The air is warm out here, the sun on our backs as we look out over the breathtaking valley. I take a slice of cheese and put it on my bit of bread. If only today had been a normal holiday it would have been a moment I'd remember for the rest of my life.
"We could do it you know," Gale says quietly.
I look to see that he is picking at his bread. "What?"
"Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it," says Gale.
I catch his big, grey eyes and I can see the determination in his eyes. He means and believes every word.
"We wouldn't make it five miles," I croak finally.
I think of Prim, my darling sister and Gales two brothers and sister. They need us here, at least one of us. But I can't deny it. A part of me, the dishonorable, cowardly side years for Gale's idea to be true.
Just Gale and I, alone in the woods. I smile, just a little. Gale says the only time I smile is in the woods... No. I shake the thought out of my head and sigh loudly. We can't leave, so why bother talking about it?
The conversation takes another strange turn to kids.
"I don't want kids," I cut across him abruptly.
Gale and I are just friends, that's all we'll ever be. We squabble too much.
"I might if I didn't live here," He shrugs.
He wouldn't have any trouble, I think. Gale's good-looking, strong and can hunt. I'm not blind, I know all the girls fell for him a long time ago and it makes me jealous when they whisper about him.
We finish up and decide to go down to the lake to fish.
"We can get something for tonight," he adds with a flash of a reassuring smile.
He never lies to me. I know how nervous he is; it's his brother Rory's first year at the reaping. But sometime it helps to play pretend. I close my eyes and think of Prim. Yes it's much better to pretend.
By late morning we have a dozen fish, a bag of greens and best of all, a large quantity of strawberries.
We stop off by the Hobb, a sort of black market of the district. There are benefits to having the worst looked after district. Starving peacekeepers tend to be a lot more lenient than others.
In the end we've managed to pull together bread, salt and chunks of paraffin. After that we stop by the mayors house to sell half the strawberries. It isn't the mayor who answers though, but his daughter Madge.
"Pretty dress," Gale says as we both look at her expensive white dress.
She shoots him an anxious look then drops her eyes to her feet. "If I'm going to the capitol, I want to look nice."
I feel the air around Gale tense and before I can stop him he speaks, "What can you have? Five entries? I had six when I was twelve."
I shake my head and Madge hands me the money, "Good luck Katniss."
I try to smile, "You too."
And then she's gone. I give Gale a look of disapproval but I know he was speaking the truth. It's funny how the truth is just so hard to accept.
"See you in the square," I say when we've divided our spoils.
"Wear something pretty," He says flatly.
When I get home I change into a blue dress my mother has left out for me. I braid my hair. It takes me longer than usual because my hands are slightly shaking.
They only stop when Prim peeps her head in the door frame. "You look beautiful," she says, her voice reduced to a whisper.
I smile and pull her into a hug, "Your names only been entered once, remember that. Gales is in forty-two times."
I realise I've said the wrong thing; Prim cries over dead insects. Of course she'll worry about Gale.
"Tuck your tail in little duck," I say, fixing her blouse.
"Quack," she giggles.
I can't help laugh, "Quack yourself."
My smile fades as I see her face darken, "What's wrong Prim?" I ask.
She looks up at me with her innocent blue eyes, so unlike mine. "Katniss-" She begins like she regrets even thinking about what she's going to say, "-What. What would you do if Gale got picked?"
I wince and my gut twists. "I, I don't know Prim," I manage to croak. A pang of guilt hits me and I fiercely regret our rude parting.
"You know what they say about worrying?"
"What?" She asks.
"Don't."
This makes her smile and I usher off to dinner.
When the small hand reaches one on the clock we head to the square for the reaping, each age grouped together in peace keeper form. It's quite claustrophobic in the square with so many people. I'm stood among a group of sixteen years olds.
I look up at the two large glass balls, one with forty-two slips of paper covered in Gale's name. The other with Katniss Everdeen scrawled on twenty slips. Prim only has one I remind myself.
The mayor begins to recite the history of Panem, the rebellion and the hunger games. Effie Trinket, the pink lady starts up the steps. I think back to this morning when Gale tried to imitate her capitol accent. I spot him in the crowd and by the look on his face I know he's thinking the same thing.
His face darkens and I can almost feel how nervous he is from where I stand. I close my eyes as I realise Effie is pulling a piece of paper out of the glass ball. I can hear her saying my name over and over again in my head. Each time my name gets louder and my heart beats faster until she's screaming and I feel sick.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
I freeze, stunned into nothing.
She must have read the wrong name. Katniss, my name's Katniss. Prim couldn't. It can't be Prim. She's mistaken.
I watch my sister confirm my darkest thoughts and step out of her group. Her face is pale and she's shaking. I realise just how small she is. Someone from the seam catches me and then Madge is by my side. I get up and start towards Prim but she holds me back.
"No Katniss," She begs, "They'll kill you!"
I snatch my hand from her grip and turn to see Prim already on the stage. Effie is already calling out the boy, it's Peeta Mellark, the bakers boy. I'm too late. I'm too late. My legs move anyway.
My vision is blurry through the tears threatening to fall. The peacekeepers watch me and I see them raise their guns ready for the trouble I'm supposedly about to cause. I don't know what I'm about to do, all I know is it's too late.
"Katniss." I hear Gales voice behind me. Then his arms are around me and I'm pulled into his strong chest.
"Don't cry," he says, his voice a strained whisper, "For Prim."
I nod and steady myself as best as I can. I hate Madge, I could have volunteered. My eyes fall on Prim, my beautiful, little sister. She's trying to look brave but it's obvious she's terrified.
She senses my gaze and spots me on the outskirts of the penned people.
Suddenly Gale raises his three fingers, holding his little finger down with his thumb. From Effies facial expression I know everyone has followed.
"Prim," I manage to whisper, as she keeps her eyes trained on mine.
"Keep your eyes open," Gale says.