Author's Note

Heey mii peeps! Thanks for the reviewers and reviews! I didn't

get that many, but even a few make my day Special thanks to cloud-lover 26; ; and , and! READ THEIR STORIES! They rock! Okaie Dokie then…oh yeah! I almost forgot, I do updates on birthday and I love to shout out to my reviewers! Thanks to all for the story alerts! Sorry for the long authors note! I also am sorry I didn't update Tuesday… I promised, but then I had a basketball game…(we lost 10 to 24) Okay, so virtual BROWNIE for all reviewers! Thanks so much! I now present to you…Chapter Two! R&R!

What If? Chapter 2- Disappointments and Fights

Katniss POV

Peeta Mellark.

His name won't stop bouncing around in my head.

Why Him? I repeat to myself. I know I am waiting for an answer that will never come.

I felt bad for Peeta. Truth is, I don't think he'd get past the bloodbath.

Let alone, last a day in the arena.

I know it's a bit harsh, but seriously? Peeta? He's a merchant's kid. Probably has never been hungry a day in his life.

Effie snaps me back to reality. I hear her say, "So congratulations to Peeta Mellark and Meredith Hamlett! Give a big round of applause to this year's tributes of District 12!"

Not one person claps. We just stand there. Silent. In District 12, we are poorly treated, and the Capitol pays little to no attention to us.

In fact, the capitol doesn't give a rat's tail if we are all dead or alive, as long as we keep supplying our coal to them.

I am so angered about Peeta being picked. If he dies, how will I ever be able to repay him for that one day in the rain?

I want to show the Capitol my anger and frustration towards them, and so I do the only thing I can think of.

I lift up three of my fingers to my mouth, then and then hold my hand up towards the sky. I remember when my mom did that at a funeral once. I think it means saying good-bye to some you care about. To my surprise, many people follow.

Soon, everyone in the district is doing this and Effie is plainly shocked. You can see it all over her capitol painted face.

Effie quickly regains her composure, and tries to play it off as a district thing. All she says is she thinks it's cute for us to silently salute one another in that way. She thinks it's unique.

After that, Effie says, "Thanks for coming everyone!"

Huh. As if we had a choice.

"Good luck to the tributes and may the odds be ever in their favor! Happy Hunger Games!"

I watch as Effie, Peeta, Meredith, and the peacekeepers all make their way into the Justice Building.

Someone touched the small of my back just as I watched the door to the justice building slam. I jump.

"Sorry Catnip. Ready to go?" It's just Gale.

"Uh, not yet. I think im gonna go visit Mellark. He…did my family a favor awhile back. See you back at my house later?" I ask.

"Sure," Gale says.

We immediately part ways. I saw Gale head off towards the twelve-year old section to collect Prim, while I make my way to the Justice Building.

It only takes me a few minutes to get there, and im already at the door. I step inside, only to find a medium sized waiting room and two separate doors at the end of the room.

Haymitch stands in front of both doors, and although the room is a bit crowded, I reach him very quickly.

"Hey," I say trying to get his attention. "Can I go visit Peeta?"

Haymitch looks me up and down. "Sure. Just wait a minute."

As I turn away to go find a chair, I see Haymitch pull out a bottle from the inside of his jacket. It's a small silver thing that you can transport easily. I used to see the carry one of those around.

While I wait, my mind starts to wonder off. I am thinking of Prim, my mother, Gale and about earlier this morning when Gale mentioned running away.

"We could do it you know," Gale had whispered.

"What?" I asked.

"Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it," Gale looked at me before he had quickly added, "If we didn't have so many-"

Haymitch brings me out of my thoughts. "Hey, sweetheart. His brothers are gone."

"Oh, Okay. Well, thanks," I mumble. I move away from the comfy velvet chair I was sitting in, and slowly make my way towards Peeta's door.

As I get closer and closer to the door, I realize im getting anxious. My hands are getting sweaty and my heart is beating rapidly.

I don't know why im so nervous. Maybe its because I don't know if he will remember me from that one day in the rain. Or because I am about to say goodbye to a boy I know I will never see again. Whatever the reason, I don't wait.

I get to his door and walk in. Immediately his baby blue eyes lock with my gray ones.

"Peeta?" I whisper.

"Katniss?" Confusion sweeps over his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I…I came to…wish you luck in the arena." I say. "Also…I…do you remember me? From that day in the rain 5 years ago?" I ask. I want to get straight to the point, so I do.

"What?" He looks surprised. For a moment, im scared he doesn't remember, and that I came here for nothing.

Then, realization crosses his face. For the second time today, relief floods through my entire body. "Oh. Yeah, what about it?"

Now, it's my turn to be surprised. "Well..." I trail off. "Don't you get it? I still owe you from the bread. What can I do to repay you?"

"From when we were kids?" Peeta asks.

"Yeah,"

"You don't owe me anything. Its alright, really."

But I have to many unanswered questions to accept his response.

"No, its not. Why did you do that anyway? Burn the bread, knowing it would me being punished, then throwing it to me. You saved my family's life that day, and I still owe you for that."

Peeta looks at me, and then gives me a faint smile.

"Want to know why I did that?"

I nod.

"Because—" Peeta doesn't get the chance to finish his sentence. Two peacekeepers burst in the room saying its time for me to leave. Im not ready to leave. I still have a debt to pay.

"How can I repay you?" I ask Peeta. The peacekeepers grab my arms and are pulling me out of the room.

"You can't. I don't want you to repay me." He answers. Then, I can barely hear him whisper, "Bye Katniss. I'll miss you the most."

The peacekeepers have already shoved the door open, but I make sure Peeta hears me when I say, "Bye, Peeta. Come home. Try?"

The last thing I see is Peeta's head nodding yes, and then I am thrown back into the waiting room.

I stare at the door that is separating me from Peeta. Separating me from the person who can answer all of my questions. Separating me from the boy with the bread.

I sigh, and look at the clock. 5:42. 5:42? I need to head home. Gale is probably waiting for me back at my house and I think I am already late. I get one last look at Peeta's door, then I walk out of the Justice Building.

As soon as I am outside the building, I hear a blood-curling scream.

I run as fast as I possibly could. I know who that voice belongs to. Prim.

"Prim?" I yell over and over frantically running toward the direction the scream came from.

I hear Prim yell, "STOP IT! Just STOP!" to someone, but I don't know who. What could possibly be going on?

I hear one more scream from Prim, and I know in the right area.

I just make it to where Prim is when I see something I thought I would never see. Not in my lifetime. And it breaks my heart.

I see Gale hit Prim.