Here's chapter 2! I'm very impressed with the speed i got this chapter out, i hope you enjoy and appreciate it :)

Oh, and a big thank you to the people following my story and the reviews, you are amazing :3

Plonking myself down on one of the many stools which line the deep oak bar, i sigh and breath in the familiar bitter aroma of wheat and barley. Ever since it has been legal for me to drink, once a month me and Darius will come for a drink here, along with some other friends from work: Purnia, Bonnie and Marcus.
The first time i was allowed to legally join the group drinking i did, but only if i was sure Prim was staying at a friend of hers. I had already met Bonnie when i was first brought here, she works on the same floor i did till a few hours ago. However, i had not yet then been acquainted with either Marcus or Purnia, they work in different parts of the building. I distinctly remember sitting where i am now 2 years ago and finding out that Darius was dating Purnia. I laughed at the memory of me fancing him and asked her how she had put up with him for so long. We're good friends now, all of us.
"I'm paying."
Darius says suddenly, startling me out of my reminiscing.
"You don't have to i-"
"No arguments."
I frown and close my mouth trying to act unpleased with his offer. Although, really, i am very thankful for it. Till i find a new job i'll have to save for who's important. Prim.
Looking around the bar i stare at all the familiar beverages and bottles that line the back wall in all their different colour glasses, the old taps that stand in front of where i sit. However, as always, my eyes land on the large, crudely crafted steel ornament of a bird which hangs on the back wall. A bird in flight attached only by the tips of its wings and tail to a ring encircling it, with an arrow being held in its beak. A mockingjay.
The name of the bar is 'The Mockingjay', after an old legend, one my father would tell me when i was a child. One i still remember.
How in a far off land, during what many called the 'Dark Days' , powerful people from a place called The Capitol in a nation called Panem, genetically engineered male birds named jabberjays to spy on rebels fighting for their freedom. Freedom from games where children were forced to fight for their lives. The jabberjays could memorize and repeat entire human conversations, and were used to gather words and information from the rebels. But they outsmarted The Capitol by using the jabberjays to feed lies. Because of this, the Capitol ceased the usage of the jabberjays and abandoned them to die in the wild. Contrary to what the Capitol believed would happen, the male jabberjays bred with female mockingbirds to create a new species. Mockingjays. Mockingjays could apparently repeat both birdsong and human melodies, if your voice was nice enough.
I love the story, how it's a symbol of hope and rebellion. Smiling slightly, i look away from the bird to see that Darius has ordered our drinks and is now talking to the man standing behind the bar. The tall and muscular man with tan skin, bronze hair that curls off of his face and the most incredible sea green eyes. Finnick Odair.
Noticing i have pulled myself from my dreaming, they stop talking and stare at me. It's silent for a few moments apart from the quiet chatting from the few other people in the bar.
"Sugar cube?' Finnick offers, holding out a small cube to me which sits in the center of his palm. I shake my head and he pops it in his mouth, staring at me as he does. Picking up my drink i take a sip, letting the liquid glide down my throat before placing the glass back down and sighing. 'Penny for your thoughts?"
"I need a job."
I answer bluntly staring at him with my stoney eyes. Flipping a coaster, which was sitting precariously at the edge of the bar, he catches it before hitting it down against the bar, next to the pump labelled 'Guinness'.
"There was a placement that opened a week ago."
"Really?"
I ask, sitting up a little straighter in my seat.
"Yes. But it was filled the other day by a women called Johanna. Feisty one she is."
"You're kidding me."
"Afraid not Everdeen."
He frowns and looks at me with sympathetic eyes. Grunting, i hit my head against the bar and moan into the wood, my hair falling around my face. I shake my head slightly as Finnick tries to tell me it's all fine. For all i care he could be speaking nothings and nonsense. After a second i feel a hand being placed on my shoulder blade and Darius chimes in.
"Come on Katniss, it'll be okay. You'll find a job. Hell, we'll help. Wont we Finn?"
"Of course. And hey, what a better way to loose your job than by breaking Cray's nos-"
"Finnick!"
I laugh darkly in to the wood before lifting my head and staring at the men. The lights shining from the back of the bar stinging my eyes slightly as i look up. Slowly, the satisfying feeling of hearing Cray's nose crunch replay's in my mind only doubling my belief that the man truly deserved that hit.
But what does that single impulsive hit mean for my future?

Closing the front door behind me i step into the hallway and throw my bag down at my feet. Placing my door key on it's hook i make my way down the hall and into the kitchen, retrieving a glass from the cupboard and filling it the the brim with water as i do.
Darius had paid our bill before dropping me home after forty minutes of sitting in the bar with both him and Finnick. He's heading back to the office now, apparently Cray had allowed him to leave to see me home with no arguments. I wonder why.
Gulping down my water quickly, washing away the taste of the liquor, i wipe my mouth with the back of my sleeve before washing up my glass and placing it on the draining board. Staring at the clock, which hangs on the wall opposite me, i realize it is a around full 2 hours before Prim is leaving school. Today I'll collect her straight from school instead of collecting her from Rue's at 5 like i do on a normal, working day.
