Peeta age 14

2010

I decided I should tell Thresh and Finnick what was going on with Katniss. It's a good thing I did, because it turned out Glimmer, and Clove brought Cato, Marvel and Brutus to the lake.

After the girls say some very weird insults to each other, we grab the guys. Katniss really let Clove have it. She knocked her out! I was so proud. We left them to deal with Clove. With all the underhanded stuff Clove pulled, she probably won't be happy when she wakes up.

After saying bye to Finnick, Tresh, and Joanna, I word vomit and tell Katniss she's amazing.

Fortunately, she doesn't freak out. I walk us to an empty log by the fire and we sit next to each other. Everyone is either talking or telling stories. It almost feels like we're alone. I'm looking a Katniss in the glow of the campfire light. She's so, awesome. I need to tell her how I feel.

"When we go back to school, you're still gonna talk to me, right?" I ask nervously.

"Why wouldn't I? We're friends aren't we?" Katniss asks.

"Yes, but we never really hung out before this year so-" I start.

"Peeta, I'm not gonna stop hanging out with you. I owe you so much. Plus, I… I like you." She says and I feel my mouth go dry.

I've been waiting so long to hear those words from her. This is the best summer, ever!

"I like you, too." I say feeling my cheeks warm.

We are both quiet for a minute.

"That's good to hear. So, the family picnic is in a couple of days. Are you excited to see your family?" She asks me.

"Umm... I'm not sure my dad can take off from the bakery. My mom doesn't like to camp or picnics. My older brothers Graham and Rye opted to go to football camp this year. So… I guess… I'll be alone this year." I say a little embarrassed.

"Oh sorry." She says.

"Truthfully, I don't really mind. I'm kinda glad they aren't coming. Especially my mother. She has never really treated me like she's happy I even exist." I admit throwing a little piece of wood into the fire.

"Peeta, I'm sure that's not true. She must really love you. You're such a nice person." She says.

"Thank you. But, I think that's because I've always wanted to be just like my dad. My mom… I'm a nuisance to her. So whenever dad isn't around she usually makes me do a lot if extra chores to keep me busy. Only, if I make any mistakes doing these, impossible not to mess up things, I get hit with her shoe, the rolling pin, or whatever she finds laying around in her fits of anger. I have to go out for every team I can, so if I have a bruise or scrape, I can blame it on sports..."

Crap! I hear her gasp audibly.

"I'm sorry... I said way too much." I confess quietly.

"Peeta seriously? Why haven't you… is there someone we should call? Does your dad know?" Katniss asks quickly, but so low no one else can hear.

"Dad doesn't know. I didn't mean to complain... it's just… I feel so comfortable talking to you. Like you won't judge me." I say.

"You can tell me anything. But I think you should tell someone. What she does isn't right." She says hugging me.

"Please don't tell anybody. I don't want to make a problem for my dad. He gets yelled at as much as I do." I beg.

"Peeta, you made me confront the problem with Glimmer and Clove and now you don't want me to say anything? Your mom can't keep hitting you!" Katniss hisses angrily.

"Shh! Please keep your voice down. I know you think it's the same. But it just isn't. Katniss, what do you think would happen if child protective services were called? They could take me away. They probably won't give my dad custody of me or my brother Rye. Especially, because it's been happening under his roof. My oldest brother is trying to go to college. He isn't ready to take care of us. I will get put in foster care. I might never see you again." I try to reason with her.

"But Peeta, this isn't right." She says with tears in her eyes.

"No Kat. Come on, please don't cry about this. Don't worry about me. I'm fine." I tell her wiping the few tears that start to slip down her cheeks.

"I won't agree you're fine. But if that's what you want, I won't tell anyone. Just think about it. And tell me if you change your mind." She pleads.

I smile trying to convey that everything is going to be alright. She wraps her arms tightly around my neck for a hug. My hands are on her back and I swear I can feel her heart beat pounding just as fast as mine. We lean back just enough to lock eyes. If it weren't for the heavy subject we just discussed, I'd feel like this would be an opportune time to kiss her.

