Katniss was annoyed as she stood by her mother's bed, looking in the mirror as she watched her mom braid her hair. She had started wearing her mother's clothes when she turned 12. They were bigger on her back then, but now she was starting fill out the dress like her mother. Not entirely. Her mother grew up in town. She had more food to eat growing up, which meant she looked more like a woman. She had curves, an hour glasses shape to her body. Katniss grew up in the Seam. She had no curves. She only wore a b-cup bra. (She only had one nice bra.)

Her mom had saved up her money and bought Katniss her first bra when she was 13. She had started to develop at 12 years old, but she could get away with not wearing a bra, like most girls from the Seam. But her mother said, every young girl who becomes a woman deserves a beautiful bra. She said everyone deserves it, but no one from the Seam gets to have one.

The reason that she was annoyed was because they announced a mandatory viewing. The Capitol was demanding that all the children in school gather together for an assembly, and that everyone else go to the town square.

And what annoyed Katniss even further, was that they asked for all the high schoolers to wear their best clothes. It was just like on Reaping Day, and you had to put on your fanciest dress.

Katniss rolled her eyes at thinking of the Hunger Games. She didn't understand why they still had these Games. The Districts never watched. Really only the families and friends of one of the Tributes ever watched. And of course, the Mayor.

He would announce when one of the Tributes died in the arena. Everyone would assemble and would pay their respects to the family and friends on losing their loved ones. Katniss didn't know how other Districts dealt with the Games, but District 12 refused to watch them. It was too heart breaking.

But Even the Capitol was getting bored with them. And that was really who the Games were for. And the turn out each year was getting less and less. Katniss hoped that it would be ending soon, because this was her sister Prim's first year, and she didn't want her sister to go through what every other District child has gone through for the last seventy-four years.

Katniss wondered what was happening. Was the Reaping starting early this year? That couldn't be it. Why wouldn't the younger kids not be dressed up? Why wouldn't all the children be in the square?

"You're shaking," her mother said, placing her hand on shoulder. "You shouldn't worry until you find out what this all about,"

"I don't think I can do that," Katniss whispered. She really wanted her father right now. Her father died when she was 11 years old in a mining accident. Her father was her best friend. She was close to her mother. But dads were the head of the family, and protected and took care of their family. Her dad always brought her over the fence and into the woods, which was forbidden. But she was never scared because her father made her feel safe. Just being in his arms made her feel safe. She needed her dad to hug her right now. And her mother knew that.

Her mother, Emily, turned her around and wrapped her arms around her. "It will be ok. Just calm yourself and wait to hear the news. Whatever it is, we'll get through this together. Just like we always have," she whispered into her ear. Katniss squeezed her tightly.

"You look so pretty. I wish I looked like you," Prim said as she came down the stairs. Katniss turned around and smiled.

"You look beautiful. I wish I looked like you. But you better tuck in that tail, Little duck," Katniss said as she tucked in the back of her shirt into her skirt.

"You both look beautiful," their mother said. Before they could say anything else, they heard the horn blow. They only blew that on Reaping Day, or any other time there was a mandatory viewing. Katniss looked down at Prim who started shaking, just like she had moments ago.

"Hey it's ok. There's nothing to be scared of. We don't know anything that's going on. So, there's no need to worry. Everything will be ok," Katniss said she hugged her little sister.

Katniss looked at her mother, who gave her a soft smile and raised an eye at Katniss. The she knew what her mother was thinking. 'Take your own advice.'

"Come on girls," their mother said. Prim walked between them and held both their hands. They dropped Prim off and then they walked to the square.

"Are you gonna be ok?" Her mom asked. Katniss nodded her head, and her mother hugged her. When they pulled away, her mother put both her hands on her cheeks. "Don't be scared. Your dad never was, and you're just like him," her mother said and then kissed her on the forehead, and then parted ways.

Everyone was anxious. She could feel it in the hallways. You could hear a pin drop. No one was talking. Everyone was terrified of what the Capitol would reveal today.

"You doing ok?" She turned around and saw her best friend, Gale. She gave him a half smile.

"I guess," she whispered and grabbed her book out of her locker. They were taking the kids into the cafeteria one grade at a time, and then letting them go home. Luckily Katniss was in tenth grade, so she wouldn't have to wait too long. Gale on the other hand was a senior. He had the wait until all three of the lower grades were done.

"You nervous?" He asked as they started walking down the hall. She nodded her head.

"And pissed," she admitted. Gale chuckled.

"Same here. What could they possibly come up with to make our lives more miserable? God damned Capitol," Gale complained. Katniss looped her arm through his and rested her head on his arm as they walked.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you more. I just hate this. I hate that we have to live like this," Gale said. Katniss just nodded.

Both her and Gale were always vocal about their hatred for the Capitol. Their disgust on how everyone in District 12 had to live. Especially the thousands who lived in the Seam. But Katniss was too… nervous to join in today.

Gale let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to freak you out more," Gale told her. She stood straight up again and took her arm away.

"I know. But you can't freak me out anymore then I already am. Damn stupid Capitol," she muttered. Katniss got to her classroom and looked at Gale. He hugged her tightly and pulled back.

"I'll come by after the assembly," Gale said. But she shook her head.

"Go home first. Whatever it is, Hazelle will want to see you," he nodded his head and kissed her cheek and took off. She walked into her class and took a seat in the back row, where she liked to hide.

Gale and Katniss had been best friends since they were little. Both of their dads were best friends their whole lives. Her and Gale grew up with each other, always fighting like brother and sister.

When it was too cold in their house, Gale's family would come stay at their house. The wind always hit their house too hard; and they constantly repair the roof and windows. So, they would get their blankets and pillows and head to the Everdeen house. The kids would all pile into a bed to sleep together to keep warm. It got a little harder to do as they got older. Gale was huge. But after their fathers died in the same cave in…there were two empty spaces. In her parents, and the bed that Gale's parents used.

Prim would sleep with her mom, and Posy and Vick would sleep with Hazelle. So, her, Gale and Rory would have the bed to themselves. It was the same every winter. Their dads were gone, but both their families took care of each other.

"You doing ok?" Madge asked as she sat down next to her. Katniss broke out of her thoughts and shook her head.

"Just peachy. You?" She asked. Madge shrugged.

"I'm not gonna be able to concentrate today," she admitted. Katniss understood that. Neither would she. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a familiar pair of blue eyes. She turned her head and saw Peeta Mellark walk in.

Every time she looked at him, she thought of the day that he saved her life. She had given up hope that she'd be able to survive. Prim, her mother me Katniss were starving. They hadn't eaten in days. Hazelle was on bed rest because of the distress she was in with being pregnant and the fact that her husband had just died.

Gale had been trying so hard to take care of her and his brothers. Vick was only two and Rory was only seven. Vick was a terrible toddler, and Rory was sick practically the whole winter. Gale could barely leave the house. Katniss and her mother helped as much as they could, but they were struggling as well.

So, one day, after trying to sell some of Prim's baby clothes, she collapsed under a tree, in the pouring rain and admitted to herself that she was going to die. She let her family down, because they were all going to starve to death, and it was all her fault.

She watched as Peeta Mellark was pushed through the back door and smacked in the face with a rolling pin. Peeta turned and walked over to the fence to throw the bread to the pig, but turned to look at his mother, and then back at me and threw me the bread. She had been so shocked she almost didn't pick it up in time to save it from landing in a puddle. Then he threw her a second one.

Their eyes met for a moment. Peeta put one foot off the porch, but then his mother screamed for him, making him spin around and run back inside.

She had known him since she was five years old. He had always been shy and would blush when she caught him staring. Her and her father would go to his house and knock on the back door of the Bakery to trade with his father. Once he died, she took on that responsibility. Sometimes Peeta would answer the door and blush and go find his father. Mr. Mellark always gave her and Gale extra. She never understood why. Other people who traded with Mr. Mellark never got as much as they did. She had always noticed Peeta. But they had never officially spoken.

After her father died and she saw how broken hearted her mother was. She vowed that day she would never get married. And it solidified her decision the first time she stood in the Reaping.

But her feelings changed for Peeta that day. He saved her life. He saved her mother and sisters life. The next day she saw the first dandelion of the season and had hope. She looked up and locked eyes with the most beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. She felt something stirring. She felt butterflies in her stomach.

But the moment was lost when Peeta's older brother Ryee jumped on his back. She shook her head and spun around and ran off to find Prim. What she had just felt she stuffed in deep inside and swore to never let it out again. She had developed feelings for a boy and swore to never let it happen again.

She knew what she had done. She tried to ignore her feelings for the boy with the bread. She pretended that she felt nothing. But she always kept an eye on him. She paid attention when he spoke in class. She went to every wrestling match. She loved to hear him laugh or watch him smile.

She always knew the little things too. He always double knotted his shoelaces. He liked to doodle things on his work, and when he was in deep concentration, he'd purse his lips together and sometimes his tongue would barely appear. She tried to always deny it. But the feelings were there.

"Earth to Katniss," she heard Madge whisper. Peeta was sitting down now, diagonal from her. She always liked when he sat near-

Alright no more. She let her mind wander too much about Peeta. You'll never have any romantic relationship with someone. You're never having kids. You'll live with your mom forever and be just fine with that because she'd never have to watch them starve or be reaped!

"My dad looked really sad this morning," Madge revealed. Katniss turned to look at her. Madge's father was the mayor.

"What do you think that means?" Madge fidgeted with her pencil, thinking.

"He's not angry. He just looks…lost. Like he's mourning someone. Like someone he's close to is dying," she said. If Katniss thought she was nervous before, she was finally skipping nervous and driving straight into full panic mode.

Katniss groaned and buried her head in her hands. "God this is horrible," Katniss said. Madge rubbed her back.

Katniss was honest with what scares her first. Whatever this was, would it effect Prim? Would it affect her mother? Gale's family? She was scared for them.

The teacher came in and had the same worried look that they all did. Her history teacher, Mr. Vallen was in his mid-twenties. All the students loved him. He had such an outgoing personality and really cared for them. He was from the merchant side of District 12, but he never treated the Seam kids any different from the merchant kids.

Mr. Vallen came around to the front of the desk and leaned back into it, sitting slightly on the front of it, with his arms crossed.

"What District were we born in?" He asked. Everyone looked around at each other. "Well?" He asked.

