THG. Ch1 Peeta's Reaping.

      As I glance out my window I see vibrant colors of blue, yellow, orange and even purples and pinks streach out covering the sky.  It's beautiful, and normally I'd smile and stop to watch the sun rise a bit longer. But I don't and I can't smile. Today is the reaping after all. No one will be happy until it ends. All but two families will be happy.
" Peeta!! " my mother hisses from down stairs. " Get your butt down here! We are running late! " normally shes not this crabby... yet. Not in the morning at lest. Unless she didn't sleep. If she didn't last night I don't blame her. I didn't either.  It's the reaping. Today starts off the 74th Hunger Games. Two tributes from each distict will be selected to go and fight in the Games while we all watch live. One boy and one girl. Ages 12 to 18 compete every year in a sickening game. The last one alive wins.
I roll my eyes and and finish getting dressed. " Sorry! I'm coming Mother! " I call as I start out my room and down the stairs.
" Hurry up! We need to be ready and open soon! " she hisses again, I nod.
" I know I know.. " I call.  It's a big day for us today. A big day at the bakery. Yes. The bakery. Our Bakery. Our family business. It's not so bad most of the time. I frost most of the cakes and make bread.Today we'll have a lot of costumers. The Hunger Games are to be treated like like a big holiday. That's what the capitol would like to see. In fact, today is the biggest day for the short time we have. Almost matches  up to holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.
The reason why we have to celebrate and watch these sick sick games is because its punishment. Punishment for trying to rebel. They took out district 13 and gave us the games to watch. Reminding us not to mess with the capitol.
So here I am. In District 12. Coal mining. Our bakery is  about the only one here. We get a lot of people mainly here for the bread. A lot for Distict 12 is poor and can't even afford enough food. We make cookies and cakes anyway for the richer ones. Like the Mayor here.  But my job is to frost cookies, and cakes... Make bread. The rest of my family makes the cookies and other pastries. Today I'll be frosting cakes like crazy. Today people actually buy them to celebrate.
It's quite today during work though. No one is really talking. My brothers are. they always are.  My dad never says much and if mom says anything today it's an order or a rude comment here and there, but then nice voice to our costurmers of course. Because if she acted as her real self. We'd get no busness at all.. she'd drive them away.
I'm not speaking at all though, too much on my mind. I don't even crack a small smile. I'm so.. so worried. Not just because I'm sixteen and could be drawn to go in the Games bit for someone else who could be drawn as well.
This sweet beautiful girl. Katniss. Katniss Everdeen is her name. I met her on the first day of school. When we were five. I loved her ever sniece. Even though... I have never talked to her. Eleven years and I never got to talk to her. We've been in classes and I could never get the courage.  I hope She isn't picked more than I hope I'm not picked. Though if I'm picked... I know I will never come back home.
I hope to last  this year though. I hope to have another year of trying to get her atention. I don't want to lose her. Even though I'm sure I already have. My brother can see the worry on my face.
" Still worried about her? " He asks. I blush and give a nod as I finish off frosting a flower on a cookie. He pats my back laughing. " Don't worry Peeta. You guys won't be picked.. It's a one and a thousand chance. "
Says him though. My older brother won't be drawn. He's told old to go into the Games. He doesn't have to worry. My other brother wouldn't volunteer for me anyway. I am the youngest.
Soon a long ( yet short ) day at the bakery is over and we close up to get ready to go to find out our next tributes, so all of us but a few can relax fro the rest of the year and hope a tridutes from their distict wins. I shower and start getting dressed in my nicest outfit and comb back my blonde hair. My nerves are so high now. I wish I could just crawl up and not go at all, but it's law to go and show up.
We make it cerimony and we all line up in out age groups. 12 to 18. The we watch and listen to Effie Trinket as she explains the past victors here in Distict 12. Only two. Ones dead the other is Haymich Alberney, and like normal Haymitch is confused and is a drunk as ever. He tries to hug Effie before she starts to speak. She can't esacpe is awckward hug but after he falls of the stage and passes out. It's discusting really. People  wake him and help him to his spot and Effie finally starts talking in her high pitched voice so we can get this over with and move on.
" Ladies fist! " She calls soon. My hands  sweat adn my heart races. These next minutes are the hardest when we get the drawings out to hear our tributes. Please.. plleaasseee don't call her I beg.
" Primrose Everdeen! " Effie calls and I sigh in realief, it's not Katniss Everdeen.. it's Primro- wait! Prim! Prim's he sister! I look up and see Prim walking to the stage trying to hide the fear on her face.  Katniss runs up behind her calling her name. " Prim! Prim! " She gasps, and I never expect her to say the next line. No one does. " I volunteer!" She  screams. " I volunteer as tribute!"
No! No! No! I think. I bite my lip. No! That's not fair! Why her?! This isn't want  I wanted! This shouldn't have happened! I want to cry. I may never see her again... No one ever volunteers either, but I should have known she loves her sister that much.
Her sister is clinged to her waist. Katniss yells at her to get off, but it takes her friend Gale to pull her away. They let Katniss come foward and they ancounce that she is the first tribute this year for Distict 12. And now Effie Trinket is going to announce the next tribute. She read the name.
" Peeta Mellark! " she exclaims. I'm taken away. I freeze up because that's my name! I'm the next tribute and I'll be fighting against her! I walk up slowly trying to hid my fear. Trying not to cry. I'm not sure if it's working either but as I walk up I think, Just shot me now. make it quick so I don't need to suffer.
Effie asks for Volunteers, but as expected no one does, for sure I'm going. The Mayor begins a long speech, but I can't listen. I can't even focus. I can't even place what just happened, and I'm trying to calm myself. I'm trying not to look week. I can't cry, but if I do not here. Later.
After his speech the Mayor had us shake hands. I look Katniss straight in the eye and shake her hand. I squeeze her hand, and I hope she knows that I'm on her side. I'll not hurt her, and I won't let it happen. She seems confused, and I think she didn't get it, but I don't say anything. The anthem of Panem plays and when it ends we are escorted out by the peacekeepers  to the Justice Building.