Changing the Game Chapter 2: Then we both come home, a hunger games fanfic

Chapter 2 : Then we both come home

(Peeta)

I'm not sure what compelled me to reach for Katniss' hand when I joined her on the stage, but she didn't fight it, so I held on until they separated us just outside of the justice building. I am shoved into a small room which houses one small sofa which could easily seat three or four people. I take a seat on the couch and my thoughts are instantly invaded by images of Katniss and the fact that we are going into the games together. It's no secret that I love Katniss. I have loved her since that first day of school, but I didn't fall in love with her until about three years ago. She is also my best friend and I know that there is no way I could ever kill her. There is no doubt in my mind that I am willing to die for her. It's her who needs to win these games, no she will win. As much as it scares me, as much as I want to live, I am promising myself right now, that I will do whatever I need to do to ensure that she comes home to her family.

The door swings open with my family in tow. Mom, dad, and my two brothers; Rye and Graham. It doesn't surprise me that it's Rye with his tear streaked face who runs up to me, wrapping me in one of his bear hugs.

"I'm so sorry, Peeta. I should have volunteered for you like Katniss did. God, I'm such an idiot…I just…froze. I'm so sorry, Peeta, I'm so, so sorr—" I have to place my hand over his mouth to shut him up.

"Rye, I love you. You don't know how much it means to me just to hear you say that, but we both know that it's meant to be me, if they hadn't called my name, I would have volunteered so I could go with her. I have to make sure she comes home." I say so quietly that only he can hear my words. He just pulls me into the tightest hug, the kind that is so tight, I can't breathe for a few seconds.

"Can't…Breathe…Rye…" He releases his hold on me and ruffles my hair. I can see the pain in Rye's eyes when he pulls back, it's always been him to come to my rescue when it came to the wrath of mom. But this…this is completely out of his control; he has to know that if he had taken my place…I could never forgive him.

As Rye turns around to rejoin our parents, joined by their linked fingers is my oldest brother Graham, along with his wife Holly. He, like my dad, is a man of few words. Graham is twenty-four years old and has been married to Holly, the miller's daughter for six years. My mother pushed them together, her being the miller's daughter and all, she knew it would benefit the bakery and she was more than elated when they announced their engagement. Graham fell hard for Holly, and the day she turned eighteen, they were signing their marriage papers and had already applied for their home. Holly just stands by his side while Graham hugs me. Words don't need to be spoken as I can feel his love through his hug.

Dad strolls over to me as Graham and Holly leave with a somber look on his face.

"Peeta, I know what you're planning—"

"Dad, I—" I interrupt him, but he holds his hand up to silence me.

"Let me finish, son. I know what you're planning which is why I also know there is nothing I can say or do that will change your mind."

"I love her dad." He nods, understanding my plight.

"I know you do." He wraps his huge arms around me, and I bite my tongue to slow the flood of tears, the emotions escaping with them. I don't know how long he just holds me in his arms until he tucks my hair behind my ear.

"Peeta, no matter what; you guys stay together, you guys stay alive, you'll know it when you see it." I barely catch the words, wondering if I'm hearing things until he gives me the curt nod that says that yes, I did in fact hear him correctly. I hear the slight click of the door as it closes behind him, leaving mom alone in this room with me.

I'm guessing they signed in with the peacekeepers separately since they've been in here longer than their allotted four minutes. I'm a little nervous about my good-bye with my mother, as she's made it no secret that I've always been her biggest disappointment.

I watch as my mother walks over to me, trying to memorize every feature about her, not wanting to forget her. She may hate me, she may have spent my life taking her anger out on me, but she is my mom. I sketch her in my mind, her blonde hair with just a few strands of gray, which is more like a snowy white blending in with those icy blue eyes, which stare at me in disappointment. I get an image of the way her eyes crinkle before sending a blow at me. I shake my head, maybe I shouldn't focus on remembering her. She doesn't look right at me, instead she looks around the room at the pictures on the walls, her hands behind her back until finally she stops, glaring those frigid eyes into my own.

