Ok I know I took a month off… Bad writer. You all must really be done with me but I can tell you this. I am taking Final in two weeks so then I'll be free to write for you maybe every week! What would you do with yourselves if I updated one a week. I might not even be able to live. So we can chat more about the future of the story after this chapter. See you soon!

RYE POV

Flint kissed my hand and turned away slowly slipping out of view. After three weeks of dating, we only had a week left until the large trains would bring him far away from me. I wouldn't be able to have him knot his hand into my long blonde hair as we cuddle on the couch at night. Of course my parents don't really approve of such a public display of affection. Who are they to judge though? Did they or did they not make-out on television more than one occasion? It may not have been real then but me cuddling with my boyfriend isn't that being hypocritical.

"Is the boyfriend gone?" Haymitch's voce practically dripped in sarcasm. I simply rolled my eyes and brushed past him.

"I don't know why you pretend to hate him because I know you guys have always been on good terms."

"When he is taking advantage of my practical grand-daughter I have an issue." An idea sparks in my mind to get Haymitch to butt out of my personal life.

"Well Grandpa if you must know I still am a virgin." His eyes pop at me casually addressing my virginity. "Sadly all we have done is stealing a few kisses here and there besides my falling asleep on his shoulder while we watch TV. at night." He chuckles at my poor attempt.

"Sounds just like your mother and father. Always the same excuse. Except I knew she was too innocent to be lying. Plus if you haven't found out yet she is completely rotten at it."

"Hay I promise that nothing has ever happened so will you do both of us a favor and not ask again." I never got a serious answer out of the man. All he did was ruffle my hair and walk back to his flock of geese. It was family night. That meant no friends; partial relatives or guests could intrude tonight. I had recently had that clarified last week when I had invited Flint over to eat with us. The night ended with him leaving with an empty stomach a few minutes after arriving and a written rule book of our family's rules. It was not going to make the top ten moments in my life.

"Good to see you stranger." My mother came up from behind me and hugged me tight kissing my head. I knew what she was doing. She was sniffing to see if I had any unfamiliar scents on me sort of like an animal would. I just played along as always.

"Sorry you know what it's like to treasure every little moment you can get."

"But it's unhealthy to obsess over a person Rye, just because you may be in love with the concept of love doesn't mean that you have an excuse to dedicate every second of every day to him."

I took a step back at that comment. I wasn't upset with what she said because it was true but "love?" "Mom I am not in love."

A cold tone took on her voice as she sauntered away whispering a word my ears just barely picked up. "Yet." Could I be falling in love? What happened to the girl who would never fall in love? She fell in love and had two children. What happened to the girl who swore not to love until she was ready? She was falling in love and she didn't even know it but her mother the one who swore never o love knew. It was all too confusing for me.

"Do you need help?" I walked into the kitchen to grab the silverware to set the table when I noticed the news on the television. Mom had gone into the cellar to grab something so I turned the volume up.

"CHIEF HAWTHORNE OF PANEM'S MILITARY AND SECURITY IS GOING ON A DISTRICT TOUR THIS WEEK TO OBSERVE EACH RESPECTIVE STATUS."

The words were almost being screamed at me. Why? Everything was so good. I had spent so long trying to glue all the little broken pieces back together. I never expected to have to feel the pain again. I have found a way to numb myself, to forget and now every memory came pouring into me at once. I couldn't help but shriek a loud "NO!"

Mom came rushing up the stairs to find me in some sort of peril. "What's wrong are you okay? Is there anything hurting you? I heard you from downstairs."

"N-Nothing I just stubbed my toe. I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you." My eyes caught the screen again. I should have turned it off but now it was inevitable. My mom turned around reading the bold letters carefully ignoring the man with overly gelled hair sitting pompously in a large blue news chair. No words needed to be said. She cupped her hands over her face and crouched down onto the ground.

"How about we go out from dinner tonight mom? I'm sure that dad has extra food at the bakery and you're in no shape to cook you look sick." She just nodded over and over with her eyes squinted close. I knew that we wouldn't be able to go outside for the rest of the week knowing that Gale would be here. "Mom?"

"Mmmm?" This was bad she could even function enough to have intelligent words come out of her mouth.

"I'm going to make a run down to the bakery so why don't you just go upstairs and lie in bed. I don't want you to be uncomfortable." I could only picture what was going through her mind. Prim. The bombing repeating itself a thousand times.

"Sure."

I ran all the way to the bakery. I arrived huffing and puffing but nevertheless there. Dad came running over to me brushing stray hairs out of my face. "Rye baby, what's wrong?"

Putting my hand on my knees hunching over I answered. "M-mom she's sick I think." He straightened up stiff like a board.

"What happened?" I shrugged my shoulders attempting to catch my breath. Hey I know I'm not in the best shape but I'm not fat so it doesn't matter.

