The Peacekeepers brings me to a grand room and left us there alone. Suddenly the door opens and my family comes in. At first it was kind of awkward but then Rolce suddenly starts sobbing. We all look at him and then he said

"Sorry Peeta! I couldn't do it! I couldn't volunteer for you! I tried to say it but I can't get it out of my mouth"

It's hard to see him so distressed about it. It wasn't his fault he can't say it. It's not like we ever connected as a family. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to say it if Rolce was the one who was picked. Like I said before what Katniss did is like a miracle. Most family bonds are cut when it comes to reaping day and my family isn't an exception to that.

"It's cool man. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to say that too if it was you who got picked."

Rolce continues to look distressed that I looked at Base and made him take Rolce outside to calm down. Base does just that and they leave me with my parents. A few seconds after the door close my mom goes to me and says "We'll have a winner this year" I was shocked for a moment until she continues "She's a fighter that one, she is" She kisses my forehead and walks out of the room. I looked at my dad and saw that his eyes are teary. He got up gave me a big long hug, looks at me for a long time, kisses my forehead and walks toward the door. Just before he reaches the door I shout out "I love you Dad!" He turns around with a few tear drops going down his cheeks and says "I love you Peeta. You've always been my favourite son" and just like that he's gone. I felt a few tears fall down my face and then I scrubbed them off as soon as someone else opened the door. It's Prim.

"Hello Peeta. I'm Prim. Katniss' sister" she says to me softly.

"Hey Prim!" it's the only thing I can think of since I'm a bit shocked.

"I know were not really close but I want to thank you for a lot of things"

I'm a bit confused "like what?" I asked.

"First for the bread you gave us before. Second for always decorating the cakes. Third for loving my sister"

"What?" how did she know? I've kept it quiet for 11 years. Only my dad knows I like her.

"I've known for a long time now. I'm quite observant. I always watch my surroundings and everytime I see you. You're looking at Katniss. The signs are practically there. You gave us bread. You watch her when you think no one is looking. You smile when you see a mockingjay. Sometimes you unconsciously design the cakes with Katniss as an inspiration. Sometimes I see you frown when you see Gale talking to her. Sometimes I see you hold your chest as if someone poked you there when she's walking with Gale. Other people wouldn't notice this because it isn't obvious."

"I have underestimated you"

"Protect my sister ok? It might be nice if you confessed to her too while you're at it. She needs love in her life she has too many hardships at a young age"

"She has Gale for that." Trying not to color it too much with jealousy "And As for hardships at a young age part you're also in the same situation" I continued

"No matter how nice and trustworthy Gale is I'm not sure if he can love her as much as you. He's too much like Katniss. It'll be like adding fuel to the fire in her hardships but you on the other hand will water down the fire"

"I've already made up my mind that I'll protect her no matter what. Even before you asked. As for the confessing bit I'll think about it. It's not something that could be done easily because if it was I would have done it before."

"Don't tell Gale but I'm rooting for you Peeta. Take care of my sister!" and just like that she leaves me alone. It wasn't long before my friends barged into my room and started chatting. In a way I'm kind of happy they did. It's almost as if after we talk, we'll go out and go to the coffee shop to hang out. I unconsciously tune them out until I heard Blaine say…

"…that Katniss girl, I couldn't believe Josh liked her! He was like dude I have this girl in my physics class and she's totally hot but the guys said she's from Seam and she's with that Hawthorne dude in the senior batch"

"I remember that some of the guys fought over her a couple months ago. Some guy said that he'll just wave a bag of coins and she'll be all over him and another guy said not if he waves a bag of food first. It's really just some stupid fight but still a fight is a fight and the girl is definitely hot" Kurt said.

"I heard that Darius the Peacekeeper really likes her. He said he'd give anything for a make-out session or more with her." I'm not really sure who said this because I was having a hard time telling myself to calm down and stop eying the vase beside me as if it's a punching bag. The guys of course continue on oblivious.

"The other day I was checking her out. Her boobs are kinda small but not too small like maybe a B-cup and she definitely has a rocking body. Her eyes are intimidatingly gray but it'll make you wonder what I'll look like if it's filled with lu…"

Thankfully a peacekeeper told the guys that their time is up and the guys said good-bye and went away. It was too much. I didn't know that a lot of guys like her. I thought I was the only one who noticed her besides the some other Seam guys. It seems I have another visitor. It's kind of weird seeing him here in front of me. It's Gale. The guy I completely envy the most. He said only one thing to me

"if you kill her I'll make sure you'd be dead if you come back." Then he storms out the door.

A few moments later the peacekeepers tells me to stand up and makes me ride the elevator going down. We meet Katniss and her group of peacekeepers at the lobby and they escort the both of us to the train station.

On the way to the train station I saw Katniss look at me weirdly. I felt my eyes and they seem a bit puffy. Maybe this is the cause. The tribute's train is more grand that the room in the Justice Building. Effie tells me and Katniss to do whatever we want as long as we're at dinner in an hour. I walked inside my room and I saw a rather large bed. The bed is sandwiched in between two side-tables and about 3 feet away is large closet. I opened the closet and I saw it was filled with clothes of different styles and textures. I got a collared shirt and some jeans and placed it on the bed. I went to the bathroom and took a hot bath. I changed clothes and looked for a piece of paper and a pencil. Once I found it, I sat down on my bed and started drawing. I'm not really sure of what I'm drawing. After a few strokes that's the only time I realize what I'm drawing. It's Katniss. When she was trying to hide her emotions while Haymitch got everyone's attention. By the looks of it, it seems it's only a portrait of Katniss. Just from waist and up. Suddenly someone is knocking at my door. Haymitch says dinner is ready. I got up, hid my drawing inside the drawer of the side table and went outside. Haymitch said that tell Effie he's going to take a nap so he won't be joining us for dinner. I told him I would and I went to the dining area.