"I think District Twelve may actually have a winner this year." Is this real? Does my mother actually have that much faith in me? The thought warms my heart, even though I know, without a moment's hesitation that I will die for Katniss Everdeen, the thought that my own mother finally believes in me, it gives me the confidence that I need to pull off my plan. That is, until she speaks again.

"She's a fighter, that one is." She's talking about Katniss. Of course, she is speaking of Katniss, what on earth was I thinking that this woman could even just pretend to care for me, to pretend to believe in me. Even knowing that this may very well be our last interaction together, she can't even muster the strength to pretend to love me.

"But you knew that already, didn't you?"

I don't respond, I don't move, the only thing I'm capable of doing is staring at her. I wanted to leave District Twelve with good memories of my family, but I hate this woman. At least she has given me the drive to stay alive long enough to make sure Katniss wins. The door slams behind her, and my entire body is in a state of shock as I sit here completely alone. It's not long before my next visitor burst through the doors.

"Oh, Peeta, I'm so sorry!" She sits down next to me and pulls me into her arms, but the embrace doesn't last long. She pulls back, rests her hands on my shoulders and stares into my eyes.

"I know that we don't have long, but there is something that I must tell you. Oh, God, she's going to be so pissed at me…-" Madge gets up and begins pacing the length of the room. "If I don't tell you, she never will, I just know it! She said she would, but I know her, Peeta and she would just keep it in and you have the right to know, you deserve to know Peeta! OH MY GOSH, everything is spinning out of control!" Madge spins around once with her hands in the air as she rants hysterically, her words come out so fast I can barely make them out.

"Madge, slow down. What do you need to tell me, and who will be mad at you? Come sit with me." I grab her hand to bring her back to me. She takes a seat next to me and places a hand over her heart and takes a deep breath to calm herself down.

"It's Katniss, Peeta, she loves you." Madge looks at me seriously.

"Well, I already knew that; I love her too, just like I love you Madge." My statement seems to irritate Madge.

"Peeta, you can be so dense sometimes. Peeta, what I'm saying is that Katniss is in love with you." She puts emphasis on the words 'in love'. "She told me last night. She was going to tell you today after the reaping, but now..." She pulls me into a hug and we just sit there wrapped in each other's arms. I wonder if she can feel my heart beating through my chest.

"Are you sure Madge? Maybe you misunderstood her." I try not to get my hopes up as Madge pulls back and scoots back on the sofa, looking into my eyes again.

"And I quote 'I love him Madge, I don't just love him, I am in love with Peeta Mellark. I've loved him for such a long time now, and I'm tired of fighting it.' She said more, but that's the only part I memorized. She told me last night, clear as day."

She gives me one last hug and whispers so quietly in my ear, "Promise me you'll stay together. All the way to the end."

Oh. My. God. Katniss loves me. Me. Peeta. Peeta Mellark.

I'm star struck at the words Madge has relayed to me. I don't even notice when she leaves me all alone in this room again. I don't notice as my next visitors enter this room until the door slams behind them and Prim is running into my arms. I feel her arms squeeze around my middle and look up into the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen. That's when the flood gates burst open.

"I—I—I didn't think I would see you again, I didn't expect you to come." I can barely stutter the words out as the pain in my chest takes over.

"Well that just makes you the stupidest num-nut, doofus brains." Prim says through her tears, finally releasing her grasp on me to look into my eyes.

"For once, I'm going to have to agree with Primrose." Mr. Everdeen chuckles as he walks hand in hand with Mrs. Everdeen to join Prim and me.

"Peeta, you are our family. We love you, of course we would come in here to say good-bye. What kind of parents would we be if we let you leave without telling you how much we love you, and that we believe in you!" It's everything I had wished of my own mother, I close my eyes and shake my head, surely this is a dream. When I reopen my eyes, they're all still here, still looking at me. They're real.

"I—I know what you must be thinking, and I won't let Katn—" Mrs. Everdeen shushes me and pulls me into her arms…into a mother's embrace.

"None of that, Peeta. We're just going to sit here until they make us leave. You're going to spend these last few minutes with your Everdeen family knowing that you are loved, and that we believe in you. And we're not going to say good-bye, we're going to say, 'I'll see you next time.' Peeta, we love you; you are a part of our family and nothing will change that. Not a last name, and surely not some…some game."

