When I wake up, it's almost noon. I turn over, in no way ready to start the day. I had the best dream last night. Katniss and I were in the woods, talking for hours. We talked about hunting. About life. We walked around and there was no Capitol. There was no evil presence in our lives. We could live whatever way we wanted. We finished talking in the meadow that is before the forest. It is always very peaceful there.

Sometimes I sneak out of our house at night and lay there with my best friend, Delly. We would stare at the stars and talk about our problems. It's a way for us to survive the horrible thing we call our lives.

Anyway, I might as well get up now. It's reaping day. Today is the day that we will be picked, one boy and one girl to go to the Hunger Games.

I slip out of my room and quickly go down stairs. I go past my father whose back is turned. He doesn't notice me. I am heading for the center of town. This is where Delly and I meet up before school. I see her there and say her name, "Delly!" She turns and her bright blue eyes light up with happiness.

"Hey, Peeta!" She has yellowish blonde hair and a slim figure. All kids in town have blonde hair and blue eyes.

"You ready for today?" I ask. Her eyes become fearful once again.

"No. How can I be ready? I could be going to the Hunger Games in a few hours. That's terrifying!" she says.

"I know. It's horrible. But I doubt we will get picked," I say, trying to reassure her as much as myself.

"You know, I have to go. I need to look pretty. Just in case," Delly says, still frightened.

"You always look pretty, Del," I say with a smile. She returns the smile and turns to leave. She walks a few paces, turns around, and blows me a kiss. I head back to the bakery.

My father is in the kitchen, as usual. He is making the sour dough. He points to the table where there is a pile of meat. "Eat up." It's a squirrel.

"Was Katniss here?" I ask.

"Her friend, Gale."

Gale Hawthorne. He is not in my year. Two years older, I think. But he and Katniss always disappear into the woods together. They look like they are cousins or something but I don't know. I have never had a proper conversation with him. "You should tell her, you know." my father says.

"I know. I just don't know when." I pause. "How do you know when it is the best time? You know. To tell her."

"Well I am not an expert. I mean I didn't get the one I love. You know that more than anyone."

"Yes. I know." My father was in love with Katniss's mother. Still is, by the looks of it. "I'll probably do it after the reaping. She'll be really relieved that she wasn't picked."

"Good idea. Best time I guess." my father says. He's still in his thoughts. I go to get dressed. It's almost one when I get am almost ready. My mother takes a comb to my hair, hard. She doesn't like me much.

"Why can't I comb my own hair?"

"You mess everything up. I don't want you to mess your hair up on this big day." I don't know why my father married her. She is so blunt with her words.

As we walk up to the city square, my mother gives me and my middle brother, Wheet, a push. "You'll be late unless you stop dragging your feet." We enter the square and I stand with a group of boys from the marketplace. We exchange few words.

I look across the square and see Katniss with her little sister, Prim, calming her. She looks very scared. I remember my first reaping. How scary it was. How both my brothers, Wheet and Rie, tried to comfort me. I remember Katniss, having no one to comfort her but her mother, who was oddly distant.

Now I am thinking about how I will start my conversation with her after the reaping. I have no idea what to say. Oh well. I'll just make it up as I go. Then the clock is striking two and the mayor is taking his place.

He starts talking about the history of Panem. How when the place we live, which was once called North America, was divided into 13 districts and a Capitol. The Capitol ruled over all districts. Then the 13th led a rebellion. As a result, that district was obliviated. As the capitols way of pardoning the districts, they let us live. But as a result, the Hunger Games were born.

Out of the 12 districts, one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, were randomly chosen from each. If someone who was also eligible, meaning they were the same gender and age bracket, they could volunteer, taking the place of the one reaped. This happens 24 times. Those 24 kids, 12 boys and 12 girls, were forced into an arena to fight to the death on live television until there was only one survivor. This single person and their district would be showered in gifts. The mayor says, "It is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks." Then he reads the past victors of district 12. There is one who has been long gone. The only other one is named Haymitch Abernathy.

As if on cue, he staggers to the stage, drunk. He gives Effie a bear hug. She tries to fend it off without much success. Next she takes the stage. Half, I think, to get away from Haymitch. She doesn't look at all happy about being malested in front of the entire nation. She looks as freaky as ever with her bright pink hair and neon green suit. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"

I turn to look at Katniss, to see if she is nervous. She is looking at Gale and they are smiling. Jealousy spurts up in my heart. Then Effie Trinket is crossing the stage to the glass ball with the girls names in it, intoning "Ladies first!" I am hoping against hope that it is not Katniss. Please don't be Katniss. "Primrose Everdeen!" Effie Trinket yells into the microphone.