Shay was intercepted by her parents half-way.  "We came a bit late; we had to clean up shop," her father told her.  "But we're here now.  Let's go into this together."  He took my hand in his and squeezed it gently.  Her mother looked her up and down and her brows scrunched together and her mouth formed a slight frown.

"You picked that to wear to the Reaping?" she said scrutinizingly, then sighed, her features relaxing.  "I thought something like this would happen.  I brought this for you."  Shay didn't really see what was wrong with plain yet nice attire, but when her mother held out her newest dress - that she hadn't even worn yet - she changed her mind.  Shirt and pants versus pretty dress means pretty dress wins.  Her mother gestured to a patch of trees.  "Go change, we'll wait here."

Shay went off into the woods and took off her previous clothing, slipping the light gray dress on smoothly.  It was a little scrunched up at the top section and then right below it was a white silk band that didn't need to be tied in the back.  It hugged her mid-torso firmly yet comfortably.  Lightweight material possibly simliar to that of tulle flowed down from beneath the white, stopping at about knee-length.  The edges of the dress had sparkles going around the whole circumference, though it wasn't many, just like a light sprinkle of glittering diamond-like accents.

Stepping out, her gray flats were a tone darker than her dress and it fit the outfit perfectly.  Though it was a bit unnerving for her dress's first 'outing' to be at the Reaping, she didn't think much of it.  Shay just hoped that she wouldn't get picked out of that clear, glass ball of horrors.  "Much better," her mother commented with a smile.  How could she smile on a day like this?  Almost in time with Shay's thoughts, the smile diminished and the family trio went onwards until they reached the area surrounding the Justice building.  Shay's parents hugged and kissed her before going off into their own sections and the brown-haired girl got in line.

"Shay Peyel, 12 years old," she told them clearly but quietly.  She winced when the lady pricked her with a machine, but didn't cry.  It wasn't that bad.  But it wasn't very nice either.  Looking down at the little bleeding hole in her body, she sucked on it and it quickly stopped oozing red.  Going to go stand beside the other girls, her stomach sunk.  Soon afterwards, a woman with a bright overly-make-up'd face stepped onto the stage.  "Welcome, everybody!" she said cheerfully.  Her hair was the colors of the neon rainbow done up in a bun and the bun was laced with sparkles which Shay soon figured were either diamonds or rhinestones.  You could never tell with the Capitol people.  Her face was powdered a faint orange on the cheeks and her lips were painted with a candy pink and her eyes were violet.

Shay was suprised, since this was really the first Capitol person she'd ever encountered.  This woman just had so much going on and some of it seemed impossible to be natural.  Her fingernails were a metallic golden color and shone whenever a light source hit them.  Her thumbnails had metallic silver markings on them, but Shay wasn't close enough to decipher what exactly they were.  "How about a round of applause for our wonderful event, the 68th annual Hunger Games?"  she announced.  Silence rung throughout.  Of course everybody knew the Games were anything but wonderful.  "Alright, alright, how about we get pumped up first with the video of Panem?" the lady continued with a laugh.  "Now I, Terayonda Laitaku, ask you to direct your attention to the screen."

Oh.  Apparently her named was Terayonda Laitaku.  Quite a strange name and a bit of a mouthful, but oh well.  It didn't matter much, did it?  After the short clip, Shay's ears heard the sound of the microphone being tapped twice - two muffled yet distinct sort of sounds.  "Now wasn't that absolutely terrific?  What a great place we have to live in, am I right?  Mmmm, now, we get to the exciting part!  Picking one male and one female to participate in Panem's Hunger Games!  As always, for courtesies and politeness, ladies shall go first."  Shay gulped and hoped it wasn't audible to everybody else.  Terayonda fished around the large glass bowl and feigned to go after a few slips of those dreadful papers, her hand circling about and swerving to and fro until it finally plucked one from its spot.

Terayonda cleared her throat and smiled.  "District 4's female tribute is..." she began, then unfolded the paper.  Please don't be me, please don't be me... Shay pleaded.

"Shay Peyel!" Terayonda joyfully exclaimed.  She scanned the crowds as everybody turned their eyes to Shay.  Luck was not on her side that day as her feet slightly dragged as they trudged up towards the stage.  Her eyes were dull as nobody's voice wanted to step up to volunteer to go in her place - of course, though, what was she expecting?  That would never happen.  The view from the stage allowed her to see tears streaking down her parents' faces, even her father's, who had never been witnessed crying by Shay.  Her face was sullen.  Internally, she knew she would never last the Games and the competitors and would only win if there was some sort of miracle.

"Let's give a big hand for Shay Peyel!" Terayonda said.  Once again, no sound came from a single soul in the area.  Shay knew it wasn't because they didn't like her.  It was because the purpose was for the infernal Games.  With a chuckle and another clear of her throat, Terayonda continued.  "Alrighty.  Next comes boys."  Her hand made motions and such that Shay couldn't depict from her dazed state of mind, but the name that the Capitol lady called out was one that she had heard before.

"Our male tribute shall be... Asher Brinks!" she continued happily.  How could she be so happy?  Was it fake?  Or was she just so good at her job?  Anyways.  The male was far older than Shay by years.  Seventeen, she remembered.  People were always saying he was 'hot' or whatever.  No matter.  He was probably going to end up killing her if nobody else did or if he didn't die first, though Shay doubted a big guy wouldn't outlast a scrawny little girl like her.  "Let's have a round of cheerful applause for this year's Hunger Games tributes from District 4!"

No clapping.

No sound.

No nothing.

And Shay was perfectly fine with it.  She shook hands with Asher and the two were ushered into the Justice building.  At this point in time, Shay's parents were given a few minutes in a room with her.  They cried.  They hugged, kissed, exchanged words.  It was all a blur to Shay and it seemed like such a short time that passed until her parents were told to leave.

Asher's parents, on the other hand, exchanged a simple handshake and Asher returned a hard face.  His family, you could easily say, was disfunctional.  When his parents left, his little sister came up from behind them and hugged her big bro tight.  The only person Asher was going to miss very much was his sister... Her blonde pigtails curled at the ends and bright green eyes were never to be forgotten in his mind.  "I love you," she told him.  "Win, ok?"

A single tear fell down Asher's face and he quickly wiped it away as he hugged her back and nodded.  "I'll try my hardest.  I will make it back to you.  I love you so much, Liana.  So much..."

"Time's up," a rough voice muttered, and Liana left.  It was just Asher and the lonely, empty room...