"District 12," a boy said.

"Correct. What is District 12 responsible for providing the Capitol with?" Again, a little stunned silence.

"Coal," a girl said.

"Correct. What year will this summer's Hunger Games be?"

"The 74th,"

"Correct. What else do I need to teach you today that you don't already know?" Mr. Vallen asked. No one said anything. "Do you think if we started talking about the world before we were called Panem, that any of you would be able to tell me what I said on Monday?" He asked them. A few kids shook their heads.

"Precisely. So, why bother teaching today?" He asked. Some of the kids smiled. "Let's play a game. Everyone wants to know what the assembly's about. Just to get it over with. So, let's write our guesses on the board. If anyone guesses right, then the whole class gets a prize," he said.

"What's the prize?" Audrianna asked. Katniss rolled her eyes, and Madge winked at her. Madge knew how much Katniss hated Audrianna. She was the meanest town kid and treated anyone from the Seam like trash. She was such a whore. She talked about what her and all the merchant boys did in bed together. Katniss figured most of it was total garbage, but then Katniss would just look at her and be annoyed. She dressed in such tight clothing. Her tops low cut, showing off her breasts. Flirting shamefully and hanging all over all the boys.

"Peeta's gonna bake us the most Chocolatey cake there is, and we're all gonna enjoy huge slices of it," he said. The class cheered and instantly started throwing out ideas.

"The town kids are never gonna guess," Katniss said, as she heard them lost off the most frivolous things.

"Why do you think that?" Madge asked.

"Because they don't know it's like to starve. Depression seeps into our brains in the Seam. All we know is depression. If anyone gets it right, it's gonna be someone from the Seam,"

"They're gonna build a movie theater," Preston called out. Katniss rolled her eyes again. Preston was the epitome of stuck up. He thought he was better than everyone else.

"No stupid. We're not gonna have a huge District 12 assembly for a damn movie theater," Bones told him. Katniss always shivered when she was around Bones. He was from the Seam, but the worst part. They were in a gang that caused all types of trouble. Bones was the worst of the teenagers. She had heard a rumor that he killed someone, and that he snuck into girls' windows and raped them.

"Bones calm down. This is just a game," Mr. Vallen told him.

"The girls get to pick which boy they want to marry," Pendalyn swooned. The girls around her giggled, and Katniss groaned into her hand.

"Oh my god could they be anymore mind numbingly stupid," Katniss groaned. She heard a couple kids around her snicker, but there was one chuckle that stood out. She looked up and Peeta Mellark was smiling at her.

"What did Mrs. Everdeen say?" Mr. Vallen asked, waiting to laugh himself. Mr. Vallen always picked on Katniss. Not to be mean, but to joke with her. He knew how much she hated speaking in front of everyone, so he always made her do it. Often. And he would drive her to say something snarky. He would laugh and then he'd let her off the hook. All he was ever looking from her was for a laugh.

"Nothing," she grumbled.

"She wonders why Pendalyn and her gaggle of mini me's are so mind numbingly stupid," Hezar called out. Her mouth dropped. She reached forward and grabbed the back of his neck.

"You blabbermouth. You ratted me out!" Katniss hissed. Hezar was one of her neighbors, and he just totally sold her out.

"OW LET ME GO KATNISS!" Hezar yelled. "Make her stop Mr. V!" He called out. Mr. Vallen laughed.

"Alright huntress. Let him go," he laughed. Katniss let him go. Hezar just breathed a sigh of relief when she smacked him across the back of his head.

"The irony of Seam trash calling me mind numbingly stupid. You'll be down in the mines-" Pendalyn snottily said but was interrupted by Mr. Vallen dropping a heavy book on the desk, making all the students jump.

"Just because we have an assembly today, and have a week left of school doesn't mean you forget the rules and start using those slang terms against anyone in the Seam. You can have detention all next week Mrs. Saunders," Mr. Vallen said.

"But she called me stupid," Pendalyn argued.

"Mind numbingly stupid," Jander corrected. Pendalyn glared at him while he just smiled. He looked back and smiled at Katniss. Seam kids always stand together.

"You know the rules. Katniss will get some sentences, but you can start you detention today,"

"But we only have half a day," Pendalyn screeched.

"Well then you'll get to enjoy the quiet hallways today then," he said. Mr. Vallen pulled the class's attention right back to the game. Pendalyn turned and glared at Katniss, who just rolled her eyes and stared back at her. Bored.

Mr. Vallen did exactly what he wanted. He distracted the class until the bell rang. It wouldn't ring at the normal times today. What it meant right now, was that the assembly for the ninth graders was done, and they were all off campus. The tenth graders would now put their books back into their lockers and go to the gym.

Katniss wanted to be with Gale. He'd sit next to her and make nasty comments about the Capitol and President Snow that would make her smile. It would calm her nerves- no it wouldn't. It would make her angry right along with him, and she'd be able to focus on the anger on the terror.

She walked all the way to the top of the bleachers to lean back against the wall. Madge met her a few minutes later. "My dad looks devastated," Madge said worriedly.

The whole tenth grade was sitting on one side of the gym. In the center were chairs that were facing them, a big screen, and a podium in front of it. She scanned the chairs to see who was down there. The principal and Mayor Undersee were the first two she recognized. Then Katniss saw her. Effie Trinkett!

"Her wig is green," Madge whispered. Haymitch Abernathy was sitting in the chairs as well. She didn't care who else was up there. Effie Trinkett was here!

Effie Trinkett only came to District 12 once a year. To pull the names out of the bowl for the most unfortunate kids, and then leave on the train with them. Waving goodbye excitedly, while taking two of their children to be slaughtered in an arena for enjoyment.

And Haymitch Abernathy. Katniss shook her head. "I wonder how many bottles of liquor he's hiding in his jacket," Madge whispered. Katniss shook her head and groaned.

She'd have to check on Haymitch later. Haymitch was the only living Victor from District 12. The only other Victor was in the tenth Games.

During the 50th Hunger Games, he was reaped along with Maysilee Donner. It was her mother's best friend, and Madge's aunt. Haymitch and Maysilee became allies at one point but then parted ways. They wouldn't kill each other. It didn't matter that Haymitch was from the Seam, and Maysilee was from town, they were both from District 12. And they would never kill each other. Maysilee died when they parted ways, and Haymitch became the Victor.

Haymitch lost his whole family shortly after he won, and Haymitch was left all alone. Her mother and father, who were dating at the time, and Gale's mother and father befriended Haymitch. My mother once told me that she had a place special in her heart for Haymitch, because of the way he took care of her best friend in the arena. And refused to hurt her.

Haymitch was a drunk though. He was alone with no family. So, her and Gale's family became his family. She couldn't understand for the longest time why their dads just took care of Haymitch so kindly when he constantly was drunk as much as he breathed. What was the point?

But then she at her first reaping. It terrified her. She watched those Games that year, for the first time. All she did was cry. That could have been her.

When Haymitch got home he was disgustingly drunk. Gale and her walked him home and they laid him down on the couch. She had cleaned the house while he was gone in the Capitol, and knew that because he was back, it was going to be filthy in no time. But she sat in the recliner and stared at him.

"I get it," Katniss said.

"Get what?" Gale asked as he started pulling Haymitch's shoes off of him.

"Why he drinks so much. He's watched 40 kids who he was supposed to take care of, supposed to bring home, die!"

She got it all right. Whatever they were about to be told today was hitting him harder than a regular drinking binge. She watched as he pulled another flask out.

Effie stepped up to the podium and tapped the microphone. "Welcome! Welcome, welcome. I'm so happy to be here with some of my future Tributes," she said. Everyone on the bleachers looked around. They all would only have two Reaping's left. They all might get through it unharmed.

"Now, I have a special surprise for you. President Snow himself has recorded a very special message for you. All for our young adults. President Snow is giving you all the best opportunity that life can offer you," Effie said and clapped her hands and then sat down.

The gym lights went off and the screen lit up. President Snow was sitting at his desk, smiling.

"He scares me," Madge whispered.

"He repulses me. He looks like a snake," Katniss shivered.

"Good morning to Panem's bright and shining young faces. I am President Snow, and I'm happy that you all decided to join us today," I roll my eyes. That's a complete joke. It wasn't like we had a choice. We were forced. Where else would we be?

"Before Panem was created, the world was filled with billions of people. Our world thrived on the hard work and dedication the working class accomplished for the privileged to enjoy," Snow said. Katniss' mouth dropped. So, what he's basically saying is that the world before Panem, was still just like Panem? Instead of people kept prisoner in the Districts to work for the Capitol, they just had slaves all over the world to work for the "privileges"?

Snow talked for a few more minutes, but Katniss tried to drown him out. He talked about the Hunger Games. It was a reminder of the war, and how it's an honor to be reaped. The usual load of garbage. But now he was talking about how the war took so many people all over Panem. Too many people. We should be further along in population, but our defiance against the Capitol has set us back.

"So, you ask yourselves, what can I do for the Capitol?" Snow said. Katniss scoffed.

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Katniss snarked. Madge smiled. Janston turned around and looked at her. He was from the Seam.

"Preach sister," Janston said and held up his fist. Katniss rolled her eyes and did one of those stupid fist bumps that she felt was terribly obnoxious.

"I have put into the effect, "The Marriage initiative'". Everyone looked around at each other.

"What the hell does that mean?" She heard a boy ask. She has no idea who it came from, but it was the exact same thought on everyone's mind.

"Oh Katniss, look at my dad," Madge said. Katniss looked at Mayor Undersee, to see his head in his hands. Madge's eyes started welling up. Katniss knew right away what was happening.

He was reacting as a father first. This Marriage initiative was going to directly affect his daughter. This wasn't good at all. Katniss didn't think of herself, she thought of Prim. What terrible atrocities would happen to her precious little sister?

Katniss shook her head to come back to listening to President Snow. She missed part of what he was saying.

"As soon as you graduate high school, you will be married and issued a house immediately. Welcomed into society to help provide and continue to grow the Capitol. To provide children, to help prosper your children and grandchildren's lives,"

What? What did he just say? What is he talking about?

She couldn't listen to anymore. Does this mean what she thought it meant? When she graduates, she's supposed to get married? Issued a house. Forced to have babies. But she swore to herself. She wasn't falling in love. She wasn't getting married. She wasn't having children. And now she was being forced to. She couldn't breathe.

