I'm not ready for the morning. Gale walks me to the forest, trying to comfort me.
"Did you see the interviews?" I ask him. I hope he didn't. Gale avoids my eyes and nods slowly. We stay silent for a moment and then I say, "I should have volunteered." I feel on the verge of crying, and he stays completely silent.
"Katniss," he turns to me, "it's not your fault. You were so scared you couldn't do anything. We all have our moments."
"This is my sister I'm talking about, Gale! I left her to die!" I am standing now; He is only frustrating me. "You're not supposed to take my side! You're supposed to say I was stupid and that I should have died instead of her!"
The tears come spilling from my eyes now, but I continue talking as if they're not there. I thought Gale was my friend. I thought that he would do anything for family, but apparently not. I run home, leaving him in the field alone.
"The games are tonight." I would hear through the walls.
"Shut up!" I would try screaming, but the voices never did disappear.
I fall onto the floor in my home, loosing my sanity. My tears are warm and send chills through my body. Buttercup falls to my feet, giving an ugly type of purr.
"Go away you stupid cat! She isn't here! Prim isn't here!" Buttercup looks at me, and waddles away glumly.
I sit on the couch snuggled up in a blanket. My tears never did stop, only just slowed down. My mom comes to me, not saying a word, but signals me with her eyes. I don't want to move. I don't want to go outside with my district. But my mother makes me get up, and we head outside together.
In the square, everyone has gathered. As we pass, many people give us pats on the back or support, but right now I just want to hide. In the mess of people, I spot Peeta's family. His brothers stand outside, grim looks on their faces just like mine. I'm not ready for this, but the time seems to pass quickly. The black screen turns on, and I see President snow, his ugly eyes in slits.
"Welcome to the 74th hunger games!" And he holds up a glass of red liquid.
It couldn't be, but it is. Snow takes a drink of blood. The Capitol crowd goes chaotic, and the camera screen is changed. There is now a view of the arena, with all the tributes aligned on their pedestals. And there is Prim, poor Prim, looking on the verge of crying. I break down and release a loud sob at her expression, and my mother and some others bring me home. I need to see what is happening.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
