I know. I said I'd publish like a week ago, but... yeah. In my defense though, i had like 3 tests in like 2 days. So... dont hate me. Before I start though, I'm replying to a few reviews.

Guest- Yes, I know Venus is a girl name, but I just thought it fit the character. It also has something to do with what I plan on doing later on in the story. You'll understand then.

I don't think I've said this before, but I own nothing but the extra parts in this story. This belongs to Suzanne Collins.

-Marika

Chapter 3-Reaping

Peeta POV

"My name's in there 40 times"Katniss says, looking me in the eye painfully. Now I have another worry. Not only do I have to worry about myself, Prim and my best friend Gale, now I uncontrollably start to worry about Katniss.

"What about Venus? How many times is his name in?" I ask.

At this point she looks down at the ground before saying, "7"

I can't hide my astonishment. Venus let his younger sister, who he carried across the entire district to save 5 years ago, who often took beatings for her, who sometimes snuck fresh food to her, have her name in almost 6 times as much as him? Katniss can obviously sense that I'm being more and more angry at her brother with every second and changes my opinion.

"He doesn't know. Mom and dad said both of us are taking tesserae, him 30 times and me 10. But they hate me and adore Venus. Instead they signed me up for all the times he was supposed to go in. They never told him, and threatened me that if I told anybody, they'd make a deal with Head Peacekeeper Cray to guarantee I get picked."

That must hurt. And it hurts me too. Knowing that she risked her life telling me this. And it is then that I decide that no matter what no one will find out.

Katniss POV

What have I done? I think If anyone finds out, I'll have my death guaranteed. What was I thinking! UGH!

1 hour later…

It's been almost an hour since my encounter with Peeta, and no matter how much I regret telling him, I know I had to get it off my chest. It 10 minutes the reaping sign-in starts, and by then I need to have changed my clothes after working in the bakery.

I go upstairs into my room, where I open my almost empty cupboard, where I find clothes from my first reaping. Back then they were too long and too tight on me, but since then I have only had so much to eat. Now they will fit perfectly. I put on the skirt and tuck the white top in, and find knee-length white, now grey, socks and a pair of old black shoes. I'm not used to this type of clothing. I usually end up wearing my brothers' old clothes to school, not that I'm complaining. Those are comfortable, unlike my current outfit, although I have worn worse. I brush my long, black hair, and instead or braiding it I pull it up into a messy bun. Just as I finish the bell rings, meaning everyone must make their way to the Square.

I can't help but worry about Peeta and Prim, as the two along with my best friend are the three most important people to me apart from my brothers, considering the only friend I have is Madge Undersea, the mayor's daughter. I don't remember when we met, but it was long ago.

I get ready to sign in, when I see Peeta trying to calm Prim down. I walk over to them, and when she sees me, Prim runs into my arms. I embrace her as she holds onto me for dear life, and I eventually whisper, "You'll be fine, I'll make sure of it." She lets go and nods, turning away and walking back to her brother. I can't help but smile at their relationship. My brothers only cared about me when no one was around. They were always too embarrassed to show any sort of affection when they were around friends.

After signing in, I go stand with the 16-year-old girls. I'm scared, but I hide it. If I get picked, I want other tributes to fear me, not see me as a weakling. As I stand, I feel someone stand next to me. I turn around and see Madge. I hug her, and we stand there until District 12's escort, Effie Trinket, gets on stage and begins talking.

"Welcome, welcome!" she says in her Capitol voice. "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor! Before we begin, I have a special film, bought to you all the way from the Capitol!"

The 2-minute video plays, and Effie proceeds to pick the female tribute's name.

"Primrose Mellark!"

I stand there, shocked, as the fragile girl I spoke to not 20 minutes ago gets on stage. Before I know what I'm doing, I cry out her name in unison with someone else. I look around to see who it is. Peeta. Of course he would. We both run towards her, and no Peacekeeper can stop us from getting to her. Peeta holds her, telling her that it will be ok, that she'll make it out, knowing that those are empty words and that his sister would never make it out of the arena alive. The next words I say leave my mouth without permission.

