Hi guys! I'm not very good at putting my ideas into words, so please review and tell my what you think! This chapter is a little long, enjoy!
Kelly x
Peeta pov
"Primrose Everdeen"
What?! No, no, no, this can't be happening, I promised Prim she wouldn't be picked
I glance to my left Haymitch has lost the little colouring he had and his fists are clenched so tight, the veins in his forearms are bulging with intensity.
I look into the crowd searching for the faces of my family and friends, while trying to keep my anger in check, I first land on Mrs. Everdeen, she's crying hysterically clutching her chest, pledging with her eyes, then I land on Rye and Leo's faces my own anger is similar to the anger that is written on their faces.
Lastly I look to the place where Katniss should be, to find it empty, I panic frantically looking through the crowd, only to find her running toward the stage, with a determined glint in her eye.
Both me and Haymitch go to get up as the peacekeepers grab at her, she literally throws them off her and shouts the few words that have never been spoken in district twelve before.
"I volunteer as tribute"
Things have gone from bad to worst in a matter of a few minutes
"NO KATNISS, NO, NO, NO, NO PLEASE, NOOOOOO" Primrose screams and clings to Katniss' waist
Katniss removes Prim's arms and kneels down and says something I don't catch, but I start to internally panic as the look Katniss is wearing at the moment I have only seen once and that when her father died, no emotions, resembling stone.
While Effie's busily hurrying Katniss to the stage I notice Leo coming out of the crowd and then hurl a screaming Prim into his arms and carrying her to a very distressed looking Mrs. Everdeen.
I catch Katniss' eye as she turns toward the crowd, I see the spark has returned to her eyes and relax a little.
As Effie whittles on I look at Haymitch and see a similar spark in his eye and that's when I know Katniss has a plan, the last thought I have before tuning back into the Reaping is that 'I wish the Capitol, the best of luck, because Katniss Everdeen, is a tribute, which means there is going to be hell to pay for'.
Haymitch pov
"I volunteer as tribute"
'Oh shit, oh shit, my niece, is going to die, my Sweetheart is going to be hurt in so many ways during the next two months and there is nothing I can do about it' I start panicking and mentally running around in circles like I got my head cut off
'No, focus Abernathy, you practically raised her, she's the dark horse of the competition, much as the boy was last year, but shes deadly, shes been training since is she was able to reply back with her smartass comments, so since she was four.
Everything is going to be fine but I need a plan and quick, but first I need to phone ahead to district two and warn Brutus, he is going to have a handful once this Reaping hits the television.
'Oh, sweetheart, your in big trouble'
After my semi-sober and coherent conversation with myself, I focus my attention on the devil himself in the shape of Effie Trinket, god that women doesn't know when to shut up!
Katniss pov
I swallow my emotions and put up my mask as I walk on the stage and turn my attention to the crowd, who are standing there thoroughly shocked at what just happened
"So dear... What is your name!" Effie squeaks, obviously overly excited about the change of events
"Katniss Everdeen"
"Oh my that must have been your sister, is it not?"
I just nod, due to the fact she knows full well that was my sister, has all that cosmetic crap she slaps on her face daily finally gone to her head
"Well isn't this wonderful, district twelves very first volunteer" Effie claps
I look to the crowd to see everyone place there three fingers on to their lips and raise them into the air, a gesture that symbolises 'goodbye' for those who won't be returning to district twelve
Effie forever bewildered about district twelves behaviour just shakes her head and smiles stupidly out to the crowd.
"Right...now for the boys!"
She reaches for a slip and I pray that it's not Leo or Rye
"Fenton Hills"
I involuntary gasp, Oh shit, today has just got worst
I look at him, I see pure fear written on his face, I smirk thinking it will be easier to kill him, than I thought, that's when he catches me staring he smirks
'Oh this can't be good'
"So I give you the tributes of district twelve Katniss Everdeen and Fenton Hills!" Effie claps as she turns to us
"Shake hands"
I tentatively place my hand in his after glaring at him, he grips my hand with unnecessary force and tugs me roughly towards him and whispers in my ear
"Everdeen, watch your back cause I'm going to make sure I'm the one to stick a knife in it, you're mine" he all but growls, then shoves me back
My temper flares I take a step forward only to be restrained unnoticed by others by Haymitch, his fingers digging into my shoulder as warning.
I nod and Fenton smirks as we are led to our separate rooms to say our goodbyes.
I sit here watching myself volunteer over and over again in my head, waiting for Prim and my mother to arrive. I know I did the right thing, I would do anything to protect Prim.
I just can't believe that I going to die in a matter of weeks, I've already accepted that, I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that the winner is ...
