A/N: Hey guys, my newest HG story. It involves lines from both the book and movie and my own lines. Enjoy.
'Peeta, take care of Prim.' He couldn't know. I couldn't break his heart like that
'Katniss, no!'
Two weeks earlier
There it was. On sight and within shooting range. Prim and I would be feasting tonight. I drew my bow and aimed. Ok Katniss, breathe in, arrow pulled back. I drew the arrow ready to fire. There was no way I would miss.
'And what do you think you're doing?' Gale said, he's sudden appearance jolted me and I let go of the arrow. It hit the tree above the deer and startled it making it flee.
'Damn you Gale. That was for dinner.' I said annoyed. He ruined my perfectly good aim. He laughed and came over.
'And how were you going to explain that seventy pound deer to the peacekeepers?' Gale said still laughing slightly. He had a smug grin on his face.
'You know as well as I do that they would turn a blind eye and buy the meat. Everybody's hungry for food. You've been selling them food too.'
'Yeah but not today, the peacekeepers have to act professional for the cameras'
'Fine. Prim left us some cheese from Lady to eat.' I said walking down to the meadow with Gale. We always came here whenever we needed to escape from our families.
'Brilliant. We can spread on the bread I have. We'll have a feast.' Gale said. That boy never stop smiling. I looked at the bread he got out. My eyes widened. It was real bread from the bakery. Not the cheap stuff.
'God is that real?' I asked
'Yep, I got it for a squirrel.' He said handing me half. I bit into it immediately. It was great. The smell of it was delicious. Gale looked at me and sniggered. I must have looked like I'd never eaten food in my life.
'Oh shut up.' I said causing him to laugh even more.
'Happy Hunger Games Catnip.' Gale said in his best Effie Trinklet voice
'And may the odds be ever in your favour.' I returned. The good thing about the meadow was we could mock the Capitol as we pleased and nothing could happen to us.
'We could do it you know, run off into the woods' Gale said
'Yeah, if we didn't have so many kids to look after. It's not like we could take them with us. Prim hates hurting animals so I doubt she could survive in the woods. I'm afraid Gale. What if she ever gets picked for the Games, she'll die.'
'You'd volunteer though'
'Yeah, but if I die, then what happens if she's picked again. She'll have no one to save her. She's terrified of today. It's her first reaping. For the past few nights she wakes up screaming.'
'She won't get picked, there heaps of slips in those bowls. Her name won't be drawn.'
'That's true, but the odds are unpredictable.'
'She'll be fine, we should head back probably. But first let's collect our game for the week.'
'Sounds like a plan, let's go'
'Katniss, you've got another letter from him.' Prim said as I walked in. I put the bag of game on the kitchen table and grabbed the letter lying there.
Katniss
It's my year. I'm eighteen and ready to volunteer for the Hunger Games. I'll come back in a few days as a Victor. This is the moment I've been training for. I'll visit you after I've settled back home.
Tell me how's life in 12. Still mining coal? I hope your feeding well. I've seen what's it's like there. Everyone's starving to death. Good thing you can use a bow. How's Prim and Buttercup? What does she see in that ugly cat? Is Gale still the same?
Everything is still the same here. Training, training, and more training. You should see the kids at the Academy. There's this girl two years older than Prim who is a pro with knives, I bet she could throw them with perfect aim, eyes shut. The tributes better watch out for when she enters the Games.
I wish you could come to my district and see what I'm talking about. I can only come see you whenever dad has to do work for the Capitol and retrieve coal from 12. He wants me to join the family business but when I become Victor, I can travel wherever I want, whenever I want. You know the privileges of becoming a Victor.
I can't wait to see you again. If it weren't for these letters that we send back and forth I'm not sure what I'd do. Give my best to your mother. See you soon.
Cato
I reread the letter twice or more. I love getting these letters from Cato. I first met Cato four years when he came here with his dad. I was in the woods and he decided to explore. He found me shooting at targets that my dad had set up for me. I had impeccable aim as well as hearing and heard a twig snap. I turned around and saw him. I scurried up a tree however I left the bow and arrow on the ground which he had picked up.
Flashback
'Hey, that's mine. Drop it.' I said annoyed by my stupidity for leaving it there.
'How about you come and get it.'
'Who are you and why are you here?' I asked coming down the tree.
'That's my business. Why are you in the forbidden woods?'
'That's my business.' I smirked
'I'm Cato'
'Katniss'
End Flashback
'Earth to Katniss' Prim said
'What?' I snapped back into reality at her voice
'You've been staring into space for the past five minutes; also you've had this dreamy look on your face.' Prim said smirking at me. I could feel the blush rising in my cheeks
'Oh shut up' I said breaking out into a smile. The truth was I did like Cato. We've known each other for four years sharing everything. My father dying, his little sister drawn for the Games and so on. We were there for each other but over the years I became more than a friend to him. My dad joked with me and said he was boyfriend material when he first met him. That was saying something; my dad never liked any of the boy here in twelve with the exception of Gale. He didn't think anyone was worthy of me. But he liked Cato.
'Why don't you tell him already? You're clearly in love with him and I would love to have a brother' Prim said. I love her; she was the only one who could truly make me happy.
'Prim!' I sort of yelled and laughed. My cheeks; my whole face surely would have been fully red by now.
'I'm sorry, but you should tell him Katniss, did he say when he was coming next?'
'After the Games, but what if he doesn't feel the same'
'Katniss it's obvious in the letters that he loves you.' She snatched the letter from my hands reading it aloud.
'I can't wait to see you again. If it weren't for these letters I'd–' Prim said in a lovely voice. I tried to grab the letter back, but she kept it away from me.
'Hey, that's mine.' I chased after her
'I'm crazy about you Katniss' Prim loved to mock me, but just wait till she had a boyfriend or liked a certain boy. I caught up to her and grabbed the letter out of hands.
'What's going on here?' My mum had come downstairs.
'Katniss got another letter from Cato' Prim said sweetly while smiling
'Katniss what does he say.' Taking the letter out of her hand
'You guys it's my letter.' Mum looked up after she finished reading it and handed it back to me
'Katniss that boy is clearly in love with you.'
'Ha! See I told you' Prim smirked again
'Wait till you start liking boys.' I said
'Prim, don't tease you sister so much. She right about your liking boys. You won't like being teased either'
'Katniss just tell him when he comes here again which as he says will be in a few days. I bet he'll be here next Sunday. With him in the Games, it won't last very long.'
'Alright, I'll tell him' I said giving up
'Good, now I've ironed both your dresses. Let's get ready.' My mum said.
Prim's smile disappeared. Her face was full of horror again. She momentarily forgot about the Games lost in my interest in Cato. Damn these Games. I want Prim to be happy like that all the time and not have to worry about some stupid Reaping that could potentially end your life. I immediately went over to comfort her.
'Prim don't worry. You'll be fine. I promise. There is no way you'll be picked. Think positive alright.'
'I'm scared Katniss.'
'Don't be. You'll be fine. You've not going into those Games. Now let's get ready. We'll talk about how you think I should tell Cato. I will admit that I do like him'
Prim smiled returned a little but it was still hidden by fear and doubt.
'Alright, but you will tell him, right'
'I promise'