Dearest Reader,
Hello again! I hope you enjoy this chapter! It is a year after the last chapter! There are going to be things that shock you! And Peeta and Katniss are going to sing more modern songs! Just as a warning! Enjoy, and remember to leave nice reviews!
-MW
Chapter Two
I wake up, screaming my head off. I had my nightmare again. Peeta and Prim's names were drawn. I can't stand the thought of that. I get up and find that, by some miracle, my mother and Prim are still asleep. I check the clock - 5:08 in the morning. I quickly slip on my father's jacket and hunting boots and quietly head towards the back door. A hissing sound is emanating from the far corner of the kitchen. I see my sister's beloved, deranged, ugly cat with his back arched. I hiss back at him and walk away. I should've drowned him when I had the chance, I thought. I run to the edge of the Meadow, where I wait for the sound of buzzing. I climb underneath when I deem it safe. I dig out my bow and arrows from it's hiding spot and start hunting. I shoot some squirrels in the eye before I spot it. A doe is grazing in a spot near my lake. I take aim at it, prepping for the release.
"What are you going to do with that, Catnip?" Shit! I whip around and shoot it at the tree in between my intruders. Peeta smirks as Gale pulls the arrow out of the tree. I had invited Peeta to join in on our hunting about six months ago. He's getting better at using a bow and arrow and is incredibly strong. I glare at the two before storming into my cabin. I slam the door behind me and shove a chair under the door handle. I flop on the bed as the boys start pounding on the door.
"Let us in, Catnip!" Gale shouts while pounding on the door. Someone is jiggling the door handle.
"Baby, let me in," Peeta says urgently. I sigh and wait for them to leave. Soon enough, the noise dies down. I am pretty sure they are both gone.
"Baby, I'm sorry," Peeta says softly. I smile and unlock the door. It's just him; Gale is nowhere to be found. I look at him up and down. He's wearing a pair of black leather pants, a white tee shirt that is covered in sweat, and a brown hunting belt around his belt. His knives are arranged from largest to smallest. He also has a quiver and a bow hanging over his back. I smile at him.
"Well, hello there," he says in a seductive voice as his hands find my waist. I place my hands on his chest as he walks us into the little house and shuts the door behind us. He pushes me onto the bed gently and I grab his shirt so that he comes down with me. I giggle for the first time in years as he begins tickling me. I am extremely ticklish - something that he discovered when I was at his house and he enjoys teasing me about it. I squirm underneath him.
"Peeta! Stop!" He stops when he hears my shirt rip. I look down and frown - my tank top, which was about to rip anyways, is revealing my flat stomach and my protruding ribs. He runs his calloused hands up my side.
"Kay… you're starving yourself again…" I can tell he's hurt. I fall back on the bed and bring him down on top of me again. He is looking me in the eyes; his are brimming with tears.
"Peeta, I am taking care of my family. Prim has priority over me. So I've been feeding her first. She got sick a few months back, and I'm trying my hardest to keep her from getting sick again," I tell him. He sighs and kisses my forehead.
"This is why I love you, Katniss," he says, a smile playing at his lips. " You are so kind and caring and passionate about taking care of those you love." I feel my eyes begin to water as I smile up at him. This is the first time he's ever said anything about loving me.
"You love me?" I whisper. He blushes and nods his head. I wrap my arms around his neck. "I love you, too, Peeta Mellark." He smiles and kisses me again. I don't stop him. We break apart for air. I'm so happy that I sing for the first time in eleven years.
"All those All those days watching from the windows
All those years outside looking in
All that time never even knowing
Just how blind I've been
Now I'm here, blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here, suddenly I see
Standing here, it's all so clear
I'm where I am meant to be
"And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once everything looks different
Now that I see you"
Peeta smiles and begins to sing along.
"All those days chasing down a daydream
All those years living in a blur
All that time never truly seeing
Things, the way they were
Now she's here shining in the starlight
"Now she's here, suddenly I know
If she's here it's crystal clear
I'm where I'm meant to go"
We begin singing together.
"And at last I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
"And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted
All at once, everything is different
Now that I see you
Now that I see you."
Peeta leans in and kisses me again. It's passionate and I love it. We only break apart when Gale comes barging in.
