This was originally posted on Tumblr to answer the prompt, ""That's almost exactly the opposite of what I meant.". It has now turned in a three-ish part story. I hope you enjoy.
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
The Teacher
Part One
"So tonight, I want you to finish Death of a Salesman." Peeta sat back against the front of his desk. "I want to hear your thoughts, your feelings, and your interpretations."
Her hand shot up, so Hermione Granger-esque, that he forced himself to suppress his smile.
"Yes, Katniss?"
"I'll tell you what I think right now," she stated, her grey eyes as steely as her tone. "I hated it."
Around her, the class groaned.
It was not unusual for Katniss Everdeen to speak her mind, especially in Mr. Mellark's class. Highly intelligent and highly instigative, the teenager was not averse to going blow-for-blow with her teachers, whether it be in Physiology with Professor Snow or U.S. History with Miss Trinket. She was often a point of discussion in the faculty break room, sometimes in admiration and other times in annoyance.
However, to everyone's delight, the bell rang before Katniss could continue her tirade.
The rest of the class stood from their seats, scattering out the door towards their next class.
Katniss waited in her chair.
Peeta, too, remained seated at the front of his desk.
"So why did you hate the play?"
Peeta enjoyed indulging Katniss' tirades; she was the most intelligent student that he had ever come across. She could draw connections that even he had never thought of in his ten years of teaching English Literature.
His first assignment for the senior class that year was for each of them to find a character that best described them. He had funny answers like Bridget Jones or The Ghost of Christmas Past to somber ones like Sydney Carton and Tita de la Garza.
Katniss had selected Mary Lennox; bratty, contrary, and outspoken. She opted to be satirical of her qualities, but Peeta had seen through it. Because as he had commented in his feedback, Mary had found purpose and hope in her garden—she had found herself. He believed that Katniss had not found her own garden and that her own viewpoint of the world and herself were not very encouraging.
"Because it's like a giant 'Fuck You' to the American Dream," she spat tersely. "And, I saw too much of District 12 in that play. I saw every disappointed person in Willy, I saw my mother in Linda—too loyal to my father for her own good. I saw my best friend in Biff; all the potential and all he wants is the minimum in life, what is good and easy now."
Peeta shook inwardly at her candid words.
For her fire was so lost in District 12.
When Katniss spoke, he remembered how passionate he was at her age; how much he had loved the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen. He could forget that, as much as he wanted to deny it, he had peaked at the age of 32—that he was relegated to teaching English Literature to seniors, who were already half-gone, and juniors, who were panicking over college acceptance letters.
"You want more," he stated simply.
"Don't you?"
No one had asked him that in a long while. Not his wife or his family or even his colleagues—and it threw him in a loop.
"Of course I want more," he admitted. "I wanted to be a writer."
Katniss folded her arms on the desk, leaning towards him in apt interest. "Then, what happened?"
"I wasn't as brave as you." Peeta crossed his arms, willing himself to suppress the crushing disappointment of his lost dreams. "Life happened." He struggled to continue. "I'm happy with everything. I really am."
She stared and he knew that she didn't believe him, her eyes observing his internal struggle.
"Will you meet me later, Mr. Mellark?" Katniss suddenly asked. "I get off from my shift at the diner at seven."
There it was again—that twinge at her words…that fire.
"Seven?" Peeta nodded absently. "Okay."
He closed the front door behind him, letting out an unsteady breath into the autumn air.
Delly had nodded in acceptance at him leaving, never questioning where he was heading at a quarter to seven on a weekday evening. She simply smiled before taking his plate to the kitchen.
There had been a time where they were blissfully happy, content to be together. Over time, they had settled into a silence, running out of things to say to one another. Delly was busy with her real estate business and he was aspiring to be the best literature teacher that Panem High ever had.
Now their dinners were spent staring at their phones, making conversation with anyone but the person in front of them. Every once in awhile, Peeta felt that jolt of loneliness—that disconnect despite the fact that his wife was only a hand hold away.
The Everdeen Diner was on the main street of District 12 and had been there since the former coal-mining town was founded. Katniss' paternal grandparents had opened the diner and it been passed down since.
No doubt, Katniss and whoever she married would one day run the place.
He approached the brick building with five minutes to spare.
Peeta wasn't sure what exactly Katniss wanted, but his curiosity in her request was something that he couldn't ignore.
"You're early."
