There was a hidden alcove on the far side of the neighboring middle school that very few people knew about. Katniss had discovered it one day while she waited for Prim, and when she and Peeta started dating, she told him about it. Until their time in the janitor's closet earlier that morning, their entire relationship had amounted to these fleeting 20 minutes in the alcove, every Monday through Friday after school.

They would part ways exactly one minute before the dismissal bell rang, giving Katniss time to get to the front entrance to wait on Prim, and giving Peeta about 10 minutes to get back to the locker rooms to change into his uniform, on the days he had wrestling practice or a scrimmage.

Peeta usually walked to the middle school with Delly, whose younger brother attended there.

"Are you kidding me? You've been crazy about Katniss for years," Delly had beamed when Peeta told her he'd started dating the quiet girl with the sharp gray eyes. He'd asked Delly to act as a diversion – and to keep their secret. "Hell yeah I'll do it."

That afternoon, Peeta found Katniss sitting in their usual spot, her knees drawn to her chest. Her head flopped to his shoulder the moment he sat down.

"I'm may have flunked my geometry quiz, and it's all your fault."

Peeta chuckled lowly, slipping his arm around her waist. "What did I do?"

"That kiss this morning." Katniss tilted her head to look into his eyes, a grin on her lips. "No one can expect a girl remember how to calculate the area of a rhombus when all she can think about are your lips."

"Is that right," he whispered, already dipping his head and drawing her lips to his. This time, the sound of her moan resonated in his ears, and he couldn't help but imagine her moans when they could share more than kisses.

Their kiss deepened and grew more frenzied than it ever had before. Peeta mustered all his restraint and pulled away. He wanted to take her right there, so he had to stop. Their first time needed to be special and wonderful. Because that's exactly what she was to him.

Katniss dipped her head with a bashful grin as he held her close. Her head was back on his shoulder.

"Well if it's any consolation, I know I failed my geometry quiz," Peeta said flatly. "As much as I want to blame your lips, the truth is I studied for algebra by accident."

Katniss's body heaved with laughter. She covered her mouth to keep down the volume. "How did you manage to do that?"

"Part crazy, like my mother."

Katniss laughed even harder, clutching her stomach as her eyes watered.

Peeta chuckled. "That's my only explanation. I mean, I was super ready for the FOIL Method and parabolas and crap."

The tears rolled down Katniss's face.

"Imagine my surprise. I don't even know what the hell a rhombus is. I thought it was a dish they served in the Capitol."

Katniss was fanning herself. "Oh please stop," she said breathlessly, bent at the waist and clutching his forearm. "I've laughed so hard my stomach hurts." She dried both eyes and slipped back into his embrace. "You are nuts, Peeta."

"I told you," he grinned mischievously, "I get it honest. But I do have some good news about something else I inherited by way of wrestling… I got an invitation and scholarship to Boggs."

Katniss pulled away in wide-mouthed excitement and threw her arms around his neck. "Congratulations baby."

Boggs Academy was a highly competitive, sought-after, two-week camp that all but guaranteed a full athletic scholarship to a postsecondary school. Both of Peeta's brothers had earned invitations and scholarships to Boggs the summers before their last year of secondary school. Thatch had gone on to graduate from Lyme University in District 2 on a wrestling scholarship, and Rye planned to attend Lyme in the fall, also on a wrestling scholarship.

With summer less than two months away, Peeta had been anxiously watching the mail. Every day without an invitation had been unnerving, but Katniss's encouragement never wavered. Her support had gotten him through some of his toughest moments in these past nine months.

"But seriously, was there ever any doubt? You're the best wrestler in all of Panem. I'm so proud of you."

Peeta kissed her forehead and pulled her back into his arms. "Thanks, babe. I'm excited for the opportunity. But, I'll miss you while I'm gone."

"I'll miss you too, but I'll be right here when you return. So go and have a great time."

His heart sighed at her words. "I don't deserve you, Katniss. You're way out of my league."

She stilled and pulled away to face him. "Are you serious?"

