Two Paths

PastelPuke

Pairing: Cato x Peeta x Gale

Summary: Peeta is a young baker boy with an abusive mother and a best friend named Gale Hawthorne. Everything takes turns for the worst when he and three other tributes are reaped for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, including two of his best friends. What is he going to do when a certain male from district 2 takes a liking to him.

Authors Note:

Hello Lovelies! It has just been too long! I've missed you all so so so much. This is going to be the rewritten version of my previous attempt at this story. I am getting back on top of things, so I will be updating weekly in order to maintain a certain pattern. So yeah! I love you guys! Enjoy!

xoxox

Dri

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Peeta Mellark sits on his bed in quiet reflection. He thinks about Gale. Gale James Hawthorne, his rock, his best friend. Gale has large brown eyes set on a handsome face, topped with messy dark hair. He has a large, bulky build, making him broodingly intimidating. Yet Peeta knew immediately when he met him he was quite a softie. The way he smiles at him mother and hugs his younger brother, or occasionally kissing the top of his little sisters head when he tucks her in. Peeta smiles at the memory of Gale interacting with his family. Gale had the best hugs too. He would practically surround you with warmth and squeeze you tight.

Peeta sighs as he remembers the feelings. He then blinks. He could really go for a Gale hug right about now. He slips on his jacket and heads downstairs, ignoring his mother's glower. He shivers a little as he hugs his jacket closer to him, rubbing his hands together for warmth. A drop of water plopped on his head and he groaned

"Ugh, great.." Soon enough it was pouring and he was scrambling down the now muddy road, he stopped in front of the Hawthorne house and knocked vigorously until Gale's mother opened the door.

"Oh, dear.. come inside! What are you doing out in this rain?" She fussed, batting the baker boy inside the door. A small brown pigtailed head soon came bouncing over to him.

"Peeta!" The small girls voice shouted excitedly. Peeta grinned widely, kneeling down to hug Posey, Gale's little sister. "Ugh. Wet." The toddler groaned sticking her tongue out. The rain soaked baker merely grinned and hugged her tighter making her squeal at the cold seeping into her clothes. Ms. Hawthorne just laughed fondly. Clunky footsteps were heard coming down the wooden stairs. Peeta looked up to see Gale leaning against the doorframe wearing a toothy grin. His auburn locks were a little wet making it noticeable he got out of the shower not too long ago.

"Hey Peet." his deep voice rumbled as he walked past the boy, ruffling his blonde curls as he did.

"Gale! Peeta's here!" Mia shouted excitedly.

"Yeah I see that sweet pea." he chuckled before kneeling down next to them. Peeta looked at him with something dancing in his baby blue eyes. "Ma, were gonna go upstairs and catch up." he said looking up at his mother. Yes, it had been a few weeks since Gale started working in the mines. Peeta barely saw him. They used to hang out every day.

"Alright sweetie, c'mon Posey, lets get you dried off" He piped, giving a playful pointed glare at Peeta who put his hands up in surrender.

Gale lightly put his hand on the small of his best friends back as they walked up the stairs. Peeta sighed at the familiarity of walking into Gale's room, he heard the door shut lightly before he was caught off guard by a warm hug surrounding him. Peeta immediately melted into it, relaxing and laid his head on the miners broad warm shoulder.

"Gale.." he practically whimpered. The hold only tightened. A light 'shh' could be heard against the baker boys ear. They stayed like that for a couple minutes before Gale pulled back, still holding Peeta's shoulders. The miner wiped something from the boys face with his strong, calloused hands. Peeta soon realized he had been crying. "I.. my mom started ignoring me.." He said more talking to himself than Gale. "Dad's sick, and Rye and Wheat wont talk to me anymore.." He rambled on, telling Gale about all his problems. Everything seemed worse when Gale wasnt around. Gale listened for a while before he grabbed Peeta's gentle trembling hands into his large rough ones.

"Peet.." The older of the two whispered in his gruff voice. "It's okay." He murmured against the blonde boys forehead. The latter looked at Gale with his large blue eyes. Gale duly noted the freckles that ran across his best friends nose and cheeks. Meanwhile Peeta was busy staring into his warm brown eyes.