He whipped around, finding her in a dark green parka and a grey hat atop her head. With her hair down, her eyes seemed even wider and the framing layers emphasized the pointed end of her heart-shaped face.
"It's not that far of a walk from my place," Peeta replied before giving her a smile. "So how can I help you?"
"Follow me," she replied simply, taking his hand and leading him away from the diner. "How well do you know District 12?"
"Well enough." He had not grown up in the town like Katniss did. "Why?"
"Just assuring myself that I'm bringing you somewhere you've never been." She smiled mysteriously. "Trust me."
"Trust is subjective," he retorted and Katniss chuckled. "What?"
"Such an adult way to see the world." They were nearing the woods on the far end of town and he felt his apprehension heighten. "Don't worry, Mr. Mellark. I can find my way through this forest with my eyes shut."
"Peeta." Katniss stopped as they stepped into a thicket of trees. "We're not in school, so you can call me by my first name."
"Peeta," she sounded out slowly, her mouth opening slightly as she breathed out the last syllable. He was suddenly warm despite the chill of the forest. "I like it."
"Thank my parents." He looked around. "Where are we?"
"My favorite place in District 12," Katniss said. "There aren't that many like it."
They stopped in front of a large boulder encircled by a family of dark oaks. Katniss reached underneath it, pulling out an electric lamp and turning it on. She placed the lamp on the boulder before looking to him.
"This is where I go when I need to think," she said. Her olive skin glowed under the warmth of the lamp. "Where I write." Katniss held out a notebook to him. "You seem like an unhappy man, Peeta."
"Why do you think that?" he asked tightly.
She moved closer to him, no doubt calculating the stiffness of his shoulders and the tightness of his mouth.
He could feel her fire—rivulets of warmth dancing along his skin.
It had been a long while since he had felt this alive.
"You used to have fire in those blue eyes." Her hand reached, just a breath away from cupping his cheek. "I remember your first year at Panem High. I was a Freshman taking your Sophomore class. I was a blip of a girl at the time, but I remember that you had passion in your eyes. You cared back then."
That had been the year when his book had been rejected—when he had given up.
Even now, it still hurt to remember his excitement as he opened that envelope and the heavy depression that had come over him at the publisher's rejection.
"I wanted to give you this." Katniss nodded at the notebook. "It's a writing journal. I've given you a prompt—maybe we can meet again and discuss your answer."
"Here?" Peeta looked around the forest; scattered red and gold leaves blanketed on the ground and crisping under his feet. He looked to her, realizing how she seemed to fit in this forest, a nymphet of these woods. Katniss glowed in this place and it came to him suddenly. "You found your garden."
She nodded, letting out a wide smile. "You remembered, Peeta."
He knew then that he could not forget, not when she smiled at him like that.
"I didn't know that you wrote a book." Katniss closed Peeta's notebook before handing it back to him. "Thank you for sharing." She drew her knees to her chest as she sat on the large rock that was now their weekly meeting place. "What was it about?"
"About a family," he replied. "You'd hate it. It's about 'The American Dream'."
"Will you bring it?" she asked. "I mean, the next time we meet?"
Peeta grinned. "Are you going to give me another prompt?"
He enjoyed her question: What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Peeta had spent most of his weekend filling the pages of the notebook with his early childhood memories and love for reading—how he had hidden himself away from the world and his bullying older brothers using a notebook and a pen.
"Since I picked this prompt, you can pick the next one." Katniss held out a worn burgundy notebook. "We'll compare notes next week."
"Why are you hanging out with me?" he asked with a doubtful shake of his head. "Don't you have a boyfriend to keep you occupied?"
"No." Her stare was serious. "I don't plan to ever fall in love."
Peeta peered at her in amusement. "Ever?"
"Maybe I was in love once…" She looked out into the dark forest, the light of the moon revealing the scarlet on her thin cheeks. "And, I just couldn't give him up."
"You're too young for heartbreak," he chided.
"I'm eighteen." Katniss straightened herself. "Perfect time for heartbreak."
It was magnetic the way his hand reached to anchor her chin, his thumb just barely grazing her bottom lip and something inside trilled hearing her sharp inhale.
"You're just too pure," he remarked, his eyes focused on the openness of hers. "Too pure to be hurt. I mean, I'd never want that for you."
"Don't worry about me, Peeta." She let out a breath. "I don't hurt so easily."
His hand fell away and he opened the book in front of him, scribbling their new prompt messily:
Tell me about your family.