"I volunteer as tribute"

Peeta POV

"I volunteer as tribute"

No. There is no way. Katniss has just volunteered to fight for my sister. At this moment I realize how much I wish none of this happened. First, my sister, who I love more than life itself, gets picked for the hunger games, and then the girl I've had a crush on since I was 5 volunteers for her? Just my luck. While I'm frozen in place, Prim runs up to Katniss and grabs her.

"Katniss no! You can't go!"

It hurts to see her like this. So fragile, helpless, vulnerable. When we watch the games, I must be strong for her. I pick up Prim, who is kicking and screaming in my arms, and carry her to mother, not before whispering "Thank you" to Katniss.

I watch as Katniss goes on stage, looking like she did on that day…

5 years earlier…

I awake and take a moment to see what is going on around me. Prim is huddled to my left side, and mother is nowhere to be seem. Weird. She's usually in the bed opposite ours. I gently put Prim to the side, careful not to wake her up. The closer I am to the door, the more walking I hear. 3 pairs of feet. Another surprise. Who would be here early in the morning, or ever to be honest?

I open the door and see my mother and 2 blonde boys walking around the kitchen, gathering herbs from the cupboards and snow from outside. Then I hear a quiet moan. I look over to the table and remember everything. Katniss giving me the bread. Her father beating her. Her brothers bringing her here. My mother kicking me out of the room.

I run up to the table where she is and see her trying to open her eyes. I stand over her, watching her, so fragile, so helpless. That's when I decide I will never see her like this again.

Present Day…

While I look at her, I begin to hear a conversation, clear in the silent crowd.

"Oh my god Steve...we actually got rid of her...We got rid of her!" a voice, which I identify as Katniss's mother's says, not sadly, but triumphantly. Katniss wasn't exaggerating when she said her parents hated her. I turn to see the baker and his wife cheering, "The brat is finally gonna die" when I move from the crowd. I'm clearly not the only one. I see 2 other people move, one from the families and one from the 18-year-old boys section.

Venus and Milan. Katniss's brothers.

"How dare you" Milan says. "After all those years of abusing her you don't even have the decency to even pretend your upset?"

Mrs. Everdeen looks shocked.

"Yes, mother, he just exposed you!" Venus says."You can't do anything about it now, considering I've got a witness of you two abusing my sister right here!" He turns to me. "Right, Peeta? You were there. When dad beat her unconscious. After she gave you bread. We took her to your mother. And when they beat her before, for burning it."

I stare at them in shock. They knew about all of it? But this is important. This can assure that the Everdeens get in trouble, which they deserve.

"Yeah. And I'll expose you further" I say. There's no point in hiding what Katniss told me this morning. "Does the word 'tesserae' ring a bell?" I say, directed to the parents.

"Young man..." Mr. Everdeen begins.

"No! Don't you 'young man' me! The 30 slips of tesserae meant for your middle son went to Katniss instead!" I shout.

"What!?" Venus and Milan say in unison.

"The tesserae you were forced to take." I begin to Venus directly "They wrote it down for Katniss. All 30 of your entries"

"She had her name in 40 times?" Milan asks.

I nod sadly.

"You were never parents towards her. To you, she was a slave. Everyone noticed how little you feed her. You're pathetic" Venus says. "Mind you, if you can be fucking bastards then I can be as toxic as the planet you named me after!"

Peacekeepers arrive next to us and drag the baker and his wife away. I just hope they rot in hell. Me and Venus take our places at the reaping. Again.

"Peeta Mellark!"

No. I'm too shocked to move. I can't be there to comfort Prim, to give her food. I'll die. Our district hasn't had a victor in 23 years, us being Haymitch Abernathy's 24th fail. I'm sure of it. But if I have to choose, it will be Katniss coming home.

Soo... what do you think? I may post another one today or tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything.