I open my eyes and I see Peeta mouth open, breathing heavily. I smile and snuggle in deeper to his embrace. I feel so safe in his arms. He shifts in his sleep so his arm is lying on my face.

"Peeta" I say, my voice muffled. "Get off" He jerks awake and quickly removes his arm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" he exclaims. I start laughing and he joins me.

"It's ok" I yawn. I lay my head back on his chest. After a pause I say "I hate her"

"Me too, I wish we could just run away"

"One day we will run off to the forest and we will fight trolls and dragons. Then we will get the big giants to throw the wicked witch into a dungeon . We will build a big, big castle and get married and live happily ever after" I say " I promise."

I always keep my promises.

0000000000000

When Peeta leaves through the window. I go down to the kitchen to see my mother cradling Prim in her arms.

"Morning" she sighs, obviously tired. I sit beside her and play with the end of my braid.

"Mother," I begin "What is it like to be in love?" she smiles and looks lovingly at me.

"Well, you are happy whenever you're with them and when you're together nothing matters because you are with eachother. The thought of being apart is unbearable and you don't care what the world thinks because they are your world"

Mum smiles down at me. And I wonder if I do actually love Peeta. I did say that I love him… I lose my trail of thought when I hear him scream again. Except this time it's not just one short , bloodcurdling scream. He is screaming "KATNISS" .

Before I know it I'm half way down the road.

"PEETA" I shriek. I turn the corner, ready to see him in our spot outside the window, more hurt then usual, but he's not there. Where is he?

"KATNISS" I twist around to his voice to see that he's being dragged into a car by a man.

"Peeta" I gasp and rush to the car. "What are you doing?" I cry to the man.

"It's for his own good, we can't leave him with a mother like that" the man gets into the driver seat and revs the engine. I press my face up to the window where Peeta is. He puts his hands up against the smooth glass an I do the same. I pretend that we are actually touching and I shut my eyes. Hoping this is all just a bad dream.

"Open the door" I shout through the glass helplessly. I desperately bang against the window. The car begins to move and I see Peeta banging against the window as well, screaming at the driver. The driver rolls his eyes and reluctantly stops the car. Peeta jumps out of it into my arms. We sit on the dirty ground desperately clinging onto each other. I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat getting quicker by the second. He rests his head onto my shoulder.

"Where are they taking you?" I sniff.

"To foster care, like an orphanage"

"Will I be able to see you again"

"I..I don't know" I cling him tighter and think about what my mother said: The thought of being apart is unbearable. I definitely love Peeta because when I think about being apart it feels like a chunk of my heart is being ripped out.

"Come on," I say trying to hold back the tears. "Lets go to the forest. We can run away" He begins to stand up and we are poised to run but the evil man takes him by the collar.

"Time to go, little man" I don't have the chance to say goodbye. I don't have the chance to give him one last hug. I don't have the chance to give the person I love the most in this world one last kiss on the cheek. The car speeds away leaving a cloud of dust behind it.

I run faster then I have ever run before after the gray automobile. I see Peeta pressed up against the back window. 'I love you' he mouths to me. 'I love you too' and with that the car speeds around the corner out of sight. Bringing Peeta to unknown places. I drop to the ground in the middle of the road and rock back and forth. Clutching my knees. I sob uncontrollable. I whimper 'Peeta' over and over again, hoping that he will come back to me. I sob until I feel arms pick me up and carry me. It's my father. I cry into his chest. I let the soothing sway of his arms lull me to sleep.

I'm in the meadow. Black clouds encircle me.. 'BANG' lightning strikes a tree to my left and it catches on fire. I hear a scream. Peeta's scream. No matter where I run I can't find him. He screams 'Katniss' over and over again. Evil creatures from the clouds descend upon me. Eagles, sharks, ghosts and witches. There is nowhere to hide.

My screams awake me. I'm in my own bed. My pillow is wet from tears.

"Shh, shh" my father soothes as he strokes my hair.

"He's gone" I whisper. I feel hollow. I know in my heart I will never see him again and it physically hurts.

"I know, honey" he says " He is in a better place now. His mother can't hurt him anymore" I nod. I am being selfish. I couldn't keep him here. How foolish I was, actually believing that I could help him. "He is safe now"

He might as well be dead to me. As if I will see him again. It is pointless to miss him. Why should I hurt over him? Why should I waste my time being unhappy? I will make other friends and I will fall in love again. I will forget Peeta Mellark. My beautiful, blue eyed friend.

12 YEARS LATER.

I wake up screaming from another nightmare. This time I see my father die in the coal mines. I can't reach him. I can't save him. Was it only a week ago when we went to the lake and swam together? I feel hollow. The feeling feels familiar but I don't know why.

