16 Years Ago..

PEETA

The grass tickles me as I run through it, stumbling on hidden roots and upturned clods of dirt. The sun shining through the leaves above me dapples the ground, as if lighting a route for me to follow. A faint buzzing noise can be heard coming from somewhere above me.

I stop in my tracks, trying to figure out where the buzzing is coming from. Then I spot it. A tracker jacker nest is sat nearby in a tree, buzzing away and ignoring my watchful gaze. There's no way I can get away without getting stung.

A tracker jacker flies close to me as I struggle not to scream and run away. It stays hovering in the air in front of me before flying and landing on my nose. My breathing becomes more and more rapid as I watch it stand on the end of my nose, minding its own business.

A scream escapes my lips before I stop it as I feel the first sting of many soon to come. The pain is excruciating as more and more of their stings enter my body. Poison enters my body as I faintly hear urgent footsteps and the horrified screams of my mother as she finds me, her son, possibly dying.

'Peeta?! Oh my god, Peeta!' A pair of strong arms pick me up and carry me back to District 12 to Ms. Everdeen, the local doctor.

I get placed on an uncomfortable wooden table as wave after wave of pain wracks my body, causing me to cry out in agony as she injects something into my arm to calm me down.

'Count to ten, Peeta,' Ms Everdeen says in a soothing tone of voice, 'It'll all be over soon..'

I do as she says, drifting off into a slumber full of nothingness.

~

I jolt awake covered in sweat. The nightmares are getting bad again. I thought I was over the worst of it. Turns out it was just beginning. It's been years since that day, the day I almost died, the day I should have died. I should be grateful, I should feel lucky, but I don't. That day hundreds of people died because of an explosion, and yet I survived a tracker jacker. Or maybe the guilt is that my father died that day when I should have. I should have died. Not him. Me. Maybe then mom wouldn't be so depressed. Iroll out of bed, getting dressed to go into the Bakery. Making sure not to wake up Rye and Ma. Devan used to live here, but he left after dad died, and he hasn't been back since. And Ma since in any shape to be the parent Rye needs, so at 17 I'm acting as father.

I walk up to the bakery, unlocking the door and going inside. Haymitch is supposed to be here to open up but he's always late. He's been working here for over a year now, his family is in a tough spot at the moment, but that doesn't stop him from being late. Turning on the lights I take in the environment for the millionth time, Since the remodel there still are days that I come in here and just stare at everything. We've spent months and saved all the money we had to fix this place up, but I never imagined it ever looking this good.

Haymitch as always barges through the door pushing his way through customers sweating. He lives almost 30 minutes away but somehow still makes it on time. He married Effie, the love of his life a couple years ago and they have a beautiful baby girl who is only 2 months old. He's been struggling lately, with being a new father and trying to provide for his family. His father got injured in the explosion and hasn't been able to work since, so Haymitch is the soul provider, helping out any way that he can.

"Sorry I'm late. Mia had a rough night," he says, grabbing his apron and getting to work on the dough.

"It's okay, we just opened,"

We start getting into a routine when the bell rings, I turn around to see a little girl and her father. But the little girl looks so beautiful and familiar, and then it hits me and all the blood comes rushing to my face, and my eyes begin to ring. I never thought I would see her again, or anyone from the dreadful day. The day that keeps me up at night. The father talking to Haymitch is too distracted to see that the little girl has wandered off to the show case, or maybe he doesn't care. I make my way over to her trying to breath in and out and trying and failing to remember her name.

"They sure look tasty don't they?" I smile, hoping to break the ice. She stares up at me and the most beautiful gray eyes stare back at me, a colour I have never seen but suddenly can't bring my eyes from looking at.

"Haha, here, have one. It's on the house," realizing she's not gonna reply I grab a cupcake from the showcase and hand it out to her. She stares at me almost like she doesn't believe me, like she's scared of me, before taking it from my hand and giving me the smallest smile that if you didn't look hard enough you would have missed.

"I'm Peeta by the way, what's your name?" She continues to stare at me, and I can't help but wonder if she's trying to remember where she knows me, If she's trying to figure out the puzzle. But before she can say anything her father yanks at her arm sending the cupcake falling to the floor.

