And just like that, it's the morning of the reaping. Apparently I did fall asleep at some point, because I'm shaken awake bye Jax. "Piper, wake up." I can tell by his voice that he hasn't been up much longer than me. I roll out f bed and onto the floor. Right on top of Jax's feet. Perfect. Annoying my brother on reaping day. He jumps back, followed by a a thumb and a "oof" "I'm up." I muffle into the thin carpet. "Yeah, I got that. Come on, Mom's making breakfast." I roll onto my back and sit up. I run my fingers over the carpet. I breath in. And out. I need to get to breakfast and eat fast. Otherwise I won't be able to see Alexis before the reaping. So, I stand up, pull on my best dress, a faded white dress with tulip sleeves. Mom worked for months to scrap some fabric to make the custom sleeves. Cleaning Victors house after Victors house to earn enough to make something I wanted. She hadn’t even been home for so long because she was in other districts cleaning houses. I go out to the garden, pluck a few stray dandelions, and stick them into my hair. Then I jog inside to see Mom cooking some oatmeal on our little woodturning stove. She smiles at me and said "Good morning love! Come eat." I reply "Morning Mom. And, thanks." She places a small bowl in front of me. I start to eat, when I realize that someones missing. "Mom, where's Dad?" "Oh, he left early to take care of a few things for the baker before he came down for the reaping." Of course. The one day Dad has off from working in the mines, he pulls a job cooking breakfast for the weary people of 12. I finish my oatmeal, peck my Mom on the cheek and jog out the door. Across the town square and into the forest, where my love awaits my arrival. I trek past the cottage where the Covey, a small group of performers, live when they're in 12. I find the small grove where me and Alexis have been meeting since we met. It's where we met actually. It was about five years ago, I was wandering around after school, on a late may afternoon, when I saw her. Singing. I stayed behind some bushes and watched. It was a song I'd hadn't heard before. Something about a hanging tree I think. Then, when I stepped to get closer, a tree branch snapped beneath my feet. Her music stopped immediately. She looked over at me, a startled look in her eyes. I walk closer, and say "You have a beautiful voice. Please keep singing." She blinks at me. I blink back. Then she sings. a wondrous sound that I've been lucky enough to hear on more than one occasion. I sit on the rock next to her, and listen. Eventually she stops, looks at me, and says "I'm Alexis." I smile and say "I'm Piper."
