I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES! I hope you enjoy my second story.

Prologue

It all started on a windy autumn day. The suns barely peeked out from the overcast skies. The leaves on some of the trees started to turn vibrant colors of orange, red and yellow. I remember raking the leaves with my dad and brothers, Rye and Graham, the day before. We always jumped in after we made a huge pile. Mama pinned my blonde hair back on the side and added my favorite orange hair-bow she got me for my birthday. I grabbed the small bag of cookies Daddy gave me to calm my nerves. It was my first day of school.

Rye and Graham already started walking when Mama and I went out the door. We walked to the front of the school and stopped. That's when I saw him. He had dark, shaggy hair and steely gray eyes. "You see that boy over there," she points at the dark haired kid I was staring at. "His daddy tried to marry me a long time ago, but I was already in love with Daddy. So he married a mean lady from the other side of town."

"Why did he do that?" I ask. She looked at me with a smile.

"The birds would stop to listen when I sang, he fell in love with me when he heard me sing in the meadow," she told me. All I said was "Oh," after she told me. I didn't know that so many people liked Mama. She was the daughter of the apothecary in the town. Daddy teaches me how to bake treats and bread, while Mama shows me mixtures of different herbs that will help you when you're not feeling well.

He hid behind his dad's leg as Mama and I approached them. His daddy and Mama were talking about their time at school while the boy just stared at me from behind the tall man's legs. "Come out Peeta, don't be shy," he said. The boy stepped away from his father's legs and looked straight at me. I took out a cookie from the bag my dad gave me and held it out for him to take it. He just looked at me with even more fear in his eyes.

"That's very nice of you Kat," Mama said. She stroked my hair and looked down at my friendly gesture. Peeta's dad whispered something in his ear, and he grabbed the cookie out of my hand.

"Thank you," he whispered. I pulled my hand back and placed it behind my back.

"You're welcome," I say and walk away to go inside. I turn around and see Mama wave at me, I run back towards her and hug her. Then I follow the rest of my classmates back inside the school. From that day on, I knew I was a goner.

When his sister attended the same school when she turned 5, I fell in love with him all over again. He would walk her to school every morning with another one of his friends. During lunch, he would split his food with his sister and always gave her the bigger half. Food was tight in the Seam, the place where he lived, and he would always feed his sister before eating himself. I liked his sister. She was sweet and kind. She would always walk past the bakery and watch me decorate the cakes for customers. She would tell me about how much she loved the cookies my dad made, so I always brought her some frosted sugar cookies in the shape of Primroses.

When we were 10, Peeta's dad died in a mine explosion, and he was left with his little sister Prim and an evil mother to care for. I felt bad about his loss, so the next day I brought Peeta and Prim cupcakes that I made the night before. Primrose thanked me on the spot, but Peeta just gave me a confused look. I walked back to the table I sat at and used my book as a decoy as I watched them eat the cupcake. Peeta took a bite of it and gave the rest to Prim, since he knew she loved them. I continued to "read" my book as he watched me. I never had many friends. I preferred to find solace in my books, rather than peers. Peeta, on the other hand, had a friend who could pass as his brother.

Some days, Peeta would come in bruised and battered. He tried to cover his scars under his sleeves, but they always popped out of nowhere. His mother beats him when he can't bring any food back to his house. I can't help but feel

Everyone knew that Peeta and his friend, Gale, poached in the forest to provide for their families. This winter, was the worst by far. Game was scarce; they were all hibernating for winter. Snow covered every bush and tree. Thick white blankets covered the floor every day. Not even the squirrels were out to be caught. He would come to school looking like skin and bones, while I had a lot to eat. I sat at my table and read my book as I ate lunch. Whatever he had, he gave it all to Prim. After a few weeks, you would be able to count the number of ribs poking out from under his shirt. I knew I had to do something to help him.

"Mama, Peeta looks so sick," I start, "We have to help him," I plead; she looks at me with sympathy.

"I heard it's been tough since his daddy died," she says as she stirs one of her mixtures. "Maureen has a bad temper, and takes it out on poor Peeta." She looks very unhappy as she grabs rosemary from the top shelf. "Doesn't he poach like his father?" she asks.

"Yes, but winter has been hard," I say looking down. Mama starts to think over all the possibilities we could come up with to help Peeta.

"I heard Daddy needs help with rebuilding the chicken coop," she says. "Rye and Graham are too busy with wrestling, and you're the only help he has at the bakery." She looks at me and I start to smile.

"Both Peeta and Gale are tall, strong boys, maybe they can help," she continues. "And when the weather clears, maybe we can trade for squirrels since your brothers and father love them."

"Thank you Mama," I say and I hug her. All night I try to figure out how to tell him about the job. I decide to tell Prim, who can tell Peeta, since I am more comfortable around her.

"Are sure they said it's okay?" Prim asks.

"Of course, I was my mom's idea," I reassure her and she walks away cheerfully. Once school is over, I finally feel happy about going home. I've been frosting this extravagant wedding cake for the shoemaker's son and he insists on adding more lilies on the flower-covered cake. I start to walk away as someone pulls my arm. I turn around terrified as I look and see who it is. It's Peeta and Gale standing in front of me. For being 14 they already clear 6 feet, while I stay at my petite height of 5' 3".

"Are trying to make fun of us, or are you serious?" Peeta questions me harshly. I pull my arm out of his grasp and straighten out my dress.

"I am completely serious," I say. "My dad needs help redoing the chicken coop and my brothers can't help. I am working in the bakery with my father and my mom is busy with the apothecary. So for whatever reason you have for being rude, I suggest that you think about the offer." I feel proud of myself after out-sassing them. I turn around and walk away when Peeta catches up with me.

"Hey," he says. I completely avoid his gaze. I am not going to give up that easily. He walks in front of me and I almost trip. "Look I'm sorry," he says as he helps me balance. "I'm not used to getting offers like that, especially from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask him. I fold my arms over my chest and give him a scowl.

"I didn't mean it like that," he says. "Okay, Gale and I will do it." He finally answers.

"Well, someone is smart," I say. "You can come today or tomorrow to meet with my dad to discuss the payment." I continue to walk faster in front of him, but both Peeta and Gale follow me to the house.

"Daddy?" I call out. "They're here." My dad walks out and greets them then walks them out of the house to the back. It turns out that they will work every day for 2 hours and I will give them 2 loaves of bread each. It seems fair enough to me. I pull my orange apron and put it on, then I pin my hair up and tie a bow around it. I pull out the cake and start to decorate. After their first day of work, they come back into the bakery as I'm putting the last touches to a lily for the top of the cake.

"That's a really pretty flower," Peeta says. I almost jump out of the seat when he says that.

"Oh, thanks," I say. I go to the back and grab their loaves. "Here is the bread you wanted."

"Thanks see you later," he says awkwardly. I wave and go back to my work. Both boys come back every day for 3 weeks and Prim joins me in the bakery. She enjoys watching me at work. My mother eventually steals her from me and teaches her the apothecary trade. Prim seems to enjoy making mixtures with her, my mother thinks that she will make and excellent apprentice for the apothecary.

After the coop is finished, he continues to come into the bakery to trade squirrels for whatever he wants, he usually trades with Daddy. Both kids looked healthier than before. His bones were finally starting to disappear under a thin layer of fat. I felt pretty content with what I've done. That's when everything starts…