A/N: Well HI! Don't hate me for quitting Going the Distance, I've just lost inspiration and this idea hit me like a big yellow school bus (haha I love Mean Girls).
Anyway, this is a little love story that's AU (there are no Hunger Games to this Hunger Games fic) and the characters are a little different.
Pairings will be Peeta/Katniss and Gale/Madge (for now!) but it'll be a slow process getting there.
Description: A shy beauty. A smitten huntsman. A humble baker. And Katniss Everdeen. How they find love and defy the Capitol, sans the Hunger Games.
Ratings: As for now, K+, but it may get gutsier, so the rating is subject to change.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything at all. Waaaaaaaaah.
"Would you just look at her, Catnip?" My best friend Gale asks me. I'm too busy skinning a rabbit to look up immediately, but when I do, I roll my eyes. I'm about to return to my work when he bumps me with his shoulder. "She's beautiful."
I examine the beauty that is meandering through Town square. Gale and I are sitting, safely obscured, in the Hob, a building that seems non-descript from the outside. It used to be a warehouse, before the Capitol decided our District's only export would be coal.
Through the propped open door, we catch glimpses of Madge Undersee and her advisor, Effie Trinket, almost every day, and every time Gale sees her, he melts. He wasn't always like this. As a matter of fact, I remember just a year ago, before she came to our lowly district, when he was normal. A strong, silent boy of seventeen, who was wholly in charge of caring for his three younger siblings and mother. That's what we bonded over- the need to mature too quickly. When I was eleven and he was thirteen, our fathers were both killed in a landmine that rocked the district- leaving me with my desolate mother and sweet, young sister.
It was hard, living at first, but I owe the jump-start in my survival to a rich boy across town, Peeta Mellark. He tossed me some burnt bread one night when I was sure Primrose, my sister, and I were going to die of starvation. The next day, before school, I attempted to thank him, but I hesitated, and when he walked into the building, he left behind a patch of dandelions. Those weeds sparked my memory, and I re-discovered the plant-book my father had written, and gathered enough food for Primrose and I to live again. My mother occasionally ate with us, but never spoke.
It was when the plants that are abundant within the District's limits began to wilt that I realized more action must be taken. I snuck into the woods, forbidden according to Capitol law, and found old bows and arrows that belonged to my rebel father. It was a struggle, learning how to hunt, but it became easy when I bumped into surly and suspicious Gale Hawthorne.
I was admiring some snares (ironically, set by him) when he came out of the woods and began accusing me of thievery. He asked me what my name was, and I stuttered and mumbled, causing him to think Katniss was Catnip. It became an affectionate nickname, and he took me under his wing as a sister. Of course, we traded hunting secrets- a bow for some snares- and quickly created our own business. Every evening after school, the two of us set up a stand in the Hob and trade our wares- usually rabbit and squirrel meat, and whatever fruits or vegetables we can gather.
"Sure, and taken." I reply coldly. Gale shoots me a look. "What? Today's the day her father announces who she's marrying." Madge Undersee was brought here by her father a year ago, from the Capitol, to earn a husband. When they first arrived, I spotted the family before Gale did. I was shocked by her parent's clothing. Her mother had unnaturally long hair that had candy-colored streaks through it. She wore a tight top that was the color of fish-scales and had the same texture, as well as a long tight dress that flared out at her shins, giving her the appearance of having a tail. Her husband wasn't much better- his skin was pulled back inhumanly tight, making his eyes and lips pop out. His smiles were terrifying, as it seemed as if he had more teeth in his mouth than necessary, and his clothes always consisted of a full suit in one rainbow color after another- pink, turquoise, green, orange, etc. No one beat her advisor in ridiculousness of looks, though. Effie Trinket was a short woman, not much older than us, with a myriad of curly wigs, all dyed different colors. She wears clothing that occasionally make me blush, and her heels are like death-traps.
Madge, however, was, and is, natural looking. Shoulder length, curly blonde hair with bright blue eyes like the Merchant class of our district. Gale and I are part of the Seam class. Most of our class is donned with grey eyes, dark, straight hair and olive colored skin. The only exception is sweet Primrose and my mother. My mother was originally a merchant before she married my father, who, according to my parent's tales, swept her away with his beautiful singing. Father and I used to sing together- before he was killed. Now I only sing if Prim requests it.
