No Katniss, please don't leave me, you're my only friend. I know it's selfish, but these are my only thoughts as Katniss slowly makes her way to the stage, but it's true, no one else would sit by me, no one else would pair up with me in sport, no one, Katniss was my only friend and though I hate to even think she's probably going to die.
I lock down my muscles and it takes all my strength not to run up and stop her or volunteer for her. I don't even think you can volunteer for a volunteer, or in the career districts would be one big volunteering free for all. Besides, I wasn't brave enough, not like Katniss I wasn't really much compared to Katniss .I'm just the mayor daughter who's never had to fight for anything in her life.
Eiffe is completely confused as to what is going on and by the look on her face you would've thought her brain was going to explode but she seemed to collect herself, "Lovely!" She beams, "But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, um . . ." You can tell that this hasn't happened before. "What does it matter?" Dad? I look to him and see he looks pained, I don't know what he's thinking, he stands up here every year and watch's kid after kid get reaped, maybe it's because he knows Katniss, I talk about her a lot I suppose her being the only one I really know at school. Or maybe it was just the pain of the whole situation, I don't think there's ever been a volunteer from District 12, "What does it matter? Let her come forward."
Prim was still screaming and had locked her arms around Katniss, "No Katniss! No! You can't go!" "Prim let go" Katniss sounds mean but you can tell it's an act, "Let go!" Prim still stays until Gale comes down and pries her off Katniss and whispers something in Katniss' ear, her face hardens into an emotionless mask and Prim's screams dissolve into sobs as she clings to Gale, it's heartbreaking.
Gales carries back to Katniss' mother who seems in a state of deep shock as Katniss climbs the steps onto the stage. "Well bravo! That's the spirit of the Games! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" That woman needs a slap, this is not in the spirit of the Games, that is the love of a sister who will do anything, even if it means certain death for her, to save her sister protect her from harm. This is anything but a Game.
I was prepared to stand out like a sore thumb and not clap just stand there which is probably the most outrageous thing I could do on TV without getting publicly whipped or executed. I brace myself for the weird looks that are bound to come my way, but none come, there is no sound, not one person has started to clap, then I notice movement on my left and an elderly man slowly raises his hand to his lips and holds it out to her, I copy and bless this unknown man silently in my head. Soon all of District 12 has done the same and an unexpected feeling crosses me, pride. Pride for my District, pride for its members and proud to be a part of it. We might not to be able to boast finery or good health, but at least we still have some form of will, some humanity left to not just bow down to the Capitol and act happy about it shipping off our kids every year to the slaughter.
Just as I thought District 12 might actually make a good impression this year, Haymitch, who is District 12's only victor and a known drunk, decides it's time to make an appearance and he stumbles across the stage to throw his arm around Katniss and see her wrinkle her nose in disgust. "Look at her. Look at this one! I like her! Lots of… Spunk!" He seems proud to have come up with a word, I can't imagine just how much liquor he has had today. He starts staggering towards one of the camera "More than you!" More than you? What in the hell is he going on about, he can't possibly be speaking to the Capitol. Father is going to be so mad.
Just as he opened his mouth to continue he fell headfirst off of the stage, hits his head and just lays there. He's knocked himself out. District is officially the laughing stock of the capitol, again. Great.
"What an exciting day! But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" Eiffe trills as she fusses over her wig, she swiftly makes her way over to the boy's ball of names puts her hand straight and pulled out the first slip her fingers met, obviously in a hurry to end this as it hasn't exactly gone to plan.
I hope it's not Gale, don't let it be Gale. "Peeta Mellark!" A memory comes to the surface, it was on the first day of school, well for me anyway, I had been sick and came in a few days late and the teacher had asked who would like to show me round, no one put their hand up it was mortifying, then Peeta put his hand up and showed me around school and let me sit with him at lunch, I only talked to him a few times after that, but I knew he was nice kid.
