A/N: Thank you for reviewing, guys! I also want to remind you to follow and favorite so you can keep up with the story because I'm looking forward to writing the rest of this.
Chapter 2: Reaping Day
It's two o'clock in the afternoon and for the first time in my life, I'm not standing in the center of the square with the other teenagers. I'm sitting in a fancy chair on the stage of the town hall next to Peeta. Haymitch won't be falling off the stage this year because he'll never have to be a mentor again. In a way, I envy him. But I know that in order for another victor to take your place, you have to see several tributes through to the end of the Games. Effie sits next to Peeta in her spring green wig with matching heels and a dress. She's over the moon now that she's had proper victors and can't wait to see who she'll get to escort this year. Of course, everything will go smoother for Effie anyway since Haymitch won't be going to the Capitol this year.
The mayor begins his annual spiel on the history of Panem and the Hunger Games. I tune him out and scan the faces in the crowd for Prim. It worries me that she may be reaped, but it's out of my hands now. I take a deep breath and grasp for Peeta's hand. Just like a year ago in the chariot, Peeta is the only person who can steady me. He gives me a reassuring squeeze of his hand as Effie takes her place at the microphone.
"Welcome, everyone! As you already know, there will be a change in the reaping for the Quarter Quell," Effie begins. "Those who have taken tesserae have been removed from the reaping balls. Ladies first!"
I chew the inside of my lip until I can taste blood in my mouth. I clench my toes and hold my breath until Effie announces the girl's name.
"Lenora Bregel," she chirps. I breath a sigh of relief. After six months of worrying, it isn't Prim. The Peacekeepers surround her and walk her to the stage. Effie is slightly disappointed that there isn't as much excitement with the volunteering as last year.
As the Peacekeepers part from around the girl, I can see her features and it surprises me. She isn't a merchant's child at all, but clearly a girl from the Seam. She has dark hair and light eyes, built small in stature, but in fair shape for living in the Seam. She couldn't have been maybe fourteen years old.
Effie moves on to the boys and is calling the name before I've finished observing the girl I will mentor. I didn't catch the boy's name and whisper to ask Peeta. He doesn't answer, eyebrows raised in skepticism and admiration. I take a look at the boy. I don't know him personally. I've never even been in their clothing shop in town. But I know his name.
Kade Chavers is an eighteen-year-old merchant boy whose parents run a clothing store with outfits our family could never afford. Peeta recognizes him as well. He's probably even spoke to him on occasion.
Effie congratulates the two of them and asks them to shake hands. She even manages to move the audience to a round of applause, a rare occurence at the reaping. But District Twelve stands a good chance of winning the Games this year. I know Kade has the advantage of height and strength. Peeta can surely get him sponsors with those looks. With a flashy entrance and some training, he is definitely a contender.
We all stand for the national anthem and the tributes are herded by Peacekeepers to the back of the Justice Building. Peeta and I sit around for an hour waiting for the tributes to say their goodbyes to family and friends. I remember Peeta's father coming to visit me just to bring me cookies out of the goodness of his heart. It's who Peeta gets his kindness from.
The hour is up soon and I notice a petite blond girl staring at Peeta and I. She must be Prim's age or younger. I smile at her. Her face breaks into an embarrassed grin and she runs off before I can approach her.
Our car carries us, the tributes, and their chaperone, Effie. As we arrive at the train station, there are plenty of cameras for the mentors and escort to pose for and the tributes to gaze at with straight faces.
As soon as I board the train, I go to my bedroom and change out of my tight dress. Not only are frilly clothes unnecessary, they're outright uncomfortable. I dress in something more appropriate and relaxing. A white shirt and simple corduroy jeans.
Now that I am in respectable attire, I go back through the train compartments to the dining car to find the tributes staring motionless at the platters of food.
"The lamb stew for dinner is the best," I say as I take a seat in front of them. "But don't overdo it on the rich food."
They look at me like I'm their saving grace, which really I am from a tribute's point of view. I didn't hit it off with Haymitch right away, but he was my lifeline in the Games. "So, what are your names, again?" I ask.
"Lenora," the girl says quietly. "I'm from the Seam, but my mother sells enough alcohol at the Hob to get by."
"Who's your mother?" I ask. "Do you have any other family?"
She shakes her head. "My father died from pneumonia a few winters ago. Since then, I've helped my mother as much as I can with her white liquor business."
Then it dawns on me who her mother is. I've bought white liquor from Ripper at the Hob for Haymitch in case there's a shortage and he goes into shock again. Her mother is a survivor. She found a way to make money when all other doors were shut. Enough for her daughter to never need tesserae.
I smile sweetly at her and turn my attention to Kade. It feels awkward to be mentoring someone older than yourself. "How about you?"
"Just my parents and my two younger sisters," he replies. "One is sixteen, the other is eleven. We get by running the clothing shop."
Peeta comes into the car, shocked that he is late. "Have I missed anything?" he asks.
"They're just introducing themselves," I answer as he takes a seat next to me. "Kade was just telling me about the shop his family runs."
"Yeah, how are Dreana and Prarie?" he asks.
At this he genuinely smiles. "They're just fine. Prarie practically obsessed over last year's Games. She normally hates them, but when you said you were in love with Katniss at the interview, she couldn't stop watching. Our mother had to let her, of course. She's denied so many of life's small pleasures, we had to allow her to fantisize about District Twelve's star-crossed lovers."
I tensed, knowing that was the exact same thing we'd done to the Capitol's emotions, playing on their sympathies to get food and medicine. I don't really know what to say to a little girl back home overjoyed by watching true love on a screen. That must be the girl I saw at the Justice Building. Fortunately, Peeta breaks the silence.
"We'll just have to all meet her when we get back home," Peeta says, clapping his hand on Kade's arm. Kade gives a weak smile. Peeta is the eternal optimist, always hoping things will turn out just right. This time, he may be right. If the odds are on our side, maybe me and Peeta can bring home someone from District 12.