A pang starts in my stomach as the feeling of being alone for a few hours dawns on me. Normally i would be surrounded by people requesting letters, asking me to file reports along with other jobs. Of course, me and my friends will often share a quick laugh or two while Cray wasn't prowling around. But now, instead of being surrounded by people, i am home alone.
The sound of water dripping from the tap, refrigerator humming softly and the clock ticking, fills the kitchen.
For probably the millionth time today i sigh and place my head in my hands, only now allowing the tears which have wheeled up all day to come free and slide down my cheeks. I hate crying, it makes me look weak. But that's what i feel now. Breathing out slowly i stay, head in hands and staring at the floor for a few minutes, before i stand up right and dry my eyes at a startling hissing noise.
Buttercup, my sisters cat, sits in front of me. My sisters, hideous-looking cat with it's mashed-in nose, half an ear missing, and eyes the color of rotting squash. This cats hates me with some kind of vengeance and spite, and i hate him. She found him on the way home from school one day, i still walked with her then, i had watched her skip up the road before stopping dead in her tracks before kneeling down.
When i reached her i saw what she was looking at, a semi conscious cat, mangled fur and hissing in pain. She carried him home and begged me to let her keep him, personally, i didn't think he'd last the night. That's why i tried to drown him. Put the thing out it's misery, and, I'm sure you can tell, he didn't like that. Resented me ever since. Prim had healed him, with the help of our mother. While she was still around for us.
As for the name, Prim named him Buttercup because she insisted that his muddy yellow coat matched the bright flower, personally, i never saw it.
Hissing at me once more he narrows his eyes before flicking his tail and leaving the kitchen, leaving me alone once more.
I need to get out of the house.
Closing my eyes and scrunching my face in thought i finally decide on where to spend the 2 hours i have to kill. At my best friend Gale's. Gale is 2 years older than i am, i became his friend when i was 11, a month or two after my dad died. His father was one of my dads close friends since they were little, grew up in the same neighbor hood, until Gale's father moved away, in the 'Seam'. The poorer part of the town we live in. Where i live now. I had met him few time before then, birthdays, at my fathers funeral. I only really became his friend when his family moved around the corner from mine. His mother would check up on us once a week until she had her daughter, she would bring her three sons with her. He has the same features i do; olive skin, grey eyes and dark hair; he's like my brother.
Normally Gale works all week but sundays, however, today is an exception. It's his younger sister, Posy's, birthday. As a result he has booked time off of work to be at home. He does this for each one of his family's birthdays; his sister, brothers, mum and dad.
Pushing myself off of the work surface i walk down the hall before climbing the stairs and entering my bedroom. Finding the small, pink box containing the gift me and Prim had bought for Posy at the bottom of my wardrobe i leave my room. At the bottom of the stairs once again, i take my key from it's hook and leave the house.
Looking both ways down the street before i start my walk, i watch as a woman i have decided to call Foxface; not only since i don't know her real name but for her striking, fox like features and flaming ginger hair, push her child in her pram down the street and around the corner. She lives almost opposite us, but we have never spoken a word.
Starting at a brisk pace, after she has disappeared out of view, i make my way to Gale's. He only lives around the corner from me, a five minute walk, ten at most. The walk to his is uneventful, a few people walking past, the far off drone of sirens.
Finally i reach his house and approach the door before knocking twice, after a minute or two Gale appears at the door. He smiles at me widely before confusion takes over and his face contorts into a frown, eyes swimming with concern.
"Hi Gale."
Hey Catnip, come in."
Opening the door wider he lets me in. After saying hello to Hazelle, Gales mother, I find myself in the kitchen sitting at his table. Clutching a hot cup of tea which is slowly scorching my skin. Gale sits opposite me, face still written with concern and slight confusion as to why i am sitting opposite him in his kitchen in the middle of the day, a day I'm meant to be working, drinking tea. After a few minutes of silence, filled only by the movement of a body walking around upstairs and, once again, a clock, i start the conversation.
"How's everyone?"
"Good, thanks. And Prim, and your mother?"
"Prim's good, came home talking about how Rory walked her home the other day when Rue went home early after being sick.' I smile at Gale. Prim is in the same year as one of Gales two brothers, they have been friends since they knew what friends are. However, he simply raises an eyebrow, knowing i have avoided the other half of the question. I sigh before speaking again. 'We haven't seen our mother in a while now."
Gale frowns and sighs before taking a sip of his own drink. After his cup as reunited with the table he opens his mouth again and speaks.
"Why aren't you at work?"
"About that..."
"Katniss?"
He stares at me, his brow furrowed. He isn't going to like why I'm not at work, not at all.
"I got fired."
"Why?"
"I hit Cray."
My voice is blunt, there's no point hiding why i lost my job. Especially not from my best friend, he'd find out eventually. I take a sip of my tea, it still to warm and burning my tongue slightly, as i avoid his gaze. Pulling my cup away from my lips i bite them before looking at Gale once again.
