Hi guys! So I finally decided to write an story for my OTT everlark! I'm super excited and hope you enjoy!

This story will be M rated and I plan to go through what actually happens in the arena pretty quickly, I want to concentrate more on what happens after the arena. Also the story will not be exactly the same as the original, obviously I will make some changes because of the swap of story line between Katniss and Peeta.

Please review I'd love to hear options and constructive criticism.

Chapter one

My heart leaps into my chest as my districts chariot burst out of the door of the tributes centre.

I see him, standing strong like he wasn't riding a bumpy horse drawn chariot. He looks like some sort of Greek god. Strong, undefeatable and gorgeous. It takes me a while to realise is a young girl riding with him, she is completely overshadowed, she just looks awkward and out of place with him.

He is beautiful.

His impossibly blue eyes seem even more blue thanks to the dark smudges of makeup the prep team have cleverly placed under his eyes and on the lid. His skin, usually lightly tanned looks pale and shimmers gold in the sunlight, he looks like the moon and the sun all at once. His usually floppy blonde hair that adorably falls into his eyes is gelled back away from his face to really show the fruits of their efforts. And finally the bodysuit, oh my god the bodysuit. It was made completely out of skin tight leather that hugged every muscle so that we could see every ripple with every movement.

Peeta Mellark, In all his glory.

I stare at the screen, I don't care about any other tribute, I don't even see them. Just him. There is only him. I just when I thought he couldn't get any hotter he literally burst into flames. I let out a gasp, not even realising I had been holding my breath. But he was completely breath-taking and I had no defence against it so I gave the breathe willingly. The flames surrounded him before dying out around his chest but continuing to burn at his back, leaving a trail of sparks and flickering flames. I didn't even notice the girls costume had done the exact same but she just blended into the background, where as he completely demanded attention, the cameras just could not tear themselves away from him.

He smiles. I melt.

I had never had much interest in boys, I focused more on keeping my family fed and had never had time to worry about such trivial things. There was Gale, but he was like the brother I never had. People commented all the time about how alike we looked. Seam children tended to share the same qualities, gray eyes and dark hair.

He lifts his hand to the crowd and I try not to notice how tight the leather was around his strong biceps. He waves, blows kisses and smiles a boyish smile that was sure to capture the hearts of many capitol citizens and more importantly the sponsors. It was obvious he knew what he was doing; he knew which angle to play. I remember this year's reaping; where he really made his mark, I don't think it was something district 12 will ever forget. The first District 12 volunteer.

I remember the ever odd looking Effie Trinket calling the name of the boy tribute, the whole crowd had tensed.

"Taylor Mellark!" He was only 12. His face was frozen into a mixture of shock and terror as the peace keepers pulled him from the crowd and began to walk him towards the stage. Peeta had just appeared behind him, calmly pulled the boy behind him and looked up to Effie as the words that would probably cost him his life left his lips.

"I volunteer as tribute."

The crowd had audibly gasped. This was unheard of here. He calmly climbed onto the stage and stood strong next to Effie, shoulders back and head up. He stared at something in the distance as his brother screamed as he was dragged back to his place with the other 12 year olds. It was extremely difficult to watch with a dry eye and I felt a lump rise in my throat because I knew I would do the exact same for Prim.

However, to say that was the first time I had noticed him would be a lie. He had actually saved my life once. My family had not eaten for days and he threw me some bread he had burned, He had received quite the black eye that had remained on his face for weeks after. Turns out he had a habit of saving people's lives. He had given me hope.

At that moment, as I watched him standing on that stage I suddenly felt a pang of guilt overtake my entire body. I had never spoke to him, never thanked him for that bread, never thanked him for giving me hope and keeping me alive. I took some solace in the long looks we had shared over the years; they had said things that words never could.

As Effie speech was coming to an end, I saw Peeta begin to scan the crowd carefully with his eyes, until finally they landed on me. He must be able to see the guilt and the sadness in my eyes because he smiled at me reassuringly, how can he smile at a time like this? Then I realise he wanted me to feel better, even now he was the same kind and selfless boy who threw me that bread. I wanted to scream out, say everything I never had but before I could think of where to start the peacekeepers are turning him around and he is being marched through the doors of the justice building.

I had thought about going to see him as he said his goodbyes but it seemed unfair for me to take time away from his loved ones. So I had walked home with Prim in a daze. 'He could live, he could win. He is strong.' I try to convince myself. My mind was clouded with thoughts of him and our shared glances and our first encounter in the rain. I knew one thing for sure, I wanted him to win. I wanted him to come home.

-x-

In the days following he had quickly become a capitol favourite, with his obvious good looks and boyish charm it was hard not to like him. He was just so...likeable.

As the chariot made its way back into the tribute building I try to take every inch of him in one more time before he disappears again. When he does the warm feeling in my chest goes with him and I'm left cold.

Prim stands next to me in the square where it was mandatory we watch if we do not have our own TV. The crowd starts to disperse as the screen goes black and she gently tugs at my hand. I turn to look and she smiles. "We just might have a victor this year" she says reassuringly, she was wise beyond her years; she knew he bothered me in some way, but knew better then to pry. We begin to walk home and I notice Gale making his way toward us through the crowd.

"Hey Catnip, same time tomorrow morning?" He asks, unable to say hunting in such a crowded place. I nod and he pats my shoulder as he walks past me, probably to get his siblings before walking back to the Seam.

-x—

The next few days go by in a blur, the week leading up to the games always do. Everyone notices I am acting strange, when they ask I snap at them and they back off the subject. I don't want to talk about it; I don't fully understand it myself. Why am I plagued by thoughts of him?

