We protect each other~ A modern day HG fanfic

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

~12 years later~

Sunlight pours into the Science lab, shining on the test tube and glass beakers left to dry by the window. Katniss sighs to herself as she doodles on the corner of her notebook. Although she isn't as good as her brother Peeta, she has just enough technique to make a decent drawing.

The teacher snaps his fingers in front of her face, which breaks her out of her daydream. "Miss Mellark, what do you think you're doing?"

"Umm... I was... taking notes," she stutters.

"Those don't look like notes to me," he replies pointing to the drawing. "If you really were paying any attention, you should be able to answer the question on the board." Katniss looks at the board and squints slightly; biology isn't her favourite subject. That would be Prim's.

She looks around the board trying to decipher what Mr. Goldman was teaching about. A few words stand out to her, "Mutations", "Equation" and "Genetic Drift".

"Umm... is it... the Hardy-Weinburg equation?"

The teacher nods at her before returning to the board. She sighs in relief and makes a mental note to thank her sister. Ringing sounds of the school bell echoes through the hallways and classrooms as Katniss swings her school bag onto her shoulder. Keeping her gaze onto the ground, she navigates through the wave of students.

Suddenly she trips on something and falls to the ground. Her books are scattered all around her with random worksheets flying out of them. "Hey Kitty-Kat," says a boy in a mocking tone. "How are you doing today?" Katniss keeps her eyes fixed to the floor as she picks up her books. The same boy gives her a kick and she falls to the floor again.

"What's wrong Kitty-Kat? Can't get up?" She knows who that voice belongs to, Marvel Coy, the schools most brutal and violent student. A crowd forms along the pair, girls whisper while boys snicker. Soon they start to chant, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Leave her alone Marvel." Katniss recognizes that voice, she looks up and her grey eyes meet sapphire ones. "What are you going to make me do Mellark?"

"Well, I could tell everyone here what happened last Saturday night..."

Marvel's eyes widen, he grumbles slightly. "We'll meet again Kitty-Kat." As he walks away, the crowd disperses. Peeta bends down to help his sister pick up her things. "Are you okay?" his voice filled with concern.

"Yes, I'm fine." She picks up the last worksheet and stuffs it in her backpack the pulls the zip. She takes her brother's hand and they walk towards the parking lot. "Come on, let's go pick Prim up." Katniss nods and puts her head on Peeta's shoulder.

As they walk towards the primary school, Peeta spots lavender, growing in the crack of the sidewalk. He plucks one and gives it to Katniss. "Remember this?" Katniss nods and takes the plant from him; she wraps it around her hand like a bracelet.

-

Peeta & Katniss- 7 years old

Spring has finally arrived after a long and harsh winter. Little Peeta takes Katniss's hand as they run through the meadow that lies behind the Mellark house. Wild flowers of all colours have started to bloom, springing up in every direction. The children finally take a seat on the soft grass, exhausted from the long sprint.

"See Katniss, I told you I'm faster! I'm like a cheetah!" He cheers.

"Okay," she takes another deep breath. "You win. At least I can beat you when it comes to sneaking."

"Yep! You are the quiet fox and I am the fast cheetah!" Katniss giggles then sits up. She picks a small jasmine that grows in a bush by her feet. "Peeta, what's your favourite flower?"

Peeta sits up and puts a hand under his chin. "I think I like sunflowers. They are so big and very pretty."

"I think I like jasmines the most. They smell so nice."

"What!" Peeta puts his hands on his head and tries to give a very surprised look. "Their so boring, they don't have any colour."

"Yes they do, they're white. I like white."

"I thought you like green?"

"Well I thought you like orange, but sunflowers are yellow," Katniss replies. She plucks the petals off the jasmine, letting it fall to the ground. Suddenly she feels a sense of dread, like something (or someone) would spring up on them at any moment. "Peeta, I'm scared."

"What? Why?"

"What if my parents come back? I don't wanna go back with them," she says. A tear slides down her face. She never told anyone how her real mom and dad treated her; Joshua and Mary knew of course and have talked with her about it but she never gave them any information. All they knew was that the Everdeens have beaten her a few times then kicked her out They have no idea of all the other sorts of abuse they did to her, it made her shudder to just think about it.

Peeta wipes the tear off her cheek. "Don't worry, they won't come and if they do, I'll hide you under my bed."

"You will?"

Peeta nods, "We protect each other, I will protect you and you will protect me." He gets up and walks towards a small clearing of lavenders. Picking one, Peeta takes each end and ties them together making a circle. "Here," he says, giving the bracelet to Katniss. "This is our promise bracelet, it means that we will keep our promise no matter what."

Katniss takes it and slides it onto her wrist then she makes one for her brother and puts it on his. "What about Prim?"

"This can be our secret thing. Only for us."

-

The car ride to Prim's school was short; Katniss watches the tires speed along the dusty road from the side mirror. The dust forms little clouds that disappear as quickly as they were made. Prim sits at the back of the car singing along to Taylor Swift's new single. The car suddenly comes to a jerking halt causing the kids to jolt.

"Oh my God, are you guys okay?"

"Ya... what happened?"

"I don't know, I think I ran over something..." Peeta swings the car door open and climbs out. His face turns to horror and he runs to motions for Katniss to come over. "What's wrong?" Katniss ask.

As she approaches the Peeta, she sees what he's staring at. Beneath the left wheel lies a ginger cat, blood slowly seeps out from its stomach. Katniss stares in alarm at the cat, immediately she goes down for a closer look. The cat's stomach barely moves up and down but at least it's breathing. "We need to get mom!"

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Like it? Please review! Also, a photo of what I imagine for the flower chain to look like is on the side.

-TheSnowyAngel