So here it is! The sequel to I wanna know what love is. I really hope you like it as much as the last story. I know I enjoyed writing it.
1.
I wake and the other side of the bed is cold. It was expected. Prim would have climbed in with my mother considering its reaping day today. She would have had a nightmare, I cant say I was any different, my dreams where full of nightmares last night. One where Prim was picked and so was Peeta and I had to choose between them on which one I wanted to come home. That was definitely the worst one of all. Of course the dream didnt last long enough for me to find out who survived.
The tatty old clock on the wall tells me that its 6:03am. I need to get up to get a good bit of hunting done before the reaping. As I pull myself over the other side of the bed, my eyes fall on the ball of limbs and hair that is my sister and my mother as they cradle eachother. I smile slightly at the sight but then my smiles fades when her ugly cat jumps up and worms his way into the middle. Then again, I might hate that cat and he might make my blood boil but he is good for one thing, he always cheers Prim up and when he dies she is going to be heartbroken.
I pull my clothes on before leaving the room as quickly as I can as to not wake them. On the table is a small bit of goats cheese that Prim must have left for me. My eyes flicker towards the spot on the table where bread usually sits in the morning but he must not have been round this morning. Its okay though I'll catch him later. Outside the morning air is cold as usual, even though its summer right now, the morning of the reaping always manages to be cold. I know that Gale will be out in the woods today I'm just hoping that I dont bump into him. But part of me is hoping that we do and we can put our differences aside for just today of all days.
It doesnt take long for me to slide under the fence and dissapear into the woods. My feet take me on the usual journey to mine and Gale's rock. If he is going to wait for me anywhere, he's going to wait there. But he isnt there, infact it doesnt look like anyone has been here, so I decide to wait for him.
An hour later, he hasnt shown up so I decide to get on with it. Why would he not show up? He might still be angry with him but he still needs to hunt for his family. Thats something that neither of us are able to stop doing. I guess he went in a different direction. Either way I carry on, I might be able to catch him before the reaping.
By the end of the moring, I have 4 squirrels, 2 rabbits, 3 grooslings and 2 fish from Gale's snares at the lake which I reset easily incase they catch something else. On my way back to the fence, I dont hear anything or find any clues of anyone else being in the woods this morning. Gale might not be one to leave tracks but he's also not one to leave turkeys around and there seems to be quite a lot around right now. So I shoot 2 on the way home. By now, my back is getting a little too heavy to carry but its worth it. I cant trade any of this today so I'll have to do it tomorrow and by then I'll have even more to trade.
I get back home around half 11. I only have half an hour to get ready before I need to set off towards the town square to see Peeta before the reaping starts. I hope he's alright and he's not freaking out or anything. I've never seen him on the morning of a reaping so I have no idea what he is like. He's probably just scared like the rest of us.
At home, Prim is sitting on the small sofa watching mum kill the fire thats probably been burning all morning. "I've laid something out for you Katniss." Mum says and I smile at her. "Its on your bed." She walks away into the kitchen with my game bag which she took off me and I sit beside Prim.
"You okay?" I ask her, even though I already know the answer. She smiles weakly at me and I pull her in for a hug. "Its gonna be alright Prim, your names only in there once, they're not gonna pick you.
She nods, unconvinced. I deicde to leave her to it when Buttercup jumps up and I go to get ready. Considering that I only have half an hour, I forget about any attempts to have a bath and I just wash all the dirt from my finger nails and my face. The dress that my mother has laid out for me must be from her apothecary days, its old but still really nice, its a light blue colour. I had planned to wear Madge's dress that she gave me for the Mellarks dinner but I cant upset my mum today by wearing a dress that isnt the one she picked out. So I put on my mothers dress and allow her to braid my hair when we get downstairs, the girl staring back at me in the mirror does not look like me.
Afterwards, I find myself sitting with Prim in my arms until my mother comes into the rooms holding her coat. "Shall we get going?" She asks. I look at the clock, its 12:13pm. Prim pulls herself to her feet and I take her hand as we follow mum out the door and into the seam. Almost everywhere, kids are putting their finishing touches to their posh clothes and their mothers are saying goodbye to them as most fathers would be down in the mines already.
I have to look away at them all. Any one of the kids that I have known for years could be gone forever today. Nobody in District 12 ever survives the games, the last one was Haymitch and that was 25 years ago and everyone has pretty much given up hope that we will get a new victor anytime soon. If you are called at the reaping then its pretty much a death sentence.
In the town square, kids have already started going in and I feel Prim's hand tighten in my own, causing me to look at her, the tears streaming down her face. Infact I'm looking at her for that long that I bump straight into someone, almost going flying. When I look up to apologise, Gale is standing there. "Hi." I mumble and he watches me. I turn to leave, not having ny idea what to say to my best friend but he grabs my arm so I push Prim off with my mother, watching them walk to the Bakery then I turn to Gale. "What?" I ask, a little harshly.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." His hold on my arm dissapears as his hand drops and I cross them over my chest. "Please forgive me." I want to stay mad at him but I cant so I throw my arms around him and hold him tight, my feet almost leaving the floor. "Good luck today Catnip."