"Peeta... I-" She starts.

"Okay Campers! It's 8 o' clock!" The counselors yell.

We are told to go back to our cabins. I don't know which one of us moves first but we both chuckle nervously.

"Well, goodnight." I say.

"You too." She says.

I lie awake thinking about Katniss way too long that night. The next few days are great. We still work out together in the mornings but oddly other people have joined us. I heard Clove had her family get her from camp early. No one messes with Katniss and she finally eats all her meals. Her friends sit with her during meals, so I sit with Thresh and some of my other friends. But in the afternoons we hang out as much as possible. Now that her friends know we are acquainted, both of our groups of friends are becoming pretty friendly as well. At the nightly campfire I sit as close to Katniss as I can, but so does Gale and Madge, never giving us privacy like we had before.

The day of the family picnic, I meet Katniss's mom, her dad, and her little sister Primrose at their arrival. They are very nice to me and her mom tells us she grew up with my dad. Most of the parents spend a few hours in the morning touring with the campers. Then the picnic starts. We play games and eat. I spend most of the time with Thresh's family, stealing a few glances of Katniss with her family until they leave in the afternoon.

Then I don't see Katniss until that night around the campfire, I'm sitting with Katniss and she tells me all about her time with her family. She's so excited when she talks about them. It seems like she smiles more, too. I feel like I'm getting to see a different part of her.

I just… love her. Is that possible?

"And then I showed my dad how to block his face. He was laughing so hard. I asked him what was funny and he said maybe I should've been a boy since I like boxing and archery so much. Can you believe that?" Katniss asks when, at long last we find time alone.

"No." I laugh.

"I think he would love it if me or my sister was a boy." She chuckles.

"I'm certainly glad you're a girl." I confess.

She blushes and grabs my hand. We're holding hands. You could knock me over with a feather.

I can do this. Just do it. Just ask to kiss her.

"Katniss Everdeen?" We hear an adult voice call out.

"Is Katniss Everdeen out here?" It's Camp Leader Crane.

"I'm right here." Katniss yells.

She lets go of my hand and runs over to him. He tells her she has an important phone call. She looks back at me before she leaves. I see she's a little worried, so I smile at her. Hopefully, letting her know, everything is ok and I'll be here when she gets back. But she never comes back.

I hear from Madge the next morning that she came back to the room last night crying and she packed her things and left. I also hear some other campers got the same kind of call. But it's not until Thresh tells me there was an explosion at the Soulsbyville Saw Mill, do I realize what must've happened.

Katniss never returns to camp. They make an announcement that camp is closing early this year and we all call our parents to come get us. When my dad comes to get me. I tell him I think Katniss's dad may have been hurt. He tells me Mr. Everdeen didn't make it.


I'm so sad for Katniss, but I never work up the nerve to try and call her. I get an especially noticeable bruise from not hearing mother when she was calling me one day. So I have to miss Mr. Everdeen's funeral. Not to mention asking my brother to lie to dad for me.

School started but Katniss wasn't at school the first week. I was in my math class the second week when she finally arrived. She looked understandably heartsick, tired, and just a shell of her former self. She was still beautiful and my heart skipped a beat at her presence.

I wave to her as she sits in the only available seat across the room. After class I walk out but don't see her. I walk down the hall a little towards my next class. I wait till everyone starts entering their classes. I'm about to give up and go in, when Katniss appears out of nowhere.

"Katniss... I..." I try but she looks up with tears in her eyes.

I pull her into a hug and I just hold her tightly.

Neither one of us say anything for a while. I can hear her sniffling faintly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't have your number to call-" She starts her voice thick and gravelly.

"I know me either. How... how are you?" I ask feeling I might cry seeing her so broken.

"I... I'm ok. How are you?" She asks wiping her face.

"Don't be silly. I'm fine. I was worried about you. I... missed you." I work up the nerve to say.

