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Peeta Mellark was the baker's son, which makes him one of the wealthier people in District 12, which is the coal mining district, being of the merchant class. He does not live in "The Seam" like fellow District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen, but in the center of town above the family bakery Peeta's childhood wasn't the best such as even though he grew up in the merchant area the only food his family could afford was only the stale items that no one bought. His father was kind but his mother however would beat Peeta and his two brothers if they messed up or just did something she disliked. When he was chosen as the male tribute of the 74th Hunger Games his mother didn't place any faith in him. Since the age of five Peeta has been crushing on Katniss Everdeen after she was pointed out by his father and told the story how he had wanted to marry Katniss' mother but she chose a coal miner. Peeta had then replied, "A coal miner? Why did she want a coal miner when she could have had you?" His father answered, "Because when he sings... even the birds stop to listen." Later when she was asked to sing the birds stopped and listened for her as well and Peeta feel for her then. Peeta and Katniss run into each other one day when she was trying to feed her sister and was caught by Peeta's mother scrounging. Peeta then burnt two loaves of bread on purpose and gave them to her. He was beaten by his mother for burning the bread. This act of kindness gives Katniss the will to survive. Peeta and Katniss don't actually talk until the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta's favorite color is orange but not a bright orange but like that of a sunset.

Peeta's name is drawn as the male tribute for District 12. Once reaped he goes to the Justice Building where his family comes to visit. Whereas his father is upset about him going, his mother simply states District 12 might just have a victor, she however speaks about Katniss being that victor. Peeta along with Katniss leave their district on a train accompanied by Effie Trinket. He becomes angered by the apparent lack of interest in him and Katniss by their mentor Haymitch Abernathy. After a lackluster bit of advice "stay alive" there is a confrontation and after Haymitch is impressed. He makes a deal, he'll help them if they don't interfere with his drinking. During his private session with the Gamemakers he receives a score of 8 after just throwing some things around. He also is very good with camouflage which comes in handy for him later. Peeta reveals in his interview he was in love with a girl, and tells everyone him winning won't win her over. The reason given was that she came with him. The night before the Games, Peeta and Katniss talk on the rooftop and Peeta explains that he wants to die as himself and wants to show the Capitol that he is more than just a piece in their games.

Haymitch tells them to run right away and find a body of water. Something Peeta does right away even distracting Katniss from running straight into a bloodbath for bow and arrows she sees. Peeta however has another strategy. He pretends to work with the Careers at the start of the games but this is to ensure Katniss survives as he didn't think he'd survive himself. He works with the careers who keep him around for a bit because he is handy with a blade even to the point he kills another tribute telling the others they are wasting time. After a firestorm the careers are alive but injured making them slower. When they and Peeta find Katniss in a tree he suggests they make camp under it, simply to be surprised in the morning with the careers by a tracker jacker hive dropped down onto them. Catching Katniss at the scene taking the bow and arrows from the body of a tribute named Glimmer, he tells her to run. Cato, one of the lead career tributes, sees this and cuts Peeta's upper leg. He hides using his skills in camouflage using mud and dirt to hide himself. Once it is announced that if the last two tributes standing are from the same district, they can both win. A feast is announced where a bag containing something that each remaining tribute desperately needs will be placed at the Cornucopia. He doesn't want Katniss to die because of him, and Haymitch sends sleep syrup which she gives Peeta. He is hurt by her trickery, but does make a recovery after she returns with the medicine and gives it to him. His recovery comes at a good time as he is able to take care of Katniss who was injured at the feast. After the water is drained causing a showdown between Peeta and Katniss and Cato, muttations attack and Cato is sent down falling into them. After Cato returns bloody and hurt requesting a mercy killing, Peeta watches Katniss shoot the tribute in the head. Peeta along with Katniss are crowned victors after threatening to eat poisoned Nightlock berries when they are told the previously announced rule was retracted. Their show of love ends up with them crowning both because there must be a winner. Peeta finds out that Katniss was partially pretending to be in love with him, and he becomes heartbroken.

