Hello, lovely reader :)
Thank you for selecting my story, I hope you enjoy :)

This is set loosely in Camden, Maine (USA). I went there when I was 7 with my Dad, so this is based completely off memory (that was nearly 11 years ago). I have tried to keep it as accurate as possible, though, it is not 100%.

I am originally from the UK, though I travel a lot. My mannerisms might change slightly, but Hey, let's keep you on your toes. ;)

I hope you enjoy this story, please let me know what you think. Partly OOC. :) :) :)

Italics = text messages.

Katniss' POV throughout the entire story.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of the characters, they belong to the wonderful Suzanne Collins. However, the plotline of this FanFiction is my own. Enjoy.

"Do you need anything else, Prim?" I ask exasperated, juggling the phone, basket and list between my hands. "I seem to have half the store in this basket."

My sister, Primrose, ponders her answer for a minute.

"Hmm, some Fruit Loops please."

"But you already have Fruit Loops, I bought you some the other week"

"I've already eaten them, Katniss.. Mom didn't have enough money for dinner."

I sigh into the receiver.

"Marshmallow or original?"

"Original please."

"Okay Prim, I'll get you some."

"I love you!" She calls, her voice echoing a few times.

"Yeah, you too. Bye Prim."

Hanging up the phone, I mentally check the groceries off her list.

"Just the Fruit Loops." I mumble to myself, dodging an overly loved up couple.

As I turn onto the correct isle, I spot a man around my own age. He's tall with a mop of blond curly hair. I can't help but think that he needs a haircut, as the ends of his hair brush against his long eyelashes. He definitely isn't unattractive.

I feel a strange pang of familiarity and recognition, though I know I have never seen him before.

I move my eyes away from his strong jaw, and muscular chest and notice that his arms are locked in the restraints of crutches. Even from this distance, I notice light scars up and down his skin. They shimmer in the store light.

I suddenly blush and stare at the floor. I realize that I had been staring at this stranger for a good few minutes. I curse under my breath, as I move the basket into my other hand.

I've never been one to notice boys, the closest I have ever come is my best friend Gale Hawthorne and that is far from romantic. But I find my eyes flitting up from the speckled floor every few seconds to the blond cripple.

As I take my first step down the shopping isle, the stranger slips from his crutches and hits the floor in a heap of limbs and metal crutch.

I look all around me.

Nobody has even looked up as this young man struggles to get up. It would be so easy to walk away and forget, no one would blame me. But I can't bring myself to turn around.

Instead, I flip the end of my braid over my shoulder so that it reaches my lower back, and walk towards him.

"Hey." I say quietly, crouching down to his side. "Are you okay?"

He looks up with wild eyes, before relaxing slightly. I put my basket on the ground.

"Oh, hey. And yeah, I'm fine." His voice is deep and warm, an element of shock laced within it. "Thank you."

I watch as he pushes himself up onto his free arm, shakes his head slightly. He looks up at me skeptically, as I offer him my hand. His eyes are unnaturally blue, sparkling in the harsh store lights.

I grab his crutch from the floor with my free hand as I help him up.

"You're welcome."

I stand back awkwardly, hiding behind my bangs as he regains his full balance. I refuse to look at him fully, so instead I stare at the floor beside his feet. I notice that he puts a fraction more of his weight over his right leg, shifting his posture.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I ask, picking up my basket.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Do you want me to grab you anything? You keep glancing at the cereal boxes."

"Um yeah, please."

I chuckle softly. We both seem a little awkward.

"Which one?"

He mumbles something inaudibly, a slight redness forming in his cheeks.

"What?"

"Lucky Charms please."

"Wow, someone's very mature." I joke, light sarcasm dripping from my voice.

Placing the box in his own basket, I pick up my own box of Fruit Loop.

"Oh really, because you're one to talk." He comments, nodding towards the box in my hands, a smirk on his face.

"They're for my sister."

"Yeah yeah, whatever you say..."

He's still smiling but I scowl at him, clutching the item closer to my chest.

His gaze turns questioning, as his eyes roam over my body. I feel a shudder rake though me, for a reason I can't place. I suddenly feel out of place in my old jeans and faded t-shirt.

"As long as you're okay..."

"Peeta." He fills in, nodding his head to answer my question. "Thank you for helping me. Not many people would..."

I glance around the surrounding people, all of which are still oblivious.

"Katniss."

"That's an original name."

"My parents were quite something..."

I catch his expression change, most likely calculating my words.

"Well I like it."

"You're one of the first."

"I highly doubt that."

"Right, well it was nice meeting you Peeta. I'll see you around."

"Wait!" He calls, as I turn around.

"Yeah?"

"Can I at least buy you a coffee? To say thank you."

I pause for a moment, thinking it over. He seems sweet, but is that really my type? Do I even have a type?

"I'm sorry but I can't."

"Oh, okay then." His face falls momentarily, but is quickly replaced with his smile.

"Maybe some other time?"

"Sure."

I find myself walking away, hugging the cereal box as if it were human. Stopping, I turn back to find him staring at me. I offer a small smile, ridden with guilt, before turning and walking out of sight. As I reach the cashier a small voice at the back of my head silently wishes for another time.

