"Hey, Piper." I turn and there she is. Her brunette hair blowing into her face, which doesn't make her any less beautiful. Her brown eyes glinted with gold, shimmering in the morning sun. "Hi, Lexie. Come here." She walks over and collapses onto the soft grass next to me. I brush her hair behind her ears and giver her a kiss. I give her a sad smile and say "Hey, it'll be ok. You know that right?" Her lip trembles. I pull her into my arms and through sobs she says "I just...every year the fear gets bigger. That these horrible games are going to tear us apart." I tilt her chin up to my face so she can look me in the eye. "Listen, we're going to be ok. Even IF one of us were to get drawn, I will not stop thinking about you for even a second. Lexie, you're the most important thing on earth to me. Do you understand?" She nods and leans in for another kiss. "I love you like all-fire Alexis Cyan." "I love you like all-fire too, Piper Ivory." Then we just lay there for a long time. I try to remember this feeling, holding her in my arms, her holding me. As the sun starts to descend, I know it's time. I hug her extra tight, and kiss her for what all I know is the last time. We stand, hand in hand, and walk as far as we dare. Then we split up and before I know it, I'm in line for the reaping. I try to look around, trying to spot anyone. But, to no avail, I couldn't spot even my Mom. As I take my seat in one of the uniform white metal chairs. It's then the I finally lock eyes with Alexis. She looks like she calmed herself down somewhat. I mime blowing her a kiss, she catches it with the most subtle way possible. Then Celia Eiffel, rocking a bright orange dress that looked to be made of bubbles. Her bright green hair clashing in the worst way possible, steps up to the stage, a bowl with every tributes name, in as many times as necessary. She steps up to the mic and says "Let the fifty third reaping begin!" I try to breathe. It's not going to be you. It's not going to be you. I'm so stuck in my thoughts that it takes me moment to hear Celia’s words. "Ladies first!" It’s not going to be you. It’s not going to be you. Celia reaches into the bowl and draws a name reads it and… “Piper Ivory!” A strangled cry from who I know is Alexis. I hear a gasp from Jax and sobs from my mother. “Piper Ivory! Please join me on the stage!” I should be moving…why aren’t I moving? I walk soundlessly to the stage and try to put on a tough face, but I can’t. This can’t be real. It can’t. But the slip of paper in Celia’s hand confirms it. I’m going to the Hunger Games.
