AU. Instead of your favorite Hunger games characters starting to meet in the 74th annual games, they meet at the 75th. All hunger game characters will show up at some point in the story.
The Games We Played
Chapter 1 – Peeta's past
Peeta sat by the window, watching the scenery passing by, and reflecting on his life. He can remember the turning point clearly. He was eleven. It was raining hard especially for April. His mother had heard a noise outside and went to check it out. When she came back in, she was muttering something about 'seam trash' and 'calling the Peacekeepers'. Peeta looked out the window and saw a huddled figure leaning on their sad little tree next to the pigpen. He instantly recognized the figure because of the braid – it was his classmate and friend Katniss Everdeen. 'Didn't her father die recently?' he thought.
"Get that bread out of the oven before it burns you pathetic little fool!" his mother yelled.
Peeta purposely dropped two loaves of bread into the fire of the oven. He knew that it would cost him but she was worth it. And when he pulled out the two burnt loaves, his mother was right there. She grabbed the rolling pin lying on the counter next to him and smacked him upside the right side of his face.
"You fool! Who will buy burnt bread? Throw it to the pigs! I should just keep you out there with them! You about as useful as they are! Wait, they are more useful!" she spat at him.
"Yes ma'am" he replies.
He grabs the burnt bread. As he walks to the back door, he hears the bell over the front door ring signaling a customer. He thought his luck might just be changing. He walks down the back porch towards the pen. He glances at the window to make sure his mother wasn't watching him. He doesn't see her so he tosses one than the other of the two loaves towards the tree and Katniss. As he's walking towards the back door, he sees Katniss snatch the bread off the ground and run away. What he didn't see was his mother watching the same scene from the window on the back door. As Peeta opened the door, his mother starts to hit him. He doesn't see what he's being hit with but it really hurt! He tries to protect himself as best he can but it's no use.
The last thing his mind registers before everything goes black is hearing his mother say, "You are no longer a member of this family! Do NOT ever show your face around this bakery again!"
13 year old Gale Hawthorne was walking home from the Hob when he found the unconscious Peeta bleeding pretty bad in the middle of the street. He looked towards the bakery and saw his friend Rie inside alone. Gale runs to the bakery and goes in. Rie sees him.
"If this is about Peeta, mom disowned him and kicked him out. We're not allowed to help or talk to him. Take care of him Gale." He says before turning and walking to the back of the bakery.
Gale runs back to Peeta and takes him to the one person who could help him, Mrs. Everdeen.
It takes him 15 minutes to get to the Everdeen house. Peeta's breathing is shallow. Gale is worried. Before he has a chance to knock, a short blonde haired girl opens the door. "Gale? Who's that?" she asks as she notices the blood, "Never mind, hurry and get him to the table." She steps back to let him through the door. "Katniss clear the table. Mom, Gale is carrying someone who's bleeding pretty heavy." Even at 7 years old, Prim knows what to do; she's been helping out for the past couple of months.
Mrs. Everdeen spends most of her time sitting on the couch, staring at the wall. She ONLY moves if it's an emergency. And Peeta's an emergency. Gale sets Peeta on the table. Katniss hands him a bucket for him to fill while she runs to get more linens and bandages. Prim gathers more candles close by in case they need more light.
"What happened?" Mrs. Everdeen asks.
Gale shakes his head, "All Rie would tell me was that Mrs. Mellark disowned him and kicked him out. Rie and Wheet aren't allowed to help or talk to him. I'll be right back to help; I need to check in with my mom." He turned and went out the door.
"I bet his mother did this – beat him. I saw her hit him earlier with a rolling pin," says Katniss quietly. "He tossed me those 2 burnt loaves of bread. Just help him."
Mrs. Everdeen and Prim begin to clean him up, first cleaning the blood off. They start with his head. He has a couple places that need stitches. Once those are done, they work on his face. His right eye is black and swollen, his nose is bleeding but not broken, his upper lip is split, and he bit his tongue making it bleed. They move down removing his shirt. His ribs are badly bruised. Mrs. Everdeen suspects some are cracked so she wraps them. Gale returns in time to help remove Peeta's pants. He is sickened by what he sees. Peeta has a broken leg! Mrs. Everdeen and Gale set it as best they can. She bandages it up and uses the last of her resin stores to firm up the bandages. When they're all done and everything is cleaned up, she sends Katniss and Prim to bed. She turns to Gale. "You can head home Gale if you want."