'My parents were high school sweethearts. She was rich. He wasn't and their parents didn't approve. So they did the only thing that could guarantee that they'd stay together: they had me. I was a means to an end.
By the time my sister Prim was born, I could already see the cracks in the relationship. My parents were from two different worlds; my mother wants to be the perfect wife, but can't get it together. My father will never feel good enough for my mother so he compensates with other women that are never as beautiful or intelligent as her.
The only bright light in all of this Prim—'
"What are you reading?"
Peeta closed the journal, looking up to see Haymitch Abernathy, assistant principal, pulling up a chair. He gave the man a congenial smile, placing Katniss' burgundy notebook in his book bag.
"Just something that I found at a vintage bookstore," Peeta informed the man. "What's up?"
"The winter formal is coming up," Haymitch said. "We're short on chaperones and I was wondering if you could be one. You can take the later shift so you're not disrupting your evening with Delly."
"It's fine," he answered. "She usually goes to bed early unless there's someone that she wants to see on 'The Tonight Show'."
"I knew that I could count on you," the older man said. "Stop by my office. Let's talk about next year's curriculum. I'd like to give you more leeway when it comes to your teaching plan."
"Yes, of course," Peeta agreed. The bell rang signaling the next period. "Last class of the day." Gathering his bag, he waved to the man. "Thanks, Haymitch."
Leaving the break room, Peeta didn't even notice how the assistant principal's focus was on the worn burgundy notebook peeking out from his open bag.
Tentatively, Peeta pulled out the bound pages of his book from his bag. He turned to Katniss on the ledge of the rock, holding it out to her.
"Here."
Katniss opened the book, thumbing through its pages. "So this is you—in story form?"
"It was a two-year process," he said. "And, I loved every fucking minute of it."
"Cursing in front of a student?" Katniss smirked, peeking over at him from behind the large collar of her coat. "I'm excited to read this."
"Tell me about your sister," Peeta asked her suddenly. "She seems like the only ray of sunshine in your otherwise gloomy demeanor."
"You know me already." Katniss drew her knees up, her usual seated position during their meetings. She smiled to herself, the setting sun catching her lashes. "Prim is the sweetest girl. I worried before she was born that my parents would love her more than me. But, I loved her the moment they let me hold her."
"So you were a goner," he concluded and she nodded.
"Was it like that with Mrs. Mellark?" Katniss asked carefully.
"Delly and I met in college…and it just seemed to be the natural flow of things to get married," Peeta admitted. "I was never a great believer of the whole 'butterflies in your stomach' thing or 'love at first sight'."
"But you believe in some sort of love, right?"
Peeta turned to her, watching her fiddle with the tip of her braid. "I do." She met his eyes and he felt that excited bubbling in his stomach, unfamiliar but not altogether unwelcome. Clearing his throat, he looked away. "Speaking of love, what lucky fella is taking you to the Winter Formal?"
"Did you just say 'fella'?" She snorted at him. "Sometimes I forget that we're not just two friends bonding over prose and plays. I forget that you've lived a whole life before me." He rolled his eyes at her words. "But to answer your question, I'm not going."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not sentimental about leaving high school," Katniss explained. "I'm not going to miss walking through those halls or the eating in the cafeteria or going to formals. I just want to move on and grow up."
"Growing up is not all it's cut out to be," Peeta said truthfully. "You're going to miss being a kid."
"No, I won't!" She turned away from him. "You couldn't understand…if anything, being a kid has kept me from the things I've wanted the most."
It pained him to see the quivering of her shoulders and her wet sniffling. His hand reached for Katniss and she was suddenly burying her face in his jean jacket. His arms rounded her shoulders, letting her rest against him.
"Where do you want to go after high school?" he asked, trying to distract her.
"As far away from District 12 as I can." Katniss swiped her arm along her face. "My parents expect me to take over the family business—to marry someone like Gale." Her childhood friend, who earned average grades in Peeta's class when he really tried. "And, you know where it starts? At stupid winter formals. My parents met at one and they've paid for it ever since."
"You really want to leave?" he responded and Katniss nodded vehemently. "Then I'll help you."
She peeked from under his arm, her smile hopeful. "Really?"
"You have all the potential in the world," Peeta told her—it was the truth. "More than I ever had."
Katniss looked down at the book in her lap before resting her head on his shoulder.
"I highly doubt that."
Her text message came after an Arianna Grande song and his third cup of punch seasoned with something from Haymitch's flask.
'It was completely and utterly you. I loved it.'
