Katniss smiled; she had herself a kind of date.

The red sunrise illuminated the entirety of the large pirate ship as Katniss re-emerged on deck. Gale was already up. He was stood at the far edge of the ship with a wooden telescope to his right eye, looking out across the still, royal-blue canvas of sea. Katniss snuck to her suite, hoping no one had seen where she had come from, and closed the door swiftly behind her. Looking around the room for something to occupy herself with, she spotted a note placed under a glass paperweight, the edges fluttering gracefully in the wind of the open window. She strode over to the window, moved the paperweight and held the note close to her face in attempt to read the scrawled handwriting:

hey sweetheart

More boy trouble? I saw you last night go down to where the hostage is held.

Katniss' heart stopped.

Be careful. I myself see no problem in it. It's not as if he likes you back, you've got about as much charm as a dead slug.

Katniss scowled.

Alright, I'll make you a deal. You don't interfere with my drinking and I won't tell the Captain you're sneaking around behind his back with the first mate of an enemy ship.

First mate?

And if you ever decide to make it public (which I wouldn't if I were you), then you'd have to except the fact of your inevitable death, then have a drink.

And, Miss Everdeen, the boy's name is Peeta Mellark. I doubt he would have let that slip, he doesn't trust you. Just because I think you have a good heart, here's some advice. Stay alive.

Haymitch A.

Peeta's POV

I wish they'd loosen these stupid chains, then I could actually scratch the itch on my leg without almost amputating my hand. I can't believe I didn't just kill her when she hesitated, then I wouldn't be tied up down here - EEEK, what he hell was that?! ... something brushed my arm... Probably another rat. I just couldn't kill her, and if I had the chance again, I still don't think I could. There's something about her, she's different from the other girls I've met. She's incredible with a sword, yet so gentle and caring. She has the most beautiful face I've ever seen, yet she's the enemy. I shouldn't be falling in love with her. Aaaahhh. I doubt she even likes me, she probably came to see me to take the mick and laugh in my face. What am I even thinking, of course she couldn't like me.

I'm so thirsty and not thinking straight, that's all. Finnick will come and rescue me, of course he will. Until then, I've just got to stay strong, and not let them crack me. Especially not the girl, Katniss. The whole of this crew are playing with me, playing with my mind. Well, I'm more than just a piece in their games. I'm Peeta Mellark, and I will never ever let the enemy first mate occupy my thoughts or play with my mind again.

But I have a date with her tonight. Oh, what am I doing? Maybe I should just act cool, and not let her know how much she affects me. Maybe I should ignore her and tell her I never want to see her again. But now I've set eyes on her, I doubt I would be able to live another day without seeing her beautiful face.

If there is a God up there, please help me. Give me a sign or something to guide me in the right direction. For if I do not die down here of malnutrition or physical abuse, I am sure to go mad trying to figure out what to do about Katniss Everdeen.

It's my 6th birthday. I'm playing pass the parcel with my primary school friends, the music stops. I have the parcel so I open it. It's the last round and inside the wrapping is a batman action figure. I wish I could freeze this moment and live in it forever. Everyone is happy.

The next day the pirate raids begin. People are snatched from their homes and slaughtered in the cruelist of ways. Children running round looking for their parents and crying when they could not be found. Two girls dressed in pretty dresses knock at our door and ask if we've seen theirs. We say no. The brown haired girl in the blue dress looks at me with tears swelling up in her beautiful eyes.

That was the day that Peeta first layed eyes on Katniss Everdeen, and it it was a day that he never forgot.

A/N- please review with ideas and feedback! Thanks if you have already, keep them rolling in! :) x