Reaping Day
"Primrose Everdeen." Oh no, no there's no way. She only had one slip in that bowl, there has to be some mistake. Except there isn't, and my heart sinks. Then I know what's coming next and my heart sinks even further, because knowing my best friend, the girl I love, she is going to volunteer for her little sister. I know this is exactly what she is going to do because I would do the same for Rory, my 13-year-old brother.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" She shrieks through the silent square. I want to yell and scream and curse at the Capitol. I want to take her and run to the woods like we talked about this morning. I want to volunteer for her, but I can't do that, I can't do any of those things. I can't even volunteer to go with her because of the promise we made years ago, to take care of each other's family if we ever got reaped. All I can do is watch in horror as she makes her way forward. If feels like my worst nightmare coming true.
I can see Katniss struggling with Prim and I can tell she is losing control on her calm facade she's trying to hold onto, so I head up there and scoop Prim off of her and help her on stage. It takes every ounce of will power I have not to scoop her up as well and run for my life.
Trying to soothe the hysterical Prim, I carry her back to her mother. I have to force Prim into Ms. Everdeen's frozen arms and she seems to come to once Prim is in her grasp, thankfully. As I'm making my way back to my section Effie, District 12's escort is introducing Katniss.
"Well I'd bet my hat that was your sister you volunteered for?" Katniss nods and Effie continues in her annoying Capitol accent, "Let's have a round of applause for our very first volunteer."
To the credit of every person in District 12 not one person claps, every person raises 3 fingers in salute, including myself. It is probably the most rebellious move anyone has ever seen in this district, but there is no doubt that every single person here knows this is wrong.
Effie, a little flustered now heads to the boy's bowl, "Well now for the boys," she plucks a card and heads over to the microphone, "Gale Hawthorne."
I see the shock and despair on Katniss's face before it really clicks, I spoke too soon, this is my worst nightmare, one so bad I didn't even imagine it as an outcome: being reaped for the Hunger Games against my best friend. No, not against, I correct myself, I refuse to play against her.
If the atmosphere in 12 was silent and shocked before now there is an undercurrent of anger and disbelief.
Effie tells us to shake hands like we are opponents but there is no way I'm doing that, and looking in Katniss's eyes I see she feels the same, I can see my own thoughts and feelings reflected in her own.
Instead I put first my hands on either side of her face, memorizing it, and then crush her to me, hugging her tightly, and I feel her arms come up around me just as tight.
And I know, in this moment that this is the last time I will see this square, this is the last day I will be in District 12 because Katniss is coming home, and I know I will do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.