Author's Note: Hey guys! I just want to thank those of you who reviewed my first chapter! I think I speak for most authors when I say your reviews really help us going. It's a motivation to keep writing.

I really hope I don't disappoint you guys with this story. It may be slow at first but things will pick up. Here's chapter two!

Suddenly, I felt someone tug me from the shoulders pulling me backwards. As I left the spot I was at, the gap slowly closed in with new people.

"Gale! What the hell!" I yelled.

"You're really going to do this aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes!" I said before slowly turning around. I tried going back to the spot I was at before. I walked back carefully pushing people aside. I just wanted to get this over with. Just give him my support and thanks for everything he had done. It was going to be very brief, not too long to keep him waiting.

The anxiety was building up inside of me. I was nervous. I felt my hands trembling. I took my gaze off the ground and looked up in front of me to find that he wasn't there anymore. I scanned my surroundings to find him. He had been here just a minute ago.

"Where is he?" I asked the first person I saw.

"He's right over there" he pointed to him. I turned to my left and just slightly saw the outlining of his head. Instantly I started taking off at a high pace walk towards him. He was ready to get inside a car. I found myself pushing people to the side not caring if it was rude. I had to get to Peeta before he left. I didn't know if I was going to see him again. Thinking I had lost the chance of talking to him made me realize I had to leave things for the same day and not the next. "Hey!" I heard someone shout. I didn't care. My main goal right now was to get to him. With every step I took I would accidently step on someone's foot or hurt someway with my hands. "I'm sorry" I murmured. I looked to see where Peeta was at. He was getting inside. I hurried up. "No!" I shouted. People turned their heads to stare at me. That didn't matter to me. But it wasn't loud enough. The cheers of the crowd well overpowered my voice. He was closed the door. "Wait!" It was too late. I came to a sudden halt as I watched the car drive away. I had gotten there a second too late. If I hasn't been distracted by Gale I would have successfully said my thanks and continued on with my life. I didn't have the time to go looking for him.

I stood there just staring out in the distance. Millions of thoughts ran through my head. Why did I have this urge to thank this boy? I know he saved my life but this was getting ridiculous. Screaming for him to stop, almost chasing that car, and trying to do whatever it took to get to him. Maybe this is why Gale had stopped me. This wasn't like me. But then again, it wasn't like me either to leave things hanging. I owed this boy my life. If it wasn't for that bread he gave me I would have not only starved to death but also lost all hope. That simple act of generosity meant so much more to me than he could have possibly imagined. He took a beating for his mother in order for me and my family to have something to eat. He knew what he was getting himself into. It was no secret to the townspeople of how Mrs. Mellark treated her family. God only knows how she managed to capture Mr. Mellark's heart.

As I came back to reality out of my inner thoughts I noticed the crowd slowly leaving. I decided it was best if I did too.

On my way home I couldn't stop thinking about Peeta and how it seemed that it was nearly impossible for me to say something to him. Before the reaping happened I would always see Peeta working at his family's bakery every time I'd go make my trade. Several occasions he tried making conversation with me by simply saying hello. I always ended it before it even started. I felt like he only tried to talk to me because of pity. It had never occurred to me that maybe he didn't give me the bread out of pity and that maybe he gave it to me because he actually cared. It seemed kind of strange for a person from town to help those from the Seam because we were always looked down upon. But it wasn't until the games that I found out more about his actions and the beat.

I remember sitting at home watching the mandatory viewing on our small screen projector. We were very fortunate to have that screen projector. Most of the people in the Seam would go to the courtyard to go watch the games. It was one of the few things our father left us. I had Prim on my lap soothing her as she watched those kids get killed one by one. But this year's games were more interesting than the past ones because of Peeta and Rue. It was usually rare for non-careers to form alliances, but Peeta and Rue did it anyways. She was well skilled in climbing and identifying plants, while Peeta was good at physical combat. Together they made a strong team. Unfortunately, in the hunger games only one can win and they knew that. Once only 5 tributes were left they decided it was best to split up and go their own way.

But during the time they were together I learned many things about Peeta, one of them being why he gave me that bread. Rue talked about how her district was very strict. She asked if Peeta had ever witnessed anyone get beat. He replied with a no and that in our district it was rare to hear about someone getting beat by a Peacemaker. In order to lighten up the mood he said that it was more common for people to hear about his mother beating him and his siblings than for Peacemakers to beat someone who had committed a crime. That's when it happened. Rue asked was 'crime' had he ever committed for him to take a beating from his mother. Peeta said he had done many but only one stood out to him. Without mentioning any names he began his story. He told her about one day seeing a girl ask for leftovers from the bakery but that his mother rudely told her to go away. He couldn't stand to see that girl starve anymore so he did the unthinkable. He knew that if bread was burnt it would be no use and his mother would want to throw it away. He purposely burnt the bread they were baking. He knew what was coming from his mother but he did it anyway. Once his mother saw the burnt bread she was furious and ordered for him to throw it to the pigs after hitting him across the face for being so careless. He went outside and saw the girl sitting against a tree in the pouring rain. He couldn't take it directly to her without his mother noticing. So he took the burnt portions off and threw it in her direction. He felt bad for giving them to her in such a careless manner but it was the only way his mother wouldn't find out.