"I'm going to stay if you don't mind. When I went home earlier I asked mom to take Peeta in. She agreed. I'd like to tell him when he wakes."
Mrs. Everdeen smiles at Gale. "Stay as long as you want. He can go with you tomorrow. And it's very nice of your family to take him in."
Gale looks over to Peeta saying, "His brother is my friend. I know how his mother treated him yet he is still a kind-hearted boy. He deserves better."
Gale sits in a chair next to Peeta and Mrs. Everdeen goes to bed.
The next morning, Peeta wakes up and has no idea where he is but is in pain. He hears a noise and turns his head to see Gale sitting there with his head on his arms, snoring quietly. He tries to sit up but the sharp pain causes him to moan waking Gale.
"Hey Peeta! You're awake. I'd ask how you're feeling but I heard that moan." says Gale smiling at Peeta.
"Where am I and how'd I get here?" he asks.
Gale looks at him, his face serious, "I saw you in the street last night, all bloody and not moving. Rie told me your mother kicked you out. I picked you up as best I could and brought you here to the Everdeen house. Prim and Mrs. Everdeen fixed you up. While they were doing that, I ran home to talk to my mom." He gives Peeta a moment to take everything in before continuing. "There's one more thing Peeta. Since you can't go home, you need somewhere to go. So, after talking to my mom, you are going to come live at my house."
Peeta looked at the older boy in shock, "I'm living with you?" he asks.
"Yes," replies Gale. "But it won't be easy. You are going to learn to hunt with me. With you living with us, it makes for six mouths to feed. I'm really going to need your help."
Peeta smiles, "I'd love to learn to hunt and help your family in exchange for a roof over my head. Thank you Gale."
"No problem buddy" replies Gale.
An hour later, after Mrs. Everdeen gives her okay, Gale takes Peeta to his new home. When they arrive they find Gale's mother in the living room with Peeta's brother Rie. "Peeta, are you okay?" asks Rie.
"I'm fine but if mother finds out you've talked to me you'll be in trouble." Peeta says.
"Dad sent me here after sending mother to run the errands. He also sent your stuff," he says pointing to a large box. "He packed it while mother was sleeping. He said to tell you to take care of yourself. I got to go. Thank you for the tea Mrs. Hawthorne. Good bye." With that Rie left.
Gale helps Peeta to the seat Rie vacated. He then gets the box for Peeta. Inside the box were Peeta's clothes, shoes, art supplies, and a smaller box. Inside the smaller box were 6 cheese buns and 3 loaves of bread which he promptly gave to Mrs. Hawthorne saying, "Thank you for taking me in, Mrs. Hawthorne. As soon as I can, I will be happy to help you in whatever way I can."
She takes the bread. "Please call me Hazel, Peeta. When Gale told me what happened it was never a question in my mind to have you live here. Plus, I know he'd love to have a hunting partner."
It is later decided Peeta will sleep on the couch until his cast comes off and better arrangements can be made.
The next 6 weeks pass slowly for Peeta. In that time, Peeta becomes great friends with Gale and Katniss. She even celebrates her 12th birthday at the Hawthorne's with her friends. She brings Peeta's homework to him. She said it was to pay him back for the bread and the beating he got. He tried to tell her it wasn't her fault that it most likely would've happened anyway. She just shrugged and helped him anyway.
It was a warm May morning when Peeta's cast finally came off. Gale had helped him to the Everdeen's house. As soon as it was off and Mrs. Everdeen gave him the okay, the three friends went to the electric fence to sneak into the forest. They checked to make sure the electricity was off before climbing through the hole in the fence. Katniss leads the boys to a hollowed out log where she keeps her bow and arrows. She decides that she will teach the boys to shoot. Gale then leads them to where he sets his snares, collecting 2 rabbits and a squirrel. The two younger kids are impressed and want to learn how to set one. He then shows them how to throw a knife by having them aim for a large tree. After about an hour, Katniss decides to hunt with her bow for a bit. Gale has Peeta practice setting snares and throwing knives at a smaller target. They stay in the forest for the whole day. When they finally decide to head out, the three friends have 4 rabbits, a hare, and 3 squirrels. They saw a deer but Peeta stepped on a twig and it ran. He kept apologizing to his friends, but they weren't upset. It was his first time in the forest after all.