Haymitch was suddenly by his side in the chaperone corner.
"What are you smiling about?"
Peeta shook his head. "Nothing important."
"'Nothing important' doesn't make you smile like that," the man retorted before sidling off.
Katniss held an envelope out to him as they stood in the forest.
"I applied to this university." She looked at it worriedly. "It's the place that I've wanted to go to all along."
"Allow me." Peeta took the envelope from her grasp. She bit her lip, trying to hide her tenseness. He found himself grinning at her sweet nervousness. As much as Katniss wanted to act like an adult, her facial expressions spoke of innocence. "Close your eyes."
Tearing the envelope open, Peeta felt his own chest pound as he pulled out the piece of paper. It was difficult now to discern an acceptance letter from a rejection letter. Most paperwork was done online if a student was accepted and the big acceptance envelopes were a thing of the past, so he was just as on edge as she was.
Quickly, he skimmed the letter, letting out a breath of relief. "You're in." Katniss whipped around, the grin on her face as radiant as the sun. "You got into NYU."
She threw her arms around his neck, her face pressing into his shoulder. Peeta wasn't sure when he closed his eyes, but he found himself shrouded in Katniss—smelling of the Saturday sun and the turn of the seasons.
Spring was everywhere and it was embodied in Katniss Everdeen.
Her hand had strayed to his back, moving along the thinness of his cotton t-shirt. He hadn't even bothered to bring a jacket, so excited when he received her text during his morning coffee.
"I knew that you could do it," he whispered into her skin.
How had he not noticed the light fabric of her dress? The way it clung to her curves, how her skirt moved along her shapely thighs, and how the sweetheart top held her full cleavage.
Spring brought on many things.
"Thank you, Peeta." Her lips just brushing against his ear. His knees practically buckled at the sensation of her sweet breath against his skin. "I don't think that I could've done this without you."
Pulling away, their gazes remained locked on one another—wanting, waiting, willing.
Like Peeta believed, Spring brought on many things.
Including the realization that he might be falling for Katniss Everdeen.
"You seem so distracted," Delly remarked. "Anything going on?"
"Spring break is coming up." He looked down at his coffee mug. "Been working on the midterm."
His wife leaned down giving him a quick, perfunctory kiss on the top of his head. "I'm going to be meeting a client, so I might not make it in time for dinner."
"Don't worry about it," Peeta assured her. "I can just grab something in town."
Delly nodded, adjusting her blazer, and making sure that her shoulder-length hair was neat. "Alright. See you later."
He waved from his seat. "Love you."
The porch door had already slammed shut.
Downing the last bit of his coffee, Peeta went to their kitchen; state-of-the-art and decorated with Spanish tiles that Delly just needed to have for her 30thbirthday. He quickly washed his mug and after drying it, placed it back in its assigned cupboard. His wife was a bit of neat freak, but it had been endearing when they were first married.
As time went by, their qualities had changed in both their eyes. Walking out of the kitchen, Peeta caught sight of his writing desk; books were piled on it along with folders full of student essays. Delly had found his messy nature loveable and at one point, she had coveted his intelligence. Now, he was 'absent-minded' and a 'know-it-all' during their arguments.
Their wedding photo sat in their living room. They had the big, fancy wedding. Delly's parents owned a winery and they married there before Napa was deemed the 'it spot' for weddings.
The jarring ding of his phone brought him back to reality. He pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the message: 'What are you doing?'
'Hanging out at home. You?'
The unbidden thought of asking her to come over crossed his mind, but he pushed it away.
'Working at the restaurant for the day. It's Meatloaf Night. Stop by?'
Well…Delly said that she wasn't having dinner at home.
Prim Everdeen was a tall girl for her age. She had golden hair and was blue-eyed. However, when she smiled, Peeta could clearly see that she and Katniss were related—they had the same lift in their grins.
"Hi, Mr. Mellark," Prim greeted him. "Katniss told me that you were solo this evening." She stepped out and around the hostess' booth with a menu for him. "Follow me!"
He followed her down the aisle of tables. "Prim, right?"
"Yep! I'll be in high school next year," she informed him. "I'm not as smart as Katniss, so I'll probably just have you for my junior and senior year."
Peeta grinned as she pointed him to a corner booth.
"Katniss tells me different." He settled himself down. "So I guess I'll have the meatloaf."
