My parents were matched when my mom was 18 and my dad was 21, it was a big deal, their age difference. Her parents didn't like it at all, we never spent anytime with them. They owned the pharmacy in town, they cut her off after she married my dad, who worked in the factory. That was the low class of people. Her brother ran the pharmacy for a long time after their parents died, but after my dad died in an accident we moved in with my uncle. He was alone and the pharmacy was dying. His wife had died in child birth a long time ago. He never went to registered for a new mate. You can but you don't have to. Maybe my mate had died and I won't have to get married. The thought is a bad one, but its there.

Boys stop going to school at 16, they work and learn the family business, learn about the factory and get paid so they can have a home by the time they are 18. Girls stay in school and learn how to manage a business, balance books, keep a bank account, how to clean and cook, how to take care of a baby, and how to take care of their husbands needs. Apparently men have a lot of needs, its almost like a child, until it comes to sex. They teach you how to pleasure him, although I've heard some older girls talking that those classes didn't help them pleasure their husbands at all. Girls are expected to be pure on their wedding night, guys are expected to know what they are doing. Funny how that works out.

I wont have that issue. I am as a virgin as they come. I've been kissed once and then I punched him in the face. Gale's jaw had never been the same after that. I think he wants it to be him on my card. But, it won't be, he looks too much like me. We are too alike.

Last week we graduated school and today I go get my Matching card. They use to make you read your aloud to the whole district, but that caused a lot of fights, now you go into a room by yourself they give you, your card you are video taped opening and reading your card. Then you leave. Boys wait to have their mate come knocking on their door. The cards are presented to the parents. I'm not sure when I will do that. I'm not ready for this. I dont' want to get married.

It's my turn, I'm waiting in the room,

"Katness Everdeen?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Your match card, dear."

I was handed a card, and I open it. the name on the card stares back at me and I almost pass out. Anyone but him. My card reads

"PEETA MELARK"

I say his name aloud, tuck the card in my pocket, and head home. In the distant I heard the card escort say.

"Happy mating games, and my the odds be ever in your favor."

Mating games, stupid. My life is not a game. I don't want to play this.

When I arrive home I am immediately confronted with questions by my mother and sister.

"Who was it?" Prim ask

Prim is my sister she is 14. She thinks these games are fun and romantic.

"I'm not ready to say yet."

"Katniss, you know you only have 48 hours to notify the man. 32 days to be married."

"I know mom, I'll tell him tomorrow and then tell all of you."

"Was it Gale?" Prim ask

"No, Prim it wasn't Gale."

Prim and my mom look disappointed, I guess everyone but me wanted to be him.

Gale and his family come over for dinner that night. It was uncomfortable.

"Gale wasn't on my card." I blurted it out, I didn't mean to it just came out on its own.

"I know." Gale answered

"How, do you know?" I hadn't told anyone how did he know?

"I got a phone call today. From my match. She um, well she lives in D7."

"D7?" That's odd, people get matched with other districts every year, but I have never heard of anyone from 7 getting matched to 12.

"Yeah, that's one of the reasons we are hear tonight. I am going to 7 tomorrow to meet her. I will be there until we get married, then we will come back here to live."

"What is her name?"

"Johanna Mason."

As soon as Gale had said her name Katniss knew, things would never be the same between them, she decided to share he name with them, since he was leaving tomorrow, she knew she wouldn't have a chance to be alone with him. It was now or never.

"Peeta Melark."

"What?" Gale asked

"The baker's boy? I haven't heard anything about his Match. I didn't realize you were friends with him." Mom answered

"She's not" Gale answered. "Is that your match Katniss?"

I put my head down. "Yes."

I hear a loud shriek, its Prim, she's beside herself with joy. She loves the bakery.

"This is wonderful Katniss." My sister would think so.

"Katniss, I don't know if I ever told you, but I was friends with his father in school. I can go with you tomorrow to talk with him if you like."

My mom and I had not been close since my father died. I blamed her. He was hurt working an extra shift, one that he wasn't meant to be working. He picked that shift up, because my mother said we needed the money. She was trying though.

"Thanks mom, that would be good. I'm really tired can I be excused?"

"Sure, Katniess. get some sleep."

When I got up Gale did as well and followed me into the living room.

"Melark huh.. ?"

"Yup. Crazy right?"

"Yeah. Look Kit I just want you to know you will always be my best friend ok?"

I smiled at him. I know we both want to remain friends. I hope we can.

"You will always have a place here Gale."

We hug and he kisses the top of my head before I go up to bed. In a weird way it feels like a good bye.

