Chapter 1.
I have always wondered what being in The Hunger Games would feel like. I never thought that I'd actually be chosen at the Reaping though. When Effie Trinket, District 12's escort called Primrose Everdeen, all that I heard was her older sister, Katniss, yelling for her and she screamed the two words that the citizens of District 12 never thought we would hear, " I VOLUNTEER!".
Everyone was shocked! Never would we think that a sibling would risk their life for their own brother or sister. Next up is the boys. I see Effie reach her hand in the boys bowl and she finally chooses the piece of paper that determines one of our fates. She goes up to the microphone and calls out, "Peeta Mellark!" I see everyone's eyes turn to me. The Peacekeepers escort me to the stage where I stand with the female tribute of District 12. Katniss Everdeen. The one person that I never thought I'd be standing with today, during the Reaping.
I have had a couple of encounters with Katniss over the past few years. After her father died in the big mining accident, her family wasn't doing too well. Her mother did not act like a mother to her and her baby sister, Primrose. But before this accident happened, I remember the first time I ever saw Katniss, in Kindergarten. She had her hair in two braids instead of one, and when she sang, she sounded just like her father. One word. Beautiful. The birds would always sing back to her father, and Katniss.
It was one day, a few years after the accident, and I had accidentally burnt a loaf of bread and my mother was beating me because of it. I went outside to give it to the pigs, but then I saw Katniss just sitting there in the pouring rain. I saw her and at that moment I decided that she needed this bread than these animals. I knew I would get beat by my mother again, but she was worth it.
When my name was called and I was on the stage with her, something in her eyes said that she remembered that day. I hope that I helped her family out and that she thanked me.
Now, the Peacekeepers are taking us to the Justice Building where we will each only get one hour until we have to leave on the train to go to the Capitol. I personally think that they should at least give us a day to say goodbye to all of our friends and family. But we only get an hour. I talk to my mother and father and a few of my friends. But my hour flies by, and the next thing I know, Katniss and I are on our way to the Capitol where they train us for two weeks before going into the games.
I forgot to mention that our mentor is Haymitch Abernathy. He won the games a while back ago and I'm honestly surprised. At the Reaping, he was so drunk that he fell off of the stage and made a huge spectacle of himself and District 12. Honestly, I found it hilarious! But there is one quality of Haymitch that I think will crush Katniss' and my chances in The Hunger Games. He drinks. I'm not talking the occasional drink, full on drinking. It'll ruin our chances of winning if our mentor is drunk the during our training.