"Blaze!" A little brunette poked his head out from the corner. "Clean up, and man the store with Rye until closing. Come home straight away your mother is sick I need to tend her." My heart leapt a bit seeing Peeta Mellark my father still head over heels for Katniss Everdeen after everything that happened. He sprinted home faster than I ran on the way here.

"Hey sister." Blaze smiled at me. "I bet you everything you know why mother is suddenly sick in the middle of spring."

"You know how sensitive she gets to Gale Hawthorne right?" He didn't answer just gave me a knowing look. "Well she saw that he is coming to our district along with all the other on the new today."

"So she is sick?" He is obviously too uneducated to understand this topic now. But it is something I should have told him a long time ago.

"Not quite. Do you know who I met when I was in District 2?" He perks up at this question sounding suddenly interested in what came out of my mouth.

"Never. You haven't told me yet." I take a deep breath and prepare to spill all of my remaining secrets to my little brother who I do truly trust.

After all my cards have been laid out in front of me I sit back and just let him take in every little detail that has just poured out of my mouth. Even though the heat had been rising each day suddenly I just feel so cold. I shiver lightly and wrap my arms around my body as if that will comfort me.

"So you never visited Grandma?"

"If you were listening I did occasionally. She knew about the Hawthornes just like Haymitch. Flint just happened to be a present I picked up along the way." I smiled wondering where my boyfriend was right now.

"Gale doesn't sound like a bad man. Why does mom have such a problem with him?"

"You know that mom had a little sister named Primrose Everdeen right? Well you know the story she was called to go into the hunger games mom volunteered instead so on. Well Prim was killed in the Rebellion. She was sent down to tend to a bunch of sick children outside President Snow's house and a bunch of parachutes were sent down from the sky. Little did anyone know that the parachutes were actually bombs and killed everyone there on the spot. Prim included. Mom had seen Beetee and Gale creating a bomb in District 13 and when she asked him he wasn't sure if he was responsible or not. She couldn't bear to see him again after knowing that he could have been responsible for the murder of her sister."

"Wow that's awful. I wish I could have met Aunt Prim she seemed to be so airy and happy unlike mom who is dark and scary."

"Blaze, Mom isn't that dark and scary and it's not her fault if she is. The world of Panem was so despicable back then I don't blame her feeling that way. She had soft sides just didn't like to display them because it showed vulnerability and way for the Capitol to crush her even more."

"I'm sorry that you can't see you friend anymore Rye…"

"It's okay I have new friends, you, Laurel, Flint, Sage, and even Whim."

"Rye adults don't count and that leaves your boyfriend, your brother, your stalker and my girlfriend." Laurel and Blaze had started dating shortly after I admitted their feeling to each other.

"Fine, just don't ever tell Mom or Dad."

"I won't"

"Then let's close this store and go home I'm starving. Dad better have made something because you just had to shut the ovens off and the goods are only for customers…"

"Stop complaining and walk!"

Bow POV

"Do I have to go with you guys?" Mom and Dad were straightening themselves up for the tour. Dad had a pressed suit on and a fresh shaved face for probably the first time in his life. Normally scruffy he didn't care about his appearance. Something fishy was going on.

"Yes Bow, now go bring down your luggage." My mother with her pin curls and airbrushed looking face seemed as if she was struggling to look better than normal. I didn't want to get on her bad side when she was stressed.

"Yes mother." She smiled and her brown eyes twinkled a bit. In minutes all of my clothes and important belongings were stuffed away into a large duffle bag and was being stored away on the train.

"Son may I speak with you for a minute?" While on the train my father had snuck up behind me and placed a hand on my back.

"Whatever." We stepped into a private compartment away from all the public people.

"You do know that we are touring every district right?"

"Yeah? So what?"

"Well that means you may be able to see Rye Mellark again. What better time to clear things up and heal a bit. I feel the same way as you except when I see Katniss I may cry. My hearts been hurting for over twenty years. Two years is lucky for you Bow, that's nothing to feel pain."

"How would you know? We are different people Dad."

"That doesn't mean that our hearts don't both hurt equally Bow."

"I'm going back to sit and relax. Not everyone wants to hear about your teenage romance."

"Just remember the way you're treating me. I am your father. Don't forget that Bow."

I stormed back into the public compartment realizing why mom was dressed up and stressed. She felt challenged by a woman my father has loved all his life. Of course she knew that he loved her but in a different way. There was space in heart for two but which one dominated him? I felt sorry for her and betrayed. Gale Hawthorne was almost cheating on us with his past.

"We will be entering District 13 in five minutes, thank you!" The speakers were painful to hear. The woman sounded too happy as if nothing had ever hurt her. I had been hurt and now I was going to face my heartache head on tomorrow it seemed.

