The Games We Play

Chapter 4

Peeta walks up onto the stage. His mouth is open slightly and he looks shocked. "Ok now, shake hands," Effie smiles widely.
I glance at Kat and then look back at Peeta. I stretch out my fingers and he does the same. Our palms meet and I wrap my fingers around his wrist. He shakes my hand slightly. We part our hands and peace keepers come to follow both of us. We get pulled into city hall and into separate rooms.
"Your friends will be here to visit you before you go to the capital." I nod slightly and look around the room. The peace keeper leaves and I sit down in the chair. Only 35 seconds later the door flies open. My dad comes barging in.
"Are you ok!? Why would you do that!? Oh, my God!" He pulls me into a hug and I fight to keep my tears in.
"I'm fine and I had to do that. I couldn't let Prim go into the games and I didn't want Kat to get hurt either. I'm sorry."
"You know, your mother would've done the same." He pulls away and smiles gently at me while a tear rolls down his cheek. I wipe it and hug him again.
"Your times up." The peace keeper forces him to leave.
"NO- I LOVE YOU, SWEETIE! I BELIEVE IN YOU, OK!?"
"Bye, dad. I love you, too."
The door slams shut and I quickly wipe the tears I didn't notice were falling. I sit back down and wait to be taken. A minute later, I hear whispering outside the door. I get up and try to hear what they're saying. It's Gale, Katniss, and Prim. They have convinced the guard to let them visit me.
They walk in and Prim runs to hug me. I hug her back and then Katniss joins. I pull away.
"Take this... for comfort." Prim takes my hand a presses something into it. She closes my palm.
I open my palm and tear up. It's the pin I gave her. "..Thank you."
My voice is trembling and you can tell I want to cry. "I love you, Y/N."
I hug her once more then turn to Kat. "You idiot! I could've volunteered!"
"And what if you didn't come back? She would've lost one of her only family members and her only sister. Besides, I can do this. I need to. To repay you and your family for all they've done for me."
Katniss cries and hugs me. I turn to Gale. He pulls me into an embrace and then pulls me away. He holds my shoulders and shakes me slightly. "You're strong, ok!? Don't forget your skills. You will find a knife or a spear or even a bow."
"What if they don't have one!?" I release the tears I've been holding onto for so long.
"Don't cry. You can make one. Remember how you kill those deer, squirrels, and birds!?"
"But those were animals-"
"Humans aren't much smarter. You'll be okay." He hugs me again and kisses the top of my head. The guard comes in and forces him, Kat, and Prim to leave. Prim sobs. Kat yells. Gale walks peacefully while glancing back at me.
Peeta, Effie and I meet up in the hallway and walk outside to a car. The car takes off driving once we get inside. Effie in the middle, Peeta on the left, two guards in the front, and me on the left.