Summary: When life gives you football players, you make happiness—against all odds. Even if they always seem to not be in your favor. OOC, since, y'know, Cato isn't killing it up and stuffs.
Don't worry if you're confused through this, this chapter is set in the middle of the storyline.
This is my first fanfic. So PLEASE, lay on the criticism people! I need some feedback. I apologize in advance for the lack of spelling and grammar checks. I don't know how the whole beta thing works, so I don't have one. Bummer, right? Sorry dudes.
Disclaimer: My name isn't Suzanne Collins. Therefore I don't own Peeta Mellark (unfortunately) or the rest of The Hunger Games. Sorry to disappoint.
Chapter 1: Katniss' POV
Present day:
"You know, you and Peeta Mellark should go dance together."
"What?"
Of all the random and ridiculous ideas Prim had released from that little blonde head of hers, I was quite sure that this one was the worst. Any implication of physical contact with that boy was far off my radar that night. She smiled at me with some knowing look like she knew something I didn't, and repeated her statement.
"Okay, I think someone has had enough candy for one night." I grabbed her hand, grateful for the excuse to leave this useless costume party Madge and Gale had dragged me to. Speaking of which, I needed to find them so we could head back home.
"No Katniss!" She pulled herself from my grip and folded her arms over, refusing my attempts to go home…again. "I didn't even have a chance to dance with Rory yet! And YOU haven't talked to one guy this entire night. You promised Katniss." I rolled my eyes at her mention of our earlier debate.
"I know what I said, but seriously, look around you. This isn't exactly a nice environment." She scanned the Mellarks' living room then, registering the drunken atmosphere of teenage bunnies, vampires, and witches. I saw her raise her eyebrows and mouth 'come here' towards something behind me, before finally smiling up at me with the same 'secret' expression from before. I was just getting ready to ask her what was wrong when I smelled it. Cookie dough.
"Hey there Prim, enjoying the party?" After I silently cursed my horrid luck, I turned around to dismiss the cookie-dough-smelling quarterback. Instead of the scowl I prepared to fix on my face, I held an expression of shock.
Peeta Mellark was standing half naked in front of me.
From head to toe, he had gold glitter lining his body. His hair was pushed up and back out of his face in a disheveled mess that somehow looked perfect. His crystalline eyes smiled along with the 2 plump lips on his face. Perfection also lined his upper body in a flawless contour of abs and muscle. Light blonde speckles of weaved hair swayed lightly across his chest with the movement of dancing around us. He was wider than I remember him being—in more aspects than one. His white and gold shorts hung low on his body, giving everyone a view to the v shape leading lower and lower into dangerous territory. He was definitely a sight to be seen, even more than usual.
I realized I was ogling him a few seconds too late. He tilted his head and held a small expression of curiosity, which soon turned into triumph. "Hey Katniss, wanna dance?" He finally greeted me, offering his hand. I ignored it and looked down instead, thanking the dim lighting for hiding my steadily increasing blush. Annoyance coursed through me at being caught staring at him, and I hid my features with my hair.
"Actually, we were just leaving. It's late and Prim has homework."
"No I don't." Damn it.
"Well, I do, so goodnight." I heard her whine behind me, clearly not wanting to cooperate with my escape plan. Her footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as she stomped away to who knows where. I cursed and looked up in time to see him glance at my chest. A flicker of surprise registered there before he met my eyes once again, an apology written out. I guess he noticed my annoyed mood. And my protruding chest, no thanks to the glittery black corset. I knew I shouldn't have agreed to wear this slutty outfit.
"Leaving? I was hoping we could talk for a minute. Nice costume by the way." I narrowed my eyes at his indication of my corset, mask, tights, crown, and tutu ensemble meant to resemble a 'mysterious princess,' as Madge had put it.
"Gale's idea. I could say the same to you," I snapped back. He only laughed, causing his hair to shake and a piece to fall out of place. I got the strange urge to move it into place again, but remained in my stand-off position near the Halloween candy bowls.
"Thanks, Finnick's idea. I was going for a Greek God." At the mention of his wild swim star friend, he screamed his arrival, wearing Annie on his arm and not much else. He and Peeta had matching costumes, it seemed.
"Peet, I thaw you twooo were gonna DANCEEE with us? Whaz the hol' up?" His stumbling words tumbled with the rhythm of his drunk body, moving an amused Annie along with it. I scrunched my nose up at the smell of alcohol. I thought he was done drinking. Peeta apparently had the same thought process.
"Finn, dude, didn't you say you were done drinking? It hasn't even been 2 full days man." As he spoke, Finnick stumbled toward the ground but Annie held him upright, all traces of amusement gone.
