Catching Fire: Peeta's Story

Chapter One: Old Friends

I place the bread on the table with a loud thud, which creates an echo through my empty house, forever reminding me of the solitude I have adopted after the Games. But today is the beginning of the Victor's tour, where Katniss and I tour Panem and describe how we killed the children from each District to their families.

I finish cutting the bread and package it up in a large piece of white cloth and head over to Haymitch's house which neighbours my own. The morning is crisp and covered in snow, icicles hang from the fountain outside like spears and the morning sun is sunk low across the skyline. It's creating a beautiful orange sky as the sun heats up the clouds to my favourite colour.

As I approach the door is notice it is slightly ajar, someone has been here, Katniss. Cautiously entering, I here the scream of Haymitch, what are they doing in there? I enter the kitchen to see Haymitch dripping wet. The stench of alcohol is strong.
"-you should've asked Peeta!" I can hear Katniss shout at who I assume is Haymitch. Her voice is croaky and cold. But how I have missed it so.
"Ask me what?" I ask entering the room. Haymitch turns to face me with a deep glare while sat at his table, which is covered in empty bottles.
"Ask you to wake me without giving me pneumonia!" Haymitch blurts out. I'm guessing Katniss woke him prematurely. I place the bread upon the table,
"Would you like some bread Katniss?" I ask her while the still drunken slob at the table is handed another two bottles of clear spirits by Katniss. She turns to me,
"No I ate at the hall, but thank you." Her reply is stale and tasteless.
"Brrr!" Haymitch groans, "you two have a lot of warming up to do before showtime." And he's right. It's been 6 months since Katniss and I have spoken, and that was only a coincidental meeting at my parents bakery. She has avoided me this entire time, and the pretend love we had in the arena has slowly vanished along with my hope. She never loved me.
"Which is in an hour," Katniss reminds us, "so take a bath Haymitch."
"I just did!" He replies.
"I'll go run you it," I say to Haymitch, "you do need one." I continue playfully. I walk out do the room to see him asleep again on the table, so I run his bath and go wake him up just before I leave.

I return to my home leaving the bread behind. I bring him bread everyday, some because he helped save my life, some because I'm saving his. Either way, we enjoy each other's company, and it's nice to talk to someone who has a link to Katniss in some way.