I hate it.

The next morning after I shower I see a blue dress of my mothers on my bed. It's beautiful, she's had it from before she married my father. She had very few things from before, and as well as the store is doing now, we are still recovering from my father dying and, my uncle not taking care of this place for so long. Also my uncle drinks a lot, he's family though, so we love him.

I dress in my mothers dress and then she braids my hair, I look beautiful, there are very few times in my life that I think I look beautiful, I'm glad now is one of them. I hope Peeta isn't too disappointed. I know he doesn't like me. We've barely ever spoken. Hate is a strong word, I'm not sure he knows me enough to hate me. Strong dislike is probably a good description. I don't even know what I did, he just stares at me and never speaks, when I have spoken to him he just nods his head and walks away. I thought maybe he couldn't speak or hear at first, but he does answer teacher questions, so it's not that. I hope we can resolve his issues, I don't want to be in a marriage at all, but one where my husband doesn't even like me would be so much worse.

The walk to the bakery had never seemed so short and so long at the same time. There was a time when I walked the path to the bakery with my father, we weren't wealthy by any means but he always made sure we had what we needed, and a special treat on their birthday's. Prim always wanted a cookie, I always wanted cheese buns.

We arrived at the bakery at 10 am. After the morning rush, before lunch. My mom assured me we would have plenty of time before lunch. We were just there to notify him of our match. I can't believe she is so relaxed. I mean I am going to my future husband's home to notify him we are getting married. How romantic. Sigh. Here we go.

The smell of the bakery is what I image heaven to smell like. I love baked goods, well food really. We mostly have what we need, but never more. I'm not sure it's different here, but the smell is enough for me to want it. Behind the counter is Finnick, Peeta's Brother, he was matched two years ago at 20, like Gale his wife came from another district, 4 I think, Anne is her name they have a son. The place is empty except for the shoe maker's wife and daughter who sit at a table to my right. Delly is her name, she's dressed up, she must have just notified her match as well. My mom goes to the counter to ask to talk to Bran, Peeta's father. I decide to talk to Delly.

"Hi Dell, how are you?"

"Katniss, hi Um.. you look nice. Did you talk to your match today?"

"Not yet. I've put it off as long as possible though. That's why we are here."

"KATNISS, did you match with Peeta?" Wow she was excited.

"SHhh... Yes, I did." I put my head down. Was I blushing?

"We are going to be sisters! I matched with John."

"Wow, Delly that's great. Have you talked to him?"

"No, Bran went to get him."

Mr. Mellark was marring off two sons this year John was the middle son he was 19, Peeta was the youngest at 18.

Mr. Mellark comes out of the back to speak with my mother, she points to where I stand by Delly, he rubs his hand down his face and shakes his head. There is no doubt that he knows how Peeta feels about me. He probably feels bad for the both of us. Great. He talks to mom for a moment and then goes back to the back. Finnick is laughing at the counter, I'm glad he finds this so funny. I bet he actually likes his wife. Mom comes back to the table I am at with Delly, she said Bran is telling Petta to get ready to meet me and that we could have a seat with Delly since they were there for John. Less than five minutes later Bran is back at the counter. He walks past the table and heads for the door, locking it and turning the sign to closed.

"I think we shouldn't be interrupted, we will open back up after we have spoken with the boys."

We all nod our heads in agreement.

"Dad." Finnick calls out. "I'm going to head home for a bit. Anne has had a cold, I want to check on her. Send John or Petta to get me when you reopen."

"Finnick, take the rest of the day. It's ok son, take Anne some soup and tell her to get better."

"Thanks dad."

Mr. Mellark is a great dad I think. His wife I hear was an awful person. She died a few years ago. After Anne came, before the baby was born.

The kitchen door swings open and I lose the ability to think. Everyone else stands up, so I did as well. John and Peeta slowly make their way to the table, there is a look on Peeta's face like he may throw up. Great it's worse than I thought.

Bran calls his boys over.

"John, Peeta. These ladies are your Matches. Their mothers have given me your cards with your names on them."

John and Peeta both have a look on their face like they would rather be anywhere but here. John speaks first.

"Hi, Katniss. It's nice to see you.'"

"Hi." I reply

"Delly, your dress is nice." Peeta tells her.

The adults began to laugh. I'm not understanding the joke. I don't see anything funny about this at all. Delly looks at me just as confused as I am. The boys are not laughing either.

