Thank you for everyone favouriting and putting this on story alert, but maybe can we get some reviews? Anyways, here is chapter 1. This is told in Peeta's POV :)
Chapter 1 - I Can Only Hope.
I come home from another hard day at the bakery. I've put everything I can into making the bakery successful. It helps take away the pain that I feel every day. I try to keep busy, because I don't want to end up like Haymitch; drunk and guilt ridden. I check up on him everyday, to make sure that he is okay and not unconscious. We don't talk that much, I just give him some bread.
"Peet...Peeta. You're here!" Haymitch calls from his sitting room.
"You're drunk," I mutter to myself.
"Why are you here?" Haymitch stumbles out of the room and walks up to me.
"I came here to deliver the bread, as I do all the time." I fake a smile and walk to the kitchen, to leave it there.
"You're so nice. You always were too nice for us. For Katniss." Haymitch follows me to the kitchen.
This made me angry. What gave him the right to talk about Katniss like that? She had done so much for us. She risked her life for ours.
"For Katniss?" I repeat. "She is missing because of us!"
"She's dead, get over yourself Peeta." Haymitch walks over to the fridge to get another alcoholic beverage.
"Next time get your own damn bread." I start to walk away.
"Peeta, get back here." Haymitch shouts to me.
I walk back to my house, which is near where Haymitch lives, since we both live in the Victors' Village. Mine is the closest to Katniss' house. It's empty now. Prim, her younger sister, was killed during the rebellion, and her mother has moved back to the house in the Seam, since it's what she can afford. I always give her some free bread, and keep her company.
I drag myself home and turn on the television. I slump down onto the sofa and watch a cookery show, but I don't pay too much information to it. I'm busy listening to what Haymitch said to me. She's dead, get over yourself Peeta. She can't be dead. I won't believe it. I still have faith that Katniss will walk in through this door, talking about hunting and how she'll be back for some cheese buns. But I can only hope. I try to have a nap on the sofa, as I am so tired. I nearly fall asleep when I get a phone call. I contemplate avoiding getting the phone, because the only person I know that has a phone that would call now, is Haymitch. I decide to answer the phone, since I'm up anyways.
"Hello?" I say huskily.
"Is this Peeta Mellark?" A girl asks.
"Yes, who is this?" I ask.
"It's Renee. Renee Snow." The girl answers.
"What do you want?" I ask angrily. The mention of the name Snow makes my blood boil. Then I notice Haymitch opening the door, looking confused. "One minute." I mouth to Haymitch. He nods.
"I have a very important message for you." Renee says.
"Go on." I roll my eyes. She needs to get it out soon or I'll hang up.
"It involves a Miss Everdeen." She says.
"Wait what? Katniss? Katniss Everdeen?" I ask. Haymitch stares at me, shocked.
"Yes, Katniss Everdeen." Renee replies.
"Where is she? Is she okay?" I ask, starting to panic.
"Well, we have a predicament. You see, since it's the fourth Quarter Quell, President Snow wants to make this one stand out." Renee pauses.
"Don't tell me she's going back in the arena." I shout. This new president, the one that took over Coriolanus Snow, who was president when I went into the arena with Katniss, is worse. It's the son of Coriolanus, and he is more evil. No one likes him, apart from the Capitol residents.
"Are you speaking to Katniss?" Haymitch asks me, still drunk.
"No, but something is wrong with her." I say to him.
"What?" Haymitch asks.
"Sorry about the pause, I was just being informed of something, Mr Mellark."
"About Katniss?" I ask.
"No, about another case I have. Anyways, you have been given permission to visit Miss Everdeen in the Capitol. Someone will pick you up tomorrow." Renee says.
"Tomorrow? Why can't I go now?" I ask.
"It's the only day that suits us. I must go now, Mr Mellark. Have a nice day." Renee hangs up after that.
"What's wrong?" Haymitch asks, after I slam the phone down.
"I'm going to the Capitol tomorrow. To meet Katniss," I answer.
"Don't try to sound too happy, okay?" Haymitch says sarcastically.
I walk into the sitting room and sit down, to fully take everything in.
"So, Lover Boy. Why so sad?" Haymitch follows me into the room.
"The last time I saw her, I was convinced she was a mutt. She hates me."
"She doesn't hate you. She understands why you acted that way." Haymitch says, trying to comfort me.
"I tried to kill her." I look over at Haymitch.
"Here's what you do. You convince her you're better now, and you two can live happily ever after." Haymitch sits down beside me and I have to get up, because he hasn't showered for a while.
"They're going to do something to her. They told me that they would." I point out.
"Fine. Don't go. I don't mind." Haymitch gets up.
"I'm scared." I say, after a few minutes of awkward silence.
"You could do a lot worse." Haymitch closes the door and I'm left thinking about what he is said.