Here's the next chapter! Enjoy! I do not own CF any direct quotes will be in italics.


Ch. 28

As I walk to the bakery the next day I realize one thing. This doesn't feel like home anymore. Sure I see the same people walking around and the shops are all the same, but there is that little difference that makes it feels weird. Sure I'll probably get used to it someday, but right now I feel as far away from District Twelve as I did while in the Hunger Games.

"Peeta!" I turn around as see two of my old friends from school. I haven't talk to them in really forever and I'm not sure why they chose now to finally say hello. There's Marybell, her hair pulled back and her body wrapped in huge coats, she looks much more mature since I've seen her, and there's Matt who holds her hand and smiles as they walk up to me. They had a thing in school, but I didn't know that had officially gotten together.

Marybell pulls me into a tight hug; "We saw the thing with Gale. That was so brave of you to stand up like that." She steps back and Matt grabs me. They were part of my tight circle of friends.

"It's the only thing I could do. He was hurting Katniss. Not only physically, but mentally as well, this whole thing with Gale has really taken its toll on her." They shift their weight uncomfortably. It was a big question to those in District Twelve who didn't really know the truth, if Gale and Katniss were cousins or not. I see the question in their eyes, they want the truth. I could go either way.

"They're cousins. Right?" Asks Matt and he grabs hold of Marybell's hand again.

"Yeah." I nod my head. It's not the most difficult lie I've ever told, "They're really close. It hurts Katniss a lot when he gets hurt."

"Well we were deeply saddened by it. Look Peeta, we'd love to catch up. But you see we're planning a wedding." She holds up her hand, which shows a slim modest ring, "And I have to go look for a dress." I say my congratulations and goodbyes.

I look over the horizon into the distance before entering the bakery. Only trace amounts of smoke show from the Hob now, but somehow you can feel the sorrow from all the people that worked there. Yesterday I had gone with Katniss to see Hazel, and on the way back we stopped to look at the damage.

The fire was huge and even though we stood feet away from it you could feel the heat. A black liquid ran throughout the ground, "It's all the coal dust, from the old days." She said. She was holding onto my hand tightly when all of a sudden she had let go and I could feel the blood rush back quickly. She took a step towards the fire then looked around, "I want to go check on Greasy Sae."

I doubt they wanted to see the people that are partially at blame for this, not that they'd know it, but still their whole lives are basically ruined, "Not today, Katniss. I don't think we'd be helping anyone by dropping in on them." I had held out my hand and she had grabbed it. I almost saw a tear roll out of her eye, but she didn't let it fall.

"Peeta!" I've walked into the shop to see Delly standing at the display case. "I didn't expect you to be here! Well I guess I should have, but you know!" She pulls me into a hug.

"Delly, I should be the one that didn't expect you to be here. I thought you'd be sleeping for three days!" The whole time I swear Delly didn't sleep a wink. She was telling the truth when she said she didn't sleep well during storms.

"Oh, I was just going to take a nap after this. My mom wanted me to pick up some bread. I gladly came over!" My dad hands her a loaf and she puts in a bag that must hold the other items she just picked up.

"Well I shouldn't hold you too long. See you around!" Delly's out the door in a matter of seconds and I'm left alone with my dad. He doesn't say a word to me once she's gone he just moves to the counter and begins in on the bread.

"Dad?" I say, wondering if he's okay. He's not one to talk, but he usually says hello.

"Yes, Peeta?" He looks up from the pastry he's looking at.

"Are you okay?" I ask. I move behind the counter and begin to help him.

"Yeah. It's just been a little low on business, but I'm sure it will pick up." He says. He moves to the oven and puts the pastries in.

"Has it been like this before?" I ask and look out side the window to the new District Twelve.

His only answer is, "Yes." But then we walks out of the room and I'm left alone in the shop. It amazes me how much this District has been through and yet Haymitch doesn't want a rebellion. It amazes me how weak some of these people really are. I see them and some of them look happy. Like Marybell and Matt they looked perfectly content. They didn't seem at all affected by what the square now looked like. Would they actually fight if we were sprung into action? Would anybody actually fight?

It's how the Capitol holds us down. Fear. And they're doing really good with it right now. No one will want to fight unless all this goes away. The Capitol has an advantage, but I want to do anything to stop them.


I hope you liked it! And I hope you didn't find this chapter unnessacary, just starting the fire in Peeta's belly like it was in Katniss's :) DOn't forget to REVIEW on the way out! Thanks! ~boywithbreadlover