Katniss' POV:

Now that my two friends were gone- sent to their deaths, I spent every moment I could with Prim. I realized how lucky I was to have her and how Madge was going to die for my little sister. That should be me, heading to my doom, not Madge. Soon they would be showing the reapings from the other districts on tv and I would be forced to watch. It would also be when I found out who would be our male tribute. They had been keeping us uninformed, like throwing a blanket over a frightened animal. The less you see, the more you relax. Whoever they picked was on the train, so anyone left in the district was safe. Had they caught Gale or did they take Peeta? A morbid laugh came to mind, which one would I pick? As if it would ever come down to that.

I took a stroll through the district. I knew I wouldn't see Gale, he was either on the train or out in the woods with his family. Maybe someone could tell me what was going on. That's when I saw him, the boy that saved my life with the burnt bread. He wasn't going into the arena. I felt a rush of relief and then a pang of guilt because that meant Gale and Madge would have to fight to the death. I spoke my first words to him, just a simple hello. He stared, his blue eyes set on my grey. "I never really thanked you for saving my life… I realized that when your name was pulled. It should have been us you know."

"Yes, it should have been us. Why did Gale volunteer?..."

There was another question hanging in the air, why did you not volunteer for Prim? She's your sister. You're supposed to protect her, not that poor merchant girl. I feel hate brewing inside of me. I hate everyone at this moment. I hate Peeta for asking yet not asking, I hate Gale for not letting me volunteer, I hate Madge for volunteering instead of me, and mostly I hate the Capitol for these hideous games.

"How should I know? I'm not his keeper." The words shot out of my mouth like venom.

He spoke in a soft tone. "I know you tried to volunteer. Everyone saw Gale hold you back. No one blames you. The part I don't get is why he volunteered for me. Why did he volunteer for me and then run for his life?"

My words came out slowly, "He asked me to run away with him before the reaping and I told him that I wouldn't because we have responsibilities. He was willing to sacrifice Prim so I could run away with him. He must have felt guilty and volunteered then made a rash move in fear." My bones filled with rage. The truth comes out of my own mouth, he wanted to sacrifice my little sister so he could run away with me and play house. I was truly sickened.

Peeta looked at me and said something I thought I'd never hear anyone say. "If you need someone to help you now that Gale is… gone, I'm here."

"I don't need your help." It came out bitter. More bitter than I wanted. I saw hurt in his eyes. I decided that I would stop the bridge from burning before I had no one left I liked in district 12, except Prim. "But Prim could use help with her goat."

"She does make fantastic cheese. I will be over tomorrow. I'd like to start helping her before the parade and the games get going."

"Okay." I say flatly and walked away. Why am I so terrible with people? And he was a nice person. If I wasn't careful, he'd root his way inside me. I'd guessed that he already was in my heart, deep down and buried. You never forget the face of the person that was your last hope. Peeta Mellark was a face I could never forget and my latest savior: Madge Undersee's would now be burned forever in my mind.

I ran back to my house in the seam so I wouldn't be late for the mandatory screening of the reapings. Districts 1, 2, and 4 have the usual heavy-set lethal looking volunteers. The only real others that stand out are a fox-faced girl from district 5 and finally a large, male tribute from district 11 standing next to a small girl about Prim's size and demeanor. Both of the tributes from 11 had beautiful brown skin. Then I held my breath for district 12. They showed Madge volunteering for Prim and on the side of the frame I was struggling. I realize for the first time that I bit Gale and kicked him numerous times. Then, something strange happens. I don't see them call Peeta's name. They only show Effie. There is no shot of the crowd. They must have re-filmed it, I think. Effie calls out a name in her silly Capitol accent.

"Rory Hawthorne!"