Peeta Mellark

"Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to...to show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their games."

- Peeta Mellark

Peeta Mellark is one of the main characters of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Peeta is the boy tribute from District 12, picked alongside Katniss Everdeen to participate in the 74th annual Hunger Games, a competition that forces children to fight to the death on live television, that everyone is required to watch, to remind the nation of Panem not to rebel against the Capitol. During a pre-game interview, he confesses his love for Katniss, making her look desirable to potential sponsors. Peeta and Katniss both win, though this is against the rules, and after the games President Snow kills Seneca Crane for allowing them both to win. Peeta and Katniss have a complicated relationship throughout the series, further complicated in Mockingjay as Peeta is hijacked by the Capitol and the vast majority of his good memories of Katniss are twisted and turned negative. He will be portrayed by Josh Hutcherson in the film adaptation of the book.

Biography
Peeta was the baker's son, which makes him wealthier than most people in District 12, the coal mining district. His family never goes hungry, although they cannot afford to eat the delicious fresh baked goods, only the stale items that no one buys. He does not live in the Seam, unlike Katniss Everdeen, but in the center of town above the family bakery. Peeta states that his favorite color is orange: not bright orange but like a sunset. Peeta attended school with Katniss, but was never brave enough to talk to her. When Peeta is chosen for the Games, Katniss recalls that he saved her life by giving her bread when she was about eleven. At this time, the district had given her family money for her mother to get a job after Mr. Everdeen died, but Mrs. Everdeen did not look for a job due to deep depression. Katniss then takes over as the provider of her family. In an attempt to make money, Katniss unsuccessfully tries to sell her younger sister's old clothes when she nearly faints from hunger. Katniss walks behind the Mellark's bakery and scrummages through the trash while Peeta's "witch," of a mother tells her to scram. Peeta, who sees this, burns two loaves of bread purposely, pretends to give them to the pigs and instead gives them to Katniss. He was beaten by his mother for burning the bread. This act of kindness gives Katniss the will to survive. Peeta and Katniss never talk again until the Games.

Early life
Peeta Mellark did not have a desirable childhood. Although he grew up in the merchant area of District 12, his family life needed major improvement. His father was kind, but his mother, who was known as the "witch," was known to beat Peeta and his two brothers if they made a mistake, or did something she did not like. The family devotion was lax, and his mother did not place faith in him when he was chosen as a tribute for the 74th Hunger Games.. He also played with most of the other kids of the "rich" part of town including Delly Cartwright, as revealed in Mockingjay.

Ever since he was was five years old, Peeta had a crush on Katniss Everdeen. He remembered eleven years before, on his first day of school, his father pointed out another small child entering the school yard with him. Peeta was fascinated with the girl, in her red plaid dress and her hair in two braids. Peeta told Katniss that his father said, "See that little girl? I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner." Peeta 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 the teacher asked her to sing a song for class, the very birds listened to the tune. Peeta fell for her then. The two never spoke until the 74th Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games
Peeta is introduced when he is chosen for the boy tribute in the Games. Katniss recalls the act of kindness he paid her years ago.

Peeta goes to the Justice Building to say his final goodbyes to his loved ones. Peeta's kind-hearted father is in despair, while his mother has no faith in him and states that District 12 might have a winner this time - meaning Katniss. He is taken to the train that will transport him to the Capitol by the district escort, Effie Trinket. While on the train he and Katniss start to be advised by their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy.

When Peeta arrives at the Capitol he is fixed up by his prep team. He is dressed in black unitards to represent coal and is lit with synthetic fire that doesn't burn, but can be quenched by a solution made to counter it. Peeta and Katniss go to the training center to train and prepare for the Games. While in training, he notices they are being followed by the little girl from District 11, Rue. Peeta scores an 8 in his private training session with the Gamemakers. He prepares for the interview night with Haymitch and Effie and dresses in a suit accented with flames. During his interview with Caesar Flickerman, he reveals he is in love with Katniss, which starts the star- crossed lovers act. The night before the Games, Peeta and Katniss talk on the rooftop about the horror that awaits them in the arena. 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 and that they don't own him. Katniss is enraged and leaves the rooftop because he doesn't think he will win and has no confidence in himself.