"It's on the house." Katniss was suddenly at her sister's side in a garish seafoam-green waitress uniform. She winked at him before giving her sister a kiss on the top of her head. "Let Sae know to put extra gravy on his mashed potatoes."
"Cool." Prim nodded. "Nice meeting you, Mr. Mellark!"
"See you next year, Prim." Settling down, he found Katniss sitting across from him. "How are you?"
There was a tightness in her smile. "I told my parents about NYU."
"And?"
"My parents understand that it's a great opportunity," she said in a low voice. "But, they need me here."
"No." Peeta met her eyes squarely. "You deserve this. You've worked so hard for it."
"I know," Katniss stated, her words thick. She gave him a sad smile. "Since I'm staying, I get more time with you, don't I?"
It was as much as an admittance that either of them were willing to allow.
He shook his head. "Not like this."
"Peeta—"
Peeta wasn't sure why it bothered him—to see her give up so easily. Maybe it was because he saw how much potential she had, Peeta saw her taking over the literary world—perhaps writing a book or becoming a college professor. Maybe it was because she was caving and doing exactly what was expected of her.
"I don't want this for you!" Peeta said. Katniss sat back, her grey eyes widening at his outburst. "I don't want to see you running this place, marrying some guy that isn't even half as intelligent as you are, or pregnant with his kid while tugging another one along." He stood up, leaning forward to look her directly in the eye. "I don't want you to become me."
"Why would it be so bad to be you?" she asked simply.
The fury rose and Peeta stepped out of the booth. What did it matter, anyhow? He had seen many of his students settle in District 12. It didn't bother him; he was proud of a lot of them.
Why was Katniss Everdeen any different?
Because she was special—to him.
"I have to go."
Peeta couldn't meet her anymore, not when he cared this much.
The next two months were hell for Peeta.
Ignoring Katniss' silent pleas for reconciliation was painful. In class, she would barely raise her hand anymore, instead choosing to stare down at her notebook until the school bell rang. However, every once in awhile, he'd get a text from her: 'Are you okay?' or 'I don't understand.'
He'd always hesitate, suppressing the need to respond to her.
Everyone noticed that something was off with Katniss. Classes were quieter, no one argued with Peeta over the book choices. Her essays were still brilliant, but they lacked the spark that was characteristically her.
"Has Katniss Everdeen been acting differently in your class?"
Peeta looked up from his lunch as Professor Snow sat across from him in the faculty lunchroom. Coriolanus unpacked his lunch carefully; a boiled egg and a salad made dutifully by his wife, Alma, every morning. Beside him was Effie Trinket, filing her nails and occasionally taking sips of Diet Coke, listening in on their conversation.
"She's been quieter," Peeta responded.
"It's been a dream come true for me," Coriolanus remarked. "Now I can actually make it through a lesson."
"You know—" Effie began quietly. "—they say that she's mooning over some boy. A few months back, Katniss was glowing! Humming to herself…doodling all over her notebooks…but then it all stopped—" She snapped her fingers. "—just like that."
"I, for one, am happy to see a much more compliant Katniss," Coriolanus concluded.
Haymitch sat down, just in time to see Peeta's snarl. "You're an asshole."
"Excuse me?" The man across from him glared. "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Peeta." Haymitch put a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down."
"Katniss is one of the only students here who will make something of herself," Peeta told the man. "She's just not going to stay in District 12. She is going to be brilliant wherever she goes, especially if she doesn't have teachers like you to tell her to stay quiet."
"We all adore Katniss," Effie said, trying to calm the situation. "I'm sure that she'll do well wherever she ends up."
Peeta let out an anguished breath. "Well, her parents have relegated her to working for them. What the hell is the point of teaching these kids about the real world when all they have in the end is this?"
Professor Snow peered at him under his half-moon glasses. "Are you talking about them or about you?"
"Go fuck yourself."
Gathering his things, Peeta walked out of the room, leaving the staff in stunned silence.
"Mr. Mellark?"
Peeta glanced up from his desk to find Katniss approaching him. She looked tired, dark rings surrounding her eyes. He felt a pang of sympathy for her; graduation was nearing and, while her classmates were looking forward to beginning their new lives, she remained in limbo.
"Have a seat, Katniss." Quickly, she sat at the desk in front of him and he looked up from his grading. "What's going on?"
"You haven't answered my texts," she replied. "I know you're disappointed in me."
"Not disappointed." He placed his pen down. "Worried."
