Author's Note:
Back in the fall, there was a wonderful fundraiser called MoreS2SLs. I submitted a story called "Out of the Woods". While I was writing it, I realized I had a lot of back story, so I decided to cut that part out and just publish the "here and now" of that story. This chapter is the back story that I cut out. The next chapter will be the original story submitted to the fundraiser. I have part of a third chapter written, which I am still deciding if the story needs that, or if the two chapters are good enough to stand alone. I will post chapter 2 next week, let me know what you think!
Thank you to ct522 as always for her exceptional beta skills and pointing out my over use and mis use of commas. And thank you to louezem for pre-reading!
5years old
"Do you see that little girl there Peeta? The one with the red dress and the braids?" His father asks him with a smile.
"Yeah…" he says curiously.
"I was going to marry her mother."
"Well why didn't you?" He can't believe anyone wouldn't want to marry his father. He is a baker after all.
"She married a coal miner instead." he says with a shake of his head, and a wistful smile on his face.
"Why would she marry a coal miner? That seems kind of dangerous." It seems so ludicrous to him.
"Well son sometimes things just aren't meant to be." And he leans down for a quick hug before he heads back to the bakery.
"I don't want to go to school daddy! Why can't I stay home and play with Prim? Why can't we go camping at the lake?"
"Because, little girl, you need to learn to read and write and do math. I want you to get as smart as you can so you can go away to college and get even smarter!"
"But I don't like all of these people," she says with a pout.
He picks her up like she's as light as a feather. Her daddy is so strong, he always makes her feel safe. "Don't you worry. All of the big people will go home soon. Then it'll just be you kids and the teachers. It'll be ok, I promise. And your momma and Prim will be here to pick you up as soon as it's finished, ok?"
"OK. I guess," she says begrudgingly, a scowl he recognizes all too well on her face. "But you can't make me like it!"
"Oh little girl, I don't think I'd ever presume to make you do anything you don't want to!" he says as he puts her down, with a final chuckle and a rub on her head. "Goodbye girlie, and try to have some fun, OK?" He gives her a quick kiss on the head and heads out the door.
11 years old
The alarm from the mine goes off in the middle of music class. All of the students know what it means, whether they have a parent who works in the mine or not. The teacher tries not to allow her fear to show on her face as she tries to distract the students from the noise. But as she looks around, all she can see are the terrified faces of her class. "Katniss, let's go through that verse again, please? We'll pick up right where it says, "Hang your head over", OK?"
No sooner does she say this though, then they hear the secretary's voice comes across the loudspeaker:
"Will the following students please come to the office, Gale Hawthorne, Rory Hawthorne, Jon Sanderson, Leevy Sanderson, Katniss Everdeen, Primrose Everdeen…" the list goes on, but Katniss only hears her name and her sister's. She knows that everyone being called has a parent that works at the coal mine. A sinking feeling fills her stomach.
It isn't long before the whole school knows what has happened. There was a cave in at the mine, miners were trapped, and it didn't look hopeful. One by one, parents came to pick up their children, whether they were of mining families or not. In a small community like Panem, one tragedy affects them all. What the secretary and the administration know that the rest do not though, is that no one comes to collect the Everdeen girls. The principal, Mr. Abernathy, suggests he take them home.
"No thank you sir," Katniss says as bravely as she can. "We're just right down the road. I can get Prim home fine. I'm sure Momma's waiting for us there."
Both Mr. Abernathy and Katniss know that Mrs. Everdeen is not at home. They both know that she has probably rushed to the mine, not thinking about getting her girls. But neither one will say this outloud.
It isn't until the next day when Peeta finds out that Mr. Everdeen was trapped in the mine. He, along with 9 other men on his shift were down there when a wall caved in on them, effectively cutting off their oxygen. Only Mr. Sanderson and Mr. Holloway survived. All of the others have perished. The town goes into a deep mourning. They haven't lost this many men in decades. It will be a year before the final investigation will be completed. Until then, it's business as usual.
Except for those families who are left to deal with the grief. Thankfully the company helps pay the rent on the families' houses, otherwise many would be out on the streets before the month is up. Many think it's a way for the company to save face, to cover up for their negligence. But in the Everdeen household, no one even thinks about the rent. Katniss is too busy trying to rouse her mother and take care of her little sister.