I smile into his shoulder, I've missed him calling me that so much even if I do hate the name. "You too Gale." Thats when he pulls away. "You seen Delly yet?"
"No, I'm waiting for her. She shouldnt be long now." I nod.
"Well I've got to go." I tell him, noticing Peeta holding the Bakery door open for me. "I'll see you later." He gives me another hug and I turn and run towards the Bakery, towards Peeta.
Inside the Bakery, everything seems different. The very air around me is swimming with depression. Everyone else must be in the back because Peeta is the only one here. He looks terrible, as if he had no sleep last night at all which makes sense. I didnt sleep much either. "Hi." He mumbles to me with a small smile on his face. "You alright?" The door clicks shut, showing that he locked it before he shut it and then he takes me into his arms. "Of course you're not."
I find myself laughing because why would anyone be alright on Reaping day? I melt into Peeta's chest, my place, the place I fit, right here, in his arms. "I'm scared for Prim." I say to him and I hear him let out a breathe.
"I know. Me too." He replies.
"Guys, you coming through?" I hear someone say from the door and I turn to see Mum. I nod, taking Peeta's hand. She dissapears from the doorway and we follow her through.
In the sitting room, everyone is staring around, taking in every bit of eachother faces before the reaping today. Everyone but Mrs Mellark who I think I already saw sitting outside waiting for it to start, probably avoiding her sons. Masan is sitting on the sofa across from Rye, just looking at him. Its his last reaping today and I can tell he is a little excited but really scared about it like we all are. Sarah is here, clutching to his arm, crying slightly. Her sister must be at home or outside. Prim is sitting beside Masan and Leaven ringing her hands together and as soon as she sees me, she wraps her arms around my waist. "I'm so scared Katniss." She mumbles into my torso. I nod and feel myself leaning down to talk to her. "What if I'm picked?"
I take her by the shoulders and look deep into her tear filled eyes, trying to stop myself from crying as I look at her. "Its your first year Prim, your names only in there once, they're not gonna pick you." I say but I can feel myself loosing hope and when she wraps her arms around me again, I look toward Peeta with tears in my eyes. He nods in understanding and I smile slightly. Atleast I have him here with me.
Prim pulls away from me and latches onto mum, sitting beside her on the sofa, so I move to Peeta and bury my face in his shirt so no-one can see me crying. "Its gonna be alright." Peeta says to the room and I look up at him, forgetting about the tears on my face. "Tonight, everyone in this room will be dining together no matter what." He says but the looks on everyones faces says different. "Good luck Rye." He says to his brother. "You too Sarah."
"Good luck bro. Katniss, good luck." Rye says to us both. "Prim, you will be fine dont worry." Prim smiles at him.
I'm about to give everyone good lucks but am stopped by the sound of a really loud horn outside, signalling everyone is to go to the town square. We all look at eachother and the first person to stand up is Rye, pulling Sarah along with him. "Come on guys lets get this over with." He says. Prim stands up and grabs my hand, my other one in Peetas. We walk out together, as one, as a family.
Outside the town is full of scared children and parents. "Here is where we say goodbye." Masan says, standing beside my mother and Leaven. "Good luck guys." He hugs each of us in turn and so doesn Leaven then they dissapear off into the crowd to find a place to watch.
"Oh my sisters there, I'll see you later." Sarah says, peeling herself off Rye and kissing him quickly before running off to see her sister.
I turn to my mother and smile at her. "I'll see you tonight for dinner." I say and she smiles back, giving me and Prim a quick hug before joining Masan and Leaven who are stood next to a forever sour looking Mrs Mellark.
After we have all signed in, we walk towards the roped off area. Rye gives us both a smile before walking towards his sector where I spot Gale smiling at me. Peeta is by my side, holding my hand. "I'll see you later okay, I promise." He says, kissing me.
"Peeta, you have to promise me that you wont volunteer to go in with me." I say and he looks reluctant to agree but eventually he promises. "And I wont volunteer to go in for you." He nods and smiles. "I love you."
"I love you too." Then he's gone. Prim looks at me.
I smile at her. "Right, you go down there with the little kids I'll find you after okay?" She nods and hugs me before leaving. And just like that I'm alone and walking towards my own sector where I actually end up stood next to Delly.
As soon as I stand still, the mayor appears on the stage, giving his normal speech about the history of Panem. He reads out the list of past victors and its probably the shortest one throughout the whole of Panem with only 2 people on it. Thats when Haymitch appears, drunk as usual. I dont blame him though. He gives us a little wave and sits down next to Effie Trinket, then for some odd reason, he tries to hug her, which makes her look really scared. I cant help but laugh. My eyes find Peeta and he's laughing too. He doesnt have a bottle in his hands but you can tell he hasnt long since had one.
