There are time's in life when you don't know what to do.
But you have to just roll with it, it will all come clear later in life.
Chapter One
There have been many time when I wake up not wanting to go to school. Okay who am I kidding, that's been every day. I have to keep going not just because mom tells me to but because Prim need someone to take her, she doesn't like walking alone. Sometime though Gale's brothers will walk with her but they usually walk with some of their other friends. Also Prim likes me to go with her, she's just a little shy, I'm sure she will outgrow that though. I know I did.
I grab my bag, give mom a hug and call for Prim, when she comes she give my mom a kiss goodbye and we walk out the door together. "You ready for the first day of school?" I ask as we walk down the street.
"Yeah. What about you?" She asks. She is always so kind to everyone she meets, hell she's even nice to the patrol men that walk around making sure no one is doing drugs, or any illegal stuff.
"Can't wait." I say unenthusiastic-ally
"Really Katniss, can you please just be happy."
"I will, when I feel like to but for now you know how much I don't like school."
"I know. Gale's going to be there."
"It's his last year."
"So, doesn't mean you can't be with him."
"Prim. Please." We walk on in silence. Prim thinks Gale and I are together secretly but we aren't. We are just good friends. He's my only friend, well besides Madge.
We walk past all the shops as the children of the shop owner come out and begin to walk to school.
"Peeta, and Rye! How are you?" Prim says running over to the two boys from the bakery. There's another but he's too old to go to school.
"Primrose! We're great. How are you and your sister?" The older looking one says.
"That's good. We are good. Hey Peeta I'm going to try to come by after school, with Katniss to get some breads okay."
"Okay, I should be home."
"See ya!" Prim says and runs back over to me. I watch as the boys exchange glances the older on smiling and elbowing the younger one Prim had called Peeta.
"What was that about?" I ask Prim.
"Peeta and I talk a lot when I go to buy bread." She says and walks on. "You'd like him." I roll my eyes and walk with her.
We pass all the shop and end up in the school yard. "Hey Catnip!" A familiar voice says.
"Gale!" I say and great him with a hug. "How are you?"
"Just as good as I was yesterday." He says sarcastically.
"Don't be like that."
"You two are too cute." Prim says and walk inside.
"Prim!" I say trying to stop her but end up laughing. "Sorry." I say turning back to Gale, who has a smile on his face.
"It's fine. Come on let's get inside." He says and presses his hand to the small of my back leading me inside.
We have lockers together and two classes together, first class and last class. "Students please proceed to the gym for a special announcement from our president." Mrs. Brooke announces.
Gale, his brothers, Prim, and I all walk to the gym together, Prim with Rory and Vick leading us, while Gale and I walk slowly behind them. "Hey Katniss?"
"Yeah, Gale."
"Can I ask you something?"
"You don't have to ask me if you can ask me something."
"I know."
"Ask away."
"Do you want to hang out after school? Like go see a movie or something." I can't tell if he is asking to hang out or to HANG OUT, like a date.
"Don't we usually hang out after school?" I say.
"Well yes but that's just as friends" So he is asking me out.
"Oh. Okay, well um. Sure, I don't see why not." Did I just make the right choice? I mean Gale and I have been such close friends since we were very young, everyone already thinks we're dating. Maybe I did make the right choice, I mean it's not like there's a line of guys throwing themselves at me.
"Okay!" He says with a smile, as we walk in the gym. "See you after school!" He takes his seat with the rest of the seniors while I go sit with the sophomores.
"Katniss Everdeen, what was that look Gale Hawthorne was giving you!? Madge says sitting next to me grabbing my arm.
"What look?" I ask, he wasn't looking at me any special way, was he?
"He looked so happy, and like he really, really, likes you. Not just friends like."
"Um. We're going to hang out after school..."
"A date!" She squeals.
"Hey, Madge." The girl behind us says. Madge turns around and smiles at the girl.
"Delly! Hey! How are you?"
"I'm doing well what about you?"
"Great!" They launch into a conversation involving other kids in town, people I don't know, so I just turn out and look around at the rest of the class. There are many kids in the school but I know less than half, I can count on my fingers how many I know. One. One in my sophomore class, and one in the senior class. For a grand total of TWO! This is in the high school part of the school but whole school I know five including my sister, thinking more about this is making it actually sound sadder than it is. Okay who am I kidding I'm not social I never have been and this is sad, but I'm fine with it. "Oh I'm sorry Katniss! This is Delly Cartwright she works in the Shoe shop with her parents and little brother. Delly Katniss Everdeen-"
"I know Katniss Everdeen. Peeta talks about her and her sister all the time. Nice to finally meet you Katniss." Delly says and extends her hand, I shake her hand and smile. What does she mean Peeta talks about me? I don't even know who he is. I saw Prim talk to him but I don't know him, how does he know me, and why is he talking about me.
"Hi." I say to Delly.
"So Katniss. You and Gale a thing?" Delly asks, like it's any of her business.
"No. Just friends."
