(A/N) I'm sorry for being slow to update, it's just that I have my Half Yearly's coming up and I've been studying like crazy for them. I would also like to make it clear that this story takes place a year before Katniss and Peeta get reaped in the books. In this chapter I'm going to try and write from Katniss' point of view. If it's no good please tell me, and ill stick to writing Peeta. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games. I am only using the characters and settings from it for fun and not for profit. On to the story!

My body erupts with goose bumps as I exit the warm embrace of the shower and enter the field of ice known as the Region between the shower and my closet. I rush hurriedly towards my bedroom with only a towel around my body. I reach my closet and pull out a pair of bright orange underwear, a green shirt, some worn down old brown trousers that I've had for years, some socks and my favourite woolly jacket. This jacket has only recently become my favourite jacket and by only recently I mean only a day ago, the day that the love of my life, Katniss Everdeen wore it.

I push it up to my nose and inhale the smell I could smell a thousand times over and never get sick of, her smell. It's a mix of grass and bark with a tinge of coal. I spent ages last night thinking over what I would say when it came the time for me to confront Katniss. Some of the things I planned to do were down right ludicrous but some were actually (not to brag) pretty good. But finally In the end I narrowed it down and decided the best option was to keep it simple, I would walk up to the table she was sat at, ask if I could have a seat and then thank her, simple as that but I not everything goes to plan I will have to improvise I guess. I'm pulled back to reality when I hear my mother calling, or more like yelling, my name.

"PEETA!, PEETA!, YOUR GOING TO BE LATE FOR SCHOOL".

Not wanting to get on her bad side this early in the day I pull on my favourite jacket and make my way down stairs. I see my Dad at the counter as I walk over to pick up my lunch.

"Where's Mum?" I ask in a pseudo-interested voice.

"Out back" He reply's, not looking up from the cookies he is currently decorating.

Apart from me, the only other person in my family who decorates cakes and cookies is my Dad; although I do most of them. It's half of the reason why I have such a good relationship with him.

"The tulips need a little more red on them! See you later!" I shout as I walk out the door.

My walk to school consists mostly of me thinking up ways for my planned confrontation with Katniss to go wrong. Apart from that it's pretty uneventful. I make my way through the gates of District 12 High just in time to hear the bell ring. Student's push and shove me in the ritual Get to class stampede.

(Katniss POV)

I get to class and take my normal seat in the back right corner by the window over looking the woods. I sigh as I ready my self for another propaganda filled lesson of History. I'm never in a good mood at school but my mood is worse than usual thanks to two boy's, one with blonde hair and blue eyes and the other with brown hair and gray eyes. Ever since Gales lips touched mine I haven't been myself. I have this feeling that's like there is an endless pit just going on and on in my stomach.

I look out the window towards the woods, only to be reminded of what he did. I don't know if I'll ever be able to look at him the same way again. He knew how I felt about love and relationships, yet he had to go and complicate things.

I hear the sound of someone scraping a chair against the floor, to my right. I look over and see Peeta positioning himself in the chair. There are bruises all over his body. The Miners in my stomach dig their hole even deeper.

I've always felt that I owed him since the day with the bread (that earned him his knick-name, the boy with the bread) but now I feel as If I owe him even more. He's helped me so much and every time he does he gets hurt. First it was his mother hitting him for burning that bread for me. Then he comforted me and walked me home after Gale kissed me (thought of it makes me shudder), only to beaten up and knocked out by Gale.

I lower my gaze from him, not being able to look at what I've done to him. It's my fault he's like that and I promise to myself that I'll make it up to him.

The teacher steps up to the front of the classroom and starts the Capitol edited propaganda speech that she gives almost every lesson. I lay my head down on top of my arms and close my eyes. I haven't slept much lately because of what gale did. I sit in my bed and cry for hour after hour until I finally drop. The only time I was able to tame the tear monsters lurking in my eyes was when I was on the bench with Peeta.

I'm lost in my thoughts all the way through History and English, all the way through to lunch. I get up out of my seat and walk into the green hallway. This hallway is the most colorful part of the Town (except the cakes in the bakery), its almost like they're trying to make us associate school with happiness. It's not working though because school is the last place I would associate with happiness, if anything I would associate the woods with happiness.

I walk through the doors of the cafeteria to see that I'm one of the first there. I like being here early, because it means I can get a table to myself. I never sit with anyone at lunch, well except Madge but we don't really talk, so it doesn't count. I join the line for food, not looking forward to the goop they serve us here. The school cafeteria food is definitely not fine cuisine but it's still a full meal so I eat it graciously unlike some of the Town kids who barley make a dent in it.

I hear a squelch as the 'food' lands on my plate. I walk over to an empty table in the corner of the room and sit down. I start eating as I hear someone else sitting down next to me. I look up from my food to see Madge. She has a new dress on. I only know this because I see her nearly everyday and have seen her in nearly all her clothes. I nod at her and she nods back, then we both dig into our food. I haven't seen Gale since what he did to me and I'm starting to wonder if he's avoiding me because of my reaction. I honestly don't know how he expected me to react to him kissing me. He knew how I felt in the topic.

I finish my plate of and get up to leave. I'm stopped when I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. I turn around expecting Madge to be stood there but instead I'm met with a different set of blue eyes. I lower my gaze as I realise who it is, Peeta.

"Katniss?" he says, obviously noticing my shocked reaction. I return my gaze to him and mutter out a "Hi Peeta." I don't know how to talk to him; he's suffered so much and most of it because of me. I can't look at him with out felling guilty.

"I just wanted to thank you for helping me out this weekend. It means a lot to me." He smiles at me as he says this.

"Uhh-hhh t-that's fine Peeta its least I could do after you, you know walked me home," I reply, my eyes turned to my feet. I hear the bell ring and I turn to start walking to class but once again I feel that warm hand on my shoulder. I reposition my body to face the owner of the hand.

