disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of its characters! All rights to Suzanne Collins
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As I stepped off the train all I felt was relief that the ride was over. My relief was immediately replaced with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I heard him before I saw him. I turned at he sound of my name and there he was. He hadn't changed since I last saw him four years ago.
"Hey buddy!" He greeted me. I turned and glared at him, not able to get the fact that he left my mom and I to fend on our own because he just "wasn't feeling anything for my mom" anymore. He faltered a bit at my glare but quickly recovers. However, I can still see the sadness in his eyes.
"Hello, dad," I answer coolly. "Haven't seen you in a while." "I know, and I am sorry," he said. "But I hope this summer will change our relationship for the better, and maybe we can make your last moments good ones" Oh yeah, my last moments. I almost forgot that I was dying and that's why I was sent to live with my dad in Panem. Personally I believe that mom just isn't strong enough to deal with watching her only son die right before her eyes. "Maybe, we'll see," I said.
"Okay, well, if you don't mind we do have plans for dinner. I have someone special I want you to meet and I feel like you will enjoy meeting them." Dad said excitedly. I hate burst his bubble, but I was exhausted, however he assured me it was an hour and a half drive to his house and another twenty to the restaurant so I could take a nap in the car. Frankly, I was relieved because I didn't want to talk to him any more than I had to.
"So how's school been going?" Dad asks me when we are buckled into the car and in motion. "It's fine. It doesn't matter anymore though because I won't live to see a job in my future" I answer trying to get him to shut up so I can sleep. Dad had different plans however and seemed intent on spending the next hour getting caught up with my life since he didn't bother being there for it. So an hour later and hardly any words from me, dad finally seems content with what he learns and lets me close my eyes and put my head against the glass. However I was just drifting off when my dad pulls into the driveway of a magnificent stone house. "We're home," he stated proudly while at the same time watching my face for a reaction. In my opinion the house is much to large for just one person, but then I realize there might be another woman. Another wife or, I dare think, another child. Another child that replaced me since he walked out.
The thought sends chills down my spine but thankfully dad doesn't realize since he was too caught up in shutting off the car. I reach up to rub the sleep from my eyes and pop my back. I turn around to retrieve my bag from the backseat but dad catches my hand and said "don't worry about that, Carolyn will get it. Right now we need to get you cleaned up for dinner." My mind is turning trying to remember him mentioning a Carolyn. I can't figure it out me give up when my head begins to hurt. I can't even think without my damn head hurting.
Ever since I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in my brain, my life has changed. People who used to ignore me, pretended to be my best friend and teachers always offered extra help now, even though I don't need it. Just because I have a tumor does not mean I am incapable of anything. To be quite honest, it's annoying to suddenly have the attention of the 700 kids in my class.
When I was first diagnosed, I was junior in high school. The tumor shrunk after chemo and radiation. I was expected to be okay. It's been four years since that occurred, when I started getting major migraines again. It turned out my tumor was back and bigger than before. They did radiation but it didn't help at all, so its a lost cause. They gave me four months to live, so I needed to make the most of it. Yeah, because visiting my dad who left me is making the most of it. "Peeta are you alright?" my dad asked gently, with a concerned look on his face. I shook my head 'no' and said "I have a killer headache, but if you have some Tylenol I think it will go away." Dad ran inside and grabbed the Tylenol as I made my way slowly to the last place I will ever call home.
An unfamiliar place that looked to expensive for someone like me to live in. Upon entering the house, I realize that it smells delicious like fresh bread and warm coffee and something else I couldn't quite identify. I look around and realize the inside isn't as extravagant as the outside. The inside screams 1940s for a strange reason. Dad came back really quickly with a pill bottle clutched in his hand. He had a small glass of orange juice in his other hand. I gratefully accepted both and popped two pills into my mouth. I swallowed them dry, but to be nice I did drink the juice as well. "Thanks", I said looking at dad. He smiled and then turned and replied " if you need anything just ask. Now let me show you your room. It this way." While motioning over his shoulder for me to follow him. I followed down the hall and turned to the left.
