Crossing Paths

Part Two: The Games Return

“Oh really? How about… now?!” He grabs me off the counter, lays me down on the floor, and starts to tickle me. I can feel my face grow tomato red as I laugh until I can’t breathe.

 “No!...Stop! I can’t breathe!... Peeta!” I try to push him off but I'm unsuccessful so I just laugh trying to gasp in even the tiniest bit of air. The two of us keep laughing as he helps me up. I lean on him trying to catch my breath and whisper,

“Thanks, I needed that.”

“I know.” I pull away and try to make myself productive by filling cups with ice and water.

“Have you heard form my mother or Annie today?”

“Yeah they called while you were over at Haymitch’s. They said that they just got back to District Four and they were settling back in.”

“That’s good,” I reply quietly. I picture Annie sitting in a quiet room looking out the window thinking about Finnick, Nate, the past, the present, and the future all at once as my mother unpacks their suitcases. I sigh at the thought and try to move on. I think about Gale, which probably isn’t a better thing to think about but it’s something. I wonder if what he’s doing, where he is, if he’s safe with a roof over his head, if he has something to eat, if Melody’s found him, and most of all if he’s think the same things about me.

Peeta and I both jump when we hear the TV click on in the other room. Knowing that no one turned it on because Jay’s at Em and Corren’s house, Haymitch it still at his house, and Benit isn’t even capable of reaching the TV; I run to it. I find myself standing face to face with the onscreen Melody. Peeta followed me and he slips his hand gently into mine as we stand before the screen waiting for the Panem anthem to go silent and for Melody to speak.

“Citizens of Panem I’m going to be frank with all of you. I’m not pleased with the state of mind with any one of you.  It’s been nearly a month since the murders of more than half of our government. And after countless questionings no one has given even so much as a clue to who did it. Since no one is willing to give clues or confess I have no choice but to hand out punishment. I’ve made arrangements for the Seventy-sixth Hunger Games to take place. The will reaping will take place in three days for children twelve through eighteen. The times will be announced later in the hour. No volunteers will be taken and as usual family members won’t be allowed to take their children’s places. Hopefully we’ll all learn a valuable lesson from this. May the odds be ever in your favor.” The Panem anthem sounds once again and the screen clicks off just as fast as it came on. I can feel the color drain from every inch of my body as I slowly become numb all over. My grip tightens on Peeta’s hand I feel his body grow cold and tense. I can tell by the giant mood swing that just hit the room that we’re both thinking the same thing: Jay’s qualified for the reaping.

                Jay

I walk in still laughing from Em’s joke. I swear that girl can make anyone laugh, anytime and anywhere! Maybe that’s why we’re friends. I’m really good at being sarcastic but I can’t make someone laugh to save my life. Well, at least not on purpose. Sometimes people laugh when I’m not trying to be funny or when I’m being sarcastic. But Em? Let’s just say she’s the other way around.

“Mama! Papa! I’m home!” I call out in between giggles. I hear voices coming from the living room so I decide to go and see what’s up. I get to the door but I hesitate to open it when I hear the conversation.

“Peeta, what are we going to do? They probably already have the tributes picked and the reaping’s just for show. There’s no doubt she’s one of them! She can’t just… we can’t let her… Oh god this can’t be happening!” I hear my mother’s worried voice say.

“Katniss we knew this was coming,” my father tries to say in a calm voice but it comes out just as nervous as my mother’s.

“I know but I just wish there was…” she stops and I hear a muffled sobbing sound that I just know is coming from her.

“Sssssshhhhhhh, it’s okay. You know why?”

“Why?” she whimpers.

“Because we can do something that most parents can’t,” he answers in a tiny bit more collective tone.

“What’s that?” she asks.

“We can teach her. We can teach her everything we know. Between us and training she’ll be double prepared for the arena.” My mother’s sobbing has stopped and she says,

“Yeah physically. But not mentally.”

“No one can ever be ready mentally. You know that.” That’s the moment I can’t take it anymore. I have to know what’s going on. I turn the doorknob and enter.

“Why do I have to be prepared?” They’re startled with not only my question but also abrupt my presence. Both of them try to find an answer for me. I know I won’t get an answer that makes sense from Mama. Not now at least. So I look at Papa and wait. But for the first time ever he’s at a loss of what I’ve always seen as perfect answers.

“What do you mean?”

“You heard me. Why do I have to be prepared? What’s going on?”

“Come here Jay-K,” I keep my face serious but on the inside I feel a little better. Whenever he uses my nickname it puts me in a better mood. He came up with it when I was really little. The K stands for Katniss, my mother’s name. I’ve always meant to ask him why he put her initial after my name but I’ve never gotten around to it. And as I’ve gotten older it seems like a silly question to ask.

“I’m listening,” I say once I’m situated between the two of them. He takes a deep breath, reaches behind me to hold Mama’s hand, and then begins.

        “Do you remember Melody?”

                  “Psycho maniac who tried to kill us? Yeah, I remember her,” I get a small smile out of him but it soon disappears as the TV clicks on without warning. He takes me by the shoulders and makes me face the screen. I stand but then turn to stone when I see Melody’s face. Without needing anymore explanation I now know exactly what they were talking about. I feel like a complete idiot as I stare at the screen, not because I’m in shock but because I should have understood from the very first second. I mean come on, arena, needing to be physically ready, not being ready mentally, and extra training. It’s completely obvious and it slid right by be as if I had been a statue trying to catch a frisbee! Melody opens her mouth to speak and I brace myself for the realistic thought to become a living nightmare.

                  “Citizens of Panem I’ve returned to your screens to give you the times of the reapings…” Even though I know I shouldn’t, I let my mind drift to the endless possibilities of events that the arena might hold for me as I wait for her to get to District Twelve’s reaping time. But the minute she finishes announcing District Eleven’s reaping time I smack the thoughts away and give the screen my full attention. “District Twelve’s reaping will occur at one thirty pm. And last but certainly not least, District Thirteen’s reaping will take place at two pm. Thank you for your attention and may the odds be ever in your favor.” She gives us an insincere smile and then the TV clicks off. My back stays facing my parents as I try to collect myself.

                  Okay so like I heard Mama and Papa say I’m pretty much destined for the arena……. and more than likely my death. I feel tears start to well up in my eyes as the thought slices through my mind. No Jay, don’t cry! You can cry later but not now! Show them that you’re strong! You’re not dead yet!! Now loose the tears, take a deep breath, and turn around. I instructed myself. Once I followed my own instructions I turn to face my parent’s worried faces.