Hi, this is a Peeta and Katniss Fanfiction, which is a first for me. As well as this it's an AU set in modern day and is mostly in Katniss' POV.
I hope you like it and if you have any suggestions i'm always happy to hear them, so tell me what you think?

Disclaimer- I don't own The Hunger Games, it belongs to the amazing Suzanne Collins. However, this story and any unfamiliar characters are mine.

Enjoy! :)


Chapter 1-

"Come on Prim! We'll be late otherwise!"
I push off of the banister and turn on my heels into the front room, scooping up my backpack off of the sofa as i go and throwing it over my shoulder in one quick motion. Quickly looking in the mirror i push a strand of stray hair, which has come loose from my french braid, behind my right ear.
I'm quite impressed. Today you can't see the large blue, purple bags under my eyes through my foundation. Normally, i detest makeup, however after the bags became dark and very visible i had to start wearing the stuff.
Sighing i peer at my watch, 8:00.
"Primrose Everdee-"
"I'm coming!"
I hear a clatter on the stairs as Prim bounds down them. Rushing out of the front room i grab my keys from their assigned hook in one hand and Prim's hand in the other, propelling her out of the front door before stepping out myself and locking it behind me.
When i look back she is trying button her school cardigan while holding an arm full of books that are to big to fit in her bag. Sighing, i take them from under her arms and start at a quick pace down the road. Shoving the key into my trouser pocket. I can see from the corner of my eye Prim rushing along side me, her pony tail is bobbing with every steps she takes.
I stare down the road and then to the books i am carrying for Prim. In large, italic letters across the front of a particularly heavy, dark blue book it reads Human Biology. The next one, a smaller white one says Chemistry in the same italics. The last one reads Medicine. I smile slightly, Prim wants to be a doctor when she is older, just like our mother.
She has always been caring, sweet, makes friends easily-basically, the exact opposite of me. Even in the way she looks. Her skin is so porcelain white, blue eyes and white blonde hair; just like my mum. A merchant looking child. Where as i have my fathers features; light olive skin, steele grey eyes and dark brown hair which falls in light waves. Seam born and bred.
Looking up from her books i stare to Prim, she's finished buttoning her cardigan and waiting for her books back. Handing them to her she takes the load in her arms before she stares down at the paving slabs. Sighing we turn the corner.
I must look extremely irritated to her; I'm frowning slightly and my lips are tightly pursed.
"I'm sorry i didn't hurry up Katniss."
"It's okay little duck."
"Really?" She looks up at me, her orbs large and rounded.
"Yeah." I stop frowning and smile at her, pulling on her pony tail softly. Her giggles are contagious as i laugh along to. I couldn't stay mad at my little sister. She's six years younger than i am; although she protests it's only five and a half on occasion, however sometimes even i have to remind myself of that. For her age she is so insightful. She has had to grow up so quickly, after our dad died.
When i was 11 he got shot on the way home from work, he was trying to stop a mugging apparently, but that's all we found out. My mother fell into some kind of depression for a while after that, leaving me to make sure Prim got fed, washed, to school, everything. She came back to us a year or so later, but it was a year to late. She has engrossed herself in her work ever since. We only see her on weekends, and that's only if she is home and if you get up early enough in the morning.
Pulling myself from my thought i realize we are approaching Rue's house, Prim's friend who she walks to school with in the mornings and stays with after school. I would walk her myself if i didn't know that Rue and her family are good people, it's a dangerous neighborhood where we live, i would never let my sister be in danger.
Walking up to the front door i pull Prim into a hug, as i do i tuck her blouse into the back of her skirt. As well dressed as Prim always is she seems to have some trouble tucking her school shirt into the back of her kilt.
"Have fun at school today little duck. I'll see you later."
Pushing her to arms length i look at her and smile.
"You to Katniss."
Kissing her on the check quickly i pull away from her as the door opens and Rue appears. She's smiling, her light brown skin gleaming in the early sun light.
"Hi Prim, Katniss."
"Hi Rue! See you later Katniss."
I wave and call goodbye to both Prim and Rue before starting at the fast pace again back in the direction i had come from with Prim a few minutes before. Staring down at my watch i curse to myself at the time, 8:07. Starting at a run i hold my bag strap close to my body.
Normally me and Prim leave the house at 7:50. Ten or so minutes to Rue's house at a slow pace then fifteen to the bus stop, that leaves me a whole five minutes before the bus arrives, just to be safe. It's an hour and a bit ride to work plus walking.
I can feel beads of sweat form on my forehead and my breathing become heavy. I can't miss this bus. Turning the corner sharply i almost loose my balance but carry on running. Jumping down the underpass stairs before back up them again two at a time on the other side.
A few minutes later, as i emerge into the natural sunlight, i can see the bus at the end of the long road i walk almost everyday. The old woman, Mags i think her name is, that i usually sit next to at the bus stop is climbing on board. She goes and see's her grandchildren everyday. Speeding up i sprint wildly, but in vain, the double-decker is pulling away from the stop.
"No!" I shout as i reach the now deserted stop. Slowly coming to a halt i watch the bus pass the traffic lights and turn the corner before it is gone. Shit. Kicking an empty can away from the bench i plonk myself down on the seat, my rapid breathing returning to some kind of normality. I wipe the sweat from my forehead. Well, I'm going to be late... Again.


