(Author's note: Please check out my friend's story "Rue's Hunger Game Nightmare"! Her username is Katniss123 so please look at it if you have time!)
I rush to the Justice Building and suddenly realize that the tears I held back are running down my face. People stare at me weirdly, so I must look like a wreck. I reach the justice Building and Effie Trinket is talking to reporters. She inspects me like I'm a stray dog on the streets and says,"You must be related to Katniss… are you her cousin?" Reporters scream questions about how it feels to have my cousin ripped away from me. I just push Effie aside and she gasps,"Young man! Use your manners! Ugh, who were you raised by? A pack of wolves?" I glare at her as I push open the door. Dumb old Effie. Now reporters will be asking me for interviews also since they think I'm apart of Katniss' family. I run upstairs to two doors. Except I don't choose the one with Katniss behind it. I choose Peeta's. He seems surprised to see me at first and opens his mouth to say something, but I stop him,"Promise me! Promise me you won't let her die!" He stares at me questioningly and asks,"What do you mean?" I close in on him and my voice drops to a whisper,"Make sure Katniss comes out of the arena alive." I turn on my heel and leave the room, but as I leave I hear Peeta say,"I promise."
Madge comes out of Katniss' room as I walk in. Katniss runs up and hugs me. I know she's trying her best not to cry, which makes me stay strong. She asks me to keep her family safe and it takes all of my strength to answer. I wish I never had to let her go, but the guards come in and drag me out. I struggle and yell,"Katniss! Remember, I-" The door slams in my face. I whisper to myself,"Love you." I walk out the building and a few minutes later, I can see a train leaving the station in the distance. I know that Katniss is inside and that makes my heart even heavier.
The next day, the opening ceremony is being shown. No specific district gets my attention. They all seem plain and unoriginal. There is a tiny girl from District 11 that looks pretty and very familiar. But I can't remember who. Then it hits me. Prim. They both are the same age and size but the girl has dark skin and brown eyes. I can't imagine how Katniss feels when she sees the girl. Then the screen lights up when Katniss shows up. All of my worries about what horrid outfit her stylist would put her in melt away. She seems to be on fire. Her outfit is long and black with red, orange, and yellow flames painted on it. Her hair is in a braid and on top of her head seems to be a gigantic fire. She looks radiant in her outfit of fire and everything seems perfect until I see something. Peeta is holding her hand. I want to scream at the television but I hold myself back. Katniss smiles and waves to everyone an when she waves at the screen, it feels like she's waving to me. She disappears from the screen and my heart feels weak.
A few days later, when Katniss' score is shown, I'm not surprised to see an eleven pop up. I smile and whisper,"Good job Catnip." Then it's time for the interviews. The first girl is definitely being sexy, but that's what I hate in girls. She doesn't have a natural beauty. Not like Katniss. I start to get impatient watching the interviews, but as if on cue, Katniss walks onto the stage. My heart melts when I see her. She looks like a beautiful jewel set on fire. She's not being sexy, funny, charming, or arrogant. She's being Katniss. It's not what the Capital loves. It's what I love. When her interview is over, Peeta walks onto the stage. He's being charming and joking around with Caesar Flickerman. I personally find it annoying, but the crowd loves it. It's the moment when Caesar asks him if he has a girlfriend that the crowd is silent. Peeta says,"Well, there is one girl I've had a crush on ever since I can remember, but I don't think she even knew I existed until the reaping." Caesar replies,"So here's the deal, you win, you go home. She can't turn you down then, eh?" Peeta doesn't seem comforted by that,"I don't think winning will help in my case." Caesar raises and eyebrow and asks,"Why ever not?" Peeta looks down and blushes,"Because...because...she came here with me."
I'm not angry, I'm furious. It blinds me along with the tears running down my face. My tough image seems to wash away with every tear. My sister Posy comes up and says to me,"That boy can't love Katniss! You do!" I look down at her and say,"Yes, but he's told the whole nation of Panem. It's too late for me."