It's just us
Blaine and I were sat on the field outside our houses; soaking in the sun and watching the clouds come by. Our hands lay lazily on the soft grass, both hands entwined with each other. The grass swayed in the breeze and the birds chirped like they didn't have a care in the world. Unfortunately we couldn't be like that – care free – thanks to the Hunger Games.
It was to be the 85th annual hunger games this year and it would be just as brutal as always, to satisfy the gamekeepers and President Snow. Just another 24 dreading tributes to be placed in the arena to be part of another bloodbath and only one could come back.
"You ok? You're kind of quiet." I asked Blaine as I lay on my side with my elbow propping me up.
"Just daydreaming and worrying about which two people are going to get picked again."
He lay down beside me and used his free hand to move a lock of hair out of my face. I put my hand on his cheek and looked into his gleaming eyes.
"It'll be ok; there are lots of pieces of paper, Blaine. There are only two of us, more if you're thinking about Finn, Quinn and Rachel."
Blaine sighed and kissed my lips. "Come on, we better get to the reaping. Lots of people and little time."
I nodded and we walked back, hand in hand, to where the reaping would be held, passing families, whose faces were filled with worry and sorrow.
We made our way to the boys section and glanced around every so often. Blaine and I stood in place, hands held together as they watched the Capitol woman walk on stage in her outrageously high heels. Her sparkling dress gleamed in the sunlight as the final clicks of her heels ceased. I could see Finn in front of Blaine, looking over at Rachel who was in the girls section. I could see the sadness in his eyes, in everyone's eyes, just wondering who was to be reaped and torn away from their loved ones.
I looked over at Blaine whose eyes were fixed on the large amounts of paper slips on the stage.
"How many times are you in there this year?" He asked me, looking over sadly, dreading the answer.
I sighed. "18. For my family and some of the children on the streets needed food." Blaine's eyes went wide and he enveloped me in a longing hug.
"God Kurt, sometimes you're too kind for your own good. I just really don't want to loose you." I pulled away from my teary eyed boyfriend and took both his hands in mine.
Wet eyed, I stared at him. "I promise, your not going to loose me." I kissed his forehead softly. "What about you?"
"9. With all of us working, it really exhausts us." He squeezed my hand as we turned our attention back to the Reaping.
The microphone screeched just before the brightly clothed Capitol women began to speak into it. "A warm welcome to everyone of District 12 to the 85th annual hunger games! So let us begin with the ladies."
A few of the girls were crying already, wishing that they could escape another year of not getting reaped. I could see Rachel with her head in her hands as Quinn patted her back gently, her emotions more subtle compared to others.
"Congratulations to….Poppy Greenleaf!"
The words echoed around everyone as they stared at the girl breaking down in the middle of a crowd of girls. I recognised her from school, she was only 14. Everything was silent apart from the cries emanating from her and her family. The peacekeepers grabbed her roughly, stabilising her as she stumbled up the wooden steps onto the stage where the surprisingly smiling Capitol woman stood.
After calming down slightly and facing the reality of what was happening, she just stood there, waiting to see the boy who would be joining her on the barbaric, murderous adventure and possible death sentence known as the Hunger Games.
The woman shuffled over to the boys slips of paper in her restricting dress and slid her hand in. Who knew that two manicured fingers could seem so deadly right now? She let the tension linger as she wafted her hand slowly among the paper. Her fingers tightened over one and she picked out a piece of crisp white paper, drawing it out like a knife.
"Joining Miss Greenleaf is Mr….Blaine Anderson!"
Blaine's grip suddenly tightened on my hand.
This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't! But it was. The inside of my body started panicking and my heart sped up like a hummingbirds wings, booming like previous Hunger Games canons.
I needed to do something, anything. I couldn't loose Blaine, I had to volunteer. I wanted to take his place because he didn't deserve this, but Blaine could sense that I was going to do something out of sorts.
He looked into my eyes, which were full of sadness and his were filled with fear. No smile was on his lips. He shook his head slowly before pulling me in for a kiss, making it last as long as possible before he was being pulled away by the peacekeepers.
Our hands were separated by force and almost straight away, he was out of my reach.
The odds really weren't in our favour now.
The woman hurried Blaine and Poppy into the venue behind them and everyone else whose faces where filled with relief or sympathy made their way back to their houses or work.
Once everyone was gone apart from a few lingering people, I rushed up the steps into the venue, pushing open the large doors, making my way to the room where Blaine was being held.
I stopped and stood in front of the two doors which were blocked by peacekeepers. "I'm here for Blaine Anderson" I whispered, hardly able to talk.
They nodded and opened one door for me to all but run into.
Blaine stood by a window looking at nothing. He looked so sad and it was really hard not to break down into tears there and then. I needed to be strong for him and give him the courage that he needed.
"Blaine" I whispered.
He turned slowly and when his eyes met with mine, I ran to him, jumping into his arms and wrapping my arms around his neck, holding onto him tightly, never wanting to let go. He closed his eyes and pulled me closer to him before reluctantly letting go.
"Why didn't you let me volunteer for you? I didn't want you to go through this!" I said with our arms around each others waists.
"I couldn't let you do that for me. It would be unfair on you. I can't loose you Kurt, but I promise I will fight for you and I'll come back home."
The tears trickled down my face and I pulled him in for a longing kiss, it was passionate and meaningful and we made it last for as long as possible, for this could be our last kiss for a while.
I pulled away and placed something small in his hand; a gold chain with a small golden canary on it. He smiled at me as I showed him that I was wearing one exactly alike. I took it from his hands and placed it round his neck, clasping the ends together. He pulled me in for a tight hug once again and our chains rested against each other a little.
We pulled away as the peacekeepers barged in; telling us it was time to go. I regretfully released him and spoke. "I love you."
"I love you too Kurt."
The peacekeepers took him away as another lead me out of the venue.
I took one final glance at him before stumbling into my brother, Finn and crying once again.