fireproof ; everlark

chapter one

katniss everdeen

I sigh loudly once again as I get dressed to go out to the hob. I don't want to do anything today but prim and my mom keep pestering me to leave. saying, "you have to go back into that dreaded arena. make the most of your freedom while you can, until you get back." I tell prim I'll try to win again for her but my mom and I both know. I'm not walking out alive this time. peeta is and I'm making sure of it.

I pull on a dark green flannel type thing that effie sent me from the capitol. a whole new wardrobe basically. along with a white tank top and a pair of black pants. I pull on my brown hunting boots then make my way outside leaving my hair in its long loose waves. I pass peeta's house and see that he's outside talking to delly. we still haven't spoken since the announcement of the quarter quell.

when I reach the entrance of the hob I bump into a tall figure. Immediately knowing who it is, I wrap my arms around their neck pulling them close to me. "gale." I breathe into his chest. "keep them save again for me please." I whisper to him and he knows I'm talking about mom and prim. before gale opens his mouth to speak he gives me a look as if to say, "let's go somewhere to talk."

once gale and I reach the meadow overlooking the forest we both sit at the edge under a tree in silence. "you told me to keep them save. just until you get back." he tells me seriously and I shake my head.
"peeta has to stay alive. and I know, that either way peeta will be going into the games."

"katniss, you guys can find a way. you did it before." he tells me. I scoff and look away.

"come on gale. we both know that the game makers and snow won't fall for that again." I explain sadly.

"I just... don't wanna loose you yet katniss. you're only seventeen."

gale and I exchange our thoughts about the games for a few more hours until we both begin to get tired and walk back home. "so the reaping is tomorrow?" he asks and I nod.

*~*~*~*~*

"as always, ladies first." effie says sadly. she walks over to the bowl with one singular slip of paper in it. That for certain has my name on it and reads aloud, "the female tribute from district 12, katniss everdeen."

I step forward with a few years running down my cheeks as she moves onto the boys. "and now for the men," she shuffles over to the boys and pulls out a slip of paper reading aloud, "and the male tribute from district 12, peeta mellark."

and what happens next, is a shock to all of us. In a loud, scruffy voice haymitch says, "I volunteer as tribute." my head snaps over to see peeta looking outrageous.

"no, I can't let you do that." peeta says to haymitch. "I have to protect her." peeta pleads.

"you can't stop me blonde." haymitch says tearing peeta's hands away from his arms.

when we all get onto the train after not even being able to say goodbye I notice peeta pacing back and forth in front of haymitch, effie and I for the past hour.

"so, is anyone gonna say anything?" I try and peeta stops for a moment looking at me.

"katniss, can I talk to you? alone." he asks. I nod my head and get off the couch as peeta guides me to one of the rooms far in the back away from everyone. "did you make haymitch take my place in the games?" he questions.

"no, of course not! I didn't make him I asked him, the rest was up to him." I defend.

"why would you do that?" He says raising his voice.

"because you deserve to live! either way I was going to die. whether you went into the arena or not. I'm not letting Haymitch die and I won't let you die." I explain.

"god katniss, you're so stupid." peeta says rubbing his temples and trying his hardest not to cry. I know the news about me refusing to live is hurting him so I don't even have the chance to feel offended by his words.

"I'm sorry." I mumble awkwardly. I don't know if I should comfort him or leave him alone right now. I'm not very good at the friends thing.

"it's not your fault. it's snows." he whispers looking at me with glossy eyes. "just come here. please." I nod my head and move over to where he was standing a few feet away from me and he grabs me by the waist and pulls me into his chest as I tightly wrap my arms around his neck.

"I don't wanna loose you." peeta says into my hair. 

"I don't want to loose you either." I admit, more to myself than him.