She felt someone shaking her. She tried to see who it was, but her eyes were blurry. She heard some muffled sounds, but her ears were ringing. She felt someone shaking her harder and her eyes slowly started coming into focus. She could see Haymitch squatting down in front of her. Madge was next to her, and a few of the Seam kids were watching her.

"What?" Katniss asked.

"Come down sweetheart. They want a damn picture of everyone," Haymitch said and helped her stand up and pull her down the bleachers. Effie was down there tapping her foot.

"Young lady do you have no manners at all? I've been calling you and-"Haymitch waved his hand in front of her.

"Oh, loosen your corset and shut up," Haymitch said as he walked Katniss and Madge over to the other side of the gym. The gym looked more camera ready on this side. The girls were directed on where to stand, and Katniss froze when she got to her spot. The Capitol wanted pictures of their torture? Of their stunned faces as they were just told that when they graduate, they HAVE to get married, and they HAVE to start having babies.

She wouldn't smile in these pictures, no matter how loud Effie yelled at them. Pointing them out for having no manners. She felt hands on her shoulders and back as she swayed backwards.

"Hey are you ok?" She turned slightly and looked up to see that Peeta was the one that was touching her. His face turning beet red. She couldn't say anything. "Do you need to sit down? Or get something to e-"he stopped abruptly. Get something to eat. She hadn't eaten breakfast. She actually hadn't eaten since the day before, just so Prim had something for lunch this afternoon.

Effie threw her hands up. "I give up on you all. All I ask is that you come presentable today. This picture will be shown for generations in Panem. You're all dirty and dressed so poorly. You can't even smile. Just take the picture and send them home," Effie said and clicked off. The gym was quiet.

They were dirty because some of them couldn't get to running water, or they had to share the dirty bath water. They were dressed so poorly because they were poor. No one wants to smile because their starving, and you just told them they HAVE to get married.

Katniss wasn't even sure how she made it out of school and back home. It was all a blur to her. But she walked through her door and her mother was there to hug her tightly.

"How do we get through this one mom," it wasn't a question though. It was a statement. Katniss was going to be forced to leave this house. Abandoning her mother and sister to struggle and fend for themselves. Then Prim would be forced to marry someone as well, leaving their mother all alone.

"We'll get through it somehow," her mom pulled away and held her cheeks. "This isn't happening for another two years. Anything can happen in two years. We don't-"Katniss stopped her and smiled sadly.

"I'm turning 16 this month…Right after my 18th birthday I have to…" Katniss couldn't finish the sentence. She pulled away from her mother and ran up the stairs and into her room. Almost ripping off the dress and pulling on her clothes.

She had to run away. She needed to get out of this house. She had to run into the woods. Her mother called after her as she ran out of the house, through the Seam, through the Square and behind the alley to the meadow. She ran down the meadow to the fence and crawled under it. She stood back up and went running until she got to her spot with Gale…and then collapsed onto the ground.

How could they do this? Why was Snow and the Capitol so evil? They just wanted more power. More control. More ways to live the life of luxury. The more people that lived in the Districts, the easier everyone's lives in the Capitol was. They were slaves. All the Districts were to the Capitol were slaves.

Katniss didn't know how long she had been laying there when Gale finally found her and sat down next to her. She finally sat up.

"Your moms worried about you. You've been gone for about five hours," Gale said, looking down the hills.

"I didn't know I was gone that long," she whispered. They sat in silence. What could they say? "What are you gonna do?" She asked.

If she had to get married when she graduated, what about Gale? He graduates next week. How were her and Gale supposed to take care of three households now? Gale getting married would just be another mouth to feed. But then there's a third house. A physical house. It's hard enough taking care of their two houses. Now a third one? And what about their children? More mouths to feed.

"I don't have to get married just yet. I get to wait till I'm 25," Gale said. Katniss looked at him. "I guess they're gonna go over all the details in our last year of school. Apparently, I can either go work in the Mines and get married, or I can join the Marriage Imitative Construction Group," Gale said bitterly.

"What's that? They didn't mention that this morning,"

"Because it doesn't affect you. You'll have two years to find your husband. But they have to build more houses to accommodate all the newly married couples that will happen this summer, and next summer. So, we'll have a year to build more homes," Gale said and threw a rock.

"They're gonna have to supply more jobs. The Marriage Initiative will create a lot more jobs at the Justice Building. They're planning on building some huge factory to produce whatever the Capitol fancies. And more Peacekeepers to monitor the entire thing,"

"I didn't hear any of this,"

"We didn't either. A little bit but my mom told me a bunch. Our last week of school is going to be preparing us for the next few years. And by our last day, we'll get to know what the consequences are if we don't fall in line," Gale told her. Katniss buried her face in her hands.

"I can't get married Gale," she whispered. Gale let out a long sigh.

"I know you can't. You've never wanted kids. So, you never wanted to get married. So, you never want to try and fall in love," there was no emotion behind what he said. It had been something that they had talked about a million times. Gale had always made fun of her for it, but secretly supported her decision. Gale would do the same thing…except he wanted to fall in love.

But saying those words about her, as he had done so many times before, there was nothing behind it. Only sadness. But what really was sad, was that the sadness was for her.

"What am I gonna do? What are we gonna do?" She whispered. He finally looked over at her.

"Nothing. We're going to do nothing right now. There's nothing we can do. All we know is that we're going to school next week. We'll find out all the terrible details of how the Capitol is fucking up our lives. I'm gonna give myself as much time as I can before I have to get married so I can take care of our families. That's all I know that I'm doing right now," Gale said. Katniss scooted over me rested her head on his shoulder.

"We'll figure something out Catnip," he told her and kissed the top of her head. "Head on home. Your mom and Prim are really worried that you're not there. I'll check the snare lines and start making some trades," he told her. Katniss rarely took orders, but this time she knew Gale was right. And she wasn't going to argue with him.

Peeta, his father and his two older brothers sat upstairs at the dining room table, stunned by the news. Their mother had a migraine and was sleeping, and their father had never even opened the Bakery that day.

"So, after I graduate I either go work in construction to save myself from getting married, or I stay working at the Bakery and get married," Rye said. Peeta couldn't believe this. He couldn't understand how the Capitol could do this. Could force young adults to get married and have kids? He had only turned 16 a couple of months ago. He was too young to move out on his own, get married and start having children.

"They said there was rules that could have allowances given to them for the Merchant side of town. So, let's just hold off on getting too excited just yet," his dad told them.

Rye was graduating this week. And his oldest brother, Wheet, had graduated the year before that. According to the new rules, they both had to get married.

"Mom wants me to go marry the tailor's daughter. She might finally get her wish," Wheet said sadly, and he slumped in his chair.

"Who the hell am I supposed to marry? I'll get stuck with some snobby wench who will lay around all day, spending my hard-earned money while I work 24 hours a day just to feed all the babies I have to get her to pop out for the future of the Capitol," Rye said.

"Calm down. We don't have to make any decisions today-"

"But we'll have too tomorrow. Our time just living above the bakery is coming to an end," Rye said. Peeta raised his eyes as he watched his brother start to panic.

"Rye. Listen to my words. Stop fearing what we don't know will happen. We'll know more this week. And when we do, we'll figure it out from there. You're gonna be ok," his father said. He looked between the three of his sons. "You all will be ok," he told them. Peeta nodded his head.

"How are you holding up Peeta?" His father asking him. Peeta looked up and saw all three of them staring at him. "You haven't said a word since you got home,"

"He hasn't said one word at all," Wheet told his father. His dad put a hand on his shoulder.

"Peeta?" His father said softly.

"I don't wanna get married to just some girl…I wanna be in love with her. I wanna get married and have a family because we want to. Not because the Capitol is forcing us to start a family," Peeta said sadly and looked down at his hands.

"I know you do,"

"Well, hey. The bright side to all of this Peet," Rye said, making Peeta look up. "Now you got a shot at Everdeen. Go get her before someone else does," Rye said, smiling at him. Peeta scoffed and stood up.

"She has a boyfriend you know," Peeta said pitifully. Of course, Katniss Everdeen had a boyfriend. He knew their families had been friends. But somewhere along the line, they had become boyfriend and girlfriend. He hated seeing them together every day. Just that morning he saw Katniss with her arm looped around Gale's arm.

"Does she even know that he cheats on her?" Rye asked. Peeta's father tapped his arm to make him stop talking.

"It's true. I've seen him making out with different girls from the Seam loads of times," Wheet said. Peeta knew that. He had seen Gale kissing other girls. It always made him so angry how he had this wonderful woman in his life, and that he would just cheat on her. He'd never do that to Katniss.

He had been in love with her since they were five, on the first day of school.

"Leave him alone," their father said.

Gale just had no idea how lucky he was. He had Katniss. Katniss would marry him in two years, and he'd have to stand by and watch them get married and have loads of babies. And he'd have to marry someone he had no feelings for.

"My life is over…before it even started," Peeta said sadly and walked out the back door.

The weekend had been depressing in District 12. You didn't see a lot of people out. Loads of families were just staying inside. Dreading how their lives were going to change. How much harder the world would be if they started splitting up their families, just to create more mouths to feed.

This was the worst possible thing to happen to District 12. They were barely surviving because how many mouths were in the District as it was. Now you wanna a million more starving people? They just want more poverty?

Peeta sat in his class, chancing a look over his shoulder at Katniss every once in a while. She looked miserable. That surprised him though. She'd be marrying someone she wanted to. She'll be one of the lucky few. Peeta would have to-

He had to stop thinking about marrying another girl. Katniss had been the woman in his dreams since he was five. He never dreamt of marrying any other girl. He realized when he was 11 years old, and he threw her that bread and let his mother scare him into running back into the bakery, that he had lost whatever shot he thought for a second that he had, of ever getting close to her.

He groaned as he listened to Effie Trinkett as she started talking. She spoke with all the grades again, explaining what the future held for them. Specifically in District 12, what it would look like when they followed the plan of becoming a bigger and better Panem. She spoke of the Capitol's expectation. Peeta wondered if she truly believed what she was saying. That forcing teenagers to get married and have lots of children was a great thing.

The next day though was a little different. Effie explained what their junior year looked like to them.

