Chapter 2- The Reaping

Author's note: Hello again, this is the second chapter to the story 'through thick and thin, i will always love you 3' I see quiet a few people have followed the story but only one reviewed( btw thanks timsgirlashley) your comment inspired me to keep on writing so thank you :)

i'm not asking a lot really, just that at the end of the chapter you comment, tell me what you liked or disliked about this chapter?! or even give me an idea about what you would like to see in the next :) okay?

But thanks anyway for reading the last chapter :) i'll try and update once a week

-Leigh x

p.s this chapter is a little shorter than the last it's about 5 pages and 1/4

Katniss's POV

We are ready to leave
I turn to find prim on her knees, head bowed to the ground and hugging buttercup. She whispers into his small damaged ears.
'Prim' I say in a mothering tone, as I kneel down in front of her. I lift her chin to find tears running down her pale cheeks.
' Prim listen to me everything is going to be fine, tell buttercup you'll see him tonight, okay?'
she just looks at me trying to decide what to do.
' Prim I promise, you will see buttercup again'
She gives him a final kiss on his furry head and lets him jump off her lap. I help her stand up and before I can say anything she has her arms gripped tightly around my torso, not letting go. After about a minute her eyes meet mine and she says sucking back the tears ' okay let's go' I see she is trying to be brave and I'm proud of her.

We all start to make are way to the town, Prim and I hand in hand. We don't say a word because we both know that silence is all we need right now.

We reach Gale's house and as if on cue they all descend from the house. Prim let's go of my hand and rushes into the arms of Gale's younger brother, Rory. I'm shocked but before I have another minute to think about it, Gale's arms are around my waist and he is whispering into my ear

' I knew you'd look pretty but your stunning'.

I quickly turn around and hug him, and run off to catch up with Rory and prim who have already started to walk away.

When we reach the town square I grab Prim's small hand and she squeezes my hand tight, and knowing how scared she is right now just say 'it's okay, it'll all be okay Prim.' she gives me a look of pure horror.

'I Promise!'

'Katniss, over hear!' screams Peeta from across the crowd
We walk over to where he is standing and without remembering Gale and his brothers are behind me, I lean in and kiss Peeta.
When I open my eyes and start to pull away, I notice the shock and surprise registering on his face and then it comes to me that I have just rubbed it in Gale's face again.

I turn around, ready to apologise, and he is no where to be seen. I turn to Peeta.
There is a long pause and then Peeta breaks the very awkward silence' we better go get signed in' me and Prim follow him, but the second the sign up stall comes into view Prim starts to freak out and I have to pull her aside.

'Prim what's wrong?' I don't know why I ask this because I already know the answer, she is scared.

'Prim listen, all we are going to do is sign In, okay?'
she nods

' good, now all they are going to do Is take a little bit of blood, and…'
'blo..bl..blood' her mouth drop and he face grows pale.
'it only hurts a little, don't worry. Everything will be alright' I say trying to get her to sign up.
'okay'

We line up and in no time Prim is at the front and gone to where the other 12 year old stand.
I'm next 'ouch' I grit my teeth as the women in white pricks my fore finger, ' Next' she says in a husky voice.

One of the peace keepers indicates me to the group of 16 year old girls
I look around, and just to left a bit is Peeta, he blows me a kiss and mouths 'I love you' I pretend to catch it, then he looks forward and as he does this I notice that Gale is a couple rows forward from Peeta and has his grey, seam eyes fixated on me.
I feel so guilty it's unreal so I do the only thing I can right now I mouth the words ' I'm so sorry Gale' he just looks mad

BOOM! Effie hits the mic to check it's working.
This year she is in a purple dress with big flowers all over it, her hair, or shall I say wig ,is a light violet. In the chairs of to the right, are Mayor Undersea , Madge's father and Haymitch, the local drunk victor, who is also the mentor this year. The other seat is empty.
'Welcome, Welcome' Effie says in her stupid high pitched, capitol accent. 'Happy Hunger Games' she takes a small pause for breathe 'Add May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour'
I look over to Gale remembering him taking the mick out of Effie this morning, was it really only this morning. I quickly snap back into reality when I release Gale has noticed me staring, I blush and tune back into Effie, As I do the video about the dark days has just finished.
' oh I just love that' squeaked Effie.
'well let's get the ball rolling, as always ladies first'
She says this closely into the mic making my ears hurt, a lot!
In my head I begin to think 'not me' 'please anyone but me'
She makes her way over to one of the two great glass balls, this one has the girl names and 15 slips of paper in there says Katniss Everdeen.
Effie stands over the ball and ruffles around in the slips of paper until she pick one and holds it high in the air.
She walks back to the mic in the center of the stage, as she does this my heart races and all I can think is 'not me' 'please don't let it be me'.
Effie makes it to the mic and clears her throat…
I cross my fingers, screw up my face and pray it won't be me

Effie speaks with a clear and high pitched tone

But, No! It's not me, it's…

'Primrose Everdeen'

My mouth drops in horror.
Wait, NO!
Not Prim, it can't be! She only had one slip, one stupid piece of paper, only one out of thousands.
Hadn't I done everything, taken the tessrae so she didn't have to, made sure she was well fed.

