A/N So, three years later and I finally got the second chapter up! I'm so sorry. Thank you to those of you who stuck by this and reviewed. It was so nice and motivating to open this account to see 20 reviews asking me to keep writing! I have two important things to say
1. This is the first time I've written something where I'm not 100% sure where it's going. I'd love some input, so please write in the reviews what you think should happen, or where this story should go.
2. Anyone who reviews will get a sneak peak of next chapter sent to their PM (Hint: it may or may not be the voicemail Peeta left?) ;)
I tumbled into my empty room around two in the morning. The alcohol was not longer in my system, but I still felt sick. As if my guts were being wrenched, or as if I had taken at least five more shots than I actually had. A tear spilled from my eye as I looked around the empty room, filled with boxes and discarded papers, and of course, the odd starbucks cup. My roommate had moved home just two days before and the whole room just looked... empty. I thought of Finnick's arms wrapped around me, missing the warmth, the company -
I stopped, and my stomach lurched again. Oh, God. What have I done. I ran down the hall to the shared bathroom, and threw myself into a stall. I barely made it before everything from that night came back up. I wiped my mouth off with the back of my hand before pushing myself off of the grimy floors. I flushed the toilet and left the stall, heading over to the sink. I turned the faucet, and the water started pouring out. My hands gripped the sides of sink as my body threatened to collapse. My knuckles were becoming white with the grip.
I lifted my head to look into the mirror. My face was flushed, pale, and splotchy. My hair was sticking out all over the place - something I was usually fine with, because normally it was like this after and evening in with Peeta. But tonight it was different. I couldn't bare to look at myself.
I finished washing my hands and then clumsily made my way back to my room. When I opened the door I almost screamed when I saw Jo sitting on my bed.
"Damnit, Jo!" I yelled, my hand clutching my heart. It was racing. "You gotta warn people. Also, How the hell did you get in here?"
"I have my ways" She replied cheekily, raising an eyebrow. "You didn't leave with us."
"Jo, it's almost three in the morning." I said, exasperated.
"Yeah, and I reckon you just got home?" Her eyebrows rose. The air was filled with her accusing aura. I looked down, I couldn't bear to look at her. That would mean admitting what I did. "You can't pretend nothing happened, Kat. I saw you guys at the club, it wasn't exactly platonic."
"Whatever, Fin flirts with everyone, you know that."
"Yeah, but you don't." I clenched my jaw. "Kat, you have never been one to make a rash decision. You… You're the type of person who likes normalcy - stability." I roll my eyes at her.
"Don't pretend like you're better than me." I said, cooly.
"I'm not." She said, harshly. "I just think you should watch out before someone gets hurt." Her voice raising in volume with each word.
"Wow, Jo. It almost sounds like you care."
"I care what happens to Peeta!" I went silent.
We paused. She was trying to figure out what to say next, and I was trying not to throw my shoe at her. I knew she was Peeta's friend long before she was mine, he was the one who introduced us. But, I couldn't help but feel betrayed at her words.
"Well, I'm glad to know you care so much." I spat. The words feeling like venom in my mouth. Jo picked herself off my bed and made her way to the door. "Wait!" I called after her. She turned around, still glaring at me. "Are you… You're not going to tell him." Her eyes dropped. "Are you?"
"Katniss, I don't know if I can do that." She turned and walked out the door, slamming it behind her. My breath caught in my throat. All of a sudden it felt like I couldn't breathe. I could feel my pulse beating in my head, my heart was pounded against my chest, God, is this a heart attack. The tears flowed from my eyes down my cheeks, staining the dress - Jo's dress - that I was still wearing. The room began to spin, and I tumbled over to my bed. I buried myself in the blankets, and let the darkness consume me.
I woke up the next morning with a migraine. I rolled over and check my phone that was on the night stand.
3 New Messages.
I groaned. I clicked to open it. Just as I suspected. Two were from Peeta, and one was from Gale. I turned my phone off, not wanting to deal with the inevitable. I quickly got of bed, showered, and threw on some clothes. I grabbed my keys and my wallet and headed out.
I found myself wandering around the deserted campus, most of the students had gone home already; I'd be moving out tomorrow. I found a small studio apartment just off campus, which would be perfect for my last two years at university.
I ended up wandering a few blocks off campus to a small cafe, not many of the students go there. It's one of those mom and pop shops, where you find a lot of the locals, who have lived in this town for a lifetime. I've always found it quiet, relaxing. Sometimes it feels good to get away from the chaos of the young adult, seemingly, epidemic, and just let the quiet take over.
My quiet, however, was soon interrupted by a familiar voice calling my name from down the street. I groaned.
"Katniss!" I turned, pulling on the "my life isn't falling apart" facade. I smiled, at Finnick, his golden hair looking perfectly tousled against his bronzed skin. "Long time, no see." He commented smiling, "Are you grabbing a drink?" He asked, pointing towards the cafe. I nodded. "Mind if I join you." I could feel the panic begging to take over my body again as my heart began to pound. Finnick furrowed his brow, "or not? If you don't want me to."
I shook my head, "No, it's fine. I'd love the company." I forced a smile to my face as we walked into the cafe. We went inside and ordered our coffees, he ordered an iced latte with vanilla, I got a cappuccino, then sat down at a small table.
"So, how are you?" He asked casually, his hand raking through his hair - God, I loved that hair.
"I've been swamped." He raised an eyebrow. "I've been packing up and getting ready to move into an apartment in town. Trying to get it all done myself during finals week has proven to be.. Well, a bit chaotic to say the least." I explained. He laughed, and pulled out a pen. He grabbed a napkin and scribbled something on it.
"Well, if you need any help, you know with the heavy lifting… let me know." He said, handing me the napkin. I couldn't help but blush. He pushed the napkin into my hand and got up to leave. Right as he got to the door, I called after him.
"Finnick, wait!" I called, running after him. He turned on his feet. I ran to catch up with him. "You haven'..." He raised an eyebrow, "You haven't told anyone, have you?" He looked briefly hurt, before he covered it up with his cocky Finnick Odair smirk. He leaned into me, I could feel his breath against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
"Nope" he said lightly, pulling away and walking out of the door. Relief flooded through me, but also annoyance. I shook it off. As I started back down the street I felt my phone buzzing in pocket. I pulled it out and opened the screen.
1 New Voicemail. 2 New Texts
Peeta. Shit. I finally gave in and opened the texts he had sent me this morning.
'Hey Jo said u left the club early. Everything ok? Call me, I want to make sure u got home safe'
The guilt consumed me. I clicked on the next one.
'Katniss, Jo called me. Call me, Jo sounded worried'
My breath hitched in my throat.
'Katniss what the fuck is going on, J and G won't tell me anything'
A tear fell from my eye and splashed on the screen.
'Jo called. I'm done.'
