I Dare You
Chapter 2
...
I get a few texts from Madge and Foxface that night.
looking 4 u... From Madge at 3:40
where r u? From Amber at 3:47
dude, hurry up From Amber at 3:54
ok we r leaving now From Madge at 4:00
where wer u? From Madge at 4:25
ditcher! From Amber at 4:31
After Peeta helped me pick everything up and put it back in my bag, we did a lot of stuff together. I begin to replay the events that happened in my head, hoping to find a reasonable excuse to tell Madger and Foxface as to why I didn't show up.
"So, why is it that you chose to help out the outcast all your friends hate? One of which probably tripped me over in the first place." He stands up and laughs short, nervous laughter. I look at him indignantly. "Oh, um..." He runs his hand through his golden locks that I really want to touch right now. "I just...wanted to?" He sounds unsure, only making me skeptical.
"Well, thanks." I stand up straight, turning to go. Unexpectedly, he grabs my hand. I look at him to display my confusion through a facial expression."Wait." He says. "Peeta, I have to - " I pause on that sentence when he turns over my hand and runs his index finger up my palm. A mix of a sigh and giggle escape my mouth involuntarily. My face warms in embarrassment. He smiles with triumph followed by a twinge of guilt and befuddlement that swirl in his eyes a few seconds later for some reason. His blue eyes are friendly and open, but sometimes provide a mystery that goes unsolved.
I wish I knew what he was thinking sometimes. Eventually he leads me to where he left his bookbag, which is right on the bench next to - ugh - Glimmer's locker. He starts unzipping his bookbag, scavenging through the contents inside. Eventually, he pulls out a bag of cheese buns. I can tell by the smell wafting from it. And, well, it kind of is labeled with the words, 'Cheese Buns'. Immediately, emotions rise within me because of the memories baked in those loaves of bread.
And the only way to keep from crying is to laugh. My lips form a nervous smile that imply I'm trying to keep a secret. I'm mostly trying to keep two things from happening - tears collecting in my eyes and dropping noticably, or laughter bubbling up to the point where I can't hold it in anymore. I guess you could say I'm on the verge of becoming hysterical. Peeta observes me, becoming sad. "Katniss?" He asks in a quiet voice. I turn away from him slightly, but not out of perspective.
"I just - I just -" He stutters guiltily. People who are filing out begin to watch us. "You don't have to take it." He informs steadily. I grow with impatience brought on by irritation. "Peeta, of course I'm taking the damn bread. How could I not?" I answer determined, facing him and snatching the bag. He grins with amusement twinkling in his eyes.
"You can heat it up when you get home. It's probably cold from sitting in my bag all day." He admits.
"Mm. Yummy." I tease sarcastically. Cheese buns sound delicious, but any bread sitting in some kid's schoolbag all day isn't exactly appetizing. Thankfully, Peeta seems amused rather than offended by my sarcasm. I wipe a tear that has escaped my eye before he can notice. The memories... Those cheese buns bring it all back. It's a story to tell much, much later on to Foxface and Madger. How am I supposed to explain why these stupid buns mean so very much to me?
I look at my phone to check the time, pressing a button that lights up the screen. I ignore the already increasing number of text messages. It's 3:53. I'm supposed to be going home. But Peeta wants me elsewhere. He keeps looking at me in that way, I can tell. By the way he bites his lip and scratches his head, I know. He wants to take me to where we met. The nightmaric, hauntingly familiar home of abuse and abandonment.
The place we'll never forget. "Peeta - " I protest before he says anything. "Just come. Just promise me that much."
"I can't." I answer shakily, closing my sweater tighter around me.
"But Katniss," He begs reaching for me. I turn around coldly, automatically becoming introverted. He wraps his arms around me from behind, hugging me close. "Please?" He asks. I sigh. "Peeta, let go of me."
"I don't think I can do that." He answers laughing.
"Well, I don't think you can be the boss." I retort.
"Katniss." He whines.
"My bread is getting stale, you needy dimwit." I offend. He lets go. I smile reasuuringly at him. He looks at me carefully, narrowing his eyes a bit. "You confuse me." Peeta expresses. I scoff. "Well, bye." He bids, dismissing me from the scene along with himself as he walks away. If it wasn't for our past, I wouldn't have done it. I wouldn't have picked up his bookbag he left behind, tapped on his shoulder, and said, "I'm coming with you."
