Panem Academy

Chapter One

Deep in the meadow, under the willow, a bed of grass, a soft green pillow. The song goes in and out of my head as I drifted in out of dreamland.
My alarm went off, but I just wanted to sleep. Nothing could stop me.
"Wake up Katniss!" Exclaimed a cheerful voice.
I opened my eyes and saw my sister Prim sitting on the side of my bed already dressed.
"What time is it?" I mumbled.
"It's seven, and it's the first day of school!" Said Prim now pulling the sheets off my body.
Grumbling, I got out of bed, bathed in a fresh tub of water and got dressed in one of the best clothes I had.
Prim came in again as I was packing my school uniform. "I wish I was going to the same school as you. I'm gonna miss you"
I gave my sister a hug. "You say that every year little duck. And, I promise you that I will write to you everyday."
Prim smiled. "You say that every year. And I still have the letters from last year. I remember the first few letters you kept saying that you were nervous going to a new school."
"Well, you are twelve, just two more years until you join me at Panem Academy. Besides, mom made an effort to enroll you that elementary school near the academy." I said. "Just let me pack a few more things and I'll be down for breakfast."
When Prim left, I packed my school uniform which was a white shirt with the Capitol logo sewn on the left side, a mahogany cardigan with the Capitol logo, a royal blue tie, a royal blue skirt. And finally, knee high white socks. I as happy that they let us wear our own running shoes as long they are in appropriate school colours.
When I finished packing my school uniform, I grabbed my Communicator Pod and saw a text from one of my friends from school: Johanna Mason.
Geez, can't school start in the afternoon? I had barely enough time to dye my hair.
I rolled my eyes, Johanna always dyes her hair, last year, it was dark brown. I wonder what it'll be this time.
I texted back: Why did u dye ur hair today? Why not yesterday?
My Communicator Pod vibrated with a text but it wasn't from Johanna, instead it was one of my best friends, Peeta Mellark.
Yay, school, I'm totally excited. What about u?
I answered back, I'm not excited but my sister is totally the opposite.
Just when I finished, Johanna answered back. I was packing.
Not wanting to ask why she packed yesterday and not today, I went downstairs for breakfast.
"Are you excited for your first day of school?" Asked my mom.
I nodded and served myself a bowl of porridge. "Yeah, I guess."
"How about you?" Asked my mom to Prim who was eating as fast as she can.
"I can't wait; I hope I get to see Rue. She said she was enrolled."
Rue was one of my sister's friends. Both of them met last year and are completely inseparable.
I finished my porridge and put the dishes. "I'm going to do some more packing." I said.
My mom looked at the clock, "don't be long, we have to be at the train station at eight fifteen."
I went upstairs and checked my Communicator Pod and saw a few more messages.
Hey Catnip, does ur family need a lift to the station?
My old friend and hunting partner Gale usually gives me and my family a lift to the train station.
I texted back: Yes, please, see u at eight?
I scrolled through more messages and saw one from Peeta saying that he lost his uniform tie and another one saying that he found it under his bead.
The last one was from the one girl that has made me popular at school: Glimmer Loughlin
Are all of you excited for the first day of school or what?! :D
I laughed. Glimmer was always positive. Before I replied, someone else answered Glimmer.
Can it Glimmer. Some of us are trying to forget that today is the first day of school.
That was from Clove Kentwell. She may seem cranky, but she is really the life of the party once you get to know her. She has one younger sister named Sevina who is in the same year as Prim. Clove hangs out with my friends and I, is extremely popular and was captain of fencing team last year. She hated me when I first met her. Then, she disliked me and now she appreciates me. That's probably as far as our friendship will go, but I'm not complaining.
I texted back: Sorry Glim, not a lot of us likes the first day of school. But I can't wait to see u at the dorms.
Glimmer answered back with a happy face.
At eight o'clock, I went downstairs to where my mom and Prim were waiting.
I sighed. "Can't wait to get back next summer."
All three of us went outside and were greeted by Gale and Peeta who honked a Peacekeeper's horn.
"Nice having the Capitol let us rent this truck." Gale called.
I laughed and got in the passenger seat next to him. "How did you get this truck?" I asked.
"Had to sell a week's worth of game for it." He said.
In the review mirror, I could almost see my mother frown.
Gale drove to the train station which was a large silver bullet train marked Panem Academy in bold letters on the side.
My mom hugged Prim and I with tears in her eyes and even hugged Gale and Peeta too which they hugged her back.
All four of us went on the train and before we knew it, we were speeding off at 200 miles an hour to the Capitol.
The train will make stops at each District to pick up students to the academy.
The trip to District 11 was only about 20 minutes long and nobody spoke. Both Peeta I was busy playing some game on our Communicator Pods, Gale was stuffing his face at the buffet table and Prim was looking out the window.
Once we arrived at District 11, Prim started drum her fingers on the windowsill impatiently.
For a while, it was quiet, then, the train compartment opened and Thresh entered, nodding to Prim and I and fist bumping Gale and Peeta. All three are a year ahead of me. They were in their fourth year while I was in my third year.
Again, it was quiet, then the train compartment door opened again and a small little girl who looked like Prim's age walked in. She looked shy but once she saw Prim, she made a little squeal. "Prim!"
Prim jumped up. "Rue!"
The two girls hugged and both sat down on some couches nearby talking rapidly.
The train kept on going and made stops on the way to each District.
Ten, nine, eight, I counted in my head waiting until we reached District 7. The train compartment was getting more crowded with people I only recognized from school.
Once we reached District 7, I waited for Johanna to arrive but when all the students from District 7 came aboard which included one of the girls I roomed with last year, her name was Autumn Lockwood and she had hazel coloured hair in a braided ponytail. She smiled at me went almost immediately to the District train compartments.
When the train compartment door closed, I started to worry if something happened to Johanna.
The main entrance to the train closed, but not before I heard someone yell "Stop!"