When she shows up to school the next week, Katniss keeps to herself. She's dealing with the death of her father, and a mother who only seems to stare at the walls. The schools counselling staff tries to help, but they are so overwhelmed with everything that the Everdeen girls seem to slip through the cracks. The teachers may notice that they are a bit more bedraggled, a bit dirtier, but they are at school every day, on time, and while their lunches are a bit skimpier, there are no other tell-tale signs of abuse or neglect. They chalk it up to the small family dealing with their grief.
But Peeta notices. He's noticed this girl ever since they were five years old. She used to love singing in Kindergarten. Every year Katniss would sing the loudest in music class. This is the first thing Peeta notices - Katniss doesn't sing any more.
It's another month before Peeta notices that Katniss is getting thinner, that her lunches are getting smaller and smaller, and a few months after that that he notices there is nothing in Katniss' lunch, that she retreats to the corner of the classroom every day at lunch time. Other's think she's just shy, but he sees that there is nothing in the lunch box, that Katniss is just pretending.
The day after he figures out she's faking it, Peeta attempts to sneak into the bakery to grab a loaf of bread before his parents see him. Unfortunately, his mother catches him. His father would have given him a sad smile, but let him go. His mother, who is in charge of the books, is furious. "What are you doing?" she screams at him.
"I'm just… I'm just…" he stutters, then straightens himself up. "I'm getting a loaf of bread to take to school."
Most mothers would be proud of their son, that he wants to help someone. But Mrs. Mellark sees the books. She sees how their profits have taken a downturn ever since the mine explosion. In her anger, she cracks her son across the face, leaving a welt just under his eye. It's the only thing Katniss sees as he quickly shoves the loaf of bread in her backpack and runs the other way.
When Katniss gets home, she finds the loaf. She knows she should be furious. How dare Peeta Mellark think he can just give them charity. He's never even talked to me. But she's too hungry to care right now. That night she and Prim feast on a hearty, grainy bread filled with nuts and fruit.
The next morning, on her way to school, leftover bread in her and Prim's lunch boxes, she sees the first dandelion and she remembers. She can barely concentrate on her studies that day, she's that excited. Because she knows, at home tucked away on her mother's bookshelf, is a book of plants and herbs that has been in the family for years. Katniss has a plan, and that plan will save her family.
16 years old: Sophomore Year
"C'mon Everdeen! Let's go! Daylight's wasting!" Gale calls to her over the roar of his father's old truck. As soon as he turned 16, his mother gave him the keys, and he's been doing odd jobs around town to help support the family. He and Katniss have formed an alliance of sorts, though he thinks she's hot in her own way. They are hunting buddies. Both had to grow up too soon, both had to take care of a family before they were ready.
Katniss hops in the truck. "God Gale, what's your rush? We're just going to the campsite tonight. We've got plenty of time to set up."
"I just don't want to spend any more time at this hell hole school then I have too, Catnip," he smiles at her.
She scowls at him, which he secretly loves. Most of the time Katniss has a blank face, she's learned to hide her emotions from the world. Only those closest to her get to see her smile, and scowl. "You know I hate that, Gale. So stop it!"
He just laughs at her as he puts the truck into gear, and they head out of the parking lot. Katniss doesn't see Peeta watching her from his car. But Gale does, and he shakes his head at the blonde. Peeta turns away and gets into his car. He knows he doesn't stand a chance with Katniss as long as Gale is around. Every night he prays that Gale gets that football scholarship and heads off to college far, far away. Maybe then Katniss will look at him.
It will be another year before Katniss looks at most anyone again. It wasn't too long after this hunting trip that Prim was in a fatal accident. It seems to Katniss that the odds are definitely not in Katniss' favor in this lifetime. It takes her a few weeks, but she returns to school more withdrawn than before. At least this time her mother doesn't leave her too.
17/18 years old: Senior Year
"I want all of you to seriously consider this," Ms. Atala tells the ecology class, while pointedly looking at Katniss. "There are colleges out there that will offer scholarships to those students whose projects they think are worthwhile."