"Hey! You two need to get in class!" A teacher scolds us.

"Later, ok?" I say reluctantly letting her go.

She nods her head and walks away. Unfortunately, I don't see her for the rest of the day.


When I get home that afternoon, I hear something crash. It sounds like a plate or some kind of dish.

"Did you think I wouldn't find out you went to see her? Her husband dies and you go see her! How could you!" My mother shouts.

"Sid, I was just trying to be a good person. You could've come along. It was the christianly thing to do." My dad replies.

"Stop it! You still love her! I am sick and tired of coming in second to her! You want a divorce? Is that what you want?" Mom yells only she's crying this time.

What the hell is going on?

My father wouldn't cheat on my mom.

He's too... good!

"Stop it mom! I'm tired if the way you talk to everyone and you never take your meds! It's time you got help!" Graham says.

Meds! She's supposed to take medication?

"Dad, when your not home she hits Peeta. Hard. He always has bruises because of her, not sports. I can't take it anymore. I had to tell you. She needs help." Rye says shocking me.

Dad looks as stunned as I am. Graham is holding mom who is thrashing at air and crying. He takes her to her room. I come out of the hallway and enter the kitchen. Rye is sweeping up the glass shards on the floor.

"Peeta, I… son? I'm truly sorry." It's the first time I've ever seen my dad cry.

"What's wrong with mom? Why does she need medicine?" I ask.

"Your mom lost... a baby. You had a twin sister, but she didn't make it. We were all sad but your mom she… took it really hard." My dad explains.

"I'm so, sorry Peeta. I've known about her hitting you for a while now. I was afraid it would break up our family if I told. I was a coward." Rye confesses.

"No, I could've said something. I felt the same way. I have fond memories of mom. I didn't know why she was changing. But I figured it was my fault." I say.

"No, son. It's not your fault. Graham is right she was taking her meds, but she must've stopped. I check her pill bottles, but maybe she flushed them or something. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." My dad tells me, pulling me in for a hug.

"We are gonna be ok though, right?" I ask, my own tears threatening to spill.

"I think we are… but I'm gonna have to take a job I've been considering, in an area that has a special hospital that would be good for your mom." Dad says.

We are moving in two days.

Katniss...

I only have tomorrow to go to school. The movers will be here the next day.

I get out a pen and paper.

Dear Katniss, our friendship...

No. Ugh! I need to let her know how I feel.

Katniss, I love you...

No! Her dad just died she doesn't need any added stress.

I'm leaving and I just wanted…

It's not about me! But she needs to know in case you never see her again.

Katniss, I'm so sorry you're hurting. Whatever I can do to help the pain go away… I'll do. If you need me, I'm here. Anytime. Know that you are loved.

After writing the note for her. I'm too scared to just walk up and give it to her.

I find her locker at school. I slip it inside and decide to wait around the corner to see her reaction before talking to her about it.

There she is.

She's reading the note.

She's smiling!

"Catnip." Gale calls to her.

What's he doing here?

"Gale I… this is so nice." She says.

"Well, you know. I wanted to make sure you were-" He starts.

"This note is so beautiful." Katniss says then hugs him.

Wait a minute!

He looks dumbfounded, but sneakily reads the note while she's hugging him.

"Yeah, the note." He says.

Yeah? Yeah, now tell her you didn't write it!

"I had no idea you felt that way." She says pulling back to look at him.

He doesn't! I do!

"Catnip, of course I do. But, I was worried you would laugh at me." Gale says.

Dammit! I should've signed it.

That's it! If he's gonna lie!

I start walking towards them.

"Gale I would never-" Katniss starts.

Before I can reach them, Gale's lips are on hers!

I can't breathe.

This isn't happening.

I gotta get out of here, so I run in the opposite direction.

After I've taken a minute to calm down, I think, maybe she likes him back. Maybe she always had. I'm leaving anyway. Maybe it's better this way. Guess this is goodbye.

Goodbye Katniss.