The Village

Chapter 1:

THE VILLAGE

Silas Mellark and Amelia Everdeen's children, Katniss and Peeta have lived next door to each other their entire lives. Their parents were both Victors and both kids have been to the shining Capitol over and over again.

Chapter One:

"Katniss! Peeta's here. Get down here or you'll both be late for school!" Mother screams from the kitchen. 

I throw on my hunting jacket, grab a danish off the counter and slam the door behind me. 

"Someone's in a rush." Peeta laughs.

"Someone has a bruise." I counter. 

"The Witch threw a fork at me this morning." He shruggs and pulls his sleeve over the back of his hand. 

The Witch is a name we've used for Peeta's mother ever since we were 10. 

Ingrid Farrell was a gold digger and ever since my mother went into the games, Mr. Mellark moved on. 

But that was only because he didn't expect my mom to make it out alive. 

Soon after my dad came into the picture and then Peeta's brothers. 

Peeta's older siblings Jace and Kane are simply a nuissance to the District.

Talk about people taking advantage of their riches. 

Jace has a Corvet. Kane has a Rolex, and both of them were well known for wearing suits to school. 

Whereas Peeta, Prim and I at least try to fit in.  

As soon as we get to the old brick school building, Peeta goes off with his friends and Prim continues talking at me about the same hair crisis she'd been rambling about ever since we left the house. 

"You know, for someone so rich, you could at least not dress like a lesbian." Glimmer Azalea cries with a bitter undertone. 

"At least i can afford to not smell like ass." I mutter and walk on my way as she turns to her possi and gasps. 

.

***

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"You know we can't keep hiding forever, right?" i giggle.

"Yeah we can. Would you rather my family know?" he says. 

"Well, I guess not.." I pout.

"But doesn't the secrecy make it more scandalous?" He grins maniacally.

"Yeah, it does!" He wraps his arms around me and pulls me down with him. 

"I love you." I say smiling.

He looks down and laughs a little bit. He kisses me and I kiss him back, tangling my fingers in his hair. 

my laughter bounces around between the crisp white walls of the giant house in the Victor's Village. 

His room is just like mine. Same sheets, same bed frame, but a different scent. One I've grown to love. 

Its like a fistful of freshly baked bread. Mixed with ginger, his specialty. 

"Are you ever going to ask me to marry you?" I break off to ask.

"No." He shakes his head softly. "I know you wouldn't want to. And the Capitol would be on our asses for it. You know, two Victor's kids."

"But if we didn't live here. Would you?" 

"Of Course." He says almost too quickly. 

I smile although i can tell he's probably lying.