AN: This is my first published FF so please tell me what I can do to improve. I would love any feedback that you could provide. Sorry this one is a bit shorter, I felt like it was a good place to stop though or else I would have to continue with a few thousand more words haha. Instead, I plan on getting out a longer chapter tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

NOTE: I do not own any of these characters or claim to. All that credit goes to the brilliant Suzanne Collins.

Enjoy!

It feels like someone just threw a brick at my chest. The ability I had to breathe steadily is completely gone but I still manage to think, "It's not me. Not me. Not me." I can breathe again but there is still a crushing feeling in my chest. It takes a second for me to figure out what it is. It's not shock, it's not a brick, it's guilt. Guilt for feeling relieved, for allowing myself feel happy for a moment while a group of people dear to me suffer.

I've decided I've thought of myself for far too long. Scanning the crowd, I see Mrs. Everdeen, frozen. Her eyes appear glazed over and she looks like she might pass out. Who can blame her? I look around to try to find Katniss and see her being supported by a girl in our grade, her face is one expressing bewilderment. Beyond that it seems like she feels helpless and like all the effort she's gone through to protect Prim, who had that single slip in the bowl, has all been for nought. The crowd is murmuring not only because they know it's never fair for a twelve year old to get chosen but also because it is Prim herself.

In District 12, everyone knows the Everdeens. Whether they knew Mr. Everdeen before his death in the mines and enjoyed the company of this happy, boisterous man or Mrs. Everdeen and the choice she made to marry for love and then proceeded to offer a measure of help to others in the Seam as an apothecary when she could do so—people liked them. Even now, people like the sweet blonde girl with a nature you couldn't help but adore and admire the dedication Katniss has for her family in the way that she risks her life to hunt and sell the meat, doing so with skill. There are so many things that people know about this family but keep quiet. Despite the fact that they like them so, no girl is going to volunteer in Prim's place. They just don't do that in this district. Right as I'm thinking this I hear a shrill shout. It's Katniss, running towards Prim, who is slowly making her way to the stage.

"Prim! Prim!" She cries as the youngest Everdeen turns around, startled even further by her sister. Pushing past her and being the protector she always has been, Katniss stands in front of Prim and, though out of breath, manages to scream, "I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!"

Everyone is confused. We don't get volunteers in 12. People mourn but they won't put their own lives in danger; we're weak, just like The Capitol wants us to be.

"Lovely!" Effie cries from the stage. "But I believe there's a small matter of introducing the reaping winner and then ask for volunteers, and if one does come forth then we, um…" It has literally been so long since we've had a volunteer that even our escort doesn't remember the rules.

My father stands up, trying to get past this moment, "What does it matter?" He looks straight down at Katniss. He's heard me talk about her and leaves money in the kitchen for strawberries nearly every day when they're in season. He once told me how he remembered presenting her the medal of valor after her father died in the mines and how sad he felt that day. I can tell that he feels sad now as well. "What does it matter? Let her come forward."

As he's speaking, Prim must be realizing fully what is happening because she starts screaming and won't let go of Katniss. I can't even understand her words but Katniss must be able to. She tells her to let go, harshly, mostly because she doesn't want to cry. Everyone knows what it means to cry when you're Reaped. It means you'll be seen as weak. As a target for the Career tributes and the other stronger ones. Finally Gale comes to her rescue and pulls Prim away from her, throwing the small girl over his shoulder and taking her to their mother where she might find a measure of solace.

The rest of the scene simply makes me cringe. Effie is far too excited as she asks Katniss her name and realizes that Prim is her sister. She asks the crowd to give a round of applause to our new tribute. As if we had decided it before-hand, not a single person claps. I'm thinking that this is about as bold as District 12 gets when I remember an old salute my mother once told me about. I see a few people in the crowd giving Katniss a three finger salute and join in as every person in the square makes the same gesture. I can just imagine the screens in The Capitol being switched to a different feed.

As heartwarming as this scene is, it's quite quickly interrupted by our victor who, throwing his arm around poor Katniss, slurs, "Look at her. Look at this one! I like her! Lot of…. SPUNK!" Katniss seems extremely uncomfortable. The most uncomfortable I've ever seen her, which is a lot considering the things she has dealt with. Just as we hope it's over and my father stands up to grab Haymitch, he takes a whole new direction.

Looking straight into the camera, he yells, "More than you! More than you!"

All I can think is that Haymitch is about to be in trouble by The Capitol if he keeps talking. Fortunately, he doesn't. Instead, he falls off of the stage and knocks himself out. I, however, don't take my eyes off Katniss, hoping she'll make eye contact with me and I can show her how sorry I am. She takes the opportunity given by this distraction to shudder and let all the fear out of her throat to prevent crying. How strong my friend is. I can't even imagine the mess I would be if I were up there.

Effie, however, just wants to get on with the show yet still maintains her peppy attitude. "What an exciting day! But more excitement to come! It's time to choose our boy tribute," she sings out as she straightens her wig and moves across the stage to the boy's bowl. Grabbing what seems to be the first slip she comes into contact with, she quickly race back to the mic and reads the name.

"Peeta Mellark!"

I simply close my eyes. First Katniss and now Peeta. I know him well enough to realize no one is going to volunteer for him, even though he has two older brothers, one of whom is still eligible. He may not be a good friend of mine but I'm an observer. I've seen the way he looks at Katniss, how he watches her from across the room. Still, he doesn't have the courage to even speak with her. He has always been there, hoping she'll notice him.

You can tell that Peeta is shocked but attempts to remain emotionless. He climbs up on the stage and there is not a word from anyone around. Until my father stands up. It's time to read the Treaty of Treason. No one listens, they're usually all too busy being grateful or not trying to fall apart in the square. Today I'm the latter.

I have only heard Katniss mention Peeta once. She was oblivious to his feelings for her but she still knew who he was. I asked her one day about where she got the idea to "pick strawberries", which was our code for hunting, and she said that if it hadn't been for Peeta, she wouldn't be alive. That his actions made her realize she could feed her family from the woods and that she would live as a result. She didn't go into any detail and I didn't ask. That is how our friendship is. We give as much information as we want and leave it at that. Sure, I'm curious sometimes but I want to keep my best friend and Katniss is very private.

My father has finished reading and motions for the two to shake hands. They do and it simply makes me think that maybe Peeta will finally speak to Katniss. That maybe she will learn how he feels before one or both of them perish. The anthem begins and is playing so loudly it drowns out my thoughts.

As soon as it ends, Katniss and Peeta carted off the stage and through the Justice Building, where I've been told they will wait in rooms and receive visitors. I decide I will go visit them. This is another perk of being the mayor's daughter. As the rest of the crowd goes back to their homes or collects on their bets, I go forward to my father, who looks beaten down.

"I'd like to speak with Katniss and Peeta before they leave," I tell him, trying to seem courageous.

He's so worn looking that he just gives me a nod and walks me into the building, leaving me in the waiting room alone with the exception of two Peacekeepers. I'm surprised not to see anyone else there waiting to talk to the tributes.

As I sit, I hear weeping but I can't tell which room it is coming from. Right then and there I make it my resolve. No tears. I can't make them feel even worse. As I'm sitting there, the door from outside opens and Gale walks in and I prepare to be teased. What I get is something different entirely.