Today was the day I jumped out of bed. Actually today was the only day that I was ready to start a new day from the past few days. I ran quickly into the small room that was supposedly a bathroom. I washed myself and for the first time in a long time I felt fresh. I also felt happy. I Katniss Everdeen was happy. I got out quickly still not trusting Haymitch's words and afraid that they were going to go without me. I dressed in the most appropriate clothes I thought possible. I wore dark long pants and a lose black t-shirt. I would blend in near the woods so I thought that they would do. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. I ran straight out of the room heading towards the way in which the meeting room was. I turned corners swiftly and then, BAM! I went flying backwards and fell to the ground. I quickly got up and looked into the face of my cause. Gale stood there leaning against the wall with a cockish grin. He was taking quick breaths so I figured he fell back from the impact too. I looked down to smooth myself just as his voice went, "You look like your in a good mood today Katniss. I'm happy that your finally starting to understand that we need you." I wanted to talk back but I just smiled at him. We both walked to the meeting room together with Gale trying to start a conversation. Soon he realized his idea was failing and I wouldn't respond so he just started talking. I listened partially nodding my head when he said a few things but mostly my thought were surrounding the idea that I will most likely get to see Peeta in a couple of hours. We reached the meeting room and the room was filled. Men in black uniforms were walking across the room talking to many of the people there. I saw Finnick standing in the middle of the room and I walked right over. His eyes were still swollen and I figured that he cry some more after he left my room. We stood next to each other not saying anything but rather just thinking. Haymitch came into the room and the whole room grew quiet just like that. I never knew Haymitch had this much power over them. He spoke in a clear broad voice, which didn't seem drunk at all. "Well the mission to save the captured will begin today." Everyone in the room cheered around me. Haymitch pulled up his hand and they went quiet. "Unfortunately not all of you can go. We saw all of you train and we picked the very best." I tensed up. I now understood I shouldn't have trusted Haymitch. But maybe I am going, lets just hope I am. "Now ii will say the names of the chosen ones. Gale Hawthorne." Go figure. "Finnick Odiar." Well he can throw a trident. He kept on continuing to say name on the list and of which none of them were mine. "These chosen ones," he looked around the crowd and his eyes fell on me with sympathy. I glared at him and scowled. He cleared his throat and started again. "These chosen ones, will accompany me, General Thorne. He pointed to a lady in the front. "And," he seemed hesitant, "Miss Katniss Everdeen." My face lightened up immediately and I smiled as everyone in the room turned around to look at me. I looked over all the faces and I could see Finnick giving me a sympathetic look, but Gale was glaring at me intensely with anger in his eyes. I turned away from his gaze and looked straight at Haymitch. He looked back at me and smiled. Then General Thorne went up to the stage and said, "Now, everyone who's names that were not chosen can please leave the room." His voice boomed throughout the room. Many started walking out with sorrowful faces and I started to sneer. Those boys actually want to fight. They actually want to give up their lives and kill people. I shook my head in disgrace. I looked up again when I thought the only people in the room were the ones going on the mission with me. I looked around once again and the population in the room decreased a lot. By the look of it only 28 others not including Gale and Finnick were chosen. The faces looked so young and I almost cried. Everyone was talking to get to know each other but I stood away. I didn't understand why I would when some of them were not going to come back. Then I snickered. I said this same thing the few days before the 2nd hunger games and look where it got me? I heard a shuffle to my right and I saw a face that I recognized so well. I stood still in shock. What is she doing here? No she can't? I won't let her risk her life. I walked straight over and I knew she was running from me but I blocked her exit. She looked up at my face and started to speak. "Look I know you're mad, but I think I deserve to fight for my right. I saw my mother die Katniss. I saw her burn to death. I can't just stand around when they can do that go killing off people that we care about without a second to think about it. I want to fight them show them a piece of their medicine. I don't care Katniss, I can fight, and they said I could. I'm going to fight Katniss, for my mother and my aunt."
"But Madge…" I responded. She shut me up with a shake of her head and walked away. When she said her aunt it stuck to my thoughts. Her aunt was Mayasilee Undersee. The one that was murdered in the Hunger Games 25 years ago. I walked around trying to get Madge and her words out of my head but they wouldn't budge. Suddenly I heard two voices coming from behind a door. With nothing else to do I lean next to the door trying to overhear the conversation.
"Haymitch I told you not to let her come with us. She could ruin the whole mission and we can't risk that." Came a ruff voice.
" I know Thorne but, Peeta will never come with us without her. Plus she is the rebellion leader she deserves to do what she can do to help us. She won't mess this up I know it. She is way to in the thought of rescuing that lover boy of hers. She won't do anything to ruin that. She wants him back here safe." Haymitch said with his voice staying steady.
"But Hay-" was all Thorne could say before he cut her off. He didn't say anything to what I could hear but I heard footsteps nearing the door. I pulled myself back and turned myself around but bumped into someone. I staggered back a little but I didn't completely fallback like I did with Gale. I looked up to say sorry but I didn't. I just froze. The boy I bumped into was muscular just like Gale but that was all that matched. He had bright blue eyes, a cocky kind of look to his face and ashy blond hair that fell over his forehead. He smiled down at me but I was dumb folded all I could say was, "Peeta?" He laughed and looked at me again.
"No. It's Clayton but close enough I guess." His words flew with ease but not as much as Peeta's.
"Sorry. It's just that you look like Peeta that's all." Came my mumbled words.
"You miss him don't you?" I nod in response to his question. "Don't worry, we'll get him back. That's what this whole mission is for anyway. They only decided to take this mission because of you." I looked up at him. His words seemed so deep and they put a little hope into me. I only nod in response though. He still stood there and I looked up at him once again. This time not only did I see his face I saw Gale's. He came over and put his hand around my waist. I knew if I budged then this will break Gale even more than yesterday, so I stood my ground. I looked up at Clayton's face and it had a confused expression on it. I looked at Gale's and he smirked.
"Well I guess I'll see you around, Katniss." He started to turn around and leave.
" Thanks, Clayton, for the help. Yeah I'll see you around too." I give him a light smile. He turns around and his face turns into a smile. It's a little cocky one and I feel Gale tense up. I slip out of Gale's hand and before he can say anything I lean in. I press my lips to his ear and whisper. "Don't worry I'm only going to find Haymitch." He nods his head and I walk away.
I look around the small room looking for Haymitch with no luck. Then I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. I turn around to face Haymitch.
"So you heard didn't you?" He asks, and I nod.
"Well doesn't matter cause your coming. Plus Katniss I'm kicking my butt off for you and I'm trying not to drinking, you owe me." He says again his voice quivering.
"So, what do I owe you with?" I ask.
He replies, "Well, if we go there and there are some people we can't save please don't lose your self okay? We need you more than ever now, don't leave us again." I nod my head holding back tears. He pulls me in a big embrace and I hug him back. This time I don't stay quiet though. "Thanks Haymitch. Thanks for everything." He doesn't say anything. Then I can hear a voice coming from the speaker, "We are now boarding the ships, get into your places everyone, the copters are leaving in 5." I don't remember whose voice it was but I didn't care. I let go of Haymitch and he leads me to our copter. Gale, Finnick, and a couple of others are already there. I look at all of their determined faces. I can see Clayton's hair, which sticks out from the rest, and I gaze at him. He won't be the only blond hair boy I see when we get back I hope. I smile. The mission is about to begin. I'm one step closer in saving and seeing Peeta. "Don't worry Peeta we're coming," I huff under my breath.