'KATNISS!" My train of thought interrupted by a blonde blur crashing into me
I look down to find Prim sobbing into my chest, telling me things that are just coming across as hiccups and incoherent words
"Ssshhhh, shhhhh, everything going to be fine Prim, now we don't have a lot of time, so I need you to listen very carefully" I say sternly
"Ok" Prim looks at me alert and ready to absorb information
"You'll be fine, Leo will bring you game most days, Lola will walk you to school and help with homework, Rye will bring you bread, make sure you sell your goats milk and cheese to get money or trade at the hob, but most importantly stay away from Gale, ok, do not accept anything from him and make sure if he comes near you, you go straight to either Leo or Rye and Chris, ok, promise me you'll not go near him, Primrose!" I cup my hand under her chin to make sure she understands that I'm being serious.
She nods "Promise me you'll try to come home Katniss, I know you can, your skilled in about every weapon available, please, please promise me you'll come home"
"I promise, I'll try Prim, but I can't promise you I'll come home" I hug her tightly to my chest as she starts to cry
I notice my mother has wrapped her arms around both of us, my first reaction is to push her off me, but this is the last time I'll see her so I let her.
"5 minutes" a peacekeeper bangs on the door
Prim and my mother stand up
I grip my mothers shoulders and look her directly in the eye
"You mustn't leave again, do you understand me, Prim needs you more than ever, I'm not going to be here to be strong and pick up the pieces, ok, you cant leave"
"I won't, I promise I'm not going to leave ever again" my mother promises pulling me into a hug
She whispers into my ear "You're not coming home are you?"
"No" I whisper back
"It's because of Cato isn't it?"
"Yes, I love him more than anything mom, he'll look after you, when this is over" I whisper sniffling a little
"I love you both so much, make sure you tell him I'm proud to tell people he is part of my family"
"I will" I hug my mom tighter
"Times up" the peacekeepers drag my crying mother and sister out of the room
"I LOVE YOU!" I shout as the door closes
I sit on the couch, feeling the soft fabric with my hands and think, 'at least I'll die, knowing that my mother accepted Cato, he will have the support he needs when he wins'.
The door swings open and I jump to my feet, just in time to be tackled to the floor by Leo and Lola
"Kat listen, you'll be fine, just find a bow, that's what your strongest at, but your also an expert in knives, axes, spears, tridents and probably everything else they put into the arena, just make sure you get the bow, you've been training for years, you can't be killed that easily, I mean I've trained with you I think I should know, I think..."
"Hey, Leo, stop rambling, anyway none of that will matter because they don't always have a bow" I say standing up and exerting myself from the clutches of Leo and Lola's arms
"You can make one, a weak bow is better than no bow" Lola adds, giving me a 'I know what your up to' look
"You can show them how good you are and then they will have to put one into the arena" Leo adds pulling me into another bone-crushing hug
"Ok, I will" hugging him back
I can nearly see over his shoulder even when I'm tiptoeing, I see my best friend Madge, she is the Mayors daughter
I jump out of Leo's arms and run to Madge enveloping her in a hug, something I don't do very often, unless its Prim.
"I'm going to miss you so much Katniss, who's going to get my strawberries from now on, huh?" She laughs a little
I laugh "Leo will, won't you"
"Yes madam" he curtesy dramatically earning him a giggle from both Lola and Madge
"Katniss, I would like you to wear this when you go into the arena, you as a tribute can take in something as your district token" she pulls out a pin with a bird on it
I take it from her to take a closer look
Tears threaten to spill when I realise what it is, a mockingjay, my fathers favourite bird
"Thanks" I barely whisper trying to rein in my emotions
I give them all one last hug before they leave, as Leo exits last I panic, "Don't let them starve!"
"I won"t, promise!" He shouts back
I begin to pace the room, the Mellarks should be next, that might be a little uncomfortable, as Mrs. Mellark has never liked me but after Peeta's training paid off last year, she is warming up to me considerable, seeing as I in her words 'Saved her baby boy', but it's still a little awkward at times.
I hear a commotion outside and then the door swings open, banging against the cabinet and there strides in Gale Hawthorne all smiles as though he has never wronged or hurt me in any way.
"What are you doing here?" I stand in a defensive position, that will allow me easy access to the knife in my hunting boots
"Oh, Catnip, that's no way to greet a friend" he smiles opening his arms out and taking a step forward
"We're not friends and we will never be, now get out" I spit my temper rising
"Nope, I've come to say bye and good luck"
"Fine you've said it, now GET OUT!" I shout
He smile falters and his true colours show "Now, now Catnip, that is no way to speak to me is it, it's not my fault what happened to you last year, now was it?, you only have yourself to blame!"