"You worthless ungrateful child! How many times do I have to tell you? Now you are having everyone give into your lies for something you say? What type of child are you?! So ungrateful about the things we already have you have to steal?" He screams as he hits her in the face. I stand there in shock for a minute from what I just witnessed, but then I jump into action grabbing her at the waste and carrying her to the back room. I sit her on a chair and crumble on the floor beside her. She tries to wipe her tears to stop crying, to seem strong, but I know she is hurting inside.

"Are you okay?" I ask, bringing my hand up to her face. She flinches at my touch. I place it back gently and gently rubs my cheek with his thumb. I give her a sad look and gently tilts my head to look at it better.

"Oh dear. I'm so sorry, Hun."

"It's okay" she mumbles so low I almost miss it, I'm tempted for a moment to ask her to repeat it, just to hear her voice again. But before I can say anything, Haymitch comes barging in.

"Hi there, Sweetheart. I'm Haymitch. Haymitch Abernathy. You're gonna be okay now, Sweetheart. Peeta, can I talk to you?"

He signals for me to follow him as he goes into the corner.

"Is she okay? That was crazy. I kicked him out, but he's pretty mad. If I were you I would walk her home. Keep her away from him for a while,"

"Okay. Yeah, I know where her house is anyways,"

"Sweetie, I'm going to take you home now," I say, bringing my hand out for her to take. She's hesitant at first, and I know she's scared. I give her a smile as she takes myhand, and I realize just how small her hand is. She looks up at me but quickly puts her head down when she notices me watching her. I take her down the hallway. She pulled back a little. I looked back, meeting her eyes, before tagging at her hand leading us out a door into the busy cold streets.

"I just realized I don't know your name," I smile hoping to hear that voice again. The one that saved me all those years ago. The one I can still hear calling my name in my dreams.

"Not much of a talker, it's okay I was the same at your age," She stares at me with her big eyes and her lips parted, I try to imagine what she's thinking but she's so hard to read. We stop in front of her house and it looks the same, the curtains are pulled back just like that day, the flowers leading up the walk away from rocks. The door flings open and her mom comes running out with a baby on her hip. And I realize this is the woman that saved my life.

"Katniss, darling are you okay? Oh look what he did to you. I'm so sorry baby," she takes her face in her free hand turning her head back and forth. She doesn't notice me at first. But I wouldn't either, not with the bruise that's forming on her daughters face Caused by the man she married. And then it hits me. The name I've been trying too hard to figure out. Katniss.

Such a beautiful name.

"It's you! The boy from the day of the explosion. Peeta Mellark? How are you?" The mother asks with a smile on her face, as she plops the baby in the other hip. I've never understood how people could just do that like it's not a baby they are holding, but a useless bag of potatoes.

"I'm good. Thank you. Just being Katniss here home,"

"Thank you so much. I would've but the little one wouldn't let me. Would you like to come in for some tea?"

"No thank you. I'm good, thank you for the offer. Maybe another time. I should be on my way," I glance back at katniss to see her staring at me once again, I give her a smile before leaving.

I make the trip home with only Katniss on my mind. After all these years, of thinking about that day, what the house looks like now, what they look like now. How I would ever get the chance to thank them. And I guess in a way I just did. I can't begin to imagine the hurt katniss is feeling. Losing a father is hard, but at least I know he loves me. For katniss that's different all she gets is abuse. I pull out my key to unlock the door to the bakery to find it open, which doesn't surprise me. Haymitch is always forgetting to lock it. I push open the door slowly turning on the light.

"Hello? Haymitch!" I shouted. A noise comes from the back. I grab onto a chair hoping to be able to define myself. There hasn't been a break in before but I certainly don't want to be the first to have one and the first to die. Suddenly a shadow apparels and an outline of a woman grows. I swing the chair in hopes of knocking them out, as a terrified cry fills my ears as the end of the chair connects with a head. I open my eyes to see a blond hair girl bent over holding her head in her hands crying. Her hand parts just enough to see her fixtures. It's Delly. I rush over to her and take her small hands in mine making it so I can exam her face.

"What are you doing here!?" I ask

"I'm here to see you dummy! What's with the chair? You probably gave me head trauma,"

"Well I didn't know it was you! I thought we were being robbed,"

"Maybe next time check before you swing that thing,"

The door rings, and we both swing our heads around to see who had entered. The last person I ever imagined standing on my steps. Katniss.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" I hand ask before realizing I still have my hands in Dellys head. I quickly take them off, but am not sure what to do with them. So I end up stuffing them into my pockets and slowly walking towards her.

