Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games! (Almost) All characters belong to Suzanne Collins
I pull into the parking lot of Panem high and turn to my little sister in the seat beside me. She's staring wide eyed at the school where she'll be spending the next four years, obviously terrified.
"Don't worry Prim" I tug gently on a strand of her golden hair "high school isn't as bad as it seems" I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but as a big sister, it's my job to put on a brave face. I open my door and she does the same then we start towards the building. Prim finds my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze back and whisper
"It'll be fine Little Duck" she smiles at the sound of her old nickname, and I remember the last time I called her that. It was about three months ago, at our father's funeral. That’s why we’re here now. When my dad died, my mom when a little crazy. So one morning, she decided to move my sister and me across the country from Boston Massachusetts to Panem Oregon. We’re currently living with some old family friends of ours; the Hawthorns, until my mom can find a job. Students are beginning to trickle through the doors when we walk in. We get our schedules and locker combinations and I help Prim find her locker.
"Well" I sigh, once Prim seems to have everything together “I should go find my locker now” Prim nods, but I can tell she’s trying not to panic.
“It’s okay” I tell her “the school isn’t big enough for you to get too lost, ask for directions if you need them and if all else fails, just talk to a teacher, okay?” Prim nods again, forcing a smile
“Good girl” I say. I give her a quick peck on the forehead before going in search of my locker. It takes me a while but I finally find it. I stash my books inside and peer down at my schedule. So maybe this won’t be as easy as I thought. I study the paper for a while, wonder where the heck I’m supposed to go.
“Need some help?” a voice asks. I glance up from my schedule and notice a girl standing in front of me.
“Um, yeah. Help would be great” I hand her the slip of paper. She scans it quickly, then looks up
“Well, you’re first class is Heavensbee” The girl announced “you’re lucky; he’s one of my favorite teachers. Anyway, you want to take a left, and then-“ she stopped “you know what, I’m already headed that way, I’ll just show you.” She gestures for me to follow her and starts down the hallway.
“I’m Clove by the way” she says as we make our way through the crowd.
“Katniss” I reply. If I had to guess Clove’s age, I would say she look’s about thirteen. She’s tiny! Five-two, Five-three tops. She has a young face as well, big dark eyes and freckles sprinkled across her nose, although she has to be at least a sophomore to know her way around the school.
“So you’re new” it was a statement, not a question
“Yeah” I answer “My family moved here a few months ago”
“from?” Clove asked
“Boston”
“Boston?” Clove laughed “Why would you want to leave Boston for Panem?”
“I don’t know” I sigh “Ask my mom” we turn a corner and stop at a doorway.
“Well here we are” Clove tells me. She leans in and knocks on the door frame.
“Heavensbee!” she calls. The teacher turns at the sound of his name. He sees Clove and smiles
“Miss Sevina”
“You’ve got a new student” she informs him “this is Katniss” I take a step into the room
“Well it’s a pleaser to meet you” Mr. Heavensbee says “Miss Katniss…”
“Everdeen” I offer.
“Well, I should get to class” Clove sighs “See you later” she starts to leave but stops “oh! And welcome to Panem high.”
So maybe this school won’t be as bad as I thought it would be.