"Why?"
"He offered me a 'compromise' to loosing my job and touched me because i was late again. I just lost it, and hit him."
"Oh Catnip..."
"I know Gale, but I'm going to find a job. I've already asked at The Mockingjay, there's no spaces though.' Gales frowns, opens his mouth to speak before closing it again. He has heard me tell him many a story about Cray and has never seemed to like me working for a man like that. He has always been so protective of me, if anyone ever bullied me Prim he'd have something to say to them. They'd never say a mean word to us again. 'It's okay Gale. I'll find something."
I think the words are more for me than anyone, but i reach across the table and touch his hand before giving a small smile. He gives me a slight smiles in return.
"If you ever need any help-"
"I know, you're here. You and your family always have been. Both me and Prim are grateful for that."
I pull my hand away and take another sip of my drink. For the next hour or so me and Gale effortlessly converse over anything that comes to mind. What Gale and his family are doing later for Posy, how his job is going and how long it has been since we last practiced archery together. We used to shoot once a week when we were younger, before Gale got his job and was only free on sundays. My dad used to practice archery, even made me a bow of my own when i took a shining to it. After he died i stopped for a while, however after my mum came back to us i found myself needing to get away, i restarted. So i dug out my bow and arrows. I offered Gale to come along to because i didn't want to be alone, i had always worked with a partner, Gale seemed the best choice. I miss the quite bonding we used to share, i know it can't be helped. Looking up at the clock i notice it's almost time Prim leaves school.
Raising from our seats, Gale walks me to the front door. Calling up the stairs i say goodbye to Hazelle. Opening the door Gale pulls me into a hug before releasing me.
"Be careful Catnip."
"I will be."
I smile before leaving the house and starting down the road. When i finally reach the gates of my old school i stare at them, the gates shaped like gnarled fingers, i haven't been here in what seems like a life time away. The school is one of the nicest ones in the city, a day never goes by when i am not thankful both me and Prim attended it. Even the better off city kids come here, the school is directly on the unofficial line from where the seam meets the merchants.
Sighing, i wait as i stare at my watch.
Suddenly i shoot my head up as i hear a familiar voice. As i do i meet the face of my old textiles teacher. Still wearing a simple black shirt, matching trouser and gold eyeliner. A unique and bizarre fashion choice, but one i always admired, it exposes the gold flecks in his green eyes. I smile.
"Sir."
"What have i told you since you left Girl on Fire? Teacher's have names too."
"I'm never going to live that name down am i Cinna?"
He laughs slightly at my comment, but not in a mean way. More at the memory of me in year 9. It was compulsory for students to try a technology.
I had always been terrible at cooking, and all the spaces for woodwork had been taken leaving one other subject. Textiles. I never got the hang of it, but it was one of my favorite lessons because of Cinna being my teacher. He has always been kind and understanding, never raised his voice if it could be avoided. One day while in his class i was ironing a piece of fabric so i could attempt to sew it into a bag, ie. ultimately ending up maiming it. However, i was distracted by one of my few friends, Madge. Forgetting about ironing, i joined in a discussion she was having with a boy called Marvel. Forgot about ironing, that is, until the fabric set alight. Ever since then i never lived down the name 'Girl on Fire'.
"No."
He finally answers smiling at me. I feel a sudden tugging on my sleeve and look to my left to see Prim standing by my side with Rue. Her expression confused.
"Why are you here Katniss, shouldn't you be at work?"
"I came to get you today Prim.' I smile down at her and Rue before turning my attention back to Cinna, who should be managing the gate along with the few other teachers who have appeared to ensure that no fights break out and people cross the road safely. 'It was nice seeing you again sir."
"And it was nice seeing you Katniss."
Walking away i turn to both Prim and Rue, their faces still confused. Motioning that we should start walking, the three of us start down the street.
"Sorry Rue, Prim can't come over today."
"It's okay. Can she still come around tomorrow?"
"Sure."
I smile at Rue before looking back ahead, face drooping slightly.
How am i going to tell Prim?
For the rest of the walk to Rue's i stay silent, listening to Rue and Prim's conversations about school and boys and whatever they come up with. I thought I'd walk her home, to make sure she's safe. After Rue has bid us goodbye and walks into her house Prim finally turns on me.
"Why aren't you at work Katniss, is... is everything okay?"
Her voice sounds worried, slightly shaky. Putting on a tiny smile i turn to Prim. She's so young, yet, so old at the same time. She should be enjoy herself, not worrying, she worries enough about mum. Stroking her hair and tracing her pony tail till the light hair falls from my fingertips, i look at her face. Her thin jaw and pointed nose; the only physical attributes my sister inherited from our father.
"Everything is going to be okay little duck. I promise."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If anyone has any idea's you want to see in the story I'm happy to hear them and i will try to add them in. I may not get the next chapter out as quick as this one, but i will certainly try :)

And don't forget- Review!