Welcome to the Games!

Nelly- Mayors daughter, friend of Kaylaya and Aspen.

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A couple weeks passed since Aspen got picked, I shouldn't be worried I know.. 2 has a record of bringing home victors, but you never know what they have in store.

One thing I do appreciate, we always make sure we have volenteers. They're always prepared we never send anyone who doesn't have training or young kids.. We even think that's sick.

What's the fun of seeing a 12 year old get killed? They can't fight anyways. At least we have some morals.

Aspen was lucky to be trained, I haven't been able to spend to much time training with him. It was intense training the last two weeks, they do it up until the games.

Which is today.

Normally the night before reapings was just another night, no worry. The only person I knew who went in the games was Cato. Though I never worried, I knew my parents did just a little. Not much, we knew he could hold his own.

I couldn't sleep for the life of me, I know he'll be good. But 1 and 4 are just as good to if not better, plus whatever freaks the other districts throw in.

No, don't think about it. He'll win, he has Lexus too she's pretty good I guess. They'll be fine.

I wake up and get dressed, me and Aspen are going to walk to the reaping together, like we do every year. I pull on the cute blue dress, I leave my hair down making my way to the door.

I go to Apen's house where he is with his whole family, all giving him hugs, some had tears in their eyes. I don't know if that was a good or bad thing but I smile pretending not to notice.

" Ready?" I ask.

" Ready."

We walk there not saying much, I know he's nervous, " You got this.. I bet we can pull a few strings getting some good sponsors for you." I say nudging him.

I'll bust my ass to get him the most presents to help him out.

He gives me a smile, " Thank you."

We walk a little more before he stops, " Before we get there, I just need to tell you this.-" he says. " Just in case."

" Aspen don't. You'll be ok. Don't make me worry." I say my nerves rising.

He continues," Just... thank you for being here and supporting me throught all of this." He says quickly.

I give him a quick hug, " I'll be watching the whole time. Just... use your head. And follow your gut, your survival will kick in, trust it no matter what."

He nods letting go of me.

I smile, " First impressions... make them count."

He smiles, " I will."

He walks into the boys section taking his blood, while I go to the girls doing the same. It felt like I was going to throw up, even though I'm not getting picked nor ever will.

Please let him be ok.

I go more in the front of all the girls, I want to be right there when he volunteers. I didn't want to look at him until then, I want to be strong.

We wait for our Escort, Neffy Livingston. She comes on the stage, bright and neon having bright makeup and clothes on. She always looks ridiculous, they never look real, something you could only imagine.

This years mentors, Cato and Enobaria Blake are on the stage too, looking dangerous of course. They are looking around death glaring, maintaining that 'lethal' edge of two.

I could have swore Cato looked at me, and my hands again. I put them behind my back.

Neffy introduces herself, " It's good to be back in district 2! I'm so glad to be back with one of the newest victors." She slightly turns to Cato who smirks loving it. " As always..ladies first!" She says strutting to the girl's bowl.

I happen to look over at Lexus, she was shifting a lot looking nervous,some girls were talking to her they didn't look happy. She looks terrified.

I'm just imagining things, it's fine. Aspen was nervous to, it'll be ok. She's nervous to which is understandable it's a big deal. They still need to work to win.

Neffy steps to the bowl with the girl names in, she looks at the crowd slowly swirling it for suspense. Like we already don't know who's going in. She bugs me. She finally plunged to the way bottom of the bowl grabbing one piece of paper.

" Nelly Rebas!" She announces. Nelly was the mayors daughter, also one of my best friends. With my father being the head, he worked very close with Nelly's dad. That's how we met.

I swallow, why am I nervous? Lexus will be volunteering. Speaking of Lexus...why didn't she volenteer? I glance at her but she has her head down.

" Lexus?" I whisper. She looks at me shaking her head.

Holy crap.

She's not volunteering. Nelly also was looking at her, petrified.

I look back at the mentors, Enobaria was looking right at her her face furious. Nelly starts to walk up slowly both mentors look at her with the most disapproval.

She'll be going in the games.

Nelly is afraid of spiders, if she sees one she cries demanding someone to kill it.

She never trained. Not only would she die soon, she'll slow Aspen down, make 2 look weak dishonoring us, the careers would target them first.