"What about Katniss? I don't want her to be alone." I say through my tears.

"Katniss has plenty of people to keep her busy, Peeta. Now shut up and let us love you." Prim tells me.

And that's exactly what we do. Mrs. Everdeen is the mother I will choose to memorize as I breathe my last breath.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Haymitch)

It's no secret here in District Twelve that I'm the town drunk. Hell, it's no secret anywhere. District Twelve. The Capitol. In the other districts. I've gotten so good at playing my part that no one doubts it. Oh, but if they only knew. Oh, I hear the whispers in town. 'If only Haymitch didn't drink his self into oblivion, he might actually be able to bring some of our kids home.' 'Oh, it's such a pity that Haymitch wastes all of that money away on his liquid diet.' Sure, I drink to numb the pain. But I'm not as drunk as they think. But I have my part to play, appearances to keep up and all. The Capitol, Snow, they have to believe I'm a useless, incompetent, sorry excuse of a shell of a man. And now after seeing my tributes this year, this is going to be one hell of a year. I hope they can handle what's coming.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Katniss)

A peacekeeper enters my room and 'escorts' me to the train. As we walk, if you can really call it that; the peacekeeper pulls me by my arm with so much force, I'm sure there will be a bruise tomorrow and just about drags me along with him. I scan the crowd as we walk, but I don't see Peeta anywhere. The peacekeeper hands me off to Effie, and for once I'm thankful for the proper capitol escort and all of her manners. I follow Effie until we get to the train, and that's when I see him.

I feel my heart accelerate as I run to him and let him hold me in his arms. We just stand there, wrapped in each other's arms for a moment; tears are falling from my eyes.

"Aghhhemm" Haymitch lets us know it's time to board the train. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I witness Haymitch giving Effie some kind of nonverbal signal. Something inside of me is curious, but the safety of Peeta's arms consumes my every thought in this moment.

"Come, come on tributes, we must stay on schedule. Follow me this way and I will give you the grand tour!" Effie parades us up the ramp and into the train. We follow Effie with our hands linked together, not caring if anyone sees. The first room we stop at reminds me of a kitchen. It has a table in the center with chairs around it along with cabinets along the walls, a small refrigerator, and some other appliances that I don't know the names for.

"This is the 'Meal Car', it is where we will share our meals together. Haymitch will give you a schedule to let you know what time you are to meet us in here." Peeta and I nod, and we continue following Effie down the long corridor until we get to our next stop.

"This is the 'Main Car', as you can see the television there. This is where we will spend the majority of our time. In approximately two hours, there is the required viewing of the reapings, and we shall meet in here to watch together." She doesn't spend much time here, as she points out where her room is, along with Haymitch's room; in case we were to need either of them, which we shouldn't. Finally, she gets to the last set of doors and opens the first one.

"Katniss, this shall be your room, and as you can see Peeta, your room is adjacent to hers. This is where you will groom, sleep, and uh…relieve yourselves. Each room is equipped with its own fully functioning lavatory. Each room is also fully stocked with the finest clothes, which you are welcome to. Anything you could ever want, it's in there!" She says in her way too happy to be here voice.

She shoves each of us into our rooms. "Go on now, see for yourselves. You have time to shower and wash all of that grimy coal dust from your bodies. Feel free to wear anything you find in your drawers! You have two hours until I expect you in the meal car. See you then! Toot-a-loo!" She slams the door in my face. For someone so focused on proper manners, that was pretty rude; but what do I know? I'm just a poor lowly girl from the coal district. I twist the handle of the door to make sure I wasn't just locked in here, and to my surprise, it opens. I close it back, and walk around the room.

So many thoughts are swimming around in my head, I feel like my head might explode. I think about my dad's words, I think about Madge. Madge. Oh my God. Did she tell Peeta? It would be just like her to do something like that. And what about the looks I saw Haymitch giving Effie. And what were the chances of Prim's name getting called? Her name was in there once. Once out of thousands of names. And Peeta's name. What do I make of it all? I know my dad went on some kind of secret trip for the last two weeks, and he said all that stuff to me this morning. What does it all mean? I still can't seem to wrap my head around it, so I finally just sit down on my bed.

