Fighting for Home

Chapter 1

I tightly squeeze Peeta's hand on my own. I'm frozen in my spot, what am I going to do. This is it, the Games are about to end. There are only three tributes left, and something tells me that it is no going to end well...
-------time flash--------
It is the morning before the reaping. I'm arriving home from my daily hunting with Gale. It was a pretty successfull hunting. I got a squirrel, wich I will trade later with the baker, and two rabbits.
Prim is sitting in front of our small rusty mirror, while my mom braides her hair.
"Hi, Katniss!" Prim says with her usual sweet voice.
"Hey, little duck." I say sitting beside her "Are you nervous? It's your first reaping."
"I'm not shure. It's weird to think it is already Reaping Day. I thought it would still take longer for it to arrive. Did you feel scared in your first reaping?" She asks me, her blue eyes flowing with fear.
"Yes, I did. I still do. But you don't need to be afraid, your name is only there once. It can't be you." I say to her tucking her shirt inside her skirt "Better tuck your tail in, little duck."
Prim, as usual, laughs at this, showing her pearl white teeth. "Quack!" She says.
"Quack Quack!" I answer.

Peeta's POV.
I finished my last tray of bread for the day. I look at the clock. 11:00 a.m. It's always like this in the Reaping Day. I have to wake up at 6 in the morning to get the work done because today there are always many costumers, which is good for us. My mom comes in the kitchen, with her usual morning rush. I hate having the morning shift because she is always very grumpy in the morning. But I can't let Trev stay with it. I could never let my mom yell at him or hurt him somehow. As my little brother my duty is to protect him above all.
"Are you done yet?" My mom asks with her usual strict voice.
"Yes, I just finished." I say as politely as possible. I can't afford annoying her today.
She comes closer to check my work.
"Liar! It is still missing one tray."
"But you said to make 5 trays. I made 5 trays, as you asked." I answer.
She looks at me anger filming her eyes. Ok, bad move. next time don't answer.
"No. I told you to make six! Don't you understand anything I say? Useless child!" She slapps my cheek, hard. She throws the trays I had just finished to the ground. "It's all wrong. Do it again." she says, after that she hits the back of my head and leaves.
I sigh. I'll never get this over with. I restart making the dough.
Trev comes in the kitchen.
"Hey, cupcake!" I say in a joking tone.
"Don't call me that! You know I hate it. I'm not 5 anymore." he says annoyed, poutting sligthly.
"You always loved it. I know that."
He comes next to me.
"What's wrong with your face?" He says pointing to my cheek. Yeah, I probably have a red mark there.
"Nothing, Trev. No need to worry." I say. I think Trev knows about mom hitting me. He already saw it. But he thinks it's over now. I hate lying to him, but I don't want to worry him or have mom passing out on him so I keep this type of stuff from him.
He just looks at me. He knows I'm lying but doesn't go any further.
"Do you need help with that?" He asks. I'd ratear keepimg him away from the kitchen but he already started working.
"How is it?" Trev suddenly asks.
"Is what?"
"You know. The Reaping. Are you scared?" He asks.
I just shrugg. "You're always scared. It's normal."
"I hate being scared."
"Being scared makes part of life. If you don't fear anything, that means you haven't experienced life yet." I say.
"Do you think I'll get picked?" he asks.
"No, of course not."
I really hope he won't.
----time flash----------
Prim's POV.
The Square is packed with people. Me and Katniss are in the line to get our names registed. I'm holding her hand tightly until it is our turn. Katniss told me they would prick my finger, and that it wouldn't hurt, but I'm still terrified.
When it is my turn they prick my finger and Katniss hugs me and goes to the 16 years old section, making me feel as alone and scared as ever. I go to the 12 years old section, walking up to my friends from school and wait for the time to come.
When Effie Trinket, district Twelve's companion goes up the stage, wearing her usual puffy dresses and funky hair style, all the thousands of people shut up. The Square turn silent. You can't hear anything besides the wind blowing from the forest.
"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games!" She says with her ridiculous Capitol accent. How can she say Happy Hunger Games? 23 chilren are about to get killed for televised entertainment. This is just so inhumaine.
As Effie Trinket plays a video brought from the Capitol I searching for Trevor in the 12 year old section. We have been best friends forever. He has always been there for me as I've been there for him. Him, Katniss and my mim are the things I care about most in my life. I spot is light brown hair. He is looking at me. I smile and wave at him, he smiles back. I can see he is nervous, very nervous. So am I.
My attention is taken back to Effie the moment she says 'Ladies first!' She walks up to the Reaping Ball. I watch as her hand dances around the Reaping ball and picks a enveloppe. She opens the enveloppe. Every muscle in my body tenses. And she read it out loud
"Katniss Everdeen"
Katniss Everdeen. No. No. Not Katniss. It can't be. I look at her. She is shocked. I watch as she comes closer and closer to the stage. What am I going to do without her? She is the only thing that keeps me alive. Meand mom. My brain is a frenesin right now and I don't even think before I scream hysterically:
"I volunteer!"
Everyone looks back at me. I look at Katniss, now her face shows complete pannick.
"Well the come up!" Effie says.
I walk towards the stage. Katniss runs up to me but to Peacekeepers held her.
"Prim! Don't! What are you doing?" She is crying hysterically right now, trying to break free.
I look at the stage and keep walking. A few tears escape from my eyes, as I'm completely terrified right now. I feel as if I'm not even moving.
I tuck in my shirt inside my skirt, like Katniss always does. I climb the stairs and go next to Effie.
"How exciting!" She says turning me towards the crowd.
Everyone is staring shocked at me, I bet a 12 year old never volunteered before. Only a crazy girl would volunteer for her older stronger sister.
"Let's give around of aplaude to..." Effie looks at me questioningly.
"Primrose Everdeen" I say as confidently as I can but I know I'm shaking with fear.
Instead of applausing the crowd does something unexcpected. They join their three fingers and put them up in the sky, as some sort of sallute. I've seen that gesture before, in my dad's funeral for example. I was very young but I remember it briefly. It means thanks, it means admiration.
"Now, for the boys!" Effie says.
She goes to the other ball and takes out a enveloppe, but before she can say the name someone says
"I volunteer as tribute." I look around to see who did it. My eyes lock with Trevor's, who is coming up to the stage.
"No" I whisper. more tears escape my eyes. It could be anyone but him. How is any of us supposed to survive if we are going together? I study him better. Fear is written all over his face, although he is hiding it. If I didn't know him any better, I'd say he is not afraid at all. He is so couragious.
"Two vollunteers in one year. This couldn't get any better!" Effie shrieks.
"What's your name, young man?"
"Trevor Mellark" he says, determined.
"Trevor Mellark!" She repeats.
Before I can think in anything else, I go up to him and embrace him in a hug.
"Why did you do that?" I whisper to his ear.
He doesn't answer as Effie is separating us.
"And These are the district 12 tributes! Happy Hunger Games and may the Odds be ever in your favor!"