The Hunger Games; Peeta

~The reaping~

Never had i ever thought i would be stood here. Now. With her. The recent moments leading up to us standing here; shaking hands seemed like a nightmare.

I love her. I've loved her for as long as I can remember. Now here I am, about to begin my journey to an arena where I could be faced with killing her.

I woke up in the morning later than usual. I trode into the kitchen in my bare feet, feeling sharp bits of wood prick me on my way. I entered the room and wrapped my arms around myself; it was freezing. My dad was crouched down, one hand on the table watching something intently in the oven.

"Hi" My dad looked up with a start and explained to me that he had gotten his hands on a squirrel, and i was under no circumstances to tell my mother. I knew who he had gotten it from. I laughed, and began to get myself a glass of water from our rusty tap.

I walked nearer the window, and looked out into the square. The square, which in a few hours, would be full of innocent children waiting for their fates. I was scared. But for the sake of my father, and the sake of my brothers teasing me, i wouldn't show it.

My dad got the squirrel out of the oven and we ate the legs of it in near silence. I knew my dad was scared too. I'd always wanted children, but maturing had made me realise that they would also have to go through this horrible process, of the reaping, and potentially the hunger games, so I knew I would never have any.

In another world, maybe.

I bid farewell to my dad, grabbed my clothes from the room I share with my brother and made my way to the bathroom. I filled the old tin tub with water and climbed in. Much like the rest of my house, freezing.

I suppose considering the district we live in my family were quite well off, compared the those in the seam definitely. But with three children and two adults in the house, we never had enough of anything. Whenever I began to feel bad about our situation i simply remembered how much worse it would be for the other families, and It made me want to help them. Living off stale bread is better than living off nothing.

I got out of our makeshift bath, and stood dripping on the wood while I pulled a towel around me. I dried my body and then my hair, and started to pull on my clothes for the reaping. I was to wear james' old shirt and william's best trousers from when he was still in school. Sure, i could've looked better, but i didn't look bad.

I combed out my hair and rinsed off my face and left the bathroom. On my way down the hall i grabbed an apron off one of the hooks as i went to help my parents. There weren't many customers, just mothers trying to hide concerns on their faces and children who were almost white in anticipation. Then the time came.

Me and James filed out of the shop into the square, and followed the line of 16's to get checked in. As we took our places in the square i caught a glimpse of her. Katniss Everdeen.

Effie Trinket took her signature place in front of the justice building before beginning the reaping in her shrill voice. I often feel bad for her, assigned with the worst district, never in her time of escorting has she ever had a victor. That must be hard compared with all the others she must see every year.

When the clip began to roll of the dark days, I sort of just zoned out. They've played it so many times to me by now i could probably quote it. But soon, like everything, it was over

"Now," exclaimed Effie in her overly enthusiastic way "Ladies first!"

She reached her hand into the huge fish bowl that sat on a table behind her and grabbed the first name she could find.

"Primrose Everdeen."

Prim was lovely. She was sweet and kind and a joy to be around. And, she was Katniss's sister. I watched as she slowly started to walk up to the front, tucking her shirt in, before Katniss began to scream.

"PRIM!" she yelled "PRIM!"
the sound of her voice in that much pain was almost breaking me, and all i wanted to do was run over there and comfort the whole family, but suddenly Katniss, restrained by peacekeepers, was yelling something different.

"I volunteer!" she shouted firmly.
"I volunteer as tribute!"

The odds were not in my favour.

a/n
Ok first chapter done!! I'm not sure yet but i think I will probably try and do at least one chapter a week, if not more :)

Hope you enjoyed! I take constructive criticism so please feel free to tell me what you think!