Hey everyone! I've decided not to cut out any of the scenes with both Katniss and Peeta. Although you've all heard the story from Katniss' point of view, Peeta's has never been expressed. So, I'll try not to make it boring for those of you who know the whole book by heart. Enjoy!

***

Chapter Two, Meeting the Mentor

After the reaping ceremony is over, Katniss and I are led to the Justice Building. Here, we will have one hour to say goodbye to our family and friends. We are in seperate rooms, so I have no idea who is visiting her. My mother, father, and brothers come. They stay for only a short period of time, the fact that I will most likely be dead within the next few weeks weighing on them. My mother remains stony-faced and unresponsive, not even a hint of sadness shining through. She may just be trying to hold it in, but I don't think so. My father, on the other hand, tells me that he believes in me, and to give it all I've got. My brothers give me pointers about combat-- All things they've seen on television, because neither of them have ever been in a real fight.

As they're leaving, my mother finally comes out of her steely silence to say, "Maybe District Twelve will finally have a winner." At first I think she's talking about me, and I am surprised to hear anything positive towards me come out of my mother's mouth. But then she goes on, "She's a survivor, that one." She's talking about Katniss. And i'm not surprised. She's right. Katniss is strong, and my father always comments about how her arrows always pierce the squirrels that he purchases from her right through the eye. If it came down to it, she would beat me.

My family leaves, all except for my father. He is the only one I've told about how much I'm in love with Katniss. He understands, because he was in love with her mother, and still is. He sits down on the couch and looks me in the eye. "Peeta, I'm so sorry." And then he hugs me. He doesn't say anymore, but he doesn't have to. He is apologizing for a whole lot more than me having to participate in these games. He is sorry for the way my mother really doesn't care wether I live or die, he is apologizing for me never getting to live my life completly before it ends, and finally, for the hideous situation I'm in with Katniss.

He gets up, a tear runs down his face, and without a backward glance, he leaves.

Katniss. Katniss. What am I going to do? One or both of us is doomed to die. That's how it is. Twenty-four tributes. One winner. One survivor. My hour is not up, but no one else comes to say good bye to me. Good thing, too, because for the rest of the hour, I cry.

***

When Katniss and I are led onto the train, the weeping still has not stopped. I don't try to hide it, because, at this point, who cares? There are cameras all around, but once we get onto the train, there are none. On the train, we are brought to our rooms, to dress for dinner. Effie tells me to be ready in an hour, and that I can wear anything I want. By this time, I have composed myself by just pushing the whole situation out of my mind. I look into the drawers, and find that they are filled with expensive clothes. I grab the first things my hands touch, a dark blue shirt and black pants. I go into the bathroom, shower and dress. I still have time, so I decide to have a look around.

I make my way down the corridor, and find that there are five more doors in this hallway. I assume that three belong to Katniss, Haymitch, and Effie Trinket, and come to the conclusion that the other two belong to mine and Katniss' stylists. I don't know what time it is, and I don't want to get scolded by Effie for being late, so I wander around the train for a bit trying to find the Dining Room. I see Haymitch along the way, who tells me, quite possibly more drunk than the last time I saw him, that he was going to his room to take a nap. I find the dining room, but it's empty. I sit down at the table and wait for Katniss and Effie.

Apparently I was very early for supper, because I have to wait for a while for Effie and Katniss. They come in, and sit down. Effie asks me where Haymitch is, and I can't blame her for brightening considerably when I tell her that he went to take a nap and most likely, judging from the state he was in, won't be joining us.

She makes small talk throughout the meal, but Katniss and I are too busy gorging ourselves on all the delicious food to notice. By the time our meal is over, Katniss and I are both looking a little green. Neither of us are used to such rich food. We make our way to a compartment with a television to see a recap of the reapings. Today, all over Panem, one boy and one girl were chosen from each district to compete in the Games. This recap is a mandatory viewing for all of Panem. It gives the other tributes a look at who they're up against, and the Districts a look at who they'll be watching die over the next few weeks.

A few tributes stand out to me. A blonde girl form District One, a giant boy who volunteers from District Two, a boy with a crippled foot from Ten, and both from Eleven. The girl has to be at least twelve, though she looks much younger. It's always sad when a twelve year old get chosen. They usually have the least chance of survival. The boy is almost as big as the one from Two, and just as tough-looking. I would think he was a career, if he wasn't from District Eleven. Lastly, they show District Twelve. Katniss running to save Prim, the silent salute, Haymitch falling off the stage, and then me. The anthem plays, and the screen goes dark.

"Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot about televised behavior." Effie Trinket says, disgruntledly.

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood, " He was drunk," I say. "He's drunk every year."

Katniss smirks and adds, "Every day."

Effie suddenly looks like a snake ready to attack, "Yes. How odd you two find it amusing. You know your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these Games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors, and dictates the presentation of any gifts. Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and your death!" She hisses through clenched teeth. I see through it. She isn't concerned about us, she only wants to finally get a decent pair of tributes and a mentor that cares enough to help us so that she has a chance to be bumped up to one of the Districts that win more often than Twelve... That's any of them.

As if it wasn't bad enough already, Haymitch chose that moment to clamber into the compartment. He asks in a slurred voice if he missed supper, vomits all over the floor and colapses into it.

"So laugh away!" says Effie as she flees the room.

***

A short while later, Katniss and I arrive at Haymitch's room, half-carrying and half-guiding Haymitch. "I'll take it from here," I say. She looks grateful, and offers to send one of the Capitol people to help, but I decline the offer. I bring him into the bathroom and turn the on the water. I strip off his clothes, and help him inside. After bathing him, I put his bedclothes on him and help him into bed. He falls asleep immedietly, and begins to snore. He's going to have a nasty hangover in the morning.

I make my way back to my room, shower, and get into bed. I lay there for quite some time, not able to fall asleep. We'll be in the Capitol tomorrow. I think of Katniss, and it's her that is in my dreams, as well. They're not good dreams, this time, like the ones I usually have of her. They're haunting, always of her dying in some gruesome way, and in one, I kill her. I wake up with a start. It's pitch dark, sometime in the middle of the night. I resolve that what happened in my dreams will never happen in the arena. If it takes my life, I will do whatever I can to keep the girl in the red dress alive.

I fall asleep again, and now, my dreams are haunted with my death.

Thanks a million seventeen thousand four hundred and 9.8 Draco Malfoys!

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