A/N: Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews of this story. It definitely motivated me as I wrote this next chapter! So please, if you read this chapter, review and tell me what you think so I know that you are out there!
Chapter 3: An Easy Country Charm
The grass was rough beneath my fingers; I rubbed my palm against my leg before springing to my feet in one smooth motion. I reached my hand out as an offering to Peeta who was still spread out on the ground, his broad shoulders holding the weight of his body against his arms. I couldn't help but let my eyes run along his chest; the tank top he was wearing was very thin cotton which clung to his well-developed muscles. One of his large hands gripped mine, and I was shocked to feel hard callouses on his fingers as I pulled him to his feet.
"We seem to keep runnin into each other this way. I'm blaming you; I think you're the only one in all of Kentucky that could sneak up on me this way." I said, my mouth quirking into a smile.
His blue eyes opened a little wider at my words before a big smile spread across his lips. It was the first smile I could remember seeing directed at me before, it caused a small flutter in my stomach as I looked at how it warmed his face.
"Blamin me? Pretty sure you're the one who keeps running straight into me. Are you alright?" He asked, and I felt it was more an excuse to look me over than genuine concern.
"Oh I'm fine, nothing compared to being knocked off a horse." I said.
Our eyes locked, and I became aware that his hand was still in mine as he gave it a little squeeze. I flipped his hand over in mine so that his palm was facing up, and I inspected the callouses I'd felt there. I had always assumed that he was just like every other boy in town, living off his parent's money but here was a clear sign that he obviously worked hard. It added so much to my opinion of him immediately, and I was suddenly compelled to press my lips against the rough callous but stopped myself.
A fast motion out of the corner of my eye drew my attention as Gale rushed over, drink spilling as he came to my side.
"This guy knock you over again Katniss?" He gave a threatening look at Peeta, his dark eyes narrowing to almond slivers.
"No Gale, its fine. I was coming round the bend too fast. Calm it." I put my hand on Gale's shoulder, but he shrugged it off.
"It happens again and I'll know it wasn't an accident." He said, pointing at Peeta.
"Look, he got your drink all over your shirt." Gale continued, whipping his hoodie off and shoving it into my arms.
I looked down at myself for the first time and realized that it was true, my drink had splashed across my chest, making the thin material almost see through. I quickly pulled the hoodie on, noticing a look of disappointment flash across Peeta's face as I covered myself up. I smirked at him when my head came out from the shirt before threading my long braid out to let it fall back down my back.
"Gale!" Madge called, stumbling down to us.
Gale turned to me, rolling his eyes and raising his eyes to the sky before facing her. She almost slipped on the grass but came to stand with us, cutting Peeta out of the group and grabbing my shoulder for support.
"Oh good, you found Katniss! I turned around and you were gone but here you are!" She said, slightly winded from running to us.
I crossed my arms as I looked at her, clearly she had been helping herself to all of the drinks, her face was bright red and her dress strap had slid down one shoulder. She grinned goofily at me, and I just shook my head.
"Peeta! You're here too? Did you see that Katniss is here?" She shouted, finally noticing that Peeta was right behind her.
He stood there awkwardly, glancing quickly at me before letting out an embarrassed laugh, running a hand through his blond hair. Footsteps approached from the left, when I turned I saw Peeta's friends coming up the hill drinking straight from a bottle. They stopped when they saw us, and Cato let out a loud whoop. Peeta met my eyes quick, an apologetic look on his face, before running down the hill to meet up with them. When I turned back to Gale and Madge they were both watching curiously.
"Have either of you seen Delly?" I asked.
"I think I saw her somewhere over there." Madge said, waving her arm in no direction in particular.
My feet wandered up the hill and towards Finnick's trailer, passing by groups of people who I recognized but had never actually talked to at school. The sound of Delly's shrill laugh filled my ears before I spotted her standing with two girls from our grade, all three of them with empty shot glasses in hand. The tall blond next to her, Glimmer, gave me a wary look but I stuck my chin out and poked Delly's arm. She grabbed my arms with both hands and gripped a little too hard.
"Katniss you just missed it, Clove and Glimmer were telling me all about how they were driving around and followed Cato's car to the bonfire!" She turned and rested her hand on Clove's slender shoulder. "I can't believe we never talk, you are so nice."
Clove gave a thin smile, nodding at Delly. Glimmer was still staring me down, her light eyes making me uncomfortable. She was easily the prettiest girl at our school; cars would slow down as they passed her on the street. Clove was also very pretty, a tiny and mean spirited girl. For some reason Delly always cared what they thought about her, she would update us on what both had worn, trying to show us pictures they had posted.
