Chapter 2: What's in a Name

The last place Katniss thought to look was Peeta's room. Ever since their return from the Games, he had found it difficult to spend any time alone, with only his only haunted thoughts and memories to keep him company. Normally she found him playing with Prim and Buttercup, or helping Greasy Sae in the kitchens. Yet, it was his room where she found him.

"Peeta?"

Peeta looked up, his blonde curls ruffled and dark bags under his eyes. "Katniss."

Katniss sat down next to him on the bed. He bent his head against her shoulder.

"You didn't come last night." he whispered into her skin.

Katniss pursed her lips. Every evening, after her mother and Prim went to sleep, she would slip out of the room and come to Peeta. District 13 didn't believe in locking doors, so it was easy to slide into his room. At first, it had been out of pity: Prim had her mother, Gale had his family, Peeta had no one left. But now, Katniss found sleep difficult without Peeta's strong arms wrapped around her.

"I had a lot to think about." Katniss offered as an explanation. It was a weak excuse. It was because I didn't want you to have to see me cry myself to sleep, she felt like saying. It would have been impossible to be around Peeta, in the mess she was in. He always wanted to fix her, but there was nothing left to fix. It felt like the Games, and the failed Rebellion, had drained any life or fight she had left.

Peeta nodded. He wasn't like Gale, who probed her with questions, and demanded detailed answers. Peeta just treated all the information that Katniss offered him as an unquestionable truth. Not to say that Peeta was the easiest to handle out of the two.

"I don't deserve you." Peeta said, his breath catching at the end.

Katniss squeezed his hand. "Please, don't think like that."

"But I don't, Katniss." Peeta hesitated. "Last night, I just kept on thinking, if it isn't me, please don't let it be Gale. Can't you see Katniss? I don't want you to be happy - unless it's with me."

Peeta suddenly looked embarrassed about his outburst, and Katniss realised she had no response for what he'd said. "I have to go." She fled the room, knowing that the next time she saw Peeta, everything would be changed.


Prim was waiting for her. Katniss had promised her that she could get her ready to meet her Partner, and Prim had taken the task to heart, gathering all the cosmetics she could find. District 13 was the only place in Panem outside of the Capitol where Katniss had seen make-up. She guessed the reasoning was that if you looked more attractive, your Partner was more likely to want to sleep with you, and, if everything went to plan, nine months later you would pop out a child. The whole idea made Katniss feel a little ill, and reminded her that, regardless of whose name she was given, by tomorrow morning she would no longer be a virgin. The thought made her hands go clammy, and her heart race. I'm not ready for this.

Katniss kept her thoughts to herself, not wishing to spoil Prim's fun as Prim carefully applied shadow to Katniss' eyes.

"Who do you want it to be?" Prim asked, her eyes focused somewhere above Katniss' left eyelid.

"I don't know." Katniss sighed. "I love them both. The thought of losing one of them is killing me."

"I think you're lucky, Katniss. Think of Johanna, she loves nobody, and nobody loves her. Whatever happens today, she'll lose. But, whether it's Gale or it's Peeta that you have to Partner with, you'll be happy in the end."

Katniss blushed, embarrassed of her selfishness. "I hadn't considered it like that."

Prim admired her work, and handed Katniss a mirror. She'd done a good job: Katniss almost looked as beautiful as the night of the interviews in the Capitol, and that time she had a whole team of stylists.

"I wish I could see the look on Gale's face when he sees you." Prim realised what she said, and smiled gleefully. "I said Gale! That means I must think it's going to be you and him."

Prim sank into the bed next to Katniss - It wouldn't be long now. The Allocation was an understated affair, probably to try to make the process seem as little like a Reaping as possible. You simply got a delivery of your new uniform, and where Katniss' currently said Katniss Everdeen, the last word would be replaced with... well, Katniss didn't know yet.

Prim continued her chatter, and Katniss knew it was out of nerves. "You have to admit Katniss, it is sort of exciting, embarking on a new life..." But even Primrose was too anxious to speak when the knock finally came.

The courier wore a white regulation District 13 uniform, and projected another, folded uniform towards Katniss, forcing it upon her.

"Congratulations on your Allocation." He spoke with the same monotone voice as all the District 13 residents. "Please get change into your new uniform. I will remain here, and escort you to your new chambers."

She took the uniform, closed the door and sat back down on her bed, in procrastination more than anything. There were only two names she could bear to see embroidered on that uniform. She repeated them over in her head:

Katniss Mellark, Katniss Hawthorne, Katniss Mellark, Katniss Hawthorne.

She could see Prim attempting, and failing, to wait patiently. Katniss took a steadying breath and turned over the package.

Katniss Odair.


A/N: I am sure Courtney DiLaurentis and CindyLou will be pleased!

I have the next chapter ready and waiting to be loaded up, and I'm really excited about it. Perhaps if I get lots of reviews for this chapter, I'll put it up now...