"You Bastard!" I shout and let my fist connect with his nose, effectively breaking it
"Bitch!" He screeches holding his nose
"No it wasn't you fault, but you encouraged it and I've had to pay for it, for months, not only i suffered but Prim and most of this district did" I shout pushing him towards the door
"You were supposed to be one of my best friends and you just stood there cheering, when everybody else that I loved was trying to help" I push him again, his back hitting the door
"Not only that but you, shouted saying I deserved what I got, that I was a whore that needed to be punished and have tormented me and my family since then!" I grip his face and bring it down to my level, I see fear in his eyes, good.
"Listen to me very carefully, you are nothing to me and you better stay away from my family, otherwise I will make you pay in more ways than one, just because i not physically here doesn't mean I don't know people that would take great pleasure in making you suffer, do you understand me!" I growl
He nods, then shoves me to the floor and storms out
He storms out, the Mellarks storm in all red faced and flustered, me still lying on the floor, trying to make sense of what just happened. I mean he has constantly harassed me saying he did nothing wrong and my attitude towards him is uncalled for but, he has never been so angry, I have a bad feeling about this.
"Kat, Kat, Kat, what happened, we heard shouting, you alright?" Chris and Rye say simultaneously both offering a hand. I take them and they hurl me up onto my feet.
"Yep, fine, just another run in with Gale" I huff
""Are you alright Darling, did he hurt you?" Mr. Mellark asks concern filling his face, he is so much like Peeta, just with wrinkles
"Nope, he didn't touch me, I mean he didn't get a chance!" I chuckle a little, because he will have to reset his nose himself, cause my mother and Prim wont help him
"I saw, you broke his nose" Rye howls
"How's Peeta, he looked rather pale when I walked onto the stage?" I ask sobering up the mood
"Oh, Sweetie, he's a little panicky, shouldn't you be more worried about your uncle?" Mrs. Mellark asks pulling me into a hug
"Nope, Haymitch and me are on the same wavelength, your guaranteed that he already has a plan" I smile a little reassuring them that the old drunk is fine
"We know you'll be fine Kat, you extremely skilled with the survival thing and in your weapons, you'll barely get a scratch" Chris picks me up hugging me to his broad chest
"Sure" I say trying to sound convincing, obviously it worked cause they all nod, expect Rye gives me that 'I know what you're up to' look, like Lola earlier
"Here you go Darling your favourite" Mr. Mellark says as he passes me a bag, I peak inside to find two delicious cheese buns that effectively make my mouth water
"Thank you Mr. Mellark" I pull him into a hug
"Your very welcome and there will be plenty more of those when you return and how many times do I have to tell you, call me Hank" he chuckles
"Sorry... Hank" I smile
I receive some more hugs, advice and encouragement before the peacekeepers come to get them, I notice its Darius, one of my customers at the Hob.
"Darius could I have a quick final word with Rye please, it's really important?" He just nods
Rye looking forever confused, I just decide to get straight to the point
"Could you please look after Prim, I know it's a big ask, but I have a really bad feeling Gale is going to do something and I hope it's alright that I told Prim to come and find you or Chris if he gives her any trouble!" I say that quickly I stumble over my words, once I finished I look down at my feet thinking I've made an ass of myself
"Kat, my little sis, I wouldn't have it any other way, we all love you and Primmy so much, of course and I will be walking her to school and back everyday with Lola!"
"Really?" I say looking up
"Really" he confirmed
I jump into his arms and squeeze tightly "Thank you Rye, I feel much better knowing, Prim has you to look after her!"
"Don't mention it" he says heading towards the door
"Actually on second thoughts mention it to Peeta, so that when he gets his hands on me he might not kill me for daring Leo to sneak into Haymtich's yesterday!" He smiles thinking he is off the hook
"Ok, I will but your not off my blacklist yet" I laugh as he gets pulled out of the room by an impatient peacekeeper I don't recognise.
After waiting another ten minutes, I get manhandled out of the room and marched to the train, the dreaded train that is taking me to my death.
Before I enter the train I take one last look into the crowd and see the faces of my family and friends, all teary-eyed and Gale at the back arms folded across his chest looking to my right, I follow his eye and its Fenton, I see them both nod at each other. I feel dread in the pit of my stomach, this isn't good, I'm going to have to talk to Haymitch and Peeta.
I board the train and Effie shows me to my room and instructs me to have a shower and dress before dinner. I can tell right away me and Effie Trinket aren't going to see eye to eye. I mean nobody, especially those from the Capitol tell Katniss Everdeen what to do, despite what the laws are in Panem, I control what I do and not President Snow and I plan to show him, exactly what I am capable of!