As soon as I entered the house Prim ran into me, screaming. "Come on, Katniss, we have to get ready." Then she took my hand and pulled me into our small bathroom.

"Would you help me, please?" My sister looked at me pleadingly and I took her in a tight embrace.

"Sure, little duck. Do you want me to braid your hair?"

She nodded and I gave her a kiss on her cheek, then I started braiding her hair. Again I had to think about the Reaping. What if Prim was reaped? God, I really didn't want to think about that…

"Thanks!" Prim jumped off the edge of our bathtub and left the room. I closed the door with a smile on my face and enjoyed having a couple of minutes of privacy. While I was getting ready Gales words were rushing through my mind. Could we really make it – running through the woods, escaping from our district? Without Prim and mum? I shook my head and tried to get rid of these thoughts, but this possibility kept me thinking all the time. You couldn't say I was in love with Gale but he was definitely someone to bear. He was my best friend, my hunting partner and you could rely on him, no matter what.

When I left the bathroom half an hour later I heard quiet voices in the corridor. Mum was standing in Prims room, helping her with her dress. I watched the situation in astonishment. I haven't seen mum like this since…since dad died. During the past years she has only been living in her own world and hardly ever been talking. She started caressing Prims cheek. "Don't be afraid, darling."

I felt the lump in my throat getting bigger and bigger, especially when Prim started crying and flinged herself in our mother's arms. "Mum, I don't want to be a tribute. Help me."

"Prim, you don't need to be worried. Your name is only in there once, they won't pick you", I tried to calm her and rubbed her back. But I had no idea who I really wanted to calm, me or her…

Time was passing fast and suddenly it was time for attending the Reaping. I prayed about a thousand times that they wouldn't pick one of us or the Hawthornes. Prim, who was walking next to me, looked at me worriedly. "Everything alright?"

"Sure." I couldn't show her how scared I was, it would have made her feel even worse. During the afternoon mum took care of her touchingly and I couldn't stop being amazed. That was the first time she had taken control of our life again since dads death. Before Prim and I left for the Reaping she took me aside. " I hope you know how proud I am of you. How you took care of…" She started crying at the end of the sentence.

"Mum, it's okay." I could barely stand seeing her like that.

"No, it's not. I should have been there for you much earlier. I am so sorry."

I tried to interrupt her, but she cut me off. At the end of our talk she made an indication which nearly swept me off my feet. "Darling, it's time for you to start living, too."

I looked at her in amazement. There was no way she could know about Gale's plan, could she? Unfortunately she left the room before I had the chance to ask her.

We had arrived in the center in the meantime and I scanned the crowd for Gale. He had been looking for me, too and when our eyes met, I had made my decision.

"Prim, you have to queue up now. I have to settle something, but I'll be right back, okay?"

Prim looked at me sceptically, but she didn't say a word and started queuing up.

I ran to Gale as fast as I could and pulled him with me.

"Katniss, everything alr.."

I cut him off. "Okay."

"What?" He sounded confuse.

"I am coming with you."

"What the heck are you talking about?"

"If we don't get reaped tonight, I will run away with you."

His face lit up at once, but then he stared at me quizzically. "Without Prim and your mum?"

I shook my head. "I will try to persuade them to come with us. If I succeed we can leave tomorrow."

This time it was him who shook the head. "Catnip, it could be too late tomorrow." He pointed at the crowd and I knew what he wanted to say. I took a deep breath and looked at Prim who was still standing in the line. Two peacekeeper were at her side and scanned the crowd. There was no way I could get her out of the line.

"Don't worry, your mum is strong. And so is Prim. I am sure my family will take care of them." Gale's eyes followed my glance.

"I know." My heart started racing. Could I really be such a bad person? Leaving my sister and my mother behind? In this moment I remembered mum's words. I took Gale's shirt and pulled him closer to me. "Let's go."

He took my hand and pulled me with him. I couldn't believe I was actually doing that.

We hadn't even passed the second block when I felt a hand on my shoulder. At first I thought it was Prim, but the deep voice proofed me wrong. "Where are you going?" Damn!