Part 3
We were on the train and it was like nothing I had ever seen before. Food everywhere! Every table had some kind of different dish on it. The amount of food right here could feed everyone full in our district for 2 weeks and it was here for 4 people for 2 days. Haymitch left us right away to go find something to drink. Alcohol no doubt. Haymitch was our mentor after he won the second quarter quell. The only thing he ever bought was beer and wine. He was probably just trying to drink away everything he had been through when he won. I don't know how he won, but he had to kill at least someone and probably watched others die. So I can see why he wants to forget. Effie let us sit in chairs even better than those at the Justice building. Everything so soft. Neither Peeta nor I talked as Effie stared at us waiting for us to say something. She must have gotten uncomfortable because she decided it was time to show us our rooms. My room had a bathroom with something called a shower. When you turned it on, it was like raining only warmer. I took one right away so I could be alone for once. I also needed some time to cry a little without being noticed. When I got out, I got dressed and sat on my giant bed. This could fit me, Katniss, and my mother with room to spare. I looked around the room and thought about how amazing all this was and about how everything was thrown out and replaced with new stuff every year. The districts didn't get even the old stuff, and it isn't good enough for the Capitol. It makes me sick. I decided now would be the time to cry, I still had 30 minutes until dinner. I laid my head on the pillow and cried and cried and cried. I would never see my family again. I would never see my home again. My goat or my cat. Nothing but all the Capitol Garb, and I really didn't want to see that.
With a half nights rest and a whole day of crying behind me, I think I will join everyone for breakfast. I didn't go to dinner last night because I didn't want to see anyone. I did get some water and a yogurt though. All done with the power of one ring. Servants everywhere to do whatever we need. If I wanted someone to give me a bath they would. I walked down the hallway and found the dining room empty. Huh. Breakfast at 7:30 is what the paper said. I decided to ring another bell and order some food. I need to eat something or I would die before the games even started. I ordered things I had never had before. Real cow milk, white bakery bread, something called bacon, sausage, and an omelet. I felt like a giant pig, but then Peeta came down and ordered twice that much. Effie followed and Ordered what was probably health food for her "Perfect Capitol Figure" and Haymitch just spiked some Black Coffee. When we had finished our second serving of food, Haymitch explained everything that was going to happen. But he explained like he didn't care about of lives. Like we were just an old pair of socks he had to use until he got new ones and could throw us out. I couldn't stand it anymore, he didn't care! So I got up and went to my room. I was never going home, and the Capitol didn't care if I did or not. There was a soft knock at my door later on. It was about 4 p.m. and I never rang for anyone. "Come in." I said, but if it was Haymitch, I was throwing him out. It wasn't Haymitch, it was Peeta. That was worse. I didn't want to talk to him! Get to know him and then have him die! But it was nice having someone from the district with me, brought back good feelings. "Hello" I said, trying to be sweet. "Hey Prim." He said, walking and sitting on the edge of my bed. "Listen," He said "This shouldn't be happening to you. You are too sweet and nice and loveable for this to happen. Like when you would come to the bakery and look at the cakes. Even though you couldn't buy one, you were happy enough just to see them. You were ok with your life and now it's being taken away. I'm sorry." Was he really saying this? I couldn't believe it. So that's where I knew him! He decorated the cakes at the bakery that I loved seeing so much. He was the one who snuck me and Katniss a bite of bread when he could. He was the one, when my family was starving, threw real bakery bread to Katniss-even though it was burnt a little- which saved our lives. He was the one this shouldn't be happening to. He should be home in his families' bakery making an "I'm not dead" cake. "Well Peeta, this shouldn't happen to anyone. I can only hope that you are strong enough to make it back to District 12." He smiled, "That's sweet Prim, but for you and your sister, I am going to do whatever I can to keep you alive, even if it means my own life. I will guard you until I can't anymore. I will make sure you win." Then he must have thought of something funny because he gave a short laugh. "And when you get back to District 12, say Hi to Katniss for me." Say hi to Katniss? They had barely spoken. Why would he want to say hi to her? She was a girl from the seam and he was a baker's son. People like that don't speak to each other unless needed. Maybe it was a way of saying to Katniss after he was dead that he was glad the 12 year old was home. He was staring at me, waiting for an answer. "Peeta" I said "You don't have to do that. These games are a death match and everyone needs to fight for themselves. You need to try to get home to your family." He just shook his head. "Prim, you are 12, you have your whole life ahead of you if you can get back alive. It may not be the best life, but you will be with your mother and Katniss. I want you to get back to get back home with them. As I am sure you have noticed Haymitch isn't much help. He is drunk all the time and has no hope for either of us. I talked to Effie after you left breakfast this morning. She has agreed to send us gifts when needed. Well, at least get Haymitch to say the words to get them delivered. I will get you back home." I didn't know what to say, and I guess he didn't either because he got up and left. He wanted me home? He wanted to die for me? We don't know each other. I could see Gale doing that for me if it had been him because he was like my brother. But some baker? No way. Was he trying to get me off guard? To try to give me some breathing room only to take away my breath completely in the arena? I didn't know, but I am deciding right now that I wasn't going down without a fight. Not some killing machine, but not a lost puppy either.