The boy with the bread: The back story to Peeta Mellark

Chapter 2

Peeta had a hard time falling asleep. He kept thinking about today, how he could've done something about it. But what can he do to change it anyway? How could he get her attention? She's with Gale most of the time. Maybe during lunch break? She sometimes sits alone, or with the mayors daughter, Madge. But what would he say to her? Ask what was her favourite colour? No, that just sounded childish. By the looks of her personality, she doesn't look like the "friend" type, so who says she would open up to him about that stuff? About anything, really? After a while of just tossing and turning in bed, no where near sleep, Peeta decides to take a walk to the bakery.

Walking towards the bakery, he heard noises. Like someone was in there. Please say it's not mom. . . he thought to himself. Luckily, he see that it's his father, baking as usual.

"Oh Peeta. What are you doing up so late?"

"Um," he hesitates. What will his excuse be? He can't tell him the real reason, "I just got thirsty, can I have some water?"

"Yes of course, son." his father opened up a small, old cuburt and toke out a cup.

"So what are you up to?" Peeta's curiosity got the best of him.

"Oh just baking some cookies for the peacekeepers. Heard lots are coming in tomorrow. Might even give some to the mayor." Peeta just sat at their kitchen table, sipping his glass of water.

"If you want," the baker started, "you could give some to that girl."

This got Peeta's attention, "What? What girl. There's no girl. . ."

His father chuckles, "That girl, the one who you stare at walking home from school. The one who sells me her squirrels. Her sister even sells some goat cheese sometimes,"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Peeta says this, even though he knows that his father knows exactly what he's saying.

"Oh yes you do young man! I know that girl for a fact. But I'm going to tell you something that only you can know."

"Not mom?" Peeta asks.

"Especially not Mom!" His father exclaims, "So that young girl, I believe her name is Katniss. Anyway, her mother was such a young, wise and beautiful women. She was already a healer, and her hair was a golden blond, just like her youngest daughters. I thought she was the one. But after she met that coal miner, with the voice that even birds stop to listen to, I knew right then, that I was a goner."

It took a second or two for peeta to take it all in, but then realized that this wasn't the first time his father told him this story. But just thinking about it made him think that he might become like his father. Lose Katniss to a coal miner . . . like Gale. This brings back memories.

"Father I think you mentioned this before. Something about that you wanted her mother, but lost her. But was she really that beautiful?"

"Oh yes. She was stunning, but now, like many adults living in a place like this, their beauty can slowy fade away. Just like their happiness. Take your mother for example. Who knows when she lost hers. But that may not be the case with you, son. So keep your head held high." the baker says to speechless Peeta, "Why don't you take a few of those cookies to her little sister. She's always generous with the goat cheese."

"Okay, thank-you." Peeta quietly says while walking out of the bakery kitchen, "Good night."

The rest of his night was calm and quiet. His mind was blank, but full of thoughts at the same time. But as the hours go by, sleep found him, and the echos of his father's story rattled in his head.