"I'm fine," Katniss assured him. "I'll go to junior college, then I can transfer—"
"No." Peeta stood from his seat. He looked to the classroom door—it was closed—before looking to her once more. "That's not good enough. I'm afraid for you, Katniss."
"Afraid of what?" She rose, rounding the desk and towards him. "I'm not a child."
"I know that…God, don't I know that." His hands reached to her, cupping her face. "You're going to burn out here and that part of you that I lo—" He stopped himself. What a hell of a time to realize how he felt. "—admire is just going to fade away. I don't think that I could watch that happen."
Katniss nodded, her grey eyes swimming in unshed tears, as if she had just realized the reason behind their discord.
"I understand." Her hands covered his, warming him and bringing a gentle smile from his lips. "Can you meet me on Friday? At our place?"
Peeta shook his head. "Can't."
She frowned. "Why not?"
"I'm chaperoning the prom."
"I thought that you couldn't come."
Peeta undid his tie, tossing it onto the large rock, before sitting next to her.
"I got the early chaperone shift." Not to mention, he could never seem to deny her of anything. Katniss stood before him in a long white linen dress and daisy crown. "Why didn't you go to your own prom?"
"It wasn't like I wasn't asked," she said. "But, I was never a dancing kind of girl. You know that."
He picked up her phone, playing a gentle acoustic tune. "But, you're a music kind of girl."
Katniss shrugged. "I'm a walking contradiction." She pushed herself off the rock and turned to look at him. "Anyway, I can't stand dressing up."
"But, you're dressed up now!" He gestured at the delicate, pretty dress. Under the light of the moon, Peeta could see the outline of her body, graceful and curved. "And, you're wearing your hair down…" He settled back, calming the frantic excitement churning in his stomach. "Why am I here?"
She held out her hand. "Will you dance with me?"
He crooked his head at her. "I thought you didn't like dancing."
"Fine. I don't like forced ritualistic dances," Katniss argued. She put her hand on her hips, tapping her foot at him. "I also don't like waiting."
"You're bossy." A familiar set of notes echoed out of her phone. "I know this song."
Peeta hopped off the rock and took her hand, pulling her gently towards him.
"In fact, I danced to this song at my prom." He wrapped an arm around her waist as Katniss settled against him. "The Elvis Presley version, anyway."
"This version is a little different," Katniss explained. "One—it uses a piano. Two—the singer is female."
Peeta chuckled. "I've missed the talkative version of Katniss Everdeen."
She grinned, her cheeks blooming, before her head went to his chest.
"Wise men say
Only fools rush in…"
"Who did you dance with?" she asked.
"Her name was Cashmere," he said, resting his chin on the top of her hair. "A good friend of mine."
Her daisy crown tickled his chin, but Peeta didn't mind. He vowed to remember this feeling as long as he was breathing—the softness of her hair, the sweet scent of her skin, and her heart beating rapidly against his ribcage.
"Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin…"
"Your girlfriend?"
"No, just friends. She liked girls, you see," he explained. "We went to a Sonic Burger afterwards and just watched movies at my place afterwards, instead of doing the after-party thing."
"Peeta Mellark, you have a superhero complex," Katniss declared. Her arms wove around his neck as she gazed up at him. "Saved your lesbian friend and you saved me."
"What do you mean?"
They pulled apart slightly and she smiled at him.
"I've decided to go NYU. I called them and told them that I would be there for the Spring Semester since I missed the deadline for Fall."
"What made you decide?" he asked her.
"You."
"Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too
For I can't help falling in love with you…"
"After the graduation ceremony, I'm leaving," she explained.
Peeta felt himself falter at her words. "So soon?"
"If I don't go then, I won't have the courage to ever go." Katniss took a breath. "Prim understands. She's going to cover for me and tell my parents that I'm at a graduation party. But, I'll actually be on the first bus out of District 12."
He mustered up an encouraging smile for her. "That's great, Katniss. I'm real proud of you."
"Peeta, I want you to come with me."
The air around them turned still.
"What?" he sputtered in shock.
"Think about it—me, you, and Manhattan." Her eyes burned with ferventness at the thought. "I mean, you know how I feel…and I think that you feel the same way. We could do it. We could leave all of this…leave District 12—together. All you have to do is say yes."
Peeta felt her slip something into his hands.
"I know this is a lot to think about," she said softly. "Next Friday night, meet me here. I'll be getting on the ten o'clock bus."
Gathering her things, Katniss made her way towards the clearing to exit the woods.
"By the way, I answered your last prompt."
