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DFTBA ~Madcapscribbler.
I turn around and look at the clock, it's 5:00 AM. I haven't had a minute of sleep all night, so I figure I might as well get up now. Prim is in my mother's bed again, which is odd because she usually only gets nightmares in the summer, when the reaping is near, not in the dead of winter. Then again, I don't blame her; nightmares can be brought on by almost anything in this pathetic excuse for a district.
I slip out of bed and tip-toe into the bathroom. I turn on the small gas lamp in the corner and listen to the low humming sound it produces as it burns. I shut the door behind me and brace myself before looking in the mirror. Even through the broken shards I can see the deep purple bruise that surrounds my left eye. I run my fingers across it gently but stop as it still hurts to touch.
I look in the back of the cupboard, behind the broken back board, and grab a small bag. I hide it as my mother would kill me if she knew I had makeup. Typically the only people who have makeup are the capitol officials and district whores. I have it however, because she would react worse if she saw my face most of the time. It covers the bruise perfectly, so I shut the bag and put it back in its hiding place.
I walk back to our room and get dressed, before making my way downstairs. The cupboards are almost empty again, but there is some bread and some fresh goats milk, so I tear a piece of bread off the loaf and wash it down with some milk.
Later when everyone is up I decide I should probably go out. Gale wants me to meet him in the woods at 10:00, which gives me about an hour and a half. I suppose I should go and say hello to greasy Sae, but I'm not sure I want to. Not today. Then I remember that I have some squirrels and rabbits hanging up outside and that I could probably go and trade them at the hob. I grab my father's hunting jacket and my game bag and then leave.
The hob isn't very busy today, but the regulars are all here. Sae isn't though, because she finds it difficult to get anywhere in the snow. I trade the squirrels for some bread, some potatoes and some carrots. I trade one of the rabbits for a chicken and the other for some tea leaves and some honey, because prim loves honey in her tea. I take everything home and restock our cupboards. By the time I'm done the clock says 9:30 so I make my way down to the woods.
When I get to the woods, I'm early, so I sit down on a tree stump in the usual place. It's only a few minutes before I'm joined on the stump by Gale.
"Hey babe" he wraps his arm around my lower back.
"Hey" I whisper. He kisses me and I kiss him back before he pulls away.
"How are you?" He asks
"Fine. You?" My voice is still hushed.
"I'm better now I'm with you" he says, planting another kiss on my forehead. I smile but don't respond.
"I was wandering, because my family is going to spend the weekend with my uncle this weekend, do you want to come round tonight?" he asks.
"I can't" I mumble. I feel my cheeks burn as I look at my feet.
"Katniss, you know how much I hate it when you mumble" He states.
"I. I can't" I say it just loud enough. "I'm going to Madge's tonight." I feel so small as I say the last words.
"What?" He asks, his voice growing cold.
"I said I can't" I say it quieter again. He grabs my wrist. "Ow, Gale, stop it. Please. You're hurting me"
"Good." He sneers. "So where are you going tonight"
"Your house" I yelp. "Your house, please let go Gale"
"That's better" he says, false authority entangling his words. "And why are you coming to mine tonight?"
"Because I love you."
"And…"
"And you own me"
"That's right" he pulls me in to a tight hug and whispers into my ear. "…and you know the consequences for saying otherwise"
I didn't know that words could scare me until I met Gale. In fact, when I first met him, he was really sweet and kind. He asked me to go out with him two years ago, when he was 18 and I was 16. I was just dumb and thought I loved him. This is definitely not love.
"Now give me a kiss before I go to work, babe" he jeers. I do as I'm told and kiss him before sitting back down on the tree stump and watching him leave. I want to cry, but crying would wash the makeup off my face and people would see what he does to me. I stand up, and dig my hands into my pockets. I have a few coins that could probably get me something small from the bakery, so I decide to go and cheer myself up with a cake.
The bell above the door jingles as I walk in. I'm instantly surrounded by the lush smell of cooking pastries.
