It's another early morning. This morning I do not wake up from hunger though. Gale and I did go hunting after school and caught a lot. That on top of all the baked goods Peeta managed to give to us was more than we could ask for. My stomach felt full for the first time in a long time.

This morning it was the reaping that had me up at the crack of dawn. I could never sleep the night before one. As I crawled out of bed I could see Prim tossing and turning in her sleep. I gently shook her and said, 'Prim, it's okay. It's just a dream.' Growing up in the Seam you learn early in life that there is always something to worry about. The nightmares start at a very young age, it filled me with sorrow to see that no matter how much I tried to shelter Prim she was already having them.

Her small hands latched onto my clothing and I wrapped my arms around her, petting her hair to calm her down. Soon she was fast asleep and I was trekking out into the woods. I did not need to hunt today, but it was an unofficial tradition that Gale and I would spend morning of the reaping's hunting or talking in the woods.

Sure enough there he was sprawled out in the clearing, eating blueberries that he had gathered. 'Hey Catnip. Another early morning I see.'

I nodded and sat down beside him. We sat for a long time I silence eating berries and taking in the light morning air around us. Gale and I had been friends for a long time. People always assumed he was my boyfriend, even though he wasn't. Over time I eventually stopped correcting people, until he actually had a girlfriend once and she punched me in the face. Gale broke up with her after that, even though I probably deserved it. It wasn't that I was jealous of her, at least I don't think I was, I just didn't have the energy that day to correct someone. I could see how that would have upset his girlfriend though.

It was the morning of the reaping and here I was contemplating Gale's dating history, I chuckled to myself at this thought. Gale looked at me quizzically, 'is the thought of two of our peers being sent to fight to the death funny to you? Or am I just too jaded today to see something right in front of my face?'

'I was just remembering the time Veronica gave me that black eye.'

Gale scrunched his forehead together, 'yeah you're a real cock block eh? Don't know why I stuck up for you.'

'Hey!' I yelled throwing a blueberry at him.

'Jesus, what kinda Seam kid are you wasting food like that?'

'You deserved it.'

Gale chuckled and then looked back off into the distance. We shared a brief moment of silence until I broke it by saying, 'so this is your last one.'

'Yup, never thought I would live to see my last reaping.'

I lay my head down into his lap, 'two more to go over here.'

'Let's just do it Katniss, we could run. They would never find us. We could hunt and live off of the land.'

'Gale we wouldn't make it a day. They would find us so fast and kill us, or worse.'

'You don't know that, it's worth a shot.'

'What about our families? Could you really leave them? Everything we do is for them, we could never just abandon them. You know that.'

'Bring them with us. They will never have to feel the fear of a reaping. Never have to know the horrors of working in the mines-'

'Yeah but they will have to fear that the Capitol will find us and kill us. Every day they will live with that fear. Who even knows what they do to people like that. Death is probably something we would wish for if they found us.'

Gale sighed heavily, 'you're right. I know you're right.'

He brushed the hair out of my eyes and looked down at me. I looked up into his eyes and for a moment I saw a flicker of something. Something I had never seen before in Gale. I tried to place it but he looked away, off into the horizon, 'the sun is coming up. We should get going.'

I hopped up to my feet and scurried back to my house.

When I got there Prim was already in her dress and had her hair done. My mother scolded me, telling me that I was late but I did not say a word. I changed and then sat down and my mother softly braided my hair. Just like she did ever year for the reaping. We always have to look our best, it is an honor after all.

Before I know it we are all sitting down watching the reaping. I am dazed and in another world. I used to sit tensely through the reaping's gripping the edge of my chair waiting, filled with dread. Now that I am older, though the fear is still the same, I have somehow found a way to tune it out. Until I hear a name that I never ever, ever wanted to hear Effie Trinket calling, 'Primrose Everdeen.'

I snap back to reality. No no no no no. This is not real. This cannot be happening. I look around in shock and see my sister rising from her chair. Quickly I am at my feet rushing towards her, I can feel hands all over me. Peacekeepers are trying to hold me back but I push them aside and yell, 'NO! I volunteer! I volunteer! Take me!'

Effie looks over at me puzzled, 'well, well this is an exciting. Come on up here dear.'

I walk somberly up to the stage. I dare to glance at Gale only to see that he is white as a sheet, which does not give me much confidence. Continuing to walk, I reach the stage and a glowing Effie Trinket. She is clearly pleased by this turn of events. I take my place next to her and look out at the cameras. I am terrified but I realize that I must not show it, I am a tribute now. Any weakness that I show will only put a target on my back in the arena.

Effie's hand dives into the bowl and circles around for dramatic effect. 'This can't get any worse,' I think to myself reassuringly.

'Gale Hawthorne,' it just got a lot worse.