This is my first fanfic. I'd appreciate any feedback possible as I'm still learning how to use this site and I'm not sure if I should continue with this story.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. All related ideas and characters belong to Suzanne Collins.

CHAPTER ONE: Katniss

My little sister is married at twenty-one years old. I can't believe it! I still think of her as the little girl I helped raise and looked after as if she were my own. I couldn't be happier for her. Primrose married the man of her dreams, Rory Hawthorne, the son of my mother's best friend. The Hawthornes have always been like family to us but now they actually are.

It was truly a beautiful day. I was Prim's maid of honor and Gale, Rory's older brother and my best friend, gave her away. Ever since our fathers died in a car accident, almost fifteen years ago, Gale seemed to step into being the father figure for both of our younger siblings. Other than it being a perfect celebration due to the obvious joy radiating from Prim and Rory, another great outcome is that my ex-boyfriend, Peeta, never showed up.

Peeta and I were together for about nine months but, near the end, something had changed. He became aggressive and controlling so I broke it off, but he had a knack for always showing up where I was and I am glad to be moving away this weekend for my new job. So, with my mother moving in with Mrs. Hawthorne to help with Rory and Gale's younger siblings and giving our house to Prim and Rory, I found it to be the perfect opportunity to finally do something just for myself while my mom and sister both have people to take care of them while I'm not around.

Moving to Savannah, Georgia from the Appalachian mountains in Pennsylvania was a long drive, as well as the process of moving into my new apartment. The difference from mountains and wildlife to a busy southern beach town makes back home feel a world away, which is scary and refreshing all at once. Putting unpacking aside, once everything is moved in, I decide to go out and grab a bite to eat. I walk, unfortunately, because my truck is almost out of gas and I was too lazy to stop and refill when I pulled in and now the gas stations are closed. Considering how late it is, most places around won't be open other than the bars. I decide to duck into an Irish pub, about 7 blocks from the apartment, figuring they at least have fish and chips to order, hopefully. I end up sitting at the bar in the dark and smokey restaurant and luckily get offered a menu for dinner.

'Bye Little-Duck! I love you and I am so happy for you!' I feel myself tearing up as I hug and kiss my little sister good-bye for who knows how long.

'I love you, Kat! Please call and stay in contact while you're down there,' my sister begs.

'I will. Mom, I love you and I'll talk to you soon,' I say as I feel two pairs of strong arms that can belong to none other than the eldest Hawthorne sons. 'Rory, Gale, I'm going to need to breathe soon!' I barely get out as I'm sandwiched in-between the two men.

'Rory, you be good to my little Primmy and Gale, you make sure he keeps in line,' I mock stare them down into submission to my requests.

Mrs. Hawthorn interjects, 'Katniss, don't you worry, I'll keep 'em both in line.' She then adds a wink in for good measure.

'Yeah, Catnip, I promise we'll be good boys. You stay safe; we'll miss you and talk to you soon! Love you!'

"Ma'am, did you know what you wanted to order?" The bartender looks at me and seems annoyed. I must have daydreamt longer than intended and he couldn't get my attention. Oops.

I end up ordering a burger and a beer to relax and avoid daydreaming too deeply as to stay alert to this world considering that I don't know anyone and should be a little more on my guard. But it was too late, as I was already oblivious to an older man, maybe in his thirties, eyeing me from the other end of the bar. Just like I was oblivious to the same man following me out of the door after I paid my bill.

"Where ya goin' pretty girl?" I heard a man slur from behind me.

Automatically, I felt my muscles coil and separated my keys through my fingers as well as feeling my boot blade burning against my calf, ready to be reached if necessary. I decide to keep walking, taking care to listen for his ungraceful footsteps following behind me, making sure to keep a solid distance.

"Well don't jus' say nothin' and keep shakin' that sexy lil' tail at me. Stop teasin'!" He continues to shout his drunk comments at me which make me feel on edge.

"Sir, I think you've had enough to drink, why don't you go back inside and call a cab." I decide to play nice, for now, which is rare because I have little tolerance for people like this. Figures that I would end up in this kind of mess my first night in town. Suddenly, I hear his footfalls speeding my direction and I spin around getting ready to strike. His hand goes to my throat and backs me into a dumpster but he's too drunk to steady himself so I'm able to throw my weight around and pin him down to the ground instead. I whip my knife out of my boot and hold it to his throat, taking care not to make it touch, just yet.