Peeta worried that he'd offended her, but she started to laugh. "I'm from the Seam, and you're from –"

"I know where we're from, and none of that matters." He pulled her back to him. "Katniss, these stupid, archaic class divisions… they're meaningless. They're relics from our parents' day. We're a new generation and things are starting to change. We don't have to live that way."

She looked doubtful. "How do we do that? People live and die by their class divisions around here."

"Then we don't. We love who we want and we fight to be happy. Your mom did it with your dad. She was a Merchant who married someone from the Seam."

"And she was ostracized for it," Katniss said mournfully. "And I can't put my finger on it, but they don't seem happy anymore. It's like they're growing apart."

He stroked her arm. "Well… you said your dad works a lot, right?"

"Yeah. He's so unhappy in the mines. I wish there was something I could do to make things better for him, but he won't let me help."

"He loves you, Katniss. And I'm sure he feels like all the hours are worth it because his hummingbird is taken care of."

Katniss smiled into Peeta's chest. When she told Peeta her father's nickname for her, it had been her first sign that she was starting to trust her boyfriend.

"I guess so."

The dismissal bell rang for the middle school. They'd missed their minute head start, neither of them realizing how quickly the time had passed.

"Already?" Katniss groaned as they stood.

"It always goes by too fast," he said. They tangled in each's arms for a brief but meaningful kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Just tap on the closet door." He winked.

"Isn't that the janitor's closet? Why did Burt let you in?"

"Let's just say he has a slight obsession with scones, and I have access to a bakery. And, he hides his liquor in that closet, so we're guarding each other's secrets."

Katniss looked wistful. "One day, I hope we won't have to be each other's secret."

"One day soon, babe. We'll live life on our terms. I promise."

She kissed his cheek. "I'm holding you to that."

When Katniss rounded the building, Prim was waiting just beyond the front entrance – hand-in-hand with Rory Hawthorne.

"There's Katniss," she said, smiling at Gale's younger brother. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rory."

"Bye Prim." Rory dipped his head in greeting to Katniss.

Katniss gawked, her eyes darting between Prim and Gale's younger brother, who was now walking in the opposite direction to wait on the youngest male Hawthorne, Vick.

"So when did this new development take place?"

"What do you mean?" Prim shrugged nonchalantly as they started their walk.

"You know what I mean. You and Rory?"

Prim flashed an innocent smile. "I have a crush on him. Actually, we have crushes on each other."

Katniss's jaw dropped; she was usually the blunt one, not Prim. "Well that was straightforward, little duck. I can't believe you didn't tell me about this before now."

"Really Katniss?" Prim turned to face her sister, her arms folded across her chest. "At least I told you. You still haven't told me about your crush."

Katniss tensed, looking to the left and the right to make sure no one was within earshot. Small clusters of students were walking nearby, but each group seemed engaged in their own conversations.

"What crush," she whispered.

Prim rolled her eyes. "I'm not stupid. You like Peeta Mellark. Just admit it."

Katniss's throat suddenly felt like she'd ingested a wad of cotton. She swallowed hard, too stunned to speak.

"Katniss, do you remember the summer science competition I entered at my school last year? Remember when you walked with me that Saturday when Mom couldn't come at the last minute because Mr. Cowshaw was having a heatstroke?"

"I remember."

"You and I walked past the bakery on our way home like we always do. Only this time, you couldn't take your eyes off the window. I'm always looking at the cakes, and at first I thought you were staring at the cakes too. But then, I realized you were staring at Peeta. And he was behind the counter staring at you. And your cheeks turned so red you looked like a girl on fire."

Katniss wasn't giving up that easily. "So? What does that prove?"

"And I've noticed that same shade of red on your cheeks most days after school when you come to pick me up. And I know that you finished your project three nights ago," Prim said, her hands now on her hips. "I think you went to Peeta's match yesterday."

For a moment, Katniss was dumbstruck. Then, she scowled, a softer version than her usual. "I thought you wanted to be a healer, not a detective."

"So it's true," Prim said gleefully.

Katniss's cheeks reddened.

"Your face is getting red."

