EXAMPLES.
School came in as usual to Peeta, with the classes going at its usual drone and teachers teaching without giving much care to the students' feelings. If the students are bored, excited, indifferent, or just completely A-type, the teachers just don't give a single damn. Well, maybe the teacher's pet does, but regardless, Peeta thinks that the teachers are just in for the job purely for one thing; money. But Peeta can't deny that the teachers are heartless. Hell no, they are caring and empathetic, yes, but only when it comes to certain situation. Furthermore, there are certain things that the teachers are good at. Like teaching. Peeta would call it blasphemy if he says that Mr. Abernathy's class are horrible, as well as his teaching because even though Haymitch may just as well look like a potential homeless man - outside of school that is - he's really the epitome of a genius, and it's almost hard to believe that there's someone who loves teaching but has a completely different personality out of school. Maybe it's the illusion that comes with the package of being a teacher.
Finnick has never called Peeta, and as far as Peeta's concerned, he's not entirely sure whether he gave his number to the tanned man. Gale and Katniss have never bothered about him, only when he is in the equation or topic of conversation. Peeta basically is grateful that no one has bothered him about his relationship. He's not really sure whether Finnick and he himself are in a relationship. Kisses on the cheek don't equal to anything and it's a bit too early to even say that they're in a relationship.
Especially when Peeta has eyes for someone else.
Gosh, he feels like a child for this. There is someone out there who basically has the power and heart to spare time for him, and there goes Peeta, chasing someone who basically drops his love or affection on the ground when there's a potential someone just a dial away with a heart ready in his hands. Pathetic, as Peeta would describe it.
He walks along the school corridor, and goes to his locker, unlocking the combination and places his book inside. Class has ended, and the term break has just started. He's not going home, that's for sure. He and his parents… aren't on the greatest terms, and Peeta's fine with it. Homosexuality is a lot to take in, no doubt, but a parent should be understanding enough that they should accept the fact just as openly as they can. Sadly, his parents can't seem to see that, and if Peeta's honest; he's glad that he's sent to campus school. Staying with his parents with differing views and under one roof can be suffocating.
He doesn't notice the presence next to him, until he's been shoved towards his opened locker. He grimaces in pain, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out who the perpetrator is. His chest hurts, as his chest makes full exposed contact against the metal locker. Never mind it being a locker, the pain's a bitch when it's open. Cato stands there with a sick grin on his face and he could hear some laughter behind him, as if they have just watched a clown making a fool out of themselves. Sadistic bastards, Peeta thinks. He watches as Cato walks away from him, and Peeta composes himself, trying to make himself look normal, even though he cannot say the same for his aching chest. He rubs his chest in a soothing fashion and keeps the last of his unrequired books inside the locker before making his way to the nurse.
Mrs. Everdeen works in the school infirmary. Ever since Katniss and his family struck gold through the contest they had won a year ago, their life has pretty much been stable. However, Mrs. Everdeen has never allowed the wealth to be an excuse to a lackadaisical lifestyle, and instead decided to play a vital role to students' life by being a school nurse. She loves children as much as the next mother, and staying in the school infirmary from 9 to 5 is something she finds no hassle in doing, even if it means your daughter being in the same school with your mother. Familial attachments have little to do with academic performances. Peeta is glad that Gale isn't around to send him, because he can imagine the mutterings that will leave his lips if he were to see Cato pushing him. Words like "I'm gonna kill him," will probably be the first thing that will be in Peeta's ears, no doubt.
He walks into the nurse after giving soft knocks on the door. The infirmary is fairly large, and unlike most infirmaries, this one is co-joined with the dentist's office. The dentist usually works if there are appointments made, and seeing that there isn't at the moment, Mrs. Everdeen is the only one in the infirmary. Peeta's teeth are fine so far, and he has so far never seen a cavity in him to make it a viable excuse to visit the dentist. The infirmary is large, with cupboards stocked with countless boxes and packages of medical supplies. If Peeta could see things different, he'd say that he was in the clinic of a hospital rather than a school one. The equipment is neatly kept, and he can see the boxes of alcohol swabs, rubbing alcohol, wire gauzes, tapes, and other items being placed out in the open. He guesses those things are the most common used items, and Peeta starts wondering what kind of injuries - besides his probably - would lead to the usage of alcohol swabs.
Mrs. Everdeen is busy washing her hands, and she turns her head and smiles, before asking Peeta to take a seat on the chair while she finishes the last of cleaning her tools. Peeta wordlessly sits on the designated chair, and he waits patiently for the nurse to finish whatever duties that needed to be done with. She finally turns around and dries her hand with a towel, before soaking it once more with some sanitizer. Protocols, Peeta thinks.
"Hello, Peeta," says Mrs. Everdeen in a motherly tone, "What can I help you with?"