I rub my hands against the comforter, noticing how soft it is. Effie mentioned someone about a thread count, but I wasn't paying any attention. Then, I let myself just fall backwards, until I'm lying flat on the bed. So many thoughts are running through my head. No, not running, more like flying or swimming. It's like one of those one-thousand-piece puzzles that Prim once brought home from school. I just have to figure out where the pieces go.

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. I'm not in the mood for company, I just want to be alone with my thoughts right now. I try to ignore it, but whoever it is, they're not going away. I stand up, walk to the door, and open it just a crack to see who it is. I smile at my intruder and open the door to let him in.

"Peeta." I say, unable to conceal my smile. He comes in and closes the door behind him, twisting the piece on the door that keeps anyone on the other side out. The playful look is gone from his eyes, replaced is a sense of urgency.

Peeta corners me and our eyes lock. No words are spoken with our voices, our eyes do all of the talking. Time stands still as Peeta stares into my eyes, unlocking the secrets of my soul. I can feel the energy between us charging up, ready to explode. I'm not sure how much time has passed; it could be five minutes or five hours. I look into his eyes and he's so beautiful, my heart flutters into my stomach and he is the only person in this world who exists. Finally, I can't take it anymore, the electrical charge pulls me to him, and I tuck my arms under his and wrap my hands around his back so that our bodies are melded against each other.

He pulls back, the need to stare into my eyes more intense each second that passes. He grabs my face and slams his lips against mine in a heated kiss. I accept the kiss, reciprocating his actions as our tongues collide in an explosion of fireworks.

The kiss is everything I ever dreamed of, and everything I never knew I wanted, it's perfect. I don't know how long we stay there with our lips locked before he pulls away. But I don't want this moment to end. He pulls back just far enough back to speak, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.

"You love me." It's not a question, I don't know why he asks if he knows the answer. "Please." He says, needing me to confirm what he has wanted to hear for so long.

"I love you Peeta." I give him what he wants, my truth. That's all it takes, it's what he needs to hear to reconnect our lips, to reunite our tongues in their passionate dance, their rhythm moving in perfect synchronicity.

I have only ever kissed one boy before, but it was nothing like this. I wrap my arms around Peeta's back to pull him closer to me. This kiss is sensual and intense, it's delicate but fierce. I love the way Peeta's tongue feels grazing my lips, how it feels colliding with my own tongue.

Before I know it, I'm backed up against the wall and there is no space between Peeta and I. We are a tangled mess of limbs wrapped around each other. I can't get enough of him, so I pull him even closer if that's even possible. His arms stay on my back, never lower than my back. We are kissing so intensely; I'm rubbing his back, his arms, everything feels so good, yet it's just not enough. We're so close and then I feel something poking against my leg. Oh.

We are interrupted by a knock on the door, and just like that, we pull apart. I use my fingers to straighten my hair, and I open the door a crack, irritated at the interruption.

"Yes?" It's Haymitch. He hands me a piece of paper. I look down at the paper, and then back up at Haymitch and then look at him quizzically.

He seems to know I'm asking, 'What the hell is this?'

"This is for you and the boy. It's your schedule. Memorize it. Don't lose it. Dinner's at six. Don't be late." In a way, he reminds me of Peeta's dad; in the fact that he keeps his sentences short and sweet, getting straight to the point. I close the door just after he walks away and stand there with my back to Peeta for a moment. What would have happened if we weren't interrupted? He takes my hand, inviting me to sit next to him on the bed.

"Katniss, I'm so sorry, I…I got carried away. I've wanted to do that for so long, and then you, but then I," I let out a small chuckle when he can't seem to get his words out, and then he half smiles, half scowls at me.

"Are you laughing at me Miss Everdeen?" He smiles at me. I return his smile and stroke his cheek.

"Peeta." I pull him into the bathroom, turning the water on at the sink, and start running the water in the shower. Madge told me that if you do this, it drowns out any listening devices. "Peeta, something is going on. I'm not sure what it is, but something is off, something isn't right." I hand him the 'schedule' that Haymitch gave me, which is not a schedule at all, but some sort of code language that he apparently wants us to memorize.

