Author chit-chat – Well hellooo everyo-uuhh… *deadly glares from reviewers* okay, first of all, I am SO,SO,SO SORRY for making you all wait for like 3 weeks before another chapter popped up. My excuse is that I've just got so much college works that I had to do and so I really didn't have any time to be doing anything else that I may want to do and concentrate solely on my work because I really want to get a decent grade for this year of college before it ends in 5 weeks! So really, I am so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. But I've been thinking about this chapter for a while now, thinking how it could come out and I've spend 8 hours maybe even more going over my writings and change this and that to see what work best and this is the results of it.
This chapter continues right where we left off at the last chapter, and finally our main stars Peeta and Finnick finally gets to meeteach other in person for the first time. This chapter is also slightly longer than the last so I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as much as I have enjoyed written it. (saying that but being the one writing rather than reading can quite frustrating sometimes.) XD
And yes, I have seen all of the follows/favorites and comments/reviews you lovely viewers have left for me. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR KIND WORDS AND SUPPORTS.
Special thanks to morgenaxmerlin, ExtReme-Rain17, ZanyXoe, Dreams Or Fantasies, mrsmarshallmathers1 and a guest for your time to leave a review for me to remind myself to update faster! XD
As always, keep in mind that my works has not been beta-read or proof read by anyone other than myself so any grammar, spelling, and all that mistakes is all mine if you spots one or two. Now, without much further ado, please enjoy!
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: Apart from the storylines, 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 chapter is once again is in the first person point of view, meaning it is through Peeta's eyes and remember, the italics fonts are meant for the thoughts coming from Peeta's mind.
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Chapter 2 – You Were There
"Right there
In a middle of a conversation
Wasn't anything special you said
It was just there
Right then
I didn't have time even over think it
I looked at you and all of a sudden (haha) I was all in
It's like my knees are all weak and them butterflies
They were dancing taking all of my air
From that moment on it was very clear
That's when I knew I fell in love
That's when I knew you were the one
That's when I knew you stole my heart away from me
That's when I knew that I was sunk
That was the moment that I knew I was in love
That's when I knew... that's when I knew... that's when I knew"
'That's When I Knew' by Alicia Keys
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About three quarters on the journey, we all settles down to a comfortable silence between the three of us. Gale sitting up straight with his right arm dangling out the open window while his left hand on the steering wheels, eyes concentrating on the road. Katniss at one point falls asleep so we decided to turn the radio volume down to just a subtle background noise while I sat on the back enjoying the passing sceneries and the warm breeze coming through the opened windows. We are currently going through the woodlands that surrounded districts 4, the forest is so calm and beautiful with tall trees and all sort of wild flowers and mushrooms dotted all around the forest floor. At one point I even notice a dear hopping away from the road side and into the wild, away from the manmade territory.
Note to self: Make Gale drive me back here later on someday so I could do a sketch or two here.
"Hey guys look, we're here." Gale pipes up, interrupting my train of thoughts.
"Oh wow…" I stare in amazement as we broke through the forest ground and into an open landscape with field of smooth grass all the way down to the mass of white stone buildings mixed with a bit of wood here and there all clustered around near the sea shore, where the real beauty lies. Soft beige-almost white sands are covered with numbers of people scattered all around along with parasols, beach towels and some people running towards the glistening clear blue sea with gentle waves sweeping the edge of the shore.
"Hey, Katniss wake up, we're here." I said in a hurry and shake her arm lightly into wake her up, hardly able to contain my excitement.
"Huh wha-oh." She mumbled groggily and rubbing her eyes off of sleeps and slowly looked up only for her jaws to drop with wide eyes at the view in front of her.
"So guys, I was thinking. Would you prefer to go to the guest house we planned to stay first to drop our bags or we can just hit the beach not and check in to the place later." Gale suggested.
Me and Katniss both look at each other in eyes and knows exactly what our answers would be so we just stares at Gale, who in-turn took a glance towards us for an answer which is clearly plastered on our grinning face.
Gale just raised an eyebrow at our grinning faces and just smirk before putting his attention back on the road. "I thought you two would. To the beach we go then."
Me and Katniss both do the whooping noises of celebration as we turn up the radio and start dancing and singing along to the song that was playing, which happened to be "Dancing Queen" by ABBA while Gale just laugh lightly at our silly acts and shakes his head before carry on with his duty of driving the two wild, crazy yet adorable best friends of his to the awaiting sea.
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Once Gale parked his jeep along the parking lot, we quickly jumped out the vehicle and grab all the necessities we need from our bags before we quickly dash towards the sands and swiftly took off our shoes before we step into the soft-slightly hot grains.
Me and Katniss was about to race towards the sea before Gale stops us and suggested that we should go to one of the shop to rent a beach parasol and maybe a few chairs first and then set up a little camp before we hit the water.
