Effie pulled out a slip, and read clearly.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
Prim stood still in horror. Had she just called my name? It took her a few seconds to comprehend what had happened, but someone gently pushed her along.
When she walked up the dirt road to the stage, peacekeepers stood by her side. When she was about to walk up the stage, she heard some one call, "Prim!"
She looked at Katniss as she ran up to Prim, but being held back by peacekeepers.
"No! No!" The peacekeepers held her back. Prim saw something flash in Katniss' eyes, and she instantly knew what she was about to do.
"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Prim shook her head, not willing to let Katniss volunteer.
"No, Katniss! This is my battle, not yours!" Katniss let tears fall, and was once again held back by peacekeepers. Gale came, and pulled Katniss to the side.
Effie looked questioningly to the mayor. "Can she do that?" Mayor Undersee grumbled. He never liked reapings, and didn't want to take any part in it.
"Sure."
Prim walked up the stage, seeing something flash in Haymitch's eyes, but when she looked again, it had disappeared. Prim's eyes were brimmed with tears, but she didn't let them fall.
Effie cleared her throat, and said, "Well, let's give a big round of applause to Primrose Everdeen!" Everyone remained silent, not daring to make a sound.
Effie clapped for a while until saying, "Now, the boys!" She went up to the large bowl on her left, and pulled out the slip.
"Peeta Mellark!"
A boy from the middle of the crowd walked up to the stage, and stood by Prim.
"Let's give a round of applause for District 12's tributes for the 74th Annual Hunger Games!" Effie was the only one that clapped.
She turned to them and said, "Well, shake hands you too, come on."
They shook hands, knowing that one, or both of them would die.
The peacekeepers lead Prim and Peeta to separate rooms, waiting for friends and family to say their goodbyes.
Prim couldn't comprehend everything that had happened. She was scared that when she died, her mother would go into deep depression, like her father did. She knew that Katniss would blame herself, because she had the chance to volunteer, but was rejected.
Prim waited for heard the door creak open, and saw Katniss and her mother rush into the room.
"Prim!" Katniss ran up to Prim, engrossing her into a monster of a hug. Prim let a few tears fall, knowing that this would be the last time she would see Katniss.
"Prim, look at me. You have two days to train, and get ready for the games. I showed you how to use a bow and arrow, so you have a weapon. You're going to get through this, and win. You're strong Prim; I know you can do it." Prim nodded, not believing what she was saying for a second.
Her mother hugged her and said, "I am so proud of you, sweetie. You're going to get through this; I know I can."
They were taken by Peacekeepers after two minutes.
Prim's next visitor was Peeta's father, Mr. Mellark.
He gave Prim a small hug, and said, "Here," he handed Prim a paper bag, "to ease your mind. I know you probably haven't had one before; there's a first time for everything."
Prim nodded, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Mellark."
He nodded, and left.
Once Prim opened the bag, she found one chocolate chip cookie. Mr. Mellark was right; she hadn't had one before.
Her stomach was in knots, doing somersaults. She knew if she ate the cookie, she would be throwing it up two minutes later.
Her next visitor was Gale.
He looked like he'd been crying. He took her into a big two minute hug, not saying anything. She knew that he thought she couldn't win.
When he left, there was one more visitor; Haymitch.
She didn't know why he would come. He was her mentor; she would see him on the train.
"I wanted to say that this shouldn't have happened to you; it shouldn't happen to anyone. I couldn't say this to you on the train; this is one of the only places the Capitol doesn't have cameras."
Prim nodded, and walked up to Haymitch. She hugged him, wrapping her arms around his waste. Her head rested on his chest; not tall enough to reach him. She was so tiny compared to him; being malnourished might have had something to do with that.
She felt him stiffen, but he carefully returned the hug, wrapping his arms, putting his hands on her back.
She let a few tears slip, unable to contain her tears any longer. He let her cry into his chest, not wanting to upset her any more.
When she composed herself once more, Haymitch gently grabbed her shoulders, and said, "You can't cry anymore. You need to seem strong to the Capitol. Sponsors will fall in love with your innocence, but they need to know that you're in the games to win; not to assume you're already dead. You have a real chance, Prim. You can win."
Prim and Peeta were lead into the train, and sat down on two chairs.
Effie sat in front of them, and said, "It's so nice here. The train is going so fast, you can hardly feel it moving. I think it is wonderful that you get to stay at a place like this before you go into the Games."
