Chapter 2
prim starts shouting and crying and katniss walks up to the stage. Effie goes on about how she has to wait until the proper time and the mayer just says whatever
"Prim let go." Katniss says with intensity in her voice, probably not wanting to sound weak. "Let go!" she yells. Gale comes and grabs prim from off of her.
"up you go catnip" gale says unsteadily. This is the closest Ive ever seen him to crying.
"well then!" Effie says. "Oh the excitement of the games! Now whats your name?"
"Katniss Everdeen." She says with such confidence that i was shocked.
"I bet my buttons that was your sister!" Effie exclaims. "Lets give a round of applause to our newest tribute!"
not one person claps. they all stare at her and Put three fingers to their lips and hold it out to her. its an old gesture i think
"Oh what an exciting day!But its not over yet. Time to choose our boy tribute
she says so excited about this that the rest of us just glare at her. She zips over to the boys ball and grabs the one on top.
"Peeta Mellark." She says. wait thats my name. Dammit!
I'm trying to make my face show no emotion but im so shocked that i walk up stage and don't even know it. When Effie asks for volunteers. no one steps up. Evan is too old to volunteer and Ryan just stands there shocked but does not volunteer. I feel like jumping off a cliff but instead i just shake katniss's hand and see that in her dark Grey seam eyes she is surprised. I give her a squeeze and turn around to face the crowd as the anthem plays.
The peace keeps take us to two rooms with red velvet curtains and a rich green carpet and three couches. As my two brothers bust into the room i start to cry and they just hug me and say sorry.I just need to know something
"Rye, why didn't you volunteer. not that i would want to put you in danger since they pulled my name not yours."
"Peeta this is why i hate you." Rye jokes. "your just so positive about everything and i didn't volunteer because mother said that if i did she would make sure you never felt anything again." Wow. Who knew that my mother could be so ruthless. Oh wait. I did.
"Peeta im so sorry.I would have volunteered but..." Evan says.
He couldn't volunteer because he is nineteen but i think he's just saying that. "It's okay." I assure him. We hug for a few seconds then peace keeps come to take them out.
My father comes in next with my mother.
"Peeta im so sorry my son." My father gets out. " We hug and he gives me a ring that says, "forever son". "Thanks dad." I say.
"Well with one less person in the house im sure things will be a lot easier"
My mother says. "How could you be so heartless to say that when you will never see me again?" I say. "You've always been a bitch to me and im nothing but nice and respectful back. but now ive had enough and want to say fuck you mother and tell the boys i said goodbye." My father looks shocked and my mother just says, "You're right. You don't stand a chance but maybe finally district twelve will have a winner. She's a fighter that one."
The peace keepers come and my mother laughs hysterically as she leaves.
after a while my friend Delly Cartwright my friend since preschool came in and just hugged me.
"Peeta I'm so-" I just cut her off.
"If you're gonna say im sorry i don't really want to hear that after my last conversation..." I say
"Peeta im sor-er- um i can't think of a substitute but you know what im was gonna say. please try and come home!"
I just laugh. "Delly i think we both know this is no way i will come back home. But katniss could."
"Peeta don't be coy. You could come back. just... promise me you will try?"
"Okay." I could at least try.
The peace keepers return and Delly leaves. No one else comes so i just sit on the couch and cry out all of my tears and problems. The peace keeps come to escort me and i don't even bother to wipe my tears away as i see katniss and her face looks like she is bored? I imagine Gale saying all of that sappy love shit to her. as i get on the train, my goodbyes still hanging on my lips i take a seat as the train starts to move and it takes my breath away.
"where's Haymitch?" Effie says brightly
"The last time i saw him he said he was gonna take a nap." I say
"Well it has been an exhausting day."
I think she's relieved by Haymitch's absence but who can blame her?
dinner comes in courses. A thick carrot soup, green salad, lamb chops , mash potatoes, cheese and fruit platter with chocolate cake. Effie keeps reminding us too save room because theres more to come. Ive never had rich food like this before. Everything we eat is stale or old stuff that nobody buys.
"well at least you two have decent manners." Effie says. being a baker i have proper manners and I'm sure katniss's mother taught her to eat properly. The pair last year were from the seam i think. Since being from the seam they have never had enough food to eat.
I know this upsets katniss because she eats the rest of the meal with her finger and wipes her hands on the table cloth.
when i finish my food i can barely keep it down.i feel a battle happening its my stomach versus my food and my food is winning. i see katniss looking a little green too. neither of us is used to such rich fare.
after dinner we go and watch the recap of the reapings. a few stand out like a huge volunteer from district 2, a girl with bright red hair from district 5 and a twelve year old from district 11. After we finish watching all of the reapings, Effie goes on and on about how Haymitch needs to lean manners.
"He's drunk every year." I say.
"Everyday." Katniss adds with a smirk.
"How odd you too find it funny. you know you mentor is your life in the games. once you are in the arena you must depend on sponsors and Haymitch gets those sponsors for you. He makes the difference between like and death! So laugh away! Effie says as Haymitch comes in then throws up on the floor and falls in it. Effie looks disgusted then walks away.