CHAPTER 3

Because it was thursday yestrday, the day I totally embarrased myselft in front of Katniss, I faked being sick this morning. This came as a surprise for my familiy, since I'm almost never ill. My father looked at me suspiciously and my brothers looked at me with their eyebrows raised, as if to say 'We know what you're doing.'. And they probably did. My mother's face on the other hand went red, her nostrils had flared and then she finally calmed herself down with deep breaths. Apparently we can not aford being sick because the bakery needs every hand they can get. The only people who work here are me, my brothers and my father. Mother only works with the papers and orders for the bakery, so I do not know why she is pretending she works so hard every day.

After I had eaten breakfast I went back to my room and layed down grabing my sketchbook. I was working on a new project, a picture of woods. Or how I imagine the woods, since I have never been in there. I have only seen them from the outside, because it is prohibited to go outside the fence that surrounds District 12. Therefor, no one dares to pass the fence. The only people I know that have passed it and are doing it for the sake of their families are Katniss and her friend Gale Hawthrone. Anyway, it really sucks that we are not allowed to go in to the wild, outside this dull District we live in.

I guess meanwhile thinking about what it could be like to be free and have no worries I have fallen asleep again, because the next thing I heard is a loud bang coming from downstairs. I quickly shot out of bed and ran down the stairs not caring to check my appearance in the mirror. When I reached the bakery's kitchen I heard my father's and some other guy's voices. And another bang. God, what are they doing. My head hurts enough without hearing the loud noises. I guess I am falling ill.

''What is happening father?'' I groaned messing my hair.

''Peeta!'' dad said surprised to see me out of the bed. He turned back around and waved his hand dismising me. ''Your brothers are being stupid, I'm sorry they woke you up.''

''We're not sorry!'' Rye yelled from somewhere outside. I guess they are having a wrestling match again. They are really competitive and are always daring eachother who will win and who can pin the other one down faster.

''How are you feeling son?'' dad asked me.

''I've been better,'' I mumbled. ''My head hurts and I'm feeling terrible.''

''You look terrible,'' man beside my dad chuckled. I have seen him around before. I think his name is Haymitch Abernathy and he is known in the town for being drunk all the time. I can't imagine where he gets the money for all the alcohol he drinks, while all the other people in the District are poor or on the edge of being poor. Haymitch's aperance matches his habits. He was wearing a dark jacket, which seemed at least hundred years old, and washed up jeans with holes. He hasn't shaved in few days and probably hadn't had a hairut either, because his gray hair reached to almost his shoulders.

''Thank you,'' I said sarcasticaly. ''I'm Peeta,'' I said giving him a hand to shake.

''Pleasure to meet you, Peeta. Your dad has told me a lot about you. Apparently you are the calm one of the family,'' he laughed again. Well, apparently I'm the calm one.

''Ugh!'' I heard one of my brothers cry out in defeat. ''Next time, you'll see!'' Apparently Rye lost a wrestling match again, I thought amused.

''Yeah, keep dreaming!'' Barley laughed.

''Point proven,'' my dad said amused leading Haymitch in to the back room to talk or do whatever they need to.

I was halfway up the stairs when I heard Barley yell out for me. ''Peeta! Come here for a second!'' Unbeiveable. There is no peace in this family.

''If I'm coming down for your stupid match again I swear to god- oh uhm .. Hi,'' I said awkwardly when I walked in to the front part of the bakery.

''Hello,'' Katniss answered polietly.

''Well,'' my annoying brother who just set me up clapped his hand together amused ''I will leave you two to chat and share kisses and what not,'' he said and walked out of the room because there were no costumers at the moment.

''I'm sorry,'' I said quickly correcting my brothers words. ''I swear I don't know what he is talking about, he is just being stupid. You know how brothers can be,' I said chuckling weakly. ''or maybe you don't since you have a younger sister, but you kno-''

''Peeta,'' Katniss stopped my ramlbing. ''it's okay and I know how teenage boys can be. My friend Gale acts just like that sometimes. No harm done,'' she smiled teasingly. ''I see you have just woken up.''

''I- what?'' I said confused. She pointed her finger to the windows where I could see my reflections. I guess I should have checked how I look before coming downstairs. I'll keep that in my mind fot the next time. I grumbled under my breath after seeing my appearance. My hair was all over the place, my cheeks red from the hot and my clothes wrinkled. For my sake I hope I have my pajama shirt on correctly.

''Oh, um I'm sorry - I'm kind of .. sick.''

''It's no problem, Peeta,'' she smiled. ''Well I only came for bread but no I must go home,'' Katniss nodded and walked away.

''Goodbye,'' I said quietly once the door were already closing behind her.

You have done it again, Peeta. You made a fool of yourself.

.

.

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The next morning, on Sathruday I have woken up in even worst state than yestrday. I was feeling exetremly hot, but cold at the same time, which means I probably have a fever. My throat was burning so I put on a scarf I had found in the drawer for my winter clothes and went to the breakfast even though I was not hungry at all. I should have not lied about being sick because it only made it come true and I hate being sick. I feel useless and can't do anything I want like sketch or bake.

And it's weekend, for god's sake. I could be outside with my friends or watch Katniss doing her bussines around the town and not lay in my bed like a useless empty sack for flour.

''Peeta,'' my father said surprised. ''are you feeling alright?''

''Yeah, Peet. You look kind of down,'' Barley said concerned.

''Shut up, I still haven't forgiven you for yesterday,'' I muttered sitting down and grabing a piece of black bread to butter it. ''Hoestly, I can't believe you did that. I know I'm not your favorite person in the world but you didn't have to make a fool of me. In front of her.''

''Peeta-'' Barley said sadly. ''I'm sorry, I didn't know you would feel this way about it. I promise not to do it again.''

''Your and Rye's promises are empty,'' I said annoyed and dropped my knife. ''Just because I'm your younger brother you don't have to put me down and make fun of me all the time. My mother does a good job of remembering me what I really am.'' I would have never said that in front of her, but since she is not with us this morning, probably having a lay in, I can as well curse her out. Not that I could, she is still my mother no matter what she says.

''Peeta Mellark!'' dad raised his voice. ''Stop talking to your brother like this and do not say things like that about your mother!'' Of course, he would defend her.

'' Whatever,'' I said exhausted. ''I'm going back to my room.''

Sitting on my bad and eating my buttered piece of bread I gazed outside the window and felt bad for the way I spoke to both, my brother and dad. I wish I could take it back, because I didn't mean all of the things I said. I was just feeling so bad, I only wanted to go back sleep and wake up magically cured. So, I took out my exhaustion on the first people I talked to and now I'm cursing myself for being a bad son and brother.

Anyway, I think I just need to sleep it all off again and hopefully I'll wake up feeling better and they'll not be mad at me.