"No!"
Peeta jerked awake, his eyes were wide and terrified in the dim light around him. A soft, frothy morning glow hung in the small bedroom room – the sun had just risen and the day's work would soon begin.
Sitting up, Peeta swung his long legs over the side of his bed. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead and struggled to steady his breathing and calm his racing heart. The dream had been so real, so vivid and terrifying.
It was the same dream as the night before, and the night before that – three days now, and Peeta woke almost immobilized with fear, just like the other nights.
Rye stirred in the bed on the other side of the room.
"Peet?"
Peeta raked his fingers through his damp blond hair, taking a deep, shaky breath before answering.
"Yeah?"
"Another nightmare?"
Peeta nodded, sniffing as he stood, stretching his arm above his head before walking to the closet that the boys shared. Inside it, lined up next to each other were all the clothes they owned. A few shirts each, a few pairs of pants, several sweaters and jackets and a tie apiece.
Peeta grabbed the first shirt he saw, pulling it over his head.
Rye said nothing behind him, but he heard his brother get out of bed and walk his way, grabbing a clean shirt as well before getting dressed. Peeta knew he wasn't going to mention the dreams again; the boys were only two years apart, and while they'd always been close, Rye knew when not to pry and Peeta likewise.
The pair shuffled down the stairs together, passing their mother silently, trying not to call attention to themselves as they passed where she sat in the parlor tallying the last month's earnings. Both breathed a sigh of relief as they passed by unnoticed, heading to the kitchen.
Their father was sitting at the kitchen table, cradling a cup of coffee in his hands. He looked up as his sons walked into the room. Frowning as he noticed the dark circles under his youngest son's eyes.
"You alright son?"
Peeta shrugged, joining his father at the table and grabbing a stale slice of bread from the plate his father pushed in front of him.
Contrary to popular belief, those who lived in Town were not well-off; in fact, although their lives were relatively stable they were forced to make sacrifices just like anyone else in District 12. Hand-me-down shirts and stale bread was all a part of that, even for the son of a baker.
"Peeta?" His father questioned, concern furrowing his brow – Peeta suddenly wished he'd never said a word about the dreams.
"I'm fine Dad, really I am."
Peeta could tell his father didn't really believe him and let his eyes fall back down to the plate before him. He let his eyes slowly lose focus, and could faintly note that his father and brother were talking.
"Do you think Flax will be willing to help out with Reaping preparations?" Rye asked his father casually, trying to change the subject.
"I know he's been busy with wedding preparations, but we could really use the help."
Peeta let a small smile form at the corners of his mouth at the thought of his brother's upcoming wedding. They'd planned to have in a few months, after all the Games hype had worn down. It'd be a shame to taint the beginning of their lives together, shadowed by the very thing that had chained Panam for as long as anyone could remember.
He thought of how excited Flax had been to share the news with the family, and even mother had seemed happy at the news that her oldest son was soon to be married. Peeta thought of Sasha, Flax's wife-to-be; he'd known her for years, she'd been almost like an older sister, and soon it would become official.
Peeta just hoped this year's Games wouldn't spoil their joy.
Finishing his breakfast Peeta left his dishes in the sink before heading to the bakery to begin the day's work.
Of all things, today pita bread was being made, and the ingredients were already being laid over the long wooden table as Peeta donned his apron and joined his brother.
Pita bread in District 12 was different than in the other districts. It was made of heartier, courser dough that turned out thick and filling, and was one of the favorite among the few Seam families that could afford to buy bread.
Peeta dived into his work, coating his arms up to his elbows in flour as he rolled out large circles of dough. It was calming, and his motions had a sort of rhythm to them. Before long, Peeta felt the tension leaving him as his muscles relaxed, adapting to his swift and fluid movement.
"Man, will I be glad when this year is over."
Peeta looked up, raising his brows at Rye, who'd broken the blissful silence that Peeta had actually been enjoying.
"What do you mean?" Peeta asked.
