Hey guys I just realised that 2 days ago was Katniss' birthday and decided that I would dedicate this fic in honor of that. I am sincerely sorry that I forgot and hope that this fic makes up to that. This has been in my mind for quite some time and I decided to give a go for it. I know I am lazy and this is as usual unbeta-d hence mistakes are mine. More one-shoty and two-three chapter thingys coming soon because they can be completed quickly and I do not have to develop them to a lot of chapters. If you are interested, follow my account and enjoy reading...

I do not own anything... you know the drill.

I shut the locker door close and take a seat at one of the benches meant for the players. The room is buzzing with energy. I take a small sip from the water bottle and try to calm my nerves. The other players are nervous as well as clearly evident in their faces. Finn comes and takes a seat next to me clutching his mobile phone tightly.

"Hey Peet, you nervous?"

"Yeah, kinda" I reply and before I could ask what is with his expression, Finn just leaps of the bench to talk to Coach Abernathy who just entered the room.

"Please, can I call her?" he pleads.

"Fine. All phone calls must be done before the ten minute gathering"

"Yes Coach"

"Does that apply to only unfair" Marvel shouts. "Just cause he has a wife doesn't mean I have people I love"

"Fine. The rule applies to everybody. Call anyone you want until the ten minute gathering if that is what is going to calm your nerves down" Coach Abernathy shouts. This triggers a wave of commotions in the room as people spring to their to get their phone and call their loved ones. Now I don't know whether other teams allow this kind of thing but Haymitch was pretty strict that there must be no contact with anyone during training but Finn could get adamant and stubborn and whiny and Haymitch knows that besides, everyone seems happy dailing their loved ones for a final good luck wish.

I spot Finn leaning on a locker talking in hushed tone to Annie who recently gave birth to their son that she was unable to attend the match and would be watching the match today from the hospital.

"Madge, hey Madge, hello, can you hear me?" Gale yells through the phone to Madge, his girlfriend. Apparently Madge was at the stadium tonight and is unable to hear him. I sit there silently staring as people yell into their phones "I love yous" and "Thank you" that I didn't notice Haymitch behind me. I startle a little when he lays a hand on my shoulder.

"Sweetheart really did a number on you didn't she" he says. The 'Sweetheart' he is referring to is, if you are wondering is Katniss Everdeen.

Katniss was my team member Gale's cousin. She would often come around along with her best friend Madge whom Gale was dating. When I first saw her, I was instantly captivated by her smoky gray eyes and cute smile. But that was not all, the small things she used to do, smile around Gale, scowl around the rest and the emotionless face she always had wanted me to uncover the depth she was hiding under there. The compulsion to get her to smile at me was so strong.

It took Gale a month before he could introduce her to us. Now I am a professional soccer player but I usually manage to take time to work at the bakery my parents own part time to clear my head off and as a stress buster and surprise, surprise, she came there every morning at seven o clock and my training schedule happened to change after that.

After two weeks of such meetings, I finally asked her number which she wrote on a tissue paper and handed over and when I sent her a 'Hi' message, I know that I needed to ask her out. After a month of chatting via phone, Katniss would give a small smirk and would acknowledge me when she came around. Soon, when we hung out literally every morning and at weekends, small chats turned into lengthy conversations which turned into small hugs and small kiss on the cheek and before we knew it, we were officially a couple.

Everything went down two weeks ago. After winning the semi finals, practice schedule has been crazy and I was able to make less time for both of us. I spent hours training that I was unable to attend even my own birthday party Katniss had thrown me. Angry and upset over this, Katniss, who was quite sensitive, which is the total opposite of what she presents herself as, agreed to have a clean break, which we both know was not true.

I was extremely hurt and angry at myself because Katniss always wanted to keep me happy. She was sensitive over me like that for the six months we dated and the six months I have known her before that. I apologised to her but she wouldn't respond. Then a week before, I was quite upset and wouldn't attend my training properly that Haymitch urged me to put this problem behind for the moment and focus on the game.

A week before, I got a couple of texts from Katniss that read

I think we both made a mistake. We need to fix this.

If you win this game, please call me. We need to talk

And almost twenty minutes later than the previous texts, I got a new text

I miss you.

That was my undoing. I wholeheartedly accept what she had said. It was our mistake, although I feel completely responsible. I do not blame her. I was the one who did not spend time with her. And those messages gave me hope and strength and all I needed to do to concentrate. I was furious that I must win. I will and I must win. Bring glory to Panem and win my Katniss back. But that adds extra burden on me tonight. If I fail, then I have let them both down and now the nerves are getting better off of me.

Haymitch speaks as if he just read my mind."Don't let the nerves get the better off you. Stay focused. Ah, I don't do this shit but all the best. I know sweetheart will get back to you no matter what. Stay calm. Don't mess it up boy. We need to rub it in the face of Capitol Rangers." he says and gets up. "Call her if you need" and leaves.

I let that sink in while looking around at the players, everyone are engrossed in their conversation and their faces look more brighter and less tense. Maybe I should do it too. Not Katniss, but someone, anyone that is not her.

I take out my phone from the locker and go through my contacts. I go through Mom's, Dad's, Ryan's and Dylan's and decide against all. Except Mom and Dad, even Delly is here at the match. They are not going to hear me anyways judging from the people's reaction and screaming and yelling. Mom is with Dad and they wouldn't appreciate me calling. When I swipe through my phone, I cross through her contact. I did not have the heart to delete her contact and a few days before we broke up, I saved her name into my emergency contact. My finger hovers over her name, maybe it is not a good idea, it is not a good idea. I tell myself and the next thing I know is, I am placing the phone on my left ear.

The phone rings thrice and my hearts starts thumping faster. Instead of making me uncomfortable, the more the second ticks by, the more I think I am going to pass out. Then when a lot of rings later, I decide that she is going to not answer the phone, for the better, and that I could escape from that hell by just quitting...

"Peeta?" a small melodious voice floats through the phone and she sounds taken aback and quite surprised.

Shit.

The second chapter will be up in two days. I know this is not much Everlark but there is some stuff coming up. Stay tuned.