"What took you so long?" Prim calls as she bounds down the crooked stairs.

She relieves me of the bags, taking them into the tiny kitchen.

"You asked me to buy loads of stuff." I say, shrugging.

"Okay, who did you see?" She asks, as she begins to unpack the bags.

"I didn't see anyone..."

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not!" I argue, a little too defensively earning a raise of eyebrows. "I mean, I'm not... It's hot outside, that's all..."

"Uh huh."

"Prim," I warn.

"We both know you're lying, but I'll drop it anyway."

"I'm not lying."

"Yes, you are.

"You're blushing.

"You have your hands in your pocket, playing with the whole that seems to be in every pair of jeans you own.

"And you won't look me in the eye.

"You may as well just tell me..."

"Look, some guy fell over. That's all."

"What? Did you fall under him or something?"

"Primrose Everdeen?!"

"What?" Her voice is overly innocent, as she silently moves round the counter top.

"You shouldn't use that kind of humor!"

"Katniss, I'm 15; I've just finished my Freshman year of High School. There are worse things going on in the corridor then that."

"Do I want to know what goes on in the corridors?"

"Nope."

"Are you a part of it?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Just checking-"

"-There's no need to 'just check'. I'm not the average teenage slut that walks around with a bra 2 sizes too small."

"Wait, what?"

"Nothing, just some plastic Barbie Doll from my chemistry class. So, some guy fell?"

"Yeah, he was on crutches. He just kind of slipped."

"Ouch, what was his name?"

"Peeta."

She looks at me skeptically, trying to figure out what I'm thinking as I walk and sit at the table.

"So, you did what?"

"Helped him up."

"That's it? Nothing else?"

"No."

"He didn't even buy you a coffee or anything."

I begin gnawing at my lip, glaring at the table.

"He offered, and you said no!" She exclaims, abandoning the remaining items and dances over to me.

"I had things to do, Prim."

"Katniss, have you ever been asked out before."

"No, but-"

"Katniss..." She whines, squeezing my hands and hitting her head lightly on the table.

"What?"

"You're my sister and you know that I love you more than anyone else in this world. But my god, you are an idiot."

"Excuse me?"

"I've watched you, all this time. Before Dad died, you had loads of friends and you we're comfortable around guys. But now, you only have a handful of friends, you work most days and a guy only has to say Hi and you run screaming."

" I've seen what love can do, Prim. That's why I swore I'd never fall in love."

"Don't you remember all the years before he died? All the good times?"

"There weren't enough to counteract his death."

"Well obviously, but-"

"-But nothing Prim." I sigh, "You saw how Mom acted, I'd never put myself or my family through that."

"Okay, fine."

Prim knows me too well to push this, so gets up and puts away the last item.

"I'm going to work, text me when Mom get's back."

"Are you coming home tonight?"

"I don't live here anymore, Prim."

"Not even for dinner?"

"I'll eat at the diner."

"Oh, okay..."

She sounds like all the air has been knocked out of her. I catch sight of her turning away from me, staring at a fixed point out of the window.

"Prim,"

"Forget it Katniss, just go to work."

"Prim, I'm sorry." I say, walking over and taking her hand. "I'll come another day, okay?"

She sighs.

"Will you and Mom ever be okay again?"

"Maybe, someday."

"It's like, you don't even try anymore."

"I'll try, I promise."

Slowly, I wrap my arms around her small waist, silently asking for forgiveness.

"Okay."

"You'll be okay?"

"I'm 15, I can take care of myself." She says, defiantly.

"I know, little Duck. I know."

Prim: You're out of the house?

Katniss: Yeah, why?

Prim: You're not coming back?

Katniss: Unless you're dying, no.

Prim: Okay, Perfect. Tell me more about Peeta.

Katniss: There is nothing to tell, Prim.

Prim: What did he look like?

Katniss: Blond, curly hair. Pale skin, blue eyes.

Prim: He sounds cute, dreamy even.

Katniss: You didn't even see him.

Prim: That's why I said sounds.

Katniss: Yeah, yeah. Whatever.

Prim: You didn't deny it.

Katniss: Deny what?

Prim: That Peeta was cute and/or dreamy.

Katniss: He was fine, okay?

Prim: Rue's phoned... This will have to do for now.

Katniss: Thank god.

Prim: Shut up.

Prim: Rue says Hi.

Katniss: Hey Rue.

Prim: She's asking if you'd date Peeta, if you ever saw him again.

Katniss: Nice try.

Prim: Fine, fine. I'll just say that you said yes, anyway.

Katniss: Goodbye, Primrose.

Prim: Opps, full named. I must have stepped over the line.

Prim: ...

Prim: I LOVE YOU.

This will be considerably shorter than the usual chapter length I plan to work to/with. As you can probably tell, this is slightly OOC, but it is an AU and you've got to love Everlark!

I hope you enjoyed this, please review and tell me what you think!
Also, feel free to PM me. :)

-KatelynnHutcherson.

You may have noticed that I have changed this chapter (and the later ones slightly). I noticed mistakes and wanted to change some aspects. The later chapters will come later this evening. :D