Tossing a thin circle of dough into the air, Rye shrugged.
"You know, I'll be nineteen in a few months, this time next year, I won't have a care in the world."
Peeta knew what he was referring to, and while he was happy for his brother, Peeta knew he still had three Reapings to go before he was in the clear. After his dream the past few nights Peeta was more nervous than ever, unable to shake the feeling of dread that was growing inside of him.
Rye could sense his apprehension; frowning, he placed his large, flour covered hand on his brother's shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"Don't worry Peet, you'll be fine – we'll both be fine. I mean, the odds can't be much more in our favor than they already are."
Peeta didn't answer him, he didn't know how to. He couldn't think of a way to tell his brother that it wasn't himself he was worried about.
The brothers went back to rolling dough and slowly their conversation shifted to more cheery of subjects.
After an hour or so, there was a soft knock on the back door and Rye called for their father to get it but he never replied.
"C'mon dad! We're covered in flour!"
Still no answer and Peeta assumed he was busy in front with a customer.
"I'll get it Rye." Peeta said quickly, dusting his hands off on his apron before heading to the back door, all the while wondering why whoever it was didn't just come through the front like everyone else.
Opening the door, Peeta froze for a second, startled, and unsure of how to respond.
Katniss Everdeen stood on the porch behind the bakery and several dead squirrels were slung over her shoulder.
Luckily for Peeta, he quickly found his voice.
"Uh, hey," he said, shifting from one foot to the other, rocking back on forth on his heels slightly.
Katniss didn't respond, but stared back at him with a hint of a question in her eyes. She looked like she wanted to say something and the way she studied him, searching his eyes for a sign of recognition made Peeta shudder.
If only she knew how well he'd come to know her face; if only she knew that she was only person in the world who could render him speechless.
"What are you doing here?" He questioned finally, his eyes flicking to the game over her shoulder.
Katniss' silver eyes darted to the ground suddenly, flicking back up for a moment before returning to her feet.
"I- your father, he uh, usually trades with me for bread – is he home?"
Peeta nodded.
"He's home, but I think he's busy – I could take those from you though – how much does he usually give you?"
Katniss shrugged and bit her lip.
"I-I'm not sure really – I can come back later…"
Peeta shook his head then, holding out his hands for the game before answering.
"No, don't worry; I'll be fair with you."
Katniss said nothing, but handed him the squirrels hesitantly.
Peeta took them inside, motioning for Katniss to wait for him while he got the bread.
Passing Rye, Peeta went straight to the cooling rack where dozens of small, fresh loaves were waiting to be sold. Grabbing a large paper bag, Peeta didn't think twice before filling it to the brim with fresh baked goods.
Walking back to porch where Katniss still stood waiting he offered her the bag.
Her eyes grew large as she saw it, and he couldn't help but notice her slow, dreamy blink as the smell of the bread caught her nose.
"It's too much." She said, pushing the bag back at him.
Peeta shook his head once again.
"Hey, the meat is worth it – you have no idea how scarce meat is in a bakery."
He smiled at her, hoping she wouldn't question him and pushed the bag back into her hands. He could see she still wasn't sure.
"Besides," he added. "If you don't take it I'll have to put it all back, you might as well save me the time."
She smiled then; it was a faint smile, short and hardly even reached her lips, but it was the first time he'd seen her smiled since they were children, and to Peeta it was worth all the bread in the bakery.
She thanked him quickly, before turning as making her way back to her home in the Seam.
After she'd gone, Peeta glanced at the squirrels where he'd left them on a cutting board and he couldn't help but noticed she'd shot every single one right through the eye.
Peeta couldn't help but smile. Dream or no dream, Katniss Everdeen would be alright.
Peeta would make sure of it.
There you have it, the last chapter. I'm sort of sad to be done, I really enjoyed writing this story and hearing how you all enjoyed it. Hope this last chapter was everything you guys hoped it would be. Let me know if you have any ideas for stories you'd like to see me write in the future! Thanks for everything! :)