Author chit-chat: Holla everybody! I hope you all doing okay? I would like to say a few things if you wouldn't mind sparing a couple of minutes? *puppy eyes* Okay first of all, this is my first attempt at writing a proper fanfic and actually posting in on here so please considered that I am still a baby learning its first step! XD I have read a lot of fanfics, and I mean A LOT, and thus this later leads me to be inspired and motivated into writing my own fanfic too. Secondly, I'm not a professional or a serious writer but I love to write stories because I simple just love to be able to express my inner thoughts and fantasy into words and share it people so they may also enjoy my stories. :) And thirdly, English is NOT my mother language but I have lived in England for over 6 years now so my English has gotten MUCH better over the years but I'm not perfect either, but I do apologised for any mistakes or grammatical errors you may come across reading my fanfics in the future, plus I don't have a beta reader or anyone to proof read my story before posting it up but myself so I do best at proofreading my work before posting them up atleast three times but I may missed out on one or two mistakes and for that, I apologised.
This story is mainly evolves around PEENICK AKA Finnick/Peeta romance but other paring may also make an appearance in the future. I was inspired by the song "Summerboy" by Lady Gaga, my love for one of my favourite otps Peenick and the thoughts of the up and coming summer break. While I was writing the first chapter, I just wanted to write a light-hearted story cause I've read way too many dramatic, angsts and sad romantic stories that would make me sad and depressed so I just wanted to write something more cheerful and happy to cheer myself up a bit and hopefully others too. X3 Now I try to keep the character as close as the original characterizations as much as possible but because of the way I wanted to portrays the characters, I may have to resort to a bit of OCC-ness here and remember that this is my first attempt at writing a fanfic so please be gentle with me and also reviews and criticism would be greatly appreciated because I love to know what the readers thoughts are (e.g. do you like it? Why?) , ideas and possible ways of how I could improve the story and myself as a writer.
So without further ado, please enjoy. (So sorry for the long author notes.)
WARNING: GAY LOVE (if you don't like that. Why are you here?), eventual LEMONY SMUT, drinking, partying, chessy fluffs, possible OOC-ness and all those terrible things that makes you happy.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything that related to The Hunger Games. If I did, there would be much more gay/lesbian romance that even I would be sick of it. XD
P.s. This first chapter will be told through Peeta's eyes but I may possibly change P.O.V in the future. Plus the italics style fonts is meant for thoughts from the character spoken.
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Chapter 1 - Packing
"Woke up on the right side of the bed
What's up with this Prince song inside my head?
Hands up if you're down to get down tonight
'Cause it's always a good time
Slept in all my clothes like I didn't care
Hopped into a cab, take me anywhere
I'm in if you're down to get down tonight
'Cause it's always a good time
Good morning and good night
I'll wake up at twilight
It's gonna be alright
We don't even have to try
It's always a good time (Whooo)"
"Good Times" by Owl City featuring Carly Rae Jepsen
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*honk honk* "Hey! Peeta! Your prince in shining armour is here to pick you up!"
I grin to myself at the voice calling for my name and drop whatever I was doing and rush to nearest window sill and peek out the window while shielding his eyes with his hand from the morning sun rise to see the familiar blue jeep parked on front of his half house half bakery and none other than Gale Hawthorne on the driver seat who gave a single wave as he see my face and smile up at me. I then notice Katniss got out of the front passenger seat, who also waves and smile at me as she approach the front door.
"Hey Gale! I'll be down in a minute, just got to check if I've got everything, alright?" I quickly shouted back to Gale and turned around to carry on checking everything that I had laid on the bed before I decide to put them into my backpack.
As I mentally make a checklist in my head of all the things I need for a holiday at the beach, I can hear the front door open and close by the little chime attach to the door and Katniss saying greetings to my parents and my brother, Rye, and then followed by running footsteps up the stairs to my bedroom before Katniss burst through the door with her face filled with excitement.
"Hey Peet- What!? You still not finished packing up yet? Oh come on Peeta!" She make a pout face like an unsatisfied little girl with her hands on her hips.
I laugh lightly at her obvious frustrations because she has been so excited about this summer vacation me, Gale and Katniss been planning way before high school finish since none of us have ever seen the sea before, so why not do it together while we are still young, free and full of energy? You only live once, right?
"Don't you worry your pretty head over this. I'm just checking if I have everything that's all. Now where was I?" I look back at every item neatly spread out on his bed sheet.