Rye POV

A familiar knock sounded on my door. Flint was finally here to help me escape. "Mom, Flint is here! We're going to the lake for the day!" I knew she wouldn't care that I was leaving as long as I was with Flint. He was too jealous to let me near another boy in a mile radius.

"Sure just don't go in the lake you'll freeze!" She was still scatter-brained especially knowing Gale would be coming today. Her initial plan was to stay home under lockdown for the entire day but the mayor of 12 had told my Father that Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark along with the family needed to be present for entertainment purposes. What's a district without the symbol of the revolution that fuels our country today?

I opened the door to reveal the gorgeous face I was head-over-heals for. Within seconds I was being scooped up in his arms kissing his perfect lips that molded to mine as if they were created for me. I kicked the door closed with my foot and broke off the kiss. He pouted making me feel slightly guilty but I intertwined our fingers instead.

"You haven't even said hello to me but you expect to kiss me until my lips bruise?"

He raises an eyebrow playfully and replies, "I thought that was my way of saying 'hello'." I laugh and swat at his chest with my free hand. "Are we really going to the lake Rye?"

"Absolutely not, I have stuff to do in town. Will you allow me to talk to the grocer? And butcher?"

"I don't know. Can a message be passed on?" He grins making me was to tackle him because as much as I like him he aggravates me all the time.

"No this is serious trading business."

"Okay well for this one time I will give you a few hours by yourself. There are a few things I have to do right now." From the corner of my eye I see a train roll in and I honestly don't want to let him go but I kiss him briefly and stalk away.

I head to the grocer first. I stole the list of needs from the kitchen table because personally we need some good food in our house and I can't wait until tomorrow for food. I can't live my entire life on pastries. The list isn't too bad. I should be able to get out of here in less than an hour.

Bow POV

Yesterday's little gathering in District 13 was boring. People just took pictures of our family, we had a banquet and then the mayor spoke with dad for an hour or so. But, now we were pulling into District 12 station. I could see dad pacing around the corner and mom adjusting her makeup again.

"ALL FOR DISTRICT 12 PLEASE EXIT THE TRAIN NOW, THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY." I wasn't so sure that today would be wonderful but I knew that I had to step off the train at some point or else I would find myself stranded in the middle of Panem.

"Bow you can go ahead and explore the district for a bit. Your mother and I have to unpack in the house."

"Wait? Why do we have a house in District 12?"

"Your mother isn't feeling too well. There's a hospital in district 12. There's not district in 11 because they have a joint location. The house isn't permanent but just for the few days we have to stay." I could tell my mom wasn't happy with staying but she did seem to worry herself into a green complexion and mind-blowing headache.

"I'll check on you later mom when it's time for the banquet oaky?"

"Thank you sweetie." She kisses my cheek lightly. I regret her kiss only because if she is truly sick than I don't need some flu keeping us here any longer than necessary.

When I turned around and took in the small district for the first time I couldn't help search for her. She must look so different. Though it was only two years she was only beginning to bloom at age fifteen. The town seems so large to find one so very important girl. I take my first steps bringing me three steps closer to the girl who broke my heart.

Once I reach the heart of the town I see a fountain shaped like a mockingjay that is spewing water. They must all take a lot of pride of sharing the same home as Katniss Everdeen. I highly doubt that she will be in town when she doesn't need to be. I look around for a blonde haired girl but see only giggling brunettes batting eyelashes at me from the local stores.

"Excuse me sir?" I spin around to see a girl with messy light brown hair and matching freckles tapping my shoulder. I grin at her hoping to turn on the seam charm I inherited from my father.

"Yes?"

"You seem to be lost. Do you have somewhere to be?"

"Oh, no I'm just touring your district."

"At first I thought you were my boyfriend. I'm sorry that I was a bit too comfortable with you."

She has a boyfriend. Of course she does a natural beauty like her must have someone every second of the day. "I should introduce you two, it's crazy you both have the original seam features."

"Really? I didn't know the seam people came back to twelve." She giggles.

"Well most of them didn't but of course Blaze's parents would return. There are too many memories to abandon with them here."

"I know but my father couldn't wait to flee the district when the rebellion was over."

"Well I could never imagine the Mellarks living somewhere else in Panem besides the place they were reaped and born." When those words slipped out of her mouth my heart stopped.

"You're the girlfriend of Blaze Mellark, son of Katniss and Peeta?"

"It's not a big deal he's a completely different person. And I wouldn't ever have been brave enough say yes to him if Rye hadn't helped me."

"Thanks for trying to help me but I have to go now." I needed to get away from this girl before I said something that I couldn't take back.

I walked into the flower shop because it seemed like not many people would be there. I happened to bump into a tall man with spikey brown hair and sharp green eyes. In his hand sat a large bouquet of flowers. "Sorry! I didn't mean to."

