Panem University is…unique I guess you could say. Our school had twelve majors, nicknamed Districts, with sub-majors in each category.
There was the Luxury Major, District 1, where the stuck up rich kids went and learned how to make shiny things or went into the family business. They all had stupid names too. Their parents must have been on crack when they named them. But that really wouldn't surprise me.
There was also the Masonry Major, District 2, where you learned how to make weapons and trains, and, for some reason, Criminal Justice. What Criminal Justice and becoming a police officer had to do with making trains was a mystery to me.
The Electronics Major, District 3, was similar to Masonry in some ways. They made a lot of cars and guns, but they also made, well, electronics. I know they had a Robot Fight Club, where they made robots out of whatever they could find and made them battle each other in makeshift arenas.
Fishing Majors, District 4. These were more of our athletes I guess you could say. A lot of these kids came from the coast and were on the swim team. They also knew how to make nets, fish hooks, and other fishing supplies.
Power Majors, District 5. I still can't figure out what they do, but all I know is they're clever little bastards.
Transportation Major, District 6, is pretty self-explanatory. But a little known secret is that most of them are drug addicts.
The Lumber Majors, District 7, were some scary ass mofos, pardon my French. But these kids made hatchets, axes, saws, et cetera. If it could cut down a tree, these kids knew how to make them. When I visited the school with my mom and sister, Prim, I noted to myself not to mess with them. I also crossed my fingers I didn't get one as a roommate anytime soon.
The Textile Major, District 8, made clothes mostly, but a lot of them made uniforms for our Police Academy kids in District 2.
District 9 were our Farming Majors. Need I say more? You get it, right?
District 10, our Livestock Majors, dealt with the livestock, like cows, pigs, and horses. A lot of kids from 9 and 10 got married after college. And bought – guess what – a farm! Imagine that!
Agriculture Majors, District 11, were the nicest of the bunch in my opinion. They worked with District 9 a lot, and learned how to grow things that grew on trees and out of the ground.
And then, there was my Major, District 12. We did things with coal. We were also the poor kids. If you came from a poor family, or a single parent home, they usually just stuck you in District 12. Since my dad died when I was little, when Prim was just starting kindergarten, my mom kind of went into a zombie-like state for a year, and we've been poor ever since. Even though she's gotten a job at the local doctor's office as a nurse, we're still poor. I pretty much raised Prim and taught her everything she knows. I got her ready for school, made her lunch, checked her homework, and picked her up after school once I was old enough and had a car (which I bought with my own money – savings bonds my dad had been giving me every year on my birthday).
But now, I've graduated high school, and Prim is starting high school. My best friend from back home and neighbor, Gale, promised me he would take her to school and pick her up every day, since he was staying home to start working in his family's business.
Today was move in day for the freshmen at Panem University, and I was dreading every second of it. Mom, Prim, and Gale were dropping me off and helping me unpack. Gale and I were in my car, and Mom and Prim were following us. I picked up my new student packet and keys from the main office, the Capitol it was called, and headed to the Resident Hall for frehsmen.
"I so don't want to do this,' I groaned as I parked my car outside the giant building. Gale laughed and opened his door.
"You'll be alright, Katnip," he said, using my nickname he'd given me when we were kids. "It's just college. What's the worst that could happen?"
"A lot!" I protested. He laughed again, and laughed even harder when I frowned at him and stomped over to the Resident Assistant standing outside the building with a clipboard. His name tag said "Haymitch."
"Name please?" he asked in a bored tone. I could smell the alcohol on his breath, causing me to wrinkle my nose.
"Katniss Everdeen," I replied, turning my head slightly so I wouldn't have to smell Vodka every time he talked to me.
"Room 74, first floor." I nodded my thanks and gestured for Gale to follow me. We headed inside and found my room down the long hallway. Inside were two beds, desks, chairs, a mounted bookshelf, and two closets with dressers and mirrors in them.
"Do you know who your roommate is?" Gale asked, setting down a box by the door.
"Uh…" I opened my packet and pulled out the residency information. "Jo…"
"Johanna Mason, at your service." I jumped and turned, the voice coming from behind me. In walked a girl wielding an axe and a duffel bag. Shit. A District 7. She dropped her stuff on the nearest bed, then turned and stuck out her hand. "And you are?"
"Katniss Everdeen," I said slowly, shaking her hand. "So you're a District 7?" I asked, gesturing to her axe.
