Piper Papillon’s POV:

‘’ Hello Panem! Welcome back to the second instalment of the pairings! So far, twelve tributes have had their fate decided for them, now it is time for the final six pairs to be formed.’’ I say and the small audience applauds – they are not as wild as the Capitol audience normally is.

I approach the Reaping bowl, now with just twelve names remaining and pull out a name.

‘’ Acacia Frost!’’ I scream joyfully and the young girl leaves the table she is sitting at and makes her way to the stage.

‘’ OK then Acacia, you know the drill. Simply spin the wheel.’’ I explain with a smile and she nods in understanding.

The young girl approaches the wheel, places her hand on it and spins it as hard as she can. Although it does not spin as fast as Brutis’ or Gauze’s spin, it moves surprisingly fast for a girl as small as her.

Odhan Tyrell’s POV:

I watch as the small red arrow on the top of the wheel clicks as it ticks past each of the turning handles between each segment separating the tribute’s names. I stare at my name on the wheel – directly between Ike Nash and Adaline Trunkette – as the arrow approaches us. The arrow is in Adaline’s segment as it slows down. It clicks as it hits the handle and falls into my section – however it isn’t done moving yet.

It crawls through my section and as it comes to the handle separating myself and Ike, it begins to bend. As horrible as I seem for doing so, I pray silently for it to move into the next section. As nice as I’m sure Acacia is, I can’t be paired with her. If I am, I won’t be returning home – not that I want to, but still.

Please. Not a twelve year old. Anyone else. Please.

The arrow clicks once more and it exits my section and passes into Ike’s. As it does this, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

I am a horrible person. I think to myself.

‘’ Congratulations Ike Nash! You are young Acacia Frost’s partner for the Games! Please, make your way up here and take a seat with the other pairs.’’ Calls Piper.

I watch him as he walks to the stage, Brutis eyes the two like they are bags of fresh meat and he licks his lips at them! Acacia stares at the ground as she passes however Ike stares him down. Brutis smirks and turns away.

‘’ OK then, the next tribute up is...’’ Begins Piper as she sticks her hand into the bowl. ‘’ Ravina Quill!’’

Ravina skips up to the stage excitedly with a broad smile on her face.

Forget what I said about Acacia. I’d settle for anyone but Ravina. Anyone. I think and curse myself. This is the karma I’ll get for what I was thinking about Acacia. I’ll be paired with Ravina.

‘’ OK Ravina, just spin the wheel and wait for it to stop on a tribute!’’ Instructs Piper and Ravina approaches the wheel and spins.

She grasps the wheel and yanks it downwards causing it to move just as fast as it did for the strongest of the boys. It does a few laps and then finally begins to slow down. It passes a few names.

Osmo Overton.

Cricket Wakely.

Lilly Cullen.

Ethan Rhodes.

Then I watch as it slows down almost completely in my section. Now because of the fact that sections are bigger – because tribute’s names have been removed from the wheel – the arrow spends longer in each section. The arrow hits the handle dividing my section from Adaline Trunkette’s section and begins to turn.

Please no. Please. Not Ravina.

Ravina glares down at me, a look of absolute fury on her face. She clearly hates the thought of being paired with me as I do her, however neither of us can do much to prevent it. I watch in horrifically painful anticipation as the arrow bends against the divider and threatens to push back into my section. Much to my relief however, it clicks into the next section and finally comes to a complete halt – Adaline Trunkette. Ravina’s face drops even more and she flares red with rage.

‘’ OK then Adaline, please make your-‘’ Begins Piper but she is cut off.

‘’ This isn’t fair!’’ Yells Ravina angrily. ‘’ I want to go again, I don’t like my partner!’’

‘’ I’m sorry Ravina, but it doesn’t work like that. The pairings are final-‘’ Explains Piper, however Ravina interrupts again.

‘’ No! I demand that you start-‘’ Starts Ravina with venom in her tone as she screams.

‘’ Shut up!’’ Yells Piper and Ravina swings her hand at her, trying to slap her across the face.

Piper ducks under the slap and tackles Ravina onto the floor. She pins her down and holds her hands behind her back until two peacekeepers rush onto the stage to take care of Ravina for her so she can continue with the show. Adaline takes her seat alone as they escort Ravina from the room, however Piper calls them back.

She walks right up to Ravina and looks her in the eyes angrily. ‘’ In twenty five years of hosting these Hunger Games events, never have I met anyone as stupid as you. You shouldn’t be here, you weren’t chosen. You’re lucky they allowed you to come. Now listen to me now, and listen to me good. If you ever lay or try to lay your hands on me again, I will arrange for them to be chopped off.’’ She vows furiously, and I think I spot terror in Ravina’s cold eyes.

Ravina is escorted from the room and Piper continues with the pairings.

‘’ God! That has put me in the worst of moods.’’ She says glumly and approaches the bowl again.

Lily Cullen’s POV:

‘’ Cricket Wakely!’’ Calls Piper and the boy makes his way up to the stage.

He approaches the wheel and spins it surprisingly fast. As it spins, I turn to Caspian.

‘’ I don’t like this. What if it doesn’t work. What if we’re not paired?’’ I question, not bothering to mask my worry.

‘’ It will work. It has to work.’’ He promises.

‘’ I thought it would before, but that was when I thought the Capitol would have some say in the pairings. This is all chance, we’re screwed!’’ I explain.

‘’ I’ve told you before, and I will say it again. You will make it out of the arena, with or without me. I will make sure of it.’’ He vows and kisses my hand.

‘’ But I don’t want to go home if it’s without you. You are my everything, my moon and stars. If you die, I have no reason to live.’’ I explain, fighting back tears.