The air around both girls talking to Delly was so unwelcome I suddenly felt like I was suffocating. I pulled the glass from Delly's hand and filled it quickly with whiskey from the table behind them; my stomach burning as I quickly downed the shot and did a second. My natural ability to observe everything seemed to be a burden right now, and alcohol seemed like a good solution to that problem. As I filled the glass for a third shot I heard Glimmer whispering to Clove, I peaked at them out of the corner of my eye. The burning in my empty stomach told me it wouldn't take long to feel the effects of what I'd just drank.
"There's my girl!" Marvel suddenly shouted from behind me, making me jump.
He came up to Glimmer, sliding his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. Delly watched jealously as he kissed Glimmer's neck, but my vision seemed to be blurring too much. When I tried to move out of the way of Cato as he came to stand next to Clove my feet seemed glued to the ground, and I fell back slightly. I put my arms out to steady myself, frowning as I thought of the apple that I had eaten this morning and how that was all that stood between the whiskey and my bloodstream. Maybe this whole three shot thing wasn't a great idea.
A pair of strong hands came and steadied me as I wobbled again, and I looked up to find the hands belonged to Peeta. When I straightened up and tried to smile at him I leaned forward, bumping my forehead against his chest. Very hard chest at that. I placed my hand against his pec to steady myself, and my thumb rubbed against the soft material of his tank top on its own. He let out a quiet chuckle at my action.
"You're a lightweight." He said, his voice gentle.
I just nodded, unable to focus on much other than how close he was to me and the wonderful feeling of his warm chest beneath my fingers.
"Maybe we should get you something to eat, hmm?" He asked, and I again nodded.
He grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd and down the hill to where everyone had parked. The noise died down a bit, allowing me to hear the blood pumping in my ears. The grass had become wet from the darkness and crowd, and I almost slid the rest of the way down but Peeta grabbed me. In one smooth motion he swung me up into his arms, my legs dangling over his arm. I stared at my toes as he carried me over and set me down gently on the edge of the open back of a truck. He went into the front seat, rustling around quick before reappearing with a small brown bag in his hand. As he hopped up to sit next to me he reached in and pulled out a small circle bun with cheese baked onto it, handing it to me. I grabbed it, taking a huge bite and barely swallowing before looking up at him.
I meant to be polite and thank him but "You drive a truck." popped out of my mouth instead.
Peeta laughed, taking a bite out of a cheese bun as well. "I do."
"Thanks for this too." I said, holding up the cheese bun.
My feet dangled over the edge of the truck bed, I swung my legs in circles and enjoyed the feeling of the wind blowing over them. It was dark down here away from the bonfire, only a hangnail sliver of a moon in the sky amongst all of her stars. I could see them reflect in Peeta's eyes when I turned to look at him, startled by how beautiful the night looked on him. He was staring intently at me, which was much more familiar to me than him talking or smiling. I could handle the staring. It was his kindness to me that was unnerving.
"You're different than I expected." I finally managed to say when I realized I had just been staring at him for several minutes.
"You're exactly how I pictured." He said softly.
"Really? I didn't think you would have pictured me any sort of way." I said, finishing my cheese bun.
A strong gust of wind blew over us, the smell of the honeysuckle drifting through in waves. The little wisps of hair surrounding my face danced with the air, tickling my cheeks. His hand came up to my cheekbone, hovering there for a moment before it dropped back to his lap. He seemed to be considering his words carefully.
Despite the whiskey fighting with the bread in my stomach, my ears were still hypersensitive and picked up the sound of tires coming up the road. The way the gravel crunched slowly told me that whoever was driving the car was attempting to be quiet, as if to catch us all by surprise which told me it was most likely cops coming. I hopped off the truck, pulling Peeta down too with a tug on his arm.
"I have to go find Delly and Madge, looks like the bonfire's about to be busted." I said before running up the hill.
As I raced past groups of people I warned them the cops were coming. Delly was nowhere in sight, but I could see Madge barely holding herself up and attempting to scoot closer to a very bored looking Gale.
"Come on, we have to go now!" I shouted, pulling Madge by her hand.
Gale looked us both over, sighed loudly, and threw Madge over his shoulder. "I'll drive you both home."
He set Madge in the bed of the truck gently as I jumped in the passenger seat and he took off down the hill, both of us flying around over each bump as he drove through the fields.
When we pulled up to my house he picked Madge back up, carrying her in to the living room and setting her down on the couch. She spread out immediately, muttering something before falling fast asleep. I could see two pair of feet poking out from the blankets of my bed in my room, meaning Prim and Rue had made it home safely.
Gale turned away from her, coming to stand in front of me. He smoothed the baby hair away from my face, tucking a strand back behind my ear before poking my nose with his finger.
As he left I stared out into the darkness, Peeta's eyes lingering in my mind.