"So, what? She's still nice to look at." Gale sighs, staring out the door. She's walking slowly, window-shopping. Lucky her, I think maliciously. She's able to buy from the nicer stores that sell candy and new clothing- luxury items. I would kill to surprise Primrose with a lovely new dress from the tailor's fancy shop.
"Bet she's got a rotten personality, though." I return to skinning the rabbit, only this time with much more force than before.
I can hear Gale laugh, but I don't look up. "Calm down, Katniss."
"Don't tell me to calm down." I snarl through tightly clamped teeth. He knows I hate being told to calm down.
"What's your problem with her? You don't even know her!" Gale chides.
"You don't know her, either." I can practically feel his energy turn from a teasing happiness to annoyance. "And my problem is she distracts you from your work- which means our families eat less."
Gale just sighs again- is that all he does?- and I hear him grab a knife and begin skinning.
We sit in silence, turning the meat into sellable pieces, for twenty minutes, before our first customer arrives.
"Hello, kids." I look up to see a friendly face- the baker. Peeta's father.
"Hi, sir." I nod at him. "The usual?" I ask. Mr. Mellark has a fondness for squirrel meat, and always buys from us. Usually, he trades a couple rolls per squirrel, but lately, he's been paying more, even with coins. I remember the first time he dropped a couple shiny, silver coins on our table. Gale practically fainted with shock. That was a few months ago.
"Why don't you tack on a couple extra squirrels? It's a special day, today." The baker says, although his expression does not match his words. I ponder what he means by that- and why this special day makes him so sad- when he gives us a sack of coins.
"This is more than you owe." Gale informs the man. He hates when people see us as charity cases, and always refuses excess pay.
The man shrugs. "Please, take it. I can't… I can't look at this money anymore."
Gale raises his eyebrows, but doesn't say anything. The baker smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes, and leaves with his sack of squirrel meat.
"Well, that was strange." Gale says to me. I nod, almost forgetting our previous argument. I turn to him, in a moment of spontaneity.
"I'm sorry about calling you out earlier. It wasn't fair of me." Apologies from me are rare, but the baker's kindness spurs a feeling of restlessness in me.
Gale smiles, "Well, it's no skin off my nose- especially since you were wrong."
"Wait, what?" I ask. I feel my brow furrowing. "I was wrong?"
"Yep." Gale looks around, and whispers conspiratorially. "I have talked to Madge Undersee, and she isn't a rotten person. She's as sweet as she looks."
I try to digest the news but can't. Before I can attack Gale with questions, he swipes up the leftover meat (the few rabbits we skinned and a couple squirrels) and closes up shop. "We've made enough today, right?" He grabs me by the arm and drags me out of the Hob, and we hide in an alley. Madge is still strolling along, Effie chattering behind her.
"When? What? How? Where?" Asking questions and being curious are usually out of character for me, but this is a different situation. Madge has been placed under lockdown for the whole year she's been here. She's free to walk around, with the aid of her advisor, but she can't speak to any men of any age. Her parents want her to be perfectly pure for her marriage, which is unusual as to the Capitol custom. From what I hear, purity isn't their 'thing'.
"A few weeks ago. I bumped into her and Effie wasn't around. She was really sweet and nice, Katniss! We talked for a couple minutes before I had to scram." Gale scratched his head. "For as ridiculous as those shoes are, they are useful. You can always hear Effie before you see her."
I just shake my head in disbelief. "Is that the only time you've talked to her? And why did you keep it from me for so long?"
"We've chatted a couple more times- never about anything important. I couldn't tell you, Katniss, because I didn't want it getting out. I trust you, it's the eavesdroppers that I don't."
"So why say something now?" I'm still trying to piece all of this together, but in my head, it looks like a pathway with holes and obstacles blocking the way to the end.
Gale smiles sadly, not unlike Mr. Mellark's earlier grin. "Because there's nothing anyone can do- she's getting married in a year to some other guy, and after their wedding here, they're off to the Capitol for life.
I nod, understanding. "I'm sorry."
"I'm okay." He tells me. "Besides, I always have you, don't I?" His face grows into a mischievous smile.
"What does that mean?"
"Well, you see…" He starts. This can't be good. "One day, when they try to make me go into the mines-" I gulp, that's only in a year, "we're gonna run off and live in the woods- you, me and the kids."
