Peeta: in the arena with Prim

Chapter 2

"Happy Hunger Games!" Effie beams. I struggle to understand why she finds this whole thing so.. amusing! It makes me angry. The people from the Capitol, including her, have never had to worry about this. Their children play whereas the children in the districts get slaughtered. It's unfair. But it's been 74 years and nothing has changed, so I've learned to accept it.

"Now before we begin," She begins. I have listened to how the Hunger Games have come to be for my whole life, so I allow myself to zone out. I tune back in as Effie taps the microphone and squeaks "Ladies first!" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Katniss take slow, deep breaths. I hope she doesn't get picked. Oh please, please don't let Katniss get dragged to her doom.

"Primrose Everdeen!" The crowd falls silent. I turn to Katniss, seeing a mix of confused and hurt emotions. Emotions she's known for hiding. Then I look to small, innocent Prim, who looks as pale as someone can be. She clutches a pin she has on her blouse, and makes her way up the stage with slow, steady steps. Once she's standing next to Effie, she's immediately looks down at her shoes. I feel terrible. I turn back to Katniss. And for the first time, I see a tear running down her cheek. Maybe afterwards, even though she is hurting right now, I can go to her. I'll tell her Prim will be okay, and that she doesn't need to worry. I'm preparing what I'll say to her as Effie crosses to the other side of the stage.

"And now, for the boys," she says, excitement clearly in her Capitol accent. Now it is Gale I can see taking deep breaths.

"Peeta Mellark!"

My mind is suddenly in a million places. Did she just say my name? I stand still, in shock, trying to process her words. She surely can't mean me! There are so many other boys in our district. Is this real?

My thoughts are confirmed by the group of peacekeepers edging me forward out of the crowd. As I walk on to the stage, I can feel the tears forming in my eyes. Peeta, I tell myself. You can't appear weak. You must remain strong.  So I hold back my tears and keep my head high.

I take my place onstage on the right of Effie. My eyes are searching the crowd, and suddenly my eyes fall upon Katniss. She is staring at me for once. But she is lost in her own thoughts. I glance to my family now, their faces similar to mine.  My mother looks angry, my brother confused. But it's my father who I focus on. He looks up at me, and what is usually a bright smile is replaced by a frown. I can see that he is crying. That makes it so much harder to stay strong, seeing him like this.

"Come on you two, shake hands!" Effie says in a bubbly voice.

I turn to face Prim, and she has to look up at me. When I see this poor, innocent girl, I decide something. I will do whatever it takes to get her back to Katniss. Of course, I will try to survive, but Katniss needs Prim. She is her world. You can't take someone's world away.

Prim extends her small arm towards me. She looks scared, and she has every right to be.  I tower over her, and she doesn't even know me. She's sees me as her enemy. I'm sure I look flustered and scared, too, because that's exactly how I feel. I finally reach my hand out to her, and we shake hands. I can feel sweat from her small hands transfer over to my own.

"Excellent!" Effie beams. "Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

Before I can even have one clear thought slip into my confused mind, I am in the grasp of two peacekeepers, taking me into a room where I have to sit in silence and wait.

I peer at the closed door, then out the window. I can see my family approaching from outside. What will I say to them? What will they say to me? I can't lose them. What am I going to do? Suddenly I'm slouched on a couch in the corner of the room, crying. Why me? I think. And that's when the door swings open.