Katniss age 14

2010

"Dad, maybe I'm too old to go to camp this year." I say.

"Why Katniss? You love going to the woods. Is something wrong?" My dad asks me.

Something is wrong. For the past three years Cato Steel, Clove Holloway, Marvel Lee, and Glimmer Starling, have been pranking and bullying me every chance they get. When I tell the camp counselors, they just laugh because Brutus is Cato's older brother and Enobaria is Glimmer's older sister. Those two control the other counselors. So there's not much I can do.

"No. Everything's fine." I lie.

Right now they only bother me at camp. I don't want the harassment to spill over into school and be tortured all year long. I think my dad can tell I'm anxious.

"Okay, well you can tell me if something's bothering you. But don't worry Katniss, whatever it is, it'll work itself out. I love you. Have a good time. I'll see you in a few weeks for the family picnic. But just ask to call me if you need to." He says.

He can always make me feel better.

"I love you too, dad. Kiss Primmy for me. Bye." I say and wave as I walk to my assigned cabin.

I'm in cabin F this year. Cabins with letters are usually for girls. Numbers are for the boys. I hope I don't have to share a cabin with Clove and Glimmer this year. Then at least they can't switch out my shampoo or freeze my bras and panties or throw all my shoes up a tree. Put mud in my toothpaste or rub poison oak on my socks. One year they locked me in the bathroom for four hours. I missed the bonfire that night, where we usually do songs and s'mores.

Ugh! I hate them.

I get to my cabin and see Madge. Thank goodness! We also have a red headed girl who looks similar to a fox in our cabin. She doesn't talk to or even look at us. Well, so far so good.

"Katniss! Yay! We're roomies this year!" Madge shouts.

"Hey Madge."

"Guess what?" She asks.

"What?" I laugh.

"Gale is a counselor this year. And your Aunt Effie's nephew, Finnick Odair. He's dreamy but I heard he likes Annie Cresta." She says.

"Isn't Gale too young? I heard Finnick was coming from my dad. But Wait. Isn't Annie dating Brutus?" I ask.

"Well, as you know, Gale's birthday is the first week in June so he's 15 now and you can be a counselor at 15." She states.

"Oh yeah." I say lamely. I forgot Gale's birthday just happened. Duh, we went to there house.

"And, Annie broke up with Brutus over spring break. He told everyone it was cause she was an uptight, Witch with a B in front. Which probably means she wouldn't give him any nookie. Hahaha! Ok, but for reals, I heard from a source, that Brutus got really drunk and slept with Glimmer. And as you know she's dating Cato, which is double eww because as you also know, they're brothers. No one knew about the scandalous "affair" but Annie found out because someone taped the alleged sexcapade and emailed it to her. So she promptly and quietly, dumped him. Doesn't it pay to have a friend in on all the hot gossip?" She asks.

"I guess, if you can believe any of that." I retort.

The two of us get unpacked and go outside. Afterwards we go for a walk, waving at people we see that we know. Then Madge starts fidgeting with the million bracelets she always wears.

"Okay, so let's go find Gale." Madge says.

"We don't have to. He's probably making new counselor friends." I say.

"No, he's your best friend. Besides me of course." She says and laughs.

"Yeah but he's getting older now he might not have time for this best friend." I say.

"I know he's your best friend but do you just... like him? Or do you like him, like him?" She asks biting her lip.

Where is this coming from?

I never really thought about liking, liking Gale. He's just, Gale. I mean he's handsome. Olive skin, dark brown hair, grey eyes just like me. He plays basketball, likes to go camping with me and my dad. He's a good guy. Funny and kind of cute... wait what am I saying? He's like my brother.

"He's like a brother. His mom and dad were friends with my dad growing up. You know, like your mom and my mom. We've known each other since birth." I say.

"So you don't care if I... like him, like him?" She asks hopeful.

"Nope, and just one like is enough." I say and we laugh.

"Come on, let's go find him." She suggests happily.

When we finally find Gale, he is shooting arrows and says we should give it a try. I do, and I vaguely remember my dad telling me he used to compete in archery at camp when he was young. So he has a bow somewhere in the house. Then, I have a memory of him taking me camping and teaching me how to hold the bow, but I wasn't very good and I was 7 or 8. Now that I'm 14, and have better hand eye coordination, I get close to the bulls eye on my first shot.

"Whoa!" Gale and Madge say in unison.

"Got an old pro on our hands." Gale says.

"Naw. That's just beginners luck or something." I say back.

"Ok Catnip." He says and smiles.

I smile back feeling a little embarrassed by all the praise and attention.

"Well, I could use a little help. Would you show me Gale? Please?" Madge says and does her cutesy face.

Gale stands behind her a little too close and puts his hands on her hands. I roll my eyes and I slip away without them noticing. I decide to check out the cafeteria. I'm feeling a little hungry.

As I'm walking up the dirt path to the cafeteria, I see Thresh Tillage, a boy from my grade. He's tall, dark brown skin, brown eyes and really buff to be only 14. His little sister Rue, is best friends with Primrose. So I've met his whole family. He's with a boy I've seen around, Peeta.

They both play a lot of sports: wrestling, basketball, baseball, football, soccer and track. Peeta always gets hurt and has bruises, so he must be clumsy. I stop and say, "Hi" to Thresh and he introduces me to Peeta and we shake hands. His hand is sweaty so I wipe it on my jeans and he says sorry. I laugh and they both laugh. I say I'll see them around and leave.

I head to the cafeteria and when I arrive, there's a note hanging on the door:

CLOSED – DUE TO FAULTY PIPES!

I decide I need to find a counselor, but the only one around was Brutus.

"Excuse me Brutus?" I ask

"That's counselor Brutus to you Everdeen. You need something sweet cheeks?" He says making me uncomfortable. He is at least 3, maybe 4 years older than me, but he's looking me up and down.

So I ask him where I can get food and he tells me directions to a different cafeteria.

"I never knew we had two." I say.

"Yeah well only a few of us do, Kitty Kat." He says creeping me out.

"Okay, so they will still be serving snacks?" I ask still trying to remember if I've ever heard anyone speak of a different cafeteria.

He seems annoyed and asks if I need to write down directions, but I tell him I can remember. I start walking where he said to go.

I walk for at least fifteen minutes in the direction he told me. There are no buildings near by and no one around. He told me to turn right then left after I see a big tree with yellowish leaves. But there are a ton of trees fitting that description. Dang it. I think I'm lost. Why did I listen to Brutus?

When I give up and try to go back the way I came, I can't find my way. I find an unopened granola bar on the ground. As I pick it up, a loud noise pierces my ears and two, big, scary-looking dogs come tearing towards me. I take off running towards a tree. I climb it as high as I can. They try to jump up and I notice they have no collars and slightly foam from the edges of their mouths.

Great...rabies, I think to myself and stay put.

That's when it dawns on me; I was set up! There was never any second cafeteria. I have no phone; I am out of ear shot of anyone, and only have a granola bar to eat. On top of that I feel incredibly stupid for not realizing that of course Brutus wouldn't really help me. I swear to pay better attention to my instincts.

How am I gonna get out of this tree?