Part One

Chapter Two

My introduction to the Mellark family took place the day before high school began when Prim and I were walking around the neighborhood, trying to become acquainted with the new surroundings. Prim ran across the street (without looking, of course) and squealed, her nose pressed up against the glass of another store. I can't remember if she got a cold from practically licking the storefront.

I walked closer and saw what made her stop. Mellark's Bakery is exactly what you'd picture in any other college town. There was a little condensation on the windows, but you could clearly see rows of muffins, cookies, rolls, pies, turnovers, donuts, loaves of bread and specialty Danish. Breathe in and you can practically feel the fat coating your throat. Okay, not really, but you do breathe in that burnt sugar and yeast smell that makes your mouth water even when you're full.

I reached into my pocket and felt the $2 I had left and decided to mess with Prim's sugars, pushing the door open. The small bell chimed and an older, stocky man came to the counter, dusting his hands off on his well-worn apron. His face was ruddy—whether from genetics, the sun or the heat of the ovens, I didn't know—and his hair and eyes were pale.

"Good afternoon, welcome to Mellark's. What can I get for you today?"

Prim choose a frosted sugar cookie, which he handed to her with a brown napkin. I gave him payment and he stopped to ask why he hadn't seen us before.

"We just moved here and thought we'd check out the neighborhood before school starts tomorrow."

A blonde boy carrying loaves of bread came through the swinging door and abruptly stopped when he saw that there were customers in the store. His cheeks turned pink and he shyly smiled at me while the baker paused and instructed him where to place the fresh items.

"This is my son, Peeta. He'll be starting at West tomorrow. I'm sorry, I didn't catch your names."

Prim to the rescue. "I'm Prim, and this is Katniss. She'll be going to West, too. But I'm going to Randall."

"Well in that case, welcome to town Prim and Katniss." He handed me a cookie too, telling me it was on the house. "Feel free to stop by again."

I nodded at him, glanced at Peeta and dragged Prim out of the warm bakery. She was completely engrossed by her pile of sugar but managed a wave before the bell announced our exit.

And there you have it. Peeta's been in my life ever since.

…

The ring of my phone startles me out of a light sleep. I reach for it and check the time—only 11:01 p.m.—but don't recognize the number. I let it go to voicemail and turn over, but only a minute later it rings again and I answer it with an edge of annoyance.

"Hello?"

"Katniss, it's Gale. There's been an accident. It's Peeta. Madge is on her way over to pick you up. You need to get here."

"Wait, Gale. What? What's happened? Where's Peeta?! What the hell is going on?! Gale—."

"Katniss, just get dressed and downstairs. Get here now."

"Gale!—."

But the line is dead and the knots I should have had earlier have reared their ugly head. I pull on some sweatpants and a tank top, slip on flip-flops and grab the keys before racing down the stairs.

Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.

Peeta.

Madge pulls up and I frantically pull on the door handle, falling into the front seat while she pulls away. She takes hard left turns as we weave around the square, trying to get to Gorham and out toward University. Traffic lights are simply blinking this time of night and we don't run into much traffic downtown.

"Madge, what do you know? What the fuck happened?!"

"Katniss, I don't know. I don't know! There was some accident and Peeta was transported to UW Hospital."

"Who was he with? Where was he? What was he doing?"

"I don't know, alright?! I don't know!"

The night is oppressively humid and I feel like my heart is in my throat, my chest constricting. I can't breathe. I can't. Can't.

Madge pulls up to the ER entrance and lets me out. I run inside, wildly looking for someone—anyone—I might know, but instead I ask the woman at the admitting desk where Peeta Mellark has been taken. She looks at me through half-rim glasses and asks if I'm family.

"What? Yes! Peeta is my fiancée. Please, where is he?"

"Well let me check my chart. Your name?"

"Jesus Christ, lady! Where is—?"

"Katniss! Thank God!" Peeta's brother Rye6 runs over and grabs my arm, hauling me toward a room down the hall. Peeta isn't there, but the rest of his family and Gale are. I look around with huge eyes before someone—Mr. Mellark?—pulls me into a rib-crushing hug and begins to cry frantically onto my shoulder.

"Dad, ease up. Let her catch her breath." Mr. Mellark pulls away and I understand just how bad this may be. His eyes are almost swollen shut from crying, panic evident in his shoulders. Why is everyone avoiding my gaze?

"Will someone please tell me what happened?! Where is he? Is he alright? When can I see him?!"

"Katniss," Gale whispers. "Sit down."

"Don't tell me to sit down!" I'm screaming now. "Where is he?!"

His mom steps forward. "He's in the OR. It's not good, honey."

Gale proceeds to tell me that Peeta was in a car accident near campus. There's no way to know right now if he was drinking or not—he was alone—but they had to use the Jaws of Life to get him out of the truck and he hasn't regained consciousness since. He's lost a significant amount of blood and his left leg was crushed during impact. They've resuscitated him once.

"The doctor said they're doing whatever they can to help him, Katniss. And Peeta's strong. Now we wait."

I sit numbly in the vinyl chair and his father pats my arm. "He'll come back to us, Katniss. He'll come back to you."

I put my head in my hands.

Chapter Two Key

6. Rye. Sorry, this name is practically canon now, right?