Chapter 3:

Once inside the justice building, Peeta and I were quickly ushered off into separate rooms.

The room I was in was simple but a lot nicer than any I'd ever been in. It had a couch along one wall and a desk along the other. The walls were lined with a simple patterned wallpaper.

I just sat quietly on the couch and tried to hold it together. I waited for what felt like hours until the door opened. It was my mom, Prim and Gale. Prim immediately ran over and threw her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry Katniss," said my mom. She looked like she was fighting off tears, already starting to completely shut down again like before. That couldn't happen.

"You can't shut down again," I said pointing a finger at her. "You can't put all of that pressure on Gale. He'll be starting work in the mines soon and won't have time to completely run the family. You need to help him."

"I know Katniss, I'll try," she started.

"You have to do better than try," I said firmly. She just nodded in response. I pulled Prim off of me so I could go give my mom a hug. Then I turned to Prim.

"Stay strong my little duck," I said to her as I grabbed both of her hands in mine.

"Promise me you'll try and win," she begged me.

"I promise," I said wiping the tears from her eyes. I gave her and my mom both another hug and they left. Then it was just me and Gale. I ran straight into his arms.

"I believe in you," he said into my ear. "You can hunt, you know how to survive. Find water right away." He said rattling off advice.

"I can hunt animals Gale, and what if I don't have a bow?"

"Show them how good you are and they will give you one. They're just looking for a good show. If not then make one. You know how."

"How am I supposed to kill people Gale?"

"Just pretend you're at home in the woods and your hunting with me to feed Prim. Or if you're real lucky, they will all kill each other off," he said with a slight smile and a wink.

"That would be nice," I said with a small smile.

"Just be safe," he said pulling me in for another tight hug.

"I will," I whispered into his ear. "I love you Gale, don't let them starve."

"I won't, I promise."

At that moment the door was thrown open and a peacekeeper stood in the doorway. "Time's up," he said and grabbed Gale.

"See you soon Catnip," he yelled as the door slammed shut.

Sitting alone in this room now, I had never felt lonelier. I jumped when the door opened again a few minutes later.

I looked up. It was Madge and Delly.

"I'm so sorry Katniss," cried Madge. I could already see tears forming in her eyes.

"It's okay Madge, it's not your fault," I said trying to comfort her.

"I know, but it's still so terrible. I'm really going to miss you Katniss," she said.

That one hit me hard. Though I know Madge meant it in a nice way, it sent the message to my mind that she wouldn't see me again. That I wouldn't be coming home.

I didn't want to bring that up now though so I just smiled and said, "Hey maybe I'll win and be back in no time."

"Yeah," she smiled, "you're the strongest person I know."

I smiled at her as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"You're brave too," added Delly, speaking up for the first time. "What you did, volunteering for your sister, was the bravest thing I've ever seen," she finished with a smile.

"Thanks, Prim means everything to me. Plus she's so little, she wouldn't stand a chance. I couldn't just let her die."

"Well however you put it I think it was amazing, and either way you're holding up better than Peeta is," she said.

"You saw Peeta," I asked anxiously.

"Yeah," she paused. "Peeta is one of my best friends."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, but," she trailed off.

"But what?" I asked.

"Oh, it's just," she paused, "would you mind just being nice to Peeta? He really is a good guy."

"It is the hunger games, there's only one winner," I pointed out.

"I know, I just meant before you went into the arena. After that, you do what you have to." Her voice went quieter at the end. "I just want him to be happy one last time." She said the last part in almost a whisper. She looked down and wiped away her tears.

"Okay," I said giving her my best smile.

"Thank-you," she said and gave me a big hug. Delly nodded at Madge and walked out.

Madge turned to me and spoke again. "Katniss if you don't already have a token, I was wondering if you would wear this?" she said holding out a gold pin.

The pin had a gold ring around the outside and on the inside there was a mockingjay It was holding an arrow in its mouth.

I took the pin from Madge. Of course I'll wear it," I said smiling at Madge as I clipped the pin to my dress.

"Thank-you Katniss," she said with a huge smile as she threw her arms around me.

When we pulled away she said, "I'll be rooting for you."

I just nodded as she turned to leave just as the peacekeeper opened the door.

Alone again. I sat back on the couch not expecting anyone else. When the door opened again I was shocked to see the baker. He looked like he'd been crying.

"Sorry to disturb you," he said to me.

"I thought you'd be with Peeta," I said.

"I was, but you're only allowed a couple minutes," he said.

I nodded.

"Anyways, I just thought I'd wish you luck. I used to be good friends with your mother you know," he said with a smile.

"I didn't know," I said with my eyes wide.

He just lightly chuckled and handed me a package.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Just some cookies. I thought you might like them," he said.

"Thank-you," I smiled at him. I paused before adding, "I'm so sorry about Peeta."

He just nods. It is silent for a few seconds. Then he speaks up, "good luck Katniss."

"Thank-you." He smiled at me, nodded and left. I couldn't help but think he was going to say something else at the end. Like he wanted to tell me something else but couldn't. I sat there deep in thought until the door opened again and the peacekeeper told me it was time to go.

I was dragged out of the Justice building and thrown into a car. Peeta and Effie were already inside.

I had never been in a car before. Very few people in district twelve ever had.

The whole ride we just listened to Effie talk. Occasionally I would look over at Peeta and see him looking back at me. We would both quickly look away.

It was a short ride to the train station. District twelve was pretty small. We were ushered out of the car and up the steps inside. I could feel Peeta about a step behind me as Effie pushed us across the platform and onto the train.

When we walked into the first car, I gasped. I heard Peeta do the same behind me. It was the fanciest room I had ever seen.

A/N: This wasn't my best chapter. I don't think that the good byes were long enough but I couldn't think of anything else to write. Thanks for reading! Please review! Oh, and don't even think of posting any chain mail in my reviews again! That is incredibly rude and inconsiderate. We all spend so much time writing these stories for your enjoyment and it is incredibly disrespectful to post stupid spam and chain mail all over the reviews. If anyone ever does that again I wont hesitate to report it. Thank you for reading! I'll try and update soon.