Update: I stand by Hanna, waiting for the boy tribute. I can feel my pulse quicken and the tips of my fingers tremble. What if Alex is picked? If Pj? Or even Carlos, who's Alex's friend and we have shown him the magic of the woods? I couldn't kill any of them. I just couldn't. Hanna forces down air. "Well, that's eventful. But like Rose said, the show must go on!" she gushes. I cross my arms so that nobody sees me trembling more and more by the second. What's going to happen? I am so freaked out right now. Hanna's fingers trail the rim of the bowl. I get dizzy watching her twirl her fingers around and around. The wind blows, sending my hair and dress east. I shiver, is the wind getting colder? Or am I going insane? "Ladies and gentleman...our boy tribute is," she pulls out a name, unfolds it at least fifteen times. Then she reads it and frowns. I see tears form in her eyes. "May Pj Mellark please come to the stage?" No....no no no no no. This isn't happening. It can't be, I love Pj too much. Why isn't anyone volunteering for him? Why doesn't anyone have the courage? Oh my god WHY HIM? Pj makes his way to the stage, his eyes on mine all the while. Everyone silently cries then, because they much now watch the two most bonded siblings fight. Chances are our enemies will use this against us Someone clears their throat, and everyone turns their head to a boy who has stepped onto the carpet. "I volunteer to take Pj Mellarks place." he says, holding up his left hand. "And you are?" Hanna asks. "Logan. Logan Aly."
Update: I take a step back. No....he's messin around. No way at all. Yet he's stepping up towards the stage. I look at alex and his eyes widen. I shakes my head. "Well.. What a turn of events!" hanna gushes. "When Logan gets up here I need you two to shake hands." Logan steps on the stage and takes his place beside me. I don't move, only look away. The silence grows. I still don't move, I don't want to touch him. I'll gave joy killing him. Logan clears his throat and takes a step toward me, holding out his hand. "Well, let the best person win right?" he asks. "Whatever." I says, grabbing his hand for one firm shake of the hand. I immediately drop my hand. I turn around, and I hear someone or something whistling "Hanging Tree" a song my grandfather sang to my mother and aunt. "Are you, Are you, coming to the tree. Where they strung up a man, they say murdered three. Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be. If we met up at midnight at the hanging tree." I softly sing as a tear falls down my face. The person whistles the last sentence in the verse before moving on giving me no choice but to sing. I open my mouth, but a hear someone else whistling. Then other, and other. Before I know it, there's people whistling and other people singing. They sing the second and third verse and stop. Only one person whistles, Logan. "Are you, are you, coming to the tree. Wear your necklace of rope, side by side with me. Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be. If we met up at midnight. At the hanging tree." I sing strongly. I sigh and walk off the stage, toward the place where I say goodbye.
(IDK WHAT CHAPTER SOMEONE PLZ TELL ME): I sit in a oakwood chair in a corner. I stare at the dark green carpet and swing my legs since the chair is too tall. I look up at the walls and I see the ups in district 12, after World War 3, after the rebellion with my mother and father, and my mother and father smiling as they hold hands and step off the train after the Games. I look at the door. I guess nobody wants to visit me. A guard steps in, his AK47 in his hand, his finger off the trigger. "Miss, someone is here to see you. Well, more like three." he says as he steps aside. I only see blurs but I know who they are as they make contact. Alex, Maria, and Pj. I think they're all crying, but I can't be sure because I'm half numb from the tightness of their hugs. "Oh Rose how could you?!" Maria Screeches as she hugs me around my chest, making my breasts hurt and I wince in pain. "You stupid girl! Why?" alex questions as he hugs me around my waist. "I can't believe you! This is insane, you're insane!" Pj yells, pushing his body against my back, his head laying on my shoulder. "I had to guys, you know that. You should know that." I respond. "WE KNOW BUT THIS IS STUPID!" they say. I chuckle and slowly break away from all of them. I wish they weren't all so strong, my body feels like it was crushed by a wrecking ball. "Maria needs to talk to you in private." alex says, and grabs Pjs wrist to lead him out. As soon as the exit, Maria bursts into tears and lays her head on my chest. "Shhhh Maria it's okay." I say soothingly. "No it won't! I couldnt forgive myself if you died! I mean-" I place my index finger to her lips. "I'll be okay Maria, no need to freak. I'll always survive, nobody's going to kill or hurt me." "What if-" "Shhhh, calm down Maria." I hold her close, my only girlfriend. The girl who I talk about boys with, who I ask for help during a bad hair day, when I suddenly break out on my nose. I love her, she's my best friend and I would die for her. "It's okay Maria, all you need to do is watch me shine. Exepct the interview, I'll be like a dead slug." Maria giggles. "More like you'll be less than I dead slug." "Now you've got it." I grin. "I better go, I think Alex has to says something to you." "Okay." Maria walks out, but not before she turns and hugs me tightly. "Whenever you feel like I'm going die, just think of the great things I did with you." I whisper in her ear. She nods and releases me. I sit in the chair again and watch her walk out. I take a deep breath and wait for Alex to walk in.
Update: Maria leaves just as alex walks In. She places a hand on his shoulder and looks at him sadly. He nods and looks at me, and only then I see something in his hands behind his back. "Oh god." I think. Alex knees by me and places a hand on my knee, and sighs. "Rose I- I" he starts. "You still love me don't you? That's why you looked at me the way you did when I walked out." I finish for him. He blushes slightly and nods. "I'm sorry Rose, but I do. I can't help it, you're.....irresisable(Spelling?)" "Alex, no, this isn't good tim-" He covers my lips with his, roughly yet smoothly. I'm confused, I can't believe he's doing this! He places one hand behind my head and pulls me close, his other hand wrapping slowly around my waist. I try to pull away, and he let's me. My eyes widen. "Al-Alex?!" "God I know that wasn't te best thing to do but I had to. I love you too much. I loved you then, I love you now..." he pulls put three roses an places them by my feet then caresses my left cheek and he smiles. "Don't forget me Rose. I know Logan and you...but don't forget me." he says sadly. "I won't. I promise." I say, my eyes tearing up. "I promise too." he kisses my cheek and stands up. He smiles and walks out. What just happened? I look down at the roses. I'm not going to take them. I can not accept Alexs love. Not now..I can't break his heart, not again.