I let out a quick, sardonic laugh. "Right. Gale, I'm never getting married." I tell him. "And if I were, it certainly wouldn't be to you."
The two of us continue to pick at each other as we dole out the coins and meat. "Tonight, the Hawthorne's and the Everdeen's will eat like kings!" Gale cheers.
I shush him with a shove to the shoulder, and sling my bag over my shoulder. "I better go check on Prim. I'll see you later, okay?"
My only friend nods in agreement, and we head off to our separate ways. Gale's off to buy some fruits from the Hob for dinner for his family while I go to the Seam's main housing area.
It's closer to the coal mines, and therefore sootier and dirtier than the town square. I feel the air get heavier around me as I walk past the row of identical, small homes. Most of the curtains are drawn shut. Only a few are open with the curious eyes of children peering out.
I ignore them and pick up the pace to reach my house. Even though they're always okay, I'm constantly nervous about coming home to an empty, dead home. My mother, sprawled across the kitchen floor, the life sapped out of her eyes. Primrose in her bed, sweet and colorless, in a permanent sleep. I shake my head furiously to rid the images from my mind and sigh in relief as I see my home.
"Hi, Lady." I call out to my sister's goat. It bleats in response, and I slip into the shack quietly. My mother must be in bed, sleeping, and Prim…
"Prim!" I call out. "I've brought food!"
I hear a scrambling noise from upstairs, and grin as my baby sister, who's eleven, comes thumping down the stairs. "Food?""
Her skin is pale as the moon, and her eyes are bright like Madge's. She could easily be Madge's younger sister. She's got the same delicate, sweet features, and if Gale's testimony is true, they have similar temperaments.
"Yes, little duck." I tell her, and she blushes at the nick name. Since we're poor, she has to wear my hand-me-down clothing, and since when I was her age we were better fed, my clothes often hang off her, leaving a duck tail behind her.
She roots through the sack, grimacing at the meat (she's never been fond of dead animals or hunting) and as she spies the little bag of coins, her face contorts into shock.
"Katniss! This is amazing!" She pulls out the littler sack. "Who gave you this?"
"The baker." I grab a pan and fill it with meat from the sack. I also grab a few potatoes from our stores and chop them for the stew.
"Peeta's father?" Primrose asks from behind me, and I can hear her grinning through her question. I would growl in frustration if it were anyone else, so, for her, I settle for a covert eye roll. Prim knows all about Peeta and the bread, and is convinced that he's in love with me. 'Have you seen how he looks at you?' Fortunately, for me, she hasn't said anything in front of Gale. Then, I'd never hear the end of it.
"Yes, Prim, Peeta's father." I save the rest of the story- his anxious expression and desperation to rid himself of the coins- and busy myself with the stew.
"Well, did he say anything about Peeta?" She asks, not wanting to drop the subject. That's probably the best, or the worst, depending on the situation, quality that Prim possesses- her inability to give up.
It's what makes me sure that she'll never be like our mother.
Speaking of which, "Where's mom?" I ask, happy for a distraction.
"She's been in bed all day. I think it's a bad one, today."
When we were younger, I tried shielding Primrose from the situation with our mother. I did an okay job, until two years ago, when mom had a bad fit and began screaming. At that point, I couldn't hide it from my sister anymore, and told her the whole story. For a nine year old, she handled it very well, and has been helping out around the house a lot more. It's made it easier on me, but it still irritates me that she's not experiencing a normal childhood.
This isn't my fault, though, or my mother's. It's the Capitol's fault, for rationing our district so little to divvy up per citizen, and making our district so poor.
I take a deep, calming breath in order to relax my body, and continue to stir the stew. "Can you try to get her, Prim? See if she's hungry."
Prim complies and skips out of the room, and I turn the oven off. The rabbit and potato stew smell permeates the air, and I close my eyes. It's almost as if my father will walk into the house, and kiss me on the cheek. 'Thanks for making dinner, Kat. You know your mom has it rough, and I really appreciate you helping out around here.'
I'd grin at him and say, 'It's not a problem, dad.' And then he'd compliment me on my huntsman-ship or the good deal I made today.
And then he would pull me into a hug, and I'd let myself fall into it.
A/N: First chapter- down! Poor Katniss, hmm? And poor Gale! Poor Madge! And why is Peeta's father so sad? Just read and see. ;)