She'll kill Aspen. He needs a strong partner.

I can kill. I'm well trained.

I can get him out of there, I'll be damned if I let him get killed in there.

So I did something the whole district of two thought I'd never do.

" I volunteer!" I yell.

I give Lexus one last look before walking up. I've watched all the reapings, head up, breathe, act liek you already won.

I happen to look at Aspen, his eyes huge. He looked like he wanted to kill me, he probably does. Didn't think I'd be here today.

What a switch of events.

Nelly was also wide-eyed, now crying of relief. He attempts to hug me but I put my hand out to stop her. I just give a small non before he goes off the platform.

As I walk across the stage I happen to look at the Mentors, they watched me as I walked. Enobaria furrowed her brows trying to figure out who I was, I don't blame her she's never trained me in her life.

Cato on the other hand looked from me to our fathers, he even looked dumbfounded.

I went by Neffy, looking straight into the crowd to see our parents, all looked shocked. The Mothers had tears brimming while our dads were talking looking jut as worried.

I walk up to Neffy giving her a smile.

" My my, took you awhile to say your part dear." She half jokes.I looked at Neffy, " Wasn't my year to volenteer." I snapped. Everyone looks at Lexus.

" What's your name dear?" She asks smiling though she looked a little shaken up I was so stern.

I look out into the crowd, a confident smirk appears " Kaylaya Musak"

" Ok time for boys" Neffy couldn't even finish her sentence before Aspen volunteers. He walks up proud. He climbs on stage keeping eye contact with me.

" What's your name?" Neffy asks.

" Aspen Ferg." He booms in the mic.

" This years tributes!" Neffy says, " Go on, shake hands."

Aspen takes my hand gripping it. I know we're going to have a very..pleasant chat.

Cato grabs Aspens hand, and Enobarias  mine. They lift them in the air, now I look around with a cold expression,we need to keep the act up.

They escort us into the Justice building waiting for whoever wants to visit us to come.

Minutes later my dad, Zane, Nelly and my mother all bust in the room. " What were you thinking!" Zane said, losing his shit.

" I wasn't letting Nelly go in there." I protest.

" So you decided to volunteer?' He asks.

" Yes, I know what I'm doing. Like you guys said I'm good I can do this. And I have Aspen."

Zane runs his hands through his hair unsure what to say.

I take a breath, " Zane.. You literally trained me like I was going in the games. You know I'll do just fine."

" Just be careful." My father said keeping his cool.

" I'll be fine, you guys trained me."

" Well, now I guess we'll see how good we trained you." Zane said walking out. " I need to talk to Cato."

My mother gives me a hug, " I love you, come back to me ok?"

" Ok."

Now it was just me and Nelly. She wraps me in hug, " Thank you."

" Listen to me."

She looks at me. " If for some reason I don't come back, watch my family."

" Kay don't say that-"

" Nelly.." I say seriously, " Promise me, you need to promise me."

She cries some more hugging me again. " Ok.'

Peace keepers came in telling her it was time to go.

I sigh, well so much for everything running smoothly.

We walk to the trains, I keep my head down to avoid any other looks from anyone. I felt Aspen's glare on me. Here comes the conversation.

We board the train as soon as the doors close Aspen was in my face.

" What the HELL!" He yells.

I take a breath," I wasn't going to let Nelly in here, you know her she would get killed as soon as the time starts. You'd get killed faster with her, she'd slow you down and make 2 look weak."

Aspen sighs running hsi hand through his hair," Like you volunteering made it any better?! Your in the games now Kaylaya!"

" We're together."

" No difference. What if something happens huh? To me, you'll be left alone. What if.. something happens to you, I'd have no will to fight. Then we'd both be dead."

I cross my arms looking at him displeased," I can fight Aspen... Better then Lexus possibly. You know I can, it'd be different if I was like Nelly who couldn't fight volunteering."

He knows I'm right, I train longer and harder then anyone, he knows that.

I give him an Assyrian look," You know we can win this. Both of us can fight, we have my father and Zane to influence sponsors. Not to mention Cato and Enobaria for mentors, they're the best I think 2 has."

He sighs, " I hope your right."

I give a small smirk, " I'm always right. Let's go talk to our mentors and see what we can figure out, ok?"

" Ok."