Hey guys! Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it! Please review! Oh any if theres any grammer mistakes please forgive me!
(Peeta P.O.V)
-Flashback-
It was the dead of winter, three months after the mining explosion that killed my father and many others. We had only a small abundance of money the district gave us for the one month of grieving, in which my mother was supposed to get a job. Instead my mother shut us out, stuck in her own world in which we could not take her out of, despite all the pleas. Because of this, I started hunting, like my father taught me. But it was a problem when winter came.
I headed towards Town in hopes in finding food in the trash bins, but to my dismay it had already been emptied. As I passed the bakery, I sat under a tall apple tree in defeat. As I debated lying here and dying, the baker's wife screamed at me, threatening to call the Peacekeepers because of the 'seam brat' sorting through her trash. I caught a glimpse of long dark braid belonging to a girl I've seen at school. She was my age, though we've never interacted since she hung out with the kids from Town.
As her mother left, I heard a series of screams and blows. Then the girl with a dark braid stepped out carrying two loaves of burnt bread, with a red gash that had stood out on her cheek. She tore pieces of it and threw them to the pigs. But after looking back to the bakery to see if anyone was aware of what she was about to do, she threw the last loaf at my feet.
At first, I thought of it as an illusion. But after I blinked a few times, I picked up the bread and ran home. As I stepped into the house Parker greeted me and gaped at the loaf of bread in my hands. We ate every last crumb before going to bed that night. Though it would never occur to me that she burnt the bread on purpose to have an excuse to give it to me, I couldn't help but think about it. About the girl with the bread. About the red gash on her upper cheek. About Katniss Everdeen.
-End of Flashback-
Now, the person who has saved my life 5 years ago is going to be a tribute in the Hunger Games. I don't even notice Effie as she announces second tribute from the boys reaping bowl. As I recover from the memories that had been flashing through my mind, I recognize the unlucky name that has been drawn to (most likely) die in the televised battle to the death. Parker.
"Parker Mellark? Where are you- Oh! There you are, Come up dear!" Effie's voice couldn't be anymore terrifying at this moment. When I see Parker make his way to the stage, time stops and all the air from my lungs is knocked out of me. I can only see glimpses of Parker as I squeeze my way though the crowd, desperately trying to prevent my brother from never returning home. Getting as close as I can to Parker, I do what no one in district 12 has done ever before.
"Wait! I volunteer! I volunteer!" I shout as the Peacekeepers try to hold me back, "I volunteer as Tribute!"
"Ok, well...uh very well then. Come on up" Effie says.
"No! Peeta! Don't go!" I could hear Parker as he try's not to cry, but to no avail, "Peeeeetaaaaa! Please!"
"Parker," I say, my voice still shaky, "You're going to stay here with mom, ok? Please Parker, go." He wasn't able to utter a word before Gail stepped out and held him by his shoulders, tears swelling in her eyes as well. As soon as I reached the small run-down stage, I catch Katniss' eyes. As we shake hands, she manages to produce a small smile but all I can see in her eyes is remorse.
"Let's give a round of applause for our tributes, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen!" Effie exclaims in her usual cheerful mood. But instead of clapping, the crowd has grown quiet, not even the occasional whisper or mutter could be heard over the deafening silence. After what seemed like forever, slowly everyone presses the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to us. The sign mostly used at funerals to say good bye to a loved one. Soon after, the Mayor begins to recite the Treaty of Treason, and the silence ensues.
Immediately after the ceremony, we are marched into the justice building by Peacekeepers who then leave us in a room alone. I take this chance to look around the room, knowing I'll never be able to see it again. The room is finely furnished, with velvet cushions and mahogany wood tables and chairs. I took a seat in one of the chairs. Suddenly, the only door from which I came through a few moments before, burst open and my mother and Parker came tumbling in.