"Katniss stop for a minute. Please. I know all of this is really important, but can we have five minutes where we just pretend we're not about to go into the games? I have to know. Was Madge lying?" I look down to avoid his eyes, as I'm sure the blush rising across my cheeks is my tell all. Peeta lifts my chin with his finger to make me look into his eyes again. I can't look at him without tears falling out of my eyes.

"Yes Peeta, it's true. Why do you have to ask?" He smiles and kisses me softly on my lips.

"Hearing you say it out loud makes it true. It makes it real, and now I can die a happy man." His words bring me back to the present and causes the tears to expel from my eyes. "Sorry, wrong choice of words." He apologizes.

"But Peeta, this is important. When my dad was telling me good-bye, he whispered something in my ear. He said, 'You and Peeta stay a team. All the way to the end.' And I'm almost certain I saw these strange looks between Haymitch and Effie earlier today, and now this 'schedule.' Something is going on…everyone who told me good-bye put emphasis on us staying together."

"Wait…What did you say? All the way to the end?" Peeta looks like he's remembering something. I nod in confirmation.

"Madge said that to me too. Those exact words." We share our good-bye's, and once there is no more to tell, I turn the water off.

"Did you know your parents were coming to see me?" Peeta asks me as we exit the bathroom.

"No, they didn't say so, but why wouldn't they? They see you as part of our family." Peeta smirks as he pulls the covers down.

"Hopefully not as your brother." I shove his arm as he toes his shoes off and climbs into the gigantic bed.

I climb in next to Peeta as he invites me into his arms, I rest my head on his chest, the steady strum of his heartbeat lulls me to sleep; neither of us heard the click of the door opening.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Effie)

I am so angry. I am past angry, I am enraged, no whatever is past that, is what I am in this moment. I stomp my heels as loudly as I can as I march down the hall to Haymitch's room, the hell with proper etiquette and manners; I don't bother knocking. I barge into his room, once again forgetting my manners, and I yell, no scream at him as I throw the small notebook at him.

"HAYMITCH ABERNATHY, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME? I HAD TO WALK IN ON THEM AND FIND OUT FOR MYSELF! THIS IS A DISASTER, THIS CAN NOT BE HAPPENING, HOW IN THE WORLD WILL WE DO THIS? HAYMITCH, ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?" Haymitch is sitting in a chair looking at a piece of paper with a glass of bourbon at his side, completely unphased by my outburst.

"Geez, Trinkie, you need to take a chill pill. What's got your panties in a twist?" Haymitch responds nonchalantly.

"Haymitch, I went into Peeta's room only to find the room empty, so I proceeded to Katniss' room to inform them that dinner will be served in precisely forty minutes."

"So, they weren't in there either?" Haymitch asks.

"Oh, they were in there alright. TOGETHER. They were lying in each other's arms…-"

"Oh, were they 'not decent'?" Haymitch asks using finger air quotes at the words, 'not decent.'

"Haymitch, you have such a dirty mind, get your head out of the gutter. They were perfectly decent. They were just- just lying together. Asleep. Are they...together? Are they a couple? Are they in love? Oh, my goodness, this was not what we had planned for! Haymitch, what are we to do?" I am in a full-blown panic at this point. When Haymitch asked for my help to 'changing the games', I was more than willing to oblige.

I cruised the first ten years of my being an escort in complete oblivion. I was a stuck up, pretentious snob. Our 'tributes' were just 'tributes', I didn't see them as people, as someone's children. As each year passed, Haymitch and I fought. He called me 'One of Them'.

It wasn't until three years ago when I had bonded with our female tribute that I began to see things differently. I hadn't meant to; it wasn't part of my plan. I only wanted to bring one of our tributes home, for surely if I could do that, I would be rewarded with a promotion to another district.

Rosemary was an orphan who lived in the children's home in District Twelve and had a brother of whom she loved with all of her heart. I remember that first conversation we had on the train ride to The Capitol.

…..

We had just sat down for dinner that first night on the train. Her name was Rosemary Stein and she was sixteen years old. She had long brown wavy hair and blue eyes, she very much had the potential to beautiful if only she tried.

