Chapter 1
Waking up in the Mellark household was always a tedious affair, thought Peeta as he stretched his defined arms above his head. The vivid orange and yellows of the morning sun crept through the small crack in the old and worn curtains. Creating a strange stream of bright light which so happened to blind Peeta. Blearily eyes and messy hair, Peeta rose from his rock hard bed. Slinging his discarded shirt on from the floor, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He smirked at the way the shirt clung to him in all the right places, showing his defined body off. Next he pulled on his hard leather boots as he had already slept in his pants. He took his leather hunting jacket off the door and lazily pulled it on.
Creeping down the stairs was always a hard task, they squeaked and whined with every feather light step he took. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he grabbed his bag off the hook. Looking both ways to check if any of his parents had awoke, he spotted the tray of cheese buns cooling on the side. Grabbing six, he quickly put them all in his bag. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, he crept out of the withered blue door at the side of the bakery. With the sun still only creeping over the old and soot covered buildings, Peeta knew he had time to stop off at his aunties house. After all, it was the day of the reaping, so It was nice to visit them and wish them luck.
Setting off at a brisk jog, he quickly arrived at his aunties house. The small coal fire could be seen from the window. It was strange how the people who lived in the seam rose earlier than the merchants.
Opening the worn door, he was greeted by his auntie. He quickly pulled her into a hug, " it's great to see you peet" she said. He just smiled and said " it's great to see you. Where's tom and bob?". She chuckled and said " well Bobby's still asleep, but Tommy's up, he's been worried about the reaping". Now Peeta doesn't have any brothers or sisters so he took to his cousins very well. He had two older cousins as well, Scot and Ashleigh. They always seemed and treated him like a younger sibling, with scot watching and protecting him at school and with Ashleigh covering for him with his hateful mother.
Peeta walked into the living room of the house. "Hey tom," he spoke softly. Tommy looked at him with tear brimmed eyes and said "hey peet." This broke his heart, he quickly knelt down and embraced him. Cooing in his ear, telling him how his reaping is impossible. After about three minutes he pulled away and turned back to his auntie. Pulling four medium sizes cheese buns out he gave them to her. She smiled gratefully and said " I always knew I could count on you peet" . "I'll bring you some game as well later" Peeta said as he made his way over to the door.
Running down the soot covered streets Peeta finally reached Gales house. Walking in, he was greeted by a more than welcoming hug from Gale. Now Peeta always thought Gale was attractive yet since they had been best friends since they were five, he's never acted upon it. They both pulled back and Peeta peered into them endearing steel grey orbs, mixed emotions could be spotted in them. However he broke the gaze and said " we've got leave now if want to get decent game Gale?". Gale just nodded and shrugged on his hunting jacket. Both of them took off down the street, at steady brisk pace. Reaching the tall metal fence, they listened for a buzz which would let them know that the fence was electrified. Yet that buzz never came, so both slipped under.
Walking towards the hollowed out tree, Peeta slipped one of his hunting knives out of the inside of his jacket. He quickly surveyed his surroundings, noticing the medium sized rabbit plodding along. With a simple flick of the wrist, the long hunting knife was planted into the rabbits eye. Retrieving his kill he placed the rabbit into his bag. Turning to Gale, he passed him is bow and arrows. Slinging the arrows over his shoulder, both started off quickly yet quietly stalking the tracks of a buck.
After half an hour of tracking, Peeta spotted the buck. Notching his arrow into his bow, he let it fly. The arrow soared through the air at an ear piercing speed, it quickly embedded itself deep into the bucks skull killing it instantly.
After they had got what meat which could be used from the deer, they set off back home. Gale broke the peaceful science, " hey peet, you scared for today?". " Yes, since my names in 32 times I think the odds are not in my favour", Peeta softly replied. "Don't worry peet" Gales eyes flashed affectionately, " you'll be alright". He said just as much to assure himself as well as Peeta.
Reaching the fence, both looked for peacekeepers, yet none were to be found as per usual. Both casually slipped under the fence, " I'll see you at the reaping gale" Peeta said. "Yeah see you there peet, good luck". Peeta stared into Gales eyes, he looked as if he was about to say something else yet he just turned and started jogging back to the seam. Peeta visibly sighed. He felt as if something bad was going to happen today.
Returning to the bakery was always a major affair. As soon as he steeped into the front door his mother clipped him on the back of the head with her hand. Walking away as if nothing happened, Peeta started to climb the stairs. His weak idle minded father wouldn't stop her, he was to engrossed in his own little world to worry about Peeta.
Around half twelve, Peeta was finally dressed into his reaping clothes. The shirt was too small for him, clinging to him, showing off his muscles. Whilst slicking his wheat blond hair back he looked into the mirror, he had to admit he did look good. Walking down the stairs he was greeted by his parents. Neither them said any words to stop him from worrying or no attempt in comforting him. He glided past them and walked out the front entrance. By now everyone in 12 was up and making their way to the reaping. He quickly spotted his auntie and cousins. Scot wasn't eligible for the reaping and it was Ashleigh's last year, so they had something to celebrate. Greeting them with a sugar sweet smile, scot threw his arm over his shoulder. " Hey Peeta, don't worry, you'll be okay". Peeta just smiled and carried on walking with them. He suddenly stopped and looked at Scot, " Scot..." He started, " If tommy gets reaped, I'll volunteer, I can hunt and kill, I don't want him to die Scot, I'll protect him I promise". Scot pulled him into a bone crushing hug and said, "I love you peet, Thankyou you don't know how much this means". Peeta sadly smiled and backed away, when suddenly he was pulled into another bone crushing hug, his captor was no other than Gale. They both need this hug, as a parting and good luck gift. It was Gales last year at the reaping so Peeta was prepared to volunteer for him also, yet he didn't tell him. Gale would never let him.
Finally pulling away, he looked into Gales face and said" good luck ". And with that he joined the sixteen year old group. All of the kids looked at him like he was an outsider, each of them scanned his body and he realised he looked ready for a battle.
The Capitol escorted annoyingly trotted onto the stage In her outrageous pink outfit. "Welcome, Welcome," she happily shrilled. " May the odds be ever in your favour" the words seemed to effortlessly roll off her tongue as if she weren't sending kids into a death match. " now ladies first, Elsa Hawke", a loud sob ripped through the crowd as the small twelve year old made her way to the stage. Peeta was just glad it wasn't Ashleigh. "Now, for they boys". She trotted over to the glass bowl filled with the boys slips, " tommy mellark, tommy ". His heart was in his throat, he stepped out of line at the same time as tommy, he turned and looked at scot, he nodded and screamed, " I volunteer as tribute!, I volunteer!".