In the Games, Peeta surprisingly teams up with the Careers, a pack of tributes from the richer districts who band together until they are forced to fight amongst each other for the victory. However, it is later revealed that this was just a ploy to protect Katniss. Peeta and the Careers go hunting for tributes at night and encounter a young girl, whom Cato struck with his sword and believed he killed, but Peeta goes back and kills her. The Career pack survive the fire storm made by the Capitol but was noted by Katniss to have been slower then before. Later, he and the Careers find and chase Katniss up a tree. While they are beneath the tree, Peeta avoids eye contact with her and cleans his knife with the edge of his shirt. After Cato's many attempts to get up to Katniss, Peeta suggests setting up camp since she won't be going anywhere. During the night, Peeta continuously murmurs Katniss' name to himself. Rue warns Katniss from a neighboring tree of the tracker jackers nest. Katniss cuts the branch which drops the tracker jacker nest on the Careers, and they retreat to the lake. Unfortunately for Glimmer and the District 4 female, they die when they are attacked and stung by the tracker jackers. Cato returns to kill Katniss and Peeta follows. Peeta warns her of Cato's coming and shouts at her to run, but only a few moments after this he rampages and battles Peeta, who was trying to distract him away from Katniss. Peeta is injured with a deep sword cut in his leg from Cato. He develops blood poisoning, which will kill him if left untreated.



Peeta is able to find a source of water and uses the mud and dirt to camouflage himself so he can not be seen. Katniss joins up with Peeta after the new rule is announced, stating that if both tributes from a district are alive at the end, then both can be crowned victors. The two act as "star-crossed lovers" to win sympathy from the viewers which may result in gifts, although Peeta is not acting; his feelings for Katniss are real. Their mentor, Haymitch, helped them devise this plan in the beginning with Peeta, which partly results in Peeta confessing his love for Katniss during his three minute interview. While Peeta is sick, Katniss treated him and did her best to keep him alive. Haymitch sent her sleep syrup to give to Peeta so she would be able to leave and get the medicine for Peeta. Katniss is able to get medicine for Peeta by attending a Feast, which is in a specific area in the Arena, where tributes will find backpacks filled with items for their use and is used to draw the remaining tributes together. During the feast, Katniss is nearly killed by Clove, the tribute from District 2, when Clove traces Katniss's mouth and face with a knife, making sure she would suffer from a slow and painful death. Thresh, from District 11, kills Clove by smashing her head with a rock nearby, when she admits in taking part in killing Rue, which saves Katniss. She finds a hypodermic needle in her pack, which she jabs into Peeta, saving him. Peeta takes care of Katniss after he awakens and finds her in a puddle of blood. Peeta and her stay in the cave due to the thunderstorm and their romance builds up during this time. He comforts Katniss after Thresh, who saved her life, was killed by Cato. After the storm is over, they go out and hunt for food. Due to the noise he makes Katniss suggests that he hunt for food somewhere else to cover more ground and teaches him a whistle that they can use to communicate. Peeta finds berries that he mistakes for Rue's berries and puts them in the backpack. Foxface sneaks behind him and takes the deadly nightlock berries from his backpack without him noticing. Foxface dies after eating the poisonous berries. Peeta, being near the water, could not hear Katniss' whistle to him which caused her to panic. When she arrives the two have a small argument, but it ends when they hear a cannon and realize what happened to Foxface.

