This starts about mid-Catching Fire. I will not be going into all the details because we all have imaginations and know roughly what happened. Basically, we are starting when Katniss and Peeta are at the Captiol and they are meeting the victors. It starts out at one of the training sessions.
Chapter One: To Want for Nothing
I can't believe that Haymitch is making me do this. Why would I want to get to know the people I will be forced to kill in a few days? This is ridiculous. My only focus should be protecting Peeta. I have to remind myself that Haymitch is most likely on my side, and so by befriending my competition, I may be indirectly helping Peeta. I sigh and force myself to join a rather short girl at the knot-tying station. She smirks as I grab a rope as if she knows why I'm over here. As if she suspects that the only reason I grunt a "hi" is to give Peeta an edge. She nods in my direction and we tie knots in silence. She's not amazing, but she's a little better than I am at it.
"So...Peeta?" she nods in his direction and raises her eyebrows at me.
I shrug, confused by what she means.
"Is he good?" At what? I think, but instead I just give her a confused look. She responds with laughter that seems to be pealing off window chimes.
"I'm Char, as in Charlotte," she says.
"Katniss," I give a half-hearted, still very confused, smile. She smiles back, knowingly.
"My parents thought it was funny-Charlotte's Web-as in the "world-wide-web,"' she laughs. I had heard something about some kind of world where things traveled between two technological devices. I think it's called an internet, but the web sounds familiar. "I think it's a stupid District 3 joke," she returns my thoughts to the present. District 3, huh?
"I'm named after a plant," I say.
"Lovely," she says sarcastically. "Can you eat it?" she snorts.
"Yeah," I smile because something about the way she says it makes me laugh.
"So back to Peeta," she smirks, "I always thought he'd be a good lover...?"
I'm in shock. I can't even think. Lover? Did these victors actually believe...
"I heard he paints. Do you guys ever try...body painting?" she wriggles her eyebrows. I gasp, dropping my rope and I know my cheeks are bright red. She laughs, continuing delicately braiding her rope.
"I guess not. Hmm.." she puts one finger to her lips and smiles, "He's a baker right?"
I nod, numbly.
"Well, I'll bet that puts a whole new meaning to the phrase, bun in the oven," she laughs.
I suck in a deep breath, cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger.
"It would," says a voice behind me. I turn to see it's Peeta, and I relax. Surely, he can play this off. "Wouldn't it?" He seems so deep in thought, like he's actually considering the joke.
I lost in thought, Um, hello, Peeta! First of all, I would never in a million years be pregnant...there's too many dangerous, terrifying possibilities. Second of all, it would have to be his kid because I'm pretty sure that Snow would never allow me to marry Gale, even if I wanted to, and right now, all I planned on doing was getting Peeta out of the arena. That meant that I wasn't coming home. That meant no baby-end of story. I relaxed.
"Char," says the girl, flashing him a brilliant smile. I realize now that she's very beautiful. She has sparkling purple eyes with long, wavy black hair. Her skin is a golden color. Her lips are full and welcoming. How did I just realize this? Is it just me or is Peeta staring at her a little too long? I shake my head, mentally. So what? Peeta can stare at anyone he likes. We are not on camera, so what's it matter? But I can't help feeling the a knotting feeling in the pit of my stomach when he flashes one of his heart-stopping smiles back.
"Peeta," he says, firmly shaking her hand. When he lets go of her hand, I slip my hand into his, holding on tightly. "District 3, right? Your games were...interesting." There's a suspicious smile playing in the corners of his mouth. I see the same mystery playing in her eyes.
"Yes, weren't they?" She gives us both a mysteriously look and laughs, sauntering off towards Finnick.
We both stare off after her for a moment, then I look up at Peeta. His eyes are still on her. I hear Char say in a high-pitched girlie squeal, "Oh Finnick! You've definitley been working out!" I glance over to see her feeling up Finnick's biceps. I roll my eyes and pull Peeta over to the plant station.
"I want her," Peeta says. My face falls. I can feel it before I can stop myself. He wants her.
He pulls my chin up towards his face, "As an ally." I feel stupid. Why should I be hurt by who Peeta wants? Didn't I choose Gale before we were thrown into this mess?
I shrug, and stare off like I'm actually considering it. I turn to the plants, "No."
I said it with finality, so I'm surprised when Peeta pulls me back towards him, forcing me to look into his eyes. "Why not?" He's searching me for an answer. For something I cannot give him. I just have a feeling in the pit of my stomach. I do not like Char. It annoys me that Peeta likes her so much to challenge me. Maybe he's hoping I'll tell him "no" because of my feelings for him. If I'm that readable then I seriously need to take some lying classes or something. But I do not give him any satisfaction.
I simply raise my eyebrows and purse my lips. He sighs and lets go of me. For a second, I'm worriied that he'll drop my hand, but he doesn't. It's Peeta, and I know him. He will not abandon me. He will never let of my hand. Even when I'm being unreasonable. I sigh because I know that at some point, if he keeps pushing this, I'm going to give in because this time these games are not about me. I've made no promise to return. I have no duty to my family. Peeta will make sure they are well fed. The only reason I'm here is to make sure this boy, this boy who gave me that life-saving bread so long ago, stays completlely alive. It's my job to protect him at all costs. I know I will die, but I must die knowing that he will be safe.
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