******THe Hunger Games In Prim's Point of View******

I look around, seeing Katniss, Gale, Rory, Mother. Katniss looks like all the air has left her body. Gale looks grim, and pitiful. Rory and Mother look like they're trying not to cry.

Everyone start murmuring like they do when a twelve-year-old, sad about the picking, and angry at the Capitol for making innocence go to that nightmare place.

All the sudden, it kicks in. I'm going to that nightmare place. Me. Primrose Everdeen. I feel the blood in my face drain, and I start making the long walk up to the stage, taking small stiff steps, my fists getting tighter with each step. I force them to my side, when I see that I'll be passing Katniss soon.

I need to be strong. For her. For Rory. For Mother. I feel a slight breeze of my back, and realize that my blouse has come undone.

That's when I see it. The look on Katniss' face. Realization. She realizes that she can save me. I open my mouth to protest, but she's already coming.

"Prim!" It's barely recongizable, so she tries again, "Prim!" This time she's clear. All the sudden I'm behind her. She swept me aside.

"I volunteer!" Katniss gasps. "I volunteer as a tribute!" What? No! She can't do this! Everyone's confused.

Volunteering is really complicated, but in District Twelve, no one volunteers, after all, the weakest, poorest district doesn't need help killing off people. They do a fine job of that themselves. What with starvation, and all.

"Lovely!" says Effie Trinket.

I would like to scream at this woman that this is not in fact 'lovely.' But I don't. Because that would be mean, and I hate hurting anything.

"But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers and if one does come forth then we, um..." she trails off, unsure of herself.

I start crying, I hear someone else crying too, I'm sure it's Mother. Mother! She was so sick when Father left. What will happen if Katniss leaves too? Oh no...

The mayor chooses this moment to step in, "What does it matter?"

As he says this, he's staring at Katniss, with a ghost of recognition, oh, right. Katniss sells him strawberries, and is friends with his daughter, Madge. Madge is nice. She sits with Katniss at lunch. I think they're friends.

"What does it matter?" He repeats gruffly. "Let her come forward."

I scream, I can't let Katniss go, no! I wrap my arms around her as tighly as I can. But it's not enough. Words are my last chance, "No, Katniss! No! You can't go!" Because she can't. I can't live without her. Mentally and physically.

"Prim, let go." Something in her voice tells me to listen, but I can't. I just can't let go of my sister. She's MY sister. I need her. "Let go!"

I feel strong arms pull me apart from Katniss. Gale! He'll talk some sense into Katniss, tell her not to go. I'm flooded with relief. But, he's not talking to Katniss, or letting me go. I can't feel the ground, and start panicking. I thrash around, and then look up to see Katniss' pretty face with a pained expression on it.

Then, Gale the Traitor says, "Up you go catnip." Catnip? Oh yeah, Katniss told me that story.

All the sudden, I'm moving. The gound is changing. I feel Gale put me down, and someone else's arms around me, and something wet on my shoulder. Mother. I start sobbing, and embrace her back.

There we hear the rest of the reaping, but I'm just so sad, that when Effie Trinket says, "Well, bravo! That's the spirit of the games!" I start crying even harder. "What's your name?"

I look up. Katniss swallows, and says, "Katniss Everdeen."

Effie smiles in response, "I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Come on everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute.

I didn't clap, and neither did Mother. What took me by shock was that no one else clapped either.

We both looked up and put our three middle fingers of our left hands to our lips and hold it out to Katniss. It's a way of saying goodbye to to someone you love, someone you admire.

Katniss looks ready to cry. Haymitch who probably isn't as drunk as he looks.

He puts his arm around her, and says, "look at her. Look at this one. I like her!"

Katniss makes a grossed-out face, as he continues, "Lots of..." He looks like he's thinking of the correct word. "Spunk! More than you!" He points to the camera. Is he talking to the capitol? How dangerous! "More than you!" He repeats.

Then he takes a head dive off the stage. I pay attention to Katniss, who took the opportunity of Haymitch to compose herself.

Once Haymitch is whisked away on a strecher, Effie continues, looking shaken, "What an exciting day!" She tries to unconspicously straighten her wig. "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" Trying to keep more dignity without letting on that her hair's a wig, she plants a hand on her head as she walks over to the boy's ball.

"Peeta Mellark." Oh no! The boy who makes the cakes int he bakery window! I love looking at them. They're so pretty! He's going to die. Everyone has to, if Katniss is going to win.