"Alright children. Now, your junior year is meant to test the waters. Go out on dates. Get to know your fellow students. Experience all that your District has to offer from the opposite sex," Effie said. Peeta's mouth fell open. Was she serious?

Haymitch snorted. Effie whipped around to face him. "Do you have something to add Haymitch?" She snipped between her pursed lips.

"Just that all you just said was a crock of-"

"Alrighty then. Moving on," Mr. Vallen said. Stopping Haymitch before he went off on Effie. She cleared her throat and straightened her dress.

They are there for hours listening to Effie rattle on and on while Haymitch made his rude comments. They listened to Haymitch, and Effie argue, making Mr. Vallen get in the middle. But this is basically what Peeta learned from Effie today.

First, Effie suggests we all get a notebook and write down a list of all the girls, or guys that they are interested in getting to know. Keep this as a record for ourselves. Write our experiences with them. Our likes and dislikes. Add anyone they would like to the list at any time.

Every Friday night there will be a dance. You had to at least attend two a month. Everyone groaned and started complaining that no one would come.

"So, we've come up with something to entice you all," Effie said. He heard Katniss snort and leaned back in her chair. He smiled as he watched her roll her eyes.

"At every dance, there will be fine dining. All you can eat," Effie said. There were some murmers around the classroom. How pathetic was that. How humiliating that was. How insulting! Alright children, we have food. We know you'll come because you're starving!

"And not only that. For every dance you attend you get five whole dollars," Effie said and clapped her hands. Five dollars wasn't much, but five dollars once a week? Some families would kill for that.

"And if on the last Friday of the month, you have attended all Friday night dances that month, you'll get an extra five dollars. So, each month you can earn anywhere from 5.00 to 30.00 dollars that month. Isn't that so generous of the Capitol," Effie said, holding her hand up to her heart, getting emotional.

"Now these are your date nights. You will attend the dances with a new person each week. Now, if you are gravitating to a person in particular, then the school will have your very own, Marriage Initiative Counselors," Effie jumped up and down cheering. "These lovely counselors are going to guide you and navigate you through this time with your future husband or wife. You children are just so lucky,"

"Yeah, I bet you their thinking that exact same thing," Haymitch said. He put his finger to his temple and pretended to shoot himself, making the class laugh.

"The Capitol wants everyone to be happy with their choice in spouse. That's why we have these dances. And we'll have other special events throughout the year. We'll have a Counselor assigned to each of you and you'll meet weekly and discuss the all the potential mates you've experienced," Effie said. There were moans, groans and gagging heard through the gym. Haymitch just laughed as Effie complained about manners.

If you don't choose who to go to dances with, or dates with, then the counselors choose for you. How degrading.

Peeta saw Pendalyn raise her hand. "Oh, here we go again with some brilliant question," Katniss grumbled.

"Oh, give her some credit. She might surprise you," Jarden said. Another boy from the Seam. Katniss rolled her eyes and Jarden wiggled his eyebrows.

"What will we do at the end of next year. There's an uneven amount of merchant kids. Will the girls just double up with husbands?" Pendalyn asked.

"Yeah, there's the girl we love to hate so much. Yeah, I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. I figured everyone deserves that. I was really rooting for her this time, "Jarden joked.

"No, we don't do that. Not all merchants will be married to other merchants. We have to make it fair," Effie said.

"Oh no," Peeta said, putting his head down, waiting for the fight.

"Mrs. Trinkett. Are you actually trying to say that some of the more civilized group of the community will have to be degraded by marrying trash from the Seam?" Pendalyn asked, absolutely appalled, and looking like she was about to faint.

People started fighting in class as a few Merchant kids threw out insults and some of the Seam kids argued back. Most of the time though, kids from the Seam just coward back, trying to be as invisible as they could.

Peeta hated how the families in town treated anyone from the Seam. Even his own mother was cruel to them. He didn't see anything wrong with them. They were people. They just…were born in the Seam. The merchant families should be grateful for their lives.

And let's be honest. He had been in love with Katniss since the moment he saw her. He was in love with a girl from the Seam. So, he most certainly saw nothing wrong with anyone who lived there.

But she was with someone else.

Effie spoke about a bunch of different rules and answered all different types of questions. He needed to have a woman to marry by the time he graduated. And they were to have babies. Soon. How could he do that? The only woman he ever dreamt of was Katniss Everdeen.

"Young man are you even paying attention?" Effie demanded as she smacked a ruler on his desk, making him jump. The class snickered as he looked around to see everyone staring at him.

He looked up at Effie. He had never been this close to her before and realized how very…Capitol she was. Her face was caked with makeup, making her look fake.

"You're not even listening to a word I've said. This is extremely important, as we are discussing your future. Your wife could be in this very room, one row over. You need to be present!" Effie said and spun on her heel.

Peeta couldn't help it. He glanced to his left, just one row over. Katniss! Katniss was one row over. He groaned and let his head fall into his hands. This was the first day of the end of his life.

On the last day of school, they were brought to the gym for their last assembly of the year. Effie had yet another video to show us. Another personal message from President Snow. Katniss knew this one wouldn't be good.

He introduced himself and was so happy to hear of their excitement for their future marriages. He was happy to know that we were so proud of Panem to be able to do this for the future of it.

But then his voice took on an odd tone. A darker, scarier tone.

"Some of you may not be happy about the Marriage Initiative. And it pains me to hear that there are some in our Districts who do not respect or want to safeguard our future,"

Katniss gulped and she felt her palms get sweaty. She caught Peeta's head turn and look at her. Their eyes caught. He looked…concerned for her. Could he see the fear in her own eyes by what Snow was going to say next?

"If anyone is to fight the Marriage Initiative, then they will be brought to the Capitol for re-educating. Hopefully to return a happier citizen of Panem, and standing up front and proud of the Marriage Initiative. Or, they will remain in the Capitol,"

Her heart dropped. If anyone refused to go along with the Marriage Initiative, then they'd be sent to the Capitol to be tortured or murdered.

She wouldn't cry. Not here. Not in school. She wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She had to be strong. She wouldn't show weakness.

She heard someone clear their throat and Katniss looked up. Haymitch was eyeing her. Willing her not to cry. No one noticed the exchange, but she knew what Haymitch was saying. Sit up tall, look straight ahead, don't smile. Show them that they don't own you…even though they did.

The whistle blew and everyone stood up, despite Effie yelling at everyone to sit back down, that she wasn't finished talking. But it was the last day of school, and no one wanted to hear about how the Capitol were forcing them all to get married anymore.

Katniss went home and dropped her stuff in the middle of the floor and laid down on her bed. Curling into a tight ball, with her arms locked around her knees. Her mother followed her up and sat on her bead, pushing her hair off her forehead.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wish I could say everything will be alright. Just hang on…"

"But you can't. We both know you can't," she said flatly. Her mother wiped a tear that was falling down her own cheek.

"I'll be with you. Just lean on me, and I'll take care of you. Because we will get through this Katniss," her mother told her strongly. Katniss looked at her for a moment and then sat up and curled around her mother. Katniss hugged her mother tightly and softly cried on her shoulder.

Her mom had always made sure that she was there for her and Prim. Even after their father died, her mother was devastated in her own grief. She watched as her mother struggled terribly to take care of them, and care for them. She put her daughters first, but at her own expense of not taking a moment to breathe, just making her days harder.

That's why Katniss made the decision to not ever fall in love and have kids, after she saw how the life was sucked out of her mother. She knew the only reason she had any love in her life, was because of her and Prim. Her mother was alive only because she loved them and had a reason to go on. But Katniss never wanted to experience that.

She started hunting and trying to support their family, and Gale's, because she needed to take some of the burden off of her mother and Hazelle. She just had to.

The next day Peeta had been the first one to wake up and went right down to the Bakery. He always snuck down first on this day. Katniss always somehow appeared on this day at the Bakery. And the two times that she hadn't, he had dropped off a small cake to her doorstep. A small birthday cake. With green icing.

He overheard Prim ask Katniss one day why they always got a small cake on all their birthdays.

"Mr. Mellark is a very kind man. He was friends with mom when they were in school. And daddy always went to the Bakery to trade with him, especially squirrels. They would stand there and talk about us, and Mr. Mellark's sons. Mr. Mellark liked daddy, so he's being kind. Daddy always made sure you me and mommy had a birthday cake. Mr. Mellark is honoring daddy by taking care of the three girls he loved most. That's what good and kind people do," she told Prim.

Peeta wondered if Katniss knew that he was actually the one that made her cakes. He had been doing it since Katniss turned 6 years old. Katniss' father must have known. It was a little lopsided that first year. He got better of course, but he had made the last 11 birthday cakes for Katniss.

Today felt different though. He knew that this was going to be a difficult birthday for her. It was a somber day for everyone. The Marriage Initiative still fresh in their minds. He wanted today to be an extra special day for her.

He made her cake. He knew she loved chocolate. So, he made her a chocolate cake. He went ahead and made two vanilla cupcakes, and because they had some, he made two strawberry flavored cupcakes.

He was just putting them in the cooling freezer when his father came down.

"It's only 4:30. How long have you been awake?" His father asked as he looked at one of the ovens that was already on.

"Maybe an hour. I couldn't sleep," Peeta said quietly. His father smiled and walked over to turn the other two ovens on.

"Well, you and I can get an early start on a couple of graduation cakes then can't we. Since that one's already heated up," his father said and smiled at him, pointing to one of the ovens. Peeta nodded and went to work on setting up the kitchen, which he actually hadn't done. Just made Katniss' cakes and cupcakes.

They went around the Bakery, setting everything up for the day in comfortable silence before finally settling at the counter to start on the graduation cakes before they started on some bread.

"You doing ok?" His dad asked. Peeta shrugged. "I know what you wanted Peeta," he said. Peeta looked up at his dad.

"Sometimes when you get married, you might not be in love with that person…but you can grow to love them. Especially once the kids make their way into the picture," he said. Peeta looked at his dad as he went about mixing. His parents' marriage was arranged. He knew that. But he knew that if his father was voicing it out loud it was important.

He put his head down. His dad was telling him that Peeta was going to end up just like him. In an arranged marriage with someone he didn't love, just to appease the rest of the world. His father was trying to let him down easy.

