There was dead silence.

Then more.

Then murmurs.

Then silence once again.

Until someone decided to finally break the ice.

Katniss Everdeen, Prim's sister. She protests and breaks away as the guards try to stop her from ruining anything. Then, unexpectedly, she screams, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute."

Effie smiles, and exclaims, "How exciting! We've never had a volunteer in such a long time. This day is so unusual."

Prim was led back down, when Katniss was ushered up to the stage. At that time, Haymitch congratulated her, and said, "Look at her! Look at this one! I like her. Lots of...spunk! More than you!" while directly pointing at the camera.

Effie straightened her wig while she walked to the case with the names of the boys. I could tell she was pissed at the way her wig wasn't cooperating. Then she puts her hand in the case and opens the first paper she encounters.

She read, "Peeta Mellark".

There was dead silence once again, and I realized that was me, Peeta Mellark.

I walked up to the stage, keeping a straight face. Effie asks for volunteers, but no one actually dares to step forward. My other brother's too old, and my other one probably won't.

Effie looks so happy, while the audience looked so grim..so sad. I glanced at my father, my mother, my siblings..my family. I was the baker's son, and I lived a life better than the most of the people in District 12, or people that were part of the Seam.

People in the Seam were sick and tired..sick of not having anything to eat. You can see it in their eyes that they couldn't stand it anymore, but have no choice but to live on.

I glance at Katniss, and she looks back..like she can sense if I'm looking at her or not. But she immediately turns away.

Now, the mayor's reading the long Treaty Treason as he does every year..but I see that Katniss isn't listening, and neither do I.

When it finishes, he motions me and Katniss to shake hands. I look her right in the eye and give her hand a reassuring squeeze. We turn to face the crowd as the anthem of Panem plays.

When it ends, we were led to the door of the Justice Building. We were each conducted to a room, alone. I notice it's full of materials made of velvet..I have to prepare myself for the next hour, the next hour from which we would have to say our final goodbyes.

I had to say goodbye to my mom, my dad, and my two brothers, crying our eyeballs out, mournfully saying how much we love each other, wishing me good luck.

We stay like this for a while, until the Peacekeeper orders them to leave. My father takes a last glance back, and I guess that's the last time I'll ever see them. I was there, all alone in the room. Thinking to myself. What if I don't win? What if I don't get back?

But, my thoughts are disturbed by Effie calling us for supper. She led me to the dining room, and I sat, leaving a seat beside me empty for Katniss. Effie left, to get Katniss..I guess.

When they arrived, Katniss sat beside me, then Effie brightly asked where Haymitch was. I said, "Last time I saw him, he said he was going to take a nap." Effie replied, "Well, it's been an exhausting day." Well now, I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's relieved that Haymitch is not around..for a while.

Supper is served, a thick carrot soup, green salad, lamb chop and mashed potatoes, cheese and fruit, a chocolate cake. I've never had food this good, usually I'd just get burnt bread, leftovers from the sales.

Effie remarked on how our manners were, then compared us to the tributes last year - who never had enough to eat, so probably manners would be the last thing on their minds. I see Katniss' reaction to Effie's comment, that she eats the rest of her meal with her fingers, then wipes her hand on the tablecloth.

I ate everything, and I guess my body just wasn't use to this...luxury. After supper, we go to another room to watch the recaps of the reapings across Panem.

I register some people in my mind, like the boy from District 2, with vengeance in his eyes, I wonder why. The gigantic looking man from District 11. And a girl who kind of looks like a fox, from District 5. Then they show us, District 12. How Katniss volunteered for her sister, and Haymitch's drunk behavior.

Effie's more focused on her hair though, but still says something about it. "Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation," she says. I laugh, and I don't know why. It was an unexpected laugh. I said, "He was drunk. He's drunk every year." Katniss adds, "Every day." Then she smiles.

Effie hisses at us, "How odd you two find it amusing. Your mentor is your lifeline to the world in these Games, he advises you, lines up your sponsors and dictates the presentation of any gifts. Haymitch is well, the difference between your life and your death!"

At that moment, Haymitch suddenly appears in the room, saying, "I miss supper?" in a slurred voice. Then he vomits...all over the expensive carpet and falls in the mess. Effie, as expected, hops in her shoes around to vomit and leaves the room.