Katniss POV
'What's up stranger?', I suddenly hear being yelled from a vehicle on the other side of the road from me, heading in the same direction.
I continue looking at the sidewalk, avoiding any eye contact with the boy with the blue sapphires twinkling on his face.
'It's Katniss right?'
I needed to reply as it's definitely none of his business what my name is!
'What's it to you?'
'Would you like a ride? I think I live next to you, and I got told by your mum this morning that we go to the same school', he called over again.
I ignored him. I knew he lived next door. It was obvious. I opened my blinds after waking up this morning and saw him. His perfect body, sweaty, six-pack covered with small beads of perspiration dripping off of his tight body. Wait why am I thinking of him in that way? SHIT. What if he saw me when I got out of the shower? Maybe this is why he is suddenly so interested in "giving me a ride". He is new, maybe he doesn't know that I am not interested in anyone, not after what happened to my mum once my dad left us.
I only just remembered, my mum laughing this morning. Was it him that had something to do with it? He does seem charming but he isn't nudging into my life that easily. He can't. No one wants anything to do with me anyway, and he certainly wouldn't if he knew about my past. Ignoring him and staying on the down-low this year will be my way of staying out of trouble and avoiding any awkward discussions with people like him.
I'm contemplating the option, though. I am running late after all. However, I am hesitant and I think I will decide against it. My next dilemma, how to tell him no without sounding like a douche.
'Thanks but I'll pass. I'm very capable of using my two legs and I've been taught not to take rides from strangers. Anyway, I've been looking after myself since I was 11, I certainly don't need any help now'.
I don't know why I told him that. It's only inviting him to ask questions now. Surprisingly, he doesn't though.
'I'm sorry to hear about that, I'm only offering a ride. It makes sense as we are going to the same place. You won't make it on time and Mr Snow will probably give you a detention if your late. If we leave now, we will get there on time'.
What does he know about Mr Snow? He doesn't know how Mr Snow acts when people are late. Despite that, he is right. I step carefully off of the sidewalk, trying not to stumble and end up embarrassing myself, and I cautiously open his car door and get inside. I hardly know anything about him so what made me decide to go ahead and get in his car? Maybe it's because you like him, a voice inside my head says, but I block it out trying to ignore the possibility.
As we drive, his attempt of making small talk proved to be comforting. No one has ever tried talking to me, except from my small group of friends. This consists of my friend Annie Cresta and her boyfriend Finnick Odair (CONNIE wishes it was her), my longest friend, Gale, and there is also Johanna, Madge and Thresh. Prim predominantly hangs around with Thresh's younger sister Rue. Rue is always round, which allows Thresh to come round all the time too, which I quite like as my mother has not always been 100% about me being friends with boys.
We turn up at the school gates and seconds later the school bell sounds. I feel a firm hand placed on my shoulder, and as I turn around, I see an irate Mr Snow, scowling at me and Peeta for arriving after the bell. He put us in isolation immediately. A day long detention with Peeta is just what I need on the first day (note the sarcasm).
We arrive at the detention room and we are politely welcomed by the stench of alcohol coming from my wonderful Uncle Haymitch. He is one of many English teachers at my school (and I suppose I take after him with my talent when it comes to writing) and I am surprised he can get away with being drunk on a daily basis at work and not run the risk of getting sacked. It's probably because he's banging the art teacher, Mrs Effie Trinket (the best teacher in school who can argue her way out of every situation). If you ask him about it, he'll deny it and say he can find much better woman than her. Everyone knows it's bullshit. It's nice to notice he is already passed out, sprawled out over his desk with a bucket of vomit next to him. Looks like detention will be an easy ride today.
... ~ ...
*At the end of the day.*
I learnt a lot about Peeta Mellark today. I found out that he works at his parents bakery, he paid for his car out of his own money, he moved to Miami to where we are now in Colorado, he sleeps with the window open, he double knots his shoe laces, he doesn't take sugar in his tea. Also, he's single. That is an important factor. Wait, why do I care that he is single?
He offers me a ride home again. I accept. Before we set off, he asks to see my schedule. I show him and I find out we have the same lessons as each other. Great. Even more time with this Miami boy that everyone already seems to adore. I can't even try to avoid him to prevent falling for him. He lives next door, he goes to my school and he is in all of my lessons. This is not going well.
When I walk through the door I can't help but thinking I recognised this stranger who lives next door. The boy with the blue eyes. I walk into the lounge to see my mum slumped in her chair reading a book about relationship failures. She immediately expects me to clean up after her, but this time I refuse. I have questions I need answers to.
'Do you know Peeta Mellark?', I ask her curiously.
She replies very sharply in a furious tone. 'Of course I do! He's the new boy next door!'
The tone in her voice makes me very suspicious.
'I mean, before he moved. I seem to remember him from somewhere, have we met?'.
The room fell silent, and a quiet response of 'do your homework' left my mum's mouth. Later that evening, she gives me a decent response, which only opened more questions.
'That's for Peeta to tell you'.
