1
I lay awake in bed, wondering who will be reaped this year. The person chosen will be forced to fight to the death. There is only one living victor here in District Twelve, one that won those gruesome games. These games are known as the Hunger Games.
I fear those I care for might be chosen to go. My older brother Jam, I hope he is not chosen. I fear I may be chosen. If I am chosen I would be dead by the first day. I hope I don't know the people who get reaped this year. Getting reaped is like being sent to your death. Only one from the twenty four people comes out alive.
There's a knock on my door, "Peeta, get dressed and go to the bakery", I hear my mother say. I get dressed and head down to the bakery.
I open the door and the smell of fresh bread enters my nose. "It's about time you came", mother yells, "Go help your father with the customers". "Okay" is all I say.
My name is Peeta Mellark, I'm seventeen years old and my parents own the bakery here in District Twelve. I have two brothers, Jam and Bran. My brothers often make fun of me since I am the youngest of the three.
Many people don't come to the bakery today since today two innocent people will get picked to go die while all of Panem watches.
The door swings open and I know who it is. Gale Hawthorne. He never talked to me before but I know him because I've had a crush on his girlfriend, Katniss Everdeen, ever since I can remember. I think there together, but I know they are most likely since there always hunting together.
My father looks around to see if my mother is anywhere near. "What do you have to trade with me today", my father says to Gale. "I've got a squirrel" says Gale. "Okay then" my father says as he hands Gale a loaf of bread. Gale hands my father a squirrel. "Good luck", my father tells Gale as he leaves. My father hands me the squirrel and I know who shot it, Katniss Everdeen.
Katniss hunts, always shooting the animal in the eye. She never misses. Hunting is illegal so I fear she might get caught one day. Gale then trades them with my father for bread. I have had only one interaction with Katniss, that was years ago. She probably doesn't even remember.
It was about five years ago, Katniss's father died in a mining accident. She went looking for food since her mother was in a shock and couldn't even help her two daughters. I was in my room when I heard my mother yelling at someone. It was probably one of my brothers but I went down stairs and saw my mother yelling at a girl. It was Katniss. My mother shut the door, it was pouring outside and I wanted to know if Katniss was okay, I wanted to help her.
I peeked through the window and saw her in back of our trash near an apple tree. Rain fell and I could see tears in her eyes. "Start baking you idiot", my mother hollered.
I wanted to help Katniss but I didn't know how. My mother through loaves of bread at me and then I found out how to help her.
I waited for the bread to get burned. A few minutes passed and I wondered if Katniss was still outside. I went to go peak, tears filled her eyes. Rain falling on her, I felt bad hoping my plan would work. That's when I heard my mother scream.
"You imbecile, you burned the bread, no one in their right mind would ever buy it", my mother smacked my head with a rolling pin. She hit me again, this time it hit my eye. Tears started to fall in my eye as it swelled up.
"Go feed it to the pigs" my mother said in disgust. I went outside, I stared at Katniss, tears on both of our faces. I tore off the burned parts in the bread tossed them to the pigs, I wanted to walk over to Katniss and hand her the bread, but instead I tossed her the bread.
I hurried back inside and peeked in the window, I saw her grab the bread, put it under her shirt and run home, back to the Seam.
I could have handed her the bread but I was too nervous. We had never talked to each other and I don't even know if she knew I existed, but I did know she has the best voice I have ever heard.
My eye was bruised when my father saw me, "what happened" he asked. "I accidentally burned bread and mother hit me" I say almost in a whisper. "It's not like you to burn the bread, is there a reason you burnt it", my father asked.
"Hurry up, and go get dressed" my mother yelled as I came back to reality. I didn't understand what my mother had said. "What are you waiting for you good for nothing child!" my mother roared. I went home and went straight to my room.
I had to change clothes, I wore a blue shirt and jeans. I combed my blonde hair and tied my shoes. I went downstairs and ate breakfast, eggs and bread. I could hear my mother yelling at my brothers for not getting ready. Fear swept over me as I remembered what happening today.
"Hurry up, were going to be late", mother yells. We go to the city square, near the Justice Building, I see rows of children lined up. Children between the years of twelve and eighteen lined up to get a blood sample. Peacekeepers around the city square, Peacekeepers are hated by everyone and are the Capitol guards.
Everyone is frightened they will get chosen, or that their children might get picked. I'm looking for my brother and my friends when I see her, Katniss Everdeen.