It's my first day of my sophomore year at the Seam High School. I walk through the doors, dreading the 9 more months already until next summer break. But a familiar shape catches my eye and puts a smile on my face. I run up to him, looping my elbow loosely around his strong but tender arm.
"Hey Catnip," he says in his deep voice, smiling down at me.
"What's your first class, Gale?"
"I have science. How about you?"
"History. Well I'll see you at lunch!" I tell him, then scurry off to my first class of the day so I won't be late.
As I'm walking into my history class, I suddenly collide with a figure, knocking me to the ground. I look up, disoriented.
The face that looks down the at me is broad, with widely set cheekbones. His light blonde hair is brushed down his face. He has light brown eyes that I could melt into. His face right now is twisted with shock, his eyebrows high and his hands at his mouth.
"I'm...I'm...so sorry...do you need help?" He stutters, reaching out a hand to me.
"I'm good, thanks," I respond, brushing myself off and walking over to sit next to Madge Undersee, my friend since kindergarten who is also the mayor's daughter.
"Nice going on the first day of school, Katniss. The first thing you do is bump into the new kid."
"Uh huh," reply, but my mind is somewhere else. "What is his name?"
"Peeta Mellark. His father owns that new bakery in town." I nod, still in shock. I could still picture his surprised face looking down at me. He was quite handsome...I shook that thought out of my head. Even though Gale and I aren't technically dating, we are still super close. And he wouldn't be happy if I ran up to him gushing about the cute new guy I ran into. But even so, I couldn't help but smile when I catch Peeta staring at me.
After the history class incident, as I like to refer to it as, I start heading off to my next class of the day. I check my schedule to see what it is:
Period 1: History- Effie Trinket
Period 2: Choir- Wiress
Period 3: Science- Beetee Latier
Period 4: Physical Education- Haymitch Abernathy
Period 5: English- Mags
Period 6: Lunch
Period 7: Math- Seneca Crane
Period 8: Art- Cinna
I head to the choir room for period 2 and greet Johanna Mason when I arrive.
By the end of English class with Ms. Mags (which consisted of boring "Get to Know Your Classmates" games, embarrassing me as usual by sharing that my favorite animal is the same as the school mascot, the mockingjay), I was very tired and glad that lunch had come.
I walked outside to meet my usual lunchtime group, Madge, Johanna, Finnick, and Gale. I spot them at our usual table and run over to greet them.
Gale Hawthorne is two years older than me, a senior, with tall, with dark hair and beautiful blue-green eyes. For a second when I look into them I forget everything, including Peeta, and just want to lose myself and melt into the clear blue lakes. But life has to go on and I sit down, eating some groosling and rice that I got from our local market, the Hob.
"So how were your classes so far, you guys?" asks Finnick Odair. Right as he asks this, the Careers walk by.
The Careers are, you know, the popular kids at the Seam high school. They roam the halls, gossiping, twirling their hair, and shoving unpopulars aside.
Clove, the short brunette, is evil and not afraid to show it. She taunts and insults, leaving unpopulars like me crying. Cashmere is the tall blonde with eyes as cold as ice. But don't let that fool you, she's as dumb as a brick. Enobaria is the tall brunette who I swear has pointed razor-sharp teeth that could kill someone. And the worst of them all, Glimmer. Glimmer is the nastiest girl you will ever meet. Not even a girl, more of a monster. She has blonde hair and gray eyes that torture you when she looks your way. Even the teachers are afraid of Glimmer. She has probably slept with every guy in the entire school, no kidding. Avoid Glimmer to save your life.
The Careers' boyfriends walk over. Cato is Clove's boyfriend, Brutus is Enobaria's, and the evil Glimmer's current boyfriend is Marvel. Cashmere doesn't have a boyfriend, but her just as dumb brother Gloss comes over to join the group.
As soon as the Careers start walking by, Finnick is silent. I can feel the tension in the air. As soon as they leave, we all let out a sigh of relief and continue our conversation as if nothing happened at all. I don't bring up Peeta Mellark so that Gale won't be jealous, but Madge keeps eyeing me, prodding me to.
After lunch, I head to my math class with Seneca Crane, who has apparently been replaced by Plutarch Heavensbee. Mr. Crane didn't teach enough and didn't cover the whole textbook last year, so he's been fired.
At the end of the day, I walk to my locker to put away my books. I hear footsteps approach and assume that it's Gale. I turn and smile, only to realize that it's actually Peeta. Peeta Mellark.
My heart racing, we stand there awkwardly, the hall quickly empyting.
"Hey...so um...I just wanted to say that I'm sorry that I ran into you this morning. I wasn't looking where I was going and yeah..." he says, nervously.
"It's no big deal. Don't worry about it."
"Okay well...see you tomorrow then, I guess!"
"Bye," I reply, watching him leave. Our first interaction. I smile, in spite of myself.