And there she is walking down the middle.
So fragile, so small and so skinny.
Her bright crystal blue eyes only show fear, Beautiful blonde locks, plaited into two even plaits down her back and that's when I notice her blouse is untucked, forming a duck tail. Her tiny, petite hands move to her back to tuck it in, this brings me back to reality…

'Prim'
a small croak escapes my mouth, but no one has heard it, not even the people around me. With every minute I waste she is getting closer and closer to her death…
So I shout 'Prim No!' I start to run straight through the crowd, I don't even need to push passed people because they are moving letting me run straight pass them.

I reach the stairs just a step before Prim, I push her behind me and keep a solid grib on her arm. The peacekeepers try and pull me away but I kick and shove
'I volunteer' I don't they've heard me so I shout until my throat is raw ' I volunteer, I volunteer as tribute!'
'well seems like we have district 12's first ever volunteer, well come on up, don't be shy'
I let go of Prim's arm and she wraps her arms tightly around my leg, not letting go

' No Katniss, you can't, I won't let you' my heart sinks, she is pleading me, tears rolling down her cheeks as she screams for me to stay.

' let go' I say a bit too harshly, but if she doesn't I'll be in great danger of crying too and I won't do that.

No I won't cry and give the game makers satisfaction.
'please prim' I plead her quietly so no one can hear bar her.
I turn and use the railings to pull myself up the stairs, when I feel prim being pulled away from my leg. I turn back around to find Gale has prim lifted her over his shoulder, kicking and screaming. ' up you go catnip' he says ' I forgive you' he whispers into my ear before walking away, prim still screaming 'NO!' and thrashing about trying to get back to me.

I climb the stairs and make sure my expression is completely blank although I'm scared and hurt inside. I join Effie center stage ' what's you name then?' she throws the mic in my face
'Katniss Everdeen' I say with pride ' I bet my buttons that was your sister, don't want her stealing all the spotlight now, do we?' I seriously want to punch her in the face for saying that,

Luckily Haymitch picks this moment to walk over to me.
He leans on my shoulder almost dragging me down to the ground, I catch my balance and hold him up ' I like this girl she has a lot of… of … urm…s..' he pauses trying to think of a word 'SPUNK.. Yeah spunk, that's it' he then turns away from me and starts to walk to the front of the stage ' more than you' he points straight down the camera. Who is he talking to? The capitol, I think to myself. ' more than….' before he had the chance to finish his sentence he falls off the stage and face plats the ground. Just like that every camera and pair of eyes are on haymitch, he let's out and a small groan of pain and then is swept away on a stretcher.

'WOW! What a lot of events happening here in district 12 today' Effie says getting annoyed by the lack of attention she is getting ' But let's keep the ball rolling, okay?' she just keeps talking when she releases no is going to reply 'so now for the boys' she walks over to the other glass ball and without hesitation pulls out a name and waddles back to the mic, before I can wish for Peeta or Gale's safety Effie reads out the name loud and clear…

'Peeta Mellark'

This is when I just can't help but lose it, I see his shocked face. He'd clearly been shedding a few tears because I had been picked and I'm about to do the same, when he sends me a look 'don't you dare cry Katniss, just don't, okay?'.
So I try and be strong and just stand there and watch him walk up to the stage and closer to me.

'is there any volunteers?… nope?… no one?' Effie waits but we all no that there won't be 'oh okay then, let's have a big round of applause for this years tributes from district 12'
Effie starts to clap but soon stops when she releases she is the only one.

Instead one by one everyone in the crowd kisses their three middle fingers on their left hand and holds it up to us. This is a common gesture at funerals, here is district 12. It means 'sorry or goodbye to someone you love'.

Effie just stares at them in shock, 'oh…urm..okay' she mumbles to herself ' well shake hands you too'.
Me and Peeta just stare into each others eyes and without even thinking we wrap are arms around each other, in a tight and loving embrace. We whisper into each other's ear things like 'I love you' 'I'm scared' ' what are we going to do' and then Peeta says 'shhh…shhh…it'll all be alright, remember I love you no matter what!'

Then we are pulled apart by two very strong peacekeepers, they practically drag us into the justice building, I look behind me one more time and see the light from outside disappear as they slam the two big doors shut.

from that moment I release that was the last time I was ever going to see district 12 again.

remember to comment - Leigh x