He looked up, but she was already gone before he could reply.
Peeta realized that her journal was still in his grasp.
Going to their rock, he leaned back to read her answer to his question: What do you want most in the world?
Flipping to the bookmarked page, he found her answer.
You.
"What are you doing up?"
Delly turned on the light of their living room. Wrapping her robe around herself, she joined Peeta on their couch. He had spent a lot of the night looking through their old albums and reading his journals, trying to figure out when he had changed.
"Couldn't sleep," he replied. Closing the album, Peeta turned to his wife. "Are you happy?"
Delly looked at him, her expression confused. "What do you mean?"
"Are you content with everything? With us?"
She sat back, contemplating his question before answering, "Of course. Aren't we supposed to be?"
No, they weren't just supposed to be. That wasn't the point of it all and Peeta desperately wanted her to understand. Something, however, told him that she wouldn't despite how much he explained it.
"Yes, I suppose we are," he replied and Delly rested her head on his shoulder.
He closed his eyes, willing sleep to find him.
Peeta knew it wouldn't.
Because as of two minutes ago, Friday had arrived.
The ceremony had gone off without a hitch. Peeta sat with the rest of the staff on stage—thankfully, far from Coriolanus but next to Effie, who gave him a timid smile. He was infamous in the break room now. Next to Effie sat Haymitch, who peered at him as each of the students received their diploma.
Katniss was right in the middle of the rows of burgundy-gowned students, looking intently at the stage. His gaze went to the stands and he found Prim along with the Everdeens. Prim was obviously her mother's daughter while Katniss favored her father's olive features.
When Katniss walked across the stage to receive her diploma, her smoky eyes flitted to him for just a mere second. It didn't stop his chest from constricting at the sight of her wearing pearls and high heels. She looked like a woman and not the argumentative girl from his English Lit classroom.
Following the ceremony, he met Delly who gave him a quick hug. "You looked great up there."
"Thanks." His eyes scanned the crowd quickly for Katniss. "Did you get some good photos?"
His wife nodded, following his gaze. "Are you looking for someone?"
"No," he replied. "I was supposed to speak to Haymitch, but maybe he's gone back to his office."
"Mr. Mellark!"
Katniss was like sunshine as she rushed toward them. Behind her, Prim followed with Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen at a much slower pace.
"Katniss," he greeted with a smile. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." She was breathless from running. Her eyes went to Delly. "Hello, I'm Katniss Everdeen, a student of your husband—actually, as of a few minutes ago, a former student."
"This is my wife, Delly," he told her. Katniss already knew who she was, having read their whole story in his journal. "Katniss is my best English Literature student."
"Nice to meet you, Katniss," Delly said congenially.
"Hey Mr. Mellark!" Prim bounced to them, her intricate side braid echoing her movement. "Can't wait to see you next year!"
"Me, too." His eyes went briefly to Katniss. "I might not be your teacher next year, but feel free to stop by my classroom."
"These are my parents." Katniss gestured to the handsome-looking couple, maybe two to three years older than he was. "Charlie and Grace Everdeen."
Peeta shook each of their hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." He turned to Delly. "My wife, Delly."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Mr. Everdeen said before looking to Peeta. "Katniss enjoyed your class very much."
"She was a pleasure to teach," Peeta said truthfully. "And, I have no doubt that she's going to be taking the world by storm."
"High marks coming from my husband," Delly added with a smile.
Katniss was crimson at their words. "We should probably get going. We're having a celebration lunch before I head off to that graduation party." She gave Peeta and Delly a final smile. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye Katniss," Delly said. "And, good luck."
Peeta didn't respond.
He would have his say later on.
"It's late," Delly remarked as she put lotion on her hands then pulled back their sheets to sit on their bed. "Are you sure that you want to go to this party?"
"The kids invited me and I don't want to let them down," he told her. "Don't worry about me."
"You know I don't," she replied, her blue eyes rimmed with concern. "You've been so taciturn lately. I don't know what to make of it."
"Old person moodiness, I suppose." He went to her and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back."
"Okay." Delly nodded, smiling gently. "See you later."
Peeta walked out of the room, trying to keep himself from faltering. Slowly, he descended the stairs and out the front door. Because it was summer, the sun had just set on their suburban neighborhood. It was silent except for the sounds of cricket chirps and some neighbor's lawn being watered.
Was he really doing this?