"Sir, I've been kind but you crossed the line," I breathe to him and I can see the sweat begin on his brow and the confusion written all over his face. I slightly wonder if he'll wet himself and the thought somewhat amuses me.

"Excuse me, what's going on here?" A gruff, authoritative voice calls from the direction of the bar we left and shines his flashlight our way. Shit, a cop. The first night I'm here and I get assaulted and have to deal with the cops. Why does my life go like this?

I slowly stand up and release my grasp on the drunk to face the police officer. He's tall with slightly long, dark hair and olive skin and looks to be maybe forty. "Miss, please put the knife away before I confiscate it." I do as told and he watches me with a curious glance while I place it back in my boot. "Sir, please stand up slowly and put your hands above your head on the dumpster," he says while walking cautiously towards us, removing cuffs from the back of his belt. "You are under arrest for public drunkenness and assault." The police officer pats him down and reads him his rights as he cuffs his hands.

"Brutus bring your car around, we're taking one in," he says into his walkie. "Miss, were you walking home, or do you have a car? We would like to question you on tonight's events."

I realize now, that I should have driven. I would probably have avoided this whole situation if I had, but it's too late now to go back and change that. "No sir, I walked."

He looks at me as if he's disappointed in me some how, and I don't like it. He doesn't even know me, why would he care? "Alright, you'll ride with me and my partner will take him in. Once we have your statement I'll take you home. Sound good?"

I nod my head in consent and watch as his partner, Brutus, retrieves the drunk and with a nod in my direction they leave and I'm left to follow the officer that found us.

"What's your name, sir?" I decide to ask to avoid the awkward silence. I always liked the quiet but this feels too strange.

"Name's Abernathy, and your name, Sweetheart?" He asks with a quirk of his brow.

"Katniss Everdeen, sir, and please don't call me Sweetheart again." Oh well, I guess my nice streak is gone and I'm back to my old sarcastic and unpleasant self to people other than my family.

At my response he guffaws and gives me a nod. "You look new around here, I like your spunk, Sweetheart."

"Yes, I am. It's my first night and I see that as my welcoming committee I get a perverted drunk and a sarcastic, harassing cop. I feel so loved," I quip back.

"Watch it, just because I like your spunk, doesn't mean you wouldn't be the first to be arrested for it," he replies back, waiting to see my response.

"I'm sure I wouldn't be the last either…" I drift off, out of energy to keep up with the banter and I think he realizes that because he opens the car door for me and nods his head for me to get in.

"I was just messing with you Sweetheart, I wont arrest you, but I would like to know about that little boot knife trick you got going on." At this he raises his eyebrow at me but I just smirk at him with a wink. Officer Abernathy laughs and continues to ramble on muttering to himself about "spunk" and drives back to the station in a more comfortable silence.

"Do you want to press charges for assault or harassment, Sweetheart?" Officer Abernathy asks once I recall tonight's events.

"No, actually. I just rather go home and forget it happened. I'm sure he'll be held up here for a while to sober up at least and please stop calling me that!" I exclaim at him, rather exasperated that I have to deal with any of this after the longest day of my life.

"Understandable. As far as the sweetheart thing goes, no. I kinda like it, I think it suits you perfectly," he quips back.

"Fine," I half grumble to myself. "When can I get a ride home? All I want is my bed right now," I surly ask.

"Right now, let's go!" He jumps up and yells goodnight to some fellow officers and leads me out to his car. "Where to?" I give him my address and he smirks at me. "Looks like we're neighbors, Sweetheart. I live in the next apartment building over."

Ugh, this night just gets better and better.

"Thanks for the ride, Officer Abernathy. Have a good night," I say to him as I get out of his car and head for my apartment.

"Katniss!" I turn to look at him with a raised brow. "Call me Haymitch, I'm not a fan of formalities and we are neighbors, after all."

"Night, Haymitch!" I yell back as I head inside my building to pass out on my bed, the only surface that isn't covered in boxes.