Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and the Hunger Games trilogy. They belong to the amazing Suzanne Collins. (Despite how much I wanted Peeta to be mine)

Summary: In the middle of Catching Fire, Katniss left District 12 with Gale and their family without bringing Peeta along. Feeling abandoned and betrayed, Peeta learns that love can only hurt him, and he grows to only care for himself and his father. What would happen if Katniss returns? Will Peeta accept her back? Will the Star-crossed Lovers be back in action? Characters might be a little OOC. K/P

Prologue

Peeta POV

I'm walking at the streets of the Victor Village, just to take a break after hours of baking session. With my hands folded into fists inside my coat pockets, and my scarf tied loosely around my neck, the cold of winter barely causes any effect on me. However it still causes a bit of stinging pain on my prosthetic leg. After a few strides from one street to another, I've returned to a familiar street where Haymitch, Katniss and my house are located.

Katniss…

I stop in front of her house that is identical to mine. I stare at her close-windowed house. That's odd. Usually her curtains would stay open until late afternoon. And more importantly, even though I'm standing outside, I can feel the house is empty. I walk over to her porch and stop in front of the door. But I can't decide whether if I should knock or not. They've probably went out. So I turn around and make my way towards my house.

Once inside, I jump back at the sight of Haymitch sprawled on my couch with his left leg dangling on the armrest and his left hand rests on his stomach while his right hand holds a bottle of liquor, which lies on the floor.

I sigh. I forgot that he has one of my spare keys in case he wants to stop by and rest since my house is a lot tidier than his. I walk over to him and shake his shoulder.

"Haymitch," I say.

The only response he gives me is a grumpy groan that comes from his tight lips. My lips form a mischievous smile when I suddenly have an idea. I go to the kitchen and pour cold water into a bowl. I return to the living room where he continues snoring heavily, and splash the water on his face.

"Gah!" He shouts and sits up abruptly.

I can't help but laugh at my mentor's expression. I remember the last time I did this was when Katniss suggested this idea.

"That's the second time you did that to me, boy," he grunts, wiping his face with the sleeves of his old, brown shirt.

"And it never fails to crack me up," I reply with a grin.

"You better stop doing that before I break those hands of yours," he warns.

"Noted. So why are you here?" I walk to the coat rake next to my door to hang my coat and scarf, leaving me in a simple grey T-shirt.

He sits up straighter, wiping a last streak of water on his cheek. "I haven't seen the girl for a while. You know what happened to her?"

I shake my head. "No," I say. "In fact the last time I saw and talked to her was two weeks ago."

It's true. Two weeks ago, I was leaving the Victor Village when I stumbled upon her and she asked me about running away with her. I, of course, would do anything for her and agreed. And suddenly there was a commotion in the town square where Gale was whipped for illegally hunting in the woods and she stood up for him, willing to take the next whip on her own back.

My mind suddenly goes back to the moment when in the middle of the Victory Tour, I apologized to her for my childish behavior when she told me that everything she did in the Arena was just an act. Of course, the pain in my chest still hurt even though it happened months ago, but I couldn't go on sulking like a child who lost his candy. So I decided to apologize and at least become her friend. I was so happy that she accepted the offer. If I couldn't make her feel the same way as I feel for her towards me, at least we're not strangers to each other like before.

However, after Gale's whipping, I don't see her anymore. I tried to go to the Hob to find her but Greasy Sae said she wasn't around for a while as well. The only alternative choice I had left was the woods but as much how I wanted to go there, my new leg always restrained me from going there. I also saw a large hole on the electrocuted fence which I believe Katniss uses to go to the other side.

And not just her, I also rarely see Prim and Mrs. Everdeen around. I wonder if anything happened.

"I think you should go and look for her," Haymitch suggests, popping my bubbles of thoughts.

I tell him, "I'll go once I put the bread in the oven away."

I retreat to the kitchen and put on my oven gloves and take the baked bread from the oven. Working out of habit, I easily put the bread from its tray into a wooden breadbox that lies beside the fridge. Next I move to clean up the ingredients and utensils I used from the kitchen island's countertop.

As I work, my mind progresses the recent events; the Victory Tour, Katniss' attempt to escape from Snow and the Capitol, Gale's whipping, Katniss and her family's disappearance.

My hands stop what they're doing when my head jumbles the list of events. She wouldn't, I think. I run from then kitchen as I shrug my gloves off, I hear them heap on the floor.

"Where're you going boy!" I hear Haymitch call after me.

But I don't bring myself to care just like how I ignore my coat when I open my door. I quicken my pace towards Katniss's house. As I run, the cold immediately stings my exposed skin. I ignore it as well. Right now, all I want to know is what the hell is going on.

When I reach her house, I slam the door open, a bit surprised that it's not locked. I'm now standing at her house with ragged breath, looking at the dark and empty house even though the set of furniture are still here.

I climb the stairs two at a time. I remember her room is on the right and when I open the door, I find it as empty as other rooms in the house. All of her belongings are gone. All that's left are her bed and other bedroom furniture.

And then it hits me.

She's gone.

With her family, and most likely with Gale too.

She left me.

She abandoned me.

My knees grow weak and the next thing I know, they lay flat on the floor.

Tears start to pierce the back of my eyes like a thousand needles. I wait for them to fall down on my cheek but strangely they don't. There's a tightening pain in my chest and my hand clutches the front of my shirt, trying to ease the pain, but to no avail. I'm also unable to breathe as if oxygen has been drained away from me. My lips quiver, my mouth opens and closes midway, trying to let out a scream, but nothing comes out except for a choking sound.

How could she? A part of me says, Isn't it obvious? It's because you're nothing but a burden to her.

I'm filled with a rush of emotions; pain, betrayal, abandonment, anger and finally resentment. Slowly, I get a grip on myself, stopping my crying and stand up. My hands form tight fists on either side of my body.

Here I am standing in a room that belonged to the Girl on Fire. The Victor of the 74th Hunger Games. The girl who betrayed and abandoned me. The girl who broke my heart into a million pieces by stepping on it. The girl I loved who I grow to hate.

A/N: So what do you think about my new story? I know it's just the prologue and pretty angsty but do tell me your opinions. I actually wanted to post this story after I finished 'Hunger Games: High School Life', but it's just too tempting. And mind you that this is an alternative beginning of my one-shot story 'Goodbye for now'. I hope to get nice feedbacks from you so I'll be motivated to continue.