Chapter 2
"Rye, Graham, please help your brother get ready." my dad says.
"But, dad!" Rye whines as if he were six years old.
"Rye, it's not like you have anything better to do, go help Peeta, or I'll get your mother." dad says calmly. I smirk as Rye's eyes widen.
My brothers sprint over to me. "I don't need your help." I tell them.
"Shh... Of course you do. Your the baby. You need someone to tie your shoe lases, and whip your nose." Rye says.
Graham is twenty two, but he's too lazy to move out. Rye is eighteen and isn't old enough to move out yet. Apparently. All three of us have blonde hair and blue eyes. Which, like dark hair and grey eyes being popular in the Seam, is popular in the Merchant's side of town.
Rye and Graham help me get dressed in my nicest cloths. Graham does my hair, which, wasn't necessary. My brothers step back to examine their work, they both nod in approval and run out of the room. "Last one to the Reaping!" Graham calls.
I roll my eyes and run after them. It's not like I'm gonna let them win. We sprint all the way to the Justice Building. I manage to pass Rye, because he stopped to look in a shop window. But Graham beats me there.
I go to my assigned section and wait as the mayor and District Twelves escort, Effie Trinket, take their seats on the stage. Now, only one chair is empty, I roll my eyes, knowing who's supposed to sit there.
As the clock strikes two, Mayor Undersee walks to the podium and begins his annual speech about the rebellion that resulted in The Hunger Games, and a whole district blown off the face of the world, known as the Dark Days. Then, he reads off the names of District Twelve's past victors.
District Twelve only has two victors. And only one is alive today. Haymitch Abernathy. He staggers to the stage and falls into the empty chair. He is drunk. He tries to give Effie Trinket a big hug, but she manages to get away quick enough.
They mayor announces Effie. Effie prances over to the podium. "Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Effie says. This year, she wears a pink wig. "Ladies first!" she walks to the glass ball holding the girls names. Holding Katniss's name.
Effie pulls out a slip of paper and walks back to the podium. She smooths the slip of paper, and says the name in a clear voice. And it's not Katniss. It's Prim Rose Everdeen. Katniss's little sister. Prim walks slowly to the stage. "Prim!" I hear Katniss's voice shout. "Prim!" Then I see Katniss walking towards Prim, just as Prim makes it to the steps, Katniss reaches her and pushes Prim behind her. Then she says "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" And my heart sinks.
She will be fine. I tell myself. She can hunt. And it's better than Prim going in, anyway. Prim is twelve, and Katniss is sixteen.
"Lovely!" Effie says. "But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the Reaping winner and then asking for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, umm..."
"What does it matter?" the mayor says. "What does it matter? Let her come forward." Pr
Prim is screaming behind Katniss, and I feel bad for her. Prim wraps her arms around Katniss and screams "No, Katniss! No! You can't go!" Katniss says something to Prim. Gale approaches the two sisters and pulls Prim away from Katniss. Prim is screaming and thrashing in Gale's arms as he carries her away. Katniss walks up the steps.
"Well, brovo!"Effie says. "That's the spirit of the Games! What's your name?"
"Katniss Everdeen," she says.
"I bet my buttons that was your sister. Don't want her to steal the glory, do we? Come on everybody! Let's give a big round of applause to our newest tribute!" Effie exclames.
No one claps. I watch someone else do it, then do the same. The whole crowed does this. I touch the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips and hold it out to Katniss. This is an old gesture in District Twelve. It means goodbye to someone you love.
Haymitch comes staggering across the stage to Katniss. "Look at her. Look at this one!" Haymitch shouts, putting his arm around Katniss's shoulders. "I like her! Lots of..." Haymitch searches for the right word. "Spunk! More than you." Haymitch starts walking toward the front of the stage. "More than you!" Haymitch shouts pointing right at the camera. Haymitch opens his mouth again to speak, but falls off the stage. Katniss's eyes widen. Haymitch is taken away on a stretcher.
"What an exciting day!" Effie exclames as she tries to straighten her wig. "But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute!" Effie prances to the glass ball that holds the boys names. She grabs a slip and runs back to the podium. I close my eyes. Please don't let it be me. Let it say Gale Hawthorne. He could protect Katniss, then die. Please don't let is say...
"Peeta Mellark!"
My eyes snap open. I look right at the stage, but I can feel Katniss's eyes on me, so I look down. I try not to let my emotions show on my face, but it's probably not working.
Once I get to the stage, Effie asks for volunteers. Please make Gale volunteer. Or even Rye. I can't go into The Hunger Games with Katniss, and make it back out. No one volunteer. So, I'll keep Katniss safe, and die in the Games.
They mayor reads from the Treaty of Treason, that basically states that because the rebellion, each district will Reap two people to go into the Games.
I think about everything that I know about Katniss. Which isn't much. The mayor motions for Katniss and I to shake hands. Katniss's hands are rough. I look Katniss right in the eyes and decide they aren't grey, there silver. I give Katniss's hand a slight squeeze.
Peacekeepers surround us and take us inside the Justice Building. In these walls, I will say goodbye to my family.