Cato, Katniss, and Peeta are the final three left in the Games when muttations attack them. They climb up the Cornucopia to avoid the mutts that resemble the deceased tributes. Peeta is bitten in the leg and is seriously injured. Peeta is being held by Cato in a headlock which cut off his source of oxygen, and all hope gone until Peeta draws a X on his hand with his blood signaling for Katniss to shoot him there. Katniss does so and he falls down to the muttations. Eventually, the mutts get Cato and brutally attack him and leave him to suffer. After a full night, Katniss shoots Cato in the head out of mercy, finishing him off. At the end, Katniss and Peeta are the last alive and believe that they will both be saved, but suddenly the Gamemakers change the rules back to only allow one survivor. Peeta encourages her to kill him before the Capitol kills him like they did Cato. Katniss suggests that they attempt suicide so they will both die together. She had leftover Nightlock berries in her pocket and put a couple in Peeta's hand and a couple in hers.They are about to do eat the berries when the Capitol is forced to intervene, as there must be a victor in the Hunger Games. Peeta must recieve an artificial leg when the Capitol heals him and Katniss. They have their final interview with Caesar Flickerman and it goes well. While on the train back to District 12, Peeta finds out that Katniss was partially pretending to be in love with him, and he becomes heartbroken. Katniss is left unsure of her feelings.

Catching Fire
Peeta and Katniss go on the Victory Tour, an event strategically placed in between each Games where the victors visit the other districts and remind them of the Games. The Victory Tour begins at District 11; on the way there, Katniss loses her temper with Effie, and Peeta goes to calm her down. The two talk about their relationship and they both decide to at least be friends. Peeta and Katniss exchange facts about each other and later he shows her his paintings he created of the 74th Hunger Games, which shock Katniss. When they arrive at District 11, Peeta gives a speech about how both Thresh and Rue made it to the final eight and after his speech was finished, he did something that no victor has done before: (possibly due to it breaking the rules) he decides to give both tribute's family money from their earnings each month that is enough to provide for a family for about a year. Peeta and Katniss were shocked when the elderly man who started whistling was shot in the head. Peeta is enraged when he finds out Katniss and Haymitch have been keeping secrets from him. Peeta proposes to Katniss because President Snow was forcing them to show they were madly in love, but it supposedly failed his inspection. Soon it becomes known that there were uprisings in several of the districts, which seems to be sparked by the fact that two tributes were allowed to live. When Gale is caught hunting, the new Head Peacekeeper, Thread, whips him, and Katniss stops him and ends up with a nasty wound on her face. Peeta comforts Katniss during Gale's condition and her wound from the lash and their relationship grows even more. Katniss and Peeta think they are going to become mentors for the

Third Quarter Quell, the Hunger Games that occurs every twenty-five years and comes with a change in rules. The criteria for this Quarter Quell is that the tributes will be chosen from living victors. District 12 has only three living victors: Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch, their drunken mentor who won the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell). Katniss is obviously drawn for the girls' tribute and Haymitch is drawn for the male tribute, but Peeta volunteers to take his place, wanting to keep Katniss alive. Peeta and Katniss do great in the parade by their fire theme created by Portia and Cinna. Peeta and Katniss go to the training room and train for three days until the private session. Peeta and Katniss make new bonds with the other victors and both find it difficult for all of them to die if one of them is going to win. In his private session Peeta drew a picture of Rue covered in flowers after her death. In an interview with Caesar Flickerman before the Games, Peeta lies to the people of Panem and tells them that he is married to Katniss and that she is pregnant, to try to gain sympathy from viewers. Like last year, his interview blew away every other interview. After all the interviews were finished, all the victors join hands as a sign of rebellion.

During the Quell, Finnick goes and retrieves Peeta from his plate and bring him to Katniss and Mags, the four of them form an alliance and travel throughout the arena trying to find water. Peeta runs into a force field and his heart stops, but their ally Finnick Odair, from District 4, restarts it by using CPR. Peeta was still very weak from his near-death experience and recieves help to walk from his fellow allies. After the first day the alliance recieves a loaf of bread from District 4 and Peeta claims it since he almost died that day. During the poison mist appear, Peeta tried to run away but was still too weak so Finnick carries him while Katniss carries Mags. After Mags runs into the mist to save the group Peeta is still weakened from the nerve effect of the mist. On the second day Peeta is well enough to walk.The alliance run into a muttation of monkeys attack. Peeta is almost killed when a monkey muttation is going to kill him but the female Morphlings jumps in the way. Peeta is enraged and defends the rest of the group from them. Peeta stays by the Morplings side until she dies, she paints a flower on his cheek with her blood and then she dies, Peeta carries her body to the beach and lets her body drift. The three of them travel through out the arena again and ecounter Johanna, Wiress and Beetee. They accept them in their alliance and they travel to the Cornucopia in order to confirm their theory of the arena being a clock. There the alliance is is ambushed by the Careers and Wiress is killed by Cashmere slicing her throat.

