A/N: Hello! I have returned to the magical world of FanFiction after a very long time, hurrah? Anyway, this is my first fic in a while and it came to me randomly one day. I have no idea if anyone has used this premise before, if so I'm sorry, if not back off! No I'm just kidding :)

Basically I was wondering, what if Katniss and Peeta really were 'star-crossed lovers'? What if they had a secret relationship before the reaping that no one else knew about and if so, how would the storyline change and develop? I guess you could say it's extremely loosely based on Romeo and Juliet but to be quite honest I hate Romeo and Juliet, so it really isn't. Basically, it only involves the whole 'forbidden' love storyline.

If I continue there will be flashbacks to show the backstory to their relationship, so don't feel you've missed anything because all will be revealed…until then here's the first chapter, leave me a review if you'd like for me to continue, they are much appreciated, even the constructive criticism is welcome :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Trust me I do not have the creative ability of coming up with theses characters and novels, but Suzanne Collins does, all hail SC :P Somethings in here are dialogue from the movie or books but I don't own that either!

Also please forgive any mistakes: un beta'd!

I'm a little unsure of how this turned out but errr enjoy!

I love these moments, they were the ones I never used to believe I could have, moments of pure content and bliss. I breathed in the rich scent of the woods deeply, smelling the pine, the flowers, the moss: everything. The hard chest I was leaning against breathed in the same rhythm I did, we were in sync, connected, like always. He squeezes my hands in his as they rest lightly on top of my stomach, his face nuzzles into my neck and places a feather light kiss just below my ear, I can't help but smiling.

I sat cradled between Peeta's outstretched legs, his strong arms wrapped firmly around me as he slouches against one of the large tree trunks in the woods. My bow and quiver full of arrows were dropped haphazardly into the long grass next to us. It must be nearing midday; the sun is nearly central in the clear blue sky.

Moments like these occur very rarely but not for lack of wanting or trying, more for lack of opportunity. No, our meetings had to be kept secret, not one single living soul could know that we're friends let alone the true extent of our relationship. No one, except us. It was unheard of, a middle class boy and a girl from the Seam falling in love. It didn't happen, ever. Not that there were any strict ruled about it of course but it was silently forbidden. If Peeta's parents were to find out…I shudder to think of what kind of punishment his mother could impose on him and the Capitol… well, they should never know what or who your weaknesses are.

It's true that I never thought I could be this: a girl who although unwillingly at first, trusts a boy with the one thing greater than her life, her heart. It didn't come easily, the trust that we now share for one another but now, if we didn't have it or each other we would feel broken and incomplete. If someone had told me seven months ago that I would fall in love with and trust anyone I would have laughed in their face. Because that's the thing with me, I can't trust anyone. I saw what happened to my mother when my father died, I honestly believe the only reason she's alive now is because of Prim and I. But even then, she was alive but she was empty, as if her very essence had been stripped off her. I never wanted to feel that way, becoming a shell of who I once was because someone I love was taken away from me. So it was easier, to shut it out, my feelings, people and to swear to myself that I would never trust anybody again.

But that's the thing, I do now. I trust Peeta with every part of me: mind, body and soul just as he does with me. It happened, I don't know how and if someone asked me to explain, I literally couldn't. It was as unexplainable as it was irrational. But I don't regret any of it, not even the bad times where we could yell and scream at each other for hours on end out in the open woods where no one could hear us. We never apologized, we are both too stubborn but we can never stay mad for long. We are each other's weakness, we know it but no one else can.

"I love you," he whispers in my ear.

My eyelids flutter open and my mouth pulls up at the sides, just like it always does when he says those words. I turn my head to the side, his resting delicately on my shoulder and whisper back, "I love you more, Mellark," before planting a soft kiss on his cheek. He chuckles at that, I feel the vibration stemming from his chest run through my body.

"I highly doubt that," he replies matter-of-factly.

I sit up and turn my head to glare at him, but his eyes shone with nothing but mirth. I suppressed the urge to smile back and instead elbowed him in the stomach, with just enough pressure to show him that I still didn't believe him. He heaved in a breath as it made contact. "Ow! Jeez remind me not to joke around with you again!" I just shrug my shoulders and settle back against him.

I look up at the sky now, midday definitely. Which meant one thing: two more hours until the reaping. Up until now I had been able to suppress the dread I felt for this horrendous and inhumane custom the Capitol inflicts upon us. It was a day where Peeta and I were both free from our regular commitments and could spend valuable time together. I felt sick all of a sudden, I was lucky enough to have evaded The Hunger Games for the past five years of my life and now that I was sixteen, I must have accumulated at least forty little, white slips with my name on them. That thought was pushed to the back of my mind as another more terrifying and nauseating one came to the forefront: Peeta. What if his name is called out? I know his name hasn't been in there as many times as mine but the odds, I've learned, are never in your favour at least not when you really need them to be.

