Peeta Mellark stood anxiously with all the other 16 year old boys from Panem's District 12. Today was the day of the reaping, his least favorite day of the year. He hated the dread of wondering who would be this year's tributes for the Hunger Games, a fight to the death for 24 teenagers from the 12 districts of Panem. Peeta knew he didn't have a huge chance of being reaped - since his family owned the town bakery, he never needed to sign up for tesserae to get extra food, so his name was only entered 5 times. Still, the fact that either him or someone he knew was about to he sent off to certain death was unsettling. And there was one person he was concerned about during the reaping. Katniss Everdeen.

Katniss Everdeen was a girl from the Seam, the poorest part of District 12. She was thin from hunger, with long dark hair, dark skin, gray eyes, and a sharp yet beautiful face. Peeta'd had a crush on her for the past 11 years - ever since he was five, and he heard her sing. He was pretty sure she didn't know he existed though. They'd never spoken to each other, even though they'd gone to school together since kindergarten. The only interaction they'd ever had was when Peeta gave her some bread one day when they were 11. And there were so many other guys who admired her. Still, Peeta couldn't help worrying about her on reaping day. Unlike him, Katniss needed the tessersae. Practically everyone in the Seam did. Her name was in the drawing so many times...

The loud, funny voice of Effie Trinket, District 12's Tribute Escort brought Peeta back to reality. It was time for the drawing. Effie Trinket, with her ridiculous pink Capitol hair, was enthusiastically fishing around in the bowl of girls' names. Too enthusiastically, Peeta thought.

"And the female tribute for District 12 will be...Primrose Everdeen!" she announced.

Peeta was shocked. He never expected Prim to be reaped. After all, she was only 12. But at least Katniss was safe...

KATNISS. Peeta knew what was about to happen. He knew Katniss too well to think anything else. He frantically started struggling, trying to make his way to Katniss, although he didn't know why. There was no way he could get to her in time, and even if he did, he knew she wouldn't listen to him. After all, she didn't even know him.

Katniss screamed and threw herself in front of her sister Prim. "I volunteer as tribute!" she cried, and ran onstage.

"What's your name?" Effie Trinket asked her.

"Katniss Everdeen," she replied. Although Peeta knew she was trying to keep herself together, he could hear the terror in her voice.

Terrified. Peeta was also terrified. He knew he couldn't bear losing her.

"And the male tribute for District 12 will be...Peeta Mellark!"

Peeta Mellark. That was him! He was going to the Hunger Games. With Katniss. At least now he could protect her. Because only one of them could come back, and she actually had a chance. He was good at baking, not surviving. Yes, he would keep Katniss alive, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. Tears started welling up in his eyes as he made his way out of the crowd and onto the stage.

"District 12, I present to you your two tributes for the 74th Hunger Games!" Effie exclaimed, but Peeta tuned her out. Sneaking a glance at Katniss, he discovered a silver lining. If you could call it that. At least she knows I exist now, he thought.