I realized he has no pictures but he does have many paintings. Paintings of a light haired boy with bright blue eyes who I immediately recognized as myself. I gasped when I made the realization, but tried to cover it with a cough. Dad turned and saw me staring at the painting and stopped short. "Have you always had this?" I asked, sounding harsher than I wanted to, but I needed to know. "Yes. It was painted by your grandma Ellyn a few years after your third birthday. It's still my favorite thing in this house." "Oh." Was all I could reply but I couldn't hide my curiosity when I asked "does she have any more paintings here?" "Yes, but now is not the time for a tour. We have somewhere to be so you need to get changed" dad said almost impatiently. He motioned once again for me to follow him and I did but reluctantly, not wanting to take my eyes off the careful strokes that Ellyn Casper so perfectly captured the youth in the blue eyes of me when I was young.
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I sat in dad's car going to who knows where with my head pressed against the window next to me. The radio was playing but I was too lost in my own thoughts to even listen. I heard dad ask me a question I couldn't comprehend what he said, so I didn't answer. "Peeta? Did you hear me?" Dad said looking slightly annoyed. " No, sorry. What did you say?" "How's your love life doing?" He asked curiously. I stared at him for a little while before bursting out laughing. "My love life? Dad are you kidding me? I'm dying! Every girl looks at me with sympathy so they would only date me to sympathize me!" I reply incredulously.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm only asking before we go meet our guests. I think you will like him and his daughter. Her name is Katniss. She is a beautiful girl, and her mother went through what your going through now. She is exceptionally brilliant and she feels she has discovered something that will help rid you of he cancer. So I would like it if you met her to see what she thinks she can do for you." "Fine. I'll talk to her and see what she thinks if that's what you feel like I should do. But I doubt there's anything she can do for me since none of the doctors think they can do anything."
"Peeta, why the hell do you think your mom actually sent you up here? Sure as hell aint because she wanted to be away from you in this time. It's because Katniss could possibly cure you if she gets a chance to look at you. We are going to meet her now and I would like you to be on your best behavior! This could turn around things". I found it really hard to believe dad, but I knew I didn't have a choice anymore. Anything I said, he would debate against me and always win. There was nothing I could do except meet this Katniss and see if she is the child genius dad said she is. Dad pulls into the parking lot of the restaurant, The Hob, where we are supposedly meeting her and her father at, and kills the engine.
He turns to me and puts his hand on my shoulder. He gives me a sad smile and gets out of the car. I follow his suite an then we are sitting at a table for four waiting for Katniss and her father. I look up and see a very beautiful girl walk into the restaurant with a man I assume is her father. She seemed to attract everyone's attention. Grey eyes and a long, dark brown braid down to her waist. She was the definition of beauty. Dad stood up suddenly and clasped hands with the man she walked in with saying "Lawrence, how the hell are you man?" The man, Lawrence, sighed and smile "oh never better Ed. Kit Kat here is keeping me on my toes." And gestured towards the beautiful girl who caught my eye.
I look at her and grin sheepishly. Her cheeks turn slightly pink in an adorable way and she looks at her feet. "Lawrence, this is my son Peeta. Peeta, this is Lawrence and his daughter Katniss" putting his arm around Katniss' shoulder. She relaxes a bit, and I realized she is comfortable around my dad. I smile inwardly at this fact. "Nice to meet you" I state while extending my hand out to each Lawrence and Katniss to shake. Lawrence's hands are callused and rough, but have a warm feel that makes you feel secure. Katniss' hands are small and cold, and I can't help but revel in the fact it fits perfectly in my own palm. "Nice to meet you as well" Katniss says with a musical voice that makes me fall in love with her even more. I knew from that moment on, I was a goner with this girl. The amazing girl with grey eyes, olive skin, and a beautiful braid who stole my heart.
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thanks to everyone who read! Chapter should be up in a few weeks! Please comment and review! I'll try my best to make this story the best I can!