"I'll be with you in a minute" says a blonde boy at the counter. When he looks up, I recognise him immediately.
"Peeta!" I beam.
"Katniss!" He beams back and makes his way out from behind the counter to give me a hug.
"I haven't seen you for so long!" he adds. I haven't seen him since the reaping earlier this summer, but that sort of thing can be a bit of a downer in conversations.
"I do believe we haven't had an actual conversation in about two years" I say – which is also true.
"That long? Wow…" He trails off. "So. Umm. Oh yes, what can I get you?" He asks.
"Umm those look good…" I say, pointing at some cheese buns.
"Ok." he says placing four in a bag.
"Peeta, I can't afford four"
"Don't worry, these are on me." he says.
"Are you sure?" I say. He nods, so I take the bag hesitant.
"You don't happen to have the time, do you?"
"Umm. Last time I checked it was nearly half past ten" I tell him.
"Dammit, they let me work overtime again." He sighs, shaking his head. "RYE! COME AND TAKE YOUR SHIFT!" he screeches up the stairs. I'm about to leave when he calls me.
"Hey, Katniss, wait up"
"Huh?" I turn around.
"Your mother is like a doctor, right"
"Well she's not a doctor but, yeah…"
"Do you think she could check out my leg? I burnt it earlier and I think it needs looking at."
"Oh, err, ok. Sure" I smile and wait for him to catch up.
The walk from the bakery to my house is not too far, but I notice as we walk that Peeta is limping a bit, so I try and hurry it along so that he can get it sorted quickly.
When we get to the house, I'm surprised to find it's empty.
"Shit." I sigh under my breath. "Sorry, I completely forgot, My mother said she was taking prim on house calls today"
"It's ok." Peeta smiles, god he's so smiley. "I can always come back tomorrow."
"Hey, don't be thick" I tell him "I can look at your leg, there's no way you're going any longer without it being sorted" I say.
"Are you sure, I don't want to outstay my welcome or anything."
"You're not, I want to help. Honest." I tell him.
He sits on the table and rolls up his trouser leg, revealing a massive burn on his shin.
"Jesus Peeta, how did this happen?"
"I dropped a baking tray on my leg…" He sighs.
"Ok. Well, it's still pretty new so I can probably stop it from blistering or scarring" I tell him.
"So, how are you?" He asks, changing the subject.
"Good" I lie "What about you?"
"Well I have a bit of an 'ouchy' but things could be worse." He laughs. "So tell me, how have the last two years been? We've got a bit of catching up to do."
"Umm. They've been ok I guess."
"Still with Gale?" My breathing falters at his name, I grit my teeth and look down at his leg as I wrap a cold flannel over it.
"Mmmhmm." I confirm, vaguely. "What about you, got a girlfriend?"
"Nah. You'd be surprised at how many women don't want to go out with a short baker" he laughs again. I have to say I do find it quite surprising, considering Peeta isn't unattractive at all. He has slightly curly blonde hair, and bright blue eyes that sparkle when he smiles. He's a really nice guy too.
"Well, I'm sure you'll find someone" I try to be encouraging.
"Mm. Maybe. Anyway, back to you, how's your sister?"
"Still crazy" I smile
"ah good; the crazier the better, that's what I say. Still wants to be a doctor I take it?"
"More than ever before" I laugh "She follows mum at the weekends when she doesn't have school"
"Ah, hence her not being here"
"Yep." I say, getting up to get another flannel. When I come back, Peeta stops me before I get the chance to get to his leg.
"You have some water on your face" he says, cupping my cheek in his hand and wiping away the water with his thumb. His eyes widen after he does so, and I instantly realise why. I pull my face back and turn away so he can't see my black eye.
"Katniss…"
"No. I. I mean. Umm. I'll. Hang on." I say, I try and run away, but he grabs my hand before I can. I feel my sleeve rise up my arm and watch as he sees the bruises and scratches up my arm and wrist.
"Katniss. What happened?"
Ooooh Cliffhanger, don't worry chapter 2 is on it's way! :D