On the second night the alliance discuss Beetee's plan of wiping out the Careers by using Beetee's special wire and using the lightning bolt that strikes the tree at midnight and channeling it to the beach. On the third day, Katniss takes Peeta away and tells him it's time to dissolve the alliance and leave but Peeta tells her to atleast stay until the Careers are killed. Peeta takes Katniss to the beach and there Peeta tells her his feelings for her and gives her a pearl and a locket with a picture of Mrs. Everdeen with Prim on one side and Gale on the other. Peeta is willing to protect and die for Katniss if it meant for her safety and happiness, it is there that Katniss discovers she truly does love Peeta as well. On the night they are going to commence the plan to kill the Careers Peeta aids Finnick and Beetee to set everything up while Johanna and Katniss set the wire in place. When Finnick and Beetee begin their real plan to save Katniss, Peeta is confused and goes out to find Katniss. Sometime inbetween after Brutus kills Chaff, Peeta kills Brutus in a fit of rage. When Peeta find Katniss, she destroys the force field. The capitol arrive to capture the remaining six tributes. Katniss, Finnick and Beetee are rescued by the rebellion But Peeta is among those captured by the Capitol, while Katniss saved from the arena and is forced to move to District 13 (which is rumored to still exist) since District 12 was destroyed by the Capitol.

While being held by the Capitol, Peeta is tortured for answer and knowledge of the rebels that he has no information about so he doesn't talk.

Mockingjay
In the third and final book, Mockingjay, Peeta is held captive by President Snow and used against Katniss. During his captivity, he was tortured and beaten. The Capitol interrogated him for answers but he refused to talk and was tortured more. Peeta was kept alive so they could use him to break Katniss. He first appears in an interview with Caeser Flickerman. The interview begins with Peeta explaining what happened in the arena before the force field blew up and aggressively defending Katniss' innocence. Peeta finishes the interview by stating that a cease-fire is the best option for the rebels, otherwise, human life may cease to exist. Katniss notes he appears healthy.

Katniss also decides to be the mockingjay, on the condition that once Peeta, Johanna, Annie and Enobaria are rescued, they must not be held liable for any mistakes they have made (Katniss knows they probably wont keep this condition, so makes President Coin announce it in public).

After more propos begin airing from the rebels, Peeta appears in another interview, fifteen pounds thinner, and completely ill in appearance. He and Caesar exchange empty comments and Caesar asks for his view of the rumors that Katniss is shooting a propo. He states that Katniss shouldn't trust anyone and that they are using her. Peeta's last thing he says before the interview ends is Katniss should find out what they are planning.

Peeta is interviewed by Caesar for the third time. Peeta implies that District 13 will be bombed after saying, "And you...in Thirteen...dead by morning!" As Beetee fights for reception with the Capitol, Peeta is seen being beaten and his blood splatters across the screen. After the bombing - and much thinking - Katniss has a breakdown in the middle of shooting a propo. She knows the Capitol is using Peeta, torturing him to try to break her, so she will stop the rebellion, and let the Capitol regain power. Katniss can't stand this and loses it when she's asked to film. Finnick does too.

After witnessing both Finnick's, and Katniss' breakdowns, a rescue mission is staged. After distracting the Capitol with live propaganda, Peeta is saved. Katniss runs to his side, only to have him attempt to strangle her. It is revealed that he was "hijacked", and Peeta's memories of Katniss are severely distorted in frightening, life threatening ways and as a result of this he is driven insane, and becomes very hysterical and unstable. He believes that Katniss is a mutt designed by the Capitol intent on destroying him who tried to kill him, and succeeded in killing all of his friends and family. He lashes out in uncharacteristic fits of aggression, retreats into his own head, temporarily loses the power of speech, cannot differentiate between what is an illusion and what is reality, and at one point argues with himself in a fit of madness as though he is two different people. He is only allowed to be treated by people he never knew before so not to trigger anything harmful. Delly Cartwright is the only one able to make contact with him in the beginning, as they share old childhood memories. He shouts that the destruction of District 12 is Katniss' fault and calls her a mutt. Peeta watches Katniss sing the Hanging Tree during her propoganda and says he remembers her father singing it.