Katniss knows that if she wants to get out of this town, her only hope is an academic scholarship. Ever since her father died, her relationship with her mother has been strained. Once the authorities had learned the depths to which her mother sunk into her depression after the death of her father, they stepped in to help the little family. Katniss's Aunt Seeder came to take care of the girls while their mother received some much needed help. She has never become the woman she was before her husband died, but she was able to care for her girls. Unfortunately, Katniss was afraid to let her mother close to her again after that. It seemed as if they had made an uncomfortable truce, with Prim in the middle holding them all together. And now that Prim is gone, the house is just a shell of what it once was. When Prim died, it's like she took all of the happiness with her.
She is the first to approach Ms. Atala after class that day. "When are the projects due for the Science Fair?"
"Oh Katniss, I'm so excited you came to me. If anyone deserves this, it's you." She rifles through the papers on her desk. Katniss wonders how she can ever find anything there, it's always piled high with mounds of paperwork. "Here it is!" she exclaims. "Take this home, show it to your mother. Read it over and if you have any questions, please ask me. I want to help you in any way I can."
While Katniss and Ms. Atala were having this conversation, Peeta is patiently standing behind. "Ms. Atala, do you have an extra copy of that?" he asks.
"Well certainly Peeta! I am glad to see your interest as well. You know what I think? I think the two of you working together on this would be a good thing…" and with that, she walks away, leaving Katniss and Peeta standing there staring at each other.
"Hello Katniss," he says politely. "I.. um… I didn't expect that… I don't… I don't know what to… um…" He's so nervous, he's sure his face is beet red as he rubs the back of his neck. He's usually never at a loss for words but something about Katniss always intimidates him. Perhaps it's the way she impatiently looks at him as he stumbles over his words.
"Listen..Peeta?" She asks, not sure why she's pretending to not know who he is. She is sure the last thing she wants is to work on this with the senior class Golden Boy. She desperately needs this scholarship money, and she can't afford to be dragged down by someone who, she's pretty sure, only wants to do this to pad his already full academic resume.
"I don't have a lot of time here. I have to get to work, but I'm not sure you and I working together on this is a good idea." And she turns and walks out the classroom, pulling her coat and backpack with her.
Well that went horribly Peeta thinks in her wake. Not sure what his next step will be, he just stands in the same spot he's been in. Ms. Atala comes back not too long after, along with Principal Abernathy. "What's wrong boy? You look like you've been hit by a truck."
"A truck named Katniss I'd imagine," Ms. Atala adds on with a smirk. "Am I right Peeta?"
"Yeah. I don't think working with her will be such a good idea," He says, not looking at either one of them.
"Oh listen here," Mr. Abernathy attempts to console him. "Give her some time. I'll have a word with her. She needs to learn to work well with others. Seems she forgot that lesson from kindergarten."
"Yeah, I guess," Peeta replies as he swings his backpack on and heads out the door.
Peeta doesn't know what was said, or even if anything was said to Katniss, but the next day in the cafeteria Peeta is shocked when Katniss marches up to him at his lunch table, "OK, listen. I'll work with you, but on this condition," " she tells him bluntly, but surely. "I need this scholarship. Not everyone gets everything handed to them on a silver platter. So the minute you don't pull your own weight I'm done, got it?" And without waiting for a response, she turns on her heel and stomps away. Peeta just stares after her in shock and awe.
They work together throughout the fall and winter. The National Park is quite near to Katniss' home in the Seam, so it becomes their home base. They've decided to classify salamanders that live there. As time goes by, they develop a friendship of sorts. Katniss is still standoffish at school, won't even acknowledge him when they pass in the hall, but once they are alone, she relaxes and seems to enjoy his company. The fact that Madge is her best friend seems to help Peeta in a way he didn't think. Madge, whose parents are close friends with the Mellarks, is able to put in a good word or two on his behalf. She acts as a buffer of sorts.
It's still a surprise, though, when Katniss shows up at the bakery one Saturday morning. They go to the park on Sunday's, so Peeta doesn't expect to see her. He's a bit flustered. "Hey! Katniss! Um.. Hey. What can I do for you?"
"Madge is meeting me here. I didn't have to work today so I thought we'd go to breakfast. What do you suggest?" She's surprisingly calm, although being in the bakery always makes her nervous. Mrs. Mellark is not known for her pleasantries, especially towards Katniss.