"Peeta!" I had barely gotten up when Parker threw himself to me in a hug. I hugged him back, wanting to never let him go as long as I was still alive. He and my mother seemed to want to do the same, because the minute I broke the hug, I was pulled into another one, this time with my mother.
"Peeta promise me you'll come home," Parker said, blinking back tears.
"Parker, you know I can't promise that..." I say slowly, "But I'll try my hardest, you know I will." I give him a faint smile, then turn to my mother.
"Promise me you won't shut Parker out no matter what happens, you'll pull through it" I asked my mother, "Not like when dad died."
"I promise" she says, and after a few moments I pulled her in for another hug. Before I could say anything else, the door burst open and the Peacekeepers escorted my only family out the door. I sink back down in the plush chair and stare at my hands, now folded in my lap. I thought about what happened before this mess. I think about the dandelion field in the Meadow during the spring time. I think about the summer Parker and I had gone swimming with our father... the summer before the explosion that tore my father to bits. Before I could break down into tears at the memory, the door sprung open and to my surprise, Mr. Everdeen was the one who had entered. He must have visited his daughter before me since there are still some tears in his eyes. Without a word, he pulled a white paper bag from the pocket of his jacket and handed it to me. I looked at its contents and found several cookies, a delicacy to people in the seam who wouldn't even dream of obtaining them. I say a silent thank you and he nods his head in response. Mr. Everdeen isn't a man of much words, but he was the one to break the silence.
"I..uh... the young boy, Parker...I'll make sure he eats well." he says. I know he's sincere about it because when he held out his hand for me to shake, he gives a reassuring squeeze, as if silently telling me everthing's going to be ok. Unfortunately, before I could utter a 'thank you' he was whisked away by Peacekeepers. The next visitor is also unexpected. With shedding any tears, the mayors daughter walks straight toward me, grasping a pin that had been pinned on her dress before.
"You're allowed to take a token from your district into the arena... will you wear this? please?" she asked. Not finding the right words to say I nod my head and she pulls me into a hug. Madge and I had never been close. Sure we've sat together at lunch and exchanged a few words but other than that we'd never talk. I guess we were both fine with it. I was never sure if we were friends or not. But now I guess I do have a friend in her. After pulling away, she gives me a light kiss on the cheek. Shortly, the Peacekeepers enter the room saying times up. Finally Gail comes, and although we were never more than friends, I don't hesitate when she reaches her arms out to embrace me. As she pulls away, I can start to see the tears that she had been trying to blink away.
"Peet? listen to me." she says in a stern but gentle voice,"You need to get to a weapon, any weapon. If you have a choice, go for the bow. You're good at climbing trees right? How about plant recognition? Did Park-" She gets cut off by my muffled chuckling as I struggle to regain my posture.
"I know I should be worried, but your constant worrying is quite amusing." I say, sending her one of my famous smirks. But instead of firing back like she usually does, she wraps her arms around my neck and gently kisses my lips. The moment doesn't last long, because she pulls away, knowing they may get caught in the act by some unsuspecting Peacekeepers.
"I had to do that at least once." she said. But before I could find any words to say, the Peacekeepers were already pulling her away from my reach.
"Gail, don't let them starve!" I plead as she's struggles against the Peacekeepers.
"I won't! You know I won't! I-" I didn't even hear the last part before she was dragged away, slamming the door behind them.
Phew! that was sort of a long one! Well what do ya guys think? If you didn't like it, review. If you did, then review! Anyways if you guys like it please recommend it to your friends XD Preferably not team Gail friends...
So I have to ask you guys... Are you team Gail... Or team Katniss? In other words, do you want Katniss and Peeta or Peeta and Gail? And no, not the dude Gale... the girl version! just don't think of that Gale and you'll be fine XD BTW Im team katniss and Peeta and I don't plan on changing the story line, so... sorry Gail fans DX If the story seems a lot like the book, well its supposed to, with a few changes but it will change a lot later on so don't worry XD
So if you guys have any questions or suggestions please pm me or comment XD