He laughed it off "It's no problem I was just hoping you weren't my girlfriend. It's supposed to be a surprise you know?"

He had a good taste in flowers; it was a blend of primroses, roses, and various pastel colors. The girl was lucky a guy was getting her something so lavish and thoughtful. "She's going to love it."

"You think, I just want to say how I really feel before I go away. I can't imagine how it's going to be away from her in the capitol without her."

I sucked a deep breath in. "It hurts when the girl you love it gone. It stings still two years later."

"She promised to visit me as often she can." His eyes turned sad and cold. "After she's done with her school she's going to be free to decide what she wants to do whether it be with me or not."

"I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank-you." He walked out quickly as if he was on a mission. I was just about to go home when I spotted a girl with long golden hair walk by. I followed her until I noticed she had a baby face and a growing bump on her stomach. There was no way she was in town and I had to go get ready for the banquet.

As I swung the large door open I startled my mother waking her up on accident. "Sorry Mom. It's time to get ready." I knew my dad was dealing with business so we were the only ones who had to deal with their physical appearances. An hour later my mother descended the stairs in a knee length blue dress that was encrusted with thousands of blue crystals. It made her brown eyes warm up and accentuated her blond bouncing curls. I was simply dressed with a blue suit. "You look great mom! Don't worry about Katniss; dad won't be able to take his eyes off you."

"You really think?"

"I'm positive."

Rye POV

The table was so long it could probably stretch from one side of my house to the other. All the people who were interested could join the feast. I couldn't sit until my family was formally introduced and really the only thing I wanted to do was dig into the rich rare foods.

"INTRODUCING THE MAYOR OF DISTRICT TWELVE! TOBEE RATHWOOD!" Only one more announcement before we could finally take our places. I could see the back of Flint's head from here already saving me a seat. "INTRODUCING OUR GUEST OF THE NIGHT! MR. GALE HAWTHORNE AND HIS FAMILY!" I didn't know that his family would be coming along with him. This made the situation ten times worse. Mrs. Hawthorne looked stunning in her flowing blue dress and Bow looked devishly handsome even with the aggravated look on his face. My mother personally looked better with her constantly braided hair let loose exposing her gorgeous waves. He long slender legs sparkled and her red pumps gave her off the element that they never ended. Her makeup was subtle because she already was dazzling. Finally her dress was a mid-thigh ruby red dress that was encrusted with rubies all along the waist and neckline. Her chest was no longer flat like during the Rebellion and had earned womanly curves and kept her slender figure.

"INTRODUCING OUR SAVIORS KATNISS EVERDEEN- MELLARK, PEETA MELLARK AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, RYE AND BLAZE MELLARK." It felt strange to wave and smile at people who you already knew but everyone knew it was for the live broadcasting being aired throughout Panem on TV. that would be on tonight. People chose to watch the TV themselves and everyone would be turned in tonight. Mom earned a large whoop from everyone there and it hurt my ears. I noticed Gale eye mom up and down with she squeezed Dad's hand and spun around.

Quickly I plopped down next to Flint and waited to gorge myself. Then finally I heard the words 'dig in' and I certainly did.

Bow POV

Rye entered the room and I lost my breath. She was wearing a short red dress that showed off her legs that were standing of tall black pumps. Her hair was long curled ringlets that reached her lower back. Her eyes had wisened and her features glowed naturally in the light. Not to mention she had a teeny bit of cleavage surely her parents disapproved of. I saw the open seat next to me seeing all the rest were taken. But she turned and fell into a one next to the man inside the flower store.

My heart broke all over again the poor man was saving it for his girlfriend and she took it because in fear of me. I pitied the man but envied him at the same time for being permitted to bask in her presence. As soon as we were allowed she filled her plate completely full and stuffed herself while I just ate up the feeling of being in the same room as her.

After people began to finish dinner I noticed Rye disappear and I followed her in hopes to catch a minute to talk to her. She was sitting on the edge of the fountain waiting for something. Then I noticed the man walk out with the flowers and a long box. She started to gasp and he loudly announced what he felt.

"Rye Rose Mellark, I knew since the first time I met you in district two that we had a connection." Wait he knew her in 2? "Whether it is with our parents or emotion, I have hopelessly in love with you through these three weeks." Only three weeks? "I don't know how I'm going to live away from you."

Then she spoke. "Flint Finn Mason! I can't believe you did all this for me! I love you too." Then she leaped onto him kissing him deeply making me cringe. "As soon as I graduate I will move to the Capitol so I can spend as much time as possible with you."

I had lost her in those two years. She wasn't my Rye Mellark. She was Flint's. They were in love.

So how was it? Very long I know but I hope it was worth it. I'm tired so I don't want to say anymore. Ps. this is chapter 10. Please review and help me think of what to happen next. Bow or Flint?