People who live in district 12 are the lowest of the low. Well, not true they are a step above an Avox. Citizens of district 12 just live to die of starvation, freezing, killed, or reaped in the hunger games. But what many don't know is that district 12 holds rebels. The only one who know of this are other rebels. Most are recruited at 18, right before they set off to work in the coal mines. But in one case this boy started off at the mere age of 8. This is the story of Peeta Mellark.
8 year old Peeta is currently looking at the fence that borders district 12. He shrugs to himself and climbs over the fence. He has always wanted to see the outside before. He walks slowly taking in his surrounding until his foot catches on a branch and he almost falls. Luckily for him he was agile and caught himself. Breathing out heavily he just continued moving on.
"Hey kid, what are you doing out here?" Someone's shouts stopping young Peeta in his tracks.
"Nothing." Peeta replies quickly identifying the man as Haymitch Abernanthy. The district 12 tribute who had won the hunger games lifetimes ago.
"You got balls coming out here kid. How old are you? Who are you.?" Haymitch asks his mind feeling with possibilities for this kid.
"I wanted to explore. I'm Peeta Mellark, I hate it in there." Peeta replies.
"What about the capitals rules?" Haymitch asks. Praying the kid says he doesn't care. The rebellion can mold this kid into a perfect soldier.
"Why should I care?" Peeta asks.
"Hey kid how would you like to make a difference?" Haymitch asks.
"Okay, what do I have to do?" Peeta ask in return.
From then on Peeta trains to become a warrior for the rebellion. At 9 he first gets told that district 13 is in charge of the rebellion. By the age 14 he is skilled in weaponry, modern weaponry, hand to hand combat, stamina, and any other skill necessary for his survival. He learns of all the connections of who can be trusted and who couldn't be trusted. All of this time he sees Haymitch as a father figure. Haymitch really isn't drunk that often. Its a front to make him seem nothing of a threat. Not that his dad is a role model. He doesn't even fight back when his mother hits him. Not that it really hurts.
He of course jeeps up with his school and bakery duties. Can't have any one getting suspicious of him. Not that anyone pays attention to the third son of the baker. He tends to wear loose clothing to hide his muscles, otherwise people would get suspicious. Of course not on the reaping day. Then he wears the same clothes as all the other boys. A
As of now he is standing in the 16 year old boys section got the reaping wondering if he would get picked. If he would survive.
"Ladies first." The escort Effie Trinket say smiling. She reaches into the girls bowl and pulls out a slip. "Katniss Everdeen."
There is a sob from a little girl as Katniss walks to the stage completely blank if emotion. Must be in shock, Peeta thought. He knew Katniss used to sneak into the woods and hunt for the steam. But for the last 2 and a half years has been helping her mother with healing. There is no way she is as good as she used to be.
"Now for the boys." Effie says clapping and reaching out into the boys bowl."Collic Bellberry!" Effie calls. Everyone in district 12 knows who Collic is, he got sick a bit back, about 4 years ago when he was 8. He had been picking berrys from next to his house and ate them not knowing they were poisonous. They had completely destroyed his body. Bed ridden for a few months added
"I volunteer as tribute!" A voice calls and someone walks out of the crowd. People state in shock as Peeta Mellark starts to walk up to the stage.
"Oh my a volunteer! That has never happened for this district. What us your name young man?" Effie asks to the boy or man on stage.
"My name is Peeta Mellark." Peeta states calmly.
"There you have it. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are the tributes for district 12." Effie announced happily and claps looking a the tributes.
Before Peeta knows it he is on the train in the waiting room for his visitors. The door opens and Collic walks in and rushes to hug Peeta. He starts to weep and mumble thank you'd.
"Sh don't worry. I promise will ill win the hunger gamed then come back here and see that your safe okay?" Peeta asks, he used to visit Collic a lot. He had made himself a promise to keep him safe after his father died. (Collic's dad) Collic is only 12 years old. He would not let him die anytime e soon.
"I'm rooting for you." Collic said as he was taken out of the room. Peeta was dreading to see who was next to come in. God please don't be my mother, Peeta prayed silently.
His mother came into the room glaring at him. She stomped up in front of him.
"How dare you volunteer. How do you think this is going to make your father and me look? You are a disgrace." She spoke coldly and lifted her hand to get ready and hit him. Then he did something he never thought he would be able. He grabbed her wrist.
"Don't touch me. You are not my mother. And when I win you will get nothing. None of the money, none of the food. None of the glory. You don't deserve anything from me. Get out of my sight." He says letting go of her wrist to point at the door.
She stared into shock as well she made her way to the door. "Wait." Peeta said.
Ms. Mellark smirked inwardly having known that her pathetic excuse for a son wouldn't make it without her.