"Yup, this is my baby," she cooed, picking up her axe and spinning it around in her hand. She saw the look on my face and laughed. "Don't look so scared, it's so blunt I can't even cut bread with it. I've just had it since I was little, so I keep it around." She placed it back down on the bed, and strolled out the door. "I'll be right back, gotta get more of my stuff."
"Just my luck to get a 7 my freshmen year," I whispered to Gale. He nodded, and we began unpacking boxes just as Mom and Prim walked in.
"Nice room," Prim commented, setting down her box on my bed.
"Thanks, Little Duck," I said, grinning at her. She smiled and tucked the back of her shirt into her skirt, which she had a habit of forgetting to do, hence the nickname. For the next hour, we unpacked my boxes, hanging up clothes, making the bed, and decorating my half of the room. Johanna met my family and Gale when she came back in, and they seemed to like her. She kinda grew on me too.
"Wanna head to the cafeteria? I'm starved," Johanna stated, putting her axe in the closet.
"Sounds good to me," Gale grinned. "I can always eat."
"That's because you're a boy," I told him, nudging him in the ribs. The five of us walked to the cafeteria, and once we got inside, I saw how packed it was.
"Dang, lots of freshmen this year," Johanna said. She shrugged, grabbed a tray, and headed off to the salad bar. We followed her lead, and walked around the cafeteria, looking at the different food options. I settled on a burger, waiting in line to grab one. Once the chef handed me my plate, I set it on my tray and turned around, and crashed right into somebody.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry!" A deep voice said. I couldn't see, due to the fact that my water had splashed into my eyes. And I knew my burger was down for the count, judging by the ketchup all down the front of my shirt and the scattered broken plate chips around my sprawled out body on the floor.
"It's okay," I sighed. I wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my shirt. "It happens."
"It's not okay," the voice said, reaching down and taking my hand to pull me up. "I ruined your food and got it all over you." I looked up, and stopped, startled. Staring back at me were the prettiest eyes I'd ever seen under a mop of blonde hair.
"Uh, no, seriously, it's okay," I mumbled, blushing. He handed me a napkin, and I wiped off the front of my shirt.
"Here, take mine," he said, picking up my tray and balancing it in his hand. He held out his tray, which had an identical burger on it. "I'll take your tray and go get a fresh one."
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that!" I protested. He smiled softly at me.
"I insist." I looked back into his mesmerizing eyes, and nodded.
"Alright," I said. I think if he had told me to jump off the top of the building I would have done it. He tucked my tray under his arm and held out his hand.
"Peeta Mellark," he grinned.
"Katniss Everdeen," I said, shaking his hand.
"Well, Katniss, is it okay if I join you for lunch?" I nodded quickly, and he laughed. "Alright, cool. I'll be right over." He headed off to the burger bar, and I watched him go. I had to mentally slap myself to stop staring at his butt, and went to sit down. Mom, Prim, Gale, and Johanna were already sitting down eating.
"Katniss, what happened to your shirt?" Mom asked.
"I bumped into this guy and my food fell all over me," I explained. "But he was really nice about it and gave me his food. He's going to come join us for lunch. Is that okay?"
"Of course." Peeta chose that moment to walk up, and slid into the seat next to me.
"Hi, you must be Katniss' Mom," Peeta said, holding out his hand to my mom. "I'm Peeta Mellark."
"Oh you're Peeta!" she exclaimed. "Your family owns the bakery in our town!"
"Yup, Mellark Bakery," he laughed. "I worked there after school and during the summer." It suddenly hit me who he was.
One day, during a rainy summer night, I was wandering the streets, looking for food. We didn't have enough money for dinner, and Mom was still in her zombie-state. I collapsed against the back wall of the bakery, next to the dumpster, cold, tired, hungry, and weak.
"PEETA! You burned the bread!" I heard a shrill voice cry. I heard a slap, and heard someone say "ow!" "Go throw it away out back! You know we can't afford to burn anything this month! We're short on funds!"
"I said I was sorry Mom!"
"Well pay attention next time, instead of daydreaming out the window!" The back door opened, and a boy stepped out, holding a basket of half burned loafs. He was grumbling to himself and opening the dumpster lid, when he saw me. I looked back at him, my eyes wide. I was about to scurry away, when he looked at the open door, then reached into the basket and handed me a few of the loafs. He smiled softly and nodded, threw the rest away, then ran back inside. I was stunned for a moment before standing up and running all the way home so the bread wouldn't get soaked. That night, we had grilled cheese sandwiches with the bread he'd given me, and had enough left over for toast and jelly the next morning. He'd kept us alive that night.
