The Bet

Chapter 27

Peeta POV

Today is the day I’ve been dreading, the day of the reaping. I feel scared for Katniss and myself, that either one of us could be picked today. But I know what I’m going to do if Katniss is chosen; I am going to be there with her even if I have to volunteer as tribute. If she were to die there I couldn’t bear to watch it on the television. I couldn’t cope with not being able to say our final goodbyes to each other. She means the world to me. If we were in trouble of any kind I would always put her first and let someone take my life before they could take Katniss’. I know she has the ability to win this. But I know I have no chance at winning. I’m not going in that area to win, I’m going in to protect. To protect the love of my life from any danger.

In about an hour we will all be called to the square for the reaping to start so I decide to head over to Katniss’ house and see how her and her sister are holding up. I know Prim is petrified of being picked so I know she will probably be in tears. As I reach her house and walk through the door Katniss, her mother and Prim are sitting around the table eating their last meal before we must go to the square.

“Hey Peeta, what are you doing here?” Says Katniss, coming over to me.

“I wanted to see if you were feeling better and talk to you about the reaping, in private is that ok?”

“Alright well I’m feeling a lot better, but let’s go into a different room.” She says as she takes me into what is guess is her room and we sit down on the bed.

“You look really beautiful today Katniss, I’ve never seen you in a dress before.”

“Thanks, it’s my mothers. What did you want to talk about?”

“Well we have never really talked about it before so I thought now would be a good time, what if either one of us were picked to g-”

“Shhh.” She says as she puts her finger over my mouth. “You don’t have to worry because we won’t be picked. I know it I have a feeling.”

“But you can’t be sure of that.”

“Well I try not to think about it, if I was picked. I guess I would just have to live with it, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Well I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I’ve made my decision. If you are picked I am going to volunteer.”

“No Peeta you can’t do that! Don’t risk your life for me.”

“You know you can’t tell me to do that, because no matter what you’re not going in that area alone.”

“But what if something happens to you I couldn’t live with myself.” She says as she wraps her arms around my neck and starts to sob.

“I couldn’t live without being there to protect you Katniss; I need to be there with you. I couldn’t cope seeing you there suffering.”

“Peeta I can take care of myself you know I can. I can hunt, I can forage for food.”

“But what if you are put in some environment you have never seen before? That’s when you need me there to protect you from danger.”

“Please don’t do this Peeta, what about me? I couldn’t cope without you if you died because of me.”

“Look we’ll just see what happens, I know we won’t even be picked. But I needed to tell you what I am going to do.”

“Well I think we should be heading to the square now they will be expecting us.”

“Good idea.” I say as we walk back into the room where Prim and her mother are sitting down.

After a few minutes of finishing off getting ready me and Katniss head out the door holding hands and walk towards the square. When we get there the cameras and banners are a sudden shock of reality that this could very well be the last time I see this place, the last time I will be in district 12. Suddenly Katniss and I are torn from each other, peacekeepers are pulling us in opposite directions, making the boys split up from the girls, but I manage to free myself from the peacekeepers grip and run back to Katniss giving her a passionate kiss for good luck until I am torn from her again.

I line up with the boys from my age group and I spot Gale standing a few people behind me in the 17-year-old line trying to look strong. He’s probably afraid that he or Madge will be reaped just like I am with Katniss and myself. I look over to the girl’s line and spot Katniss looking over at me. I mouth to her ‘I love you’ and she mouths it back. As the town clock strikes two Mayor Undersee takes the stage and begins to talk about the history of Panem. He then introduces Effie Trinket, District 12’s escort to the podium to announce the names of the boy and girl who will go into this year’s Hunger Games.

“Ladies first!” she says like she always does and walks over to the glass ball filled with the girls of Panem. As she reaches in, a gut drenching feeling runs over me. Please don’t let it be Katniss. As she walks back over to the podium opens the slip of paper and reads out the name. It’s not Katniss. It’s Primrose Everdeen. My stomach drops, it’s only her first year and she only has her name in there once, how could this happen?

As Prim starts to mount the stage, I see Katniss running towards her. What is she doing? She can’t stop this now. But she’s not trying to stop it, she opens her mouth and my heart starts pounding hard, I can feel it in my throat.

“I volunteer!” She gasps. “I volunteer as tribute!”

As Katniss makes her way to the stage, Prim is being taken away by Gale, screaming for Katniss not to go, but it’s too late now. Katniss mounts the stage and stands next to Effie as she tells Katniss to say her name. As Effie tells the district to give a round of applause to our newest district, no one does. Everyone is holding out their three middle fingers to Katniss. It’s not time for the boys. I know for a fact whoever is drawn out of that ball, today is their lucky day because I will also be volunteering. I’m not letting Katniss go alone. As she walks over to the ball, picks out a name and brings it back to the podium, I start to feel nauseous. As she reads out the name, I freeze. It’s not what I was expecting, it’s not someone else’s name. It’s my name. I make my way up to the podium making eye contact with all the people up there staring at me. I spot Katniss tearing up looking at me. There was nothing she could do; I was destined to be chosen.

After the reaping Katniss and I are taken into the Justice Building by a group of Peacekeepers. We are again spilt up into different room without even the time to talk to each other. I’m alone sitting in a room full of luxurious items that I’ve never seen before. After a couple of minutes my mother and father walk in. my mother isn’t very sad that I’m going into the games, but my father is. He give me some words of advice to stay alive, but my mother tells him there’s no point, I won’t last long, no one ever does in this district. Which I believe is true, but it’s not a very nice way to say goodbye to your son before he dies. After a few minutes Katniss’ mother and Prim walk in. Prim is engulfed in tears as she runs at me and gives me a hug. Her mother tells me to protect Katniss and myself as she gives me a hug goodbye and they are both rushed out of my room. After a while of waiting in the room a group of peacekeepers come into my room and march me to a car were we travel to the train station. As we reach the train station we are pushed inside and Katniss and I sit down on a couch together while Effie and our mentor Haymitch enter another room to give us privacy as we ask them.

“I love you Katniss.” I say pulling her into a hug.

“I love you too Peeta. What do you think it will be like?” She says pulling back.

“I guess we will have to wait and see, but don’t be scared you know I will protect you.”

“I know you will and I am scared, but I’m glad it’s me and not my sister going. If Prim had have gone into the games, she wouldn’t last more than a day. I know I may not be able to win this thing, but I have a chance and so do you, we can do it together.”

“But there can only be one winner, and I know you don’t want to think about it, but it has to be you Katniss I couldn’t live with myself if I had won over you.”

“We’ll think about that when we are in the games and- hang on I think I’m going to be sick.” Says Katniss, running off trying to find a bathroom, so I run after her.

“Katniss what’s wrong?” I say standing behind the bathroom door that she has locked. “You were sick yesterday and it still hasn’t gone away there must be something more to it.” I say as she opens the door.

“Peeta I have to tell you something.”

“What is it? Is it bad?”

“No… well… I-I’m pregnant.”