After the mayor has done speaking, Effie Trinket steps up to the microphone, straightening out her wig after what Haymitch did. "Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favour." She says, looking a little confused. You can tell she doesnt want to be here. She's probably only doing this for a while until she gets promoted to a bigger, better district where you dont get attacked by drunk men. She tries to say something more but instead she turns our atention to the screen where the video starts. I look towards Gale and I can see him mouthing the words that everyone knows. I smile at the memory of him always doing that to me. I wish I could look at Prim but I cant see her through this many people, especially with how small she is.
The short film finishes after about 5 minutes and Effie turns to the microphone again, her wig relatively straight. "Ladies first." You can hear the sound of her heals as she walks towards the bowl on her left. Around me I can hear a lot of girls hold their breathe.
When she is back at the microphone I close my eyes. Delly's hand brushes up against mine and I feel like giving her just a little bit of comfort and grabbing her hand but I dont because I cant think about anything else but Effie's voice and the name that is going to come out her mouth.
Then a name is called and Delly grabs my hand. My eyes open and focus on the floor, could it possibly be? Is she actually telling the truth. Because its not me, its the one name I never wanted to hear called. Its Primrose Everdeen. I honestly feel like I'm gonna throw up everything in my stomach.
I feel as if all the air has left my body as I see a small blonde near the front, begin to move. Thats when fear spreads throughout me and I look towards Peeta. His eyes are on me. The fear is visible in his eyes as he must know what I'm gonna do. I cant let my little sister go into the games. I just cant. I take a breathe and nod at Peeta, trying to hold in the tears so that the Capitol dont see my cry, dont see how weak I can be at times. "Goodbye Delly." I mumble and let go of her iron grip on my hand, moving towards the middle of the square as quickly as I can, feeling Peeta's eyes on me the entire time, giving me strength.
"Prim!" The cry comes out strangled and makes my throat hurt. Everyone at the end of the row falls backwards as I barge my way through to get to my little sister. A peacekeeper tries to stop me but I carry on shouting. "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" The peacekeeper lets go of me and I lunge forward towards Prim just as she tries to move up the steps. "Prim, go find mum!" I shout as she latches on to me.
Thats when she starts screaming. "No!"
"Prim go find mum, I know, I'm so sorry." I mumble, trying not to cry. I'm trying to push her away, to get her off me so I can take my rightful place at the top of the steps. Then suddenly, she's lifted into the air. I turn around to tell whatever Peacekeeper it is to let her go. Instead I find Gale.
He smiles sadly. "Up you go Catnip." He gives me a slightly nudge and hoists Prim over his shoulders, who is still screaming hysterically. I stand there, not wanting to move.
"Lovely." I hear Effie Trinket says to me. I turn to see a lot of confusion on the stage. "But I believe there is a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers..." She trails off.
Thats when the mayo speaks up. "What does it matter?" He looks pained. Sad even. "What does it matter, let her come forward." Then I begin moving up the steps. She takes my hand at the top and leads me over to the microphone.
The square is as quiet as it was before. "Well bravo!" Effie chimes. "Thats the spirit. District 12' very first volunteer, whats your name?" She asks, moving the microphone over to me.
"Katniss Everdeen." I choke. I'm finding it very hard not to cry right now.
"Well, I bet my buttons that was your sister?" She asks.
"Yes." I mumble, surprised that anyone would be able to catch it.
"Well, everyone lets give her a hand." Effie begins to clap but no-one joins in so she stops. Instead everyone sticks the first three fingers on their left hand in the air. Its a very old District 12 saying. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means goodbye to someone you love. Now I'm really in danger of crying.
Everything is silent for a second. "Now, for the boys." She says, leaving my side and walking to the bowl on her right. All I can think is not Peeta, not Gale, not Peeta, not Gale. And its not either of them. Its someone worse. Someone who I cant go into the games with. My legs wobble at the thought. "Eric Stratser." My eyes grow wild and my hands start to shake. He bounds through the 18 year old section, almost knocking Rye over who gives him a dirty look. Thats when I look at Peeta as an attempt to distract myself but it doesnt work when I see the look on his face. He's going to do something stupid and I starts shaking my head at him.
Erics by my side now and I can feel myself about to collapse. "Now, any volunteers." Thats when the shaking gets really bad and for one specific reason. Peeta's hand shoots straight up in the air.
"I do! I volunteer to go in." He shouts so that everyone can hear him and I hear a few gasps. One of them from my own mouth. I know I cant say anything so there is no use in trying. He pretty much runs towards the stage, to me. On the stage, he stands on the other side of Effie and tries to look strong but you can tell he's close to crying. Effie asks him his name and he says it with confidence.
Effie speaks again just as Eric is being directed to the crowd at the back off the square where I see my mother standing beside Gale and Prim, all of them looking sad. "Well there you have it, the tributes from District 12. Shake hands you two." She moves aside and I step up to Peeta, instead of shaking his hand I pull him towards me for a hug, surprising Effie and just about everyone. Most of them know that we are dating but they wouldnt expect me to show the Capitol that I love him. Now they are going to use him against me and thats a given.
Please leave me a review to let know what you thought of the first chapter.