Morning dawned on Panem University. The campus was quiet except for a handful of students who were moving into the dorms and older students preparing for more welcome activities. In the Engineering and Sciences dormitory, Prim opened her eyes and wondered why Buttercup wasn't purring next to her. Realizing she was clutching a bright yellow fuzzy pillow in lieu of her cat, she sighed then grinned. Today would be her first full day on campus. Giggling, she sat up and pelted Rue with the yellow pillow.
"Prim!" Rue yelped sitting up, her dark brown curls sticking up everywhere. "You better not wake me up like this when school really starts!"
"Yeah, you were awake. I saw you wiggling under your blankets!" Prim called across the room. Rue yanked an earbud out of her ears.
"Listening to my ipod in peace." Rue quipped. "C'mon, I think the dining hall is open." The two girls slipped on slippers and brushed their teeth before making their way to the dining hall on the first floor of their dorm.
"Morning, girls." Lavinia said as she swiped their ID cards.
"Morning." Rue said around a yawn. Lavinia laughed.
"I hope you don't have eight o'clock classes this semester." She quipped watching Rue rub her eyes.
"Well - I think on Tuesdays, but I'll go to bed earlier." Rue answered before she and Prim got some cereal, eggs, and fruit. After breakfast, they went back to their room and changed. Prim wore shorts and a Panem University shirt she inherited from Katniss. Rue wore denim capris and a yellow tank-top.
"Well, we should get our books." Prim remarked. "They have a barbecue at one by the student center so we'll be right there."
"Ok." Rue said. "Maybe then we can go to the rec center afterward."
"Ok!" The two girls grabbed their keys and purses and headed out. More students were roaming around. They were stopped again by Glimmer but brushed her off saying they had to get their books.
"Wow." Rue gasped walking into the Campus Bookstore. The first floor was entirely stocked with t-shirts, shorts, pants, and souveneirs from Panem University. "You could buy a Panem University shirt for every day of the week."
"And look like a big dork." Johanna said coming out from around a corner. "Don't tell me you'll be one of those freshmen."
"No. Well, what are you doing here?" Prim asked grinning and winking.
"Getting something for my mom. She's coming from Minnesota to visit." Johanna replied. "You girls better get your books before all the other kids get here. The cheap used ones go by fast. Downstairs."
"Ok!" Rue and Prim chorused.
"Oh, and don't buy notebooks and pencils from down there. They rip you off. Go to Target or somewhere and get them cheap!"
"Ok. I'll make Katniss or Peeta or Gale take us." Prim called as she and Rue went downstairs. True to Jo's word, the first floor to the book store was by no means full, but it was filling up with students rather quickly. Prim and Rue eventually found their books and lugged them to the check out line.
"Hey, girls." Gale said standing by Katniss two people in front of them. "Kat, let's wait for them."
"Ok." Katniss muttered.
"I took the morning off to help you, might as well help the girls." Gale explained. Soon Prim and Rue were chatting animatedly with Katniss while Gale grunted and walked carrying a box with Katniss, Prim, and Rue's textbooks.
"Helping the ladies, are we?" A girl asked stopping the four as they walked across the plaza. A girl with a brown pixie cut smiled at them. She wore a red Panem University polo shirt that read Campus News and was flanked by two blonde boys with broadcast-grade video cameras.
"I guess." Gale grunted.
"I'm Cressida Wilson and I'm with Campus News. Are you all Freshmen?"
"Those two are." Katniss said. "This one's my sister." She said ruffling Prim's hair. "And her roommate. We're helping them out."
"That's nice of you." Cressida pointed out.
"Yeah. My sister and her two boyfriends have helped us out a lot." Prim remarked causing Gale to nearly drop all the books while Katniss blushed furiously.
"C'mon, let's get back to your dorm before Gale's arms fall off." Katniss muttered steering the girls away from Cressida and her crew who waved. "PRIMROSE EVERDEEN!"
"What?" Prim asked as Katniss glared at her.
"Two boyfriends?" Katniss asked. "How did you come up with that? Gale's like my best childhood friend - with benefits now."
"Aw, c'mon, Kat, are you really friend-zoning me while I'm carrying your, your sister, and your sister's roommate's books?" Gale grunted.
"Shut up, Gale!" Katniss said. "Anyway, I only have one boyfriend."
"Fratboy." Gale grunted. They reached Prim and Rue's room where Gale unceremoniously dumped all the books on Prim's bed. "Ooooow! My arms!" He groaned. "C'mon, Kat." Katniss picked up her books and left hand in hand with Gale.
"Thanks, guys!" Rue and Prim called.
"Do you always have awkward moments like that with your sister?" Rue asked as she began putting her books away.
"Only when she makes 'em awkward!" Prim giggled. "Wow. We can just chill and then go to the barbecue in an hour." Rue nodded before flopping onto her bed and taking a nap. Prim followed suit by laying in bed and playing games on her ipad before drifting into a nap.