Wow, this has gotten so many more reviews and likes and adds than I ever would've expected, thank you so much! Because you're all so wonderful, I've decided to give you the second chapter early, so you can expect Chapter 3 on Friday. Also, if you didn't know, all my chapters are named after songs you can listen to on youtube to get a better feel about what mood the chapter is supposed to be in. There's a poll on my page right now asking you all what the name of Chapter 4 should be, which means you guys will have a say in the mood of the Chapter. I don't own anything blah blah blah, without further adieu!
Chapter 2: Mean
Peeta is counting the seconds until gym is over, and he'll have to join the less than enjoyable Cato Weigh in the locker room he'd almost died in an hour before. The sweat from a day of running collecting on Peeta's brow as he makes the final trek back to gym from the not-far-enough track. Peeta made sure he was at least a half mile away from Cato at all times from fear of retaliation. Cato carried grudges and everyone at Panem knew it wasn't smart to let him dwell. At one point, a boy named Thresh had accidentally bumped into Cato, which resulted in the biggest loss Cato had ever seen, leaving school in a pile of blood and three broken ribs. Thresh was expelled, but being on the football team didn't hurt his chances of leniency when it came to punishment. Cato's been harboring anger ever since, but none of that mattered to Peeta, not now. Now he is making his way back into the locker room, his plan to avoid Cato about to come crashing down.
Everything about the room is suddenly different, the walls don't support the way they did when he left. Once again stripping off his clothes, Peeta can hear the other boys coming in, yelling and going on about the new girl, Glimmer, and how hot they all think she is. Peeta's almost done when he hears the voice. His voice. Cato. Slamming the locker, Peeta attempts to go for the door, all the time knowing that his fate is sealed. Coach Abernathy stands at the door, talking to some of the other boys about how to improve their running times when he spots Peeta. "Where do you think you're going?" Haymitch's long blond hair hangs lazily in front of his eyes, his shorts probably too short for a grown man. "I just have to tell my ride I have to stay." Peeta's lying. He and Katniss usually walk home together, her house only a block away from his family's bakery. Now he just needed to be away. Away from Katniss and from Cato and from the other boys that laugh at his misfortune. Lost in his train of thought, Peeta takes a corner and slams right into someone.
On the ground once again, he shakes his head and opens his eyes to find his luck might have changed. Sitting in front of him is a skinny blond girl. Her eyes are blue, like the ocean, and her gold locks cascade down her face and hang perfectly past her shoulders. She wears a white tank top over a pair of khaki colored shorts, her hiking boots only a fashion statement as Peeta is sure she doesn't hike. It takes only a moment, but the girl soon realizes what's happening. "What the hell? Watch where you're going!" The angel Peeta has thought he saw was only an illusion, as the girl reveals her inner disgust. "Glimmer? What are you doing?" Peeta stands and attempts to help Glimmer, who knocks his hand away and stands on her own. A smaller girl with black hair appears and pushes Peeta away. "Get away from her, Mellark. Didn't Cato teach you a lesson earlier?" Clove was never one for subtlety. Even though she's only a sophomore, Clove is in good standing with a lot of juniors and seniors, especially Cato. This fact almost immediately put her at the top of Peeta's no eye contact list. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" Clove's voice is almost as annoying to Peeta as Katniss' is. He simply scoffs and turns away, returning to the gym and a fate he can no longer escape.
As he makes his way back to the gym, Peeta recalls the situation that he's gotten himself in. One, he is about to face one of the scariest kids in high school because he thought it'd be a good idea to call him out. Two, Cato's already alerted his friends about the situation, meaning that he wouldn't have anywhere to run if he decided that somehow that might be a good idea. Three, something was off about Cato, something wasn't right. The second the comment left his lips, Peeta could see that it hurt Cato more than it would a normal person. Four, and possibly the scariest thing about the situation, is how Peeta felt when Cato's chest was pressed up against his. He didn't want to push Cato away like he does Katniss when she touches him. No. Somehow, the contact felt enjoyable, it made Peeta warm inside, a strange feeling in the bottom of his stomach that blossomed as soon as Cato touched him. Peeta pushes the thoughts out of his head, opening the doors to his inevitable doom.
Peeta sits in the shower end of the locker room, toothbrush in hand. He scrubs the tile in silence as Cato polishes the lockers. "This is your fault Mellark." Cato's voice is full of contempt as usual. Peeta sighs at how preposterous even the notion sounds. "What was that Mellark, you've got something else to say?" Cato storms at Peeta, fists balled, ready to do whatever damage he can get away with. Peeta stands and backs into the tile wall, hoping to avoid whatever pain is about to be inflicted. Once again Cato slams his hands on either side of Peeta, trapping him between muscular arms. "Say what you have to say!" Cato's breath is warmer than before, almost burning Peeta as it skims past his cheek. A sudden rush of bravery overcomes him, and Peeta turns to face Cato, green eyes meeting blue. "It's true, isn't it? That's why you're so mean!" Cato slams his hand against the tile once more, eyes wild with rage and passion. "You've got a lot of balls, Mellark." Peeta can hear it in his voice, he's faltering. Simply the sound of his voice clues Peeta in to the inner torment, the rage.
"You've got a crush on me Cato, you don't have to hide." It comes out as a whisper, but it's enough to set Cato off. Teeth gritted, he pushes Peeta to the floor, jumping on top of him, pinning his hands to the floor by his wrists. Cato's face is mere inches away from Peeta's. He closes his eyes, waiting for the pain and shock of Cato's fist to wash over him, but it doesn't come. Instead, Peeta feels the lips of the taller boy on his own, the heat of his breath suddenly inside his mouth. Peeta closes his eyes again as Cato's hands find and run through his hair. The moment is perfect, as perfect as a secret kiss in the locker room shower can be. The pairs of lips separate, much to Peeta's dismay. He slowly opens his eyes to witness Cato's fist coming down hard on his face.
