Peeta came to District 12 a month before our freshman year of high school.

Right away the rumors started.

I heard one of her brothers were involved with President Snow's oldest granddaughter and they fled here to 12.

I heard her father went bankrupt and they had no other choice but here.

I heard Peeta was caught with-

I never listened to what everyone said. I had my own problems like everyone else in the Seam. But I will admit that I was curious. Why did a family as perfect looking as theirs choose to come here, to District 12, where you can starve to death in safety.

It wasn't long after they moved here that the bakery opened up. I passed the bakery in the mornings on my way to make my usual trades. I would only glance in through the storefront windows, and behind the cakes on display I would see a woman whose mouth always seemed permanently stuck in a thin line, and I would also see Peeta.

When I walked by she would give me a bright smile as long as her mother wasn't paying attention. I was confused by her seemingly constant jubilance and would scowl and continue on without stopping. Is that what they did where she came from? Smile at everyone? From the consistent frown on her mother's face, I found that hard to believe.

One day, only four days before our freshman year was to begin, Peeta talked to me.

"Are those squirrels you're always lugging around?" I heard a voice inquire. I whipped my head to the side and saw her standing outside the door to the bakery, leaning against the rickety looking railing.

I gave a short nod, hoping that would appease her and I could continue on with my trades. But she started talking again.

"Squirrels are my favorite, and the ones from the butcher never taste fresh. What's your going price?" She had pushed herself off of the railing and started to make her way to the three steps leading down onto the dirt road I was currently standing on.

"A loaf of bread per squirrel," I finally said. She stopped and looked as if she were considering what I said.

"I believe that could be arranged," she declared with that bright smile making its way onto her face. I furrowed my brows in confusion at her unending cheeriness.

I cleared my throat and said, "Uh okay. Would you like me to bring some tomorrow?"

"That'd be perfect!" She exclaimed. Her smile slipped a little at her next sentence "Um, but maybe come to the back door? And maybe come a bit later than this, say noon?" She suddenly seemed a bit nervous.

I had a feeling that nervousness had a bit to do with the stern looking woman that I always saw in the store.

"Yeah, yeah I can do that. Tomorrow at noon." I told her and began to walk away.

"Wait!" She yelled. I ground my teeth and turned back around. I'm running late, I wanted to say but didn't.

My answering what? didn't really hide my exasperation though.

"I just wanted to ask for your name. Mine's Peeta. Peeta Mellark," She said a bit shyly.

I glanced up at the sign declaring Mellark's Bakery and she seemed to follow my line of sight.

She chuckled nervously, "Right, yeah. You probably could've figured that huh?"

I just shrugged. She looked at me expectantly and I jolted as I remembered her initial question.

"Oh, right. My name is Katniss. Katniss Everdeen." I mumbled. She smiled warmly at me and for some reason I felt like reciprocating that smile, but I didn't.

"Well it's nice to meet you Katniss Everdeen. I'll see you tomorrow at noon." And she turned back into the store. And I continued my trek to my first trade with Greasy Sae.