"What is he talking about? What happened?" She questioned, concern now lining her face. Finnick looked guilty at being caught before he guarded his features.
"Maybeee we can dance later. I gotta tell Annie." He tried to stand up straight and pull Annie in the opposite direction of the 50 some dancing kids out in the lit up backyard, but tripped on his own feet. Annie and Peeta both launched toward him with wide arms, struggling to pull him upright. I used the distraction to get about 3 feet away before a familiar arm locked around my waist. His breath tickled the hairs on the back of my neck as he held me in front of him, hands located on my waist.
"Ohhhhh no you don't. You and I need to talk Katniss." He started walking me in the direction of the stairwell as I began to protest. They were useless attempts, I knew that. Peeta's strength was no secret to me, yet I tried anyway to push his hands off of my body. His arms basically laughed in reply, meeting my attempts with a tighter grip every time. Since I was in no position to willingly walk upstairs with him, he lifted me from the ground and threw me across his shoulder. "I'm sorry Kat, but I REALLY have to talk to you," he apologized to my butt. I tried swinging my legs toward his face to get a good hit on him, but again it was useless.
We reached his bedroom in no time, and he put me down before returning his hands to their earlier tight-gripped position. I wiggled the knob and moved to stand in the middle of his room once it opened. My arms automatically crossed themselves over my chest, although they should have shot to my face. I was embarrassed about having to be carried up the stairs as several of our classmates paused to observe us. There was no way in HELL that I was going to talk to him now.
He sighed at my childish behavior before closing and locking the door. The silence would have been deafening after that if "Can't Stop Me" by Afrojack hadn't been pounding through the floor from downstairs. He walked over to his bed in a nonchalant way, as if everything was perfect and nothing was wrong. The calm demeanor vanished when his hands wound themselves into his hair and pulled harshly. He looked so distraught that I almost wanted to ditch the stubborn act and go over to him.
Almost.
He strode over to me instead, determination flooding his face. It faltered as he neared me, and then his feet led him walking away from me. He began pacing the room, continuously fidgeting and changing angry expressions. He finally won the argument with his feet and trudged in my direction. We still had about 8 feet between us when he started talking from behind his hands that were rubbing at his face.
"Ou a ways wook ready wetty," he mumbled slowly.
"What?" I questioned, not understanding what he was saying. His hands dropped, revealing his face. For the first time that night, I noticed the dark spots below his eyes and the sharp veins. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
"I said…I said you always look really pretty." I stiffened at the compliment, instantly longing for that jacket I contemplated sneaking in Gale's truck before we left. Of course Peeta would like the excessive cleavage and the tiny skirt.
"And I know you hate compliments, especially from me, but I felt the need to say it." I looked down, preparing to tune out his entire apology, if that was what this was. Until he spoke his next words. "But not tonight." I took a chance and lifted my head up to watch his expressions play out. Anger. Guilt. More anger. Then sadness. "Tonight you look like Glimmer and Clove." Infuriation took over my body and I glared at him for the comparison between the three of us. "Not like that, Kat. Not like that. It's just…" I loosened a little as I watched my ex-whatever struggle for words. It wasn't like him at all. But I guess we had both been pretty different people the last week and a half.
"You're perfect. And don't stiffen up, I'm not saying that as a compliment. It's just a fact. You always have been. Yet here you are, dressed up like one of those phony cheerleaders because of some stupid comment I made." Anger returned to his face at the memory of the event both of us were playing through our heads.
"I was just trying to get Rye off my case. He can be an ass, you and I both know that, and he was being even more dumb than usual that night. So was I. I just wanted him to shut up about the two of us being together." I erased all emotion in my face as the hurt came back full force from his words that night.
"I said some stupid things, I know. Some REALLY stupid things, that had no grain of truth to them whatsoever. And I don't blame you for hating me. I hate myself even more. Any man who ever treats you less than what you deserve should face the consequences." I took one step toward him. 7 feet apart.
"You've been through hell and back the last month with everything going on, and you didn't need my immature comments to make you feel insecure about who you are." 6 feet apart. "You don't need anyone. You're so stubbornly independent. And smart. And beautiful—without the makeup and cleavage. And unknowingly gentle, no matter how strong you try to come off." 5 feet. "And funny, in your own way. And-shit-sexy as HELL Katniss. An—did I say beautiful? Because, holy, you're…just…beautiful." 4 feet.
"I screwed up. Big time. I'm so sorry. Damn it I wish that didn't sound so cliché but I—fuck, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any word of it. I love you. I love you so damn much, and I know you hate to hear about it all the time and you might not believe me right now, but I do. More than…" 3 feet. "…more than…more than Gale likes to sneak a peek under Madge's dresses. Or Finnick likes to get himself into stupid situations. Or we like to pretend like we aren't crazy about each other." 2 feet.
