So this is the final installment, that leads right into the first book really. I hope you enjoyed it!

Killing me.

Peeta POV

I'm wearing the same stupid outfit I've worn for nearly all my reapings. Mom keeps letting it out. It's not even nice. I look across at Katniss and see her sadly smiling at someone across the square. I follow her line of sight and see her looking at Hawthorne. A dark thought flashes through my mind. I hope he gets picked. I hope he dies. I want to take it back; I want to forget I've ever thought that. Because that would hurt her. Hurt her so much. But it's true, I widh he would just disapear.

Then she looks back at her sister, who looks so small, so fragile. She's okay, she can only have her name in once, but 4 times if she takes out tesserae. Something I've never had to endure. Then, surprisingly, her eyes flick towards who I recognise as the other Hawthorne kid.

I'm not paying attention as the last victor 12 has ever had stumbles onto the stage. That ridiculous woman in the wig, it must be a wig, says something and walks over the reaping ball. The mayor speaks.

I realise with a deep, throbbing sadness that in my world, she is the only thing that exists to me. I will never stop loving her. And the only thing she's ever said to me is 'you have flour on your shirt'. If I get reaped today, I will never have spoken to her. Never told her how I feel.

Whatever the outcome of this reaping, I don't think I'll ever talk to her.

I am hopelessly in love with her. And it kills me inside.

Prim POV

Katniss looks back at me. I can see Gale, right at the very front. He looks at Katniss. I recognise that face.

It's how my Daddy used to look at my Mom.

Katniss smiles lazily, I can see she's thinking about something else. Of course, it's not a happy smile. Its scared, but I pretend.

I pretend that we're not here, we're at home and Katniss is smiling at me because I've said something silly again. And I'm sat on my Daddy's knee and he's telling us a story and I'm brushing Buttercup's fur, as Mommy braids mine.

A place where I can be happy.

I look at Rory. He looks so scared. I don't know why, but I'm not. I can't be chosen, I only have one slip. Rory doesn't have many either. The odds are highly in our favour. I pretend that there's been a mistake and my name's not in that big glass ball, nor is Katniss' name, or Rory's. Then for her sake, I pretend that Gale's name isn't in there.

I realise that Katniss is so old for sixteen. I wish that Daddy were here to see her. He'd be so proud that his heart would burst. I wish Katniss didn't have to do what she had to. I wish she didn't have to risk her life proving for me or Mom.

I just want things to go back to the way they were 5 years ago.

I realise that I love my sister beyond compare. And it kills me inside to know that she has 20 slips of paper with Katniss Everdeen on them.

Gale POV

As she breaks her eye contact with me, she tilts her head to the floor and scuffs her feet. She smiles, but it's so sad, so empty. It makes me want to leap over the barrier and hold her. I want to hold her and never let go. Hold her so tight that she knows I will never let anything hurt her; I want her to know that I will love her forever, and I will always hold her, will always be there when she needs me.

She looks at her sister. Little Primrose. So young, so pretty, just like her namesake.

I think about the one slip in there with Primrose Everdeen on it. And all the ones in there with mine on. And then the slip with Rory's name on it.

I wish I'd told her how I feel. Before today. Then she'd know, she'd know that I'd do anything for her. She'd know that no matter what happens, I love her.

That stupid Capitol woman prances onto the stage. Then that prick Abernathy comes on, drunk as usually. I just look at the sky as the Mayor drones on about the Games. Then I watch as Trinket pushes her hand into the ball.

I look back at Katniss. She rises up onto the balls of her feet, her eyes full of fear and sadness. My heart cracks a little bit. I hate seeing her in pain.

It dawns on me that I am hopelessly in love with her. And it kills me inside.

~End~

Thanks to all my lovely readers and reviewers, as this is my first fic EVER! I really hope you enjoyed it and that it wasn't too OOC.

I may continue this if anyone wants me to, so let me know.

xxx Flick