A huge, gigantic thank you to ct522 for the tremendous support and encouragement! Check out ct522's work, Good Again. It's a fabulous continuation of pre-epilogue MJ! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll moan (rated M incidentally). Seriously, I'm not exaggerating when I say ct522 is da Vinci with words (and- no, I am not ct522, just a big fan).
My usual warnings: Adult language and situations follow...
Chapter 3- Finding Harmony in Handcuffs
Gazing glumly over the grounds of the Punchestown Racecourse, home to the Oxegen Music Festival, in Kildare, Ireland, I took in the festive location packed with myriad forms of temporary housing from pup tents to million dollar tour buses and where live music could be heard in every direction. Too bad my mood did not match my merry locale. No fun being the only sober git at the party.
Sighing, I turned my back on the cheerful scene I'd been viewing from the doorway of Hijack 6's hired tour bus to face Finnick, my best friend and band mate, as he exclaimed disgustedly,"Oh, for the love o' all that is holy, Peeta! Will ye not grow a pair, and go te the hospitality tent or wherever they went and punch that son of a donkey, so's he falls on his fecking arse? Then ye grab that girl and give her such a kiss as she'll never forget it!"
"No. Peeta Mellark knows when to walk away (unlike some people I could name, ehrm... Finnick)," I crossed my arms on my chest like an angry 5 year old who had his favorite toy taken away, "She laughed at me, Finn. Worse, she laughed at me along with her agent, boyfriend, or whoever the hell that tall jerkoff was."
"Peeta..." Finn cajoled, "I know ye fancy her, and despite recent events, I sensed the feeling was at least partially mutual. She brought ye an arse pillow fer chrissakes. I can't even count on one hand the number o' women who'd do such fer me."
"Doesn't matter, Finn. It's over." I stated resignedly. Truth was I was more hurt than angry. And true, I hadn't been at my best the last 20 hours or so since I'd made Katniss' acquaintance. Falling on one's ass in the middle of an airplane full of people had the tendency to do that to a person.
"This is so not like you," Finn mused, "Yer the man who could sell contraceptives to little old ladies well beyond their years o' worry. Yer that charming when ye put yer mind to it."
Admittedly, I was having a little pity party for one at the moment, but women usually did love me. Well, most women anyway. I could now count two that weren't in the Peeta Mellark Fan Club: my mother and Katniss. Maybe I was being somewhat selfish and egocentric. I know, what a shock for a hyper-popular pop star, right? The bitter memory of her laughter still echoed around in my head, along with the look she and her handsome 'friend' exchanged which spoke volumes about what a ridiculous poser they thought I was. I mean, was I? Should I get cards printed up? Peeta Mellark, Ridiculous Poser Extraordinaire, Available for Your Entertainment.
Finn sighed heavily before clapping me on the shoulder, "Alright Peet, I wasn't going te tell ye this till before the performance tomorrow, but Delly's here."
Well, wasn't that just the bread on this shit sandwich? Great. I tried to school my features to indifference, as Finn continued, "She rang up Haymitch and begged some comp tickets fer her and a couple o' her Eurotrash friends. She's been in London on a shoot. I told him it was a fecking awful idea, but he figured she'd add te the buzz of our attendance here. He also said she and Cato split."
Delly Cartwright- sweet, bubbly, former Victoria's Secret model turned actress- was also my ex. Why the fuck had I agreed to do this whole outdoor music festival in the first place? I scrubbed my hands over my face and through my hair tiredly, "It's fine. (Not really, but I was Mr. Nice Guy, Make the F-ing Best of It, who smiled and played nice with his exes.) It'll be good to see her, I guess."
"Ye mean see her in clothes and not on top of that arse, Cato Masterson," Finn grumbled, and then blanched when he saw my face, "Sorry, Peet. Didn't mean te bring up bad memories."
