The Year Before

Chapter 5: Nightmares

POV: Katniss

As I'm looking at the view of the woods, I hear the birds chirping, the creek making slight trickling noises, the trees making calming sounds with the wind, Y/n and Peeta whispering to each other.

I can't understand what they're saying but I don't care. I'll never understand their goofy friendship, but they're lucky to have each other. Gale and I are close, but he's been distant.

"Well!! This has been great! But I think I'm gonna head home!" Y/n quickly says while trying to walk away

"Not so fast" says Peeta pulling her back down
I give out a silent chuckle and look back at the view.

"See ya around, Kat" says Y/n

"Okay bye!" I say back

"Your welcome Peeta!" I hear her yell

"Yeah right! Bye to you too" replies Peeta. Now it's just Peeta and I, looking at the view.

We've never done this before, just him and I. If I were to ever be with Peeta it's with Y/n being there too. In fact now that I think about it, every time Peeta is with her and I come in the picture, he's gone.

"You two are pretty funny together" I say while laughing

"Yeah well that's just how we are" Peeta says with a nervous smile

"You're lucky you have a best friend like her" I reply

"she could easily beat someone up for you." I say sarcastically

"Trust me, I know. I just hope I could return the favor one day if I needed to. Besides, you have Gale... right?" he says

"yeah I guess so. I bet you could though. Protect her" I specify "Besides this is district 12, the only thing you would protect each other from is..." I trail off

"From what?" He asks looking back at me

"The... reaping" I finish

"Yeah- I guess so." He replies with a sad tone.

"Prim" I say

"Your sister?" He asks. I look at him, shocked that he knows Prim is my sister.

"Yeah" I say quietly. I can feel my eyes shifting rapidly back to the view, the rock that we sit on, and Peeta.

"It'll be fine" he says in a soft voice, he has a really calming voice if I'm being honest.

"I'm sorry- I have to go" I quickly say while getting up. I feel bad for leaving Peeta like that, but all I can think about is Prim. How could I be so stupid!

I rush back home, and when I get home I see Prim. My poor innocent sister with tears running down her cheek. I quickly walk over to her and hug her.

We stay like that for what felt like forever, but I enjoyed it.

Knowing Prim will be safe with me by her side.

POV: Peeta
I listen to Katniss's footsteps quickly scurrying away. I'm not offended or anything, I know how much her sister means to her.

I get up and walk back to the bakery. Just watching the broken gravel under my shoes. As I get closer to the bakery, I can hear my mother yelling. Of course she's yelling right now... when is she not?

I walk into my house expressionless
"You know I heard you from a mile away, that's how you scare away customers you know" I say to my mother

"I don't care! It's your fathers fault that he let you go earlier today!!" She yells