I freeze, not entirely sure what was going on. Why was she saying Peeta's name instead of some random boy I didn't know? It echoed around my head: Peeta. Peeta Mellark. Maybe they meant another Peeta? A different one? But then I see him walking down the, quickly covered up shocks shows on his face. He walks up to the stage, calmly, bravely. It hits me.

Peeta is going into the games.

My Peeta.

I froze. I think I staggered a little because next thing I knew Mich was holding me.

'Flo, I think you'd better go visit him. He'd want to see you before, you know…' he trailed off.

Before his death.

Because he would die in the games. There was no way around it. He was so kind hearted he could never kill. In fact he'd probably try to protect Katniss. Oh god. Suddenly Peeta's dad finds me out of nowhere. He pulls me towards the justice building. It's comforting not to have to make the decision about whether to go or not. He sits me down on the velvet sofa.

'I'm going to say goodbye to him first. You go in after I come back'. I nod helplessly, not really listening. He disappears into the room which must contain Peeta and I sink lower into the chair, completely helpless. I wouldn't let myself think about all the things that could happen to him, the horror of watching him die or even how I would live without him. I simply stared at the pattern of the curtains, counting the swirls, memorising the colours. Soon someone comes and sits next to me, putting their arm round me. I don't bother to look at them but the familiar woody smell tells me its Gale. He must be waiting to see Katniss. Katniss, who Peeta would kill himself to protect… I press my forehead to eradicate that trail of thought. I must remain numb if I am to survive the next hour.

Suddenly Mr Mellark leaves the room, gesturing for me to go in. I stand up taking a few deep breaths to steady myself. I remember the song my mother used to sing to me when I was sad or frightened.

Speed bonny boat,

Like a bird on the wing,

Onward the sailors cry,

Carry the lad that's born to be king,

Over the sea to Skye.

I don't know where Skye is, or if it even exists. And there are definitely no kings anymore. But the tune always comforted me and I walked carefully into the room that contained my best friend.

He through himself on me, hugging me so tight I could barely breath. 12 years of hugs like this flash through my mind, back to when we were very small and whenever I fell over and hurt myself he would insist on 'kissing it better' and giving me a big hug. Tears gather in my bottom eyelid but I didn't let them spill over. He wouldn't want that. I felt big wet tears land on my shoulder and knew he was crying. But I had always been the strong one and I needed to be that now to reassure him.

'Why did it have to be her, Flo? Why her? Out of every girl in District 12 she had pick her sister…' his voice breaks at the end and he dissolved into sobs. I have no idea what to say to comfort him so I just hand him a tissue and put my arm round him.

'I'm going to try and save her you know?' he asks when he's composed himself a bit.

'I kinda guessed' He pulls a watery smile.

'I love you Flo, you know that' I laugh.

'Yeah, I know that. And vice versa' We stand there smiling at each like a pair of idiots.

'Goodbye Peeta'

'Goodbye Flo'

With one last hug I leave the room knowing I would never see my best friend again. The hall was now full of Peeta's friends and relatives so I could easily slip unnoticed through the crowd. As soon as I was out in open air I started sprinting. I stumble a couple of times but manage to pick myself up, determined to reach my destination. By the time I reach the meadow I'm exhausted ad my knees are grazed and muddy. I squeeze under the fence into the forest and start sprinting again, ripping off leaves and branches as I go. It seemed only fair that I could push a little bit of my pain onto something else, whether it be a plant or the whole Capitol. As I run I scream at the sky. I shriek all the worst curses I know, insulting the Capitol, the games, president Snow, Katniss, anyone I can think of that may have caused this. When I'm done I crumble to the floor and let my held in tears spill out. I think of Peeta in the games. Such a kind, gentle person in something so cruel. What if Katniss is the one that ends his life? Then I think of life back home, without him. There will be a dark whole, a void that no one else can fill.

I gather all the happy memories of Peeta I have together and one by one I let them go. Painting animals on the floor tiles, gone. Riding our bikes round the square, gone. Endless days of helping in the shops, gone. Planning to get Katniss to like him, gone. I am left an empty shell, numb throughout. Shattered I sink into a dreamless sleep, right on the forest floor.

REVIEW.

Nance