Katniss grumbles a bit but I convince her that that it is probably the best we do what Gale have suggested so we trudge towards the nearest shop with a pouting Katniss right between me and Gale. We ended up just getting the parasol and a few bottle of water but not the chairs because we decided we don't need them because we can just sit on the sands anyway. We left the shop shortly before searching for a nice quite spot with enough space so we could set up our camp and drop off our stuffs.
After a few minutes of searching we found a spot we all agree on, quickly we drop our bags and we strip off of our clothes to just our swim wears while we let Gale deal with putting up the parasol and laying down the huge duvet that we bought along with us as a substitute to just using our beach towels. Me and Katniss wasted no time waiting on Gale so we quickly dash towards the glimmering water just a few paces from us before we practically stumble into the water giggling like little kids and start splashing water at each other, loving how fresh and cool the salt water feels on our skin to the contrast of the hot climate.
Our childish fun was interrupted when a plastic blow-up beach ball hit me square in the face by surprise that I tumble backward into the water even though the hit didn't hurt me whatsoever. Katniss was in fit of laughter that she had to hold onto her stomach where it starts to hurts from laughing too hard. I glare at her and then shift my vision up to the dry land where the culprit who stood proudly with his arms crossed and a smug look on his stupidly good looking face.
I quickly grab the ball and chuck it back at him and he easily caught it with both of his hands and tucked it under his right arm. I make a pouty face and crossed my arms pretending to be angry at him.
"Aww Come on Peeta, that didn't hurt one bit." He smiles teasingly at me before slowly step into the water and towards me.
"Well my feelings did." I huffed, crossing my arms and turn my face away from him.
Gale then reaches out his free arm and pulled me into him for a side hug. "I am so sorry Peeta. How about I make it up to you by us teasing Katniss too?" he whispered the last part into my ears and I couldn't help but grin and turn my face back to him and we both nodded before we start stalking slowly towards Katniss who seems to be wary of our intentions and slowly step backward.
"Uhh, what are you guys doing?" Katniss asked in a slight nervous tone as she eyed both me and Gale suspiciously as we got closer and closer to her with a matching devilish grin on our face.
Gale drop the ball and we both jumped on her before she could react, I made a grab for her arms while Gale start tickling her around her rip areas and she started laughing and trashing hysterically and I would have had a hard time holding onto her if it wasn't for all the muscle in my arms that I have gain from helping my dad and brother lifting hundred pounds of flour at the bakery.
"Oh my god stop, stahp! Oh my god please stop!" she started tearing up so we both let go of her, not wanting to actually upset her and high five each other at our success on the assault on tickling Katniss nearly to death.
Katniss was sitting on her knees breathing hard and gathering herself back up, her body is above water since we are still in the shallow end. "Oh my god guys that was really mean and uncalled for." She said matter-of-factly and cross her arms, glaring angrily at us.
Me and Gale both apologised and gave her an apologetic hugs and she just huff and gave in. Once we let go of her, she reached for the ball and threw it as far as she could to the deeper area of the sea and jump into the water before she swims towards.
"First one to get the ball gets to pick the best bedroom!" she shouted as she continues her strokes towards the ball.
We both look at each other before quickly jump into action and followed her.
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After an hour or so of having fun in the water, I called for a break and the other two agreed so we left the sea and onto the soft dry sands heading towards our camp. We got ourselves dried up and settle down under the shades on the duvet and put on our tops but didn't bother with our pants. After a moment of just lying and just relaxing, Gale suggested he wanted to go get some snacks and Katniss agreed to go along but I wanted to stay here because I wanted to do some drawing of the seas while we are taking a break. And so they left heading for the shops while I grab my backpack and took out my pencils and water colouring pencils and place them neatly around me on the soft mat with my sketch book on my stretch out legs.
I began to sketch a quick out line of me, Gale and Katniss messing around in the sea before adding more details and started putting colours in and use a bit of water from one of the water bottle that I've pour into a plastic cup I've prepared. While I was lost in my work however, I've failed to notice someone approached me and stood right in front of me. I was still oblivious to the fact of someone is literally next to me and continue on the drawing before the person lightly cough to get my attention which cause me to jump and I almost drop the paint brush I had in my hands. I look up to see who wanted my attention, holding up my free hand to shield my eyes from the afternoon sun light.
"Hey." Said a guy with a smooth, masculine voice and a distinct rich accent.
"Umm… Hi?" I reply, trying to get a good look of the guy but he was standing right in front of sun facing me so I could only make out his silhouette and a surfboard that he's holding.
"Would you mind if I sit next to you?" he asked politely yet with a hint of flirt in it.
Is he hitting on me?
"Umm… okay, sure." I said as I scoop up my stuff and put them into my bag and scoot over a bit to give a decent space for the stranger to sit on.
