Not So Safe and Sound

Chapter 2: Good bye

Primrose Everdeen. Thats me. That is my name. So why I am looking around waiting for someone to step forward? The sea of 12 year olds parts for me and I find my feet movig before my mind can comprehend what is happening.

I pass everyone and they all give me pitying looks. With my head low, I step on the stage onto the stage. "Lovely! Just lovely!" Effie says. There is murmuring among the crowd, like there always is when a 12 year old is picked. "Now, onto the boys!" She trots over to the other large bowl. Sticking her arm in elbow deep, she pulls out a name. "Peeta Mellark!"

A dirty blonde haired boy walks up on stage. He is stocky and quite tall. Then I recognize him, the bakers son. He looks shocked as he steps on stage. My eyebrows crunch if confusion as I remeber he has many older brothers, yet none volenteered. Well, neiher did my sister, but still.

Once on stage, the mayor reads a madatory speech. I zone out until he is finished. Effie gestures for me and Peeta to meet in the middle of the stage. We shake hands. HIs are large and warm in comparison to my small and cold ones. It dawns on me that I might hav to kill him.

No, 22 other people could kill him. I havent even entered the games and Im already hoping for someones death. As we turn to head into the Justice Building, everyone in the crowd begins to touch 3 fingers to their lips then lifting them into the air. I do the same before be ushered inside.

Soon, Im in a room with velvet chairs and couches. My mother and sister soon burst into the door. Katniss embraces me first, her tears dripping on my collar. "Prim, I am so sorry. I should have volenteered. Please-"

"Katniss," I say placing a hand on her shoulder. "Its okay. You did wht you had to do. Please dont beat yourself up, I dont want to come home and see that youre hurt." She chuckles slightly befo she lets me hug my mother. "I love you mom, but you have to not zone out. Okay?"

"Okay." Is all she says. For the rest of the time, I sit with Katiss and my mom on the couch, hugging eachother. Then a peacekeeper comes in and escorts them out.

"I love you!" I yell as the door closes. The next person to come in Madge. I dont know her very well, just that she is in Katniss's grade and I sometimes sell her some goat cheese. She walks over and sits next to me on the couch.

"Wear this in the arena." She says handing me a golden pin. In the center is a bird, a mockingjay, with an arrow holding it in place. "Please wear it as your token." I nod with confusion but pin it to my shirt anyway.

"Alright Madge, I will." She gives me a quick hug before leaving. The next person is Gale. He is like an older brother, he alway looks out for me. I run over to him when he opens his arms for an embrace. He is so much taller than me that when I hug him, Im just enveloped in warmth. "Take care of her, please." I ask.

He nods, knowing Im talking about Katniss. He leaves and Im left alone again. Rory is the next person in. He sits next to me an scoot closer to him and we hug. "Youll try to win, wont you Prim?" He asks.

"Of course I will." Is all I say. If I were to say what was really on my mind, that I could never everactually win, we would both be in tears. "Im coming home Rory, so dont get to used to having me gone." He chuckles but there is no humor behind it.

He leans in and gives me a quik peck on the check. "Ill be waiting at the train station for you when you get home." He heads for the door but turns and embraces me one more time before leaving me alone once again.

Its a short car ride to get to the train station. As soon as our car stops, we are swarmed with people and cameras. I see myself on one of the screens, but it desnt look like me. Too grim.

The tribute train takes my breath away. It is the fanciest place I have ever been. Chandeleirs are hanging in every room and there is so much food it could feed vryone in our district for atleast a year. My room is just as fabulous. There is the main bedroom with a queen size bed wih silk blankets.

There is also a dressing room with alot of clothes and many pairs of shoes. The last room is the bathroom. It has an actual shower with hot and cold running water. Effie told me to be ready in an hour fo dinner so I take a hot shower and change into blue dress that has flower designs on the trimming, After slipping on some fuzzy slippers and pinning Madges pin to the dress, I head to the dining cart.

I eat so much I felt as though I could burst. After dinner, we head to another cart to watch the reapings. Most everyone that is calld has no volenteers, except for a boy in 2. The only other person that sticks out is another 12 year old from district 11. She has brown skin and curly brown hair. Her eyes are brown, though they look more like honey.

Then the reaping for district 12 shows. I watch me and Peeta get calle and the whole ceremony goes by in a blur. I head back to my cabin and change into some pajamas. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall asleep.