"Miss Trinket, do you think it would be alright if I took Ashton a cup of this hot chocolate? He was really upset, and I think he's just really scared and was too embarrassed to be out here with us and that's why he wanted to stay in his room for tonight. I heard him crying from my room earlier today. But I think this hot chocolate would make him feel at least a little better. I didn't want to just take it, you know, in case we're not allowed." Rosemary had the sweetest, kindest voice, but firm when she needed it to be. I was taken aback by her manners, as well as her kindness toward her fellow tribute.

"Of course, Rosemary. Thank you so much for asking, it really shows your character. But Rosemary darling, anything on this train, you and Ashton are welcome to it, there is no need to ask for permission." She smiled at me, grabbed the cup of hot chocolate and headed to Ashton's room.

She spent over an hour in his room with him, I caught her slipping back into her room later that night. And with that simple act of kindness, she stole my heart. I mean here is this girl prepared to go into the arena to fight to the death. I'm sure she knew she wasn't going to make it back home as District Twelve hasn't had a victor in twenty-some years at the time. Instead of just worrying about herself, she showed kindness to her fellow tribute, who she'd only met mere hours ago. She did it for no other reason than to show him kindness. The next day on the train, she told me about herself.

"My parents died when Birch and I were really little. I barely remember them, but sometimes I get these images, or flashes of memories, and I just know it's them. Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I can see my mother's smile. And in my dreams, I'm sure it's her who sings to me. My dad, he gave me the best hugs. I was five years old when they died, Birch was only one and a half. We went to live in the Children's home, and it's been just us ever since. I really hope he will be okay when I don't come home." She had such a sad look on her face.

"When you don't come home? Don't you mean 'if' you don't come home? Won't you try?" I asked her.

"Of course, I'll try. I won't go down easily. But Miss Trinket, I'm not stupid or naïve, I know that I don't have a chance, no one's come home since Haymitch. I'm five foot two, I weigh ninety-six pounds, we barely get enough to eat; if we're lucky, we get one meal a day. And I usually give most of my food to Birch, or to the little kids if they haven't had enough to eat that day, which they usually haven't. The careers are surely much bigger than I am. I know that I don't stand a chance. But I won't hesitate to take as many of them with me as I can." Rosemary said very matter of factly. She didn't seem sad about it; she was accepting her death I suppose.

One day after training, I made my first promise ever to a tribute, to a young girl.

"Miss Trinket, do you think if I wrote my brother a letter, just a short letter telling him how much I love him, and how proud of him I am, and to stay strong; just so that he has something to remember me when I'm gone, do you think you or Haymitch could get it to him?"

I had tears in my eyes. It wasn't allowed, but this tribute, I mean girl, I mean, Rosemary had stolen a piece of my heart, and I would make sure that her brother got her letter. "Of course, darling." I smiled at her as I pat her on her back.

Haymitch promised me he would deliver the letter to Birch when he went back home to District Twelve. I'm certain it was no accident that the following year, Birch was reaped. He didn't make it past the bloodbath, which I do not believe was an accident either.

…..

"Trinkie, Earth to Effie, where are you?" Haymitch was snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Oh Haymitch, get your hands out of my face." I swatted his hand away.

"Effie, they're best friends. I didn't know the boy was going to be reaped. I guess Madge was right." I looked straight into Haymitch's eyes, slightly confused.

"Haymitch, this changes things. Wait. Who is Madge?"

…..

0o0o

…..

(Dylan Everdeen)

"FUCK. SHIT. GOD DAMN. MOTHER FUCKER." I scream and yell as I throw the kitchen table across the room. I hugged my daughter before she left for the games. I had so much anger inside of me, I couldn't go home, not yet anyway. So, I went to the one place that no one would look for me; Haymitch's house. I let my anger out in his kitchen. "What the hell have I done? And to my own daughter? What kind of father, no what kind of man am I?" Once the rage was gone, guilt took its' place. I fell to the floor on my knees, and I cried. This was not supposed to happen. This is not the way it was supposed to go. I know how Katniss feels about Peeta, even if she doesn't, and I know for a fact that there is no way she will come home without him. No way at all. That is when a light goes off in my head. I storm out into the dead of night and make my way to Ric's house. He's going to help me come up with a plan, we're going to figure out how to get them to change the game.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Katniss)

I wake up in my bed all alone. I sit up, look around the room, trying to figure out where I am. 'The games. I say sadly to myself, remembering that I am on the tribute train that is headed for The Capitol. I figure it must be about time to join everyone for dinner, so I make my way to the main car. Just before I turn the corner, I hear voices; Haymitch.