After Katniss is shot in District Two, Peeta is noted to have improved slightly, even being able to frost Annie and Finnick Odair's wedding cake. Haymitch states that he has certain episodes, sometimes becoming rabid, acting like two different people, or even primal. It also mentions that he could only sleep if he was in shackles. Peeta is able to have a full conversation with Haymitch and he asks if he could speak with Katniss. Katniss ends the conversation fast and tries to leave but Peeta stops her by saying he remembers the bread he gave her so she wouldn't starve. Later Peeta shows up unannounced to Katniss, Gale, Beetee, Delly, Johanna, Annie and Finnick and sits next to Johanna. Peeta tells Finnick to take care of Annie. Peeta and Katniss continue to be harsh to one and another until Johanna points out that he is not the same person anymore.

Peeta is sent by President Coin to join the group of Special Sharpshooters, containing Katniss, Gale, and Finnick. He is watched over 24/7 and denied the nightlock pill, which will deliver an unpainful death when taken. To help him cope with his confusion between memories that were real and memories that have been hijacked, the team devise a game to play with him called "Real or Not Real?" At one point during a fight with enemies, he is going insane due to his conflicting memories and almost kills Katniss until he is tackled to the floor by Mitchell this causes him to freaks out and kicks Mitchell into a trap, that when set off, releases a net of barbed wire. He feels very guilty about it later and insists that they leave him to the Capitol. Peeta is so sadden by his act of killing Mitchell, he wants to be killed. Peeta asks to be given a nightlock pill but Katniss refuses to give him one. The squad travels underground and Katniss notes that a moment Peeta was the real him. During the night, Katniss is able to have a conversation with him. Peeta asks if she is trying to protect him and she tells him she is still trying to protect him as he is trying to protect her. The squad is later attacked by lizard mutts that hiss Katniss' name. When Katniss tries to take the handcuffs off of Peeta, he disagrees and tell her that they help him grip reality (Pressing the cuffs sharp edges down against his wrist). When they are underground, Peeta huddles himself together. He is frightened of everything that he knows, thinks, and how he acts. Katniss finally gets him to keep going by kissing him. They later go undercover into crowds of evacuating people, splitting up,Katniss and Peeta say their goodbyes to each other. Peeta goes first, and nightlock given to him and all.

On the day of President Snow's execution, Katniss kills President Coin with the arrow that was meant for Snow's execution. Katniss tries to commit suicide when the guards come for her, but Peeta stops her. He implies later that he too went mad after Coin's death and that Aurelius, Katniss's mental doctor, was treating him too. He returns to District Twelve weeks after Katniss and Haymitch, where he plants several evening primroses along the house in honor of Katniss's dead sister, Prim. When she starts to write a book about their experiences during the Hunger Games, along with things she is unwilling to forget about it, Peeta and Haymitch join her. Although Peeta still has some "episodes" where the hijacking will try to take over again, he is mentioned clenching onto a chair until it passed. Otherwise, he displays signs that he has returned to his former self. Finally, Katniss accepts that she is in love with him, too.

In the epilogue, the pair get married and have two children, though it took long years of convincing from Peeta, they have a girl with her mother's dark hair and her father's blue eyes and a boy with his father's blond hair and his mother's gray eyes.

Characterization
Peeta is described as having "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead," blue eyes, and a stocky build, and medium height. He had his left leg amputated at the thigh and uses an artificial one, the result of an injury sustained at the end of the 74th Hunger Games. Collins refers to Peeta as handsome in his interview during the 74th Hunger Games.

