The Hunger Games: Peeta's Point of view

Chapter 1

"Peeta!" my mother's shriek jolts me up. Waking me up from a dream to a nightmare. Today is the day of the reaping. I don't want to wake up from my dream. My dreams about Katniss Everdeen

We were at a lake, our feet in the water, and walking hand in hand. Her sleek black hair was actually down for once, instead of a braid, and a breeze blew her hair making me fall more in love with her. She was in an orange dress that fell to her knees. Then we found a tree that was perfect for watching the sunset. She helped me climb it and we sat there watching the sunset. Next thing I know our eyes met. Her shimmering and shining gray ones into my blue ones….

"PEETA! COME DOWN AND HELP US RIGHT NOW!" screams my mother snapping me back to reality. Back to the torture of and reality of District 12.

I change into my dad's old baker shirt and jeans. When I go downstairs to our family's bakery, my mother throws me an apron while giving me a scowl.

Out of her three sons I'm her biggest disappointment. Both of my brothers agreed to keep working at the bakery, but I don't want to spend my whole life working here and even since I told my family I don't want to my mother has always given me a scowl every time she sees me. My father is different he's disappointed and anger, yes, but he's just keeps his thoughts to himself

When I take a plate over to my dad, who is with a costumer trading, jealousy floods in me. It's Gale Hawthorne. He's Katniss's best friend, well that's what they tell me, but to me I always see so much more. I give my father the bread, then he hands Gale the bread. I look at him mysteriously. He's caught most of the other girl's eyes but he's also caught Katniss's too! Why her?

I really shouldn't get mad. I mean he at least makes her happy and I should be grateful for that, especially today.

The day goes by quick, too quick. All I can think what if Katniss gets chosen? She might, she take the tesserae, a lot. It's not fair! I never take any and she does! If she does get chosen for the hunger games, could she survive in an arena against 23 tributes trying to kill her? The thought escapes my mind and goes back to the moment when the breeze went through her hair and her gray eyes starring into mine.

No. I need to forget her I'll never have her. Never feel her lips against mine. Never caress her hair, or even her hands locked with mine.

We close shop two hours earlier to get ready. When I'm done I'm in a blue buttoned shirt and black pants. Then I'm starring out my window where I can see the woods. Now my mind is back on Katniss, well I guess I really can't forget her, she was there today. Hunting with Gale hunting for stuff to trade and eat.

"Peeta" says my father in a serious tone that startles me a bit. "Hey" I say trying to keep my tone normal. Why is he here? Is he scared I might get chosen? Why is his tone so serious?

"Okay, so Peeta, look I don't think you'll have any other choice than to work at the bakery. I don't understand, why don't you want to work here? Do you want to mine coal? Live at the seam?" So that's why his thoughts are finally out. "Well maybe then I could get the girl I love unlike yours who ran off with a coal miner and moved to the seam" I say with a wave of dismissal.

Now I've angered him. He was in love with Katniss's mother but she loved someone else. A coal miner. Then she ran off and married him and moved to the seam. His face turns hard and so do his eyes. "Look it's final! You're going to keep working at the bakery!" He screams. "NO I DON'T WANT TO SPEND MY ENTIRE LIFE HERE! I'M NOT GOING TO END UP LIKE YOU!" I yell and then I run out of my house and I slam the door. Where am I going though? Well I might as well go to the square it's almost two.

While walking I see that I'm near the fence that surrounds District 12. It's supposed to be electrified full time but we're the poorest district so we don't get much power. That's why Katniss and Gale can go under it and get food. It's illegal but coming from a district that nobody cares about the officials don't really care, actually they buy stuff from them. I wonder how it is out there.

When I arrive at the square it's 1:30 and it's already getting full. I go over to where the 16 year olds stand. Just a few feet away from me is Katniss. She looks beautiful in a blue dress and her hair is in an elaborated braid. I see her and Gale exchange glances, so I look away trying to hide the pain.

I look over to the stage where the mayor and Effie Trinket-our bubbly chaperone for District 12, she may seem cheerful but we all know she wants a better district. I see that they're talking and looking at the empty chair. It belongs to our only live victor, Haymitch Abernathy. District 12 has only had 2 victors out of 73 years and he's the only one alive. He spends most of his time drinking and getting drunk.