After that, we went to where Prim used to live. It was a journey long dismissed, but I had to make peace with the homestead of a broken family, shattered remains now easy to brush aside. Peeta walked me home, leaving a request that I have not responded to as of yet. It was when I was in front of my door, about to knock when I realized my mom was probably freaking out. It was 7:54. I was supposed to be home 4 hours ago. I knocked on the door, checking my missed calls and missed text messages. I had 7 missed calls from my mom. Along with the texts from Madge and Amber.
They were going to hate me for a little bit. My mom swung the door open, face red, hair frizzed, and wide panicked eyes. "Thank guiness. You know I almost called the cops? You are so grounded." I walked in the house miserably. She shut the door rather loudly. "I'm sorry, I went out for a long time. " I said trying to think of a better explaination. I just really didn't want to tell her everything. Or anything.
The moment I mentioned a boy, all kinds of paranoid questions would roll off my mother's tongue. I went to the fridge to get a soda. "Where have you been?" Mom asked exasperatedly. I took a coke out and put it on the counter. "Um...I was...I went to visit Prim and forgot to tell you about it. I'm sorry." I answer honestly. "Is that it?" She asks skeptically, but more gentle. I take a moment to think. "I went to the bakery too." I say.
We stare each other down as I try to go back to my room without questioning and she tries to shake information out of me. "Very well. I'll find out soon enough." Mom says with finality. I turn around and reach up to the cabinets that hold our cups and glasses, taking one to fill ice and the carbonated drink in. I bring it to my room. When I walk through the doorway I'm met with a surprise. Madger and Foxface in my room. I raise my eyebrows.
"Madger and Foxface!" I greet. They remain in their sitting positions on my bed, looking at me suspiciously. "Come sit." Foxface orders, patting my light green comforter. I laugh. "Thanks for inviting me to sit on my bed." I say sarcastically, but in amusement. "So." Madge says when I sit. "So." I mimick. "Where were you?" Madge asks. I put my drink down on the white bedside table.
"Out and about." I tease. Foxface scowls. "Tell us!" She snaps. I look at her questioningly. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't meet with you guys. I forgot to call - " My mom steps in my room in the middle of my sentence. We all turn to look at her. "Katniss, where's your bookbag?" She asks. I become confused, then recall Peeta carrying it for me. He must have forgotten to give it back. "Oh, Peeta - " I stop, realizing what I almost admitted to. My mom raises her eyebrows. "Peeta what?" Foxface asks, laughing. "Peeta carried it for me." I tell them truthfully. I can't look at anybody.
I take a sip of coke."Katniss Everdeen! Were you out with a boy all day?" My mom asks in a mix of anger and bemusement. "Yes, mom, but it wasn't like that." I say covering my face. This is ridiculous. I hear footsteps start from my doorway traveling a distance away and know she's gone. I uncloak my face to see two smiling, very annoying as of now friends. "So what was it like?" Foxface asks, waggling her eyebrows. Madge giggles.
"Ooh, Katniss." She teases,flicking her hand like a priss. "Whatever." I say, smiling but rolling my eyes. "Do you guys want to watch a movie?" I ask. "No,we want to talk about Peeeta." Foxface says, folding her hands. "Uhh, no." I conclude. "Katniss." Madge whines, shutting her eyes impatiently. "We are spending the night to torture you about Peeta. All. Night. Long." Madge announces, pointing her finger at me like a disciplinarian. "No. No talk about the boy with the bread. You can spend the night, though." Foxface is suddenly silently laughing.
She looks like a lion roaring with her red hair mane and everything. "What is it?" I ask innocently. "The boy with the bread." She breathes out. "Is that like your nickname for him or something?" I blush. Madge and her bust out laughing. "Shutup." I order.
. . .
Author's Note- About the place Katniss and Peeta visited, you'll find out how that ties in the story soon. And sorry for the late update, but I promise, I got some cool stuff planned out for you to look forward
to! And the reason for my tardiness is because, well, I got stuff goin on and my chargers kind of broke so...yeah.
But everything's cool now! Hope you enjoyed!