"I just need you to know that I would never intentionally try to hurt you. I want to be the one person in your life who you can trust with everything and depend on. And I know you don't need to be taken care of, but I want to do things for you that I have never done before. I want you to experience love, real love, not what your mom lies to you about." 1 foot. "A love that makes you want to scream and cry and laugh…" he finally realized our close proximity, and started backing up towards his bed in the center of the room. I internally smiled and decided I might as well follow him.
"No Kat, you need to listen to this!" He reached his bed and used his hands to steady himself.
"I think I've heard enough for now." I was at his lap now, and began to crawl towards him while he escaped backwards to the other side.
"No, you don't understand. I'm sorry about—"
"I know."
"But I just need to explain to you how much I lo—"
"Mhmm." I was sitting up on the edge of the bed at that point, my hands rested on his shoulders as he stood up in front of me. He kept up his attempts at apologies, but I interrupted him with a quick comment every time. We gazed at each other for a good 70 seconds before his confusion slowly faded into a bright smile. I gave him a small smile of my own, content with his decision to stop talking.
"So does this mean you forgive me?" I leaned in and brought his lips to mine with a tug at his silky blonde locks.
"Maybe," I answered in between kisses, teasing him with my lips.
"You shouldn't." I kissed his forehead this time, something he did to me a lot.
"I know."
"I really am—"
"Peeta."
"Ok." The conversation ended with him forcing my body onto the cloud-like mattress and claiming me as his with small nips at my neck.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he whispered against my lips, only causing my chills from the brisk October night to intensify. He held me against his strong body for a few more moments before Gale had to pry his hands away so we could finally get my sister home into bed. Madge, Gale, and I bid Peeta one last goodbye before filing into Gale's truck where Prim was leaning on the headrest sleeping. He cast a heartfelt expression at me before he stepped back into his parents' house.
On the ride back home, I felt peaceful for once in a long time. Things seemed to be going well. Almost too well. It was an odd feeling to be elated, but I couldn't describe my emotions as anything but that. My instincts told me not to trust my happiness, but I ignored them and focused on the passing trees outside the front seat window. In my head, I replayed the progress Peeta and I made after his way-too-lengthy apology speech.
I moved out from under him when his kisses seemed to trail lower than my chest. I still wasn't ready. He sat up with a sparkling smile that reached further than his eyes.
"Sorry. I forgot how innocent you are."
"You don't look very sorry. Your smile is the size of Texas." He laughed at that as if it was the funniest joke in the world.
"Okay, you caught me, I'm not all that sorry. You just make me feel so…" His eyes led a blazing trail of lust starting from my head, crossing down to my chest and lingering there, continuing lower, and passing by my lap to my feet, where he placed a soft kiss. "happy."
I brushed my fingertips along his face before they decided that it wasn't enough and rested themselves on his bare chest. I forced them to stop there, no wanting to give him the wrong idea about what I wanted, though I wasn't even sure what that was.
"I love you Katniss." I closed my eyes, wondering how just 4 words could send my heart racing.
"I know."
A soft hand pulled my from the sleep I hadn't known I fell into. Gale was there with Prim in his arms, Madge nowhere to be seen. He must have already taken her home.
"C'mon Catnip." I followed his tall figure into the house, offering to take her upstairs before the house phone rang. Curious, I went to pick it up while Gale brought Prim upstairs.
"Hello?" I murmured, sleep still evident in my voice.
"Katniss?" A broken voice answered, sounding rough and unsure. Still, I recognized it as Rye. I laughed at his impeccable acting skills.
"Oh hey Rye. Did Peeta tell you to apologize to me? It's okay, you don't have to, all is forgiven. You can cut the 'heartbroken voice' crap. He did, however, try to corrupt me. I swear, that boy is going to be the death—" His sob broke me from my bubbly rambling.
Immediately I was brought back into the past. The day that my father died, Prim had made a similar sound after mom broke the news to us. I knew that sound anywhere. It was pure and utter sorrow.
The speed at which my emotions changed and had me staggering towards the ground was unimaginable. Thankfully, my primal instincts were quicker than my brain, and they caught the edge of the desk I standing at before I hit the ground head on.
I knew it was too good to be true. Happiness only came in spouts, and if you had too much of it, it would be taken away from you.
"I'm so sorry," he cried from the other end of the phone. My heart stopped. This wasn't happening. No.
"He was shot Katniss."
Okay! I would have made this longer, but I have a very specific way that I want this storyline to go, and this chapter needed to stop here. Next chapter will be set prior to this one, and will be longer. Please leave me some feedback, I would greatly appreciate it (that is, if anyone even reads this). Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the next chapter!