The moment the name tumbles from Effie Trinket's mouth, I'm in shock. Primrose Everdeen. My mouth falls open. I can't move, I can't speak. I barely know how to breathe. All I can think is, Not her. Why her? Innocent Primrose, saving lives left and right even as hers is coming to an end. I call her name finally, and she looks back to meet my gaze. Fear. That's all I see. Her back is straight and her lips pursed, but her eyes scream what she won't. My view is clouded and I'm wondering why my vision is swimming. I see yellows and browns and pinks and blues lobbing together until I notice that I'm crying. I know she won't make it. She's so small. An easy target. She'll be the first to go.

"Prim!" I call out again as she turns back swiftly and stalks to the stage. Stalks to her inevitable death. I'm shoving my way through the rest of the fifteen year olds, and spill out into the aisle separating each age group. I try to run to her, but the Peacekeepers smack their shoulders together so I'm blocked. They shove me back, and I can't help it when my fist zooms toward his face. It's stupid, I know. But what have I got to lose?

Just then, I hear another voice as I'm shoved painfully back into the boys in my year. I strain to hear, as the voice sounds strangled and hoarse. "I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" A gasp shudders through the crowd and that's when I know who it is. Katniss Everdeen. Prim's sister. I can't help but feel thankful, even though I know how bad this will hurt her. I know how much she loves her sister; I even know that they would die for each other. It pains me when she hurts, but when I see my brother tossing her over his shoulder as she sobs, I'm glad. Glad that she's being taken far away from here.

Then I see Gale's face. It's blank, unreadable to people who don't know him like I do. Prim's the most important thing in Katniss' life and he'll save her. I will save her. But he's heartbroken, I know. Gale is in love with Katniss Everdeen. He saves his only days away from the mines for her; Sundays. When our bedroom door is closed and Vick is asleep, he speaks through the bunk bed and tells me what they did that day. He could go on forever listing off reasons why he's so in love with her. Maybe it's in our genes that our love is unrequited. Even though he can confide in me, he doesn't know my secret. For two years, I have been in love with Primrose Everdeen.