As we made our way across the square, my anxiety was rising. Suddenly, there was arms around my neck, and I spun around to find my best friend Luke standing behind me.
"Luke!" I hugged my best friend so hard he had to pat my arm because he couldn't breathe
"Hi Luce (Luce is my nickname, short for Lucy),"

Luke was overexcited, as always, and almost bouncing, his black curls bouncing with him. His bright green eyes were glinting, and I could tell he had some sort of plan.
"what did you do this time?" I asked Luke. Luke was a prankster, and was always up to something. A master with a bow and arrow, he would be fine if he was chosen. Me however, couldn't do anything. Haymitch had tried to teach me, but I was an amateur with a sword, and a bow.

Finally, we were there, and I was shoved and jostled into a line. When I got to the front of the line, I realised what I was queuing for. The peacekeeper asked for my name, so I stumbled and stuttered out "L-Lucy A-Abernathy," I'm going to skip out the part with the blood, because even thinking about it makes my head spin.

Then, it was time for the reaping. All of the boys were on there side, and I could easily pick out Luke. I looked through the crowd, searching faces, finding out what everyone was feeling. I could see fear, confidence, smugness, boredness, happiness? Oh yes, Effie Trinket. She was probably the happiest person in the room, but that was because her name wasn't in the bowl. I look behind her and see Haymitch, his eyes trained on me. I give him a weak smile, and he flashes one back.
"Right then," Effie was saying "We're going to change things up this year," What? They never change anything! "Instead of ladies first, we are going to do males first." I felt sick to my stomach, and I could tell something bad was about to happen. "The male tribute is... Luke Smith!"
My stomach dropped onto the floor, and I fell to my knees. No....No.... Not Luke, anything but Luke! I forced myself to stand up again and looked around. Nobody was going to volunteer. Luke was just one of the orphans, no loss to anyone if he dies. No loss to anyone but me. I wasn't even listening to the female tribute, until I hear Effie saying
"Lucy Abernathy!" I walk up to the stage, and see Haymitch whispering in Effie's ear. As I get closer, I hear that he's saying "She can't go, she can't, anyone but her!" I realised, he didn't want me to go, and I didn't want Luke to go. We were bustled backstage, where I sat, hugging my knees, wondering how to get him out of here.

Haymitch strode into the backstage tent area, walking straight over to me, and kneeling down.
"It's okay, Luce, you don't have to do..."
I interrupt him, saying "I have to go." Ignoring his face, I continue "I have to protect Luke from harm. I have to make sure he gets out of there.
Haymitch shakes his head and walks off.