Title: The Reaping

Rating: K

Summary: The Hunger Games reaping as seen by the various people in Katniss's life.

Disclaimer: I own no part of the Hunger Games as they belong to Suzanne Collins – I'm just using them for fun!

"Primrose Everdeen"

With those two words, my heart feels like it has slowed, the blood in my veins trying desperately to get through the mush that is now my body. I turn, like everybody else, to find the small 12 year old child in the crowd of other frightened-looking children. Because that's all we are – children. There is a murmured dissent among the crowd – nobody likes it when a 12 year old is chosen, especially not this specific child. I can't believe that out of all the names in the bowl, Effie Trinket has pulled out that one.

I see the tiny blonde girl break away from her place near the back of the crowd and begin to make her way toward the stage where she will take her place as the girl who has been reaped. Then my gaze shifts and I'm searching the mass for Prim's older sister. The girl I can't help but have been watching for years. Katniss.

I find her face, frozen in a look of what I can only describe as complete horror. Everyone in District 12 knows the Everdeen sisters – Prim for her caring nature and sweet charm, and Katniss for her determination and love for her sister as she has struggled to keep her alive. After their father was killed in the mines, everyone in the district saw Katniss fight to put food in her mother's and sister's stomachs, while her mother was rarely, if ever, seen outside the home. And I know I had seen it more up close probably than anyone. I will never forget her face as my mother yelled at her to stay out of our garbage cans, which having just been emptied held nothing for her anyway – the look of absolute despair that came to her face as she seemed to realize that she was out of options. The clothes she'd held in her hands had brought her no profit and it was clear that the burden of keeping food on the table was growing too heavy for her small 11 year old shoulders to carry.

As I had continued working near the oven, my eyes drifted often to the girl outside, who had sunk down into the mud at the bottom of a tree. A few minutes, some burned bread, and a red, swollen cheek later, I was outside near her, pretending to feed the pigs the bread I had just ruined. I glanced quickly to my right at the door to the bakery before tossing the bread to my left. It landed directly in front of her and her eyes widened with a confused expression on her face. Before either of us got caught, I turned and made my way back inside. Though that was the only time I had ever been that close or interacted with her in any way, there have been many times in our years at school when I would be looking at her only to have her head turn and her eyes meet mine. There had also been a few times when I was who felt a gaze on me only to see her eyes watching me. Her gray eyes were almost always blank, her face never betraying any feeling, but I couldn't but wonder if she remembered that I was the boy with the bread. It was a day I'd never forget.

I watch now as Katniss stares after her sister for a few moments before suddenly moving, calling her name.

"Prim! Prim!" I feel my face contort in pain as I hear the desperation in her voice. It is clear that Katniss never imagined Prim's name to haphazardly be picked out of the glass bowl, a single slip of paper amongst thousands of others.

I can't take my eyes off the scene as Katniss sweeps in front of her sister, throwing her arms out as if Effie Trinket with her unnaturally pink hair and perfect pant suit was actually a physical threat to Prim. "I volunteer!" she gasps out. "I volunteer as tribute!"

My face crumples and I look down. I feel stinging behind my eyes and clench my jaw to hold myself together. I listen as Prim starts screaming her sister's name and it's all I can do not to push my way through the boys around me and grab both sisters to….to what? If I had my choice, I'd run with them and tuck them away somewhere out of reach of the Capitol.

But as I look up, I see another man stepping forward. I am not surprised to see Katniss's tall, brown-haired friend Gale. I see his hands shake slightly as he wraps his arms around Prim and lifts her up and away from Katniss. I'm certain he wants more than anything to wrap those same arms around Katniss and save her from the terrible fate she's just volunteered for.

"Up you go, Catnip," I hear him say unsteadily and at this I see her chin tremble the tiniest bit before she turns to mount the stage. Effie seems positively thrilled to have a volunteer tribute in a District where no one ever does because Hunger Games is synonymous with death. None of the rest of us in District 12 are happy, and everyone shows it – remaining still when Effie calls for applause. Then on the screens around the square I see one, then two, then four more people silently touch their fingers to their lips before holding them up to Katniss in a salute. I do the same and soon everyone in the square except those on stage is noiselessly holding their hands to the girl who has once again saved her sister from certain death.

Before long the moment is ruined by Haymitch Abernathy's pounding footsteps and loud voice as he declares that he likes Katniss's spunk, then takes a dive off stage. Effie looks almost relieved to be free of him as she crosses the stage to the bowl full of slips of papers for the boys, her high heels click-clacking on the wooden surface. She reaches in and pulls out a slip before clearly reading the tribute's name.

The male tribute for the 74th Hunger Games is me.

I feel rather than see thousands of faces turn toward me and I realize that it's my turn to make way to the stage, to Katniss. I hear whispers of "Good luck, Peeta" on either side of me as the boys part and allow me passage. I feel as though I've been hit by some electric shock – not only because of my name being drawn but the realization that the only time I will have spoken to the girl on stage beside me is shortly before we will be forced to battle our hunger, the arena, and each other in order to stay alive.

It is in that moment that I start forming the plan. Effie goes on about some details and information regarding this year's games but the only thing I am aware of is Katniss beside me. It is clear, and was before this reaping, that Katniss has people here who need her. As Effie gestures for us to shake hands, I turn to the olive-skinned, grey-eyed girl at my side and we both reach out to grasp each other's hands. I can't help but give hers a small squeeze of reassurance. It is in that moment that I decide to save Katniss Everdeen.