He sigh in content as he sat down right next to me and plopped his surfboard on the sand and rest his arms on his slightly raised knees. "That's much better. So, what's your name?" he asked facing me with a warm smile.
My heart skipped a beat. The person that was sitting right next to me was unbelievably handsome. From his strong- yet smooth jaw, his damp bronze hair sticking to his forehead, his slightly plump raspberry-pink lips and that striking sea-green eyes. The pair of eyes that seem to twinkle slightly when moved, those kind of eyes that can calm your inner conflict no matter how angry or sad you may be and make you want to just give into it, the longer you stare at them. His wet suit is half open showing his tanned-tone, chiselled chest, all the way down to his abs where a light patch of happy trail lead down to the crotch area. The oh-so-good-looking guy must have noticed me staring longingly at him so he just smirked and grin at me.
I broke out from my trance and looked away quickly to compose myself as I feel the rush of blood going up my face when I realised I've been caught staring at him.
Oh lord what am I doing? What am I doing? This is so embarrassing! Calm yourself Peeta. Calm yourself. He's just asking a question for goodness sake! Be cool. Breath. Be cool.
"I – my name is Peeta. Peeta Mellark." I gulp on air before reply hesitantly, feeling confident again to look back. Trying my hardest to focus on his face and not his naked torso.
"Peeta huh? I like that name. It's cute." He purrs, eyes scanning over my face and lips. "My name is Finnick. Finnick Odair. It's nice to meet you Peeta." He said smiling at me and holding out his right hand.
I reluctantly shook Finnick's hand. "Nice to meet you too." smiling back at him.
Our hands were connected longer than it should, along with our smiles before we both let go.
"So Peeta, you're not from around here are you? I've never seen such a cute guy such as you around here before."
I blushed harder at the teasing comment he made. "Oh no, I'm just on a holiday with my friends. Who's obviously not here as they have gone to get some snacks but they will be back in a minute or two. I take it you're from around here then?"
"Absolutely. Been here since the day I was born. And how funny, I'm just waiting for my friends too since they ran off to go get something. So tell me Peeta, where are you from?"
"I'm from District 12."
"District 12? Isn't that way up north? What is it like up there?"
"Oh well, surrounded by mountain range and wood forest. A lot cooler up there I guess. Kind of like a total opposite of here."
"Sounds interesting. I would love to go up there sometimes. See what it's like for myself."
"Haha, maybe I could be your tour guide and show you around." I smile at him.
"Maybe." He beams back. He glace down and notice my forgotten drawing on my laps.
"I take it you like drawing? May I have the pleasure of a glimpse in your sketchbook?" He cocked his head towards my sketchbook.
His compliment and his politeness make me blushed even more. "It's just my hobbies really, and yes ofcause you can have a look, if your hands are dry." I cheekily reply and hand my book to Finnick who made a show of wiping his hands on his thighs and do jazz hands for me to see and happily took the offered book.
Finnick gently turn each page and spend a moment or two to appreciate the works that has been drawn so delicately yet so immaculate, displaying the full intensity of ideas, inspirations and thoughts that have been put into each drawing.
"Oh wow Peeta, really, this is fantastic. You are the most talented artist I've ever seen." He smile genuinely and handed the book back.
"Th-thanks." I flushed even harder than before.
At this rate my head is going to turn into a tomato!
Finnick open his mouth, about to say something before someone shouted his name to get his attention. Finnick and I both looked behind him to see a guy and a girl stood there, wearing the same wetsuits as the one Finnick has on.
Well. Half on him shall I say.
The guy standing there was tall, handsome and muscular. Incredibly muscular, his arms, legs, everywhere are muscle. His jaw is strong and his hair is of caramel/blond hair with the fringe turn up to a quiff upward and the obvious big bulge between his toned legs.
Must be using some strong hair gel on his hair if is able to withstand the water and still hold on to the stylized shape. And that bulge…
The girl stood next to him was shorter but still quite tall, much lither but with a hint of tone muscles on the arms and thighs. Her face had a beauty with a hint of fierceness to it. Her raven hair is style with a straight fringe on the front and the rest of her hair pulled back into a high ponytail with the tips of her hair dyed in crimson red.
Scary looking. Definitely not one to mess with. Is she that guy girlfriend?
Finnick let out a sigh before turning back at me and quickly grab a pencil nearby and wrote something onto my sketchbook before standing up when he's finish.
"Sorry I had to leave in a rush, I hope to see you again, Peeta. It's been wonderful talking to you."
"You too Finnick." I smile genuinely up at him.
He cheekily wink and smiles at me before he grab his surfboard and jogged back to join his awaiting friends.
I look back at the blank page that Finnick was writing something down a second ago to see a role of numbers.
