Chapter 1: The Maid of Honor

A/N: The setting of this story is still in Panem, without the Hunger Games, without President Snow and the Capitol is not in control. But poverty is still present in some district. There is still the Seam. And Peeta and Katniss didn't remember each other from the bread incident.

p.s. I'm still having second thoughts about the title.

Katniss' POV

"Prim, wake up, Prim!" I said loudly while shaking her thin, lifeless body.

She opened her eyes and a tear fell in her eye. I wiped the tear on her bony cheek.

"Katniss, why…..why did you left us to die here, starving..why?" Prim said with a weak voice.

"No Prim, I would never let that happen, I will not…just wait…I.."

Then I feel my surrounding completely change.

It's raining. I'm sitting under a tree clutching my hollow stomach thinking it will help ease the pain. I felt it again, the feeling of starvation.

(Riiiiiiiinggg)

I wake up to the sound of my telephone.

"It's just that nightmare again" I whispered to myself.

Then I remembered Prim. I hurriedly run towards her room. I feel relieved when I see her sleeping peacefully. I started walking towards her in the way I walk in the woods trying not to scare the game off like I was trying not to wake her up.

I touched her cheek remembering how hollow it looked like in my nightmare. No, not only in my nightmare did she look like that. It was eight years ago. Our father just died in a mining accident. Mother fell into a deep depression, spending most of her time in a chair or in her bed leaving us starving. The money that the mayor gave us ran out and we spent three days with just boiled water with some mint to calm our stomach but it's not enough. Desperation took over me and I started searching food from the bins of the bakery where my father used to trade game for bread. The baker's wife yelled at me and told me to get lost. I sat under a tree waiting for death not having the courage to face my sister with no food. I heard the woman hitting someone, then a blonde boy, maybe the baker's son went outside and tossed me two burnt bread. I took it and put it inside my shirt. And that's the day I regain hope. That's when I started hunting again putting my father's teaching to use. And then I met Gale, my bestfriend. His father died in the same mining accident that killed my father. Hunting, never did we imagine is the key how we made the life of our family better. We became famous throughout the district because of the fresh meat we provided them. Fresh meat was scarce in our coal mining district. The capitol then heard about me and Gale and the hunting skills we have. I'm great in using the bow and Gale is good with traps and snares. (A/N: Remember, the Capitol is not in control so hunting in the woods is legal but only the two has the skill.) We built our own hunting school that the Capitol supported to teach people the techniques of hunting. I'm having second thoughts at first because I will be sharing some of my father's secret but I realized that if my father is still alive and if this will help my district beat starvation, I will agree and that's what I did. With the money I saved, I bought a house and provided my family anything they need or want. And that's what Gale also did. We're actually neighbors. Then I remembered the boy with the bread. He's the reason my life changed and I didn't even thanked him for it but besides knowing that he's blonde, I don't know much of what he looked like.

My thought was disturbed by Prim waking up.

"Good morning Katniss." Prim said smiling.

"Good morning too, little duck. Sorry for waking you up." I said while folding her blanket.

"It's okay." Prim said now helping me clean her bed. "Hey, I think your phone is ringing."

"Oh you're right. Just finish this up and I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast."

"Okay." Prim answered.

I answered the phone then I hear Annie on the other line.

Annie Cresta is my other bestfriend. She's from district 4. I met her while I'm on my way to the Capitol for an archery competition. The train stopped because of some mechanical problem and they advised the passengers to exit the train. I have so many stuff and I didn't notice that one of my bags fell. Annie noticed it. She picked it up and returned it to me. I was very fortunate because that bag contains my bows and arrows and I can't compete without them. I thanked her then she invited for a tour on the beach near the train station. And by the look of the frustrated faces of the mechanics, it would take couple of hours for them to fix the train. We talked a lot and I surprised myself that I accepted her invitation of friendship. I just feel comfortable around her and that feeling is very unusual for me since my father died. She visits me here in district 12 bringing assorted shells and seafood that Prim and my mother liked. I also visit bringing her fresh berries and sometimes fresh squirrel's meat cause it's her favorite.

"Hi Katniss" Annie said.

"Hey Annie, how are you?" I asked.

"Oh still the same but better." Annie replied giggling.

"How could that be the same?" I snorted.

"It's just…"

"It's just what Annie?"

"It's just..FINNICK AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED." She said while squealing.

Finnick Odair. He's a really great guy, handsome even and they have been dating for a year and 9 months. I even met him when I visited Annie and he seems such a nice guy for her.

"Oh that's a good news Annie, after almost 2 years huh, you finally asked him." I teased.

"HA-HA very funny, you're just jealous that I'm getting married and Gale is not even your boyfriend yet." Annie said with a laugh.

"Annie!" I said pretending to be angry

"Just kidding. I know you're not looking for that kind of thing. Anyway, can you be my maid of honor?"

"Umm sure, when will I be coming there for the wedding?

"Do you have something to do on next week till June 28?"

"For a month? How may wedding will you have?"I asked

"Well, Finnick just proposed to me yesterday and his parents will only be in the district until you know, June 28 so I was thinking if you could help me prepare for it." Annie said with a pleading tone.

"What, do you think the three of us can finish preparing?"

"Don't worry, my other friends said that they would come help me, if only my bestfriend could come too, she won't need to give me a gift" Annie said still with the tone.

"Okay, but only because I will no longer give you a gift." I answered

"Yay. Thanks Kat, you could bring Gale too, and by the way I'm size 8 and Finnick is size 11." Annie said quickly.

Before I could say goodbye she was no longer on the line. That Annie, I smiled while thinking what to get them as a gift.

I went downstairs and told my mother about the wedding. I asked for her permission to go to district 4 next week and she agreed. I told her that maybe I could bring Prim but my mother said that she and Prim will be going to the Capitol for an apprenticeship so she could be an apothecary so they will be going after couple of weeks or so.

I ate then took a bath then change into a loose brown shirt and shorts and put my hair in its traditional braid. I first went to the Hawthorne's to ask if Gale could come.

"Morning Catnip."

"Morning Gale, I have to ask you something."

"Of course I will be your boyfriend." Gale said grinning.

I lightly punched him in his arm. "You wish, but what I really want to ask if you would like to come next week to district 4." I asked him. Then he became serious.

"Everdeen, we're not even married and you're already inviting me on a honeymoon." Gale said now with a smirk on his face.

"Stop it. But seriously, will you come, Annie and Finnick need some help with their wedding" I asked imitating the tone of Annie.

"Wow they're finally getting married. That's nice but I still have something to do, you know, with the school so maybe after two weeks from now." Gale answered

"Okay, maybe you can go there with mother and Prim."I suggested.

"Sure."

"Well Gale I have to go somewhere. See you later." Then I waved him goodbye.

Then I went to the town in search of the gift I will give to the couple.

A/N: I hope you'll like it. Read and Review :D. I don't own Hunger Games and its characters.