Disclaimer – I do not own The Hunger Games or any of its characters. All credit goes to Suzanne Collins.
Authors Note – I'm sorry if I haven't captured Katniss perfectly or if she seems OOC. This is my first Hunger Games FanFiction.
It was a typical Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Amherst, our History teacher whose blonde hair is always kept in a tight-sophisticated bun, was giving us a long discussion about a coal mining production they used to carry out fifty years ago. And as usual, I found myself gazing out of the narrow window for the hundredth time, absorbed in my own thoughts.
I think back to the first time my father had taught me to swim. It was in the middle of summer (a day very much like this) and even though it was warm outside, the lake was freezing cold. I was just like any other six-year-old, afraid of what lurked beneath the surface of the water. He promised he wouldn't let me go once we were in the water and he always kept his promises.
Apart from that one promise.
I still remember that day vividly. I was just eleven, getting myself ready for school and my father gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead like he did every morning, telling me to have good day and that I'll see him after school in his usual tender voice. He promised me that we would sit by the lake and have a little picnic with the sweet bread he managed to get and the berries we saved from last time.
I went by the day as usual. I was in History class when the sirens went off. All of us headed out to the entrance of the mine not knowing what was going on. People were covered in black ash as they came up in the elevator. I frantically searched for my father in the herds of people that were coming up, but he didn't show.
I told myself that night not to cry. Crying wouldn't help ease the pain. When my younger sister Prim broke down, I held her and told her it was going to be okay. That night I made a promise to myself; I would follow my father's footsteps and do whatever it takes to care and protect my family.
I was too absorbed into my thoughts. It wasn't until the light purple of Mrs. Amherst's ribbon, that glistened in the sunlight that pulled me out of my thoughts. The deep purple reminded me of the berries that are perched on the bush opposite the hollow log.
The bell rang a couple of minutes later, signalizing the end of the day. I shoved my heavy textbooks into my bag and made my way out of the classroom to the grassy area outside where I would wait for Prim so we could walk home together.
The younger classes would always be let out much later than the older class so I occupy myself under the spindly tree shading myself from the sun's hot rays. I spot a single dandelion in the ground and I bend down to pull it out from its roots when I see a pair of sparkling blue eyes staring at me from the other side of the area.
Why is he staring at me like that? I think to myself. I stand back up straight and stare back at him hoping it would make him turn away. But he just continues to stare at me. Was it because I wasn't paying attention in class and he caught me daydreaming? Or was it? No, that happened years ago I doubt he would even remember that.
The bell rang and one by one the kids ran out in glee, embracing that the school day is finally over which means they're another day closer to the weekend.
I turn back around and see Prim in the distance with her usual radiant smile painted across her face. She says goodbye to her friends Annabel and Charlotte and then walks over to me.
"Hey little duck," I greet her with a smile. "Did you have a good day?," I ask her.
She nods. "It was good. Guess what, Annabel said she went by the bakery yesterday with her parents and she said they had the most beautiful cake she'd ever seen! Before we go home can we go see the cakes just this once please!" she pleaded desperately.
"I don't know Prim," I say warily.
"Please, just this once and then we head straight home. I promise!"
I sigh but concede. "Ok, but just this once and then we go straight home," I say to her softly but authoritively.
She squeals in delight and link her arm through mine as we walk out of the school grounds.
We arrive at the merchant area of District 12 (the much wealthier part of the District) not too long after. "Five minutes and not another minute more" I tell Prim firmly and a radiant smile etches across her face.
She presses her face against the glass of the window and peers into the bakery to get a closer look at the goods that are on display. Of course we could never afford to purchase something extravagant such as a cookie or a cake, but I've always wondered what the taste of a completely iced cookie would taste like, would the texture be soft and melt in your mouth like I imagined.
"Oh Katniss" Prim says in a dream-like voice. "This cake is beautiful you have to see it," she reaches for my hand and pulls me towards the glass. I sigh and look through the glass and even I have to admit they all look so delicious. But the one cake that catches my eye is not on display yet, however it is still being iced as I speak.
The purple and blue icing has been swirled and decorated perfectly into flower designs and my eyes follow the swirls and shapes they make as they come out of the nozzle. I find a small smile tug at the corner of my lips. However, the smile soon falters when the familiar blue eyes meet mine once again.
But this time, his eyes aren't curious yet there's a tinge of urgency embedded into them, like he's trying to tell me something. Immediately I see a slender figure move from behind him and I already know who it is. "Ok Prim, five minutes are up," I say moving her and myself away from the glass.
"But it feels like we just got here," she purses her lips into a frown as we both quickly walk away from the bakery.
"Time flies when you have fun little duck," I tell her softly as we walk to the place we call home.
Once we arrive home I prepare a quick snack for Prim while she feeds her pets, Buttercup and Lady. I place the snack that consists of a slice of bread and some leftover squirrel stew on the table and walk upstairs into my bedroom.
I slip on my father's hunting jacket and quickly redo my hair into my traditional braid. I slide on my old hunting boots and grab my forage bag. I tell Prim I'll be back in a couple of hours and leave the house.
Our house is near the edge of the Seam, the poorest part of the district filled with squat grey houses and coal miners. I only have to pass a few houses before I get to the field named the Meadow.
A high chain-link electric fence separates the Meadow from the woods. I lean in closely and listen carefully for the humming sound of electricity and when I hear nothing; I flatten my belly and slip through the weak point in the fence and once again enter the tranquility that is the woods.