It's Always Been You

Chapter Eleven; Tributes

I wake up with a strong feeling of nausea. I hurriedly untangle myself from Peeta's embrace, running towards the toilet, my hand covering my mouth. I can feel the spit coming from my throat, and I release it as soon as I get to the bathroom. I gag on my own vomit, and it's not long until I feel Peeta's strong hands around my waist steadying me as he pulls my hair back.

After I finish, I go to the sink, washing my face and mouth off. "Thank you." I whisper, looking down at the floor.

"I'm worried about you." Peeta says, looking me up and down. "You've been sick a lot lately. How do you feel?" He asks, pressing his hand against my forehead.

"I'm fine, Peeta." I assure him, grasping his hand. "I'm stressed out and overwhelmed, but I can't let it get in my way. I'll be okay." I say, walking into our bedroom and slipping my hunting jacket and a pair of jeans on. I put my boots on, lacing them up. "I'm going hunting with Gale for a few hours."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Peeta says, sitting next to me. "Maybe you should rest until we have to get ready for the reaping."

"I can't." I say, standing and quickly braiding my hair down my back. "Gale and I always hunt before the reaping, no matter the consequences." With that, I walk out of the house, slamming the door behind me.

I run to the nearby fence as quickly as I can, listening for the low hum that indicates that the electricity is on. It isn't. I crawl under the small hole in the fence, making my way to Gale and I's hunting spot. I think about Peeta, all alone in our home, probably just wanting to help me. I shouldn't have treated him so poorly this morning.

"Hey, Catnip." Gale says as I come into view. He smiles, opening his arms to give me a hug. I don't object. Even though I left for my wedding on a bad note, I still can't resist Gale's warm hugs. He rubs my back, giving it a pat as he pulls away.

"Oh, I almost forgot," I say, pulling a loaf of bread out of my bag and breaking it in half. "Peeta made this a few days ago but I never ate it. I figured we could share it today, just like we did last year."

Gale nods, accepting his half of the bread. I follow him to some nearby grass and sit down, looking out into the distance. Gale takes a bite of the bread, looking down at the ground. "Remember last year, we had a single piece of bread for the two of us to share? That was all we could afford."

"Times were simpler." I say, chewing slowly on the soft bread.

"Times are still the same for me, and I don't find it very simple."

"You know what I mean." I whisper. "You know for a fact that I have offered you money multiple times, enough to make sure that you'd never have to work a single day again. I have more than I need. Times were simpler back then, because unlike now, I was happy. I wasn't whisked to the Capitol what feels like every day."

"Are you nervous for today?" Gale asks, looking up at me. I'm not upset about the sudden subject change. I'm glad he did.

"No," I lie. "You and me can't be reaped anyway, and I'm not sure Prim's name is even in the bowl anymore."

"My brothers could be reaped." Gale whispers. "I wouldn't even be able to volunteer."

"If any of your brothers were reaped, I'd make sure they won." I say.

"Thanks."

"I should get going," I say, standing up and taking the last bite of bread. "I have to get ready, and I want to go visit Prim."

"I'll see you soon." Gale says.

"I'll see you soon."

+++

"Mom! Prim!" I call out as I open the door to their home. I walk into the kitchen to see no one there. I make my way upstairs to see my mother's bedroom door locked and Prim in her bedroom, laying on her bed.

"Hey, little duck." I murmur, sitting next to her. "What's wrong? Where's mom?"

"She's showering." She says, rolling over and looking up at me. "I'm scared."

"Why are you scared?" I ask, brushing the hair out of her face. "There's nothing to be afraid of."

"If I'm reaped this year, there will be no one to volunteer for me."

"You won't be reaped Prim, I promise. I wouldn't allow it." I say, offering her a smile.

She nods, but I know that nothing I say will make her feel any better.

+++

Peeta and I make our way to the Justice Building hand in hand. I dressed in a plain denim, sleeveless jumpsuit, with a red belt tied around my waist. My hair is in it's usual braid, and since I was aloud to pick what I wore this time, I am finally able to feel like myself.

Peeta and I finally make it to the justice building, and we go to the stage, sitting next to Haymitch. For the first time in years, he isn't drunk for the reaping. Maybe he feels accomplished because he mentored two victors.

I watch as Effie makes an appearance, wearing a short dress with butterflies covering the entirety of it. Her hair is in a large light orange wig, and her shoes have to be at least 10 inches tall. She is, as always, her bubbly, happy self. With there being two victors last year, I'm sure everyone in the Capitol, including Effie, is ecstatic for the games this year.

Effie gives her usual speech of the dark days and plays the annual video that were all forced to watch. I don't listen much. I simply stare out into the terrified faces of children. I can't seem to stop looking at all of the confused 10 year olds who have been hauled into the reaping two years early. The fourteen year olds look a lot like Gale and I used to; disinterested.

"As always, ladies first!" Effie says. I squeeze Peeta's hand, closing my eyes for a moment. I open them to see Effie reaching into the bowl and pulling out a piece of paper. She clears her throat, and speaks. "Acacia Caverly!"

I let out a sigh of relief, looking out into the crowd to see many of the children around her moving out, giving her space. She's in the group of 14 year olds. I stare at her as she makes her way to the stage. She's tall, much more muscular than me. I can tell that she lives in the seam. I think I've seen her a few times with her father. She has bright blonde hair that falls to the middle of her back, with crystal blue eyes that are basically staring right through me. To me, she truly doesn't seem very upset. She seems angry, out for blood even. Well, maybe she'll be intimidating. She gets to the stage, and stands in the very spot I once stood. I feel like it was just yesterday.

"Okay, and now, for the boys." Effie says as she pats Acacia on the back, walking to the bowl of the boys' names. She pulls the piece of paper out, and before I can even look out to Gale to assure him that if one of his brothers were pick, I'd help them, Effie is already calling the name. "Zane Stromont!"

I look out to where a path is forming. A see a relatively small boy move from the elevens. He isn't the youngest age, but I still feel awful that I have to mentor such a young child. He has dark brown hair with green eyes. I can tell right away that he lives in the wealthier parts of District 12. I sigh, looking at the children I have to mentor. Peeta wraps his arm around me, and I watch as the two kids are taken to the meeting rooms, where they will meet their families to say goodbye.

+++

I sit with Peeta in the middle of the two small rooms, watching as each child's family goes to say goodbye to them. Acacia's father, and three small children go into her room, and leave, tears streaming down their faces after about a minute. Each of them only have three minutes to talk to their families. Zane's mother, father, and I believe grandmother go into the room he is in, and don't come out until it is absolutely necessary.

There is something in me that makes me relate to Acacia. I see something in her, something that I think could help her win this and get back to her family. I just don't know what.