"If you can't get your hands on a weapon, you make one. A half ass weapon is better than no weapon." I recall Gale's words to me and decide to eavesdrop for another minute.

"Listen Haymitch. I'm not sure how much you know about us, but I'm not some useless town kid that you're probably thinking. I can hold my own. I've been on the wrestling team for three years, and I've won every match. The one match that I lost was on purpose. I eat enough, I'm fit, I probably stand a chance. I might even could make it to the top ten. But Haymitch, Katniss is the one who will be coming home this year, okay? She is my world, and if I can't come home with her, there is no point for me to come home at all.

Katniss is strong, and she's amazing with a bow and arrow. I mean like, beyond amazing. My dad gets squirrels from her, and he says every single one, without fail was shot straight through the eye. She eats well, hell, she's probably the best fed in the entire district and she's fit. She's fast and can climb a tree like nobody's business, she can make it." I feel the tears running down my cheeks as I listen to him gush over me. I send him all of the anger I can, and stomp into the room, plopping down on the chair next to him with my arms folded across my chest. I'm sure I must resemble a child having a tantrum to them, but I don't care.

"Good evening, Katniss" Effie says to me.

Peeta's words have made me angry, so now I'm in a bad mood. "Hi, Effie." I try to sound polite, but I can tell that Peeta picks up on my non-verbal irritation. Good, my anger is toward him.

"Is there something you want to say sweetheart?" Haymitch asks me.

"No." Is all I say as I poke my food around on my plate with my fork. Suddenly, I'm not as hungry as I was when I left my room and then I decide that I can't do this tonight. "I'm going back to bed." I say, and storm out of the eating car, or whatever they called it and make my way back to my room.

Once I'm in my room, I lock the door and I fall down on my bed, put the pillow over my head so that no one can hear me, and I let myself cry. I promise myself that this will be the last time I cry. It's true that I am strong, but it's Peeta that makes me strong, how does he not know that? I'd be nothing without him. After the mine explosion when my dad was in a coma, I kept my family alive. I got the courage to cross the fence, learned to hunt and Gale taught me how to set snares. But the reason I was brave enough to do it... The reason I had the courage to do it is sitting in the other room next to Haymitch.

I am strong when it comes to survival, but when it comes to Peeta, I am so weak. I never wanted to love anyone, but stupid Peeta had to go and be all wonderful. And I just know I can't come home without him. I won't survive without him. I'm pretty sure that I can't breathe without him. It hurts so much to fathom a life without Peeta, so I cry myself to sleep.

Even after three weeks of dad being in his coma, mom was sure that he would wake up. A lot of people died that day. Gale lost his dad, and my dad was alive, but not alive. Mom stayed by his side, completely certain that he would wake up. Every day she would say 'He'll wake up today' And every day, he didn't wake up. I was eleven years old; Prim was seven years old and we were running out of food. After living off of mint leave stew for almost two weeks, we were starving. I could see Prim's bones. So, one day, I collected a box full of Prim's baby clothes. They didn't even look all that great but it's all we had. It was the middle of winter, at least thirty degrees outside, and to top it off, it was pouring down rain. I went to the hob first to try to sell the clothes. With no luck, I tried again in town. After three hours of being unsuccessful, I thought about the trash cans. Trash day wasn't until tomorrow, and if I took something from the trash, it's not technically stealing right?

I passed by the bakery, and the smell of fresh bread inundated my nose. It smelled like heaven. I was hoping no one would see me, this tiny shell of a girl, soaking wet and shivering as I thought I was going to get a stale piece of bread when I heard the witch screaming at me.

