I had an idea the other day to write a story like this, so I decided to do it, since "How Could I Fail?" (which I will still be updating) is kind of depressing. Read on!
Disclaimer: I am not Suzanne Collins and do not own The Hunger Games.
I groan and roll over to swat my alarm, my grogginess causing me to miss by a few inches and hit my wooden nightstand.
"Oww…" I moan, holding my hand and curling back up under my covers. Unfortunately, the alarm continues to beep, and I attempt to solve the problem by covering my ears with my arms. This, obviously, does not work out.
I could get up if I wanted to, but I'm far too nervous. After many years of the boring, standard school in District Twelve, an elite academy in the Capitol is going to be a huge change. I still can't believe it, but my mom finally came up with the money to send Prim and me there. I turned seventeen earlier in the year, in May, and my mom gave us the news as a sort of birthday present. I tried to act as excited as I could about it, because I can only imagine how long she's had to save up to do this. The academies in the Capitol aren't cheap, and this will probably leave her with just enough money to support herself.
"Wake up, sleepy!" a voice chirps, startling me into opening my eyes. When I roll over on my back, I find myself staring into Prim's big blue eyes. Of course. She's been bouncing off the walls about going to this academy, chattering all the time about how much fun she's going to have. But she doesn't have to leave anybody behind in Twelve.
Gale, my best friend, I know is certainly not going. He'd rather stay behind with his family than go anywhere, even this academy. He got a scholarship, because he has brains. This could have been a big opportunity for him, but I'm still not surprised he didn't accept. As for my other two kind-of friends, Madge Undersee and Delly Cartwright, I have no clue. But with my luck, they'll be staying behind here in Twelve as well.
"Come on, today's the day we leave!" Prim's moved off of the bed and is attempting to yank the covers off of me.
"Alright, alright, I'm getting up." I grumble back. Prim is finally making her way to the door, but she pauses for a moment and looks back at me.
"Uh, when you're done getting yourself ready, will you… will you do my hair?" Prim practically whispers the last part, as if she's afraid I'll say no.
"Of course, Prim." I smile. I've been practicing many different braids over the years, on Prim's hair and my own. Even my mom's a few times, when I was younger and Prim not as willing. Prim now absolutely loves it when I do her hair, and frequently asks me to do it in the morning before school or before special occasions. She's only thirteen, and not quite as skilled when it comes to things of that sort. She certainly wants to learn, though. I've caught her before, looking into the mirror in our small bathroom, a look of determination on her face, as she tries to replicate the two French braids I often fashion her hair into.
I realize I've been sitting in my bed, just thinking, and decide it's time to finally get up. I swing my feet over the side shuffle down to our kitchen, where my mom is preparing a simple breakfast.
"Hello, dear." she turns and smiles at me, setting a plate of toast in front of me.
"'Lo." I say, my voice quiet. How could I sound happy and cheery knowing what's to come today?
"Oh, try to sound a little happier. After all, you're going to the academy today!" I know I should try to sound cheerier for my mom. She did have to pay a lot for this, and I'm not sounding too grateful right now. When I still don't respond, my mom speaks up again. "Katniss, what's wrong? Do you not want to go to this academy?"
"Well…" I don't know how to tell my mom that I really am not looking forward to this. "Not… not really. I won't know anyone, and, um…"
"Well, you're going." my mom says, getting a stern look. "So eat up and go get ready. The train comes in two hours."
"Alright." I mumble, grabbing a piece of toast and sighing.
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