3 MONTHS! 3 WHOLE MONTHS SINGLE! How the hell did I manage it? I trudge down the path to school. The early morning sun beats down on my head and the ever-present coal dust settles on my shoulders. I had to bear the torture of spending hours with Katniss everyday. Watching her talk, laugh, hunt. Knowing I could never ask her out because I was strictly in the friend zone and it would ruin what unstable closeness we have. Also I have to see Flo everyday. She didn't seem to care at all that we broke up. In fact the very next day she went out with my ex best mate Archie. Now she seems to have gone out with every reasonably good-looking boy in the school. I seethe to myself, kicking up the dirt. Why was life so unfair? Why were girls so difficult?

The night Gale dumped me Archie appeared at my door asking if I was okay. When he asked me out I decided to say yes just to spite Gale. It worked. I sigh as I sit with my head in my palm staring out the classroom window.

A rumour had gone round that it was me that had dumped Gale, and he wasn't going out with any more girls because his heart was broken. I definitely wasn't going to correct them. I soon got the nickname 'the Heartbreaker' and every boy in the school wanted to ask me out, to see if I wouldn't dump them. I would. Peeta keeps asking me if it's to make Gale jealous. I suppose it kind of is, but it also makes me feel better about myself; to prove that Katniss isn't better than me.

Anyway I had more important things to worry about: it was the reaping tomorrow. The whole day seemed subdued as everyone wondered which one of us would be sent to their deaths. Being from district twelve meant almost certain loss of life in the games. You would have no sponsors, no allies, and no fans. Just your own skill -which looking at the starving, weak teenagers- wasn't much. My name was in there 4 times, being 15 with no tesserae. But I daren't even count how many times Gale's name is in there. And the odds were never in our favour.

The alarm beeps telling me its midday. At first I'm terrified that I slept in but then I realised which day this was. The day of the reaping. I sigh, heading downstairs and making myself a massive breakfast/lunch. If I was going into the games I may as well be full for the train ride. After finishing my scrambled eggs and bacon I head upstairs. I pull on the dress dad bought me to apologise for being away so much. It must have been incredibly expensive. I didn't even recognise the name in the tag, only the small writing that said 'Capitol' underneath. A beautiful dress fresh from the Capitol. And it was beautiful. It was short, strapless with a puffy skirt covered in white and blue flowers.

I headed for the section of 15 year old girls at 1:55. Smiling at my friends I slotted in at the end. I immediately spot Gale in the 18-year-old section, bristling with anger or fear. I know I really should be worried for him and all the other seam kids ho have to take out tesserae but all I can think of is myself. Butterflies zoom round my stomach and ram into the inside of my stomach. I can't seem to stop shaking and my head feels light, my vision blurry. What if I'm picked? All the horrific ways I've seen tributes die in the past whizz through my head. Decapitated? Eaten by mutts? Throat ripped out with someone's bare teeth? Speared with a trident? The list goes on and on. So much so I feel dizzy thinking about it. I realise the history of Panem speech is over. Haymitch stumbles drunkenly on stage to a smattering of applause, only by those who cannot be chosen. As Effie does her speech I realise how close the reapings are. How one little slip of paper picked can change that person's life.

'Ladies first!'

Her hand reaches into the bowl searching around for a piece of paper. Drawing it out there is a collective intake of breath as she crosses the stage.

'Primrose Everdeen'.

Its always sad when a twelve year old get picked, but that's nothing compared to Prim. She was so sweet and cute no one would ever wish this fate on her. There's a few sighs, some disapproving noises and a couple of outraged cries but no one does anything. The little girl walks up the aisle, terrified but brave. As she passes I hear the cry behind me.

'Prim. PRIM!' Katniss sprints out and pushes Prim's small body behind her. 'I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!'

Everyone is shocked. No one volunteers. Ever. The mayor ignores the usual procedure because its obvious no one else will volunteer and Katniss takes her place on stage. Prim starts screaming and Gale has to carry her off. I watch Katniss stand strong on the stage, her expression unreadable. Sibling love doesn't usually stretch to volunteering for games. She must really love Prim. No one claps her, which makes me just a little proud of district twelve. I see Peeta press three fingers to his lips and stretch them out to her: the old way of saying goodbye to someone you love. I copy him and soon everyone is doing it, say goodbye. Forever.

Haymitch slurs something in a drunken haze, throwing his arm round Katniss. H then manages to knock himself unconscious, though no one seems to care. It's the boy's time.

Effie grabs the top slip of paper and reads out the name.

'Peeta Mellark'.

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