I wander outside into the cool, fresh air, completely different from the tensed out atmosphere in the bakery. Less then a mile and I'm at Lenya's house, a one room, cramped space, except unlike my house, it seems like a paradise. I raise my hand to knock, but before I can, Lenya opens the door, and hurdles out, knocking me to the ground. I manage to gasp a breath in before she squeezes me. "Promise me you won't get picked, ok? Promise!" she says anxiously. "Why are you worried about me? You're the one who has your name in there so much! Why can't you just take the bread I offer you? Then you'd be safer!" Through my whole tirade, Lenya looks at me. "You know why," she whispers. And I do. It's the same reason I won't do whatever my mother says.

Pride. Everyone clings to the little bits of it floating around, because it's something to hold onto in the desolate landscape of district 12. It's our savior, yet the one that dooms us as well. Merchants, and the Seam. An invisible, unbreakable barrier between us " Come on, Peeta! Lighten up! Tonight mom prepared us a feast. She bought stew from the Hob, and dad saved up enough to get us a loaf and some butter." As I look at her, my heart aches, because I know that is not a feast. I know that my family eats better than that on a regular basis. Lenya gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, and I sigh. " I promise," I say. "And I always keep my promises."

"Thank you! Will you help me calm Alena?" She says anxiously. Next year she's in the reaping, and she's getting nervous." I nod my consent, and we head into her house.

By the time I make it back to the house, it's nearly reaping time. I quickly dress up, and head to the square. I sign in with the other seventeen year olds, herded into a pen like an animal. But I suppose, to the capital, we are animals. Don't they realize how despicable they seem to us, with all there fancy clothes, and fake appearances? Don't they realize we don't want to be like them? I glance over at the 16 year old pen, and catch Lenya panicked eyes. I see her family by the square edge, and most of mine. My mother didn't bother coming. Didn't care enough, I suppose. Two of the three chairs are filled, one with the grotesque body of Effie Trinket, the other with District 12's mayor. The mayor steps up to the podium and begins reading the history of Panem, how it rose from the ashes of North America, and how the revolution against the Capitol brought the dark days among us. Then, the dark days ended, and the Hunger Games began. "It is both a time for repentance and thanks," drones the mayor. Next, he reads the list of past District 12 victors. In all seventy three games, we have had exactly two. Only one of them is still alive. At that moment, Haymitch Abernathy, the only living victor, stumbles on stage, drunk. The crowd gives a scattered applause, but Haymitch is very obviously confused. He tries to give Effie Trinket a hug, which she manages to fend off. The mayor is distressed, because he knows we are the laughingstock of Panem right now. Aren't we always, though? He quickly tries to fix it, introducing Effie Trinket, District 12's escort. Effie trots up to the podium, declaring, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Right. Everyone in the audience now knows that Effie's bright bubblegum colored hair is a wig, because Haymitch's hug knocked it onto a tilt, but I knew it months ago. There is no way that couldn't be fake. Effie goes on on what an honor it is to be here, but we all know she's just wishing she could move up to a better district, with "proper victors."

I look around anxiously, spotting Lenya in the crowd with the other sixteen year old girls. I give her a small smile, and she mimics Effie Trinket, causing me to almost spontaneously burst out laughing. It's the pressure, I suppose. Now, it's time to pick the names. Like she always does, Effie Trinket twitters, "Ladies First," and hops over to the girls' ball. Now I'm hoping desperately it's not Lenya, anyone but her, anyone-

And it's not. The name Effie reads out in her fake voice is Primrose Everdeen.