"I'm.. sorry.. I just needed to get out," She whispers looking at the ground. Her bottom lip starts to tremble and her forehead grows wrinkles as she tries to push everything down. To try and hide all the pain she feels. The pain of being hit by the person who is supposed to love and protect you.

"It's okay honey, here come take a seat,"

"Okay," the girl looks hesitant at first but proceeds to sit down.

"Katniss, you know you can talk to us. We can help you," Delly says quietly reaching for Katniss's hand but she quickly pulls it away.

"Katniss, we can help you. But we can't help you unless you tell us what's happening," I whisper softly.

"It's just my dad, I mean you saw him and it's just been hard. I feel like he hates me. He's hit me before but never like this and now he's calling me a thief and I feel like he doesn't even want me anymore. And what's worse is he has been hitting my mother and Prim, my baby sister too and mom doesn't really do anything about it! And we can't fight back or we'll just get hit harder," She cries, tears racing down her cheeks.

"Katniss, I'm so sorry all this has been happening. But we can help you get through it. I too know what it's like to feel this way about your family. But we can help each other to get through it cause we are stronger than this okay. You are strong and can get through it. I believe in you," I gently wipe the tears from her face and she looks up at me and gives me a slight smile.

"But how?" She asks.

"I don't know. Talking definitely helps, Katniss. We could talk to each other and help each other with our problems," I say, really hoping I am helping.

"You're doing great Peeta," delly whispers to me.

"Thank you, Peeta. I-I, I think that would help," She hugs me, catching me off guard, but I hug her back.

"Of course Katniss. do you want to stay and talk a little longer?" I ask.

"Yes, but not about this. I want to know the good stuff. I never get to talk to anyone anymore,"

"Well what kind of good stuff?" Delly asks.

"I don't know has anything funny or interesting happened to you guys lately?" She asks.

"Yeah actually," Delly starts, "This big idiot almost killed me and gave me trauma so that was fun,"

"Oh. Well, that's nice I guess?" Katniss stutters. "If it is bad..my mom can help?"

Delly laughs a little. "Don't worry. It isn't anything bad. Yet. If it is, he'll be paying the bill." She says and punches my arm.

"What about you, Katniss, anything cool happened to you?" I ask.

"Um, no not really," She sighs. "My baby sister, I guess."

"Yeah me neither, besides almost killing Delly,"

A small smile grows on her face and a small laugh escapes.

We all sit there and talk for about an hour. It's the most I've heard anything come out of Katniss's mouth. I can't stop looking at Katniss though, she's very pretty. I know I am probably too old for her, but the curls in her dark hair, her beautiful grey eyes, her smile. Everything, she's just so pretty.

You shouldn't be thinking this way, Peeta, she is eleven years younger than you, it's not gonna happen.

"I should probably head home now, mom might be worried about me. I should probably help with Prim and stuff." She says and looks at her worn boots.

"Do you need us to walk you there?" I ask almost immediately.

"Uh, sure. Okay," She says standing up. But before we got the chance to leave my older brother, Rylan, decided to stop by.

"Hey peeta, hey delly and hello mysterious chick." He says winking. "So peeta how your girlfriend?"

"Shuddup" I say annoyed with him. Rye has been teasing me about Delly and I being a couple since we were kids so I don't even care anymore. Sure Delly is nice, but she's more like a sister to me. I've never thought of her as anything else.

"Come one guys, let's go," I grab Katniss's hand and we walk her home. The walk is quiet and peaceful. The stars shine, but Katniss is the biggest star. We get to her house and walk her to her porch.

"Bye Katniss. If you ever need anything just come by okay?" I say.

"Okay, thank you," She says quietly before walking in and closing the door.

Delly and I walk back to the Bakery. She collects her things and starts to leave. Not before giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"You're so good with kids. One day you'll make an amazing dad," She says.

"Thanks.." I say timidly and rub the back of my neck. I can feel my face flush with embarrassment.

"See you at school. Try not to kill me in the halls," She says with a wink. And at that, she leaves.

"You totally like her," Rye says, nudging me.

"What? No I don't! She's just a friend,"

"Well, I'm your brother. I can tell she's all for you. And you're all for her,"

"Whatever, doubt she feels the same way anyways," I say and scoff.

But it isn't her that I'm for. It's someone else I know I'll never have. Who I know will never love me.

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