"Little duck…"

"I'm a big girl now, Katniss. I'm not your little duck anymore."

"You'll always be my little duck."

"Do you like Peeta?" Prim insisted, a smile playing on her lips. "Just tell me."

Katniss looked at her for a long moment. "Can you keep a secret?"

"Yes," Prim said, hopeful for a confession.

"I mean it, Primrose." Katniss used her full name to emphasize the seriousness of this moment. "You can tell no one. Absolutely no one."

"I won't," Prim urged. "I promise I won't."

Katniss drew a deep breath. "I don't like Peeta Mellark. I love him," she said softly. A smile widened across both their faces. "I'm in love, Prim."

When James Everdeen finally made it home that night, he appeared to be in a foul mood. It was nearly 9 p.m., and he'd had an 18-hour shift that included mandatory overtime. Maura and Katniss and Prim waited for him before they ate dinner.

He washed his face and hands and took a seat at the table.

Prim didn't seem to notice her father's mood. She chatted incessantly about this year's summer science competition, but every third word was "Rory."

"That's enough about Rory, Primrose," James said sternly. "You're too young to be interested in a boy."

Prim clamped her mouth shut, her eyes downcast. James noticed Prim's reaction and immediately softened his tone. "However, in two or three years, you can take visitors, sunshine, and Rory Hawthorne would be a great choice. He's a good Seam boy. Emory would be proud of the young man he's becoming."

The Hawthornes and the Everdeens were family friends for years. Emory and James were closest, and their wives and children always got along with ease.

Emory Hawthorne and James Everdeen had been working side-by-side on the day of the explosion. Emory was the first one to smell the gas. He told James to get out, and Emory ran further into the mine to alert the other crew. But it was already too late. The force of the explosion threw James several feet, and while he was badly burned on his neck and back, he was still alive. He called for Emory and was slowly climbing to his feet when the ground shook. Rocks pinned his torso and legs. And then the shaking started again, and the last thing James heard before he was completely buried underneath another collapse of falling earth were the screams of trapped men. When James finally pulled out of his coma months later, he learned that he'd been the only worker in that shaft to survive that day.

Katniss and Gale grew closer following the tragedy, when they took to the woods together to hunt and forage for their families' survival. Their families looked out for one another, and Gale dropped out of high school to work full time in the mines. James made sure Gale was a member of his crew. To honor Emory, James wanted to do all he could to look out for Gale.

"Dad, what do you mean when you say 'a good Seam boy?" Katniss ventured to ask, trying to sound casual. She kept her eyes trained on her plate.

James shrugged wearily. "You know. A good, hardworking boy who takes care of his own. Not some flighty, privileged Merchant kid with no sense of loyalty."

Maura's cheeks reddened, either in anger or embarrassment or both. Katniss wondered if her father had forgotten that he'd married someone from the Merchant class.

"It's just that there are plenty of boys – of Merchant kids – in my class who are hardworking," Katniss said quietly. Her eyes were still turned to her plate, so she didn't see the scrutiny in her father's gaze.

"I'm not saying they don't work for a living, Katniss. But a Merchant boy can only see a Seam woman as a novelty, something to play with and toss aside like a rag doll. Over time, they all lose interest and leave their women high and dry."

"I just think times are changing, dad, and there are some Merchant guys who wouldn't –"

James's fork hit his plate with a loud clank, stopping Katniss in mid-sentence and drawing her startled eyes to his. He was clearly agitated.

"I've seen it happen too many times before, and I will not allow either of my daughters to take visits from a Merchant kid. That is out of the question."

He picked up his fork and knife and began sawing into his food. "My girls deserve better than that."

Katniss tried to hide the strained look on her face by sipping her glass of water. This was the most she'd ever spoken about relationships in her father's presence. And just like her request to hold a job and contribute to the household, the outcome wasn't good.

"Now Gale," James chewed thoughtfully. "He's a good one, hummingbird. Hardworking. Loyal. Good provider. I would be happy for you to take visits from him."

Katniss slanted her eyes to Prim, hoping her sister really could keep a secret. Prim's eyes were still focused on her plate.