I reluctantly climb out of bed. I have to get ready for school. I can't miss any more days ,this is my last year. I pull on my uniform. A blue shirt, red tie and black skirt. I tie my hair in my signature braid and walk out the door.

The crisp morning air is cool and refreshing. The sky is clouded over with thick, dark clouds waiting for the right moment to release it's raindrops.

"Hey Catnip!" I turn around to see Gale walking towards me. "Top o' the mornin' to ya!" I feel my lips turn up in a small smile. Gale is the only one who can make my smile in a time like this, and maybe Prim.

"Morning Gale" I drone. I start walking towards school and he comes up beside me. Even though he has finished school he still keeps up the tradition of walking me there everyday.

Gale has been acting strange lately. He keeps looking at me funny and I catch him glancing at me from the corner of his eye. I don't get it.

We walk past the supermarket, Gale is suddenly looking really uncomfortable. He does that as well more then usual. I'm sick of it.

I stop and turn to him.

"Gale, what the hell is up with you lately?" I demand, getting irritated.

"Nothing," he grumbles "I'm just feeling sick"

"Yeah, sure," I say sarcastically "Don't lie with me Gale, I can so- "

He cuts me off by pressing his lip to mine. He smells like oranges. His hand brushes against my cheek. What the hell? I think as I pull back.

"Gale… what?" I ask extremely confused. He is my best friend. When did he decide he wanted to kiss me?

"Listen Katniss," he says nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. " I.. I love you."

What?

"You what?"

"I had to tell you"

"So you decide to tell me straight after my father's death?" I say suddenly getting quite angry. "I can't deal with feelings right now Gale. I..I just can't." I turn around and walk towards school.

Love? I can't remember when I started resenting that kind of affection. I don't want to get hurt. I can't remember the reason but it's just the way I am. Gale knows that.

When I arrive at the school gate, I'm greeted with a very excited Madge.

"Katniss!" she says "I've been waiting for you for ages"

"Sorry, I got ... um … delayed"

"Are you feeling better?" she asks politely as we walk towards the lockers. I told her I was feeling sick for the past week. I didn't want to hear the usual 'I'm so sorry' ,'Are you alright'. I didn't want anybody's sympathy.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"Good, listen I have great news" she squeals. "I got into The University of Panem"

That is good news. I got into the university a couple weeks ago. I had to admit I was terrified for going alone.

"That's great Madge" I reply. Trying to put enthusiasm into my voice.

The bell rings for class. I grab my English books, dreading it. This is the only class I have with Glimmer. She is your typical popular girl, and she has had it in for me from the very first day. I have no idea why.

I sit in my usual spot by the window. The seat furthest away from Glimmer who usually sits at the other side of the class. When she walks in she walks towards me.

Wait, what? I think. Why is she coming over here?

She sits in the seat next to me. She reeks of perfume. She flings her long blonde hair over her shoulder before she speaks.

"Don't get any ideas, this is not a heart to heart session," she begins looking me up and down like I'm a piece of dirt. "I saw you making out with your hottie friend"

Damn you Gale. Now I'm going to be the talk of the school. People looking at me and whispering and giggling.

"Now the thing is," she continues "I'm not going to tell anyone because I know how you hate being the center of attention, on one condition" She lifts her perfectly manicured index finger. " You have to put in a good word for Gale about moi." She smirks as she points to herself.

Now I understand. She has hated me because she likes Gale.

"Sure" I reply. I don't want to risk being the gossip of the school.

She plasters a fake smile on her face and trots off. The only problem is now I actually have to talk to Gale. I groan inwardly imagining the awkwardness of the inevitable conversation.

00000000000000000

The breeze ruffles my hair as I walk to Gale's house. If it were up to me I would ignore Gale until he apologises. I take a deep breath and knock on the door.

He opens the door and I see the shock register on his face.

"Hi" I say timidly "We need to talk."

We walk to the woods in silence and we sit on our rock over looking a lushious, green valley. I sigh and begin my speech that I went over again and again in my head.

" Gale, I do love you" I begin. I see his face light up then sink again with disappointment when I continue. It breaks my heart "But as a friend, I'm sorry" I drop my gaze unable to stare into Gale's gray eyes, full of longing. " The thing is, Glimmer, she saw us kiss and she threatens to tell the whole school about us. It will be the gossip of the year and…" I sigh before I continue knowing it will be near impossible to convince Gale to do what I'm about to ask. " She will tell the whole school if I don't put in a good word for her. She likes you Gale" There is silence. An awkward pause. There is never an awkward pause with me and Gale.

"Okay" he walks off and disappears through the leaves. I find silent tears rolling down my cheek and I don't bother to wipe them. I have lost my best friend and again the feeling feels familiar.