A/N: This story was inspired by the song Five more Minutes by Scotty McCreary. The last minute was inspired by Toby Keith's song I Didn't Know Now. More thoughts at the bottom.

Hunger Games

1

Peeta had had a crush Katniss for a year or two now. It was almost time for summer break and Peeta was sketching Katniss in the corner of his notes once again. The bell rang announcing that school was out for the summer. Peeta sighed, he just needed five more minutes to get the sketch perfect. Just five more minutes.

2

Mrs. Everdeen felt like she was drowning. At least that's what her remedy book called it. District 12 did not exactly have many drownings. But she was lost. Her best friend, her partner was gone. The mine had exploded killing her husband and she knew intimately well exactly how he would have felt depending on the severity of his injuries. Her mind kept running through the possibilities of what he may have gone through. Did he linger or was he gone in a flash?She wanted five more minutes with him. She knew that she should be focusing on the girls. But she couldn't. She would wallow for a little bit longer imaging time with her husband, just five more minutes.

3

Prim was so excited about getting to see the cakes. They were always decorated so pretty. There always seemed to be at least one with some primroses on it. Katniss almost seemed relaxed watching her ooh and ah over the cakes so Prim would always beg her to go. There wasn't much she could do to help her big sister, not that Katniss would let her but she could do this. Besides Peeta Mellark always seemed happy to see them viewing the cakes so Prim would always try to convince to go when Peeta was working. Katniss would look so at peace in those moments. Prim heard Katniss tell her it was time to go, "Katniss please, five more minutes?" Prim pleaded with her.

4

She had left for the Games and had won. But she had saved Bread Boy too. It was this love story that Gale did not want to believe. There was no way she was in love with him. Gale refrained from punching a nearby tree, but it looked so real. She had kissed Peeta, not once but multiple times! She had been sweet and flirty with him. She had treated him like she did Gale but better. She had protected him and risked her life for him. She couldn't be faking but she had to be! He had been working on wooing her for so long! He wanted her back and she was technically back. But not his Katniss. His Katniss wasn't whatever she was with Peeta. His Katniss agreed with him on President Snow. His Katniss…seemed to be disappearing before his very eyes. And he just wanted, no he needed just five more minutes with his Katniss. Where the world was tough, but he had his partner by his side. Where he wasn't alone against the world again. Where he didn't have to share her with him. He just wanted five more minutes with her, was that too much to ask for?

5

He wanted five more minutes. Just five more minutes, where she seemed like she was in love with him. Sure it was an act. But he had been so happy, oblivious. Her and Haymitch had played him as a fool it was true. And yet he wished that he didn't know now, what he didn't know then. Her loving him was a dream come true. But the dream was broken now. Not truly shattered, after all, she had done it to save his life. She had cared enough to save his life and he was clinging to that fact. However, the fact remained he did not appreciate being lied to. And yes, he knew there was no logical time to have told him all of this. But since that was the case why did they tell him at all? He had been so much happier oblivious. And yes, he did remember slightly in the back of his head, that it would have hurt worse finding out even later. But he didn't want to be logical right now! He just wanted five more minutes with her that didn't feel fake. Five more minutes to be crazy in love with her and be loved in return. He just wanted five more minutes.

A/N: The value of five more minutes and how much we always want to take back time for five more minutes of a favorite memory or time with a precious loved one, it's a powerful thought. I love that thought because I understand it so well. There are people I would love five more minutes with. But I know that's not how things work. I'd want more than five minutes and they are in a much better place now even if I miss them.