Huh. He left me his phone numbers. Aww, he even put a smiley face and a kiss.
I blushed again for what seems like the tenth time before looking back up again hoping to find Finnick, but only the said man and his friends is nowhere to be seen.
"A-hem!"
I jumped at the sounds and quickly turn my head to find two of my best friends stood there looking down at me. Gale with a chocolate ice cream on his hand and a questioning eyebrow rose at me. Katniss who holds two ice creams on her hands, one's strawberry and one's vanilla, with a mischievous grin on her face.
Oh lord… they have seen me with Finnick haven't they?
"So…." Gale starts, "Who was that surfer guy that was sitting pretty "close" to you happily chatting away?" a smirk form on his right cheek.
Oh here we go…
"Not mention he was practically "half-naked." Interject Katniss, who handed me the vanilla ice cream and still have that stupid grin on her face like she have just won a lottery or something.
"He just wanted to find somewhere he could sit down and wait for his friends. What's so wrong with me just having a friendly conversation with the local folks?"
"Friendly conversation huh? What are those numbers on that page on your book then? I'm pretty sure that's your drawing sketchbook and not your maths book." Katniss said as she plopped down next to me, licking her ice cream while giving me an accusing look.
"Uhh… we-we were about to play a game of Sudoku before we got interrupted and he has to leave, that's all." I lied looking down and quickly close my book.
"Oh-ho really… what's with all the smiling and blushing and oh, even a wink at one point when he left?" Gale said coolly as he also sat down on the other side of me so I was being sandwiched between the two of them.
"What? I smile all the times, and the weather is hot so my face must have heat up a bit, and he must have gotten something in his eyes or something..."
I can feel Katniss rolled her eyes even if I wasn't looking at her, "Look Peeta. We saw everything. Stop with the BS and just spill it."
I pretend to look horrified and shocked as I look at both Gale and Katniss, "You two were spying on me? How rude of you! That's discriminations to my privacy!"
"Oh shut up Peeta. It's kind of hard to miss when you are basically sat in plain sight in the middle of the beach. Anyone with two pair of eyes can see you miles away that you and that jock were flirting." Gale throws back.
I was thinking of a comeback but none came into my mine fast enough so I just sigh in defeat. "Okay. You guys win. But look, he was just being friendly okay? Nothing further than that was happening."
"Yet." Gale grins back. "So what's his name then?"
"His name is Finnick."
"Ohh, how old is he? Is he from around here? What does he do?" Katniss cooed.
"Yes he is from around here, but I don't actually know how old he is or what his occupation even is. We didn't get that far in our conversation before his friends came back to get him." I sigh again but this time in disappointment.
Gale notices my dejected tone so he slung his free arm over my shoulder to give me a side hug.
"Don't you worry your pretty not-so-little-head over this Peeta. I'm sure you'll meet him again. You know you can't rush this kind of things right? We're going to be staying here a long while yet so you'll definitely get to see him again. Plus he even leaves you his numbers so he really must be interested in you." Gale smiles and gently squeezed my arm reassuringly.
"Yeah. We are just really happy you have found someone, or in this case, someone who found you, so you could have a chance to experience romance and be all sappy with. I know how amazing Gale and I are but we could never provide that kind of "fun" for you now can we? Also, now that you have been taken, or shall I say "will be" taken, we could now also find someone for ourselves to be with too." Katniss said with a teasing grin as she nodded her head at Gale who just smirk and nodded in reply.
"Oh you guys stop it, enough of that already. I appreciate your concern of the wellbeing of my love life but for the rest of the day, I just want to spend it with my two best friends and just chill and relax. Romance and complicated things can be dealt with later on if may be. Let's just enjoy ourselves away from the world, okay?" I said, smiling warmly at the two.
"Ofcause Peeta. That's what we are all here for in the first place anyway, right? Come on, let's go back to the sea and have some more fun. You too Gale, up! Finish your ice creams and let's go!" said Katniss who has already finish her ice cream minutes ago and now taking off her top and tugging at the two boys to get up with her.
Me and Gale just chuckles to ourselves before got up with Katniss and strip off once more as we make a dash for a race to the cool shimmering water.
Little does Peeta and his friends knows that romance will struck all three of them much, much, sooner than they could ever anticipated.
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So… what do you guys and girls thinks? Can you guess who was Finnick mysterious friends? If you have a hint or know exactly who they are then drop your answer on the review section or PM me, which ever you feel like doing. XD In the next chapter I will be doing more of a character development and the relationship build-up on Finnick and Peeta and maybe some other paring may surface in the next chapter… we may never know unless I starts writing again soon! XP Please leave a comment/review and I hope to see you sooner than this chapter. I appreciate all the follows/favorites and comments/reviews you leave for me. =3 TARA LOVE! *do the jazz hands as I exit the stage*