Over the next two months, the three friends go into the forest daily. Gale and Peeta have improved significantly with a bow. Peeta and Katniss have improved with knife throwing and setting snares. Peeta's step is slowly getting lighter. They begin to discuss the reaping. The reaping is coming as is Peeta's birthday which is in 2 days. It will be both Katniss and Peeta's first reaping and Gale's second. They're scared. Afraid of what will happen to the two families if they are chosen. They make a pact, the three. If one is reaped the remaining two will care for the two families. If two are reaped, the remaining one will care for the families, teaching the younger ones to hunt and help gather.
Reaping day comes and goes. The three friends are safe for another year. Peeta sees his family there but he ignores them as they ignore him. The time he's spending living with the Hawthorne's is teaching him what true family love and loyalty is like. Hazel treats Peeta as her fourth son. Gale and his younger brothers, Rory and Vick, are the kind of brothers one would want - teasing yet protective. And little Posy loves it when Peeta plays with her, whether it's Peek-a-Boo or This Little Piggy. Peeta helps where he can with the cooking, dishes, laundry, as well as the hunting for food. But Peeta doesn't do any trading, leaving it to Gale and Katniss. He doesn't want to run into any of his family and be snubbed. On the day before the reaping, Gale was able to trade to get the ingredients for Peeta to make cheese buns. Peeta made the buns to celebrate not being reaped. There was even enough food to invite the three Everdeen females over for dinner. After dinner, the two families watched the tribute parade together. The District 12 tributes were dressed as coal miners yet again. When the parade was over, Katniss and her family went home. School starts tomorrow so the three friends agree to meet in the forest before sunrise to get in some hunting.
The hunt went really well. They got a stag, 3 rabbits, and 4 squirrels. One rabbit and 2 squirrels went to Katniss's family, 2 rabbits and 2 squirrels went to the Hawthorne's, while the deer went to the butcher for coins. School was a little more complicated. Everyone knew what happened to Peeta the previous spring and those he called friends before stopped talking to him. If it wasn't for Katniss and Gale, Peeta might not have lasted the whole day. He had been pushed, teased, and laughed at. His new friends stood up for him and gave him the confidence to keep his head held high. When Gale and Peeta got home, Peeta snuggled with Posy. He needed her sweetness to remind him that he was cared about by others. It's not that Gale and Katniss didn't care, just that Posy didn't have a mean bone in her tiny body. And she gave Peeta great smiles.
Time moves on quickly. Gale turns 14 and Katniss and Peeta turn 13. Their hunting skill as a group has vastly improved. They learned to communicate not with words, but hand signals and whistles. Peeta develops muscles he never knew he had, especially in his legs, running, jumping over fallen trees, and climbing. He climbs trees and hops branch to branch looking for large game. When he sees something big, he signals to Katniss and/or Gale to go in for the kill. Once the game has been killed, Peeta guts it and carries it back to the fence. Sometimes they split the kill, half to the Everdeen's and half to the Hawthorne's. Other times, they take it to the butcher's. The reaping comes and once again the trio is safe for another year.
The next spring, the three friend's lives change once again. While taking a lunch break at the lake, they hear someone walking towards them. Peeta climbs up the nearest tree and searches for the person making the noise. Who he sees shocks him. It's Haymitch Abernathy, District 12's only living Hunger Games Victor! Peeta signals down to his friends before climbing down. The three wait for him to come upon them. When he sees the trio, he doesn't seem surprised. The kids offer Haymitch something to eat. They eat in silence. When done eating, Gale asks why he was in the woods. Haymitch tells them he was on his way home from somewhere he can't talk about right now. The three are shocked. Haymitch then tells the kids how he and other Victors are training and preparing for a rebellion. He takes a good look at the trio, "If you want to join the rebellion meet me here in two weeks. I will bring a couple of rebels with me to begin training."
