Hi there! This is my first story so don't judge! Please review it would mean the world to me!
I could never have made up these wonderful characters, its all Suzanne Collins, trust me!
Chapter One, The Question
I wake up to the sound of hissing in my ear, I roll over to the other side of the small bed Prim and I share to try and escape the sound. Only it follows me, I open my eyes and see two big green ones staring back at me, Buttercup. Stupid cat hates me. I jump over to the other side of the bed where Prim should be, but she isn't. She is in my mothers bed, like she usually is this time of year. I feel bad for Prim, it's her first year actually in the reaping. It's tomorrow, but I know to well that her mind is conjuring up all sorts of bloody scenarios for her. My mind is quite good at that. She is covered with three out of the four blankets we own, I have the last one. My mother must be up, she isn't with Prim. So I not so gently shove Buttercup off the bed, and tiptoe out of the room. I get into the kitchen and see my mother making some tea with the leaves that grow out front.
"Good morning mom"
"Katniss," she says as though she is in a bubble and might pop it if she uses to much enthusiasm.
"I am going to go hunting, be back in a little while,"
"Katniss, before you come back can you pick up some bread, I know you will be down there,"
"Sure, see you in a bit," and I leave. I go under the hole in the fence that is supposed to be electrified all the time, but never is, I still check though. I go to our spot to see if Gale is there today, he has been sick and said when he is feeling better he will come join me here. He's not. Gale is one of my best friends, Peeta is my other best friend. Gale and I have more in common, but Peeta and I, well, we just get each other. Gale's dad died in the same mine explosion mine did, and he lives in the seam like me. Peeta lives and works in his family bakery which is in town. Gale and him were friends since they were little then when school started Peeta and Gale sat with me at lunch since no one else would. And the three of us have been best friends ever since.
I get my usual haul of six squirrels, and four rabbits. I will give two of the rabbits and three of the squirrels to Gale and his family, since he is sick and can't hunt. Then I can trade the rest of the squirrels for some fresh bread with Peeta, and keep the other rabbits for myself. I remember that Peeta loves using fresh berries for his breads, so i get him as much as i can stuff into my pockets without crushing the tender berries. I drop off the game at Gale's house and his mother Hazel thanks me for doing it and said I really didn't have to, but I really did. I then go over to the bakery, and hope that Mrs. Mellark, Peeta's mom isn't running the counter today. I get lucky and it's Peeta's brothers Rye and Toby.
"Hey Katniss, hope you came in here to give us some of what you got today," says Rye. Rye is in the middle of the three, Toby is the oldest, and Peeta is the baby. They always make fun of him, but I try to stand up for him, telling them that he looks like one of their twins because he is so big. Not big, like he ate to many of his cakes, but big like he can throw a hundred pound sack of flour right over his blonde head.
"Always do Rye, where is Peeta?"
"He is icing a cake, you can go on back," says Toby, i think Toby is the nicer more calmer one out of Rye and him. Rye is more energetic. I walk back and see him, blonde curls in his eyes, he brushes them back with his hand that has flour all over it, leaving a big smudge on his forehead. He has an icing bag in one hand and is decorating one of the most beautiful cakes I have ever seen. I think that about all the cakes he decorates, he has a gift.
"Hey" he looks up, not surprised to see me.
"Hey, hold on a sec. I am almost done." He finishes up what he was doing and then looks back at me.
"Went hunting I see,"
"Yea I did, I brought you some squirrels and a surprise,"
"A surprise?"
"Yup! Close your eyes and open your mouth," he obeys and I reach into my pocket and pull out three ripe berries and put them in his mouth. He begins to chew and once he realizes what I brought him, he opens his bright blue eyes and a smile stretches across his face.
"Thanks Katniss! I was just going to make some bread with these today, well not fresh ones, thanks," he comes over and hugs me. I hug him back, but when I let go, he is still hugging me. I decide he must be feeling really happy today and decide to let it happen. It's the day before the reaping, we may not have time to ever do this again. He finally pulls away, and his checks are slightly pink.
"Uh, Katniss. Can I, can, can I ask you something?" He is never bad with words, another one of his many talents. This can't be good.
"Anything"
"Well, I wanted to know if, if you, wanted to, to go... on a date," A date. A date? Is he crazy the reaping is tomorrow, this can only end badly if one of us gets picked! He is staring at me seeing my inner turmoil no doubt. Then, I realize something. I didn't automatically think "no" maybe I should be open to trying this. No, no, not before the reaping! What would Gale think? He tried to ask me out once and I knew it would not work, but maybe with Peeta it would. I do feel more protective of him than I do Gale. Maybe, no, I?
"Sure"
"Sure?"
"Why not, I just have one condition"
"Anything"
"After the reaping"
"Why?"
"Well, what if you get picked, it would kill me! I mean it would anyway, but if we find out we have something actually going on, it would be even worse. After the reaping would be best" The smile on his face right now is so big, I am sure I just admitted to something I didn't want to.
"Alright then, after the reaping"
"After the reaping" I reply. I give him the berries and tell him goodbye and that we will make plans for our date later. I go back out front and trade the squirrels for bread with Toby and leave. I can't believe what I just did.
I just agreed to go on a date with my best friend.