"I'm scared, Peeta."
"Don't be. The odds of you getting picked-"
"Are the same as anyone else's. Don't try and sugarcoat this."
Peeta sighed heavily. "Fair enough. I don't like you worrying so much though. You'll be fine."
Annalise's dark hair fell into her face as she looked down at the ground.
"Everything will be okay." Peeta put an arm around her shoulder. "In the ten years we've been friends, when have I ever been wrong?"
Her voice barely rose to a whisper. "The day my mother died."
"Today is different. My gut is telling me that you'll be alright."
She lifted her face to look at his. "What's it saying about you?"
Peeta hesitated uneasily before saying, "The same."
"I won't let them take you, you know."
"You stand no chance against them, Anna. Don't even think like that."
"Peeta, you're my best friend. You have been since we were six. What makes you think I'd let them murder you without a fight?"
"You don't think I'd win?"
She fell silent, and looked to the ground.
"Come on, you two. Time to get ready." Mr. Mellark called from inside the bakery.
They stood up together.
"I'll see you after lunch?" Peeta questioned.
"Of course." Annalise answered.
Peeta stared at her with distressed eyes for only a moment before turning up the stairs and into the bakery.
…
"What's for lunch on this fine Reaping Day, my dear?" Aaron Fuentes, Annalise's father, asked as he entered their small kitchen.
Annalise frowned at her father's attempt at humor. Today was no joke, and he knew it.
"Squirrel soup." She replied flatly.
"Sounds delicious."
He took a seat at the table while she finished up the small meal.
Despite the fact they lived in the wealthier part of District 12, there was no denying that they went through the same struggles as any other family in the district.
The food they had came from what little they could afford from the Hob, Annalise's tesserae, what extra burned-to-bits bread the Mellarks could spare, and what Gale and Katniss traded them.
Ah, Gale. The first nice thought on this terrifying day.
She'd never actually even spoken to Gale, other than during trades. But she couldn't help or even describe the feeling of warmth she got when she saw him or when he would knock on her door with a squirrel in hand for her. Occasionally, he would bring her a few strawberries. Something he somehow knew she adored.
Of course, not far behind him, was always Katniss.
Way to ruin her lifting mood.
Annalise also couldn't explain her intense dislike for that poor girl.
Maybe it was because she had Gale. Or could it be Peeta's crush on her?
No, it wasn't that. She'd never felt anything other than friendship towards Peeta. She did love him, but in the sense that he was her best friend.
Whatever it was, she still couldn't stand her. And the feeling was mutual.
Annalise smiled to herself as she ladled soup into her father's favorite bowl.
"Are you excited for today?" He asked.
"No." She would never understand why her father was always so cheery on Reaping Day. It was quite sickening, honestly.
"How about Peeta? Baker Boy excited?"
"I don't know."
She loved her father, she did. But when it came to Peeta, he was always trying to get under her skin.
"How? Isn't that where you were this morning? Just like you are every morning?"
"Yes, but we try not to discuss things like this."
She set the bowl down in front of him and took the seat across from him.
He dug straight in, while she barely picked at hers.
"If you aren't going to eat it save it for later." He said harshly.
She sighed and stood up.
She poured her soup back into the pot and turned to her father.
"Going to get dressed." She stated before disappearing into her bedroom.
…
It didn't take much rummaging for Annalise to find the dress that she'd worn to the last two reapings.
It was a beautiful black dress with shoulder-length sleeves that fell just above her knees.
Her mother had made it for her on her fourteenth birthday, two days before her death.
She'd worn it to every reaping since. Which, really, was only two. This would be the third.
Her limbs shook as she put the black ballerina-like slippers that went with it on her feet.
This was her year. Something told her she would be getting reaped.
Regardless of Peeta's defiance, her gut was never wrong.
She had to wonder, though, would she even care if she was chosen?
Would she let herself be an easy kill? Or would she at least try to win? Did she even have it in her to win the Games?
Probably not.
And Peeta. She didn't even want to think what would happen if he was picked.
Friends or more, Annalise couldn't breathe without Peeta. He was her rock. If it wasn't for him she probably would've been dead by now.
A cold chill ran down her spine.
She forced herself to leave her room and head back to the kitchen.
"Well don't you look nice?" Her father smiled.
"Thank you." She refused to meet his eyes.
"I'm going to the square with Peeta." She told him as she walked to the front door.
"Of course you are." Annoyance laced his voice.
For whatever reason, he wasn't too fond of Peeta.
Anna merely rolled her eyes while she stepped back out into the street. "Bye, dad."
…
The walk to the square was a quiet one.
Tension and fear were evident in the air. Not much needed to be said.
"I can't do this, Peeta. If something happens to us…"
"Nothing will." He assured her.
She looked at him with tears forming in her eyes.
Peeta smiled softly at her and nudged her shoulder.
"Hey, there are about maybe a few hundred other people it could be. Don't worry too much. Yet."
"Too late." She breathed as they took their spot in the growing crowd.
