Authors note: I love how many people are reading my story, but I would really love if you guys would review and give me feedback. Tell what you like and don't like, what you think I should change, what you think I should do instead.
Also I am going to try and post at least every other day! Enjoy.
On the way home, I think about tesserae and how unfair everything is. The Capitol tries to separate up, rich from poor. And it is to their advantage! That way, we will never be able to team up and rebel against them.
These thoughts are not new ones. I have had this conversation in the woods with Katniss many times. But she doesn't get why I have to vent. Her train of thought is: We live in a bad place. Okay. I would still have to get the food on the table in a good place.
But that may not be true. If we lived somewhere else, our fathers might not have died in that mine explosion. Then again, if we lived somewhere else, we might not have been born.
As I get closer to home, I try and calm myself down. I think about something else. Should I tell Katniss I love her? Should I wait until after the reaping? Before? These questions calm me down; at least for now.
Finally home, I find my mother trying – but failing- to get my brothers and sister ready for the reaping. I almost laugh at the sight. Posey is screaming, still in her nightgown but her hair is curled. Vick is complaining that his shoes don't match or something like that. And finally, Rory is ready to go, but he is sitting on our love seat in a daze.
"I expected more from you guys," I say in my authoritive voice. It lets them know that I'm serious now.
Posey stops screaming, Vick stops complaining, and Rory pays attention. My mother mouths a thank you.
"Now Posey, why is favorite girl screaming bloody murder?" I ask.
"I don't wanna get dressed Gale!" she cries.
"Don't wanna get dressed? Why on earth wouldn't you wanna do that? Getting dressed is the fun part," I say, and it's not a lie.
"Really?" she asks me with those big brown eyes that I just can't let down. She got those from mom.
"Yes really," I laugh. "Now, why don't you and I both go get dressed? We'll have a little race: whoever finishes first, wins."
This excites her; she loves beating me at, anything really. "OK!" she says, "Ready, Set, Go!"
She races toward her bedroom, not even checking to see if I am following.
"Okay, who's next?" Vick comes over to me and starts complaining.
"Alright, how about this?" I think for a second, but not long enough for them to notice. "How about we all go bare foot?" I asked. Seems less humiliating than going with mix-matched shoes.
"Great idea Gale!" he says and gives me a hug. I go over and sit next to Rory.
"Hey, you're going to lose your race if you don't get a move on," Rory says, taking off his shoes.
"Please. Posey can't even reach her closet doorknob, let alone any cloths," I role my eyes. "What's bothering you?"
"This is my first reaping," he looks up at me with tear filled grey eyes. Just like Katniss' eyes. Minus the tears.
"You're not going to get picked," I say. "Even if you do, I'll volunteer. So you still won't go in."
He gives me a hug. "Thanks Gale. I don't know what I would ever do without you." And with that, I just solved all three problems.
People come silently in, signing in at the Capitol desk. This is a good time for the peacekeepers to really see just how many people are in our small little district.
The 12- 18 year olds go into their correct section, marked and roped off by age and gender. Oldest in the front, youngest in the back. For instance, Rory is in the very back, like Prim is on the girl side, and I am at the very front. Everyone else, people either too young or old to be reaped, stand around the ropes and hold hands of loved ones.
I focus on the stage like I always do to get rid of the butterflies in my stomach. There are two glass balls that hold thousands of little slips of paper. Maybe even half a million. On twenty of them are Katniss Everdeen. Two tiny slips hold our siblings names. Forty-two hold my own. The odds are not in my favor.
To the right, there is a giant screen on which they play the same video every year. To the right are three chairs, where our escort, Haymitch, and the mayor all sit. As soon as the clock strikes two, the cameras will start rolling, and the reaping.
Effie Trinket gets up to the microphone. She is wearing a pink wig, scaring looking make-up, and a green suit. "Welcome, welcome. I hope you're excited, because we brought a film to you all the way from the Capitol!"
I find Katniss in the crowd. She is wearing a dress that was probably her mother's. Her hair is in a fish-tail braid instead of her usual one. She's Beautiful. She looks back at me "War, terrible war." I mouth. She laughs. When it starts, she turns her attention to the screen. But I have watched this enough times, so I just look at her.
When it is over, the ever-annoying Effie Trinket comes back to the mike. "Well don't you feel special?" she asks like she does every year. I never know if she is being sarcastic or not. "I almost forgot! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
She starts over towards the girls' glass ball. "As always, ladies first!" She reaches in. All I am thinking is not Catnip. Not Katniss Everdeen.
She reaches in and walks back toward the podium. "Primrose Everdeen." And it's not Katniss.
But it might as well be.
Prim walks toward the stage in what feels like slow motion. She looks pissed. She has almost reached the stage when Katniss does what I was so afraid she would do.
"Prim!" it sounds like she is being strangled. "Prim!" She shouts louder. The crowd parts for her, and Prim stops. Katniss shoves Prim behind her. "I volunteer! I Volunteer as tribute!" she says it like she is scared no one will hear her. I subconsciously move toward them.
"No Catnip. You can't go." I whisper.
"Lovely!" Effie Trinket says. "But I believe there's a small matter of protocol…" Like she knows what that is.
"What does it matter?" The mayor asks, looking at Katniss with an expression that says I don't agree. "What does it matter? Let her come forward." Prim starts screaming hysterically.
"No Katniss! No! You can't go!"
"Prim let go," she says harshly. Though I know it's only because she is trying not to cry. "Let go!"
Apparently, I kept inching toward them this whole time, because now I am two inches away from them. I pull Prim away, but she is still thrashing in my arms. "Up you go, Catnip." I say. It sounds like I am about to cry. Great. I take Prim to her mother, and go back to my spot.
Now what? Do I still tell her I love her? Somehow, it just won't feel right if I only have three minutes. 'Oh yea, and before you go off, possibly forever, just wanted you to know I have been madly in love with you for about a year now!'
"Well bravo!" Effie Gushes. "That's the Spirit of the Games!" After that, I sort of drown Effie out to be in my own thoughts. I don't know if I could live without her. But then I hear Effie say, "Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" Luckily, no one does. But I'm pissed that she even wanted us to clap, so I hold up my three middle fingers. It's a symbol that usually only the dead are worthy of getting, but I decided Katniss Everdeen is too. And so does everyone else.
"Well, what an exciting day!" Effie says, "And more to come!" She goes over to the boys' ball and picks the first name she gets. And I don't even have time to wish for my brother's safety before she says "Peeta Mellark."
Okay so what did you think? Oh, and I also wanted to know if Gale should tell Katniss he loves her or not. You can PM me or put it in a review, either one. I also have a Poll up on my wall if that is easier for anybody!