Peeta gives a smile, although it's kind of hard with the searing pain, "Fine, Mrs. Everdeen. Um, I got shoved to the locker and my chest hurts," he says. He lifts his shirt and is surprised to see the inflamed skin making a really red show on his chest. He gasps at the sight and drops the hem of his shirt upon seeing it. He was disgusted by the sight of it, and he wonders how hard did Cato really push him. Mrs. Everdeen gives a disapproving look at Peeta, but as far as Peeta can see, the frown isn't for the scar. She directs him to sit on the stool, and Peeta does so, with the added instruction to remove his shirt. He does so, and then places the shirt on the spine of another chair, leaving it while Mrs. Everdeen grabs the necessary items to mitigate its growing pain.
Mrs. Everdeen comes back with some medical amenities, and then with gloves worn and hands ready, she grabs a cotton wool and then soaks it with some rubbing alcohol, with the intention of disinfecting the wound. She doesn't get further anyway, when the door is barged open with an angry looking Gale hauling Cato inside the room. Peeta gives a resigned look when he sees Gale's face. Of course Gale has found out of Cato's mischief. Mrs. Everdeen doesn't seem all pleased, and instructs the two intruders to take a seat while she tends to Peeta's wounds.
"Don't even think about it, fucker," says Gale in a menacing and threatening tone to Cato. Mrs. Everdeen doesn't seem to bothered by the expletive, as she is too busy tending to an injured human being than have time to talk about manners in the school. Students are eventually going to swear, anyway so there's no point in censoring them every time. Cato glares at him but doesn't do anything. Gale walks over to Peeta and watches Mrs. Everdeen cleaning the wound gently, with the occasional hisses filling everyone's ears. The pain is unsurprisingly stinging, and Peeta winces when the cold and wet wool touches his inflamed skin. "Jesus," mutters Gale before giving a cold glare at Cato who doesn't seem one bit sorry towards his mistake. He is too busy folding his arms and staring blankly at the window, finding the outdoor oh so interesting now.
Peeta is grateful that there is someone who cares for him, with or without him telling it to his face. All the times Peeta relied on Gale never falls into failure, and even though Gale sometimes gives his usual lazy tone about helping him, he does it regardless of the weight of the job. Mrs. Everdeen is now bandaging his chest. Peeta winces at the tightness Mrs. Everdeen was placing on the bandages, and she doesn't miss the expression until she said, "Sorry, dear. But it'll be worth it," Peeta nods at her words, knowing that it's better than letting it bleed or let it compound for the next couple of days. She finally finishes with her work, and then places her utensils onto the tray and then leaves the three boys alone to clean the tools. Peeta moves, and winces uncomfortably when he feels the bandages making some sort of friction across his underarms and the sides of his chest. Cato still sits at his place, and Peeta doesn't miss the soft expression behind the indifference of his when he sees Peeta's discomfiture. Peeta ignores it, knowing that Cato wouldn't like the idea of being vulnerable in front of people. Most bullies are like that; refusing to admit their dumb mistakes until they confine it to you.
Gale gets his shirt and hands it to Peeta. Peeta wears the shirt and has little trouble getting it on. He stands up and then tries to move his arms so that his flexibility doesn't get restrained, or anything. So far, everything seems fine, and he thanks Mrs. Everdeen for her help, ensuring that he'll return if there's anything he needs her tending to. Mrs. Everdeen gives him a smile and with that note, the male trio leaves.
They didn't go far until Gale forces him onto a wall. Peeta gives a resigned look at his best friend, not really in the mood to deal with a fight, let alone having to stop one. "Gale, leave him alone," he instructs Gale, his voice firm.
"Peeta, what the fuck, man?" asks Gale incredulously, "This guy got you hurt man. That's just low," he continues. Cato doesn't seem afraid of Gale's strength and instead gives a smirk when he the tables turn. Peeta, however, only gives a look of adamancy, his decision already enough to be spoken in silence. Gale gives him a pleading look, begging him to reconsider his decision and at least let him land one punch onto Cato, but Peeta wasn't having it. With a reluctant sigh, he lets go of Cato, and Cato simply brushes off his shirt, as if he was thrown dust at his shirt. Gale gives him a dirty look at the blond, and wonders how Peeta is able to tolerate him.
Cato gives a chuckle at Gale before saying, "He's a keeper, Hawthorne,". He doesn't spare a glance at Peeta, and Peeta doesn't expect him to anyway. Wouldn't want him to ruin his macho aura, thinks Peeta.
Gale and Peeta watch him leave the area, and Gale turns to Peeta, who gives a look that just speaks 'Are you serious?' to him. Peeta shrugs at him before taking his wrist and lead him to the another direction. He doesn't want to say that Cato has won for today or anything, because there's nothing about today to treat it as rivalry, so he shuts up about it, making sure that Gale doesn't retorts to convince him otherwise.
