First of all, I do not own the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins does. I am not her. Second of all, I'd like to thank my friend who kept on telling me to write this after she read my other stories. And I'd like to thank my other friend who gave me advice for this chapter. Anyway, here's the story. Enjoy!


No! I couldn't have heard that right. Primrose Everdeen, the girl whose sister I have loved for years, the girl whose sister I watched walk home every day, the girl whose sister I risked a beating from my mother to help her family, just got chosen to compete in a fight to the death. I know she can't be any older than twelve. The thought of the pain Katniss will suffer if she doesn't survive is unthinkable. Then the unexpected happens. Through Katniss's terrified screaming, she stops and yells something out. The peace keepers holding her back stop. She begins to walk foreword. She passes her screaming sister. She gives her a hug and tells her something, that I am unable to hear. The girl continues screaming and grabs a hold of Katniss.

Gale Hawthorne, the boy I have envied for years, comes and pulls Prim from Katniss. He tries to comfort her as Katniss bravely walks up to the stage. That should have been me! I should have been there to help her! Oh what a fool I am! I lost my final chance for Katniss to notice me! Now I will never see her again. Even if she does win she would be able to have probably any boy in Panem. Why would she choose me when she could choose Finnick Odair or anyone?

"Well bravo! That's the spirit of the games!" Effie Trinket interrupts my thought. Katniss stands on the stage with her hair braided in a beautiful but different way than she usually wears it. "What's your name?" Katniss freezes. "Katniss Everdeen." Effie smiles. "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!" Effie just doesn't get it. I may never see Katniss again and she wants us to applaud for it. There is silence.

I don't think. I raise three fingers of my left hand to my lips and hold it up. Soon others around me join in. The whole population eventually does it. It used to be used at funerals. I did it to show my admiration. To tell her good-bye. To tell her I love her. She stares shocked. She may never know that it was me who just started it, but at least she knows District Twelve cares for her.

"It's time to choose our boy tribute!" Oh great. Nothing could make this day worse. The love of my life has already got chosen for the Hunger Games. I pay little attention as Effie searches through the ball full of the names of all the boys' names of District Twelve. She slowly pulls out a piece she selects. She dramatically unfolds the slip. "Peeta Mellark!" she reads. No! This cannot be happening! Why? I stand shocked. This is it. I will never see my family again. My brothers! The bakery! Everything! I will never see anything again!

I slowly walk up. I feel tears building up in my eyes, blurring my vision. What am I doint? I can't cry! Everyone will see this! All the people I will soon fight against will categorize me as weak for crying! I pull myself together and step up to the stage, nearly unaware of what I am doing. I stand on the stage, face to face with Katniss Everdeen. Our eyes meet. Her green eyes are as beautiful as ever. She looks strong and brave compared to me though. I feel weak. She hasn't shed a tear where as I am crying. I can still see the fear in her eyes though. There is no doubt she is as nervous as I am. At least I know my family will be taken care of after I'm gone. She has to hunt for all her food. She lives in the Seam with her mother and sister. "Any volunteers?" ask Effie. Like I expected, no one volunteers. Not even my brother who is eighteen volunteers. I need to be brave! I stand up straight. I will never see any of this again, because I will fight for Katniss to come home. She will make it home. I will die if it is the only way.

Sure we are both from District Twelve, the poorest district in the country, but I am strong. She can hunt. We can win this. Or she can. I won't allow myself to come home without her. I will fight the careers for her. I will fight everyone to keep her alive. I will find food for her. I will find shelter for her. She will win. I must do this for Katniss.

I stand completely still as the mayor reads the Treaty of Treason. I scan the crowd for my family. In the very back I see them. My mother scowls. She doesn't look sad though. I'm not surprised. She has never cared about me. My father is a different story. I see his face redden. He is crying. I turn my focus back to the mayor. As he finishes he gestures to Katniss and I to shake hands. I turn to face her and extend my hand. She shakes it. Her hand is cold. We look each other in the eyes. I remember that day when I through the bread out to her in the rain. I regret not walking out and handing it to her. I was young and stupid. She probably forgot about that. A day hasn't gone by where I haven't thought of it.

At the time I knew she was struggling to keep her mother and sister alive. I saw her every single day searching for food. One day it was pouring rain. The grass behind the bakery was soft with mud. As I was mixing the dough for the bread, I was observing the tree blowing with the wind out the window. Although it was only afternoon it was dark. Then I saw a movement other than the tree. It was a person. It was a person, no larger than I was at the time. The person was searching franticly through our back trash can. I called my mother to see what the person's problem was. My mother ran out the back door. The child in the back yard turned around when my mother slammed the door. That was when I saw who it was. Katniss Everdeen.

I knew I had to do something. She was skinny. She most likely hadn't eaten in days. I watched as my mother yelled at her and tried to shoo her away. Katniss attempted to run, but got to the corner of our property and fell over weak. She dropped whatever she was holding. It fell in the mud. My mother came back in and growled. She ran back to helping customers. Katniss sat up in the back yard. I finished putting my bread in the oven. I needed to help her!

As I pulled the bread out of the oven, I thought I could just give it to her. My mother would never have let my give away our valuable bread. I did what I had to do to help her. I dropped the bread in the fire. Although I quickly removed it, the scent filled the whole bakery. My mother came running in screaming. "What did you do?" She yelled. I showed her the bread. "No one decent will buy that! What a waste! Feed it to the pigs!" She ordered my. I opened the door and tossed a piece into the pin with the pigs. "You are so stupid! How can you do something so foolish, Peeta?" I remanded silent. She slapped me across the face with the palm of her hand. It was painful but worth it since I knew I would be able to help Katniss. My mother angrily went back inside. I looked to Katniss. She saw all of it. I tossed her the rest of the loaf that I feed the pigs with. Then I threw her the other loaf. She crawled to it. Once she got it she held it like it was gold. I went back inside.


So, what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Review and tell me! I'd love to hear advice and what you guys like or didn't like about it! Thank you for reading! I plan to update by next weekend.