Personality
Peeta has a very likable personality. Peeta is bold, having announced that he was in love with Katniss to the whole nation; smart, figuring out strategies to use in the Games; and willing to go to extremes to keep Katniss alive. However, in the first book, Peeta told Katniss that he did not expect he would win. He is a great public speaker and is very brave. Peeta is also loving and cares about the people around him, and hates killing unless the pursuer is a threat to himself or Katniss; selfless, for sacrificing his own life for Katniss'; funny, for making those around him laugh even when times were tough; and he always knows exactly what to say to make you feel better and to cheer you up. He is able to work with Haymitch on goals and strategy and unlike Katniss, he is able to keep secrets and is trusted by Haymitch. It is noted throughout the series his deep understanding of situations such as the Hunger Games where he says "I don't want to be just a piece in their Games." It took Katniss much longer for her to understand the same concept. In Catching Fire, Finnick Odair states that Peeta is one of the only truly good people to survive the arena Peeta is usually the more sentimental of any of the main characters, "feeling" things more than everyone else. He doesn't have Katniss or Gale's "fire" but isn't soft.

Peeta is described as sweet, gentle, strong and steady by Katniss several times. She said that he is like "dandelion in the spring". He tends to make jokes and sweet comments. When he's hijacked, he becomes out-of-control, homicidal and suicidal. Eventually, through seperating "shiny" hijacked memories and real ones, he essentially cures himself.

Skills
Peeta's main talents are baking, painting, speaking, camouflage and brute strength. His artistic talents developed from helping out at his parents' bakery by making bread and decorating cakes. His larger build and strength also gives him an advantage during hand-to-hand combat and wrestling, coming in second place in a District 12 wrestling contest. In the Games, he usually carries a knife or a sword, although he rarely uses them in battle as he is not particularly violent and dislikes killing unless it is completely necessary. The Career tributes say that "he is handy with a knife". Peeta has a lot of strength from working at the bakery; Katniss says she's seen him lift bags of flour over a hundred pounds. It is also revealed in Catching Fire that Peeta has a talent for painting, which he publicizes as his victor's talent. First Collins describes of Peeta painting pictures of the games and later a picture of Rue after Katniss decorated her corpse during his private training session in the Third Quarter Quell. Peeta also has a talent for speaking to crowds; he can always pick the right words to say to win them over. Katniss says that he can "change his pain into words that will move people." She thinks he should have led the rebellion, with his talent for public speaking. Peeta is an excellent liar. Katniss is unsure for much of The Hunger Games whether he's lying about his love for her. He lies in her defense when a not-quite-sober Katniss tries to explain away knowing her Avox server, Lavinia.

Family
Peeta's family consists of five people. His father, a baker, is known for being gentle and kind to everyone, as well as a buyer of poached squirrels when the wife isn't around (Peeta's father told his son that he loved Katniss's mother but she went off with the coal miner). Peeta's mother, on the other hand, is commonly known as a witch. She snaps at people and is very harsh and unmoving (like when Peeta was younger and he burnt bread, she slapped him so hard she blackened his eye). Peeta also has two unnamed older brothers, one who was too old to take his place in the 74th Hunger Games and the other who could have taken his place but didn't. As Katniss says, "Family devotion only goes so far for most people on reaping day." His eldest brother would be around age 19-23, and the other would be around 17-18 in the first book.

It is quite obvious that Peeta's family is neither close nor very happy. Peeta angrily states how his mother put no confidence in him winning the Games, but in fact placed Katniss higher on the totem pole than her own son. He didn't try to hide his hurt or anger over the encounter. In Catching Fire, Peeta says to Katniss that his family wouldn't be too worried about his death and that they could go on living without him, further implying the fact. In Mockingjay it is revealed that all of his family was killed in the bombing of District 12.

In the epilogue of Mockingjay, it is revealed that Katniss and Peeta have 2 children about 15 years after the last book. The first is a daughter, and the second a son, born probably 2 to 3 years after the girl.

