Chapter 2 – The last goodbyes
I was pushed into small, damp and yet still lush room, a small window with the best view of 12 I've seen, I notice this gesture. Someone obviously thinks that they should give the tributes on last good look at home. I find myself ready to give it all up for a girl who only really taken notice of me twice in her life. My family are about to come to say there last goodbye, they know they will never see me. I have a snowballs chance in hell of even getting a bruise on one of those career tributes, those killing machines at eighteen that could kill me in hundred different ways.
I hear the door open 3 minutes, I have 3 minutes to say goodbye for good, my mother sits in a small chair covered in some soft yet grainy material, its deep red like blood a colour, I must get used to, the fabric has the texture of door fur when her fingers brush it the wrong way.
"Well its shame it's you, you we're always the best baker, maybe we can get john up to your standard" great I'm already being referred to in past tense, this was typical for my mother, money was one of the only things she cared about "shame that seem brat could win, she's a survivor that one unlike her whore of a mother" about a year ago I finally understood why mother was so bitter with the Everdeen girls, it seems my mother couldn't and can't live with the fact that my father has ever loved someone other than herself, she goes as far as hating her own children, if they share his heart.
She turns to my father, as he enters the room, I can't help but notice the small single tear rolling gently down his old burnt face, and I look back in time for a time when he looked happy, and I end up sitting in the middle of my oldest memory, watching as he made perfect spirals on top of the flat circles, even at five my icing was the same as john today, sellable. He looked so happy, watching me throw chocolate on the sticky drying sugar, that was when he told me I would own and run this shop one day, not that I was listening ,I just kept throwing colourful sugar on to the top of the blobs of peal white.
We all herd the door slam, as she left. Walking out on me forever.
"Dad, I'll save her, even when it kills me" My voice was shaking, I noticed tears in my father eyes that matched mine almost perfectly. John though hadn't given up he told me that all the cooking meant that I'm good with a knife, and that he only won the wresting torment because he used dirty tricks, He says it like the other tributes will play clean! He told me I could win if I just gave up on Katniss. "I will get her home, end of" I saw the light flicker out of his eyes yet I saw a glimmer hope, it was tiny but flicker slowly keeping my brothers green eyes, shiny brightly. "I'll make sure that I tell her before I swear, I won't make your mistake" my father began smile then like twins my brothers spook in unison
"You better get a kiss too little bro" then a load yell of JINKS, they seem determine to keep woeful place a bit joyful.
"Maybe if you play it right you could both win with the quarter quall next year they will want a big game, with a huge twist to raise the bar for next year. Don't give up on hope"
Hope, the games weren't hopeful, they were no place for hope grew, they were place were a hope for a better tomorrow was killed off and contained.
"I won't give up" I won't give up on her any way."
They began to leave then john turn to face me, the odd hope still burning there just about hidden in his eyes.
"I'm really proud of you, so know this I know you lover her all the nights you woke me up, calling her name in the night, so I'll take care her, I now about the letters you write and I read your journal I'll give them to her if you want."
I just have time to nod, as john pulled the door open, me and john both saw primrose being pulled away from the door, kicking a screaming.
"Your promise me. Katniss promise me you'll come home"
"I promise I'll try I'll try my best to get home honey"
Prim is lead away I yell at her
"I'll bring her back prim, I promise she won't even be able to try and try and die "The younger girl's eye lit up and smile
"You're going to protect her like you beat up those townies who hit me? Even though you don't know her, Do you lover her Peeta?"
"Yes prim I'll protect her"
I had no time to finish my claims before I was pulled sharply from behind.
Delly stood their blonde hair shiny and perfect, her pretty face in a fearful and yet blank tone, her eyes usually full of depth, of a clear chocolate brown, such a unusual colour in twelve, were full of grim understanding.
"you're going to die" she said without question, the girl before me was perfect everyone just assumed that I had to fancy her, but Delly knew I had never looked at anyone in the same way as Katniss, that way we're so close she hated boys that talked to her weird eyes or chest, I guess I never did. She had tears rolling form those alien circles. "You're going to die for her"
I nodded and she broke down I have never seen her like this my best friend, who I had beaten to many boys for had never cry this hard. "I'm going to miss you Peeta, you the only brother I have" this as I lie she has 3 brothers , all of them are cunts though, but still I point her out on this with a smile on her face "the only one I like"
To soon the time with her is spent and Gale Hawthorne walks in to the room, I stand their mouth open wide as he takes a set and one of my father's cookies. I just keep standing their looking wondering what he happens to doing.
" I heard you, what you said to primrose" he looks at me with a mild amusement and confusion " i want only 2 things form you, and I know you going to both, one sure Katniss lives and two tell me why your so hell bent of saving her"
I take a breath getting the feeling if I tell the truth I'm getting a hit in the face or knowing my luck today a broken bone.
"I'm never going to win, but Katniss could and this silly little place hasn't had a victor in so long, I figure with another tribute ready to die for her she has a better chance as winning." I look up hopeful still seeing confusion. "And nobody really needs me my older brothers can bake you as well as me, but a lot people need Katniss Everdeen, the people in the hob, your family, prim. If she gets killed I have this felling a lot of people might die this winter."
He just nods places a hand on my shoulders and mutters a thank you before shaking my hand.
"You're a good man Peeta, bring her home, bring home to her family your right people need her, I need her got, you get bring her back to prim"
Then he walks away and I get a feeling trying to the kiss my brother made me swear to get would be a lot more difficult then I originally thought.
o0oo0oo0o
On the train Katniss kept the masked face of no emotion, I wish I could do something like that, block my every thought form the world, to leave me with an indifferent mask. The food pulls her out of it soon enough, though she eats some of the best food in the seam, this is mind-blowing, there something in the carrot soup that makes me smile.
"Hey Katniss, do you you're in the soup" it came out sounding really cheesy and seedy but still she smiles and nods. "Katniss roots make the best chip, because there a lot stronger in flavor then your regular potato." I winked at her I actually winked at her; the look on her face should what I thought she thinks I'm a tool.
"Chips?" Katniss voice is layer with envy great now I'm a rich tool. I try to explain their only deep fried chopped Katniss root or potato but then I realize Katniss has always had to take a tesserae not even one person's oil for the mouth would be deep enough for frying chip.
"I make you some" just as I was about to ask what will happen at the capitol. The capitol chaperone Effie, starts ranting and raving about manners of the last tributes Kats faces turn into the indifferent make form the reaping, but then a slight smile, she drop her cutlery and picks her dinner, shoving it in and whipping her fingers on the table cloth after each dish. I notice her smile flutter when soap comes out. She can't just drink in straight out the bowl yet it way to hot. Effie appears to be smiling joyfully, so ever so slowly with her eyes in my hands reach out for the huge bowl of bread rolls, I had a feeling she was going to sick before she was done dipping and dunking, she gave up half way throw to drink in up straight form the bowl and looked Effie in the eye as she whipped the mess form her face with the back the back of her hand, then her hand of the table cloth, I see her in glory to look at me then I notice something hidden in her yes, something that says 'you're the enemy and I don't thrust you' but even with eyes showing hate for me, wink. As if she's playing along in some game.