They worked in silence for a few more hours together before his brothers made their way down. His mother was in bed again with a migraine. Which Peeta would never admit it, but he secretly loved when his mother was stuck in bed. The four of them ran the Bakery and their house with ease. Breathing easily and smiling.

"You already got to the cakes? I wanted to do those," Rye complained. He liked baking cakes and other desserts way more than kneading dough.

"Sorry. I couldn't sleep and came down here early. I didn't want anyone to hear me with the dough," Peeta said. Rye looked in the freezer and then back at him. He was waiting for the torturing Peeta for being in love with Katniss. But instead, Rye patted him on the shoulder. Great. Now his own brother feels bad for him.

Peeta nearly jumped when there was a knock at the back door. His father smiled and answered the door. "Good morning, Gale. Come on in," his father said as he held the door open. Gale nodded and walked in, holding his game bag.

"Hey," Gale said to Peeta and his brothers.

"Another High School Graduate. It's an honor," Rye said, pretending to bow. Gale smiled and snorted.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Gale chuckled.

"Shall you be picking out a wife today?" Ryee asked, mocking Effie Trinket's accent. Wheet hissed and hit him, and then yanked him out front. Peeta put his head down. He'd get his wife all right. The problem was, was that was who Peeta wanted his wife to be.

"What do you got for me today?" his father asked. Gale pulled two squirrels out of his bag and held them up, giving his dad a look that said he was sorry. His father laughed. "I can see Mrs. Everdeen didn't join you this morning,"

Peeta could see the arrow had been shot through their stomach and not through their eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm nowhere near as good with a bow as she is," Gale said sheepishly. "We'll just trade for the price of one today,"

"Oh nonsense, it's not your fault," he said and took the squirrels. "Is Mrs. Everdeen alright?" His father asked. He knew why he asked. Because Peeta wanted to know.

"Yeah, she's fine. She's just…not up to hunting today," Gale answered. The kitchen was quiet after that. Peeta and his dad could read between the lines. She was devastated by the marriage Initiative like everyone else was. The only thing Peeta couldn't understand was why? Katniss would be able to marry who she wanted to.

"Well, everyone is entitled to one of those days. Here ya go," his father said as he handed a bag to Gale, who was utterly confused.

"What's this?" Gale asked and looked in the bag.

"Some graduation cookies. I figured you won't eat it if I give you just one. You'll give it to your siblings. So, I gave you one for each of them, and your mother. It's not every day someone graduates high school. Not everyone does. It's a very big accomplishment!" His father said. It was true.

As soon as ninth grade hit, a lot of kids start dropping out of school to look for work, just so they can put food on their families' tables. When someone from the Seam graduated, it should be celebrated. Gale did more for his family by sticking it out because when he goes to work, he'll be paid a higher amount then the kid who dropped out before ninth grade just to make it through the year.

"You don't have to-"

"I insist. As congratulations, and a thank you for always bringing us squirrels," Mr. Mellark said. Everyone from the Seam didn't like handouts. They didn't like charity. But when his father gave someone anything, it was hard for anyone to refuse him.

Gale nodded his head. "Thank you. They'll love the cookies," Gale said. He nodded at me and then turned and left.

"Crummy way to spend your birthday," Peeta muttered. He wondered what she was doing at home. If she was feeling sick. How was she taking the news? She had seemed so sad this week, he wondered if her sadness was overwhelming her.

Peeta was a bit distracted that afternoon. His father said he could leave early to bring Katniss her birthday cake. So, he covered the cake in green frosting and wrote 'Happy Birthday Katniss' on the top with blue icing. He took his time and made the cake look like it was the leaves of a full summer tree. He wondered if she'd see that in the cake.

He got the cupcakes out and started covering them with different colored frosting, and then made a beautiful yellow Primrose to put on top of each cupcake. He boxed them up and headed out to the Seam.

He didn't know his way around the Seam well at all. But he did know how to get to her house. When he got to her doorstep, he stopped. He had always put the cake in front of the door for them to find it. He's never once knocked on the door. Maybe he should this time.

Maybe he should try and ask her out. Gale is a nice guy, but he cheats on her. She shouldn't be with Gale. She should be with him. He'd love her and provide for her. He'd make every dream she has come true. He'd take care of her mom and sister to. Maybe he should try.

Before he could stop himself, he knocked on the door. Did he really just knock? What even possessed him? He shook his head. Katniss wouldn't give him the time of day. He bent down to leave the cake, when the door opened. He looked up and then stood up to be face to face with the most beautiful girl alive.

Katniss Everdeen was standing right in front of him. Her eyes were swollen and red. She had dark circles under her eyes and her cheeks started to sink in. She had been crying.

"Peeta?" She asked. He cleared his throat.

"Um, hi. I have your birthday cake," Peeta said. She bit her lip and nodded her head and held the door open.

"Come in," she said. He was being invited into Katniss Everdeen's house now? Oh, this was the best day to knock on her door. He felt like he might throw up though.

He could only imagine the biggest, stupidest grin that he had plastered on his face right now as he crossed over the threshold and into the small house. It was stifling hot as he followed Katniss over to the table to drop the cake off.

"Happy birthday," he said and pushed the lid back. Katniss peered over the box and looked down and smiled sadly at it.

"Thank you," she barely whispered. He watched as she wiped at her eyes, stopping the tears before they fell and stood straight up. "Your dad has always been so amazing for remembering our birthdays. Will you thank him for me?" She asked. He nodded his head.

"Yeah of course I will," he told her. She smiled and then leaned over and took it out of the box and put it on the table.

"This is the prettiest cake he's ever made," she said. Peeta smiled and cleared his throat.

"I um…I actually made that," he said. She looked up at him, surprised. He fidgeted around. "I make a lot of the cakes. But I decorate them all," he told her. She looked back down at the cake.

"You do such an amazing job. They're so beautiful. Prim loves stopping by to see them. She always notices when you do something different," she says in amazement and then looks back up at him and smiles. This warm feeling spreads throughout his body, and he can feel the deep red blush that starts heating up his face.

"Thank you…I see Prim peeking through a lot. I hope she likes the cupcakes. I made one with a primrose on top," her face softened, and she pulled them out of the box.

He wondered what she was thinking when she stared at the desserts. He wanted so badly to ask her. He wanted to ask her a million questions. What her favorite color was. What was her favorite season? Her favorite food? Subject? Did she know that her own boyfriend cheats on her?

He shook his head. But he couldn't work up the guts…but he had to, right?

He cleared his throat and opened his mouth when someone knocked on the opened door. "Hey Catnip," Gale said as he walked in. He noticed Peeta and nodded. "Hey,"

"Hi," Peeta said and shuffled his feet.

"My brothers and sister loved their cookies. Tell your father I said thank you again. That really made their day," Gale said as he walked over to Katniss.

"Yeah of course I will," Peeta said. Katniss suddenly smacked Gale's hand as he reached over the table to grab a cupcake.

"Don't touch those they're mine," she snapped at him.

"The least you could do is share. I brought you half a cookie that I saved for you," Gale said as he held up the bag his father had given him.

"A half a cookie doesn't deserve a whole cupcake," she scolded him.

"Then at least let me have some of your birthday cake," Gale griped at her.

"It's my birthday cake. I don't have to share any of it with you,"

Peeta watched their easy banter with each other. He hated it. He wish he knew Katniss well enough to joke with her. To feel comfortable and know everything about her. To treat her with love and respect. Not cheat on her.

He cleared his throat and shook his head. "I gotta get back to the Bakery," Peeta said and started walking towards the door.

"Thank you for making my birthday cake, Peeta," Katniss said. He looked over his shoulder and couldn't stop his face from turning red. Katniss gave him and soft smile and he couldn't feel anything but his heart beating out of his chest. She was so beautiful. All he wanted to do was run over and kiss her senseless.

"You're welcome…I'll see you around…and Happy Birthday," he said and walked out. When? When would he see her around? School was over. He just groaned as he walked back home. How did Katniss not know that Gale cheated on her? How? It just wasn't fair. He would never treat her like that. He wouldn't ever take advantage of her. Be so careless with her.

"I'm serious. That's my cake," Katniss griped at Gale, who just snickered and took a chunk of it with his fingers. "Asshole," she said and sat at the table.

"It's your birthday. And you look so miserable,"

"I feel miserable. I just can't believe this. I have a whole fucking summer to myself, and then, I get to go out on dates with guys I hate and want nothing to do with. I get to be humiliated and go to these stupid dances, just to get money for my family. I'll be at these dances every damn Friday night. It's insulting," Katniss said and pounded the table with her fist.

"It's degrading to get prostituted out, just so I can feed my family a little easier. This is some new type of torture. Let's just make you starve your whole life. Be fearful of getting sent into the Hunger Games to die. Now, forced to be a breeding machine and pop out as many babies for the Capitol. Just so they can work for you and make you more food and make their lives just a little more luxurious. Sure, I'll do that for you," she said and buried her face into her hands. Gale sat down next to her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Katniss I promise-" he didn't get to finish, because Prim opened the door and went hopping over to Katniss.

"I brought you flowers Katniss," she said. Katniss had been quick to wipe her face and she smiled. Katniss looked up and smiled and hugged her little sister. Her precious little angel.

"Thank you, Little Duck,"

Katniss had been at a loss. How was she supposed to get married as a teenager? She was supposed to graduate and then leave her house? Leave her mother and sister to fend for themselves?

Granted, they wouldn't starve. She'd still be providing food for them. But what would happen when she was forced to get pregnant. She wouldn't be able to crawl under the fence to hunt. What if she was 8 months pregnant, in the woods and a wild dog appeared? How would she out run it? How would she climb a tree? She'd be killed, and then what would happen?

Her sadness wasn't for her. Her depression wasn't for her. It was for her mom and her little sister. How was she expected to leave her home? Once Prim was old enough to get married, her mother would be alone. How could the Capitol expect her to abandon her family?

The only time she got out of bed was out of necessity. She did her necessary hunting. She didn't skimp on it. It was summer. She'd go hunting in the morning. Make her trades. Bring everything home and then go out again. She'd run her errands and cook and clean. But then she'd go back to bed and think about her impending doom.

Her mother tried to coax her out of bed, but day by day, Katniss was getting worse.

She heard soft voices in the hallway and watched as her door slowly creaked open. Her mother popped her head in.