A strange calm had fallen over District 12, as if he was the only resident of this grey town. His footsteps echoed loudly on the gravel and he shuffled along looking at each and every building as he entered the main part of town. His eyes went to the Everdeen Diner and he let out an anxious breath before walking past it and into edge of the forest.
It was a quarter to ten when he reached their spot. Katniss was there waiting for him wearing a pretty floral dress and a jean jacket, a single suitcase by her side.
She smiled at him before her eyes went to his empty hands. "You pack light."
Peeta sighed, shaking his head. "You know that we can't do this."
"Why?" Katniss rushed up to him, stopping just barely before their chests could meet. She looked up at him, her eyes questioning. "I thought that you wanted to get out of here…I thought you wanted more." His heart stopped seeing her eyes begin to water. "I thought—"
His hands went to her shoulders to steady her. "I do."
He ached for Katniss. His stomach was at knots at the sight of her, and her laugh—so many times, Peeta wanted to pull her close at the sound. Even now, the sight of her tears made him want to press his lips to her cheeks.
Then Peeta thought of the repercussions—of how much she'd lose out on if they were together.
"But you can't have me hanging around you," Peeta finished. "Not when you have the world to take over."
She wiped her eyes against the sleeve of her jacket. "Why can't we do it together?"
"We have a connection that can't be denied, but there are some lines that just can't be crossed."
God, did he want to. He knew that if they crossed that line, there was no turning back.
"Teacher, mentor…friend." Katniss smiled wryly, her mouth twisting at the last label. "We could be so much more if you came with me."
"You need to find your own way." Peeta lifted her trembling chin. "I know it's scary, but the world is going to love you, Katniss Everdeen. It's going to love you so much."
"And, you don't love me," she said despondently. "I get it."
"That's almost exactly the opposite of what I meant." His own eyes watered. "I'm in so deep, Katniss, that I'm not sure how I'll get out once you're gone. I do know, however, that this is the best for you and that fact alone will help me find my way."
"I have to go," she told him, attempting a brave smile. "My bus is going to leave without me."
Nodding, Peeta pulled her close, embracing her gently, and slipping the slim card with Cashmere's number into her jean pocket. He had looked her up and discovered that she was living in Brooklyn with her partner. His friend agreed to house Katniss for as long as she needed.
"Close your eyes, Peeta," Katniss whispered against him. "Close them tight."
He did as she requested, his breath shaky and his heart akimbo.
Soft lips pressed to the corner of his mouth, gentle and sure.
Once Peeta opened his eyes, she was gone.
Ten Years Later…
"What's your name, sweetheart?"
The freckled teenager beamed at Katniss before replying, "Emily."
Quickly, she scribbled a message to sweet Emily, who reminded her a lot of Prim. Her sister was currently in the Bay Area, working as a consultant for a fashion website. She would be joining Katniss in Manhattan in about two weeks for Christmas.
Emily held the signed book to her chest. "Miss Everdeen, may I ask you a question?"
Katniss sat back in her chair. "Of course."
The teenager blushed. "The Teacher—is he real?"
Sitting back, Katniss smiled. "Yes. He is very real."
Johanna Mason, her agent, stepped in after Katniss and Emily took a photo together.
"You have the Q & A in five minutes," she informed Katniss. "Sign your last book and let's get you set up at the podium."
Katniss nodded tiredly and with a wink, Johanna dashed off to speak to the owner of the small bookstore.
The open cover of her book was placed in front of her.
"You know I was going to ask the same question as Emily." Katniss glanced at the hand, holding the book open—worn, strong, long fingers—no ring, but she could see the fading of a tan line where one once was. "Beat me to the punch, I guess."
"Teenagers. They're quite keen on romance," she remarked before looking up. "What—"
Peeta Mellark stood before her—worn, strong, and long, just like his hands. "Hello, Katniss."
She was already rounding the table, her arms wrapping around his neck. He stiffened before falling into her touch, his arms going around her waist.
Katniss pressed her lips to the barest bit of his skin along his collar. "Hello, Mr. Mellark."
They pulled apart and he raised her chin with his finger, winking at her. "Peeta."
And, she shivered—damn, did she still shivered for him.
"Hello, Peeta."
Would you be interested in more? Feedback would be awesome.
Characters mentioned: Bridget Jones (Bridget Jones Diary), The Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol), Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities), Tita De La Garza (Like Water For Chocolate)
Song: Can't Help Falling in Love-Haley Reinhart (Original performed by Elvis Presley)
Until Part Two, JLaLa