Hey guys! So, this is my first fanfic I've ever done. I'm working on a few different stories, and I really hope you will like them. So, I present you chapter one of Cracking a Stone Heart! Constructive critiques only please..

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins does. Though I really wish I do.

Katniss POV

I walk across the coal-dusted lane towards school, with Prim by my side kicking small stones. I smile slightly for a second, but quickly wipe it off my face being in public. As we edge closer towards the town side of District Twelve, the dirt slowly changes into rough brick stones. I hear feet pitter-pattering across the dirt behind us, with a voice to match.

"Katniss! Prim!" I turn to see Rory running up to us with Gale close behind. Gale is my best friend; he has been since I was about twelve. Rory is Gale's younger brother, along with Vick. And sweet little Posy is the youngest, being the only daughter in the Hawthorne family. Prim and I pause so Rory can catch up, along with Gale.

"Hey." I say, Gale smiling as he gets next to me.

"Morning Catnip. How's your day so far?"

"Same old, same old. I traded a few squirrels for a fresh loaf of bread this morning." I reply, remembering the baker's big smile when I held up three squirrels by the tail.

.0.0.0.

"Ah, fresh meat is just what we needed. I think these calls for special bread this morning." He had said.

"Mr. Mellark, it's-" I try to interrupt, but he holds his hand up.

"Katniss, the least I can do is pay you for giving me some of my favorite meat. Here, have a loaf of the hearty bread." He handed me a Mellark bag with a loaf of raisin and nut bread. The same loaf of bread his son had given to me five years ago. I look up and smile slightly.

"Thanks. Have a nice day Mr. Mellark." I say in honesty. He nods with a grin, and quietly shuts the door.

.0.0.0.

"That's good. Hey, can we skip hunting today? I have to do some jobs tonight.." He trails off, slightly hesitant.

"That's totally fine. Prim wanted to take a stroll around town today anyways."

We reach school, and grimace in unison. Prim turns around to me quickly, and hugs me.

"I will see you at lunch, okay?" She says, looking into my eyes with her innocent blue ones. I nod in response, and tug a braid lightly.

"See you later, little duck." I smile lightly, and she grabs Rory's hand.

"Come on Rory, let's go to English." I hear her say, and then drag him off to the 6th grade building. I head towards my locker, and shove my Trigonometry textbook into my school bag, and grab my notebook. By the time I get to class, I see all the desks paired up and every single seat is filled up, except for one. The seat is right next to Peeta Mellark, great.

I head towards the empty desk, and sit in the chair quietly as the bell rings. As I pull out the textbook and look up onto the chalkboard, I see Partner Project scrawled across it.

Ms. Bell trots into the room, in her lilac colored dress with ugly lace trim rounding the skirt. "Good Morning class. I hope you like where you are sitting, and who you are with. Your seat partner and you will be starting a project that will take up the next month. You are to follow these instructions and create a good presentation on one of the following topics. Begin now."

"I, uh, I'm-" Peeta stutters out slightly.

" I know who you are Peeta." I respond, slightly irritated.

"You uh, you do? How?" He manages to respond.

"I've had history and math with you since 4th grade." Is my lazy response to his question? He nods his head, then looks down on the paper Ms. Bell handed out.

This was going to be a long month.

Review! Continue or not?