"Boys, I believe you are mistaken, John, you were matched with Delly. Peeta you were matched with Katniss." Bran explained to them. I see the look the boys give each other. I'm not sure what that look is, but Peeta hadn't even thought of it being me. He figured I matched with his brother. They both had looks like they were going to throw up, so I guess his brother doesn't like me much either. I look at Delly she's red poor Delly. Her and Peeta were friends in school.

"Oh, well. It's still nice to see you Katniss. And Delly Peeta is right, you look lovely. Except Orange is Peeta's favorite color, Blue is mine." John says looking over at me.

"I thought maybe they told you our favorite color and that's why you ladies wore them."

"Green." Comes out of my mouth and everyone turns to look at me. I don't know what else to say so I shut my mouth and put my head down, begging the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

"What about you Delly? What's your favorite color?"

"Purple." She answers.

"Well now that we have the important thing out of the way." Bran started

"And no one has passed out." John interrupted Bran gave him and look and he shut his mouth quickly.

"As I was saying, since everyone is ok with all of this. Why don't you kids go upstairs to the kitchen, the boys will make you an early lunch and us parents will talk. I looked at my mom and she nodded her head to encourage me. I looked at Delly and she was already at John's side heading to the door. I look at Peeta, yup still looks like he could either puke or pass out at any moment and still hasn't said anything to me. I sigh and walk to him, he holds out his hand and I wordlessly take it. He doesn't move.

"Peeta, are you ok."

He doesn't say anything just nods his head.

"Peeta come on bro," I head John call him

"Right." was all Peeta said before leading me to the door and up the stairs.

I'm beginning to think there maybe something wrong with Peeta. He won't look at me and he doesn't speak much. Sigh, if I have to live the rest of my life in an uncomfortable silence, I'd rather be by myself in a capitol jail. I hear that's what they do with people who don't go through with these arrangements.

Lunch at least was good. Lamb stew, with plums. I've never had it before, Delly loves it as well and said she's had it a time or two. Mr. Mellark made it for Anne, since she isn't felling well. He always make too much. Not with me and Delly here, though. I began to wonder if John will move in at Delly's and run the shoe shop, she is an only child so that makes since. Would Peeta want to stay here. Fennick has moved into his own place with Anne, he helps at the bakery on the weekend, but he chose to work in the factory. He said he was just not a baker. That leaves Peeta, it hit me, I am going to be the new baker's wife.

"Katniss are you ok?" I hear Delly call for me.

"Yeah, I am um.." I look at Peeta and I see he is looking at me with a concerned face. "I'm ok, just not very hungry any more.

"You should eat." Peeta says to me.

I don't know why it makes me mad, but it does.

"What?" I ask him.

Peeta looks at me and then at John who shakes his head.

"I just mean, you look like you need to eat."

"Really, you don't talk to me and the first thing out of your mouth is a crack about how skinny I am. You don't like me, I get it. You don't like the way I look, Fine I understand. This isn't what I want either, but we don't have a choice. So you can just get over it."

Great now I've told my soon to be husband off. He doesn't say anything no one does, so I stand to leave and head for the door. I stop before I walk out and turn back to the group.

"I know, the three of you don't understand this, but not everyone in 12 has enough food to be a healthy weight. Some of us have to make sure everyone at least gets something." They all put their heads down looking shamed. I walk out of the door and down the stairs. I am so mad there are tears threatening to spill over, I can't cry here though. I refuse.

I see my mom standing with Bran, Delly's mom isn't there, I don't know where she has gone to.

"Mom, can we go please?" I ask

"Sure, are you ok." She asked me. What am I suppose to say no? That I am not ok, that I hate this?

"Yeah, I just want to go." That's what I say instead.

"OK, Well, Bran we will see you soon then."

"Yes, have a good afternoon ladies." Bran says

How can such a nice man raise such a brat son. He must take after his mother.

We leave the Bakery and go home. By the time we make it there I have played my whole life out in my head and I'm crying. My mother asked me what is wrong, but I can't tell her. I can't tell anyone. Gale is gone, he's the only one that would have understood.

As I walk into the house my uncle speaks.

"Sweetheart, what did the boy do?"

"Nothing, he just hates me is all. He hates everything about me. He even told me I was too skinny."

"HE WHAT?" My uncle yells.

"Yeah and That's all he said to me. Like I can help we didn't always have enough food."

"Sweetheart."

"No, I'm going to bed."

"It NOON." MY mother tells me.

"I don't care." And I don't I don't want to be around people, I would go into the woods, but noon is not the time to go into the woods alone. So I go to the room I share with my sister who is at her friend's house for the weekend.

My life is going to be horrible.