The Hob was a dim and smoky place that seemed to feature only Negro singers and musicians. Peeta felt terribly out of place. He didn't have a problem with colored folk, not by a long shot; he just knew he stood out like a sore thumb with his blonde hair, pale skin and blue eyes. He was garnering a lot of attention and not all of it was friendly curiosity. Yet he wouldn't leave. Not until he got to see Katniss. If she's even here, his mind chided him.
The lengths he went for this girl was ridiculous. His mother commented on it just the other day in the nicest way she knew how. "Peeta, your obsession with the Everdeen girl is just silly. You do know she hangs around that awful colored club with that filthy friend of hers? Her mother was a whore and so is she, Peeta. It'd be best for everyone if you'd just give up."
Except it wouldn't be what was best for him. He didn't think he could leave Katniss alone even if he wanted to. She had captivated him since the moment he met her, and he wasn't willing to let that go. Whatever "that" was.
"Mellark, what the hell are you doing here?" Peeta almost jumped in shock but stopped himself. He couldn't look weak in front of Gale. He refused to. He squared his shoulders and turned around to look Gale in the eyes,
"I heard there was good music here. I decided to check it out." He shrugged nonchalantly, and tried to keep his expression casual. Gale narrowed his eyes.
"So I guess it has nothing to do with Katniss performing tonight." Peeta's heart almost shot of his chest. Katniss? Performing? That was better than anything he could have ever imagined. He had never heard her sing before but he was sure her voice was just as lovely as the rest of her. He contorted his expression to one of mild interest. He couldn't let Gale know just how much he was infatuated with Katniss.
"Oh, I wasn't aware that she was. But now that I know," his eyes sparkled deviously," I'll be looking forward to it." The lights in the dark club seemed to completely go out at this point and a spotlight shone on the stage. All eyes were drawn to the shapely figure standing on the stage. The woman was dressed in all red and her dress sparkled in a way that was reminiscent of fire crackling. Her red lips were slightly lifted in a knowing smile but her eyes were shut tight, as if to block out the crowd.
Peeta's jaw must've hit the floor. The whole club was silent and waited with bated breath for the stunning woman to sing her song. She was dressed to kill and it came to the surprise of everyone when the band did not begin to play some fast, sexy number. Quite to contrary, the song was slow and mournful and struck a chord with everyone in the room. Her voice was haunting and steady, as she began to poetically describe a lynching.
Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the popular trees
Her voice entranced him. He found his own eyes drifting shut. This is, he was sure, what love felt like. He couldn't recall ever feeling an emotion this powerful. Ever. He knew then, for sure, that he would never give up on Katniss Everdeen. Even if it meant faking illnesses for the rest of his life, he really didn't think he'd mind. As long as it was Katniss, always.
"She's going to get herself killed." Peeta's eyes snapped open again, forgetting his unfortunate company. He looked over at the other man but Gale's eyes were locked on her. His expression was one of anger. Peeta couldn't understand how any person could feel anything except peace while listening to the angel. "I told her not sing this. Not tonight."
He didn't know if Gale was just thinking aloud or talking to him, but he felt compelled to respond.
"Why? Why not today?" Gale stared at him for a moment.
"There was an anonymous tip. The Hob might get raided tonight. If those racist bastards we call Peace Keepers hear her, they'll be out for her head." Peeta looked back up Katniss who was on the last few notes of her song.
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
The lights went off again before she was finished and everyone looked around in confusion. It was clear that this was not meant to happen. And then it happened.
A shot rang out. A woman cried out in the dark. Silence, deadlier than any other Peeta had ever experienced, ensued.
And then, as a classic cliché would say, all hell broke loose.
A/N: So, I decided that I didn't want my story to be as light and fluffy as the first chapter was. I want my story to have a bigger plot than "How Katniss and Peeta get together in the 50's!" So I'm going to involve Katniss and Peeta in the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. The song Katniss sings is another Billie Holliday song called "Strange Fruit". I already have this story mapped out in my head so I should update again in a week or so. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