The idea of Peeta, the boy with the bread, going into that deathtrap and not coming out causes bile to rise in my throat. I swallow it quickly and detach Peeta's hands from around my waist, hearing him protest in confusion. I stand swiftly then reach down and grab my quiver and bow from the ground, pulling the quiver onto my back before walking in quick strides away from the lake and back towards town. Back to reality. I hear Peeta following after me, calling my name, but I keep walking and don't glance back. It doesn't take him long to catch up with me though, his hands latch onto my slim arms and he turns me around so that we're face to face and I'm left to stare into those bright blue eyes I've grown to love so much. I can't escape them and I nearly cave in to my urge to cry and collapse in his arms but I don't. I square my jaw and tilt my head up to look at him, an eyebrow raised in question.

His dark eyebrows furrow in confusion as his eyes desperately search my face for any clue as to my sudden change in behavior. And then images of those very eyes lifeless and cold swirl in my mind and my lip quivers. I hate myself at that moment, my body betrayed me and his eyes widen in realisation. And then I'm wrapped tightly in his arms, he clutches onto me like his life depends on it, my arms hold onto the fabric of his powder blue t-shirt lightly. Peeta tells me that we'll be okay. That no matter what happens we'll get through it, he pulls back and cups my face in his hands,

"Do you understand? We're going to be fine, okay?" His tone is desperate, pleading with me to have faith. But he knows me, that's not who I am. I nod slowly to appease him and he kisses me deeply on the lips. This kiss isn't like the other's, but I can't make out what's different about it. After he pulls away, I remove his hands from my face and start to walk slowly away from him. I'm staring into his eyes as I do so, those beautiful eyes that not so long ago were full of happiness and love were now filled with sorrow and fear. He began to walk after me but I just shook my head at him, indicating he shouldn't follow. I mouthed that I loved him before turning and jogging away from him, ignoring his desperate pleas for me to stop. I forced the tears that were threatening to fall back and continued to run, back towards my house and further away from Peeta.

I step through the front door and kick off my boots, I trudge into the kitchen and see that Prim is already dressed in some of my mother's best clothes, even though they are a little big for her. The back of her white shirt keeps pulling out of her skirt and I pull her from her chair to stand in front of me. I crouch down to her height, looking into her deep blue eyes. I pushed a strand of blonde hair that had fallen into her eyes to the side and offered her a small smile before helping her tuck her shirt back into her skirt.

"There, that's better little duck," I tease.

She giggles softly, "Quack." I smile at her before I see her smile drop and a hard line replace it. I reach my arms out and pull her small frame to me,

"It's your first year Prim, you're name's only been in there once, they're not gonna pick you."

I felt her nod softly against my shoulder and pull back to kiss her forehead. I stand up to go and have a bath; I wash all the grime and dirt off me and even wash my hair. I wrap a towel around me after I step out and walk to my room to find one of my mother's beautiful dresses from years ago laid out on the bed for me.

"After you change, I'll fix your hair for you," she says from my doorway. I nod and smile at her before she leaves me to change.

I sit down in front of her while she intricately twists my hair into my trademark braid, trying not to think of the reason I was all dressed up. I began to think of Peeta and the pained look in his eyes as he watched me leave but I pushed the thoughts away, I just couldn't deal with them right now. So instead I thought of Gale, I was also worried for my best friend because at eighteen he now probably has over sixty tickets with his name on them. I haven't seen him in a few days now, I suppose he's been busy with Hazelle but I do miss my hunting partner.

"There, all done." I smooth my hand over my hair and let out a deep sigh before standing up and walking into the kitchen to collect Prim. I give her a sad smile before taking her tiny hand in my small one and leading her out the door and into the square.

I give my sister one last hug before we are both wrenched away from each other and ushered into our respective age groups. I keep my eyes fixed on the stage in front of me never daring to look for Peeta. I see Gale though, we send each other mutual worried looks before our attention is grabbed by the always flamboyantly dressed Effie Trinket. She wears a ridiculous, pink, curly wig that gets pushed to one side or the other whenever she moves her head. A pink bonnet, adorned with flowers is placed precariously on her head and she wears a bright pink suit jacket and matching skirt. She looks ghastly, the people at the Capitol are quite well known for their abnormal life style and fashion. To us she looks awfully out of place and dreadful but I imagine that this is the latest fashion in the Capitol.

I feel the nausea in my stomach as the Mayor Undersee starts to speak, I try my best to think of anything, anything but the reaping but I find it cannot distract me. This whole thing is just so wrong and perverse that I can't help but think about it. Mayor Undersee finishes speaking and Effie walks up to the microphone.

"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!" She dips her perfectly manicured hand into the spherical bowl and pulls out a single white slip. I hold my breath and shut my eyes trying to force the situation away. I was begging whatever deity I didn't believe in for the odds to be in my favour, but like I said, I don't really believe in that stuff. The name that escapes her mouth has my eyes shooting open and my throat constricting, making it impossible for air to reach my lungs. I stand stock still in shock, unsure if my body is capable of movement.

It's Primrose Everdeen.

A/N: So? Did you like it, hate it? I'm a little rusty but if you'd like me to continue or just want to offer feedback reviews are most definitely welcome and appreciated :)