About, what, 5 months ago now, while on tour with Hijack 6 on the East Coast, I'd glanced at the tabloids at a convenience store check-out counter we'd stopped at for a 3 am snack break after a show. I never payed any attention to those works of fiction before, best not to in my line of work. There was Delly, the woman I'd been sort of seriously seeing for the last 7 months, obviously naked and obviously enjoying herself in a hot tub with Cato, the retired Giants quarterback and Delly's co-star at the time.
I'd thought the scandal rag had gotten hold of an old photo or doctored the pictures or something. They were so grainy you could barely tell who they were, but I knew Delly even if the headline hadn't proclaimed: "Peeta Versus the Giant: Cato Wins the Girl." I spent the next 3 days trying to reach Delly by phone and text. Hell, I was about to break out the carrier pigeons next. I threatened to leave the tour, something I'd never even considered before, until Haymitch finally got Delly to call me. I could tell by her hello it was all true. They were in love she said. It just happened, she said. She didn't mean to hurt me. She did love me, but what she and Cato had was special. He wanted her to move in with him. Blah, blah, blah.
Well, what else could I do? We hadn't really explicitly said we couldn't see other people, though I'd avoided the advances of women in every city we'd played to stay faithful to Delly. She said she was in love with him. I wished her well, and hung up thinking that in future I'd be a little more careful. If there was a next time, I'd be the one who ended it.
"If it makes any difference te ya, they split up a few weeks ago, and I think she's set her sights on rekindling her romance with a certain rock star," Finn studied me closely.
I didn't even pretend to not know what Finn meant, as I joked weakly, "Good to know. Now I know which half of this damn place to avoid. The half that contains Delly."
"Smart man. Come'n, pal," Finnick put his arm on my shoulders, "Let's get plastered and laid. In that order. We have a signing later, but te hell w' that. We just won't get se drunk we can't write our own names, yeah?"
"Nah. I'm beat. Besides, I think it's safer for everybody if I just hang out here and take a quick nap before we go sign autographs. You go on. I'm fine." I plunked down on the nearest bus seat and propped my legs up on another, slumping trying to take the weight off my still sore ass.
"If ye say so," Finn quipped as he exited our bus, "More fer me."
Not sure how long I'd been out when a loud banging on the side of the bus woke me up with a jolt, making me curse as I sat bolt upright on my injury. Annie had left me a few more of her magic pills. Maybe it was time for another dose. Prescription Motrin was my new best friend. When I finally limped my sorry ass to the bus door (Where the hell was everybody, anyway?), I was greeted by a very irate Katniss. Even her hair looked angry, as her once tidy braid was coming loose and tendrils swirled around her flushed cheeks, and into her snapping gray eyes. She pushed them back in irritation, and looked up at me while shifting from foot to foot in agitation.
"You have to fix this! Now! Call a press conference and set this straight or something?" she exclaimed without preamble.
"Hey to you, too, Katniss," I said with a yawn, "Fix what? Why would I call a press conference?"
"This! I can't have my fans thinking we're together..." she held out her phone to me. I took it and blearily tried to focus on the tiny print. Her twitter feed on the small screen with stuff like: "u make such a cute couple!" and "how could you betray your art w/ that poser?" and "Peeta's a tool. Luv u! Marry me instead." I scrolled down dozens of tweets all saying similar things about me and Katniss being together as a couple.
"Ah, the paparazzi pictures from the airport must've hit the press. Apparently, 2 out of 3 of your fans think you're too good for me," I said with a total lack of concern. This had happened to me more times than I could count. So used to hearing: I was with this woman or that one, or both together; So and so was having my baby; I was an alien from Venus with a 2-foot penis (a personal favorite), etc. etc. "This happens all the time. You should know by now that you can't believe your own press. It'll die down in a few days."
"I don't have a few days," she grit out, grabbing my hand and tugging me down out of the bus to stand next to her outside on the grass, "We go on stage in two hours, Peeta, and now it'll be a big joke. Peeta Mellark's little girlfriend's band performing at the same festival. Oh, how cute."