She breathed deeply and stood, "I think I will go find Haymitch. He's probably in the bar car." She sneered.
After she left, they remained silent until Peeta said, "Have you ever met him? Haymitch?" Prim nodded. She thought that it would be best not to befriend Peeta, or any tributes for that matter. It would only make their death even more tragic.
After a few minutes, Haymitch stumbled out of a door, an empty glass in his hand. He went over to the liquor cart, and filled his glass.
He toppled into the chair, where Effie sat, and propped himself up with his elbows.
Peeta asked, "So when do we start?" Haymitch put a hand up to stop him.
"So eager. Most of you are not such in a hurry." He took a sip of his drink.
"Well, yeah, you're our mentor. You're supposed to tell us how get as far as we can in the games."
Haymitch sighed, "Please know that whatever I do cannot help you... Embrace the possibility of your imminent death."
They remained quiet, until Haymitch said, "I'm going to go finish this in my room." He stood, and left.
Peeta stood, and said, "I'm going to speak to him." Prim shook her head.
"No, let me." She stood, and went in the same direction as Haymitch. She walked, startled at the automatic doors. When she reached his cart, he was sprawled out on the bed, sipping his drink.
"What d'you need?" Prim just sighed, and disappeared into the bathroom. She came back with a wet cloth, and dabbed his forehead.
He sighed, and said, "You don't have to do this." Prim just nodded.
"You're right; I don't. I am choosing to help you; but it's not like you are facing imminent death." Haymitch knew that she was referring to what he had said earlier. For the first time since becoming Victor; he felt sorry.
Prim read the look on his face, and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I-It was rude of me."
Haymitch made her face him by putting his index finger under her chin, and said, "Never apologize for speaking your mind." Prim nodded, and continued to press the cloth to his forehead, trying to stop the buzz he was feeling.
"Do you have any herbs?" Haymitch nodded, and said, "Yes. Have an Avox bring the ones you need to you." Prim was confused.
"What is an Avox?" Haymitch gestured over to a redheaded girl standing in the corner of the room. She had her eyes trained on the floor, not daring to look up. Prim knew that she must be a servant.
"It's alright, I'll get them myself." Prim exited the room, and went to the food car. Effie and Peeta were talking, while eating a few grapes.
Prim rummaged through the carts, looking for a certain herb. She saw an Avox in the corner, and walked up to her.
She asked, "Do you know where the herb by the name of Feverfew is? I can't seem to find it in the cart."
She heard a shriek behind her, and turned around.
Haymitch thought back to Prim, and how she made him feel sorry. The last time he had felt sorry was when Maysilee was screaming for his aid, and he didn't coming; resulting to her death.
When he had returned to District 12 as Victor, he couldn't look Maysilee's parents in the eye, too ashamed of what he had done. When he found out that the Capitol had killed his family, he turned to alcohol, not willing to talk to anyone.
But Prim was different. Prim was gentle, sweet, innocent. But when she stood up to her sister at the Reaping, she proved to be brave; not letting her sister fill her spot in the murderous game the Capitol somehow called 'Entertainment.'
Haymitch remembered the feeling of her touch; so soft. She was so gentle with him, like he was an eggshell; ready to break at any given moment. She was so nice to him; not caring whether he had been scarred from being in the Hunger Games. She was so delicate, and nice; not caring if she was treating the person who basically said she was going to die. Haymitch wouldn't be surprised if he found out she was an angel sent from heaven. Haymitch scolded himself for thinking that way about her.
He was taken out of his thoughts with a shriek from the food car. He stood, and walked out to find Effie yelling at Prim.
"Primrose Everdeen! You are not, and never will be allowed to talk to an Avox! They are punished for what they had done to the Capitol. They act as servants; and you will treat them as what they are." Effie huffed, and stalked out of the room.
Prim's eyes were wide, looking back and forth from Haymitch to Peeta.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know. I didn't know." Prim scurried to her room before anyone could speak to her. Haymitch moved to follow her; to comfort her, like she did with him, but Peeta stepped forward, and went to follow Prim.
Haymitch just thought about what Effie had said; she had no compassion for what Prim and Peeta were going to go through.
Damn, woman.
A/N: Please review. I love this pairing, and since they did not have a huge variety of stories, I thought, "Why not?"
