Hey, everybody! Wow I'm excited this is my first fanfic story- so I really appreciate all of your reviews! ;)
Oh and I forgot the copyright stuff- Obviously I own nothing that has to do with the hunger games- after all this is fanfiction- all characters and storylines are owned by Suzanne Collins.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy!
It's almost noon when Katniss returns, one hour to go until we have to herd into Town Center for the Reaping. Mother, who is currently reassembling Katniss' signature braid, gave her the prettiest dress I have ever seen in my twelve years on this planet. It's blue, with buttons down to the waistline. Katniss looks like a (toned-down) Capitol girl! Whereas I look like a little kid in my long white skirt and plain polo. But I won't complain. It's not like I exactly have a closet full of clothes waiting for me every morning.
"Tuck your tail in, little duck!" Katniss calls playfully. I realize that the excess fabric from my shirt is sticking out from behind. I do as Katniss advised, and Mother steps away from her.
"Prim," Katniss calls me over to her, and we sit on the bed. She's holding something tightly, but I can't quite make out what it is.
" Here" She slips the object into my hand tactfully, so that Mother won't see. "It's a mockingjay pin. And as long as you have it, nothing will hurt you."
I take a moment to look at the pin more carefully, and I see that it is made of dark metal, yet very light. It shows a beautiful mockingjay, with an arrow through its mouth. I know that bird... I've heard stories about the Capitol's experiment that went awry, and how the mockingjay is now a symbol of hope, and sometimes rebellion. What if Katniss is wrong? What if someone sees me with this pin? What if one of the Peacekeepers catches me? I don't know what would happen. I try to give it back to Katniss, but she just closes my fingers on top of the pin quickly. I can't help but let a tear run down from my eye.
It's time. The moment I have been dreading since I was a little girl has finally come. I try to remember that my name is only in that glass bowl once, like Katniss said, but I'm still trembling when I walk slowly up to the lady at the desk. Town Center looks so gloomy, like the whole District is grey and sad, like the land itself knew what was coming. I wouldn't be surprised if it did. The woman asks me for my name, snapping me out of my trance.
"Primrose Everdeen." I say in a meek voice. Katniss pit her arm around my shoulder as the woman holds up a large, pointy- looking device. She reaches for my hand, but I snap it away.
"She's just going to poke you a little." Katniss assures me.
"Does it hurt?" I start to whimper. I am such a wimp when it comes to needles. can't even sew.
"Only a little." Katniss replies. Slowly I hold out my forearm to the lady, and she jabs the device into my skin. I can't help but wince. Katniss steps up to the desk, gives her name, and when the needle enters her flesh she doesn't even flinch. There's my sister for you. Strong even when she doesn't need to be. Some Peacekeepers shove me away from my sister, into the line for girls my age. I try to reach for Katniss, but she gives me a "Please just cooperate" kind of look, so I allow the men to lead me away from my sister.
The second Effie Trinket, a stereotypical capitol woman with pink-tinted hair and a bubbling aura, steps on the makeshift stage, all of District Twelve goes silent. It seems as though even the birds stop singing.
"Welcome, welcome! The time has come to select one brave young man and woman to represent District Twelve in the seventy- fourth annual Hunger Games." Effie chimes. How could she possibly be so excited?
"Well then, ladies first." She bubbles. My heart sounds like a drum. The butterflies in my stomach reach my throat, and I can't breathe. Effie Trinket's hand slips gently into the glass bowl, and I try to think of my slim odds of being chosen. She grabs a dainty, but deadly, envelope. It can't be me. Please not me. But especially not Katniss. Please, don't take her. Please don't take her, I breathe. Then, everything goes still and dies as Effie says in her loud and fluttery voice...
"Primrose Everdeen!"