I shrugged, "Could actually work in your favor. Maybe it'll draw more people. Do you want me to come to your show? I have a signing, but then I'm free."
"You conceited ass," she spat, like really spit at me. Eww. "As if I want to be known as one of your skanky hook-ups, I'm a serious musician, not some groupie or cheesy actress out to get in your probably disease ridden pants. I certainly don't want the mainstream sycophants who listen to your music to come to our show."
"Hey, now," I was a patient man, but even I had my limits, "No need to be insulting. I'm sorry if you and your pretty-boy boyfriend, who I notice isn't even here to defend your honor..."
"Gale's setting up for our show, which is where I should be instead of standing here arguing with a puffed up prick, who can't even stop whining about his sore ass for 5 minutes..."
We were standing nose to nose, glaring at each other, "Well, sweetheart, I'll solve your problem. I'm going to finish my nap which you so rudely interrupted. Have a good show." I said snidely and turned to walk back up the bus steps.
"What? No! You will fix this, you conceited fame whore," she grabbed my arm to keep me from going.
We were so caught up in our argument that we didn't even notice the people milling around us were pointing and staring as a golf cart, like those used to transport important celebrities on festival grounds, slowed nearby.
"Lovely people, what is all this anger and strife?" a rich, melodic voice cut into my angry retort before I could even think of one.
We both spun to look at the owner of that voice, a man with smooth, cinnamon-colored skin in the passenger side of the golf cart now stopped next to us. Yes, Hijack 6 was famous, but I wouldn't even begin to flatter myself that we were a tenth as popular as this man, simply known by one name: Cinna. He was like the Rolling Stones and Gandhi rolled into one striking, gift to mankind package. Katniss and I both stood there staring at him in utter shock and awe, as he stepped from his cart and walked to stand between us.
"Uh, we're just having a friendly disagreement here ... Mr... I mean...Cinna," I stammered. Fuck it, I sounded like one of my own fan-girls. He really did have such presence. I could see why he commanded the adoration of millions, as he studied us with his penetrating dark eyes.
"I wouldn't call it friendly," Katniss cut in, and I shot her a shut the hell up, do you know who this is? look.
"'From discord, find harmony,'"* he recited as he reached to take us each by the hand, "My children, the future of our world depends on you, and those like you- Artists with a message of love and understanding."
"O-kay," Katniss took a tiny step back, "But I don't think I'm about to find harmony with this whiny, spoiled, not to mention clumsy, overgrown baby."
Oh...she meant me. Really not liking her very much right now, despite her stormy eyes that a man could get lost in, and that adorable greenish braid, just begging to be tugged, "Well, I'm afraid I agree with Kat here, for once. Not the me being a big baby part, of course, but I can't even begin to understand, let alone love this prickly, shrew of a woman."
Katniss started at me hissing angrily, shoving against my chest. Cinna let go of my hand and gently clasped her wrist, and I heard a soft snick, like a metallic clicking. Where had I heard that sound before?
He moved to take my hand again, completing our weird prayer circle, looking into my eyes deeply, like he was trying to see into the back of my brain or soul or something. Whatever, man. Creepy bro-mance not what I needed at the moment.
Then he said airily, "'In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.'" *
As he was uttering his second Zen proverb in as many minutes, I felt cold metal encircle my wrist above my hand he'd been holding, and then heard another soft metallic click. What the... Handcuffs? No fucking way! I had to still be on the bus dreaming this. This could not be real. Cinna, the musical luminary more popular than God, did not just handcuff me to Katniss. Why?
Katniss started to tug at our attached wrists immediately, "What the hell! Let us go!"
Cinna merely smiled beatifically and said, "See. Harmony." before hopping into his cart, which sped off into the golden late afternoon light. Wait! I started to run after him and made it about two feet before I was tugged backwards by the weight of Katniss attached to me by my left wrist.