"Katniss. Haymitch is here," her mother said. Katniss picked her head up a little. "He wants to talk to you," she said. Katniss nodded and her mother shut the door and let her get dressed. When she came downstairs, Haymitch was waiting for her.

"Hey there Sweetheart. Take a walk with me," Haymitch told her. Katniss sighed and grabbed her shoes and followed him out. They walked for a few minutes in comfortable silence.

"Your mom and sister will be ok when you leave the house. I'll make sure of that Katniss," Haymitch told her. He knew exactly what she was feeling. Haymitch may be rich, but he wasn't in his heart. He was from the Seam. He know how everyone thought and felt.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked at him. "I've always helped you get through everything, and I don't plan on stopping now. I'll always take care of you and your family. And the Hawthorns. You know that. You're my family!" Haymitch told her. She let out a deep breath.

"I know," she said. They started walking again but couldn't shake off the depression. It was consuming her. More and more.

"I'm the only Victor from 12. So, they're sending a few Victors and high society people to transfer here for a few months at a time. We get to play counselors to all our lucky marriage contestants," Haymitch said. She could hear the anger in his voice.

"Which Victors?" She asked him.

"Only two for us. Finnick from 4, and Johanna from 7," Haymitch said. Katniss nodded.

Finnick was a charmer. A huge flirt. He was always seen in the Capitol with a different woman's arm on him every night. She didn't like him.

About a year ago, she voiced her feelings towards the two, to Gale and Haymitch. Haymitch just stared at her. "If you knew them, you'd feel differently. Don't think you know a Victor by what you see," Haymitch had said and walked away.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Probably how everyone just thinks Haymitch is a lazy drunk who doesn't care about saving kids. But we know better. We know he cares. And we know why he's a drunk," Gale said. The Hunger Games changes people.

"They're not too happy about it. Finnick doesn't want to leave Annie. And Johanna just hates people. So, forcing two people to get married is just killing her," Haymitch said. Katniss wondered what he meant by that but thought that that question was better left for another day.

"You just gotta get through this Katniss. Just follow along with it. Go with the flow and don't cause any problems. Some of the people in charge are looking for resistance. They need more servants in the Capitol and are begging people to rebel," Haymitch told her. Katniss' mouth fell open.

"So go to all the dances. Go to every event that they plan. Talk to your counselors. Show them you're making an effort, and they won't touch you. You already have eyes watching you because of me," he admitted. They were watching Katniss? Because she was close to Haymitch?

"How can they do this? Why?" She demanded.

"Because they're bored. The Capitol loves this whole thing. They're gonna broadcast so much of this all over the Captiol. They were televising the assemblies, and they're gonna televise different kids 'journeys' into marriage. Follow up with them year after year. Watching their little families grow. It's sickening," he blurted out and kicked a rock aggressively.

"What are you saying Haymitch?" She didn't like the sound of where this was going. He sighed and covered his face. "Haymitch!" She demanded.

"You're one of kids that they're looking at that they might follow around," Haymitch told her sadly.

She let out a sarcastic laugh. "Of course, I am. It's just too fucking perfect," she bit out and also kicked a rock.

"Katniss listen to me. Gale already promised you. We're going to find a good guy for you," he said. She scoffed and rubbed at her eyes furiously, trying to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks, but failing.

"I promise we'll find you someone good. Someone you can count on. Someone that will help you take care of your family-"

"What about his family?" She demanded.

"One that you can work together with and take care of both of your families. We're gonna help you find a good man,"

"You can't promise that. Neither of you can!" Haymitch went to reach out to her, but she jerked her body away.

"You can't promise me a good man. I may end up getting stuck with Bones," Katniss said. His eyes widened.

"I won't let that happen Katniss," Haymitch promised her. But she shook her head. No one could promise her anything. She very well may get stuck with Bones. The man suspected of raping girls.

"You can't promise me anything. No one can," she whispered.

"Mr. Hawthorne. I haven't seen you in a while. Come on in," Mr. Mellark says, holding the back door opened for Gale to come into the kitchen.

"Been working a lot on the construction site, Sir," Gale said as he handed his dad three squirrels. "I kinda butchered them. So, I'll just give you the price for one and a half," Gale said. The four Mellark men looked over at Peeta. He put his head back down and started kneading the dough harder his in hands.

"Nonsense. You give me three, I'll pay for three," his father said and started grabbing some bread. "I haven't seen Katniss in a while either. Where has she been keeping herself?" His father asks. Gale shifts around uncomfortably.

"She just hasn't been feeling like herself," Gale said, pretending to read the labels on some of the canisters of different flour on their counter. Rye and Wheet snuck a look at Peeta, who was pretending not to look concerned.

"That's too bad. Tell her I expect to see her tomorrow though," his father said and smiled, handing Gale a paper bag. Gale nodded and turned around and left.

"Think she's home sick cause Hawthorne knocked her up?" Rye asked before he could stop himself. Wheet shoved him and Peeta threw down his ball of dough and stormed out the back door.

"Peeta wait-" his father called after him, but Peeta wouldn't stop. He ran out of their bakery as fast as he could. He didn't even realize he ran towards the fence. He knew the electricity wasn't on, because he had seen Katniss crawl through a million times.

He ran through the wires and ran for who knew how long before he stopped and doubled over, trying to catch his breath. Why did he run out here?

Was he hoping to find her out here? Tell him it wasn't true. That she wasn't pregnant. That she wasn't carrying Gale's baby. That she didn't love Gale. He wanted Katniss to tell Peeta that it was him that she wanted. She wanted to spend her life with him.

He groaned loudly into his hands and kicked at some rocks. He was so stupid. He had held our hope this whole time, waiting for Katniss and Gale to break up. Because then he'd finally pluck of the nerve to talk to her. To ask her out. He was waiting. All he had to do was wait it out, and then he'd finally be with her.

But if she was marrying Gale, if she was pregnant, his life was over. How stupid was he? How pathetic was he?

He spun around when he heard something running after him and barely had time to turn around before someone ran straight into him and screamed. His heart was beating out of his chest from fear, but then his heart just stopped. It was her. It was Katniss.

"What are you doing out here?" She demanded, trying to catch her breath.

"I was…" he looked around, stunned. "Mad," he said dumbly.

"What?" She hiccupped. She looked terrible. She had been crying.

"I was mad about something," he stupidly said. He was embarrassed by the dumbest words coming out of his mouth right now.

He was mad about something? Well, that's just perfect.

"You were what?" She asked. It started raining.

"I was mad about something. And I came out here and…" he looked all around. He was incredibly embarrassed for saying something as dumb as he was mad about something.

"God, I don't even know how I got here," he said. There was a crash of lightening and rain started coming down harder.

"You shouldn't go wandering around out here. You could die from getting lost. There's wild dogs out here," Katniss chastised him. Peeta nodded his head.

"I know. I've never done this before. I just needed to get away," he said. He looked at her stomach. Was she pregnant? Was she going to have Gale's baby?

"I'll take you home," Katniss told him. Peeta nodded and she turned and waited for him to follow her.

"How can you tell where you're going?" Peeta asked her, shouting over the rain.

"I could walk through here with my eyes closed," they walked for a little while before the rain started to slow way down, letting him see his surroundings a little better. But not by much. He felt a hand in his suddenly.

"You're straying away. Just stay with me,"

"Always," he said. But the rain made it difficult to hear. He would follow this girl anywhere if he could. They stopped under the tree. He recognized it instantly. It was the tree that she sat under five years ago. When he threw her the bread. It was raining, just like this that day. She looked lost, like she did now. He wished he could go back and redo that day. He'd walk out into the rain and hand them to her. He would have talked to her. Maybe she would be with him, instead of Gale.

Katniss looked under the tree and then back and him. She must have realized where she was. They stared at each other for a moment.

"I never thanked you that day you threw me the bread," she yelled over the rain. He smiled.

"You didn't have to," he told her, making her smile sadly.

"You saved my life that night," she admitted to him. His eyes softened. "Me and my family weren't doing well after my dad died. And I just felt like…I was giving up. And then you threw me bread, and you saved my life. My sister and mom to," she told him. His eyes widened in surprise this time. He saved her life.

"Thank you," she told him. He smiled at her and looked at her lips. Just one. Just one kiss. She could slap him afterwards. But he wanted to touch his lips to hers just once in his life. Just to know what she tasted like.

He stepped closer to her, but then it was like a tub of ice water poured over his head.

"KATNISS!" Someone yelled. They both looked and it was Gale running up to them. "Hey. Haymitch said he was looking everywhere for you," he looked between the two of them.

"Is everything ok?" Gale asked worriedly.

"It's fine. He got lost in the woods," Katniss said. Peeta cringed. Gale's eyes widened and then he chuckled.

"What the hell we're you doing in the woods?" Gale asked. Fury pumped through his veins for laughing at him. Making fun of him. He already had Katniss' heart. He didn't need for Gale to rub it in.

"It's doesn't matter. Let's just go," she grumbled. Peeta's heart dropped. Gale shrugged and spun around and started walking. Katniss put her head down and lingered for a moment and slowly turned to walk away.

"Hey," Peeta said. Katniss turned to look at him. "You never told me why you were running into the woods." She looked at him and then shrugged.

"I was mad about something to," she said sadly. She looked back at the ground. "I'll see you later," she said, looking at the tree again and then following after Gale.

Peeta watched her leave following Gale with her head down. He turned and waited for her to catch up. She kept her arms crossed and her head down. He said something to her, and she just shook her head. A moment later she picked her head up and she was furious. They argued for a moment before she walked away, and he followed her.

Gale had no idea how lucky he was to have Katniss. He would cherish her, and never take her for granted. She would be his everything. And he'd never cheat on her.

Reaping Day was there in a blink of an eye. While everyone was miserable for the first half of the summer, Reaping day came. Once this day would pass, then there was sad celebrations that they were spared another year.

This would be the fifth time Katniss would be standing there. But she was terrified because it was Prim's first year. Prim had woken up screaming. Having a nightmare that she had been chosen. Katniss soothed her, trying to convince her that her name was only in there once. There was no way, out of all those names, that Prim would be chosen.

She wasn't scared for herself this year; she was only scared for Prim. Completely scared for Prim. What if she was proven to be a liar. What if Prim's name did get picked? She would have let Prim down, by lying to her.

