Accidentally in Love

The Reaping

It was just another depressingly cloudy day in district 12. I put on my father’s old mining coat that doubled as a hunting coat. It was still covered with black streaks of coal. Didn’t matter how much you washed it, it would never leave the coat. I discretely walk through the district to the “electric” fence, it never has worked, probably because the local peacekeepers are too drunk to even manage to flip a switch, but I won’t complain. I make my way to the log that has my bow in it, I sling it over my shoulder and continue through the woods and see Gale setting some snares.

“Hey, Catnip!” he smiles and looks into my light grey eyes. To break the awkward stare contest we have going, I reply quickly, “Hey, Gale, thought we were supposed to meet by the pond like we normally do?” I smile and laugh a little. He smirks back at me and replies, “Well I couldn’t resist setting a few snares, I saw a bunch of squirrels running this way and wanted to see what I could get.” I smile back, but don’t say anything because I am too nervous about today, the reaping.

This is prim’s very first year to be put in the reaping, and Gale’s last, I could easily have to say good bye to him since he puts his name in extra times for extra food for his family. But I am not too worried about my sister being pulled, I mean her name is only in there once. She should be fine.

We continue the hunting and I manage to kill three ducks and a squirrel, Gale caught about 10 squirrels with his snares, I guess he was right about there being a bunch of squirrels running around today. We sit down in the woods and look at the sky we talk about the games and promise to take care of each other’s families if we are reaped, we make the same pact every year, it never is needed, but there is no chance that he wouldn’t take care of them anyway. He is basically like my brother, I can trust him with anything. We walk back to the fence and carry on with our days.

When I get home, my mom is looking at me with anger, but not too much because she never really shows too much emotion since the incident. I go to take a freezing cold shower and find a blue dress laying on my bed. It is modest, and it fits me well, it was once my mother’s. She pins my hair up and prim is so nervous that she begins to cry. I hold her in my arms and whisper, “It won’t be you Prim, I promise.”

We continue to the town square where Effie, our district escort, is wearing some pink contraption that looks like she would need to be cut out of. They separate us by age and I tell Prim where to meet me after the reaping, by the old bakery. They prick our fingers to check our blood and we are on our way to the two crowds of young children, one of girls, and one of boys. Gale finds me and smiles, that lets me know that everything will be okay, don’t worry, but I can’t stop worrying. They show us some sick and twisted film that shows past games and why we are here. Then Effie begins the hellish picking of children.

“Hello all, and welcome to the 74th Hunger Games!” no one applauds and she seems disgraced. She clears her throat and continues, “Ladies first!” there is a dead silence, she hovers over the names and picks one, “Primrose Everdeen!” my knees collapse and my friend Madge Undersee catches me and helps me up again. I do the only thing I can think to do. I run. Straight to Effie screaming, “I VOLENTEER! I VOLENTEER AS TRIBUTE!”  The whole crowd freezes.  Peace keepers take Prim back and she is kicking and screaming Gale finally takes her and holds her tight. She begins to blabber about the past and how I’m the first volunteer in the district blah, blah, blah. The she goes to the boys. “Peeta Melark!” I know this kid, he saved my life, and how will I be able to kill him. He walks to the stage and turns a pale as the white frosting on a cake. He looks at me and then back to the crowd. Effie hold our hands and lifts them up. “The tributes for the 74th annual Hunger Games!” Once again, not a single clap, the whole district lifts three fingers to their lips and kiss them then lift them high in unison. We walk to the justice building and are escorted to separate rooms, my family comes in and I promise to win. The Gale comes in with nothing to say, he hugs me and pins something to my back. He kisses my on the cheek and says he will do everything in his power to keep my family safe.

We are taken to a train and I look at the pin on my back. A mocking jay, a sign of hope and rebellion. I move it to the front part of my dress and continue you to shun everyone till we get to the capitol. It is insane, blood thirsty capitol citizens cheer, they are so sick.

We continued on our way to the condo that they have reserved for us, that is when I saw him, Cato Langsworth, the toughest tribute in the whole games. His looks alone were able to die a little. He was gorgeous, ocean blue eyes and sun kissed blonde hair, his body was… wait, why am I thinking like this, I am supposed to kill him in less than a week. I need to hate him, not fall for him like 90% of humanity. I am Katniss Everdeen, and I will come home to Prim.