I snapped out of my flashback, and listened in on the conversation.
"I'm in District 12 too, up on the boy's floor," Peeta said, taking a bite of his burger. He chewed and swallowed. "But I really don't want to work with coal. I love the family business. I was thinking of joining the Student Government Association and starting a new Major for people who don't want to fit the mold. Could call it District 13."
"That sounds like a good idea," Mom said, nodding at him and smiling. "I hope you're very successful with that."
"Thanks." He turned to me. "What are you interested in Katniss?"
"Oh, um," Have you noticed whenever somebody asks you what you like to do for fun, you sounds like the most boring person on the face of the Earth? "I like archery."
"That's cool. You any good with a bow and arrow?"
"Good? She's excellent!" Gale interjected. "We've gone hunting a couple times, and she's a perfect shot. Gets 'em right in the eye."
"Thank you, Gale," I said, giving him a look that said "You need to shut the hell up right now." He nodded quickly and ducked his head, becoming very interested in what was on his salad.
We all talked for the rest of lunch, until it was time for Mom, Prim, and Gale to head back home. They each gave me a hug and assured me I'd be great. I said goodbye to Peeta, and Johanna and I headed back to our room.
"You going to the Freshmen Social tonight?" she asked me, flopping down on her bed.
"There's a Social?"
"Didn't you read the Week of Events?"
"No."
"Well, if you had, you would've known that," she laughed. "Let's go. I bet there will be a lot of people there. We'll have fun."
"I don't know."
"I bet Peeta will go." I shot her a surprised look. "Oh don't look so surprised, Katniss. It's obvious you like him."
"I do not!" I protested.
"Then what was with the glazed look earlier?"
"I was remembering her gave me bread one night when I was hungry. It didn't click until then."
"Oh, okay," Johanna shrugged. "But anyways, you wanna go?"
"Sure."
We both took a nap, then got showered and changed for the Social.
"Katniss!" Johanna whined. "You can't wear that to a Social!" I looked down at my dark jeans and simple shirt with combat boots.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Don't you know what a Social is?" I shook my head. "It's a dance!" My mouth dropped open in shock.
"I don't know how to dance!"
"You don't have to. Most people just socialize, hence why they call it a Social. But you need to wear something cute."
"But Johanna!"
"No buts! Back in the closet!" She pointed at it with a finger, and I sighed. I skimmed through my clothes until I found a one shoulder red dress. I slipped it on after discarding the jeans and shirt, and put on a pair of black heels.
"Better?" I asked, stepping out. Johanna was a long sleeved gold dress.
"Perfect! Let's go!" She grabbed my arm and dragged me all the way to the dance hall where the Social was. Music was already blaring from the speakers, and people were filtering inside.
"Damn, how many kids go to this school?" I asked.
"It's the only University in the state, so a lot," Johanna explained. We went inside, and headed for the drink table. We each grabbed a water, since we were too young to drink.
"Hey, look, there's Peeta," Johanna said, pointing towards the door. "Peeta!" she cried, waving her free arm in the air. Peeta looked over and smiled once he saw it was us.
"Hey Johanna, Katniss. You both look fantastic."
"Thanks. You look nice as well!" Johanna said. He really did, with a dark dress shirt and jeans. I guess guys could get away with it.
"You wanna dance Katniss?" Peeta asked as a slow song came on. I gulped and nodded slowly, and he took my hand, leading me to the floor. He pulled me into his arms and held my close, my head tucked under his chin. We swayed back and forth as Savage Garden sang around us.
"Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
And there it goes
I think I've found my best friend
I know that it might sound more than
A little crazy but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
There's just no rhyme or reason
Only this sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I found my way home
I know that it might sound more than
A little crazy but I believe
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I found you
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I knew I loved you
I knew I loved you before I met you
I knew I loved you
I knew I loved you before I met you…"
As the song ended, Peeta pulled me back and smiled at me.
"Thanks for the dance, Katniss." He kissed my hand softly. "I'll be right back." He headed off into the crowd, and I scurried back to Johanna.
"That had to be the cutest thing I've ever seen," Johanna cooed at me. I stuck my tongue out at her, but there was no doubting it: I was falling for Peeta Mellark.