Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters.
Chapter 2:
Oh no. Not Prim, I take it back , anyone is better than Prim. I have no idea how Katniss must be feeling. I try to spot her in the crowd, but I'm unsuccessful. I have to find Katniss, I have to tell her I'm here for her. But there has to be some type of mistake. I know that Katniss would never let prim take out tessera so she only had her name in there once. And her name got picked out of thousands? One little slip? But there never is any mistake. The odds were in her favor, but it doesn't matter now. Prim is going into the arena and nothin can stop it.
In the crowd I hear people whispering among themselves. They are unhappy. It's always upsetting when a twelve-year-old gets picked. It's not fair. I see Prim make her way to the stage passing me. I want to call out to her and tell her to be brave, but I know I'll just draw unwanted attention to myself.
I hear a loud yell, but I'm too lost in my thoughts to recognize it. I hear it again and see her shoving her way through the crowd. They quickly move so she can get through. I don't like this, what is she doing ? She pushes prim behind her.
"I volunteer!" she gasps. "I volunteer as tribute!" she yells so everyone can hear.
District 12 has had a volunteer in decades so no one knows the protocol. I can't think. In some districts like one and two volunteering is a huge honor, but here in 12 people aren't to keen on risking their lives for others. Katniss, how could she do this? I understand it's her sister but why? I have to tell her my feelings I have to!
Prim's scream brings me back to reality. She screams at Katniss, she screams that she can't leave but Katniss just shrugs her off. Prim throws herself towards Katniss and grabs her tightly. I see Katniss say something to Prim, but I'm not sure what. I see someone go up to them both and pull Prim off Katniss. Prim starts to thrash around in the strangers arms and wail. The stranger whispers something to Katniss and they carry Prim towards their mother. I strain my head to get a good look and the stranger was Gale. My fist clench, I should of went up there.
"That's the spirit!" Effie says pleased, "What is your name?"
"Katniss Everdeen."she says
"I bet that was was your sister! Come one everyone! Give a warm round of applause for our new Tribute!" says Effie enthusiastically.
No one claps, not even me. This is defiantly no time for clapping. Instead I lift my three middle fingers to my lips and hold it out to her. At fist I think I'm the only one who may even do this, but after me everyone starts. I can tell Katniss is holding in tears, although I'm not sure. Maybe she doesn't want to seem weak.
Haymitch staggers towards Katniss to congratulate her. "Look at her! I like this one!" he hollers throwing his arm around Katniss' shoulders. He starts to yell something while walking up to the front stage, but it's hard to hear him from the pounding in my ears. Just then Haymitch plummets off the stage and knocks himself unconscious. I feel a laugh start to form in my mouth, but I repress it. Haymitch is then whisked away on a stretcher and Effie starts to go on about what an eventful day.
I stop listening, I won't get called. All I can think about is Katniss. Before a tribute leaves people can visit them. I have to visit her, I have to. I need to tell her how I have felt about her since we were five. I have to tell her everything and I must tell her to win for he sake of Prim. And I will tell her that I will make sure Prim is okay. I just keep going over and over of what I'm going to say to her before she leaves when I hear it.
"Peeta Mellark!" Effie shrieks into the microphone. My name rings in my ears. I'm going into the arena with 23 other people. I'm going to have to fight Katniss. It takes a minute for this all the register and then someone pushes me forward.
I slowly make my way towards the stage, I look at Katniss' it's a mixture of shock and sadness. She catches my glance, but quickly looks away. Why does she always do that? I remember the day I might of just saved her and her family's lives. It was just after her father had died. It was raining buckets full and there she was digging through our garbage bins, unluckily for her they were just emptied. My mother had seen her and shooed her away. She screamed at Katniss and she ran away. I wanted to go after her, but I was afraid. She saw me though, she saw new peering at her from behind my mother. I watched her make her way behind the pig pens towards an old apple tree. She was starving and I knew of she didn't get food soon I would lose her. Though she wasn't even mine, I wanted her to be. I knew what I had to do. I was baking bread and decide to burn it. It burned and I heard my mother scream. She ran right up to be and smacked me so hard dark edges around my eyes started I blur my vision. She kept yelling and told me I was a horrible child. I took the burned bread and ran outside. I started to run towards her, but I got scared. My mother yelled again and I stared to rip small pieces off and throw them to the pigs. When I heard the for close I knew I was safe. I didn't look at her I just couldn't. I looked back at my family's bakery and turned back to the pigs. I threw the bread towards her and ran back. Every day I wish I had went straight up to her, but you can't change the past.
When I'm on the stage Effie ask for volunteers, but no one does. Not even Gene. I knew no one would. The mayor goes into the dull, long Treaty of Treason as he does every year, but I don't listen. I just think about Katniss. I can't kill her in the arena, I just can't. Somehow I have to get her to win.
After the day I gave her the bread I tried to get her attention. I would stare at her and she would see me so quickly I would look away. I just wish I would of talked to her, got to know her better.
The mayor finishes the Treaty of Treason and motions for me and Katniss to shake hands. I turn right to her looking her straight into her big beautiful eyes. God she's beautiful. I give her hand a slight squeeze to let her know I am here for her. I will make sure she wins the games. I will. She is strong and a hunter, she has a better chance than I do anyway. No matter what she will win, even I it means my life.
We turn back to the crowd as the anthem plays. By the end of this I will make sure Katniss knows how I feel.
In a way the odds have been in my favor today.