"Oh. Cool. So what are you two doing for lunch?"
"Katniss and I are just going to sit outside."
"No! You both have to join us, well the group I sit with." Oh joy, me, a girl from the seam sitting with a bunch of townies, how is that going to look.
"Okay! That's fine right Katniss." I smiles and nod.
"Perfect! Let's talk more then." She says as Principle Brooke starts to talk.
"Today, we have a very special film brought to you all the way from the Capitol of our country!" She says with a smile. "And a special visitor. Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Effie Trinket!" Every year they act like starting school is something big, same film, same visitor. Then Once a year at the end of the year a senior boy and senior girl gets picked to go to the highest most expensive college in the whole contrary. It's kind of an honor, but you can never come home. They pick a student from each of the high school's 1-12, yes my high school is the last and the poorly run compared to the other schools.
We all clap for Effie as she talks about the Capitol and the Reaping of the names. Then she shows the film it has many picture of students achieving high grades and honors in the college, while the president speaks talking about it.
We clap after the film ends and as Effie leaves. Mrs. Brooke dismisses us, I get up and push my way through the crowd, when I get to the hallway I walk straight for class without stopping, but of course I run into someone, me and my clumsy self. "Damn it." I swear.
"Oh god, sorry! My bad I wasn't looking where I saw going." The boy says, he grabs his books and starts to walk away.
"Ass hole." I say and start to walk away.
"Hey! I said I was sorry." He says walking up to me.
"Good for you." I say back and continue to walk, he grabs my arm. "Let go of me now!" I say quietly but firmly.
"I know you. You're the Seam girl. The one whose father died a few years ago." He says.
"Yeah, okay. See ya." I say and rip my arm free and walk quickly to class, is that seriously what I'm known for here. The girls whose dad died, in the 30 car pill up. It's not what someone wants to be known for. Why can't I be known for, most brave, most unnoticed, or just the girl who comes every day and does work then leaves. Is that too much to ask for? Guess so. I walk in the class room and find the seat next to Gale.
"Hey Catnip."
"Gale." I say with smile, and pull out book.
"Okay class turn you books to chapter one, we will read this book together as a class, and you will all take turns reading so don't slack. I will call on you randomly." Ms. Morris says and looks down at her paper. "Katniss Everdeen. You're first." She says. I look up at her and Gale kicks my foot.
"Oh, okay." I say and get up, and open my book. "In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since." I pause and look at her, she nods and I keep going.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
"Peeta Mellark." She calls.
A shorter boy with blonde hair stands up, he look over at me and give me a small shy smile, his eyes so blue, not a dark blue, but a soft caring light blue."He didn't say any more, but we've always been unusually communicative in a reserved way, and I understood that he meant a great deal more than that. –"He picks up right where I had left
The rest of the class goes on like this Ms. Morris calling on random students at the most random parts in the book, it could be half way through a sentence and she would call on someone else and they would have to pick up on the exact sentence. I will admit it was funny watching kids try to find where we were in the book, one kid was three pages behind! He wasn't even reading, but it was funny for the whole class and embarrassing for him.
After class I say bye to Gale and walk to my next class, I look behind me and see Madge running up next to me. "Katniss! Wait for me." She has this class with me.
"Kay." I say and stop in the middle of the hallway.
"I just meant slow down." She says running up next to me.
"Sorry." I say and continue walking with her, my pace slower than what I'd like it to be.
"So, do you want to stay the night at my house tonight? Prim can come too!" She says with a smile.
"I don't know Madge. I would have to ask my mom, and see if Prim want's to come."
"Okay, well I'll come by your house around 8:00 how's that?"
"Sounds fine."
"Yay!" She says excitedly. "We can get some cookies from the bakery and the do nails and hair, and watch chick flicks!"
"Sounds like a lot of fun." I say and enter the class room, Madge and I take a seat next to each other.
"I hope we are lab partners!" She says, as Mr. Garson comes in, he writes his name on the board and turns to us.
"Lab partners! I wrote them down somewhere. AH Here." I wait impatiently for my name to be said. "Katniss Everdeen and-"When I hear my name my heart races I hope I don't get stuck with someone who doesn't do any of the work, or wants to do all the work. "Delly Cartwright."
I sigh I think she should be a good partner. "Wait. My mistake, Peeta Mellark, and Katniss Everdeen. Sorry about that I read the next name!" He says with a laugh.
"Delly Cartwright, and Madge Undersee." He says and continues down the list. Dell and Madge smile at each other and Madge gets up and walks over and take Peeta's seat, he comes over and takes Madge's seat next to me.
"Hi. Peeta Mellark." He says and shakes my hand, his are warm and soft, with a few burn marks.
"Katniss Everdeen."
"I know. Uh, I know your sister."
"Oh yeah." We are quite for the rest of the class.
SO! How was it! This is my first attempt at a Hunger Games FanFic! THG was my first fandom but I could never seem to write a Fic and now I have ANd I hope you all like it!
Keep Crazy And FanGirl/Boy On! ~Kim