A/N this is my first AU so I hope you enjoy it! I've had this idea for so long and I'm happy to finally type it out and put it into the world! Please review and tell me what you think! I love hearing from everyone! Thank you! :)
Katniss pov
It's strange being back in this small town. It's definitely not like the city I've lived in since college. But I had to come back. Dad died when we were younger, and since that day, I've hated this town. My mom went into a terrible depression. As soon as Prim was old enough to take care of herself, I left for college. I couldn't stand to live here any longer. Prim called me a month ago saying that mom was really sick. Prim is in college and can't be around to check on her, so she begged me to come back home.
It took a lot of convincing, but when it comes down to it, I can't deny my little sister anything. Even if it means coming back to this damned town. Luckily, there was a teaching position at my old high school. I've been teaching biology and floriculture for three years. I was even offered a position as the Archery Coach. If there's one thing that Panem High was good for, it was their Archey team. I was the captain freshman year, but I decided I preferred to do it alone. Plus, there were too many out of town competitions, and we just didn't have the money. So I quit.
As I step off the train, I am hit with the smell of coal dust and trees. This town was known for its mining industry. One of the best in the state, but it was never enough to get the town anywhere, so it remained the poor dump it's always been. I definitely miss the city, even though the city life isn't what I truly want. What I really want to do is disappear into the forest. But the city was where college was, and college was my escape.
As I walk through the town, I notice minimal changes to it. A few popular stores have been added. Some have been fixed up, some stores remain the same. The biggest change is the new Wal-Mart, but I would rather shop at The Hob, a market ran by an old lady. It's better than any corporate business.
Finally I come to the house that I saved up for the past year for. Originally I was saving up for a nice apartment in the city, but then I got the call from Prim. After all the costs of moving back, I was still able to rent one of the nicest houses District 12 has to offer you. Not that it's much, but it's better than the shack I lived in as a child.
I walk through the gate that reads "The Victor's Village". My house is right in the front. From what I've heard, only a few people live here. The only one I really know about is a man named Haymitch Abernathy, he's my new boss. He's the principal at the high school, and is rumored to be an alcoholic. The other person, I haven't really heard much about.
As soon as I'm in my house, I call Prim.
"Hello?" She answers.
"Hey, Prim." I say with a little happiness. She really is the only thing that makes me happy in this town.
"Hi, Katniss! Are you in town?" She asks.
"Yeah, I'm at my house. I'm waiting for my things to come."
"Great! I'll be right over!" She says and hangs up.
Soon, there's a knock on my door. I open it to find my extremely happy and jumpy younger sister. "Katniss!" She says as she wraps her arms around me. I tightly wrap my arms around her. I've missed her so much.
If there's one bad thing about moving, it was not seeing Prim all the time. She's in the nursing program in college. She is just barely starting it. And right out of high school too. She's only 19, but already she's on her way to being a nurse. It's definitely her calling.
"So when do your things come?" She asks.
"The trucks should be on their way. Then I have so much unpacking to do... yay." I say unenthusiastically.
"Oh, cheer up! Once you get your apartment set up and you start working, I think you'll start liking it here."
"Prim, I didn't like it before. I don't think I'll like it now."
"It's changed a lot, Katniss, since you've left. It's not as run down anymore. Even the fence to the forest was taken down."
Ah yes, the fence. There was a lumber company that owned land just outside of the District. They kept a fence around it to keep people out, for safety reasons. I always snuck over the fence anyways. I liked it out there.
From what I've heard, a year ago the owner died, leaving the company to his son who had no commitment to it. So it was shut down.
"I don't know, Prim."I say.
There's a knock on the door. I stand up and answer it to find the movers. They bring in my pitiful couch and coffee table. Then my table and the rest of my things. As I go to pay them, I recognize one of them.
"Well, well, if it isn't Katniss Everdeen!" Says Thom.
"Hey, Thom,"I say as he gives me a friendly hug.
"Wow, it's been a while. How's life been since high school?"
Thom was friends with one of my best friends, Gale. I've known them both since I was eleven. I have to admit, I miss them both. The last time I saw either of them was at Thom's wedding to Delly.
"Life's been fine,"I tell him,"I'm a teacher now. In fact I'm starting next week at the high school. What about you?"
"Oh that's great. I'm just working. Not much really going on. I'll have to tell Delly I saw you."
"Yeah, tell her I say hi. And I'll see you around, I guess."
"Of course! Good luck at your job."
"Thanks, Thom."
The week passes quickly, and before I know it, it's Monday. The first day of school is here. I'm so lucky that a spot opened up for me. It's a little sad why though. Mags, the teacher who's spot I'm taking, had a heart attack and decided she was too sick and old to continue teaching the rest of the year. So she's retiring half way through the school year.
I pack up my bag for the day and then walk to the high school. I really should get a car, but the high school isn't very far. Neither is anything else in this town. Really It's not a necessity for me.
When I arrive, I go to the office. I am greeted by what looks like a clown. To say this lady is eccentric would be an understatement. Her hair has to be a wig. It's piled high on her head and is bright pink. Her outfit is just as pink as her hair and makeup.
"Hello dear! You must be the new teacher! My name is Effie Trinket, I am the theater and english teacher. It's wonderful to meet you,"she says. She has a bit of an accent. I shake her hand and force a smile.
