I grip tighter on my father's hand as the school comes into view. He takes me to a door on the far right of the building and we walk up the steps. Before he opens the door he bends down to my level.

"Have a great day son" he says as he ruffles my hair. "Now go inside and wait for your teacher to come." He leaves me scanning the room for somewhere to sit. Then I see her. The prettiest girl I have ever laid eyes on. She has her dark hair tied in two braids and she wears a red dress. I am determined to be friends. I walk past all my other friends and sit beside the pretty girl who was sitting all alone.

"I'm Peeta Mellark and I think you are the prettiest girl in the entire world" I say, proud of my introduction. "What's your name?"

"I'm Katniss Everdeen" she replies, looking bashfully at her feet.

"Do you want to be friends?"

"Okay" she finally lifts her gaze and smiles, and I know no matter what I will always try to make Katniss Everdeen smile because it's the prettiest smile in the entire world.

Our teacher walks in. She has ridiculous pink hair and high heels. She clears her throat.

" Hello class, my name is Ms. Trinket " She beams down at us but it feels fake. Everything about her looks fake. "Now we're going to start by learning a song, does anyone know the Valley Song" Nobody raises there hand apart from Katniss. "Yes, you." says as she points at Katniss. "You can sing it for us, if you don't mind."

"Okay" she replys confidently. I'm curious to hear what her voice sounds. She clears her throat and begins.

Down in the valley, the valley so low

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow

Hear the wind blow, dear, hear the wind blow;

Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.

Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,

Angels in Heaven know I love you,

Know I love you, dear, know I love you,

Angels in Heaven know I love you.

Build me a castle, forty feet high;

So I can see her as she rides by,

As she rides by, dear, as she rides by,

So I can see her as she rides by.

Roses love sunshine, violets love dew,

Angels in Heaven know I love you,

Know I love you, dear, know I love you,

Angels in Heaven know I love you.

Her voice is like honey, so sweet and pure. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen to Katniss's beautiful voice. Even the birds out side. Everyone suddenly bursts into applause. A blush creeps onto her cheek, and she sits down.

Ms. Trinket begins on the alphabet, but I don't listen. I just think about Katniss, and every so often we would look at each other and smile, and every time my heart would skip a beat. There and then I knew that whatever happened, me and Katniss would be friends. I'd make sure of that.

0000000000

A couple of months had past since that first day. And I was delighted to find out that Katniss lived three houses down from mine so every day we would walk to school together hand in hand. Every day I became more fascinated by Katniss and every day she got more and more beautiful.

"Peeta Mellark," she says pulling me out of my trance " Do you know the answer?"

I have no idea what she was talking about today, I was too busy thinking of Katniss.

"Um...it's...it's" I stutter. Everyone in the class has now turned around to look at me. I glance at Katniss and she mouths '4' "Four!" I exclaim.

"Correct" she says suspiciously.

There is a knock on the door.

"Come in" she drones, obviously fed up with this boring day

The principal walks in, Ms. Paylor. She has graying ,short blonde hair and she has small wrinkles forming at the corners of her hazel eyes.

"Could Peeta Mellark please come outside with me." she says. Oh no, I think, I must be in big trouble.

I walk stiffly towards the door not making eye contact. We walk outside the door and she shuts it firmly and sighs deeply closing her eyes. Is that a tear? I must have done something really bad.

" Peeta," she begins " I hate to be the bearer of bad news but..." she sighs again and opens her eyes and they're full of sympathy. " Your father has just died in a car accident"

I feel all the breath being sucked out of my lungs. It's like I'm winded. Unable to breath, desperately gasping for air.

I hear the gentle pounding of my heart quickening. I hear faint screams surrounding me and I realising that they are coming from my own mouth.

I feel kind arms trying to console me but I am thrashing around desperately trying to reach my father. He can't be dead, they are lying. He can't leave me. He can't.

I can hear. I can feel but I can't see. Tears blur my vision. Thoughts blank my mind and I feel like I'm in a black hole. Trying to claw my way out but the darkness is pulling me in. I have to reach my father. I scream father over and over until the darkness engulfs me.