My father glanced between the two of us awkwardly as he stood and crossed the room, kissing my temple as he went. "I'll just go help your mother and sister then."
I nodded, not taking my eyes away from hers. "Okay dad." Once he had left, I cleared my throat. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"I came to apologize. Is there somewhere more...private we could talk?" She asked, blushing slightly and looking around for, I don't know, hidden cameras? Was this a reality show or something I didn't know about?
"Sure." Why did I say that? "We can go upstairs to my room." Why the fuck did I just say that?!
She nodded and I turned towards the stairs, worrying my lower lip between my teeth and racking my brain for words to say and reasoning. Why was she here to apologize? Out of the last million times that she has verbally or physically abused me, what makes this the opportune time for an apology?
I pushed my way into my slightly messy room and shoved aside a few open books that were lying on my bed, expecting her to take the open chair across the room, but instead she decided to sit half in my lap in the small, cramped, clear space of my bed.
"S-so...what did you w-wanna talk...about?" I gulped, trying my hardest to ignore the close proximity and the feel of her cool breath blowing over the expanse of my neck. My "little hunter" responded a bit, but after focusing on unpleasant things for a moment or two, he settled back down and I took a deep breath.
She sighed and turned my head with her hand to look me in the eyes. "Katniss, I really do want to apologize. My behavior these last few years has been...terrible to say the least."
Now I was slightly upset. "Why now? Why not a month ago when you taped razors to my locker? Or the month before that when you went around telling everyone that I spent my weekends drugged up on morphling and all alone in my house with porn playing on my laptop?" Tears were pricking at the edges of my eyes now and I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying anything more.
She sighed yet again, and when she spoke, I could hear the sadness in her voice. "Katniss I-I'm sorry. I'm so truly sorry. I could apologize a thousand times and still not say it enough. It was just because I wanted to be accepted. Popular. Cato wouldn't have wanted me any other way."
Ah yes. Cato. The biggest jerk that's ever walked in the entire country of Panem. He thought he was such hot shit because his dad owned every masonry company in the city. Star Quarterback, a black belt in karate, and he had every girl (and even a few guys; Peeta and Gale both included) pining for him hardcore. Last time I checked, Clove was Cato's first choice when we were freshmen.
"So you stopped talking to me, stopped being my best friend and my rock, and even went so low as to start fucking bullying me, for a fucking guy?" I was beyond angry now, so I pushed her away and stood to my feet to pace the length of my room. I could feel her brown eyes burning holes into my back as I tried to wrap my mind around the situation. My best friend, the person I thought I could trust with my life and my secret, left me and began bullying me for the friendship and affection of a guy?! And an assholish jerk at that!
"Yeah..." She sniffled, and that was the first sign that told me she was crying. But no matter how furious I was, and how much I honestly wanted nothing to do with her, I could never stand to see her cry. Not when we were younger, and definitely not now. So I crouched down and warily laid my hands on her knees, rubbing the bare skin with my thumbs.
"Hey Clove...hey...calm down." I attempted to soothe, burning rage still gnawing at my gut. "I'm not mad anymore, see?" I lied, biting my tongue again hard enough to fill my tongue with the mettalic taste of blood.
Surprisingly, she threw her arms around my neck and fell to the floor with me, sobbing against my chest.
"I messed up so much." She hiccuped. "You h-hate me, Cato broke u-up with me, a-and none of my f-friend will talk to m-me." She began to wail harder here, and I awkwardly started stroking the back of her head.
Almost as if we were a couple. I thought, holding her just a little bit closer. Almost, but not quite. I sighed sadly, hoping against hope she wouldn't notice the loving and soft lilt.
Eventually she pulled away and her tearful brown eyes locked with my green ones, slowly moving closer and closer.
Maybe I'm imagining things. I began to panic. She's straight; she'd never want me.
As soon as that thought crossed my mind, her eyes fluttered shut and out lips met in an infinite caress that shot off huge fireworks in the back of my mind.
Definitely not my imagination. I thought, trying not to smile as she tangled her hands in my hair, pulling me closer and holding me tight as if I would ever leave her. Like I could ever leave her.