"Katniss Everdeen, it's nice to meet you."
"Oh, what a pretty thing you are!" She says.
"Eddie, don't pester the poor girl," a gruff voice says from behind her. Haymitch steps out of his office and says,"Hello, Sweetheart. Welcome to Panem High."
"Nice to see you again, Haymitch,"I say and shake my boss's hand.
He rolls his eyes and says,"you can cut the bullshit, Sweetheart. You don't have to act all polite and nice. I don't really care if you like me or not." It takes a lot not to scowl at his words.
"Effie, why don't you escort her to her classroom?"
"Of course! Come along, dear!" She says cheerfully.
I follow her into the courtyard. It's changed a lot since I've been here. It use to be filled with dead trees and overgrown plants. Now they are replaced with redwoods and a well kept garden. The benches have been fixed and there are a few murals.
"What the hell happened to this place?" I mutter.
"Oh, there have been so many changes since the old Principal, Snow, left. He wasn't well liked, and liked the school as much as we all liked him. He 'retired' two years ago, and since then we decided to make the school nicer."
Principal Snow, I remember that unhappy old man. He hated everyone but ran the school with a fake smile. No student liked him. He was creepy, and had this weird politeness to him that made you feel uneasy. He always smelt like blood and roses. And he had a garden of white roses in the middle of the school. Those were the only plants that actually were taken care of. I'm glad to know that he's gone.
"Here you go, this is your classroom. And here are your keys. If you need anything, I'll be in the theater." That's another thing new. We never had a theater, or a big gym.
"Okay, thank you, Effie,"I say.
"Also, be prepared to see a lot of teachers today. I don't doubt that a lot of them will stop by to meet you."
I nod.
I unlock the door and flip on the lights. I don't think I've ever been in this room before. It's a decent size. It has a whiteboard in the front, and then a bunch of tables that face it. In the corner of the room near my desk, there's another door. It must be to a closet or something.
I walk over to examine it. My hand goes to the doorknob to open it. I'm very surprised to find that it leads to another classroom and not a closet. The lights are on so I quickly shut the door, hoping that no one was in there. That would be embarrassing.
I take a seat in the chair at the desk and set down my bag. As I'm setting up my desk, I hear the door behind me open. I turn around to see who it is. And it's the last person I would expect to find coming through the door.
I am met with a familiar face. One that I know quite well.
"Peeta?" I say.
He looks just as shocked as I am.
"Katniss?"
I nod.
"Wow, it's really you." He says. "You're the last person I would expect to see."
Peeta Mellark. I remember him very well. We went to school together. I never thought he noticed me when we were younger but apparently he did. I remember him as the chunky little kid. We was very social and had a lot of friends. In high school, he grew into himself and had all the girls chasing after him. He was a wrestler, and a really good one too. He wasn't a chunky kid anymore, at that point he was the most desired guy in school.
I didn't think it was possible that he could get hotter, but he did.
I remember the last day of school, he confessed his crush on me. He told me he finally got the courage, which I found hard to believe considering that he was Mr Popular and I was Nothing but a girl who kept to herself.
I laughed. It was a joke. It had to have been a joke. Why else would someone like him say that to me? He was probably dared by one of his friends. That's why, as we stand here today, he doesn't look angry at my presence.
He smiles at me and says,"wow, it's been a while."
I nod. "Yeah it has."
"So you're a teacher? That's great." He says,"what do you teach?"
"Biology and Floriculture. What about you?"
"Health/Sex Ed and art."
"Wow, isn't that a lot to take on?" I ask.
"Not really, Health is only a half year course and so is Sex Ed. And art, well art is my passion. So that's easy to teach."
"Were you apart of those murals?" I ask.
"Yeah, it was our art club. I'm the supervisor for the club. And so we did those." He says, his face turns a little pink and he rubs the back of his neck.
The bell rings right as he's about to say something. "Well, I guess I should get back to my classroom. Um, when do you have your free period?"
"5th, right before lunch."
"Me too." He says and then disappears into his classroom.
I sit there stunned. Do I really work with Peeta now?
The week goes by quickly, and before I know it, it's Friday. The last period is almost over, so I announce the homework and then the bell rings. I'm packing up my things when the door behind me opens.
I turn to find Peeta.
"Hey Peeta,"I say.
"Hey, a bunch of us are heading to the bar tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come. It's really fun. We go every Friday, you know just a bunch of us teachers. It would be a good opportunity for you to meet some good people."
"I don't know-"
"I can give you a ride, and you know, we can catch up."
"Fine. What time?"
"8." He say ans I see a hint of excitement in his eyes.
"Okay,"I nod.
"Where do you live?" he asks.
"I live in the Victor's Village. The house is right in front."
"Really? That's where I live. I live in the 3rd house."
"Wow,"I say genuinely shocked.
"Yeah, um, I'm leaving right now. Can I offer you a ride?" He asks.
"Um, sure. Just let me grab my purse."I say. I follow him to his car which is quite nice. He drives me home and before I shut the door he says,"see you tonight?"
"Yeah, see you tonight. Thanks for the ride."
"Anytime,"he says with a smile.
He doesn't drive away until I'm inside. I look out the window and watch him drive down one house to his. I turn around to my mess of boxes and search for my clothes. I only have a half of them unpacked.
Looks like it's time to finish unpacking my clothes.