‘’ Don’t say that. You have a family, a –‘’ He begins.

‘’ So do you! You are my family. I love you.’’ I interrupt, grasping his hands in mine.

‘’ I love you too.’’ He replies and turns to the wheel.

It spins past names.

Echo Sparks.

Ellie Rhodes.

Me!

Caspian!

Then it finally begins to slow in Odhan Wakely’s section – the one directly beside mine! The arrow sits on the handle between our two sections and begins to bend in towards mine. I feel a tear trickle down my face and I wipe it away immediately – nobody can think I’m weak. The arrow makes a clicking noise, and when I see what section is in, I begin to cry.

‘’ Odhan Tyrell! Come on up here!’’ Yells Piper.

‘’ See, you’re going to fine. We will be paired.’’ Smiles Caspian and I laugh as the tears fall down my face.

I glance at the tables around me, there are six tributes left; myself and Caspian, Ellie and Ethan and finally, Osmo and Echo. Why can’t they just end it here and pair us with who both we and the Capitol want? They’re going to separate friends? Lovers? Twins? How could they be so cruel?

‘’ Ok then, just three pairs to go!’’ Smiles Piper and dips her hand into the Reaping bowl. ‘’ Osmo Overton!’’

Osmo Overton’s POV:

I glance at Echo one last time before I turn to the stage. She smiles weakly at me; I can tell how frightened she is. We have to be paired. If we aren’t paired, then we have pretended to be just friends all this time for nothing. Time we could have spent together. If we are though, then we have a chance of going home alive – not down to me, but Echo’s bow skills.

Please. I beg God as I approach the stage. Please let us be together. I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. No matter how short or long my life may be.

‘’ OK Osmo. Simply spin the wheel.’’ Smiles Piper as I step onto the stage and grasp a handle.

I take a deep breath.

Please God. Please.

I spin the wheel. I watch as the five names on the wheel spin past.

Ellie Rhodes.

Echo Sparks.

Ethan Rhodes.

Caspian Reef.

Lilly Cullen.

This is cruel! So close to being paired Lilly now that most of the other tributes have picked their partners, but I have so much to lose. It continues to spin.

Caspian Reef.

Lilly Cullen.

Ellie Rhodes.

It begins to come to a halt in Echo’s section and I feel my body tense up.

Please God. Please let me be paired with her. I love her. Please.

I watch the arrow as it hovers over Echo’s name segment. I feel a tingle go up my spine and I have goose bumps all along my arm. It then clicks and comes to a halt and my legs turn to jelly.

‘’ Echo Sparks! Please make your way up here!’’ Says Piper with a smile and I watch as Echo sprints from her seat and leaps onto the stage.

‘’ I love you Osmo! I love you, I love you, I love you!’’ She yells and jumps into my arms.

I smile at her and we kiss onstage, despite the other tributes watching. I feel her smiling during the kiss and then I burst into laughter.

‘’ Settle down you two! Aren’t you supposed to be ‘just friends’?’’ Questions Piper and laughs.

‘’ I love you too Echo.’’ I smile, ignoring Piper. ‘’ I love you with all my heart and we will go home.’’

‘’ Aw. Isn’t that just the cutest thing ever?’’ She says and we take our seats.

Caspian Reef’s POV:

‘’ We have this.’’ I smile to Lilly. ‘’ No matter what way this goes, we will be together.’’

‘’ What do you mean?’’ She asks.

‘’ Well, if we are paired together, then we are together. But if not, we will each get a twin, and then we can team with them because they will want to be together as much as we do.’’ I explain however despite this, neither of us want that.

‘’ Ethan Rhodes!’’ Calls Piper and the boy walks up to the stage and approaches the wheel – now with just three names on it, myself, Lilly and his twin sister Ellie.

He takes a deep breath and places his hands on the wheel. Then he spins it and stands back to watch the arrow.

Lilly Cullen.

Ellie Rhodes.

Caspian Reef.

Lilly Cullen.

Ellie Rhodes.

Caspian Reef.

Lilly Cullen.

Ellie Rhodes.

Caspian Reef.

I watch in fear as it continues to spin around and around, despite what I’ve told Lilly since the beginning, I wouldn’t be able to bear being separated from her. She means everything to me and I would die for her, but it would hurt.

The arrow begins to slow down and then finally comes to a halt. There is a collective gasp from both myself and Lilly as well as both the twins.

‘’ No.’’ I mutter. ‘’ Please no.’’

I stare at Lilly, and then back to Ethan – who is staring at his sister.

‘’ Ooh, how exciting!’’ Exclaims Piper.

Ellie bursts into tears at the table beside us as she stares at her brother on the stage and the name the arrow is pointing to.

‘’ Lilly Cullen!’’ Screams Piper. ‘’ Come on up here and join your partner, Ethan Rhodes!’’

Lilly hobbles up onto the stage, tears falling down her face as she walks. Ellie is now sobbing aloud.

This can’t be happening.

‘’ Well, you know what that means, Caspian Reef and Ellie Rhodes – our only remaining tributes will be paired up. Come on up here!’’ Yells Piper excitedly.

I walk up to the stage, a peacekeeper must escort Ellie Rhodes up and I take a seat beside her.

‘’ Now Panem! We have our twelve sets of pairs for the one hundred and twenty fifth Hunger Games! After a long wait, we finally know who will be fighting alongside who! Tomorrow the first of three training days will begin, and then our twenty four wonderful tributes will be entering this year’s arena! Until next time, I’m Piper Papillon, Happy Hunger Games to you all!’’