Katniss merely let out a puff and lean on the doorframe as she watch and wait for me to finish packing. "Fine. Just hurry up will ya?"
"Yeah, yeah." I roll my eyes and carry on with my business of putting each stuffs into my back as I check them off the list in my mind.
Okay, so, let's see here, clothes? Check.
Lots of sun block? Also check.
Flip-flop? Yep.
Sketchbook and art materials? Definitely.
Wallet and house keys? Got it.
Toiletries? All done.
iPod and headphones? Can't miss that.
Phone? In my short pocket.
That's seems to be everything. Anything else….?
As I zip up my backpack, I remembered one crucial item that I couldn't afford to forget, "Ah-ha!" I exclaimed as I make a leap over the bed and grab my trusty sunglasses and put them over my head and spread my body out in a provocative manners for Katniss to inspect me. "How do I look?" I ask seductively and raise an eyebrow and cheekily grin at Katniss who just roll her eyes and an exaggerate sigh at my silly act.
"You look awful." She snipe back and laughs at herself when I make the puppy teary-sad face that only I could pull with my charming face and bright blue eyes, or so Gale and Katniss would or everyone else would say.
"You know I'm only kidding with you right? Now come on and get up! We gotta go!" she let out happily as she sashay towards me and playfully tuck at my arm.
"Okay, okay. I'm coming now. Jeez. It's not even nine yet. " I sigh then got up reluctantly and smile fondly at Katniss's eagerness to get me out the house.
"Well the earlier we leave, the longer we'll have time to spend on the beach once we get there won't we?" She gave me that oh-you're-so-stupid look and then sashay away to the door wearing a baggy white shirt made with sheer material made to show off the person bra or in Katniss case, a simple white bikini top accompany with a pair of denim hot pants that cover all her bums and modesty but showcase her slightly tan slender legs perfectly, finish with a pair of white strappy gladiator saddles with wedge heels with gold studs details. But not to forget Katniss's hair bread that come down and sit on her right shoulder and that mockingjay pin-badge that she always wore as a necklace, one that she was given by her close friend Madge who had to move away due to parents business issues. Thankfully they are still in contact with each other.
"Have I told you yet that you looked pretty nice today?" I commented as I made a grab for my backpack and hoist it over my shoulder and followed after Katniss to the door.
Katniss stopped mid-track and turn to give me a look as if I just insulted her dead ancestors, but that quickly change to a warm smile with a light blush appear across her cheeks. "Thank you, Peeta. I know I don't usually dress up this good often, if at all, but since we are going on a holiday, I just thought I'll make an effort for a change and Prim kinda help a little, well, a lot actually." She nervously laughs at herself and brush a stray hair away from her face.
"Ofcause Prim would be the one up for the task, since she is so much more "girlier" than you ar- Ouch! That hurts!" I yelped in surprise when Katniss gave me a smack on the arm. "You meanie, I was only joking." I said in a sad tone and make a hurt face and rub my smacked arms as if it was actually really painful.
"Oh do shut up, it was only a light smack." She said crossing her arms and rolled her eyes again for the second time already and heads towards before stopping, "You coming or what?"
"Alright, alright. I'm coming now." I reply and followed her track before stopping at the mirror to look myself over to check if I looked alright. I have a pair of white and blue strips shorts that comes down just above the knees and white t-shirt and unbutton pale blue shirt over the top, finishing with a pair of black converse with white straps and stitches.
"Yes-yes, you look dashing too now come on!" she said for the final time before she was out and descending down the stairs.
I shake my head and smile to myself before following her down the stairs before I was greeted by my parents and Rye, waiting for me at the door. Mother was the first to approach and hugged me to her embrace.
"You looked after yourself okay? Promise to contact us whenever you need us or if anything happens, okay?" she asked in a worried tone as she let go of me and look me into my eyes.
"Yes mother, I promise." I smile fondly at her and she smile back at me with the worried express cease from her face.
"Like your mother said, just stay safe alright?" Dad said before pulling me into a bear hug.
"Yes ofcause, I have Katniss and Gale with me too so you two have no need to worry okay?" I replied with a nod and a pat on my back.
"Hey Peet, you can go and have some fun but don't get too carried away, if you know what I mean." Rye commented and wiggles his eyebrows and I blush a tomato red.
"What?! I-ofcause not! I wouldn't- I'm just-oh nevermind." I huffed and make an angry face at Rye who just laughs at himself.
"Son, we have this conversation before. You are already 18 so therefore old enough to make your own decision, if you choose to hook up with someone, just remember to stay safe, alright?" Dad injects and glares at Rye who just continues to sniggers to himself.