Haymitch then leaves the kids to discuss the offer among themselves. Gale was definitely going to join. He has hated the Capitol since his father died in the mine explosion and he was forced to perform illegal activities. Peeta wanted to join as well, but secretly fears war isn't the answer. Katniss worried that she would be away from Prim too much and unable to protect her but after discussing her thoughts, realized that if the rebels won there'd be no more Hunger Games and Prim could live a long and happy life. So, two weeks later, the three went to the lake and waited for Haymitch to arrive with the trainers. They met Senior Trainer Boggs, an older man around 40 with graying hair, large build, and blue-gray eyes; and his team members Jackson, a middle aged woman who specialized in guns, and Mitchell, older man, demolition trainer. The three were originally from District 2. They had trained tributes until Boggs realized the games were just a way to murder children for the Capitol's entertainment as well as keeping the 12 Districts in line. He left and lived in the forest outside District 12 for a couple years before finding a new home. Boggs taught the trio hand-to-hand combat, how to shoot different types of guns, and some field medical training. When the reaping came, and the three breathed a sigh of relief when they once again were safe.
Another year passes and there once again was a major change in Peeta's life. Peeta's brother Rie had fallen in love with a seam girl. Their mother threw a fit but Rie stood his ground. Somehow his fate wasn't like Peeta's and he remained at the bakery. He also decided that he wanted to repair relationship with Peeta. He knew about the hunting so he asked Peeta and Gale to teach him to hunt. At the same time, Katniss's friendship with Madge Undersee and Delly Cartwright became stronger when Katniss kept them from being bullied by an older boy by putting him in a headlock. They wanted Katniss to teach them how to defend themselves. Two weeks later, and after discussing it with Haymitch, Rie, Delly, and Madge met Boggs, vowed to join the rebellion, and began training. The group also met and got training from District 4 victor Finnick O'dair and District 7 victor Johanna Mason. Finnick was tall and muscular with sea green eyes and bronze, wavy hair. Johanna was about Peeta's height, strong, with short spiky brown hair and hazel eyes. That year's reaping was especially filled with worry as there were now 6 of them. But the young rebels were safe for yet one more year.
The next year is filled with training and hunting. Gale and Katniss had a new worry for this year's reaping. Prim and Rory were now 12. Both would have their names in the bowl once. As the time for the reaping grew closer, Prim and Rory began having nightmares about being reaped. Try as they might, Gale and Katniss couldn't help but feel at a loss over their siblings worries. They began to hunt less and less instead choosing to spend more time with the younger ones. Peeta would often hunt alone, understanding what his friends needed. The meat was still coming in thanks to Peeta but only enough to keep the families fed. Rie, Madge, and Delly all offered to help with the hunting and Peeta would let them sometimes. But deep down, he wanted to go alone so he could have the privacy to break down and cry over the injustice of Prim and Rory being forced to put their lives on the line for the entertainment of the Capitol and its citizens. Trainings have become more intense. A lot of running and climbing drills that leave them exhausted. But the fears of being reaped were relieved once again when none of the 8 were chosen.
Sadly their luck had ran out. Gale and Rie were now 18. The other 4 are now 17. There was a hint that things could turn tragic when President Snow read the 3rd Quarter Quell Card. First the was the recap of the prior Quells. During the first Quarter Quell, the districts voted for the tributes. The Second Quarter Quell, the one that Haymitch had been in, had 2 males and 2 females that were sent. This year, "in honor of the 3rd Quarter Quell", 3 males and 3 females would be sent to the Hunger Games. Never had so many been sent in! 72 children are going to fight to be the last one standing. The 6 junior rebels made a pact. If any of them were reaped, the remaining would care for the others families. But none of them could foresee what was about to happen. Effie Trinket, the pink haired, pink dressed Capitol citizen and District 12 escort, started with the girls. First she called Madge, then Delly. The last name drawn was Primrose Everdeen. Katniss, ever protective of her younger sister, volunteered. Then Effie began drawing the boy's names. First she called Rie's name. Then she drew Gale's. But it was the last name she called that surprisingly hurt the group the most. Rory Hawthorne. Peeta watched as Rory made his way to the stage. Peeta saw the pain and fear in Gale's eyes and knew he couldn't allow it to happen so he screamed, "I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute for Rory Hawthorne!" Even Haymitch, who was normally drunk but stayed sober for this particular reaping, was visibly upset. Peeta ran up to the stunned Rory and hugged him close. He whispered for him to go be with the family. Rory nodded and watched Peeta go on stage. Rory watched as Effie asked his name.
