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Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Suzanne Collins.

I froze.

…What?

A part of me desperately wished she had made a mistake. That she'd misinterpreted the name on the slip.

As if she can read my thoughts, Effie Trinket taps the microphone and repeats, "Katniss Everdeen!" She cranes her head and scans the crowd. "Where are you, dear?"

I blink and look up, the sun temporarily blinding me. My jaw clenches when I notice many of the girls near me are staring.

When I register the shock and confusion in their gazes I force my legs to move. Fists clenched at my side, I walk with small stiff steps and keep my face blank. When I'm within view of the stage I walk faster, my gaze solely focused on Effie Trinket and her beckoning hand.

"Katniss!"

The silence is broken by a shrill scream that can only be identified as Prim's. I turn around in time to see Prim break free from my mother's hold and run towards me.

When she reaches me, Prim wraps her skinny arms around me like a vice. "Katniss, no! Don't go! You can't go!" Prim screams.

"Let go Prim!" I hiss harshly, because really, I want to cry. And I can't afford that because when they watch District 12's reaping, they'll notice my tears and brush me off as a weakling. "Prim, go back to mom. Now."

Prim continues to scream her head off, until two Peacekeepers come forward and take her away from me. I turn back to the stage and try my hardest to ignore Prim's cries.

I brace myself and climb up the stairs and let Effie Trinket drag me to the center of the stage. "Isn't this wonderful?" She gushes. She's pleased to finally have a little action in her district. "Katniss Everdeen, female tribute of District 12."

Silence.

"And now for the boys."

My eyes frantically search the crowd until they land on Gale. His eyes are hard and for a while, we just look at one another.

Effie returns to the podium, a new slip of paper in her hand. She slowly opens it and takes her time in reading the name. "Benet Urian."

When I notice a boy in Gale's age group walking towards the stage, I release the breath that I'd been holding. He was tall but scrawny and looked about ready to cry when he stood next to Effie.

"Amazing!" Effie Trinket exclaims. "Benet Urian, male tribute of District 12!"

Not even one person claps. Complete and utter silence, which spoke volumes.

No one agreed with this.

At first one, then another, then almost every person in the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and raises it to the air.

I swallow hard to get rid of the lump forming in my throat. There was a multitude of meanings to what their message meant.

It means thanks. It means admiration.

It means good-bye to someone you love.

Haymitch chooses this time to congratulate me, "Look at this one!" He hollers and throws his arm around my shoulders. "You see, I like her!"

"She's got lots of… spunk!" He laughs maniacally before passing out near my feet. I shift away slightly and grimace as I watch a pair of medics whisk him away on a stretcher.

I listen as Mayor Undersee reads the dreary Treaty of Treason and after he finishes, he motions for Benet and me to me shake hands. When I grasp his hand in mine firmly, his is weak and sweaty. He doesn't even bother to look me in the eye.

When the anthem ends, a group of Peacekeepers take us into custody and march us through the halls of the Justice Building and assign me a room.

When I enter, I'm blown away by how rich this room is, with thick, deep carpets and a velvet couch with a few chairs strewn near it. I sit on the couch and try to prepare myself for the next hour.

My sister and my mother come first. Prim throws herself to me and I hug her tightly. My mother sits close to us and rubs my back reassuringly.

I pull back and look into Prim's eyes. "Prim," I whisper. Big fat tears fall from her eyes and down her pale cheeks.

"You promised this wouldn't happen and it did," She whimpers. "Don't leave me Katniss…" I harshly wipe away the traitorous tear that rolls down my cheek.

"Hey, hey. Prim shh, don-don't cry," My voice cracks. "You need to listen to me, okay?" She looks up at me and nods weakly.

"Gale will bring you game, so don't even think about going into the woods," I warn her gently. "You're going to be okay, just sell your goat milk and cheese. Tell Gale what kind of herbs you need. Be careful and don't use up all your supplies," And continue to give her instructions about fuel, trading and staying in school.

I turn to my mother and grip her upper arms. "You can't leave again," She nods, slightly alarmed by my intensity. "You can't leave her."

She frowns, "I know. I won't, I–"

"Promise me," I say gruffly. She nods frantically. "You have to be there for her. You have to take care of her and not leave her to fend for herself. Because I won't be around to do that anymore. No matter what you see on that screen, mom, you fight through it!" I shout, my voice quivering near the end.

