You can't catch me (Peeta Mellark x Reader)

Chapter 9: The Reaping of the 3rd Quarter Quell

Word Count: 1275

Katniss told me not to go back to 11, as it had gotten much worse. I stayed with Peeta instead and wrote a letter to Chaff, telling him what I was doing. Katniss walked over to Gale as soon as she arrived and hugged him. There was obviously a romance going on somewhere.

-

Peeta and I heard screaming and loud vehicles in the distance. I ran outside and saw peacekeepers swarming the town.

"Shit!" I yelled as I dragged Peeta back inside. "What do we do?"

"We go out there, and we save people." He said as he grabbed my hand and lead me through the town.

We both saw Gale getting whipped by a new peacekeeper. Katniss stood in front of him with a gash on her face. Not long after, Haymitch ran in front of her and tried to reason with him. Peeta and I ended up running over and stopped the peacekeeper from killing anyone.

"Clear the square!" The peacekeeper yelled and the crowd scattered. We brought Gale back to Katniss's house and we all tended to his wounds. Haymitch drank some of the alcohol we were trying to put on his back, so he wasn't any help at all. Katniss stayed by his side all night, so Peeta told me.

-

The next day, I was at Peeta's house and we were watching President Snow on the television. "Ladies and Gentleman, this is the 75th year of the Hunger Games, and it was written in the charter of The Games, that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell, to keep fresh for each new generation, the memory of those who died in the uprising against The Capitol. Each Quarter Quell, is distinguished by games of special significance. And now on this, the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate to the 3rd Quarter Quell, as a reminder that even the strongest, cannot overcome the power of The Capitol. On this, the 3rd Quarter Quell games, the male and female Tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of Victors in each district."

"No." I whispered under my breath. "I can't do that again." I looked to Peeta. "We can't do that again!" Tears swelled in my eyes. "Peeta say something." He stood there, staring at me. "Peeta! Say something!" A tear fell down his face.

"I can't." He choked. I walked closer to him and gave him a hug. He returned it, though it was brief. "There's a chance you won't get reaped."

"Seeder is in 60s, I can't let her do that." I told him.

"You shouldn't go into the games again." He told me with a stern yet saddened face.

"Since when did you care?" I asked. My sadness was turned to anger and I was taking it out on him. I didn't want to, but I couldn't help it.

"Since you became someone I care deeply for." He grabbed my hand.

"Am I the girl from home?" I asked calming down from how he responded and referring to our previous conversation at the Presidential Palace.

"Something like that." Another tear rolled down his face.

-

I went home to district 11 and joined Chaff and Seeder on stage for the reaping. This year, they did the boys first. Only having one name in the jar, it had to be Chaff. My anticipation grew as they reached into the female jar. Either me or Seeder. It was Seeder.

"I volunteer." I said as soon as her name was read out.

"Y/n, no." Chaff said, I ignored him and stood besides him.

"Everyone, the District 11 tributes for the 75th Hunger Games."

I was planning on seeing my mother first before I left but the peacekeepers dragged me away. "No! Wait! I get to say goodbye!" They ignored me and I tried to get out of their grip.

-

I got ready for the parade and to my surprise, Tigeris was banned from the games. Like before, my new stylist decided to dress me in a flower dress. Though this time it was a black Dahlia. As I walked to the carriage I saw Peeta and Katniss.

"Y/n!" Peeta yelled as I went up to him. "I told you not too volunteer."

"I couldn't do that to Seeder, I'm sorry." I answered.

"Oh, I see what you too have going on." Katniss smirked from behind him.

"We have nothing but friendship going on Katniss." I said to her and she chuckled.

"Though, just in case..." Peeta quickly pulled me in and kissed me. Though it was short and gentle, it was all the right kind of gentle

-

After the parade, you and Haymitch dragged Peeta and Katniss to meet Chaff.

"Nice. Way to make friends out there you two." Haymitch said and clapped sarcastically.

"Well, we learned from the best." Katniss said back, with the same attitude.

"Anyway, we wanted to introduce you too a special friend." I said as I gestured to the dark skinned man next to me. "This is Chaff, from District 11, obviously." I chuckled. Chaff grabbed the back of Katniss's neck and gave her a very aggressive but friendly kiss on the lips. Haymitch, Chaff and I laughed together.

"He's very friendly." Haymitch told her with a smile. "Don't invite him over, he'll drink up your liquor." We all laughed. "I'll see you guys soon."

-

Later on, I when to training. As I walked in, I noticed Katniss and Peeta hadn't arrived yet, though that didn't bother me. I realised as I walked in amongst the people training, that the careers were eyeing me down. I had a feeling I knew why. I killed one of their own, and sure, lots of other people have too, but I made it personal. They never approached me, they just conspired about me in the distance. I practised my survival skills and I met Beetee, Wireless and Mags, which they were all lovely and I made great friends with them. When Peeta and Katniss walked in I rushed over to them. They must've noticed how the careers were looking at me like I was a meal.

"Do something." Peeta whispered too me.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Don't you see them." He gestured to the careers. "Do something so they'll back off."

"What do I do?" I asked again, looking around.

"What your good at." He answered and pushed me away slightly. I walked over to a platform a woman was previously on, it was some form of hand-to-hand combat thing, with a guard of some kind. I walked over and told him I what I was doing, though I told him also to keep the staff he had from the pervious fight. He came at me with the staff, trying to hit me across the face, I dodged and slid underneath him and as he turned I grabbed the staff with both my hands. I twisted it hard to the left, which cause him to loose his grip as he spun with it. He attempted to grab the staff again, in which I swung it behind me, putting the bottom on the ground, I hooked my right foot under his chin and swing myself over the staff, stuck the landed and he landed face first onto the concrete. The careers watched and whispered something before finally leaving me alone. Though, I wasn't the only one receiving attention. Not long after, Katniss had performed quite the show with her bow, causing everyone to watch in awe. I mean, who wouldn't, she's amazing, I'm her biggest fan.