, but I love him all the same. Two peacekeepers enter the room informing my dad that time is up. As my dad leaves he turns and gives me one last nugget of advice. "Don't forget who you are." And with that he was gone.

Next some friends stopped and said bye, none of them as close as Chris. Ms. Cresta gives her farewell as well wishing me luck. Then, when I thought no more were coming, Annie entered. Tears were streaming down her bright red face. I opened my arms for her and she jumped into them hugging me for the first and probably last time. "F-Finn." she stutters. "Will you take this as your token. It was Chris's in the arena, they gave it back to us." She holds up the bracelet that I was observing earlier. I nod my head, as she slips it onto my wrist. The peacekeeper taps her on the shoulder signaling that her time is up. She got up wiping the tears from her eyes. "Good luck Finn, I know you can do it" And with that she was gone. Peacekeepers escorted me into the hallway to the train. In the hallway Andrea bumped my shoulder exclaiming "Oops my mistake!" In a tone that suggests it wasn't an accident, and of course completing our lovely exchange with a glare that obviously read 'you're dead meat.' After the peacekeepers ensured that we weren't near each other, we arrived at the train to meet our mentors.