A/N: Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor! Read and Review!
My heart raced and fluttered inside of me. Butterflies glided inside of my stomach and I felt sick to my stomach. Why Gale! Why would he volunteer for Peeta Mellark! Why! Now, I have to kill Gale and worse, he might kill me. He gave me a reassured nod and Effie chanted, "Oh fantastic! TWO volunteers! Well, isn't this Reaping Day extra exciting and full of surprises! Oh come, young man, tell us your name!"
"Gale Hawthorne." He said solemnly. I just stared at him in disbelief. Out of all people, Gale volunteered! Peeta even has brothers! Why did Gale have to go?
Effie called up Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor from District Twelve. He stood up from his chair behind the podium next to Effie's empty chair and next to the mayor. He stumbled around and said, completely drunk, "Haymit Abeenathyy is mee!" He exclaimed.
"Correct, Haymitch, now tell our two tributes good luck!"
"Ohhh, teebutes? Huh?" He said curiously, wasted of course, stuttering and trudging around the front of the stage. He stumbled a little too far and fell over onto the Peacekeepers lining the front. The carefully steadied him and a stretched came to aid him.
"Well, after all the excitement, let's announce our victors once more!" Effie replied fixing her wig.
"Gale Hawthorne and Katniss Everdeen!" Each hand of the crowd raised to praise(or say so long! to) and kissed their lips with their three fingers. In district twelve that was a way to say goodbye, to me, though, it meant have fun dying.
Gale and I were walked into the Justice Building where the mayor shook each of our hands and Peacekeepers pointed to two oak doors for Gale and I to sit in. Gale winked as he walked into the room. I examined the room, white walls, pure and crisp, were splashed against all four square walls, there was a small red velvet couch that stood in one corner and then it was just me. I walked in and sat down. My feet hurt and I through my heels onto the ground. I grabbed my knees and pulled them to my chest and my forehead fell onto my knees. I imagine my father coming in that oak door and carrying me into the forest, into somewhere where he and I could stay forever, without the Hunger Games, without anything that brought sadness or weariness or despair. Without death.
I saw the golden handle turn clockwise and white shoes entered the room. I couldn't see the girls face until she ran and gave me a hug. She was about the same height as I was and she wore the same cream dress I saw before, Madge. Madge's amber hair blew into my face and she came out of the embrace. She sat me back onto the couch and fell onto her knees. She unraveled her fingers holding onto something, something gold. She opened her hand and a golden mockingjay pin lay on my lap. I picked it up and studied it. I started to speak but her pale finger rushed to my lips.
"Listen to me, they allow you to wear one thing into the arena, promise me you will wear this pin?" She inquired.
"Promise. Thank you." I said, not knowing how else to thank her. Her lips reached my cheek and she said goodbye once more and then, silence again. I stood up pacing around the room waiting for another visitor. My mother and Prim entered the room and prim bombarded me.
"Katniss, no you can't go!" I shook her off me and went straight to my mother.
"You cannot leave again. Nothing, no excuses. You will not allow Prim to take tessera. Do you understand me? You can get along fine if you go to the Hob. You must help the Hawthornes as well. Do you understand?" I harshly spat at her. She nodded and replied in a whisper.
"Prim, you must sell your milk and cheese, ok? I love you little duck." I whispered pulling her into a hug.
"Remember that."
"I love you too," She responded.
A Peacekeeper entered the room and tore Prim off of me. She wailed and yelled, "No, Katniss, I can't, you can't leave, no! NO!" She roared over the Peacekeeper taking her away. My mother whispered, "I love you," as she was walking away.
And I sat again, in silence. Another visitor entered the room, Gale. Gale ran into the room and I burst into tears. I couldn't hold them back any longer. The dam inside of my eyes burst and they rushed out onto my nose. I could feel each one, warm and hot, dripping and trickling down each crevice on my face as I sobbed. He ran his fingers down my face and he whispered, "We are a team, and both of us will return. I promise."
A/N: Read and review