I make sure to have a good spot at the front to watch the preparation every single night. I have to physically restrain myself from jumping for joy when he scores an eight in training. That was good! It had been a while since someone from District 12 had such a high score, we tended to be skinny and undernourished so we were never seen as much of a threat. However he was strong and fed and always had been, hopefully this would fear the other tributes enough to give him a wide birth. I slept better than I had all week that night, and my dreams were full of blonde hair and sky blue eyes.

-x—

Tonight was the night of the interviews; I stood patiently in my usually spot in front of the screen waiting for the mandatory viewing to begin. Myself and Prim slowly picked at a cloth full of berries I had picked out from the forest that morning, my leg wiggled uncontrollably. I was nervous for him and could not keep still. Prim looked at me with curious eyes, I think she knew exactly why I was so invested in this year's games, but she would never approach me on the subject, she would wait for me to talk, when I was ready.

I completely stilled as the screen flickered to life. Caesar Flickerman, even though he was a capitol idiot it was terribly hard not to like him, he was bubbly and always tried his hardest to bring the best out in all the tributes. He did his best to help. I watched as he got the audience and viewers pumped up by telling them the exciting plan for the evenings show before finally introducing the first tribute.

The other tributes interviews seem to just go on for hours and my stomach churned away as I wait for Peetas interview, the last interview of the evening. Some of the other tribute stand out, Cato, clove, Glimmer, Marvel and Thresh. They had all scored the same or higher then Peeta and their interviews were quite successful, I was sure many sponsors would be lining up to help them, especially the careers.

Finally the girl tribute from 12 began her interview, Lily was her name. I vaguely remember seeing her around the Seam, she was only 13. She had the same amount of personality as a doorknob, not that I could really talk, I didn't particularly have an award winning personality either but this girl couldn't even act like she did. She was completely forgettable. I let out a quite growl as he interview dragged on as Caesar tried his best to pull a redeeming quality from the girl, it was hard work. I watched as she left the stage and I wiped my clammy palms on my pants. This was it.

I held my breath as the moment I had been waiting for came, Caesar finally introduced Peeta onto the stage and my heart just seemed to stop. He looked... amazing. He was dressed in a black suit with the blazer causally hung open, as did the top three buttons of his blood red shirt. His hair was once again slicked back to fully show his beautiful eyes that had been carefully lined black making them look positively luminous. He walked forward and shook Caesars hand like he was meeting an old friend, giving a small wave to the audience as he took his seat centre stage.

As the interview started, Peeta wasted no time in charming his way into the audiences and viewers hearts, he did a funny little bit with Caesar about smelling like roses and they both proceeded to smell each other while the audience roared with laughter. His laugh sounded like a song, it was completely contagious and the audience lapped it up.

Caesar asks Peeta about his amazing flaming costume and Peeta smirks, stands without a word and throws his arms out to his sides. This causes his suit to burst to life and burns like embers in a fire, I catch my breath in my throat and the audience goes crazy. Caesar gushes about the display, and the audience follow suit until finally the embers burn away and Peeta retakes his seat, much to the audience's dismay.

As the noise died away Caesar brought the interview back to a more serious note and proceeded to ask Peeta about his brother, the one for who he had volunteered. Peeta's charming smile fell from his face and if you looked closely you could see the tears gathering in his eyes. The audience loved that too. He spoke fondly of his brother and told him of his goodbye and how he had promised he would do his best to win for him. When the camera scanned the audience you could see tissues wiping away tears and I scoffed. They didn't really care.

As Caesar tries to lighten the interview my eyes perk up as I hear him ask Peeta if there was a special girl in his life, I see his cheeks turn a light shade of pink as he smiles and lowers his head in embarrassment.

"Well, there's this one girl, who I've had a crush on forever but I don't think she knew I existed until the reaping." My heart flutters. This may be wishful thinking but I couldn't help having the niggling thought at the back of my mind that maybe...just maybe he was talking about me.

"Well Peeta, I have an idea, you go in there and you win this thing, you go home and she can't turn you down then!" Caesar laughs as the crowd cheer. Peeta chuckles along with him and nods.

"I'm not too sure that would work. She probably doesn't even know she's the one I'm talking about. She has no idea the effect she can have." Peeta smiled as if remembering something fond.

"How about this Peeta, Why don't you tell this girl exactly how you feel right now, she will be watching, send your love a message she will never forget. Don't you think that's a good Ideas folks?" The crowd goes absolutely wild and I feel my stomach churn so hard I think I am going to throw up. I can sense the tension in the crowd, I'm pretty sure ever girl in District 12 is wishing to be the object of his affections. The cheering goes on for around 20 seconds before Peeta flashes that winning smile and waves his hands in a 'fine! you win!' manner. Caesar directs him as to which camera to look at. He clears his throat and looks down the camera lens and into my very soul.

"You are the most beautiful and strong girl I have ever met and your voice made me fall for you in a second all those years ago. You cannot deny the connection and pull we feel towards each other. We may not talk, but there is no need for words. I will win and I will see you again, and when that time comes I will greet you with a kiss. Wait for me." Peeta speaks softly and I feel like my whole body is melting. The audience if full of sounds of loved up sighs and "Aww"s. My head is spinning wildly and I lower my head. It could be about me...but it also could not be.

"Come on Peeta! Don't leave us like this, that message could be for anyone! Tell us this lovely little ladies name!" Caesar pleads and my head shoot back up. Peeta looks reluctant but the jeers from the audience must sway him. His face turns from charming to serious and somewhat longing.

He leans towards the camera, every girl in 12 holds a breath and then he says four words I will never forget for a long as I live.

"Wait for me...Katniss."

There you have it! Chapter one! Please review and let me know what you guys think.