I got on the bus twenty minutes later than i normally would. The journey was quiet today, normally i would sit near a gabble of students on their way to all the different schools while talking to Mags. For the life of me i cannot understand most of the things she says, but her company is appreciated greatly.
Today i sat playing with the edge of my fraying grey cardigan while staring through the window onto the street's below. Only my backpack at my side, few people on the top layer of the bus with me.
I watched as people walked past laughing or in a hurry, shop windows full of displays and trinkets. The odd street performer or two.
I got off the bus a few minutes ago, staring at my watch and feeling a twisting in my stomach as i did. Now I'm running the rest of the way to work, passing people in the street and weaving between them. My watch says 9:38.
This is the third time this week I've been late, i wonder if i can sneak in unnotic-
"
Miss Everdeen."
Pushing open the door into the office as quietly as i can i am met with the cold voice of Cray, my boss. Groaning under my breath i turn to face the older man. A few strands of silvery hair are combed sideways over his unusually red face as it always is, a smug smirk across his face.
"Yes Sir."
"Your late again Miss Everdeen. For the fourth time this week."
"Third, actually."
He raises an eye brow and i bite the inside of my cheek. Back chatting isn't a clever thing to do less so when your already pushing your luck. He breathes out slowly and raises a finger to stroke the side of my face. I want to gag but i hold my ground. He moves closer and speaks in a deep voice, licking his lips slightly.
"Your tardiness could get you fired, Miss Everdeen."
I gulp, my skin crawling from his closeness.
"Really?"
"Yes, unfortunate really. Of course, I'm sure we could come to some compromise which will make me forget about all your lateness."
His breath is warm and in my ear. Suddenly, i feel his hand stroking my rear and i flip. Flinging my arm up i elbow him in the face, a loud crack emanates from his nose and he stumbles back and falls to the floor, pulling a pile of papers with him. There are a few screeches and cries of shock before the room falls deafly quiet. I can feel all eyes on me, and i hate it.
"Don't you dare touch me."
I stand in a defensive position and just stare down at the old man holding his nose which blood is pouring from. Adrenaline is coursing through me, when i feel Darius' hand on my arm i almost hit him too.
I turn and stare at the young man with messy red hair and freckles dotted across the bridge of his nose. He's just older than me and a few inches taller. Pulling on my arm he leads me into the break room before leaving me at the table in the corner facing the window.
"It'll be okay, Katniss."
He gives me a small, reassuring smile and taps the side of my cheek softly before leaving the room a few minutes later.
After Darius has been gone for, i don't know how long, regret starts setting in. Not that i hit Cray. He's had it coming. Over the four years i have worked here i have seen him lead many women who have worked here into his bed. But the fact that i have broken his nose. If i wasn't sacked over my lateness then i will defiantly be loosing my job for breaking my boss' nose.
Running my fingers through the loose strands on my braid i place my head in my hands in defeat. Closing my eyes tightly shut to stop the tears from falling, i begin playing a little game in my head. A game i used to hear my mother play out loud from her bedroom when she was in the darkest days of depression over loosing her husband.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am 20 years old. I have a little sister called Primrose. I have most likely broken my bosses nose and i will most likely be fired for it... How will i earn money to look after Prim?
"I'm so fucking stupid."
The hands of the clock tick loudly but my breathing is rivaling it. Finally the door reopens and i am met with Darius' face once again.
"Come on kid, I'm taking you for a drink."
"That bad, huh?"
He simply bites his lower lip. Striding over to me he scopes up my backpack and lifts me to my feet.


We don't speak again until i am sitting in the passenger seat of his car which is traveling away from the town i had just rod on the bus to. Staring at the dash board, cluttered as usual, i find my voice and speak up.
"Fired i take it?"
"How did you guess."
From the corner of my eye i see him glance at me, his usual childish grin now wiped from his face and replaced with a more serious expression, before returning his gaze to the road ahead. I sigh heavily as my fear comes true, I'm jobless.
"I'm so stupid."
"That you are Everdeen, but i don't blame you. Cray, the slimy old git he is, he's had that hit coming for years. I just wished it wouldn't be you who dealt it."
"So, how much trouble am i in?"
"With Cray? Well, people saw him stroke your arse, if he tries to do you for assault, well, then he has a lot of sexual harassment charges to face. Your safe kiddo."
I sigh, that's one less worry i have to deal with.
"What am i going to do Darius?"
After a moment of silence we stop at a set of red traffic lights. Turning and facing me Darius' grin has returned, small but it's there.
"You could sell your kisses like i do?"
He winks and i burst out laughing, only stopping after a moment, a smile still plastered across my face. I have known Darius for years. I had met him the first day i started my work experience, he was 18 then, and doesn't look a day older now. I remember the huge crush i had on him by the end of the first week. It was gone by the end of the second and my work experience.
One day while at lunch he told me a story about when he was growing up in Ireland, he once sold his kisses to girls on his street, earning him rabbit for dinner every day for a week. I remember laughing so hard i couldn't breath. When i turned 17 and started looking for a job to support me and Prim he got me the placement, he did wonder why i needed it at such a young age, but never pushed me to know the answer.
The truth is my mum began to zone out around then again. It would have been her and dads 20th wedding anniversary. She decided to go traveling or something, I'm sure she even has another house somewhere. I guess she just thought it to painful to look at us when we both, in different ways, have so much of our father in us. My looks and Prim's heart. Maybe that's why she cares for others more than us. But it's no excuse. Leaving your daughters to fend for themselves while you gallivant around god knows where.
Snapping out of my thinking at the shudder of the car moving again i find my smile once more, pushing my hate for my mother out of my head.
"Yeah, maybe I'll be eating rabbit every day for weeks."


So, what do you think? I hope you liked it, i will try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible. And don't forget, review :)