He made his shaky way up looking completely in shock and I could see though he was strong he wouldn't last long in the Games, he was too soft, too nice.
I hate this, I hate that he's going to die because he's too nice to go savage and start killing all the other children, I hate that Katniss is going to die because she's trying to save her sister from a horrible fate. Though I suppose I'm jumping the gun, one of them could win, more likely Katniss, she can hunt, she's tough, she's brave, the people here respect her, might even scrape up enough money to sponsor her. But even if that did happen, the odds weren't in her favour, growing up in District 12 was not in her favour, growing up in the seam made the odds worse, though I suppose you could argue that it made her tougher, stronger.
Whilst I was thinking this through father had made his Treaty of Treason speech which no one was listening to, everyone had a 'deep in thought' look on their face especially Katniss, she was staring fixated on a spot on the distance probably trying to not to show fear, she didn't want to seem weak. Katniss and Peeta shake hands then are swept into the Justice Building.
Everyone is dispersed by Peace keepers and children run to find their families and bask in the relief that they're safe for another year, I however head straight to the Justice Building so I can say my goodbyes to Katniss, I can't let her leave without saying goodbye. I rush in and see her mother and sister go in to the room where they hold the tributes and close the door. I sit down opposite Mr. Mellark on one of the plush velvet cushioned seats, he's probably waiting to see Peeta. When Prim and Mrs. Everdeen come out I want to say something to comfort or console them, but nothing comes out, I mean what am I supposed to say, so I just reach out and touch Mrs. Everdeen's shoulder and put on what I hope is a comforting face, she just reaches up and squeezes my hand before picking up a crying Prim and heading out the door. To my surprise Mr. Mellark gets up and I notice a white bag in his hand, he sees me looking and says, "I'll only be a minute, I just want to give something to the girl" I just nod my head, wondering whether the family of another tribute has ever come to give gifts to their son or daughters opponent, District 12's people were more compassionate than I will ever understand.
He was only a minute and as I made my way slowly to the door, my hand found its way to my Mockingjay pin which had been to the Hunger Games with my aunt and I knew what I was going to do.
I walk in and see Katniss' eyebrows quirk in surprise, I don't have much time, this is going to have to be short. "They let you wear one thing from your district in the arena." I take off my pin and hold it out to her, "One thing to remind you of home. Will you wear this?"
"Your pin?" She doesn't sound convinced but I step forward any way.
"Here, let me put it on your dress, all right?" I pin it on her dress and look to her face as pain wells up inside me, "Promise you'll wear it in the arena, Katniss? Promise?" I sound desperate and know I won't last much longer on the whole holding strong and not crying to make it easier on Katniss thing.
"Yes" She says, but she still sounds bewildered, I can't say a real good bye so I just peck her on the cheek and duck out of the room. I close the door and lean against it and whisper, "Good bye Katniss, I'll miss you" to no one, I just needed to say it, even if Katniss can't hear it. I sit down again and let the tears stream silently down my face as I rock backwards and forwards on my perch.
I almost don't notice when Gale storms in and barges open the door and swings it shut, Peace keepers stick their heads round the doorway and don't seem to know what's happening. They march over to the door and practically drag him out; I catch Katniss shouting "Don't let them starve!" She must be thinking about her family, as always even when she's being sent off to her death she's still only thinking about her family, she really doesn't deserve this.
"I won't! You know I won't! Katniss remember I …" The Peace keepers slam the door in his face. He shoulders slump defeated and I think he's about to pass out when his whole body starts shaking and a strange noise is coming out of him.
"Gale" I try to say that anyway but from my crying my voice has gone croaky and I can't even understand what I'm saying, I clear my throat, "Gale, are you okay?"
He turns on me "What do you think?" He practically screams in my face before spinning to sprint out the door, not before I saw his blotchy face and puffy eyes. He was crying? I've never imagined a boy like him to cry, well he wasn't really a boy anymore, he was a man, a very manly man and he just run out here crying, I should make sure he's okay.