Maura dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin. "Let's talk about something else." Her face was also strained, and Katniss could tell that she too was agitated. "Tell us about your day, James."

James began to grumble about everything that had gone wrong that day – including the hiring of a new shift supervisor, some Merchant kid half James's age who'd gone off to college and returned with book knowledge, no experience, and full authority to tell James how to do his job.

Maura, Katniss, and Prim sat in silent tension as James continued to talk. Immediately after dinner, he announced that he was going to bed. His daughters kissed his cheek and he kissed Maura's temple before disappearing behind the bedroom door.

Later that night when everyone was in bed, Prim whispered to her sister.

"What are you going to do about Peeta? Dad will never allow you to take visits from him."

Katniss heaved a sigh. The same question was heavy on her mind.

"I don't know, Prim," she said worriedly. "I just don't know."

The next morning, Katniss hesitated before she tapped lightly on the janitor's closet door. Peeta opened it wearing the smile she adored. The smile that now pained her.

She'd been up most of the night thinking about the future of her relationship with Peeta. They faced so many obstacles, especially with her father's refusal to let her ever take visits from a Merchant boy. And since Peeta was college bound, Katniss had convinced herself that there was only one option. They had to break up.

She slipped into the closet, dreading what she needed to say to Peeta. He immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"What happened, babe?"

Her words flowed like water from a faucet, and she told him everything her father said the night before. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. Peeta looked solemn but not resigned.

"Maybe I could talk to him. Let him know my intentions with you are honorable. Maybe if he met me, he would believe that –"

"He won't, Peeta. He's stubborn." She drew a shaky breath, lowering her eyes; now was as good a time as any. "Maybe it's best if you and I stop seeing each other. Maybe we should break things off now and –"

"No," Peeta said adamantly. Her watery eyes flashed to his.

"No," he repeated, cupping her face in his hands. "What we have is real, Katniss. You can't replicate the love we have for one another. Our relationship is worth fighting for."

Katniss searched his eyes. "But what about college, Peeta? What if you meet someone else and –"

"There's no room for anyone else. My heart is filled by you."

"Peeta," she whispered.

"Listen to me, babe. I love you. Are we young? Yes. Does your father and my mother have more life experience than we do? Yes. But are they happy? No. You and I are happy. And we will find a way to have it all – happiness and love and trust and all the things that make life worth living. But we've got to stick together. We have to do this together."

She swallowed hard. "You won't leave me high and dry one day?"

"Never."

"You promise you'll stay with me?"

"Always."

She believed him. Wholeheartedly.

He trailed his hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and pulled both of her hands to his lips. "There's a word we studied last term in Mr. Wendell's language arts class – amaranthine. Do you remember that word, Katniss?"

Her brows dipped in concentration. "No. I don't think so."

"It means 'undying' or 'unfading.' 'Everlasting.' For some reason, that word stuck with me and I never forgot it. That'll be our word, Katniss. It'll be our reminder that the love we have for one another is undying and unfading and everlasting, despite any and every challenge. Okay?"

"Okay," she whispered.

"And when you feel the time is right, I will go and talk to your father and ask to visit you. And if he says 'no,' I'll go back again. And if he says 'no' again, I'll circulate a districtwide petition of people who will vouch for my character and reputation."

Katniss laughed, and Peeta wiped away the single tear that rolled down her cheek.

"And if he says 'no,' I'll meet him on his walk to and from work every single day and tell him something new I love about his amazing daughter. And if he still says 'no,' I'll beg. I'll beg and beg and beg and beg until he gets so tired of me that he says 'For the love of all things sacred, Katniss, you can date him. Just tell him to leave me the hell alone.'"

Katniss laughed generously, pressing her lips to his chest to keep her volume down. Peeta held her close, a grin plastered on his lips.

"So do we have a plan?" He murmured into her hair. "Are you with me, babe?"

She pulled far enough away to stare into his eyes. She couldn't let him go. She was too far gone herself.

"Amaranthine," she whispered. And they both smiled.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed. Comments are appreciated, and stay tuned for the next chapter.