Star-Crossed

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, but I wish I did. This fanfiction is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The plot is mine, but I don't own any of the characters or novel concepts.

Summary: AU. 1800's. Katniss and Peeta are both being forced to marry people they don't love.They fall in love with one another, but are trapped by their circumstances. What will they do? Will they marry the people they don't love? Will the run-away together to begin anew? Will they marry those they don't love but then still see one another?

Chapter 3 – Katniss's POV

What am I doing? I cannot believe I agreed to meet with him in the meadow. I just knew that I could not refuse him. I did not want to refuse him. I had secretly been feeling things for Peeta Mellark for over a year now. He was so kind to me after my father died. He brought my family bread twice a week and just sat with me as I stared off into space.

He never gave up on me. I knew why I agreed to meet with him. I wanted to know why he wanted to meet with me. My hopes were soaring high and I was afraid they would be dashed. I went to "bed" very early and waited until eleven to quietly sneak through my house. As I walked to the meadow, I thought about the conversation I had with my mother over dinner. She was overjoyed at the proposal of marriage made to me. She told me I would be a fool to turn it down. I knew she had not meant to insult me, but it burned all the same. Prim had hugged me and cried. She did not want me to be forced to marry someone that I did not love. I soothed her and told her that Gale was a dear friend and that it would be a good marriage for me. Yes, I lied to my sister. I believed my marriage to Gale was a huge mistake, but I did not know how else to save my family.

I arrive at the meadow at and I know I am early. Even so, I see him sitting in the tall grass waiting for me. When he hears me he stands up and takes my hand. I linger in the soft warmness his skin on mine provides as he leads me into the woods. I see a small cave like structure beneath a clump of trees. He leads me inside and I see that he has brought a blanket and a lantern. The small cave is illuminated dimly. I sit down beside him on the blanket, never letting go of his hand.

"Why did you meet me?" He asks me.

I look down to hide my blush. "Because I wanted to." I reply. Not knowing what to say.

He is gazing at me so intently. I feel tingles running up and down my spine. He is still holding my hand and is rubbing small circles on my hand with his thumb. My eyes are fixed on his and he is staring back at me with those electrifying blue eyes. He is gorgeous.

He brings his hand up and gently caresses my cheek. I sigh softly and he smiles at me before speaking. "I know that I am engaged. I know you are engaged, but I cannot help how I feel. Even though this is wrong I had…I had to see you. I need to be around you."

His words send a thrill of excitement through me. I feel the same way. "I need to be around you, too." I whisper. Because I do. I do not understand this any more than he does, but I do.

He smiles at me even more widely and then leans forward stopping a few inches away. Our foreheads touch gently and I can feel his sweet breath on my face just mere inches from my lips. Do I dare kiss him? I have never kissed a man before. Should I be nervous? I know it should not happen, but I do not care about that. I have never cared what anyone thought about me before, why start now?

I close the distance between us and our lips meet. It is bliss, sugary sweet and mouthwatering. Our lips brush softly against one another's and then he deepens the kiss wrapping his arms securely around my waist. I throw my arms around his neck and we are really kissing. Intense. Passionate. Hot…so very hot. We separate to come up for air and I step back to place a little distance between us. What am I doing?

He is looking at me with smoldering eyes. "That…that was way more than I expected for my first kiss." I looked at him shocked. That had been his first kiss, too?"

I grin at him. "Me too…amazing first kiss." I confess to him. He looks at me with the same shock on his face that I am sure was on mine.

"Don't marry him, Katniss." He pleads with me.

"I won't." I tell him. I can't marry him now. I just can't.

Peeta and I meet at the cave the next three nights at midnight. We talk, we hold hands, and we kiss. It is more than I had ever hoped for. I loved him. I know that I love him. We just had to figure out a way for it to be okay. We had to figure out a way to protect my sister and help his dad at the same time. So far, we had nothing.

I had to marry Gale in less than six months. I didn't want to marry Gale. I would not. My father would not want me to settle for a friend when there is a man that I am in love with. I know it.

The fourth night before I meet with Peeta, I have to sit down with my mother, sister, Gale, and his parents. We are going to begin to plan the wedding. When Gale and I have a moment of privacy, I am going to be honest to him about my feelings. He deserves to know the truth. He is my best friend after all. Peeta is going to be meeting with Delly's family as well. He is going to tell his father that he does not want to marry Delly. We are both nervous about how it will go, but we know that we cannot marry another. I want to marry Peeta Mellark and he wants to marry me. We do not know if it will be possible, but we are going to do whatever it takes to be together even if it means continued midnight share time in the forest.

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I hope you liked this. Next chapter will be from Peeta's POV. It will also feature the woman who wants Peeta to be her husband, Delly Cartwright. What do you think so far? Will they get married to those they don't love to protect their loved ones? Will they run away together? What do you think? Please review!