"Guys! It's almost time -" He stops short when he sees us. Peeta groans in frustration while I zip up my jacket. Gale glares at Peeta and clears his throat. "The Reaping starts in two hours." We rush back to the fence and run home. I take a quick shower and get ready for the wretched ceremony. Prim cries on the way there.
"Prim, your name is in there once. I have a greater chance of getting my name pulled then you do," I try to calm her down. It seems to work a little bit. I find Peeta and kiss him on the cheek before checking in and going to my designated area.
At exactly two, Effie Trinket starts her speech about Panem. She says the same one every year and shows the same video. Except this year is different. At the end of this video, the seal lights up the screen and President Snow is addressing the potential tributes.
"Hello, future tributes! We are so excited for this year! We have decided that the tributes this year are allowed to bring one loved one as a guest if they wish to. They will stay with your mentor and help you to get sponsors. Choose wisely, though, for they will also act as part of your mentoring team. This is due to certain mentors being… incompetent. That is all. Happy Hunger Games, and May the odds be ever in your favor." The seal appears, the anthem plays, and then the video finishes. I let the news sink in. I look over to Peeta and smile, letting him know he's my first choice. I turn back when Effie says, "Ladies first!" She walks over to the bowl as Haymitch Abernathy stumbles onto the stage and crashes into her. He's clearly drunk. Again. He's always drunk. Ever since he won, Haymitch has been completely wasted. He knocks Effie's wig askew and laughs before tumbling off stage. Effie gives him a disgruntled look before drawing out a slip at random and walking to the microphone.
"Primrose Everdeen!"
My world freezes as the news sinks in. I hear someone calling my sisters name. I look around for her. She's being escorted by some Peacekeepers. I realize that I'm the one calling out her name as I'm getting pulled away from my sister. I never realized that I had run toward her. I realized it was completely silent as six words come screaming out of my mouth.
'I VOLUNTEER! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!" Everybody is stunned into silence. Effie is shaken at this news and recovers quite well.
"Well, we normally wait until the tribute is on stage to ask for volunteers…" She trails off as I start to head toward the stage. Prim hugs my legs and cries while I walk up to the stage. I keep my face blank the entire time. I am at the stairs when I finally turn to face her.
"Prim, you have to let go. I'm doing this to protect you," I say. She lets go and hugs my upper body. I hug her back.
"You have to win. Promise me you'll win," she whispers.
"Of course, little duck." I try to pry her off, but she will not let go. Peeta has to get her off of me, as she screams, "No!" Over and over again.
"What's your name, dear?" Effie asks and puts me in front of the microphone.
"Katniss Everdeen," I say.
"I bet that was your sister," she remarks enthusiastically. I nod and step away from the mike, waiting for the male tribute to be called. And my nightmare becomes a reality.
"Peeta Mellark!" I fall to my knees as the news hits me. All attempts at concealing emotions are gone.
"No! Why him?" I cry out. Everybody and their mother from District 12 knew that we are dating. The entire crowd is still silent until a miracle happens. Well, a miracle of sorts.
"I volunteer as tribute!" There is a collective gasp as Peeta is on stage and trying to comfort me. I look up to see Peeta looking astonished. I turn to see who had volunteered to take my lover's place. I gasp in surprise.
For Gale Hawthorne has taken Peeta's place.
When he reaches the stage, Peeta helps me up and I kiss him on the lips, grateful that he is no longer in harms way. I turn back to Gale.
"What is your name, handsome?" I roll my eyes. Almost every girl flirts with Gale.
"Gale Hawthorne," he says nonchalantly.
"Why did you volunteer? You don't seem to have any relation to Mr. Mellark over here," Effie waves in our general direction.
"I volunteered because I can't stand seeing my best friend, Katniss, in pain," he says as he looks down. I glare at him. Effie turns back to me.
"Who do you choose as your special mentor?"
"Peeta Mellark," I say immediately. I smile at him sadly. He just looks like he's about to cry.
"And who do you pick, Gale?"
"I pick Primrose Everdeen." I almost hit him. How dare he bring my sister into this! She is just a baby! Yes, she can heal very well, but she is not the mentor type! Then someone runs into me. I look down to see Prim hugging my legs before hurrying over to Gale.
Whom I've just realized I will have to kill in a matter of weeks.