Victims
In the 74th Games, Peeta pretended to kill the District 8 girl as part of the Career pack. She was already dead but the Gamemakers were withholding the cannon, trying to signal the Careers that Katniss was treed next to them. Later, as an ally to Katniss, he accidentally killed Foxface when she ate some of the Nightlock he had been collecting, thinking they were edible. He also states in an interview with Ceaser Flickerman that he killed Brutus during the Quarter Quell Games after Brutus killed Chaff, right before Katniss shot out the force field. Peeta killed Mitchell by kicking him into a net of wires.

Katniss Everdeen
"You love me, real or not real?" "Real."

- Peeta and Katniss

When Peeta first saw Katniss, it was when they were five; his father had pointed her out and told him about how he loved Katniss' mother. Peeta asks, "Then why didn't you ask her to marry you?" and his father answers, "Because she married a coal-miner. When she sang, even the birds stopped to listen." In music class, the teacher asked who knew the valley song and Katniss raised her hand. She sang it beautifully and, as Peeta says, "And I swear every bird outside the windows fell silent. And right when your song ended, I knew - just like your mother - I was a goner." This is when Peeta's true love for her started. Peeta was always seen with a large group of people and whenever Katniss was around he would notice her, no matter what. When they were younger, Peeta helped Katniss by burning bread as an excuse to give it to her so she wouldn't die from starvation. When Peeta was reaped for the 74th Hunger Games, he saw it as in some way a piece of luck, so that he could finally get to know her. He and Katniss pretended to be star-crossed lovers, but to Peeta it was not an act; he truly did love her, but Katniss did not reciprocate these feelings. Peeta never stopped thinking about her during the games. When in the cave, Peeta expressed his love for her and told her of his memories of her and when he first began to love her. Katniss and Peeta kiss each other and their kiss had real emotions behind it for both of them. They continued the love act until the final interview. Peeta is hurt when he finds out Katniss did not see it as anything more than an act.

In Catching Fire, he and Katniss assume a cool relationship while by themselves but they soon agree to be just friends. Peeta holds back his true feelings about her. During the games, Peeta was determined to keep Katniss alive. Peeta knew Katniss had feelings for Gale and if she was happy with him, he would let her go so she could find happiness--even if it meant sorrow for himself. Katniss attempted to bring him home alive, but Peeta had other plans. Believing these to be his final moments of life, on the beach, Peeta told Katniss her how he truly loved her and would die for her. He gives her two very important items: a locket with a picture of Mrs. Everdeen and Prim on one side and a picture of Gale smiling on the other, and a pearl he found, remarking that "coals become pearls when they're under lots of pressure." He compared the precious stone to her. The locket and pearl became very important to Katniss and kept them close to her (this is when Katniss is fully aware that she love Peeta as well). Despite the pain he experiences, he fights for Katniss until he is taken away from her.

In Mockingjay, Peeta is gone for a portion of the beginning until about halfway through the book, in which he is only shown being interviewed. Shortly after the last interview, he advises Katniss to stay out of trouble. After directly adressing her one too many times, he is tortured and beaten by the Capitol. He returns after Gale rescues him, but has had his memories tampered with--or hijacked. While he is hijacked, he is driven to kill Katniss, but fought it off by remembering memories of Katniss and his deep love for her. Peeta wanted to die because he had impulses to kill her; on several occasions, he asks her to shoot him, give him nightlock, or just leave him to die. Peeta feared he would eventually overpower Katniss, nonetheless, she stayed by him and comforted him. Eventually, they both become closer and their love became deeper. After Prim died, he went to her house and planted primroses around her house as a memorial to her sister, who died because of the exploding parachutes. Echoing a "game" that they had played while he was having trouble recovering his memory, Peeta asks Katniss, "You love me. Real or not real?" She answers "Real", leading to their marriage, having two children after fifteen years of persuasion from Peeta. Katniss expresses how she feels about both Peeta and Gale--that Gale was full of fire, and altogether, not the relationship she needed. Peeta, to her, was like, "a dandelion in the spring...signaling rebirth." showing that her affections have departed from Gale and have been wholeheartedly on Peeta. He and Katniss are meant to be together.

