Safe With Mellark

I know you love Katniss but she doesn't love you, and you know it. I wish you could just realise that when you smile, it's all I see. When you laugh, it's all I hear. When you kiss me, my world stops. You make me feel amazing and confused, like a beautiful princess and a child. I love you but it scares me, because I know that I can't and I do. But it can never last. She loves you.

OC: Willow Safe: Peeta's best friend from their first day of school. She only realised that she actually loved him when the peacekeepers had to physically drag her out of Peeta's arms when she was saying goodbye.

Slight AU: Peeta/OC pairing: This story begins at Peeta and Katniss' last interview before they return home. Katniss tells Peeta that she doesn't like him but, in reality, she still does kind of, but she believes she can't change what she thinks. Peeta loves Willow too and they forget how they should be with each other.

Rewrite: This story didn't seem successful on its first attempt- five reviews for eight chapters, and two from my friends- and I wasn't pleased with my first attempt at writing anyway. Cringe worthy! So it's a complete rewrite of the first four chapters, probably the first five, maybe them all to an extent...

Prologue- Cut Short

(Willow Safe)

I am his last visitor so I stand by the door for what seems like hours, watching his parents, his brothers, his other friends and family go and leave the room. It feels like eternity when they finally say, "You're his final visitor. Go in."

I run into the room and am met by Peeta's strong hold almost instantly, his arms automatically finding their way around my waist, whilst mine stay around his neck. The tears that begin falling from my eyes are soaked up by his white shirt, and I feel a slight wetness on my neck too, next to where his face rests.

"Lil," he says softly, leaning out of the hug and leading me to the soft sofa in the middle of the room. "It'll be okay."

"It won't, though, Pete," I disagree, unable to return the slight smile he offers me.

"I'll try and make it okay then," he suggests, rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb.

"You've got to try and come home," I plead, pulling my knees up to my chest as entwine my fingers with his. "Please."

"I will try as hard as I can," he promises. "But there are people out there who have trained their whole life for this-"

"You're strong," I interrupt. "Working in the bakery has given you muscles. And you can paint."

He laughs lightly, a sound I know I'll miss. "I doubt painting will be able to help me."

"No, but you may be able to do camouflage," I reason. "I'll send you any money I can get."

He leans forward and kisses my forehead. "Thank you then, Lil. But don't waste your money-"

"I wouldn't be wasting it on you," I argue. "Don't say that you won't be coming home because I know you will."

"I like your confidence in me," he admits softly.

I shut my eyes for a few seconds, taking some deep breaths to steady myself before speaking again. "Peeta," I manage to say.

"Yeah, Willow," he answers.

"You're not a mistake," I remind him.

"I'm glad you think so," he replies.

"It's not right of your mum to say such things," I decide. "You're amazing and she's just jealous that she's not like you."

"Thanks." He laughs.

"Peeta," I say again after a moment of silence.

"Yeah, Willow," he repeats himself.

"Don't give up your life for Katniss," I plead.

"What do you mean?" he asks, although I'm sure he knows what I really mean.

"Don't throw your life away because she's in these Games too," I explain. "I know you love her but I can't imagine my life without you."

I open my eyes to see a tear slipping down his cheek. "You're who's made my life worth living too," he admits.

Now, I smile at him, feeling it necessary to do so. He's the only thing in my life that's kept me going through everything. His soft blonde hair, falling in slight curls over his forehead. His face, kind of flushed, his cheeks always covered in a sprinkling of flour. His defined jaw and his small dimples. His smooth lips, curled up into a blinding smile. His bright blue eyes, shining all the time. His broad shoulders and strong arms.

He's perfect. He's always been the most handsome boy in the year, possibly even the school. He's been the kindest too, doing things that he's got beaten for. He's not only strong for having been able to withstand all the beatings, but also for being on the wrestling team and working in the bakery. And he just does things without realising that make him perfect.

Today, he's wearing the white shirt that he saves for the Reapings. As he only wears it once a year and I fix it for him whenever he needs it, it still looks brand new. His black trousers are used more often and so have slightly lost their colour, but they are still fixed whenever necessary. His blonde hair has been gelled back slightly into a style that doesn't look quite as good as when it falls naturally. However, the smell of bread still follows him, although all the flour has been washed off of his face.

I sigh silently to myself, feeling a longing within myself as I look at him, working out all that I want to say but can't bring myself to do.

"Are you okay, Lil?" Peeta asks, cutting through my thoughts.

I nod. "I'm just thinking about how much I'm going to miss you when you're away."

He sighs, tightening his hold on my hands, but lifting them to his lips and kissing them both gently. "I'm going to miss you too."

"Will you come home then?" I ask, knowing that he can't ensure anything.

"I will try," he promises, his blue eyes meeting mine, making me sure that he's not lying.

I smile, slipping my hands out of his and to behind my neck. "I want you to have this," I say slowly, my fingers finding the clasp for my necklace.

"That's your necklace, though," he argues, catching my hands once again and resting my forehead against mine.

"And I want you to have it so that you can remember me whilst we're not together," I reason, shaking his hands away so I can undo the clasp.

He sighs, shutting his eyes as I put in around his neck, letting the silver heart fall onto his chest. "I'm not letting this get hurt," he begins.

"And it won't let you get hurt either," I finish. "It'll keep you safe."

He smiles, laughing slightly as well. "Thank you, Lil. I'm never going to forget you. I'm never going to change so much for them that you can't recognise me."

"Good." I smile too.

He looks up at me, his blue meeting mine, our faces less than a mere inch from each other's. His smile becomes more natural as he whispers, "You're the best thing to happen to me," before placing his lips over mine.

Our eyes both shut simultaneously as he cups my cheeks and my arms find their way behind his neck again. I don't know what it is but he's managed to spark something within me once more.

When he pulls back, he stares at me for a moment, neither of us sure what to say. "Peeta," I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.

He nods. "I'm sorry, Lil."

Before I have the chance to argue with him again, telling him that what just happened was the best feeling ever and I can't imagine anything better, a tight hold has appeared on my arm, pulling me to my feet and away from Peeta.

"Forgive me, Willow!" he shouts, a look of sincere apology in his eyes.

"Don't forget me, Peeta," I reply as the door shuts, locking me away from him. I rest my hands on the door handle and my forehead on the cool wood as I say quietly, "Because I love you so much and you have no idea."