Effie Trinkett came out and gave her usual speech. She tried to look for Prim, but she was in the front. She looked over to the boys and tried to find Rory. It was his first year as well. He didn't have only one slip of paper like Prim did. He had his name in their six times. Five extra slips, because this was Gale's last reaping, and he couldn't take tesserae out anymore. Rory's name couldn't be called!

She looked further back and saw Gale, and he smiled at her. Asking if she was ok. She nodded, even though they both knew she was lying. She'd be ok once this was over, and they were safe. Prim was safe. She smiled when he made fun of Effie.

Something else caught her eye. She looked at the boys directly across from her, and Peeta smiled sadly at her. Her stomach lurched and she felt butterflies. She sadly smiled back at him as well. She was scared the day under the tree. She had been wanting to thank him for saving her life with the bread so many times. But the longer she went, that harder it became. But she had to say something under that tree the second time she was there.

He didn't realize, but he saved her life again that day by being out in the woods. She was going out there…to do what, she didn't know. Maybe she was trying to run away. Maybe she was going to harm herself. She wasn't sure. But all she knew, was that when she saw her dandelion of hope, she couldn't leave him out there. He'd get lost, especially in the rain. She had to bring him back to the fence. He saved her life again, and he didn't even realize it.

Every year, she not only wished for Gale's life to be spared, but she always wish for Peeta's as well.

"The female tribute from District 12…" please not Prim. Please not Prim. "Lara Menson," Effie said excitedly. Katniss let a sob escape her throat and she covered her mouth. Prim was safe. Prim was safe. She looked to find Prim, and she saw her. Prim was smiling at her, and Katniss couldn't help but smile back. Her sister was safe for another year. She looked and met Gale's eyes and he smiled brightly at her. Her eyes caught Peeta's again, and his smile was bigger than a moment ago.

"And now, for the boys," Effie said. Her heart dropped again. Please not Gale. Please not Rory. And please, please not Peeta.

"The male tribute from District 12…Pe-"Haymitch sneezed so loudly behind Effie that she screamed and dropped the paper. He laughed as she tried to bend down, but the mayor had to come over and help. She looked to Peeta, he was white as a ghost, and he was shaking. Some of the boys were already so relieved. Except anyone's name that started with a P.

"Please not Peeta," she whispered quietly.

"Pezar Matrock," Effie said. She covered her face again. It wasn't Peeta…but it also wasn't Gale. And it wasn't Rory. She looked back up, and Peeta wasn't looking at her. He was still as white as a ghost, and he was sweating and panting heavily.

They were dismissed, and Prim came barreling into her, crying. "It's ok Prim. I told you; you were safe. I knew they wouldn't pick you," she kissed the top of her head and held her tightly to her body. Prim was safe. Prim was safe. She had to keep repeating it to herself to remind her of this.

All of a sudden, they were knocked sideways. It was Rory, and he was hugging them. She wrapped her arm around him and kissed the top of his head as well.

"You're safe to," Katniss told him. He was shaking in her arms. Gale was right behind him and smiled and brought his siblings into a hug.

"We made it through another year Catnip," Gale said.

"Lucky you. You're all done," Katniss said and then pulled back and looked at Prim and Rory. "And they're just getting started," she said sadly.

"But they're safe. So, let's go back to the house and celebrate," Gale told them. They started walking out of the Square when she realized that Peeta hadn't moved. He was still just standing there. They walked closer to him, and Katniss squeezed Prim's hand.

"Hey. Go find mom. I'll be there in a minute," Katniss said and kissed her head. She walked over to Peeta, and he was just staring ahead. "Peeta?" she whispered. His eyes looked over at her.

"Are you ok?" she asked him. She realized his entire body was shaking.

"I thought it was my name," he panted out. Peeta picked his hand up, maybe to wipe the sweat off his forehead. But once he saw his hand he just stared at it. Watching it shake uncontrollably.

"I know…I'm sorry," she told him. He gulped and just looked around.

She grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard to try and get him to snap out of it. He looked over at her and gulped. She could see the pure terror in his eyes.

"I know. But it wasn't you. You're safe," she said. Safe was a relative term. No one was actually safe. But he was safe from the Hunger Games for another year.

"Hey Peet, you ok?" Katniss looked over and saw how brother Rye run up to them and stand next to Katniss. He looked at their joined hands and she instantly let Peeta's go. Rye kinda gave her a side glance and then turned his attention to Peeta and squeezed his shoulders.

"You're ok dude," Rye told him.

"I thought it was me," Peeta whispered. Katniss didn't like seeing Peeta like this. The happy, kind gentle boy with the bread was frightened.

"I know. We all did. But it's not. So, let's get back to the Bakery. Today is gonna be a busy day," Rye reminded him, making Peeta nod his head. Peeta finally looked back to Katniss.

"Thank you," he told her. She just smiled and nodded her head, as Rye directed him towards the Bakery.

Peeta just couldn't stop shaking that day. He had never been that close to being called. He thought he would have to be sent into the Hunger Games. If he went into the arena, he wouldn't survive. He knows he'd be killed.

He jumped as he felt a blow to the head. He fell off the chair and grabbed his head. His mother was hovering over him and her fist was still in a ball after she punched him in the head.

"Stop being lazy and get your butt down there!" His mother yelled.

"Doreen, give him some time," his father said.

"We have a business to run. We don't have time to have him sitting around doing nothing and slacking off," she snapped and grabbed his arm to yank him to his feet. His father stepped forward and grabbed his arm, taking her hand off of him.

"Leave him be Doreen. He'll come downstairs when he's ready. And that's final," his father said. It was rare when he'd stand up to his mother. When he did though, all hell broke loose. She stared at his father for a moment before she stormed downstairs. That was never good. His dad looked back at his and squeezed his shoulders.

"Are you ok?" Peeta shook his head, and his dad pulled him into a hug, and Peeta burst out crying. He couldn't help it. "It's ok Peeta. You're ok,"

"I thought it was me. I thought I was going into the Hunger Games, and I'd never see you again. I thought I was gonna die," Peeta cried. His father just let him cry it all out before he stood back and sat down on a chair and wiped his face.

"My heart stopped to. Damn Effie Trinkett for dropping that card," his father joked, making Peeta chuckle. "But she didn't call your name. So, take some time to collect yourself, and come downstairs with me, and bake something," his father said. Peeta nodded his head.

He felt like he was having a heart attack. That moment of silence, after she started saying the beginning of Peeta's name…his entire life flashed before his eyes. He thought he was going to leave that day, and never tell Katniss Everdeen how he felt. He'd never have to worry about the Marriage Initiative though, because he'd never have to watch Katniss get married to Gale, the guy that cheated on her.

He scrubbed his face with his hands. What the heck was going on in his head that this was what was going through his mind. It didn't even matter. He had to go back to work. He had to wrap his mind around something else.

Summer was almost at its end. School would be starting soon, and so would their involvement with the Marriage Initiative. Going to dances, going out on planned dates. Trying to match with someone you like or being stuck and getting married to someone by default.

Katniss had spent her whole summer being miserable. She felt bad for everyone around her. She wasn't mean, or bit anyone's head off. She was just depressed. Incredibly, hopelessly depressed. Her mother was highly stressed because of the Marriage Initiative. And Prim was scared, which was all Katniss' fault.

"Listen. I'm thinking ahead for a few years," Gale said as they sat down to take a break and cook a squirrel. "I don't just have you to worry about with this. I have to think ahead for my brothers and sister. And about Prim," Gale said.

Katniss had been avoiding thinking about Prim getting married at 18. Katniss kept thinking that there was some way that she could stop it. She didn't want to see Prim forced to marry a stranger. "I've talked it over with my mom, and even Rory,"

"Talked what over?" she didn't like where this was going.

"If Prim doesn't find someone that she loves…Rory's gonna marry her," Gale said. Katniss' mouth dropped. "It's a safety net. She'll never end up with someone bad. Rory will take care of her. He loves her. He may not be in love with her. But it really broke his heart talking with me and my mom about who Prim could end up with. And he doesn't want that. And he said he doesn't want to be with some woman who he never would have chosen. He said he would love her and take care of her and always try and make her happy. He could see a good life with Prim," Katniss wiped the tears that fell down her face.

"He's only 12. How could he even be thinking this way?" she cried softly. Gale shrugged.

"Because he has to. He has to be aware of where his life is going," Gale said. Katniss buried her face in her knees.

"God, he shouldn't be thinking about marriage. It's not right," Katniss said and looked up at him. "It's an arranged marriage. How terrible is that?"

"It's happening a lot. You just haven't been around to listen. A lot of families right now are setting these up. And we don't want Prim getting stuck with a bad guy," Gale said. Katniss' eyes widened.

"You don't think anyone's tried to set up a marriage with my mother for me and Prim do you?" she asked, frightened to know the answer.

"If she has, I don't know about it. But honestly, I wouldn't be surprised at all," Gale honestly said. Katniss laid back and stared at the sky. "I haven't' given up on you ya know…I want you to know, that I'll be your safety net," Katniss' body froze.

"Katniss, please sit up," Gale said as he scrubbed his face. Katniss sat up and stared at him. "Katniss, I don't want you to end up with some mining drunken bastard. I promise you, if I can't find the right person for you, then you have me. We'll get married," Katniss hated the thought of that. She'd have to share a bed with Gale for the rest of her life. She'd have to have sex with Gale and have babies with him.

"I know it's completely unappealing because I am utterly repulsive to look at," Gale said as attempting to joke. But Katniss just stared at her lap. "But I promise that I'll always take care of you. I'll always work hard to provide for you and our kids. I'll always love you and our kids. It may not be the romantic kind of love, but it'll still be love which so many marriages won't have. We'll stay best friends our whole life," Gale told her. Katniss leaned her face into her hands and cried.

"I know you don't want to marry me. And it's ok. But I'll be your safety net. I promise you. But I'm gonna find you the right guy, so you won't have to be stuck with me for the rest of your life," Gale said and kissed the top of her head. "I promise Katniss,"

A week before school started, everyone was assigned a day and time to come and meet their 'counselors'. They went in alphabetical order, so Everdeen was called on the first day. All the Victors were the obvious choices for each District. But their District only had one, Haymitch Abernathy. And even the Capitol agreed, Haymitch wasn't fit to run this operation alone. Granted, they still had other high-profile citizens in each District as counselors as well. And a few high-profile Capitolites to grace District 12 with their presence.