"We promised we wouldn't be angry at you if you bring home a guy or two. Just picked a nice looking one with good personality okay?" Mother said smiling and put her hand on my shoulder to reassure me.
"Yeah, can't wait till you come back home with a guy standing next to you with his hand on your waist and a ring on your finger." He smugly said.
"Oh shut up! All of you!" I exclaim as Rye once more laughs in hysteric and ruffles my ashy blond hair playfully in my annoyance.
*honk honk* "Look, I got to go. Gale and Katniss are waiting for me." I said as I heard Gale horning for me.
"Wait, Peeta. Here are some fresh pastries for you and your friends and some extra cash for you too just in case." Mother said in a hurry as she handed me a plastic back filled with goodies and an envelope wish I presume is the cash.
"Thank you for the pastries, mother, dad, but the cash. Really, I couldn't. I have enough already." I was about to grab for the envelope to give them back to mother but not before dad made a grab for my wrist first to stop me from doing so.
"Peeta. Don't. Just keep it." Dad said with a stern look.
"But dad, you know I can't-"
"Peeta, please. Just take it. Even if you might ended up not using it but just keep it with you just in case of emergency, okay?" Mum asked with a pleading look.
I was about to protest again but looking at mum's begging eyes and dad stone-cold stares, I had to give in to them, if it makes them happy.
I sigh. "Fine." Not that I'll be using it anyway, I thought to myself. "Look, I got to go now so I'll see you guys later. Bye for now!" I said quickly as I dash out of the door and heads towards the back of Gale's jeep and open the trunk and drop my backpack into them among Gale's and Katniss's stuffs.
I turn to see my parents waving at me and Rye leaning on the door frame with his arms and legs crossed with that ever annoying smug look on his face.
"Have fun and stay safe alright!" Mum shouted.
"Drive safely Gale!" Dad join in with Gale putting his thump up as a reply.
"Bye!" I shout and wave one last time before they retreat back into the bakery with dad turning around and flip the "Close" sign around to "Open" on the glass door.
"Finally. That took you long enough." Katniss said in an annoyance tone that betrayed by the smile on her face as I hopped into the passengers back seats.
"Oh catnip you couldn't say much, with the way Prim clinging on to you and not to mention your mother." Gale snide back at her in which he receive a death glare back.
"Guys, guys! Come on now. Let's not get in a fight so soon. We're not even out of the district yet! Plus we will be spending most of our summer together so let's be civel, okay?" I interject between them, knowing how Gale and Katniss always argue with each other over the littlest things.
"Whatever." Katniss huffed angrily and looked away and out at the window while Gale just grins to himself with the victory of him getting the better on Katniss.
"So, Peeta, where would you like your knight in shining armour to take you today?" Gale asks in a seductive tone with that adoring smile plastered on his face. Always one to flirt isn't he?
"Hhmm… let's see…. Oh yes. To District 4 we go!" I grin back at him happily.
"As you wish." He smiles and turns back and even though we couldn't see it but we could sense Katniss doing one of her eyes roll at our friendly flirts.
I listen to the engine roar to life as Gale starts the car and soon we were driving pass the houses and buildings and away from the mountains and woods that represents District 12 before heading towards the sea, sun and sands that is District 4. At one point Katniss turned the radio on and the song 'C'mon' by Ke$ha comes on and pretty much instantly me and Katniss look at each other and grin stupidly happy as we sang and dance in Gale's jeep like some crazy young kids, which we kind of are but we also at that age where we in between transitions of becoming an adult but still embracing our young-foolish-happy side to the max. Even Gale, who is supposedly not too keen on the pop and dance music, can be seen tapping his fingers on the steering wheels and whistling to the tones with a poker face, pretending he doesn't like it.
Things couldn't get any better at the idea of me, getting to spend the whole of my summer with two of my bestest friends, going on a holiday at the beach in District 4, surely thinks couldn't get any better than that for me?… Or could they?
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Author chit-chat (again) – Holla again! So what do you guys and girls thinks? Let me know on the comment/review sections. :3 I know nothing happen much but it was like an intro/prologue kind of chapter thingy so… it is what it is! XD Now, I don't know when I will be posting the next chapter but the more I see people liking my story and asking me to write more, then that would most definitely boost my confident and motivation to write the next chapter ASAP! So, I hope to see you again in the next chapter, CIAO! *skippidy skips to La-La Land"
Jesse xoxo