After the Rebellion

Part 7

I swear it is so quiet, if a pin dropped, it would sound like an explosion. I see shivering bodies on this chilly morning. Children clinging on to their mothers and other siblings. You can tell the capital people from the district people by their physical appearances and their frightened looks.
Just a month ago they had taken account of all the people belonging to the capital life that were still alive after the rebellion. I didn't want to see the numbers at the time because of my stubbornness towards hearing anything related to the fire-bombs. Now I wish I knew so that maybe I wouldn't feel as bad as I am feeling right now. Twenty-four children or teenagers will be in a fight to the death and if I would have known how many children that are candidates for a tribute, then I would know how great the loss of life will be.
People are filing in and I am watching the table where the kids are getting their fingers pricked. I remember those days so vividly and how afraid I was of leaving my family to starve if I had been reaped and then eventually die in the games. I thought I was a chicken, but these capital kids are absolute babies. Now I feel better about my actions.
There are quite a few kids left to get the finger prick. I let my pupils shift to this girl who is stopped in the crowd of walking kids. She is being held back by a smaller girl who seems to be crying. Prim and I probably looked the same way on the day of the 74th Hunger Games reaping. That is the only girl I have seen that has courage in her eyes. I hope she does not enter the arena.
I am brought back to reality when I feel a slight squeeze on my hand. I look down at our hands locked together. Peeta wraps his other hand around our intertwined fingers and lifts it up to his lips. He plants a small kiss.Without looking at me he lowers his hands. A warm smirk is spreading across his face.
Was I just staring at him like coward? I think to my self. As That thought crosses my mind I lower my head quickly and I feel a warmth spread throughout my cheeks.
Really Katniss? Blushing!? Peeta's attractiveness and charming is really doing stuff to me and I am finding it hard to not be girly.
My cheeks are back to normal so I look up to look for the girl I had seen.
"Aah-humm." At this familiar sound I look up to see Effie standings in a ridiculous dress. Its all puffy and WOW that I get a small smile on my face. Oh typical Effie.
"Hello Everyone..." As Effie is reciting her opening, I drift off because I really don't want to know what's going on. I have attended so many reapings and although this is the last one, it seems the hardest that I have gone to.
It brings back so many memories because the last two times, when I was reaped and Prim, have been the worst. This seems a to be a combination of remembering the past and that is the reason for why this one is actually happening.
I lean my head to rest upon Peeta's shoulder. He turns to whisper in my ear, "I love you."
"I love you too. More than anything or one I have loved before."