After a few minutes of silence, Annalise caught Peeta's eyes trained across the square.
Following his gaze, she found Katniss hugging her sister tightly.
Spite welled up through Annalise.
"I hope it's her." She whispered angrily.
"Hm?" Peeta mumbled, turning his attention back to her.
"Nothing."
The district went silent as the mayor began telling the history of Panem.
He spoke of what was once North America, its destruction, and how Panem rose from the battlegrounds.
One Capital. Thirteen districts. Supposed peace.
Until the Dark Days.
The rebellion that to this day they were never allowed to forget.
The total destruction of District 13.
The Hunger Games were a reminder and a warning.
A reminder that they were stupid for trying to defeat the all mighty Capital and a warning of what they could do should the districts ever try to rebel again.
As he finished, he went on into the list of victors from District 12.
They have only two.
The only living one being the town drunk, Haymitch Abernathy.
He staggered onto the stage and tried to give ol' Effie Trinket a hug before falling into his chair.
The mayor handed the stage off to Effie, who was as overly happy as always.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" She chirped into the microphone.
Annalise's hand locked onto Peeta's wrist.
This was it.
"Ladies first!"
Peeta tensed as they watched Effie put her hand into the girls' bowl.
She pulled the slip of paper out and stepped back to the podium.
The entire square took in a simultaneous breath as she smoothed out the paper.
Annalise shut her eyes tight as Effie read the name.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
Before anyone could react or even let out their held in breath, someone was screaming and pushing past the Peacekeepers.
"I volunteer as tribute!" Katniss' shrill scream filled the square.
Peeta was on edge completely. She could feel his racing pulse in his wrist and feel his body shaking.
As much as Annalise couldn't stand her, even she was frozen in shock.
"What's your name?" Effie asked Katniss as she walked onto the stage.
"Katniss Everdeen." She replied blankly.
"Oh! I bet that was your sister! Wouldn't want her taking all the glory, huh? Let's give a round of applause to our newest tribute!"
Silence.
This was wrong. Everyone knew it.
Almost in sync, the whole crowd touched their three middle fingers to their lips and held them out to Katniss.
An old District 12 symbol of goodbye to a loved one.
Haymitch made his way over to her and threw his arms across her shoulders.
"I like this one! She has… spunk!"
Before you know it, Haymitch is heading towards the front of the stage and ends up falling right on his face.
They took him away on a stretcher, and Effie was already trying to get things back in swing.
"I told you." Peeta whispered to Annalise.
She resisted the need to tell him that they weren't safe yet. Peeta wasn't safe.
"On to the boys!"
Annalise's nails were practically digging into his flesh as they waited for her to read the name.
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Effie exclaimed cheerily, "Peeta Mellark!"
Not a moment of silence before different screams took over the crowd.
Not screams of volunteers. Screams of pain.
"Peeta!" Annalise screeched as a Peacekeeper tore him away from her grasp.
"Peeta, no! Don't take him!"
An older district boy had latched onto Annalise's hips, keeping her from running to the stage.
"Don't take him!" She cried again and again. "At least let me take Katniss' place!"
The square fell silent.
"I'm sorry, miss. The tributes have been selected. Unless, of course, someone would like to take this young man's place?" Effie tried to help her.
No one spoke up.
"Very well!" Effie clapped.
"Peet-" Annalise tried to scream again, but the boy who held her back placed a hand over her mouth.
Her cries were now muffled as the anthem of Panem played all throughout the square.
The second the anthem ended, the tributes were swept off into the Justice Building.
...
There were no words to describe the stabbing in her heart Annalise felt.
It was as if her heart was struggling to keep beating.
She would take any form of torture over what she was going through right now.
It was a painfully long time before it was Annalise's turn to see Peeta.
As soon as she entered the room, she wrapped Peeta in a tight embrace.
"Don't let go." Peeta whispered.
"Never." She let her tears flow freely.
It was heartbreaking to think that this could possibly be the last time she ever saw him.
No. She refused to think that. Peeta would be coming home. He was going to win the Games.
"Don't cave in." She begged. "Don't let them own you. Fight."
"I will." He promised uneasily.
"You can do this."
Peeta squeezed her tighter.
"I love you, Anna. Keep yourself safe."
"I love you too." She said against his chest. "I know you can do this. Just remember that I'm here waiting for you to get back."
Peeta's tears brought on more of her own.
"I'll be anticipating it every day in that arena." He tried to smile.
The Peacekeeper's appearance was sudden, and Annalise wasn't ready to leave just yet.
She turned to Peeta and kissed his cheek. "Let the games begin."
They hugged until the Peacekeepers literally threw her out of the room.
"I love you, Peeta!"
Her scream was cut off by the large door shutting in her face.
And just like that…
Peeta was gone.
A/N: Thoughts? I know right now it probably just seems like the book, but now that Peeta and Katniss are off to the Capitol it's going to really be focusing on what's happening in District 12 while they're in the arena. Any feedback at all is greatly appreciated. :D