"Peeta Mellark" he said.
"How do you know that boy?" asked Effie.
Peeta looked at her and said, "He is my friend and he's family."
Haymitch had this sadness in his eyes as he watched the 6 of them standing together. When Effie asked to applaud the 6 brave teens, no one clapped. Instead, every member of the community raised three fingers to their lips then into the air. The teens watched with shock. This salute that meant goodbye to those who were loved touched them deeply. Haymitch had always thought of these 6 kids as his own. It looked as if the whole town did too.
But even all that wasn't what had Peeta so deep in thought. No, it was his own parents. He had not seen them since the day his mother had beat him and left him on the street. But there she was, with his father, in the room to say their goodbyes. He saw his father in passing over the years but never spoke to him. Peeta sat on the couch and looked at the two of them, showing no emotion on his face. But the anger was there hidden. He waited to hear whatever venom his mother wanted to spit at him. He hoped she'd say something just so he could kick her out. She was smart enough to wait until time was almost up before she walked to the door and said, "Well, some lucky tribute is going to finish the job I started 5 years ago. Maybe Rie will be the lucky one to finally rid this world of your presence." She was gone before Peeta could react. His father just handed Peeta a small package from his pocket and left without ever saying a word to Peeta.
Next to see him was Hazel, Rory, Vick, and Posy. Posy crawled up into Peeta's lap. She couldn't understand what was going on, just that her 2 big brothers were going to go away. Hazel looked at Peeta. "You have been like a son to me these last 5 years. You helped feed the family, helped care for Gale and the younger ones when they were sick, and helped me in every other way you could. Now you saved Rory from the games. Peeta, please stay safe. If Gale can't make it back, I will hope for you to come back home to us."
Peeta set Posy down on the couch next to him. He went and squatted in front of Hazel. "You are the mother I always wanted when I was younger. I've considered you my mother for a long time. And Rory as my brother. I couldn't let him go in. Gale wouldn't be able to handle it if Rory was in the games with him. I will do everything I can to make sure Gale, or myself, come home."
He gives Hazel a hug. He turns to Rory and Vick. He can see Rory wanted to say something but Peeta talked first. "You guys take care of mom and Posy until Gale or I come home. Promise me." The two boys promise and Peeta hugs them both. He looks at Rory, "I had to volunteer to take your place. You did not deserve to be chosen."
He then stands, goes to the couch, and sits next to Posy. He pulls her into his lap. "Sweet Posy, I have to go away but I left you a present. When you get home, under your bed is your surprise. You be a good girl and remember Gale and I love you very much." Posy's lit up when Peeta mentioned a present. It wasn't much really. Peeta painted a picture of the family, himself included. With the painting was a stack of papers and 2 pencils.
Peeta's last visitors were Prim and Mrs. Everdeen. Prim ran up to Peeta and wrapped her arms around him. Peeta wasn't sure why they were here but he was glad they were. Mrs. Everdeen just looked at Peeta for a moment before saying, "Take care of yourself Peeta. You're a fighter. You fought to live when your mother nearly killed you. You fought and killed that bear that almost killed Katniss. Don't let them win. Prim, I'll be waiting out here." And she was out the door.
Peeta looked at Prim. She could be his sister, they looked that much alike. Peeta begins, "Prim, I know what Katniss probably already gave you a list of do's and don'ts so I won't repeat anything. I left you and your mother a gift. I painted a picture of the 3 of you, as well as Lady and Buttercup. It's under the couch. If something happens to me, look at that painting and remember me." Prim nods, tears running down her face. She gives Peeta one last hug before leaving.
His last visitor was a shock. It was Boggs. He was dressed as a Peacekeeper. He gives Peeta a hug and quickly whispers in his ear, "Peeta, I don't have a lot of time. I wanted to tell you that there is the possibility that some of the tributes you'll meet in the games were trained by rebels such as myself. Watch out for them. Try to get them all into an alliance with you. You'll get orders in the arena." Boggs then leads Peeta out the door to the awaiting Peacekeepers taking him to the train to the Capitol.
An hour later he is sitting by the window on a train, watching the scenery go by.