"I hope you're planning on paying for that!" comes a voice from the back. It seems that Katniss can't avoid her even if she wanted too.
Peeta quickly excuses himself and goes into the back of the store where is mother is. "Mom! Stop! She's just getting something to eat," he says as quietly as he can, hoping Katniss didn't hear. Peeta knows his mother still holds the loaf of bread he gave to Katniss over her head, but he's still upset she'd yell out like that into the front of the shop.
She's sitting at her desk, the ledgers spread out before her. Looking over her glasses she says matter of factly, "Well, we know those Seam rats all want a free hand out."
"No mom, that's actually not the case. She's meeting Madge here for breakfast."
"Madge? Now there's a nice girl. You should date her," his mother goes on.
Peeta just stares at her for a moment, too flabbergasted to move. "You're such a...nevermind."
He walks back to the front of the shop in time to see Katniss leave through the front door. He's embarrassed and ashamed. For so long he's wanted to make a good impression on her, and just as he's starting to, his mother steps in to ruin everything. Just like she always has. He can't wait to get away from Panem, if only to get away from his mother.
The next day is bright and sunny, perfect for working in the park on their project. Peeta only hopes Katniss shows up. As he pulls into the parking lot, he sees her beat up car, waiting. He lets out a sigh of relief and wonders how to handle the awkwardness from yesterday morning. He decides to go on as if nothing happened, to take the lead from her here.
"Hey Katniss, how are things today?" he says, strolling up to her car.
Katniss looks up at him for a minute, as if she's trying to decide something. She gets out of the car, closes the door and leans against it. She has a folder in her hands that she's holding onto for dear life. Finally she looks at him and says, "I think I've found something with the samples we've been taking, but I'm not sure. Want to check for me?"
"Sure," Peeta takes the report Katniss has been working on, going over what she's written very carefully. He leans back against her car with a thud. "Katniss… if this finding is what I think it is…"
"I know Peeta," she can barely contain her excitement. "I want to show it to the Park staff, see what they think, but I really think we're onto something here."
Turns out that what Katniss and Peeta discovered is that the salamanders were beginning to adapt to a new environment, on their own. As they went over their findings with the Park staff, they were able to add a missing piece to the mystery of the salamander population in the National Park. Their findings went on to receive national acclaim, and Katniss was offered a full ride scholarship to Michigan State University. She couldn't believe it. After all of the heartbreak of her life up until now, finally something was going her way. She had her ticket out of Panem, and into the bigger world.
Peeta was happy for her. There was a bit of sadness on his part, but he knew that was selfishness. As much as he cared about Katniss, he knew she had to leave. He just wished he could go with her. Peeta, while he received the wrestling scholarship he'd been working towards for State, was able to supplement his partial athletic scholarship with an academic one, because of his work with Katniss and the salamanders. His mother, for once, seemed proud of him.
"Finally you're worth something to the family Peeta. You'll go to State, major in business, then maybe go to New York City and make something of your life."
Not only did Peeta not want those things. It also stung that his mother thought that was all he was good for. Would ever be good for. What he wanted was to major in business and move back home, take over the bakery and enjoy life in Panem.
He wondered if there was anyone out there that might appreciate him for who he was, right now. While he and Katniss had a solid friendship, he knew he wanted more than she could or would be willing to give him.
As the school year wound down, and graduation grew closer, Peeta attempted to keep his friendship with Katniss going. She was still just as standoffish at school, but privately, they enjoyed their time together. They continued to meet up at the park, even having campouts. Purely platonic, much to Peeta's chagrin, but he decided a friendship with Katniss Everdeen was better than nothing at all.
"Unrequited love. Stupid is what it is," he berated himself the night of the prom. Because he'd asked Katniss who told him flat out she had to work and the last place she wanted to be seen was at a school dance. So he took Madge and they had a fine time. Even if he couldn't help but wonder what Katniss would look like in one of those tight dresses the girls all seemed to favor. It was after that night that he decided it was time to focus on other girls. Even if Katniss was interested, she was leaving - she'd made that abundantly clear. He decided, it would be better if he just tried to forget about her.