A/N: Thank you for your fantastic response to my story. I'm happy to hear what you think about it so far. It will be better, I promise!
II: PARALLEL
Waking up in The Quarter Block was a routine of complete aggravation and waste of time. Being in there for three days she had been late for class due to people diving in and out of the showers. Katniss just wanted to shower, get dressed and ready. Even that was a battle. She soon revolved to washes in the small sink in her room. Daily life in the Block contained waking up at 8:30am then breakfast at 9:00am and time to get ready at 9:25 am and they were expected out and all class by 9:50am. The classes where down the hall from the whole structure and in five separate rooms. They were made to do normal class work but separated due to 'disruptive behaviour' when in big groups.
Katniss's only high of the day was visiting hours and her chats with Fox Face. Gale and Peeta had visited her so far. Peeta showed up at least twice a day, midday and afternoon. Gale arrived once a day it was mostly near night when he asked her about her day, told her updates on the latest gossip and asked her about her day. All plans to get her out were thrown out the window. Trinket wasn't having any of it when they tried to convince her.
It was a Wednesday and Katniss was sat at break with Fox Face both enjoying the bit of freedom they had from lessons. "Two days, huh?" Fox Face asked.
"Yes, how much longer are you in here for?" Katniss asked her, looking down at her magazine she was reading.
"Another week." Fox Face murmured with a slight bored tone. She rested her head against the table closing her eyes with tiredness.
"What exactly did you do to get two weeks in here?" Katniss frowned shutting her magazine and pushing it aside.
"As soon as this semester started I tried to sneak into the offices and get the cheat sheets for those Careers. They said they'd pay me twenty bucks. I got them; they didn't pay so I sold it. Typically, they told Trinket." Fox Face sat up chuckling quietly.
"Assholes." Katniss sat back in her seat crossing her arms. She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought back to her fight with Clove. She wanted to hit her again now.
"Yeah…" Fox Face nodded in agreement, "Hey, what have you got these two lessons?" She asked Katniss hoping to be in the same room as her so she wouldn't be alone.
"Art." Katniss replied in a nauseated tone. She hated art, a lot. "Why? What have you got?"
"I got the pleasure of learning Biology." Fox Face said sarcastically.
The bell rang with its screeching tenor causing many to rise and walk to the corridor in chatter. The staff entered and ordered at the students to 'walk sensibly' or 'don't run'. Katniss glanced at Fox Face with an expression to say here-we-go-again.
"See you at dinner." Katniss mumbled standing up. Fox Face imitated her actions.
"Yeah, see you then." Fox Face nodded. She wandered into the crowd before Katniss did. Katniss felt someone staring at her as she walked down the corridor. She turned slightly. Nothing. Carrying on she still felt the eyes on her.
She made it up to her classroom and leant against the wall seeing Marvel lean against the opposite wall staring at her with a grin. It was him, obviously.
Katniss stared back giving him a sharp glare as the door opened and the class wandered into the room noisily talking about the latest news around school or who's doing what. Katniss strayed before following the last person into the class.
Taking the easel at the front she perched herself on the stool watching as Marvel lingered by the one next to her. She rolled her eyes and looked out the window at the warm shine of the sun on the fields outside.
As the lesson drew to a ultimate start she picked up her paint brush and doddle anything that came to mind. A tree, a building, people. She wasn't the best at drawing but working at a high low grade in Art she must have a scratch of talent.
"Hey, Kitty." Marvel whispered over to her. Katniss froze with irritation as she put the paint brush down and abruptly looked over at him.
"What?" She snapped in a hushed tone.
"So I heard you took a swing at Clove." He clicked his tongue in disapproval shaking his head, he was mocking her. Katniss knew he was, she knew him well.
"Yes, I'd be happy to show you how it happened if you'd like." Katniss put on a sweet voice before looking back at her 'painting'.
"Kinky." Marvel scoffed. He turned back around too.
"You haven't seen anything yet." Katniss played along wishing she could throw the paint as him. She carried on painting out her 'tree'.
"I can't wait. As you know, I'm good at fighting." Marvel rubbed in. He wore a smug look that made Katniss tighten her grip on her paintbrush.
"Impressive, I saw you taking down that boy there. Your Daddy must be really pleased." Katniss joked. Suddenly Marvel kicked down his easel and pointed on Katniss' face.
"Don't mention shit about my Dad, Bitch!" Marvel shouted his face growing red. Katniss frowned and stood up smacking his hand away from her face.
"Don't point at me!" She yelled back. Feeling the teacher drag her away from Marvel and into the corner. Her heart raced so hard her chest felt like it was going to explode. And before she knew it, they were being escorted to the Cooling Room.
The Cooling Room was for when people got extra aggressive and there were more than one person involved in the violence. Students were to sit in there for an hour monitored by a camera, any scene of conflict displayed and the staff would run in. Katniss was sat in the front whilst Marvel was sat at the back both in silence.
They'd been there for twenty minutes. Enough time for Katniss to calm down, by the sense of emotions in the room, she knew Marvel felt pretty calm too.
Katniss heard a bit of shuffling from behind her but refused to turn around and discover what the noises were of. Instead she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning, ignorantly she shot him a look, "What do you want, Marvel?" She muttered.
"I want to get out of here; the only way to do that is if it looks like we are talking to each other happily. They will see it, we will be freed." Marvel replied cunningly. Katniss clicked her tongue in aggravation at his attitude. "Don't look too happy about it, they might think you actually like it in here with me."
"No, they won't." She sighed looking away from him, "They know I hate you, and you hate me. It'll look too suspicious. Although, I should be careful, I don't want to insult your Dad again."
"Just-!" Marvel slammed his fist on the table his teeth gritted. He slowly calmed himself dropping his hand from the table letting out a breath. "Stop mentioning it… okay?"
"Why? What is your problem with it? Do you have issues or something? Either way it's not my damn fault!" Katniss snapped at him.
"Well if it's any interest of yours, he is dead!" Marvel stood snappishly. He stormed across the room to the other side. Katniss sat staring at Marvel with surprise; her heart sank slightly as she felt how he felt right now. She had no Dad either. How could she be so conceited?
She stood up and followed him sitting in the seat in front of him facing him. Letting out a sigh she tapped the table for his attention. She couldn't believe she was doing this, "Listen, I know this sounds so tacky but, I know how you feel." She shook her head.
Marvel looked at her his face redder than dawn. "Really? Then you know how much it hurts when someone insults you with the name 'Dad'." He replied bitterly.
"Yes, it does. I understand that and I don't expect you to forgive me but I am… sorry." Katniss bit her tongue at the words. Saying it to Marvel made her feel truly sick.
"That's fine. I'm sorry to hear about your father." Marvel muttered back still very heated with what Katniss had said.
"It's fine… it was years ago. I've managed to get over it. Not sure my Mom has though." Katnnis looked down. Why was she saying this? She frowned crossing her arms.
"Neither has mine. She tries everyday but I still know she cries herself to sleep every night." Marvel had a glazed over look as if he were speaking his thoughts. Katniss watched him as he spoke with a slight guiltiness.
"Why are you saying this?" Katniss asked him weakly. Her heart sank deeper thinking of Marvel in bed hearing his Mom sob next door to him.
"I don't know… I'm sorry." Marvel looked down at his hands that rested on the desk.
"It's okay. I'm truly sorry to hear about this. I know we aren't the best of friends but… I'm all ears when ether you need a confidant." Katniss assured him. She still looked away from him but felt him stare at her and out the corner of her eye she saw a warm smile on his face.