2
Why on earth could it be her name? That was totally unexpected and I know for certain that Prim's name was only in once and that Katniss takes the tesserae in the family. "No! Prim! Prim!" the screaming brings me back to reality. "Prim! Prim!" Katniss shouts but she's blocked by three peacekeepers but she breaks through. Prim who has already come out of the crowd and stopped walking as soon as the shouting from Katniss started. "I volunteer! I volunteer!" screams Katniss. I just stand still shocked that Katniss the love of my life is going into the games. How can this happen one in a hundred and fifty chances and it has to happen.
"Well let's give a big round of applause for District 12 very first volunteer." Exclaims Effie Trinket. Obviously she is delighted that this District will have something a little more exciting this year. She has been hoping ever since she became District 12's Escort that she'll be promoted to a better District. Effie doesn't get what she expected for the round of applause instead everyone in the square puts there three fingers to their lips and raise it towards Katniss and Prim.
"Okay then, now for the boys." Effie Trinket says somewhat sternly and rather embarrassed. She walks over to the boys bowl. I know for a fact now that my name could definitely come out of that bowl. There is a silence that I didn't even know District 12 could do it. They must be holding their breaths. That's when everyone sighs . . . but me.
"Peeta Mellark come on up!" shouts Effie. She must have said my name at least three times until it eventually registers in my brain. It's going to be me Vs. Katniss Everdeen!
I look to my right and a path has been made as people have moved out of my way for me to go up on to the stage, I walk through the crowds and notice my brother Fred watching me walk up I try to beg for him with my eyes but the slight shake of his head indicates he will not help me, he will just watch me die. I carry on walking up to the stage I know I will not be returning to District 12 with the careers and Katniss playing against me, the odds are definitely not in my favour today. As I step on to the stage Effie Trinket says,
"Our tributes from District 12!"
I reach over just as Katniss does the exact same thing and we shake hands, and I have sudden spasm run through my hand but to make it seem natural I just give Katniss' hand a slight squeeze. The doors of the justice building open and I prepare myself for an hour of tears and arguments. Whilst one peacekeeper guides Katniss down one hall, another peacekeeper guides me down another and I'm shown into a room and the door is locked behind me. The room around me is the most amazing thing I've ever seen, there are walls full of the most amazing pictures, from rainbows too sandstorms there must be every type of weather on these walls. Then there's one small picture that catches my eye its of a sunset which has been painted with the most accuracy and the colours are so exact and that's when my peacefulness finishes and I hear arguing coming from down the hall and I realise my parents are about to burst through the doors. I seat myself on a two-seat sofa which is very smooth and silky and prepare myself for . . .
"Well, I'm telling you he has no chance in hell of winning! And his chances were very slim without that other girl!"
"Come on now, give him a chance he could be really skilful if you gave him the time."
"I'M NOT BOTHERED! I just want to know who on earth is going to go down and carry my flour for me!" shouts my mum, clearly more bothered about the bakery than her youngest good-for-nothing son. You'd think after 16 years I would be used to my mum putting me down all the time but in this moment of need you'd think she'll let me off for at least a second. Thankfully a peacekeeper soon ushers them out to allow my other visitors time, I'm not sure who else would want to see apart from maybe my brothers and Joey, Harry and David my mates from school.
I wait for a few minutes and in comes Tim and he walks over to me and gives me a hug as I look over his shoulder I notice Fred who walks in and sits in a chair across from me looking for some reason, embarrassed. It takes me about 3 minutes to get Tim off me, "Peeta, I'm so sorry, this should never of happened to you. If only it had happened last year then I would have volunteered, I'm sorry that mum makes you sign up for tesserae. But we believe you have a chance at winning this thing me and Fred do, don't we Fred?" Fred ignores him, "Don't we Fred?"
Fred just grunts so I just get up and sit beside him, "Fred, I don't blame you for not volunteering. What Katniss did for Prim was a District 12 miracle, we all know that. I never expected you to volunteer for me, to mum I'm as much use to her as the spider she killed this morning, a pest she's just waiting to flick off. Whereas you two are like her two little puppies she doesn't know what she'd do without you." I explain to Fred, and then I lean over and give him a hug, until a peacekeeper comes to ask them to leave, Tim calls back to me "Remember Peeta, you can win this thing if you try!"
As soon as the door closes it opens again and in comes Joey, Harry and David, but their usual joyful smiles are replaced with an unearthly look, Joey and David sit in the chairs across from me and Harry sits next to me on the two seater sofa. "So I guess, you guys won't be able to play three on one tag anymore at school will you?" I say giving a slight laugh to brighten the mood.
"Peeta, I always closely study the replays of The Games so I know what to expect in case this happens too me. You must closely watch your opponents during training so you know how well skilled they are with a particular weapon. You also need to have good back story in order to gain enough sponsors, for example Johanna Mason who won the 63rd Hunger Games she had a back story of all her family being dead and a few sponsors took pity on her at the beginning so she had a few sponsors but once she made it to the final 8, people found out she had a vicious way of killing people so for the remaining tributes they found out to late but her sponsor money soared and she was even sent an axe which is thought to be the second most expensive gift sent to a tribute after Finnick Odair's Spear of course," explains Joey "One final thing don't forget to show off in your secret interview with the gamemakers."
There's not long left so the boys just have time to wish me luck before being ushered out by a peacekeeper a couple of minutes later, I too am ushered out and I re-join Katniss who seems to be showing no emotion, I happen to notice the mockingjay pin I traded in and which was then bought by Madge in her hand, I'm just about to ask her about it when Effie Trinket cuts me off.
"Let's go to the cab out back," she shrills with a hint of excitement in her voice. "Well, hurry up then, we don't want to be behind schedule!"
We just about to leave when in come two peacekeepers that seem to be carrying Haymitch whose drunken than a man whose just lost his whole family. But then again, I've never have seen any of his family around so I push that thought to the back of my mind. The two peacekeepers step in front of us and we all follow them to the back entrance. As I walk through the hallways of the Justice Building, every inch of the walls are filled with delicately painted pictures and I begin to think this might be my only chance I'll get to relax without the fear of someone killing me on the spot in the next few weeks of my life.
I couldn't wait to write more so I updated today again
Sorry about the long chapter guys!
Can't wait to hear from you all! I'll use as many ideas as I can for future chapters.
Love you all xx