Though heartbroken Peeta doesn't shatter their image as star-crossed lovers and performs for the cameras when needed. Peeta and Katniss go on tour for the Victory Tour starting in District 11, while on the train Peeta calms Katniss down who lost her temper with Effie. As much as it hurts she lied to him about her feelings he says they should remain friends. Peeta is often there nightly to comfort Katniss through her dreams by holding her at night. Peeta shows his heart by offering a part of his winning each month to Rue's and Thresh's families in District 11 which is against the rules and hence has never been done before. A four tone whistle that is the same as Rue's sounds out and later as they leave Peeta is shocked as he sees the man who whistled out first executed by gunshot to the head. He learns once again he has been lied to again by Katniss and Haymitch by not being told that President Snow didn't believe their act of love, and now thinks he has put Rue's and Thresh's families in danger. During an interview to step up their image Peeta proposes to Katniss, but Katniss is told it's not good enough. She tries to get everyone to run away with her but the plan falls through when Gale is captured while hunting.

Peeta is shocked along with Katniss to find out that the Quarter Quell instead of a new batch of tributes, will be chosen amongst the current district victors. When Haymitch is picked as the male tribute he volunteers to keep Katniss safe. Once they arrive in the Capitol, Peeta and Katniss are once again dressed in fiery costumes for the Opening Ceremonies, where they are instructed by their stylists, Portia and Cinna, to look stoic and serious. During their private sessions both Peeta and Katniss score a 12, this is to in essence place a target on them for the other tributes to want to go after. Peeta lies to the people of Panem and tells them that he is married to Katniss and that she is pregnant. This is to play up on the fan base. Both Katniss and Peeta decide neither of them want allies besides the other in the games. Placed on a floatation device in a jungle terrain, he is brought to shore by Katniss and Finnick Odair. The four gather weapons and are gone before the careers can reach them, seemed the two were in an alliance thanks to Haymitch. He walks into the force field and his heart stops, it's Finnick that saves him using CPR. Peeta elects to tap a tree for water, but as he does so, Katniss and Finnick spot monkey muttations in the trees. Trying to calmly get him to back away from the tree, Katniss asks him to "look at something," but Peeta instinctively glances up and sets the monkeys off. While distracted a monkey nearly digs it's claws into Peeta's chest but he is saved by a Morphling from District 6, causing Peeta to remain by their side telling her about his paintings as she is soothed into death. Once they recover they run into Johanna Mason, Wiress, and Beetee, who they add to their alliance. Peeta is captured by the capitol while Katniss is rescued by the resistance against the Capitol.

While in captivity Peeta is beaten and tortured, and his memories distorted by being "hijacked". Snow is able to turn Peeta against Katniss in this capacity. Something that works at first and hurts Katniss until a flash she sees Peeta beaten on camera and she knows they did something to him. To help convince her to become the Mockingjay after both her and Finnick have breakdowns Peeta is rescued along with Annie, the woman Finnick loves, as well as others. Upon seeing him Katniss runs to him thinking he would hug her, instead he tries to strangle her. His memories of her distorted to the point he thinks she is a muttation. He's made to believe she is responsible for the destruction of District 12 which killed his family. He is unable to discover what is real or fake. He soon recovers slowly with a bit of a game of "Real, or not Real" where he asks Katniss questions and she tells him if it was real or not. He results to using handcuffs he is wearing during their attack on the Capitol by using them to cut into his wrists to keep a grip on reality. Frightened by everything he remembers, can't remember and how he acts he is convinced to keep going with a kiss from Katniss. Going undercover into the crowds of people Peeta and Katniss split up, Peeta now with nightlock given to him by Gale. He returns to District 12 seeming a lot better though he still has episodes where the hijacking tries taking over but he all in all is better off.

Peeta plants primroses around Katniss' house in memory of her sister Prim who is killed during the rebellion. He and Katniss grow back together again and Katniss sees him as symbolizing hope and rebirth, something she needs to survive. They play one last game of Real or Not Real while laying together. Peeta asks, "You love me, real or not real?" Katniss answers, "Real."

[Peeta is from Suzanne Collins' book series Hunger Games. I claim no rights to Peeta, just a fan.]