Gale Hawthorne
In Catching Fire, Peeta knew Katniss had feelings for him and accepted that he would allow Katniss to be with Gale if it brought her happiness. When Gale was whipped, Peeta tried to help him and protect Katniss. Gale stated that he tried to hate Peeta, but it was just too hard because Peeta is too nice.

In the arena Peeta gave Katniss a locket with a picture of Gale smiling; Peeta wanted her to be with him so she could be happy.

In Mockingjay, Gale volunteered first to be on the squad to break into the Capitol and retrieve Peeta from prison. It is unknown whether he did this for Katniss or because of genuine concern for Peeta.

Also in Mockingjay, Katniss wakes to a hushed conversation between a beaten-up Gale and a hijacked Peeta. They speak like friends, and talk about her, saying that the one that she will be with the one who she can't survive without.

Haymitch Abernathy
Peeta and Haymitch did not get off on the right foot, they fought each other on the train ride to the Capitol during the 74th Hunger Games. The two later work together often and becomes good with each other. Haymitch favored Peeta since he was very useful and good. He admits that he likes Peeta better. Peeta and him form plans together like Peeta's act of love to Katniss. Peeta is able to be told secrets and plans by Haymitch and keep them to himself. Haymitch does not help Peeta during the 74th Hunger Games. Haymitch is hurt when he is taken away by the Capitol and is guilty for allowing this to happen. Although he does not admit it, Haymitch truely loves Peeta. Peeta is attacked by Haymitch to see if he will put up a fight in the arena which he is pleased when he and Katniss both show strength aganist him by ganging up. Haymitch forms plans and informs him of all his plans during the preperation for the games. Haymitch helps him and the two both become close to each other. Haymitch and Peeta work together to form the plan of the star cross lovers act to gain sympathy from the audience. Haymitch is overjoyed when both him and Katniss come back alive. He does everything he can to prevent them from being harmed by the Capitol since they are enraged by the suicide act with the berries in the arena. Haymitch is somewhat hurt when Peeta is angry at him for keeping secrets from him and is deeply hurt when President Snow announces the Third Quarter Quell will be reaping victors since Peeta may die. Haymitch is deeply concern when Peeta is captured by the Capitol. He and Katniss both work together to rescue Peeta. Haymitch and Katniss try their best to help Peeta through the stress and affects of the trackerjacker juice they used to hijack his memories. The two reconnect at the end of Mockingjay.

Effie Trinket
Peeta seemed to get along well with Effie, never giving her much problems. Peeta did anger her when he and Katniss joked around about Haymitch being drunk during the reaping and making a fool of himself on national television. Effie yells at them telling them he is their only life line and the only thing keeping them alive. Peeta is kind to her and always follows her plans. Effie did try to do her best for him and Katniss during the games. Effie was sad the night before the 74th Hunger Games and couldn't bear say her goodbyes because she truly does love him. When he goes back to the training center he hugs her and greets each other. Peeta tolerated her nagging during the Victory tour and was a bit disgusted when Katniss yelled at her. Peeta was a bit annoyed when Effie nags or goes crazy about her plans. When Effie is taken away by the Capitol, Peeta felt bad because it would be the last time he would see her and that he didn't say goodbye. Peeta and Effie do care about each other.

Finnick Odair
In Catching Fire, Finnick and Peeta ally, along with Mags, Katniss, and later, Beetee and Wiress. Finnick saves Peeta's life after Peeta runs into a forcefield—initially, Katniss believes Finnick is actually kissing Peeta, while he is really performing CPR.

During the events of Mockingjay, Finnick shows concern for Katniss and Peeta, and goes out of his way to save Peeta's life again.

Film portrayal
Peeta will be played by Josh Hutcherson in the film adaptation of The Hunger Games, which will be released on March 23, 2012.

Trivia

 * Peeta's favorite color is sunset orange.
 * Katniss reveals that he always double-knots his shoelaces, sleeps with the windows open, and never takes sugar in his tea.
 * In Hebrew, pita (pronounced the same as Peeta) is a kind of rounded-flat bread. This is most likely a reference to his baking skills.
 * Peeta's age is never explicitly given, but assumed to be the same as Katniss's as he was in her class in kindergarten and first grade.