"Tell what I said to the Mr. It wouldn't matter anyway, I'm announcing on the interviews that I'm disowning you." Peeta sneers at her. She simply runs out the door.
Soon Haymitch walks in and they hug. After they release Haymitch speaks up. "Why did you do that? People will think you were trained for this."
"I made a promise, I will keep that promise. I can win this though." Peeta said confidently.
"I know you can. But the games, they.." Haymitch starts but is cut off by Peeta talking.
"They change you I know." Peeta says sadly.
"Come on we have to meet Effie and Katniss in the food cart." Haymitch says. Soon they are at the door for the food cart. "You ready for this?" He asks amused.
"As they say, I'm as ready as I'll ever be" With they they walked on.
Immediately Effie was motioning excitedly for them to sit. They sit down and Katniss walks in and slumps in her seat.
"Hello. Oh I'm so exited. I've never seen someone volunteer in district 12 before. And you looked just like a career up there. Are you? Have you trained for this?" Effie says with her perfect capital accent.
"Thank you Effie. No I have not trained to be in the games. But I am flattered you thought so." Peeta charmed.
"I've never met such a nice man from 12 your handsome so it will help you out if you win." Effie looked very exited.
There was a snort from Katniss as she spoke, ''Yeah right. There is no way any of us are surviving this so don't expect us to." She slammed her fork down and walked out of the room.
Effie looked crestfallen at the blatant rudeness.
"Don't mind her Effie, what were you going to say?" Peeta asked kindly. It wasn't her fault she was raised in the capitol.
Effie rattled on for a while about how great he was to have as a tribute and how he must have some skills.
"So how about we watch some of the other reapings?" Effie asks standing up to go to the TV cart.
"Good idea Effie." Peeta said standing up and following her to the TV cart. They sat down and turned on to watch from 12 to 1.
As their own play Peeta was shocked to find out that when he volunteered he looked calm. As if he had planned out ahead of time to volunteer for the games. He noticed that he really did look like a career tribute.
"See I told you that you looked like a career." Effie said clapping. She does that quite a bit.
Yeah, but is that a good thing or a bad thing? Peeta questioned in his mind.
They continued to watch the reapings. It was only the two of them as Haymitch went to His room for the night.
The tributes,
District 11
Thresh, Who Peeta noticed kind of looked like a bear. "He looks very much like a bear. What did they feed that boy?'' Effie asks in shock and amusement.
"Maybe we have 6 careers this year." Laughed Peeta, not realizing he accidentally called himself a career.
Rue, who was small and was only 12 years old.
"Crazy how opposite the two look." Peeta says to the still amuse Effie.
The rest passes quickly until 1 and 2.
District 2
The escort reached into the females bowl. ''Clove Kits!" A small girl walks up to the stage a huge smile on her face. "Now for the boys!" As the escort gets ready to reach in the bowl a voice rings out.
"I volunteer." Peeta sees a VERY handsome boy walk up to that stage. "I'm Cato Gyato."
Holy Shit he looks big and wrong and his face. So attracti-. No Peeta don't think about it. Peeta scolds himself.
District 1 gets turned on and it passes in a blur. The only thing he remembers is a girl names Glimmer and a boy Marvel volunteering as soon as Glimmers name was called.
"Okay, its late. I'm going to go to sleep Effie." Peeta stood up. "Right after I take a shower. Goodnight." He leaves Effie in the two cart to go to his room.
He opened the door and was greeted by a large room with a bed dresser and 2 other doors which he assumed was the bathroom and closet. He walks over to one expecting the bathroom.
"And that's the closet." He he says hanging his head and going to the other door. "Yes. Got it right." He walks in and strips down stepping into the shower. He is greeted with about 6 buttons. He presses the green one which he assumes is the on button. It turns on the shower with warm water. "I wonder if it has hot water?" Peeta asked voicing his thoughts. Okay maybe it is the blue one.
When he pushes the dark blue button the water turns blue and smells like Blueberries. He breathes in deeply and let's the smell wash away any dirt or cinnamon smell. How he hates the bakery in every way.
'Now how do I turn it off?' He thinks. Ah red must mean off.
He presses the button and the water shuts off. As he walks out he looks in the mirror and is surprised that he didn't turn blue.
He dries off with the towel already set on the counter. He walked over to the bed and limped under the silk covers. He has always slept naked. He would probably walk around like that if it wasn't illegal. He soon thinks about the rebellion and what Coin is going to think when she sees one of her best spies and fighters in the Hunger games. Volunteering no less.
'When I get out she is going to tear me a new one or congratulate me. Can't wait for that.' he thought as he drifted off to sleep.