"Can I walk you to class?" he asks, his voice cracking on class. I see worry and hope all at once flash through his eyes.

"I don't thi-" I start but then I remember the promise I made to myself and sigh out a, "sure". We start to walk out of the canteen in relative silence, its definatly awkward. I'm pretty sure you could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

"So how's the bakery?" I ask trying to start a conversation.

"Its fine, business is a little slow and we're nearly out of food colouring but were doing all right. How's the hunting?"

"Fine I guess, there hasn't been much game around lately 'cause of the could but I get enough."

The conversation stops as we walk into class. I walk over to my seat in the back by the window again and Peeta walks over to his in the front middle. Peeta has always been studious, the complete opposite of me. Instead of sleeping or daydreaming in class he listens, takes notes, tries hard on exams and even studies.

I still can't understand why Peeta wanted to walk me to class. This is only like the fourth time we've talked by now people usually avoid me.

I get through the class easily enough and start making my way to pick Prim up from the younger kids area of the school. I pass locker after locker as I walk down the hallway. I see prim surrounded by her friends as I walk into the younger kids area. I wave, she says goodbye to her friends, giving them all hugs, and makes her way over to me.

"Hey, how was your day?" she asks, looking genuinely interested.

"Fine, yours?" I reply whilst pulling her into a hug.

"Good, We were-" she starts but I tune out as I grab her hand and start walking down the corridor towards the exit.

I'm tuned back in when I hear a soft voice say, "Katniss? Katniss?"

"What is it?" I ask, but my question is answered when I hear a familiar voice calling my name. It's Peeta. I turn to see him running towards me.

"H-hi Peeta; w-what do you want?" I ask, I furrow my brow at him confused at why he still hasn't decided to start ignoring me.

"I just wanted to ask if-if we could, umm, walk home together?" he exclaims speedily avoiding my eyes, obviously nervous of my answer.

"Sure" I reply evenly, not wanting to hurt him anymore than I already have by saying no.

"Hi I'm Prim and you must be Peeta" I hear Prim introduce herself, I look over and see her offering her hand to him; he takes its.

"Hi Prim, its nice meet you. I trust that you feel the same way?"

"Oh definitely"

"How was school?"

"Great, we-" and with that Prim continues her story describing every little detail she can. It's cute but also a bit annoying. We keep walking half listening to Prim till we hear her address us.

"Guys, can I go look at the cakes; Please?" she asks in a way which is near impossible to say no to.

"Fine" I sigh out, prim squeals with delight and runs towards the bakery.

"She loves the cakes" I inform Peeta, putting emphasis on 'loves'.

"Oh, does she now, because umm, I kind of make them" I hear Peeta say. I'm shocked I always thought they had them delivered from the capitol. We are pulled out of our conversation when we hear Prim approaching, her feet smacking against the ground.

"Who ever makes those cakes should get a medal," Prim pants out, whilst regaining her balance. I laugh because the look on Peeta's face couldn't be anything less than shock.

"Do you want to know who makes them, Prim?" I tease, letting her know that I know something she doesn't. She cant take it and my ears almost explode with her bombardment of pleases.

"Peeta does," I say nonchalantly, pointing my thumb towards him.

"You do?" she questions him admiration swirling through her eyes.

"Yeah but its no big deal, I-I don't deserve a medal" Peeta reply's humbly.

"Yes you do! I wish I could make cakes like that!" She says jumping up and down in annoyance at his humility.

"I'm sure you could if someone taught you" he reply's being as humble as ever. I stand with my arms crossed watching the conversation take place before me.

"Can you teach me, please? Please?" and with that Peeta too is bombarded with pleases.

"Sure I'd be happy to," He reply's.

"Now I don't know Prim, would it be safe?" I butt in, not completely trusting Peeta with her.

"It would be; I promise." He says looking directly into my eyes. For some reason I cant seem to say no to them.

"Fine but only if your parents are okay with it," I say still not completely happy with it.

"You can come too Katniss, if you're worried about her" I furrow my brow at him again.

"You wouldn't have to bake. You could just watch and make sure she's ok" they both look at me expectantly, their eyes pleading me to say yes.

"Fine" I say rolling my eyes. I see Prim offer Peeta a high five, which he takes. I laugh at their enthusiasm and turn to continue walking home. Prim and Peeta talk merrily about cakes for the rest of the trip, Prim asking questions and then listening intently to the detailed answers Peeta gives. This continues till Peeta has to turn of towards his house.

"Well I'll see you girls later then, Bye" he farewells.

"Bye, Peeta see you at school," I say and then to my and Peeta's surprise Prim wraps her arms around Peeta. He looks at me as if asking my permission, I nod and her wraps his arms around her as well.

"Bye Peeta," Prim says un-wrapping her arms from him and turning to walk away. I catch up and walk alongside her. I feel her fingers wrap into mine as she sighs, "I like Peeta, I hope he can walk us home tomorrow too"

"I'm sure he will little duck, even if I have to ask him," I reply, smiling at how easily she can take to people.

As we reach home Prim runs of to her goat Lady to say 'hi'. I walk inside and smell my Mum cooking something. "Mum we're home!" I shout. I hear the stove being turned off as Mum calls us to dinner. We eat dinner as usual, then me and Prim both do our homework. Before we know it, its time for bed. We walk up the stairs to our room and I tuck Prim in, wish her sweet dreams and kiss her forehead before climbing in to bed myself. I lay my head down on my pillow and shut my eyes. I'm running through what I have to hunt for tomorrow before a certain blue-eyed blonde haired boy snivels his way into my thoughts.

'Oh Peeta I hope I can repay' are the last words that go through my head before I drift off to sleep.