Effie is waiting for us. She looks somewhat impatient but she also seems pleased someone came.

"Peeta! You're right on time. Have you seen Katniss? I told her that dinner is in an hour so.." Effie blabs.

"Maybe she lost track of time but I'm sure she's on the way here." I tried to reassure her.

"I just hate tardiness. I'll go fetch her. Please wait here Peeta"

"yeah sure"

Effie goes out of the dining area leaving me all alone in the room. My mind started to drift off to the topic of the guys a while ago. Katniss is very popular with the guys but they never went for her because she's from Seam. Guys are shallow that way. I never knew guys from the merchant's class knew anything about her. I envy those who had the pleasure of being her classmate. It gives them opportunities to talk to her. Why didn't I get to be her classmate? I've liked her for 11 years and not once have I had a chance to be her classmate. I shouldn't dwell on the past it'll probably make me feel worse. I wanted to smash the vase beside me a few hours ago. Since I couldn't show my emotions to the guys I might as well release some frustration. The one that tempted me the most is when the guys were talking about how Katniss will fall for them as soon as they wave bags of coins in front of her. Katniss is not that kind of person. She's the type that'll work hard and earn money in the most moral way possible. Although I'm not really sure poaching animals outside the fence is moral but why she does it is moral though. She's an amazing hunter. Even my dad says so. Before I could think about my dad, the door of the dining area opens. Effie and Katniss walks in and they see me all alone.

*** "Where's Haymitch?" asks Effie brightly***

"Last time I saw him he said he was going to take a nap." I answered

*** "what an exhausting day!" says Effie Trinket*** I seems to me she's really relieved that Haymitch isn't here. Who isn't? but it's not really Haymitch's fault he's that way.

Dinner is served in multiple courses. First it is a thick carrot soup then a green salad. Next is lamb chops and mashed potatoes then cheese and fruit. Lastly a chocolate cake. After every course, Effie tells us to leave room because there's another course. It's really hard to do that especially when you've lived most your life eating stale bread that wasn't sold the day before. I looked at Katniss and I see that she's like me. She's also trying to hold back but it wasn't working. I'm sure most of her food is fresh and possibly even better than our stale bread since she hunts the food they eat but I don't think anyone in District 12 has even eaten a meal like ours right now.

"At least, you two have decent manners" Effie says as the servants remove our empty main course dishes. "The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages. It completely upset my digestion."

The tributes last year came from Seam. They probably never had a meal like this before, and If mother didn't make sure that I always eat in a civilized manner, like them manners would probably be the last thing in my mind right now. I sneaked a look at Katniss and it seems she's kind of affected by what Effie said so she made it a point to eat with her hands for the rest of the meal. I admire her for doing that. Effie on the other hand disapproves. She's the only one to blame for that. I almost laughed when Katniss made it obvious that she wiped her hands on the table cloth. Effie pursed her lips when she saw that. I guess Effie got what she deserved.

By the time the meal is over I started to feel sick. I looked over at Katniss and saw that also looks sick. I guess both of us aren't used to the extravagantly rich food we just eaten. Effie tells us we're going to watch the recaps of the reapings so we stood up and went to the television room. I paid my attention to the screen. I tried to remember all the tributes. Only a few really stood up to me. This guy from District 2 practically ran to the stage just to volunteer to be a tribute. A burly guy from District 11 is practically 7 ft tall. I have a feeling the Careers will ask him to join them. I think he'll decline though. A boy from District 10 has a crippled leg. I sort of sorry for him. It'll be hard to run around in that. The only girl that stuck to me was the girl from District 11. She's so small I think she barely reaches my waist. She stood bravely as if she knew no one will volunteer for her. She barely looks like she's 12 I don't want to think how she'll fare in the Games. Finally they showed District 12. From the time Effie called Prim to the time Katniss and I shake hands.

"Your mentor has a lot to learn about presentation. A lot about televised behaviour" Effie says slightly disgusted.

Suddenly it was too much for me. I started laughing and then I said "He's drunk. He's drunk every year." In fact I haven't seen Haymitch sober before. Whether it is in the store or on the streets.

"Everyday" Katniss says with a smirk. I can see why. Effie acts like Haymitch will be able to right himself after telling him a few tips.

"Yes" Effie huffs. I guess Effie doesn't like it the fact that we started laughing. "How odd you two find it amusing. You know is your lifeline to the world in the Games. The one who advises you, lines up your sponsors and dictates the presentation of any gifts. Haymitch can well be the difference between your life and death."

Suddenly I don't feel like laughing. And then as if to prove Effie's point, Haymitch staggers into the room and says in a drunken voice "I miss supper?" and immediately vomits and falls face down in his own vomit.

"So laugh away" Effie says and leaving Katniss and I to deal with Haymitch.