So, they sent Finnick O'dair from 4, and Johanna Mason from 7. Katniss wasn't entirely surprised when she realized that she didn't get a counselor from her own District, she got Johanna Mason. She knocked on the door, and she saw Johanna laying on the floor in the middle of her office and she groaned.

"Come on in," she groaned without even looking at her. Katniss stepped into the small office. There was a small desk with papers everywhere. An armchair, and a small couch with a small coffee table. "Well don't just stand there, have a seat," Johanna barked. Katniss plopped down on the couch.

"What was your name again?" she asked.

"Katniss Everdeen," she grumbled. Johanna picked her head up and looked at her.

"Haymitch's friend," Johanna said. Katniss nodded her head. "Well, I've heard a lot about you. Haymitch has told me all about your grumpy and surly ways. He said I'd like you," Johanna said as she stood up and went to her desk and grabbed a file. She read it for a minute before she looked back up.

"He was friends with your dad. Back when they were teenagers. He's even your Godfather. I'm sorry," Johanna said, grossed out. It made Katniss smile.

"He's just a drunken lush. Isn't everyone supposed to have a drunk uncle in their family?" Katniss said back to her. Johanna smiled.

"I am going to like you," Johanna said and then sat up. "Ok then. Let's get down to business. I'm told that you want nothing to do with the Marriage Initiative, and that you wanted absolutely nothing to do with marriage before Snow came up with this fucking stupid idea. You don't want to marry anyone or have kids. Anything else?"

"That pretty much sums it up," Katniss said dryly. Johanna nodded her head and leaned back in her chair and plopped her feet on the desk.

"Listen. Haymitch is really worried about you. This whole entire fucking thing sucks. It's happening. There's no changing it. There's no getting out of it. So, you have to get over it," Johanna said sternly. Katniss put her head down.

"You have to accept it, no matter how much you don't want to. You're going to have to get married, and you're going to have to have children. So, you can sit there and keep on wallowing and end up with some abusive drunk, or you can stand with your head held high, let me, Haymitch and Finnick work our magic, and find someone suitable for the wonderful Katniss Everdeen," Johanna said. Katniss pinched the bridge of her nose.

"'I hate this," Katniss groaned.

"I know. Me to. Trust me," they sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Why are they taking our pictures before we come in?" Johanna rolled her eyes.

"So, I can get on my stupid IPad and look up any kid I want to and see what they look like. Find out any information that I can. Anyone can look through the pictures. And of course, they're looking for the most beautiful teenagers to follow them around with the cameras. Haymitch told me that you were in the running,"

"Please don't let them follow me around,"

"I won't be able to stop it if they want to. But even though you are absolutely gorgeous, you're skin and bones. You're not the perfect vision of health. To put you on the tv a lot, they'd have to give you more food to fatten you up. And I don't know if the Capitol wants to put that much into it. I'm thinking they're just gonna mainly follow the Merchant kids," Katniss breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's only my opinion ya know. That's not set in stone," Katniss nodded.

"I know. But knowing there's a possibility makes me feel better,"

"Come on in," someone said. Peeta opened the door and saw Finnick O'dair sitting at his desk. "Come on in Mr. Mellark and have a seat," Finnick said.

"You can just call me Peeta," Peeta said quietly and sat down. Finnick nodded.

"Well then, Peeta it is. You can call me Finnick," he said. Peeta nodded his head. "So, Peeta, what brings you in today?" he asked. Peeta stared at him blankly, and Finnick just smiled.

"I'm kidding. Just, trying to lighten the mood. I've been sitting with you guys all week and its pretty depressing stuff. So, I'm gonna amp up the charm, and try to bring a positive light into this shitty Marriage Initiative," Finnick said. Peeta smiled at him. He like Finnick. He didn't believe in this marriage stuff. It felt like he was on Peeta's side.

"Thank you,"

"Listen Peeta, I'm gonna help you in any way I can. Any of the kids that I have, I'll do my best to find a girl, that you can be happy with. Not just stuck with. I can't guarantee anything good, but I'll promise to always do right by you," Finnick told him. Peeta put his head down and nodded.

"So, you can trust me," Finnick told him. Peeta was too afraid to admit that he was in love with Katniss. She was going to marry Gale. So, it wasn't worth mentioning. But he appreciated Finnick O'dair none the less.

The first day of school Katniss wanted no part of. They went to assembly first thing in the morning to watch a new video about the Marriage Initiative. Their classes would be geared towards finding the perfect mate. Running a household. Finances. And worst of all, sex education. Sure, they had a small Sex-Ed class. But it wasn't anything detailed. Just how your body works. But Snow's video flat out said that it would teach us how to please the opposite sex in the bedroom. It was humiliating.

There were some vocational classes as well. Not just about Mining anymore. About carpentry, electrician, plumbing. Those were for the boys. Actual educational classes were still there, but nowhere near as prominent anymore. It was all about a future for the Capitol.

"What does your schedule look like?" Madge asked her as she sat next to her at lunch. Katniss groaned.

"I have to take a sewing class. Like I even care," Katniss said and put her head on the table.

"Well, we get to take a financing class after lunch," Madge said, faking a little joy.

"You mean we actually get to have a class with the boys?" Katniss said, putting a hand over heart and faking shock, making Madge giggle.

"I think they're the one's who needed to take a cleaning class," Madge said, pointing to another line on Katniss' schedule. Katniss snatched it away and stared at it.

"Cleaning? They're giving us a class on actual cleaning? What does that Capitol care if my damn house is clean. This schedule is for shit!" Katniss snapped.

"Preach sister!" it was always Janston who was always encouraging her to complain out loud. Katniss chuckled and rolled her eyes. "For what it's worth, I totally believe that you can clean our house, even without taking a class," Janston told her. She squished up her nose and leaned forward and smacked him in the shoulder, making him laugh.

"What? I'm giving you a compliment," he laughed. Katniss turned back to Madge, making her giggle.

"Don't encourage him," Katniss whispered. Madge smiled.

"Janston wouldn't be such a bad guy," Madge said and turned her head. "He's one of the more lighthearted guys. Not a lot of them like that around here. And he's really good in school, so he probably won't end up in the mines," she offered. Katniss glared at the table.

Was she really supposed to look at these guys now and think of them as possible 'mates'? "A lot of the girls are gonna go after him," Madge told her. Katniss nodded.

"Yeah. He's a good guy," Katniss said sadly. She couldn't believe her mind had to go there. Was she really going to fight other girls to not end up with a loser husband?

Katniss hopped onto Haymitch' front porch that night and could hear laughter. She wondered when he got a new tv. But as she got closer to the kitchen, she realized it wasn't his tv. Haymitch had people in his house. She walked into the kitchen and saw Johanna, and Finnick O'dair drinking with Haymitch, and laughing loudly.

"I can't wait for the Victory Tour. I can't wait to get that new little Victor so hot and bothered. Looking forward to climbing that tree," Johanna laughed as she threw a shot back. Haymitch sat up a little when he saw Katniss.

"Hey sweetheart. What are you doing here?" Haymitch asked. Katniss came into the kitchen and put a container on his counter.

"I caught a rabbit. Mom made you some rabbit stew," Katniss told him.

"Is this Katniss?" Finnick asked excitedly. Johanna laughed at his excitement and Haymitch nodded his head.

"The one and only," Haymitch said. Finnick jumped up onto the table, making his two drinking buddies laugh, but made Katniss jump back as he jumped forward and wrap his arm around her shoulders.

"Oh, I have waited quite a few years to meet you. I tried to a few years back when I rolled into 12 with Annie. But you had the flu," Finnick said, smiling at her and making her uncomfortable. She remembered that year. Annie Cresta won, and they came to 12 to start off the Victory Tour, but Katniss luckily didn't have to go because she was home sick with the flu. Gale brought her back a lot of good food though.

Finnick stood next to her with his arm still tightly wrapped around her shoulders. "I have been waiting, so long to meet you," Finnick said, smiling his ever so charming smile.

"Why?" she griped. Her clear distain for him obviously went unnoticed because he laughed and shook her shoulders.

"Why? He came to one of the Games with this big gash in his forehead. You threw something at him, and he was too drunk that he doesn't even remember what it was. I've been dying to ask you," Finnick laughed. Katniss looked back at Haymitch for answers, but then remembers this day. Katniss face instantly went bright red. From anger and embarrassment.

"Must not be a good memory," Johanna sang. Haymitch squinted his eyes and then snapped his fingers.

"It was a water pitcher!" Haymitch said.

"I've been asking you this for like 4 or 5 years and NOW you remember what she hit you with?" Finnick asked him. Haymitch shrugged.

"I couldn't remember," Haymitch said.

"So, honey, tell me. Why'd you do it? Why'd you throw a glass water pitcher at your good ole uncle Haymitch's face?" Finnick asked. Katniss shrugged her shoulders.

"He looked thirsty," Katniss said, causing the three of them to laugh. It was a day that Katniss tried not to remember. She assumed by how drunk Haymitch was, and that he never spoke of the day she threw a pitcher at his face, that he just forgot. But she never would. She had gotten her first period, and Haymitch announced it to everyone at their family dinner. So, she threw a glass pitcher at his face.

Katniss used that moment to crawl out from under Finnick's grasp, making him laugh harder. "Make sure to eat that to soak up some of the booze Haymitch," Katniss griped.

"I like this girl. She's my favorite out of all the cry baby girls I have. She's gonna be a fighter this one!" Johanna said, raising her arm in the air.

"It's the Marriage Initiative, not the Hunger Games Johanna," Finnick reminded her. Johanna put her arm down.

"Oh yeah. That's right. None the less, I like her, and I'm gonna find her a bad ass husband. One that you like toots. Take that to the bank!" Johanna said and downed another shot.

"You get first dibs on my boys beautiful," Finnick said and winked at her.

"Mine to," Haymitch said, holding up his shot glass to her, and then downing it.

"I don't clean up vomit after other people. If you're gonna puke, go do it in one of the other houses. It's bad enough I have to clean up his," Katniss snapped, making the three of them laugh again. She was leaving her future in the hand of three drunken Victors? It made the whole thing seem so much better now.