Valley Song: A Hunger Games Fan Fiction

Chapter One - The Valley Song

The District 12 school opened at 7:00 am. Peeta stood in line according to his grade, peering over the heads of the kids in front of him. It was their first day. He held his father's hand, feeling the warmth leftover from the bread ovens, and the flakes of dough clinging to his father's knuckles. 

He looked up at his father, trying to commit the moment to memory.  He wondered how his brother's felt in this moment. Did they look up at their father in the same way? Were they nervous as they waited for the classroom door to open?

Peeta looked back at the line of kids in front of him. He couldn't help but notice one girl out of all the rest. She stood at the front of the line, but separated by three others. He tugged on his father's sleeve. When his father looked down he pointed her out. 

She wore a plaid dress. She had two dark braided plaits hanging down her back. She stood out from Peeta and his friends, with her dark hair and steel gray eyes. Seam eyes. As he watched her he couldn't help be mesmerized by her lithe movements. She was slight like a leaf shaking in the wind. And still, she had a steadiness that anchored her to the ground with deep roots. 

Pointing to the girl, his father broke his revery. "I once loved that girl's mother, but a man from the Seam with a golden voice captured her heart instead." Peeta stared at his father in amazement. He never knew his father loved anyone except their mother.  "His voice caused all the birds to cease their song every time he sang," he finished.  

He first thought was indignation on his father's behalf. How could his father, who was steady and kind, how could he be rejected by anyone?  Little did he realize that his existence depended on this story. Only later would he reflect on how much this mattered. 

When he looked back at the girl from the Seam he couldn't help the feeling that this girl existed in some place outside District 12, even though this was the only world they'd ever known. Somehow she looked set apart from it all. 

Peeta knew he wanted to be a baker like his father. The warmth of bread baking in the ovens. He wanted to have a small house with enough food for everyone. Yet, this girl made him uncomfortable, like he was missing something. All of a sudden he felt wrongness at his center, in his stomach. A gnawing growing thing that worked its way up his throat. 

"You'll be alright, son."

He looked up at his father's face. He gave Peeta a warm smile. Peeta tried to return it. 

"It's alright to be nervous on your first day. I know I was." 

Peeta nodded along, nervously glancing back at the girl in the line. He didn't hear the last part of what his father was saying. Something about a ball. Soon the door to the room opened, and everyone around began to say goodbye to their parents, except the girl, who appeared to be alone. 

"Well, son. Do us proud."

"Okay." And with that he hugged his father tight around the belly, lost in the warm smell of bread.

LATER THAT DAY

The students lined up again outside their classroom. This time the excitement was palpable. Instead of nerves, Peeta stood in line with his town friends talking about the day. School would be easy if he got to see his friends everyday. 

The teacher stood at the head of the line while they talked together is excited whispers. "Children. It's time to be quiet." 

He turned and faced Mrs. Ellis. She had a kind face with eyes that crinkled when she smiled. She was unlike his mother, softer somehow. 

Silence fell around him as each of his classmates turned towards her. The spell of the first day was still in place. 

"Okay. Thank you. Follow me, and remain quiet as we enter the Assembly room. Mrs. Fletcher, your music teacher, will lead you in your next lesson."