"Ow, shit, hang on there, Wile E. Coyote. Remember, we're attached," she shrieked.
"How kind of you to remind me," I responded, my voice now dripping with sarcasm, "Hurry it up. Let's go. I think I can still see them over that way."
"No, they turned right by that line of port-a-johns up there," she stated with certainty, as she started in that direction forcibly pulling me with her. Lucky me, I was shackled to a real ball buster.
After about 10 minutes of running to and fro after several golf carts in the area, me and my throbbing ass had had enough, "Whoa there," I stopped abruptly, making Katniss stagger back into me, "Oooff. I think it's safe to say we lost him. We need to quit running around with no idea where we're going. Cinna probably has a bus or a trailer or an entire f-ing pavilion given how important he is. Let me call Haymitch and see if he can find out where it is. We can go there and get this sorted out."
"I cannot believe I have one of the most important shows of my life in less than 2 hours, and I'm stuck chained to you," she wailed indignantly, as I reached into my pocket, and tugged her closer to me so I could use both hands to scroll through my contacts list on my phone.
Never thought a girl like Katniss would whine, but she just did. She even stamped her foot. That was sort of cute. Stop it, Mellark. I punched Haymitch in my contacts list. No answer. He was probably drunk in a ditch somewhere. What good was a manager who didn't take your fucking calls when you found yourself handcuffed to a virtual stranger?
"Let me call Gale," she said, sounding doubtful even to me.
"No, he's busy setting up, right?" I offered, "Finn probably knows where our sorry excuse for a manager is. I'll call him."
It rang twice, and Finn's slightly slurred voice came over the receiver, "'Lo, Peet? How's the big size a ye?"
"Not now, Finn. I have an emergency. Katniss and I ran into Cinna, and the crazy, famous bastard has handcuffed us together... No, hand...cuffed. Stop laughing, Finn... No, I'm not joking. Yeah, you're telling me. Where's Haymitch? Great! Keep him there. Don't let him leave! We need to find Cinna and get the key. She's got a show in less than 2 hours."
I rang off with Finn and turned to Katniss, who was watching me avidly, "Good news, Haymitch is with Finn in Hospitality Tent B. It's not far from our site where we parked the bus. Finn's going to have Haymitch find out where Cinna is. Let's go."
We started run/walking in the direction of the bus. Surprising how hard it is to run in unison with someone when you're bound together. I was sure we'd both have bruises on our wrists from where the cuffs were digging in every time we moved too far away from each other. Finally she stopped abruptly, "Screw this, here take my hand," she held her cuffed right hand for me to take. It was much easier to run together this way. I was more aware of the subtle movements of her body with her hand in mine. As we were running by our tour bus, I saw Thresh standing outside having a smoke.
"Thresh, hey man, you got some extra wrist bands like you wear when you're drumming? We've a bit of situation here," I held up Katniss' and my interlocking hands, so the cuffs dangling around our wrists were visible.
"Sure, Peeta, be back in a tick," Thresh chuckled as he stubbed out his cigarette and hopped into the bus. Thresh was a man of few words, and right now, I seriously loved him for it. He didn't even tease or make any bondage jokes or anything.
Should have known my luck wouldn't hold. "Peeta?" came a voice that sent sharp, pointy icicles up and down my spine, "Peeta! I've been looking everywhere for you. Haymitch said you were here when I ran into him in the hospitality tent, but then... Why are you handcuffed to this...person?"
I turned to face the owner of that voice, like a man preparing to face a firing squad, "Oh...hey, Dells. Long story. Listen it's great to see you, but as you can see, I'm kind of... um busy at the moment. Can I text you later? We'll meet up for a drink and catch up."
