Thank you all for your reviews on the last chapter, they were lovely to read! Here is Chapter 2, enjoy!
Katniss' POV
As I stumble up the steps to join Effie, I can't keep my emotions in check. There's no way to describe hearing your name read out. I can't hear anything; I'm surprised I can still work my legs. Eyes are boring into me from all sides. Effie asks me if I'm ok, but I can't form words. It's a stupid question anyway. She gives up and collects a slip from the boy's bowl. She stands back next to me and reads the name. I barely register in, and just pick it out from the screams in my head.
"Jackson Lagger."
I've never heard of him. This is probably good- he'll be easier to kill.
Because that's my aim now. I'm winning this thing, for my mum and sister. Irealise I haven't looked for them yet. I scan the crowd, and spot them. Prim, my sister, is crying alone while my mum hugs Jackson's mum. I guess they knew each other. I want to tell my mum to comfort Prim, to leave the woman whose son I have to kill. But Effie is telling me to shake hands with Jackson and I turn to look at him for the first time. He's quite good looking really, with shoulder length brown hair and almost black eyes. He looks about 18, muscular and tough. Maybe he will be on to look out for after all. He has a firm grip when he shakes my hand, and his eyes sink into me, looking 1,000 years old.
"Ladies and gentlemen, District 12's tributes!" Effie shrieks.
And I look out across my district for what might be the last time.
Finnick's POV
I notice three girls pass out at the reading of my name. I know how they feel. I never dreamt I'd be picked. I don't know why- I had just as much of a chance as anyone. I'm 16, so my name is already in there 5 times, plus an extra three for times I'd got into trouble with the Peacekeepers. My friend Carter gives me a push, and my legs start moving. Pearl looks on the edge on tears, clearly devastated I've been chosen to die like this. The day suddenly seems a lot hotter, and I'm sweating. I reach Pearl, and somehow stick a smile on my face. She seems to find this quite attractive, and blushes bright pink uner her Capitol make up.
"So how're you feeling?" she asks me. I think of a way to respond sincerely to this ridiculous question.
"Oh, I'm very upset," I reply, adding a slight touch of sarcasm to my voice.
"Why's that?" she says, blushing even more. That's an even stupider question. If I was being serious here, the answer is totally obvious. But I'm not being serious. Because I'm not upset. I'm not scared. I'm going to win.
"Because now, I'll never be able to ask out the girl of my dreams." And I point randomly into the crowd of girls. About 30 of them start hyperventilating; sure I'm talking about them.
Pearl is crying now, sobbing loudly into a large pink handkerchief. Then she announces us District 4's tributes for this year, and there's deafening applause.
But it's not for Violet. My district wants me to win.