Chapter One
PEETA'S POV
I can't believe my name was called for the reaping. It was a normal reaping day, as normal as any other. You walk to Town Square, sign in, and go to your age and gender group. I see Katniss and she looks at me,
"Good Luck." She mouths. I mouth, "You too." She nods.
Effie Trinket, the escort from the Capitol, comes up to the podium and welcomes us all, then she plays the video of the "Dark Ages" the time before the Capitol took over. We watch it every year. Some people have even memorized it and mouth the words.
"I just love that," Effie says, "Now the time has come to choose one luck girl and one boy to represent District 12 in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Ladies first." She says a girl's name that is unfamiliar to me, her first name is Maybelle, I don't pay attention to her last name, and I'm too busy thinking about Katniss, the girl who I've had a crush on for as long as I can remember, the girl who sings, and when she does, even the birds outside fall silent to listen. A lot of the people around me turn and look at me, then most of the people here do.
"Peeta Mellark, are you out there?" Effie says. Someone shoves me forward. It's unbelievable, but now it is time for the interviews. I just hope we aren't on fire like we were for the Tribute Parade, our stylists, mine was named Portia, and Maybelle's was Cinna, made us look our very best, with make-up and shaving and cutting my hair.
"We'll be setting you on fire." Portia says.
"What?" I ask.
"Not real fire, but fake fire. It won't hurt you, don't worry."
I nod.
I'm wearing a black full jumpsuit and a cape they will set on fire. And a crown type thing that they will also set on fire, on top of my head. Maybelle has it weaved into her hair.
"Aren't you scared?" I ask her,
"No way! It's awesome!" She replies. Cinna again told us it was perfectly safe, but he didn't light us just yet, when District 9 set out he lit us.
"It's okay Peeta, just smile and wave." Portia says.
It's our time to go soon, "Smile and wave!" Cinna says, backing up.
Immediately you can tell the audience likes us, you hear people shouting Peeta, District 12, Maybelle, I remember to smile and I wave so much my hand hurts.
Now it is time for the interviews.
While watching the interviews only a few people stick out to me, obviously the Careers, the one from 2 seems the deadliest. The fox-faced girl from 5 is sly and clever. The tributes from 11 also stick out, Thresh, because he is so big, by big I mean tall, probably strong, tough.
Finally it is my turn.
"So Peeta, what are your thoughts on the Capitol?" Caesar asks.
"There is lots of food." I answer with a laugh. Caesar laughs too.
"There is. Which food has been your favorite?" He asks
"I don't know, probably the beef stew."
"Yes, it is quite good. I eat a lot of it." He stands up so the audience can see his profile, "You can't tell can you?" They laugh.
I laugh too.
"So, we're all wondering, do you have any special little lady back home in District 12?"
"No, not really..." I reply.
"Come on, Peeta, handsome lad like you, there has got to be some girl you like."
"Well, there is this one girl I've liked for as long as I can remember. But I don't think she knew I was alive until the reaping." I tell him.
"Well, what's her name?"
"Her name, is Katniss." I say, and then the buzzer goes off.
A/N Sorry, short chapter, and by the way, this is my first Fan-Fic, so it isn't the best..