"God I've missed you Gale" He said, looking down at the floor. Gale grinned and ruffled his hair.

"Missed you too Peetabread."

"Gale its time to get ready for the reaping" Gales mother's soft voice came softly from downstairs. The boys stiffened. Gale nodded and suddenly the television came on. It was President Snow himself standing behind a white platform.

"Greetings Panem. Welcome to the 75th annual Hunger Games Quarter Quell Unveiling." Gale groaned and plopped down on his bed, watching the devil whisper his sins. Snow looked at a brown wooden box that had been placed on the platform and took out a folded piece of paper from it, "In this years games, previous victors from each district will be reaped."

The teenagers sighed in relief. "...Along with a boy and girl from the public" The whole capitol audience went wild, cheering and clapping.

"Oh god… any kid who gets reaped will be slaughtered." Said Peeta.

"These people are sick." Gale growled as he got up and headed towards the door. "C'mon Peeta might as well get this over with." Peeta nodded and followed Gale outside. It had stopped raining. "How many times is your name in there?" Gale asked as they walked.

"Eighty-two…" Peeta saw Gale stiffen next to him out of the corner of his eye. "You?"

"Fifty-six.. how much is your family ordering?"

"They just want me to die."

"Please stop talking like that." They arrived at the square and signed in. Peeta flinched as the needle pricked his skin. Effie Trinket was standing on stage in an elaborate butterfly dress and a white wig with a butterfly headpiece stuck in it.

"Welcome!" Her piercing voice, laced with the capitals accent rang through the air. The crowd was silent. "Well.. lets get to with it then. As always, ladies first." Haymitch Abernathy was the only male victor from district 12 and Katniss Everdeen was the only female. This meant that there would not be a mentor for the games. Effie Trinket walked over to the two large fishbowl on her right. The one furthest from her was filled with slips of paper and the other one was filled with one. Her 4 inch heels clicking on the stage obnoxiously loud. She reached her hand in and pulled out the one slip of paper from the now empty bowl.

"Katniss Everdeen." The said loudly into the microphone. Everyone knew that was going to happen. She was the only female victor in the games. Katniss held her head high as she walked. Effie moved over to the next bowl and made a show of plunging her hand to the bottom. "Delly Cartwright." She announced. Peeta paled. Delly was his best friend. He watched as her blonde head moved its way through the parted crowd and to the stage. Her whole body was shaking as she stood on the stage. Peeta wanted to cry. He couldn't pay attention to anything.

"Peeta Mellark"

He was instantly snapped out of his daze and stared numbly at the stage. The path in front of him was clear. He blinked a few times before looking up at Effie as peacekeepers escorted him up to the stage. He felt tears pricking at his eyes, but he refused to cry. He had to be strong. But he knew he was going to die. He couldn't kill Delly or Katniss.

"Now due to the fact that all tributed need a previous victor to mentor them, Haymich Abernathy will not be entered into the choosing. We will choose another male from district 12 to participate!" Effie said in a much too excited voice. The clicking of her heels were so loud as it echoed through Peeta's head. Her perfectly manicured hand reached into the bowl once more and pulled out that perfectly folded piece of paper. "Rory Hawthorne"

'No. No!' Those words played over and over in Peeta's head.

"I volunteer!" Gales booming voice echoed all over the square.

'Nonononononono' he started hyperventilating as Gale walked towards the stage 'No!' and with that last thought everything went black.

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Authors Note:

Hello my darlings tell me all about it! Please review I want at least 15 reviews before the next chapter! I know it seems like alot but I really want to know what my readers are thinking so that I can make my story better. This is only the reaping but I promise there is much more to come! Please please please review! I know this is a wierd ship but I think if you give it a chance it will really grow on you! I hope you guys are curious to how I am aproaching this! I am takin a different turn with a threesome ship. Thats all! Gimme them reviews and I just might update early!

Until next time!

Xoxox

Dri