After watching the games that day I knew that girl he was talking about was me but most importantly I knew it was an act of kindness and not pity.

After about half an hour I finally reached my house. I dusted my feet on the ground before going inside. "Katniss!" my sister jumped on me. "So how did it go?" she asked. Prim knew very well what I was up to and being the curious girl she was she wanted to know every detail.

"I didn't get to talk to him" I replied. I couldn't help notice the disappointed tone in my voice when I spoke. "What! Why?" she insisted. "I'll tell you later little duck, it's getting late outside and you better get ready for bed" I smiled.

I carefully got Prim ready for tonight's sleep, tucked her in and kissed on her head. "Stay with me" she said. She always asked me to do that whenever she was scared of having nightmares a lot which was frequently nowadays. I slide next to her under the covers and held her in my arms before falling asleep next to her.

Several weeks had passed since the day Peeta arrived. I hardly saw him around now and the few times I did were either in front of cameras or with his stylists. I focused my time hunting in the woods with Gale gathering for trade. We had to take extra precautions because of all the media attention our district was getting. But lately it seemed like the spark was dying out, for now.

It was the first day in a while Gale and I were going to go hunting for more than 4 hours. Before all the media was here we would always spend about 7 hours in the woods looking for game. We desperately needed the trade so we decided it was safe to go back to our old routine. Besides Gale would soon be working in the mines and we wouldn't be able to spend much time together.

I was walking up along a creek when I spotted the deer. I quickly got my bow and arrow ready to hit my target. The deer wouldn't stay still. I followed it making each step as silent as possible. When hunting in the woods everything mattered. One mistake and you lost your chance at hitting your target. It was difficult finding large animals let alone deer. This was the first deer I had seen all season. People gave a lot for deer and catching one would guarantee me days of food. I slowly came to a halt as the deer stopped a few yards away. This was it. I slowly raised my weapon carefully, gripping it from getting loose and pointed right at its head. Three, Two, One…

Crack.

The deer ran just as I released my arrow. I turned my head with another arrow loaded to see where the noise was coming from.

Crack.

My first instinct was that it was another animal, but I quickly learned it wasn't because any animal would have run off once it was my movement. It sure wasn't Gale because he wouldn't have made such noisy steps.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

They were coming closer. I couldn't help but be a little terrified. I didn't know anyone other than me and Gale who went outside the fences of district twelve. A lot of people knew we hunted when they saw us trade but no one had ever told on us before. Maybe someone from the capital found out with this entire media covering our district. Maybe somehow word got out or slipped.

Crack. Crack. Crack. Crack.

There it was again. I quickly hid behind the nearest rock I could find. It didn't fully protect me but it was enough to hide me from plain sight. I kept my eyes fixed ahead in the open. I tried retracing where the sound was coming from with my sight.

Slowly from the midst of the woods started emerging a figure. I couldn't tell exactly who it was but I know it wasn't Gale. There was something strange about the person though. They didn't seem like they were out looking for us. They seemed… lost. I couldn't help noticing the desperation in the way the person would turn its head every five seconds. This person wasn't out to get us; this person was out here by accident. I didn't know if the right thing was to help this person out or quietly move out of the region. I still had my bow and arrow up to be precautious.

And then I saw who it was. I instantly put my weapon down. I got up and ran to him. Once he saw me the surprised look on his face was evident. But after a moment his eyes told me something else. They cried out for help. I reached him and saw why he was walking so careless. He was hurt. His leg was fractured and we had trouble walking.

I put my bow and arrow away in a hidden place just as I did every time we were done hunting. I walked back to him and carefully put his right arms around my shoulder while I placed my left arms around his torso. It was the best I could do to help him make it out of the woods.

"Katniss?" I heard him murmur. He knew my name.

"Yes?" I whispered.

"Thanks" replied Peeta.

I forgot to mention that if any of you have any ideas for this story don't be shy to PM and tell me. I'm very open to new ideas and if I like it I'll use it. I actually know already were I'm taking this story but if your idea rocks then I don't mind making slight changes.