I look at the glass ball with the boy's names. I'm as safe as I can get because I don't take any tesserae, so I'm only entered 4 times. Then I look over at the glass ball that has the girl's names in it. How many times has Katniss had her name put in just for food?

The clock hits two and the mayor steps up and reads the history of Panem. How it rose from the ashes of floods, droughts, fires, and the war for the land that remained. It became Panem with a ruling capitol surrounded by 13 districts. Then came the Dark Days, when the districts rebelled. Twelve were defeated the thirteenth obliterated, and to show they must not be repeated the capitol made us suffer by making The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games are simple. Two teens between the ages of 12 and 18 from 12 districts, 24 in all, are put into an arena that can have anything. Then they are forced to kill each other and the last one standing gets a life of ease, and have fame and fortune. They show how weak we are against The Capitol and if we try to defy them we will be destroyed just like District 13.

"It is both a time for repentance and a time for thanks" says the mayor and starts reading District 12's victors. Just then Haymitch staggers on the stage and falls on the third chair. Obviously he's drunk and I let out a groan. He's confused and tries to give Effie a hug, but she pushes him away.

The mayor looks like he's suffering from embarrassment. Of course he is. He manages the most ridiculous district and all of it is being televised. To get away from all of it he introduces Effie. She trots to the stage and says what she says every year "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" she shrieks in her annoying capitol accent.

She's wearing a spring green suit and has pink hair-well wig because it's shifted to the side since she got molested by Haymitch. She keeps rambling on how great it is to be here, but as I say again she just wants a better district.

It's time fore the drawing and Effie says what she always does, "Ladies first!" She goes over to the glass ball and gets out a slip of paper with the name of our new tribute. Not Katniss. Not Katniss.

It's not Katniss, but it might as well be.

It's Primrose Everdeen.

Primrose is Katniss's little sister who she protects from anything.

My world feels like it's spinning because what happens next is too painful.

"Prim!" shouts Katniss. "PRIM!" she says again making sure everyone can hear her. Everyone makes room for her. She pushes Primrose behind her and shouts the words I would never have wanted her to say. "I volunteer!" she shrieks. "I volunteer as tribute!" District 12 hasn't had a volunteer in decades.

"Lovely" trills Effie. "But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers and if one does come forth then we, ummm…" she trails of confused

"What does it matter?" says the mayor. There's pain in his eyes. Does he know Katniss? "What does it matter?" he repeats with more pain. "Let her come forward."

Prim is screaming behind her. She wraps her skinny arms around her. "No, Katniss! NO! You can't go!" shrieks Prim. "Prim let go" Katniss says trying to hide her emotions right now. "Let go!" she repeats. Gale comes up behind them and carries Prim away. She's trying to fight him. "Up you go Catnip." He says also trying to hide emotion. Then Katniss climbs up the steps.

"Well bravo! That's the spirit of the games! What's your name?"

"Katniss Everdeen" she says unsteady

"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory do we? Come on everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!"

I will not clap. No one does actually. How am I going to watch her compete? Should I say goodbye to her and tell her how I feel? Then it happens one after one people place their 3 middle fingers of their left hands, put it against their lips and hold it out to her. Before I can stop myself I also do it.

It's an uncommon gesture here. It means admiration and goodbye to someone you love. Mostly seen at funerals.

Just then Haymitch comes over and puts his arm around her shoulders. "Look at her! Look at this one! I like her! Lots of…." He trails off trying to think of a word. "Spunk!" he hollers. "More than you!" he lets go of her and goes to the front of the stage. "More than you!" he yells and points to a camera. His mouth opens about to say more and then he plummets off the stage and knocks himself unconscious.

All the cameras are on him but my eyes are one Katniss who lets out a small coke and stares at a distance. I turn to see what she's starring at and I see the woods.

Haymitch is taken away on a stretcher. "What an exciting day!" she yells while straightening her wig. "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" she puts her hand in the glass ball takes out the slip. Right now my world is still a little dizzy. She goes to the podium and reads the name.

"Peeta Mellark."