Prim tugs my hand to get my attention. "I'll be okay, Katniss," She says quietly. "A-and maybe you can win, you can hunt. And you're really fast too."

I scoff. I can't win. With the skills honed by the wealthier districts, my chances were slim. I'll be lucky to have even made it past the Cornucopia.

I don't say that to Prim though. Instead I force a smile and say, "Maybe."

Prim suddenly gets hysterical. "You will try, won't you? Really, really try?"

I brush her blonde locks back and nod. "I swear," I say. And because of Prim, I know I'll have to honor that promise.

"Time's up." The Peacekeeper announces. I pull them in my arms. "I love you both, take care of each other," The Peacekeeper drags them out by their arms while they scream, "I love you too."

My next guest is unexpected. Madge walks in, her mouth set in a determined line.

What surprises me is the sense of urgency in her tone. "I still can't believe you got reaped but the good thing is, you're going to come back," She says firmly then leans forward and clips something to my dress. "They let you wear one thing from your district in the arena. I want – no need you to wear it, okay?"

I look down and see a circular gold pin that has a small bird about to take flight. "A pin?" I ask. Madge nods.

"Katniss, promise me you'll wear it in there?" She asks, a frown marring her face. I nod and before I know it, she pulls me into her arms for a quick hug and leaves.

My next guest shocks me most. Peeta Mellark walks in, his eyes glued to the floor. I sit up and watch as he takes a seat before looking at me with his bright blue eyes. "Hey Katniss."

"Hi," I murmur and purse my lips. "Peeta Mellark, right?"

I frown when he blushes at my remembrance of his name. I'd never forget the name of the person who saved me.

The Boy with the Bread.

"Thank you," I blurt out.

His eyes narrow in confusion. "For what?"

I fidget with my hands. "That time, with the bread. You saved me, my whole family actually," I mumble. "I wish I could find a way to repay you."

Peeta softly smiles at me. "You don't need to repay me, Katniss," He snorts. "Least of all when you're leaving."

I nod and we sit in silence for a while. I'm caught off guard when he pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly. "I wish we could have been friends or something."

I pat his back awkwardly. "Uh… me too."

He pulls back and looks me in the eye. "Be safe, okay?" Peeta whispers and releases me before getting up. I blink up at him and watch as he runs his hand through his blonde hair. "Good-bye Katniss."

"Bye, Peeta." I say. He smiles and exits the room, just the Peacekeeper is about to enter.

I frown. That was odd.

"One more visitor," The Peacekeeper announced. Gale doesn't even wait to be let through and just pushes his way in.

When he opens his arms I don't hesitate to go into them. The sound of his heart beating rapidly in his chest and the smell of wood smoke calms my nerves a bit.

"Catnip," He says softly. "Listen. You need to get your hands on a bow. That's your best chance."

"They don't always have a bow," I counter. He pulls away. "Then you'll make one, even if it's weak." Gale urges.

I sigh. "I'll try," I say and rub my arms nervously.

Gale immediately senses my unease. "You'll be fine, Katniss. It's just hunting and you're the best hunter I know."

"Gale, it's not the same. Some of them have been training since they were kids for this kind of thing," I mutter.

"You've had real practice. You know how to kill."

"Not people!" I hiss.

Gale's eyes soften a bit. "In the arena, Catnip, there's no difference." Gale says grimly.

The Peacekeeper returns. "Don't let them starve!" I cry out, hugging him one last time.

"You know I won't! Katniss, remember I-" Gale yells but is cut off when they yank us apart and throw Gale out.

I stare at the closed door before I finally sit down and bury my face in my hands.

I wanted to scream about how unfair this was. A bitter, childish part of me thought that maybe Effie Trinket chose my name on purpose but I immediately shot that down. I needed to face the cold hard facts that I'd been reaped, selected to participate in this year's Hunger Games.

It was a hard pill to swallow.

I couldn't help but think of Prim and how she would survive without me. Sure Gale could cater to them for a while, but he had his own family to feed. Prim needed me, and I prayed my mother would not place her aside and sink into her depression again.

I removed my hands from my face and leaned back.

I needed to win. For Prim.

AN: Thank you for reading.

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