Chapter One

I sit on the swing in Peeta's back garden, my feet brushing the floor beneath me ever so slightly, pushing up dust clouds as I swing to-and-fro. Peeta, stands about ten metres away with a paintbrush in his hand, his face showing deep concentration as he brings the paint to his paper.

The sun beats down on my back, it's never this hot here in District 12. We normally have grey skies and the pitter-patter of rain… not blistering heat and blinding sun. My white, lace blouse flows in the slight breeze. Peeta, every so often looks back to me, checking if I'm okay… sometimes he is really over protective, it's not as if someone's going to walk into Victors Village, grab me by the neck and drag me away without him noticing.

I stand up, placing my feet lightly I walk to Peeta, wrapping my arms round his waist and hugging him from behind. He turns, kissing me on the check. "Hey beautiful.." he says, pressing is head into mine as he turns and places his hands on my hips. I would stay silent, but he knows I appreciate every word he's ever said to me, even if I didn't realise it at first. We embrace like this for a short time before linking hands, briefly exchanging kisses and making our way back into his house.

"Peeta, what would you like for your lunch?" I turn, holding the cupboard door as I question him.

"Whatever you'd like…" he smiles "remember I made some bread earlier, it needs used up… didn't we have some cheese from a few nights ago too?"

"Yeah, I think there was some left. So will bread and cheese fill you up?" I don't turn around while saying this. I'm being overly generous, maybe not for other people but for me this is strangely out of character. Normally I would just make what I wanted and put it on front of Peeta, but I've began to realise how much I depend on Peeta, not on paying for things or whatever, but to be there for me… and I'm too harsh on him.

"Yeah, that's fine." he'd reply. I'd cut some slices of bread, and put a of layer of thick cut cheese slices on each. Putting them on ceramic plates with small floral patterns on them, I bring them to the table. Peeta lifts the bread and cheese to his mouth, taking a large mouthful and yet, still managing to be perfectly well mannered.

Before I've even finished my lunch, Peeta stands up with a completely bare plate, placing it in the sink he comes back and sits with me, placing his hand on my leg. "I love you a lot, you know that…?" he pushes my hair behind my ear.

I finish my mouthful, before replying "you know I do, don't be so silly… and you know I love you, right?" I say softly. Naturally Peeta grins, looking to me.

"Yes, I do." he smiles.

Once I have finished, we link hands sitting at the kitchen table. It's lightwood and consists of a rectangular table with benches at either side. Peeta places his head on my shoulder and I brush my hand through his soft blonde hair, slowly working my way to his neck. I massage his neck and shoulders as they are tense from standing up all morning painting.

After lunch, I walk through District 12 with Peeta, or what's left of it. Victors Village coped the bombings from Capitol, but almost nothing else did. A few houses have been rebuilt and a few other families live here once again, but otherwise, all was lost. We don't even have a hob anymore, but sometimes on a Saturday we come together and trade things in what is now 'The Town Square' which is actually just a cobbled area where the back of a house used to be.

Haymitch is back to his old ways, drinking constantly. On the bright side, alcohol is a lot harder to come across in District 12 than it was before, not that it was easy to get before but it rarely comes here and when it does, Haymitch normally buys it all. Otherwise, if he's looking for a drink he has to travel to another district to eat. Now, we are allowed to travel between districts, as long as we follow "The Ways Of Panem." Which me and Peeta always do, as most people do… nobody really has a reason not to, they are just basic and fair. Those who don't, are punished severely.

Peeta's hair blows in the breeze and I notice it is blonder than ever due to the sun. He wears a pale blue shirt, with three quarter length sleeves and a pair or navy shorts with white pin stripes. I can never compete with his beauty. Today I attempted to go out my comfort zone and were a light weight fabric dress, which flows beautiful and had a summery floral theme. I would never wear something like that, but I did as I knew it would impress Peeta, and I like impressing Peeta.

"You look lovely today…" Peeta says, grinning, showing his set of pearly whites. "as you always do."

"I beg to differ, and I will change that statement to… you look lovely today Peeta, as you always do Peeta." I say. Peeta chuckled, giving my hand a slight squeeze.

"If you say so Katniss, but I think you are the most beautiful thing in the whole world." Peeta's last words make me smile, with Peeta I always feel wanted and loved, better yet I feel safe.

For the first time on our walk, I see a figure walking towards us. I get ready to make conversation as people in District 12 are pretty chatty and polite. As the figure comes closer, we slow a little, hoping that the blurry shape will become clear, and it does. Coming out the sun, is no other than the person I want to avoid the most just now…the one person I don't want to face, that one person is…

Gale.