"Get out of my trash you seam scum! Go on, get out before I call the peacekeepers!" She waved her rolling pin at me. She was a horrible lady who was never nice to anyone, but she especially hated anyone from the seam. I took off, afraid that she would call the peacekeepers, and sat under an apple tree. I was just ready to die at that point, I knew I couldn't go home without something. Anything. I sat there for ten, twenty minutes, when I heard her voice again. I thought she was threatening to call the peacekeepers on me again, but it wasn't me she was yelling at.

"You stupid, good for nothing, worthless boy! It's burnt. No one will buy that! Go on, take it to the pigs!" I looked up and watched as she whacked Peeta across the face with her rolling pin. And then something happened. At first, I thought I was imagining it. I watched as Peeta came outside. He looked inside to make sure his mother wasn't looking before running to me. A customer had just walked in, so they had occupied the witch's attention. Peeta saw me sitting there, sopping wet and shivering, and then our eyes locked. He ran up to me with the two loaves of burnt bread.

"Here Katniss. I made sure to only burn the outside. You should be able to scrape off the black, and the inside should still be good. I'm sorry but it was the only way I could think of to get it for you." He shoved it in my hands and ran back inside. The bread was still hot. I wrapped it in my jacket to keep it from getting wet and ran as fast as I could to get back home. That night, Mom, Prim, and I had some bread to go with our mint stew.

The next day at school, I was too embarrassed to approach Peeta; I wanted so badly to thank him. When I saw him, he had a blackened eye as well as a huge gash over his eyebrow. During math, someone handed me a note. I opened it, and read the note from Peeta:

'Katniss, meet me by the oak tree after school?' How could I say no? He just saved my entire family from starvation. I looked over to him and nodded with a smile. That afternoon, I must have gotten to the oak tree early, as I just stood there, waiting for about ten minutes. While I was waiting, I looked down and saw a dandelion. A sign that spring was on its way, a sign that meant hope. It was then; I knew how I was going to keep my family alive. I didn't know what to say to Peeta. What do you say to the person who saved you from death? I owed him my life. But he promised me that I didn't owe him anything.

He walked me home, and we just talked. I was never good at talking, I wasn't outgoing, I didn't have any friends and I was socially awkward. But talking to Peeta on our way home was just so easy. It seemed to come naturally. Peeta said "Katniss, it's what friends do. They help each other out." And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I don't know whether it was a sign or just a mere coincidence, but my dad woke up the very next day.

…..

0o0o

…..

(Peeta)

"Katniss. Katniss, please unlock the door." I begged from the other side of Katniss' door. I know she overheard me talking to Haymitch, and I know what she heard sent her into a rage. She's not just mad, but really really pissed off at me. I put my ear up to the door and can't hear anything. 'Maybe she's asleep' I think to myself.

"If this is all the time we have left together, we are not spending it on separate sides of a wall." I tell her through the door. So, I do what any rational sixteen-year-old boy does; I pick the lock. I open the door quietly, and what I see is enough to break my heart. Katniss is curled up in a ball hugging her pillow and I can tell she's been crying.

I quietly scoot in behind her and pull her close to me. Startled, she jumps, looking to see who is climbing into bed with her. She grabs my hands and pulls them closer to her to get me as close as humanly possible. I breathe in her scent and she smells so good, and then I kiss her forehead. We lay like this for a long time. I realize that no amount of time will ever be enough. After what is probably twenty minutes, Katniss looks at me.

"Peeta." I open my eyes to look at her. "Mmm hmmm" I say. "Peeta, you can't die for me." I frown.

"You heard me and Haymitch."

"I did. Peeta, you saved my life once, now it's my turn to save yours." I flip her body so that she is facing me.

"Katniss. I want you to listen to me and truly hear me as I am only going to say this once. You are my best friend; you are my favorite freakin' person in this entire screwed up world. If I can't come home with you, I refuse to come home. I just won't do it. I love you too much to live in a world where you don't exist." And then I plant my lips on hers to keep her quiet for at least a few seconds. She smiles at me, which causes me to be confused.

"Then we both come home." She whispers so quietly; I almost don't hear her. The rest of the night, she lets me hold her.