Standing in the girl's sixteen year old section, I feel claustrophobic as more people begin to fill the space. Effie Trinket, our district escort, was blabbing on about something. Finally, after they played the video explaining about the rebellion and the start of the Hunger Games, she walked over the girl's reaping bowl saying, "Ladies first!" Her hand made a dramatic circling over the bowl. Everything grew quite, and I hold my breath afraid that if I breathe something bad will happen. Effie picked and slip and slowly opened it. "Primrose Everdeen!" her voice screeched. My heart skipped a beat. No, NO.

"No!" I screamed. Prim began to make her way up the stairs. "No!" I scream again. "I-I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute." Prim looked back, tears spilling out of her sky blue eyes, and shook her head. I push my way through the crowd, but the Peacekeepers. I heard a shriek in the back; I knew it was my mother. The Peacekeepers continued to push me forward. I saw Prim kicking and screaming being carried away by a young man with dark brown hair. Gale. I kept my face straight as I climbed the stairs and turned toward the crowd.

"Well bravo!" Effie gushes. "That's the spirit of the Games!" She's smiling so broadly, probably happy to finally have some action in the district she's escorting. "What's your name?"

"Katniss Everdeen," I mutter.

"I'll bet my buttons that was your sister!" She exclaimed. "Didn't want her to steal all the glory?" Inside I scream and I clinch my fists tightly, refusing to answer her question. "Well," she continued, "time for the boys." She picked the slip and read it. "Peeta Mellark." I shut everything else out after that. All I knew was the odds were not in my favor.

I'd only ever been in the Justice Building once before, and that was to receive a medal after my father. Now I was shoved into a room to wait for visitors. When the door opened, to my surprise, Madge Undersee stepped in. Madge was the mayor's daughter, but she wasn't as bad as you may think. She was the only friend that was a girl that I'd ever had. Her face was white. She gave me a hug and slipped something in to my hand. "Will you wear this as your token?" I looked down at it. It was a gold circle with a mockingjay in it. I simply nodded. "Good luck," she whispered in my ear. She then kissed my cheek and left. I looked back at the pin, studying it. Then I pinned it on my shirt. The door opened again and I saw my mother and Prim. Prim ran toward me crying, and jumped in my arms. I held her close letting her cry for a couple of seconds. My mother walked in slowly and waited for a chance to hug me. I looked at her, tears poured silently over her light blue eyes. I lifted Prim slightly off me trying to look her in the eyes.

"Pro-promise me yo-you'll try-try-try to-o win, f-for me," Prim gasped through tears.

"Yes little duck. I promise!" I promised hugging her close. I set her down and stood up to talk to my mother. "If I die you can't desert Prim like you did last time."

"I know sweetie," she replied softly. She gave me a hug and I hugged her back, but only because I knew this might be the last time I'd get to see her. The Peacekeepers came in and dragged them out. The next person to enter was Gale, my best friend for two years. I had known since I started hunting, but at the time I had another best friend. I would never even speak to him again, I couldn't. He lives in District 2. In addition, he just up and left me without a word, so it's not like I wanted to any ways. I think...

Gale ran up and hugged me tight. There's been nothing romantic between us, but his arms have always been open for me to jump in. "Gale," I whispered, "take care of them! Don't let them starve."

"I won't Catnip! I promise. You can win though. You know how to use a bow, and knife, set snares, climb, and find food without killing yourself." I laughed a little. Killing myself I wouldn't be the one killing me. I stood there for the rest of the time hugging him tightly memorizing every curve and contour of his perfect chest. The Peacekeepers came, just like they did with the rest, taking away Gale. He tried to say something as he left. It was cut off, though, by the slamming of the door.

The walk to the train station was short and quick. I didn't stop for the stinkin' cameras. I was not going to pose for a stupid picture, when I'm about to fight to the death in what they call entertainment. Effie showed me my room and told me that I could put on any of the clothes. "Katniss dear," I looked to her. "Take a shower. Oh, dinners in one hour." Then she was gone. I stripped down and stepped into the shower. I stare in amazement at all the buttons. I push one. Freezing cold water pours over my head. I quickly press another button, only to have burning water in its place. After I step out, feeling raw, a full body blow dryer dries me. I throw on under garments, a dark green short sleeve T-shirt, and some brown sweat pants.

Ten minutes later Effie's knocking down my door telling to come to dinner. I get up, letting out a big sigh. "Want to fatten me up before the slaughter, uhh," I mutter. I know I have to eat, though. If I don't eat, I won't have any fuel for the Games. As I walk into the dining car, I see Peeta eating soup. Haymitch is nowhere to be found. I sit down and start to eat lamb on rice with plumbs on the side. It feels like there's an explosion of flavor in my mouth. I continue to eat but slowly, savoring every bite.

"Well, at least you two have good manners." I stare at her. "The last pair of tributes had terrible manners." I made a point to eat as if I didn't have manners for the rest of the meal. Effie looked disgusted. Mission: Accomplished. "I'm going to find Haymitch," Effie said, like someone cared what she did. I looked around for a drink. Finding a dark colored liquid in front of me I picked it up and studied it.

"It's hot chocolate," a voice answered the question I'd been asking in my head. I looked up to see Peeta answered the question. I put it to my lips and took a small sip. Warm deliciousness fills my mouth as it trailed down my throat. I licked my lips and continued to drink the wonderful drink. Peeta just sat there and smiled at me. It was kinda creepy.

Haymitch stumbled, Effie trailing behind, into the dining car five minutes later, a bottle of beer in his hand. He sat down and took another swig. "So, you're supposed to give us advice," I say to Haymitch.

"Here's some advice. Stay Alive," says Haymitch bursting into laughter. I look at Peeta. He looks back at me with an annoyed look on his face.

"That's very funny," then he lashes at the glass of beer in his hand. It flies to the ground with a crash. "only not to us." I'm shocked when Haymitch punches Peeta in the eye, sending him to the floor. I took my table knife and slammed it to the inside of his right hand.

"Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?" Haymitch asks. Peeta reaches for some ice in the fruit bowl. "No let it bruise. They might think you got into a tumble with another tribute."

"But that's against the rules."

"If you aren't caught, they can't prove anything." He turns to me, "Can you hit anything with that knife besides the table?" I yank the knife out of the table, and throw it at the wall. I was hoping for a good solid stick, but it lodges in the seam, making me look a lot better than I actually am. "Both of you stand over here." He started walking around us. "Well, you're not entirely hopeless. Once the stylists get a hold of you, you'll be attractive enough." We don't question this. Even though the Hunger Games aren't a beauty contest, the most attractive tributes get most of the sponsors. "I'll make a deal with you. Don't interfere with my drinking; I'll stay sober enough to help y'all in the Games."

"So what's the first thing we do when we get in the area?"

"Hold up first things first. When we arrive the stylists will start working on you. Whatever you do don't stop them they know what they are doing." We nodded in agreement. "Now get some rest. You'll need it."