Chapter 1: The Slag Heap

It was the end of another school day in District 12. Katniss Everdeen made for her locker as soon as the final bell rang. She was relieved to see her two best friends, Gale Hawthorne and Peeta Mellark, waiting for her with smiles.

"Hello, boys," she grinned, giving them each a hug. The three had been friends since preschool.

"Hey, Mockingjay," Peeta returned. Katniss smiled. He had given her that pet name long ago, after he had heard her sing in a school assembly. "Ready to go get Prim and start the weekend?"

"Definitely," Katniss grinned. She turned to her hunting partner. "Ready, Gale?"

"Actually, it'll be just you and Peeta with Prim today. I'm sorry; there's just something I need to take care of."

Katniss blinked. The three of them always walked home together with Prim; it was routine. She brushed the hurt away. If Gale had to miss out on their afternoon walk, he must have his reasons. "O….OK," she said as casually as she good.

For some reason, Gale would not meet her eyes as he hugged her, bro-hugged Peeta and disappeared into the crowd.

"What's with him?" Peeta asked.

Katniss turned to him. "He didn't tell you before I walked up?"

"No," Peeta shrugged. He was sporting a tight frown, but it quickly turned into a smile. He threw a brotherly arm over her shoulder and Katniss cuddled into him without another thought. "Come on. Let's go get our little passenger."

They picked Prim up downstairs in the Lower School. The youngest Everdeen was only 12 and in 6th grade.

The walk home was filled with content as usual. Peeta and Katniss walked side-by-side, Prim bubbling to them about what they had done in class that day.

As the center of town passed into the Merchant town where Peeta lived, the trio passed by a giant dumping ground for trash, colloquially known as the Slag Heap. It was a staple of District 12 lore; there were whispers that older children of the District did….. sexual stuff there.

"Oh, Gale!"

Katniss stopped short. That voice sounded like Madge Undersee, the Mayor's daughter. And it was coming from the Slag Heap. She felt her heart nearly stop and she wanted to cry. That couldn't be why he….

Peeta had heard it, too. "Katniss," he said as calmly as he could. "Let's keep going."

Katniss didn't do anything to indicate she even heard him. Then, she moved forward to enter the Slag Heap.

"Katniss, no!" Peeta lunged forward and grabbed her hand. "It's Gale's business," he hissed as Katniss struggled. "We don't have the right to interfere!"

There came another airy wail from Madge from behind one of the mountains of trash. Prim was now looking between the sounds, her sister and friend in confusion. Katniss got loose from Peeta.

"Katniss, I said no!" Peeta snapped, intercepting her again.

"Peeta…." Prim whimpered.

"Prim, go home! We're right behind you." Peeta threw over his shoulder. The little girl didn't move, so he turned to face her. "Go home, I said! We'll meet you back at your house."

Prim dashed away. Peeta managed to get an arm around Katniss before firmly leading her away. She briefly resisted, before turning into Peeta and trying not to cry.

Peeta guided her through the Merchant town, past his own house and the bakery, all the way into the Seam and to the Everdeen's front door.

"Go see to Prim and your mother," he told her gently. "We will talk about this later."

Katniss looked at him, her eyes sad. "What about Gale?"

"If anyone is going to talk to him, it's me. And I still might, I might not. We'll have to see." He gave her a hug and wished her a good evening. Then he walked off into the blazing late afternoon.