For some reason I couldn't entirely explain, I really didn't want Delly and Katniss within 20 feet of each other. Well shit, there were my hopes dashed. Delly eyed Katniss with a mixture of confusion and dare I say it, jealousy, as she walked over and hugged and kissed me. That was rich. Last time I saw her, she was shacked up with an NFL football player, and now she was hugging me like I was her long lost boyfriend. Really? I think I hugged her back before I knew what I was doing. Ah, fuck it, bygones. Glancing at Katniss, I took note of her scowling at Delly as if every negative impression she'd ever had about super models was confirmed. I glanced heavenward, Why do you hate me so much? Why?
Delly managed to make it worse by saying, "It's all over twitter that you came with some random girl to Oxegen. There are pictures of you arriving at the airport and everything. Is this her?"
"No, it's my twin," Katniss shot back snidely before rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, wrenching my shackled hand into her chest in the process.
I tried to move my hand to keep it from unintentionally making it to 2nd base with Katniss before replying to Delly, "Yeah, this is her. This is Katniss, my err... acquaintance," I explained, noticing Katniss' eyebrows shoot up at the description I used for her, as I continued on this introduction from hell, "She helped me out on the flight over when Haymitch knocked me on my ass. Hopefully, the press won't get a hold of that, too. Katniss this is Delly."
I wasn't even going to begin to try to explain to Katniss that Delly was my sort of ex-girlfriend, who'd left my ass for Cato Masterson, renowned womanizer. This was so fucking awkward. All I really wanted to do was scurry onto the tour bus and hide away from these two, but that certainly wasn't happening with Katniss and me handcuffed together.
"Anyway, speaking of Haymitch," I gratefully remembered we had the little attachment issue to solve, "We need to get to him and sort this out, so catch you later, Dells. I'll call. Promise."
Delly looked unsure for a second and then pulled me aside, or as aside as she could with my arm stretched as far as it could be from Katniss to give the illusion that we were alone. She reached up and brushed her fingers over my jaw, now covered with a bit of stubble, leaning in so her lips were close to mine, "I've missed you, Peeta. More than you know. Let's talk really soon, okay?"
I should have expected it, but what can I say, I was preoccupied with being attached to one woman, while another from my past was making it clear she still wanted me. Gah. Delly kissed me possessively with quite a bit of tongue. I lowered my chin and drew back as soon as possible. I'd always thought this was every man's fantasy- 2 women fighting over me. Shockingly, not so hot in real life, not at all. I blushed awkwardly. I saw Katniss stiffen her spine, while her mouth formed a straight line.
Not surprisingly, Katniss and I didn't say much to each other on the way to the hospitality tent to meet Haymitch. We were stopped just outside the entrance of the large white tent while security checked our artists' passes that hung around our necks on lanyards. Katniss looked up at me warily during the pause, "So... she's your girlfriend?"
"Ex," I supplied, shrugging uncomfortably, "She dumped me for her co-star a few months back."
"She doesn't seem so ex to me," Katniss mused softly.
"Well, she is to me. I was on tour when I found out via the tabloids that she was cheating on me." I don't know why it was so important to me that Katniss understand this, but it was.
Katniss smiled ruefully, "Weren't you just telling me not to believe all the press?"
I stopped mid-stride on my way to the bar on the far side of the tent, and faced her, "Unfortunately, sometimes it is true. That's what's so bad about the press. They do get it right once in a while. I didn't believe it at first, not until I actually talked to her, but I initially found out Delly was with Cato by reading the cover of a tabloid during a late night gas and snacks stop on our last tour."
Her gray eyes softened, "I'm sorry. That must have been horrible."
Before I could reply we were surrounded by most of the band members of both our respective bands. Finn handed me a large plastic cup of beer joking something about being sure I needed it. I took a small sip, when I really wanted to down the whole damn thing in one go. Fuck. How had my life gotten so complicated in less than 24 hours?
What is it with me and Peeta in handcuffs? Two of my stories now, he's in bondage. My deviant mind, I suppose. What sorts of things will our hero and heroine get up to while shackled together? Ideas anyone? As always, thanks so much for reading, following, and favoriting! Please review!
* The two Zen quotes Cinna uses happen to be from Albert Einstein.
