I walk into school the next day still confused, head still foggy. Gale comes over and ruffles my hair.
"Hey."
"Hey Gale."
"You free after school today? I need to head over to the Hob to pick up some groceries"
"Yeah I'm free. See you then!" I reply and head off to history class.
"Hello class. I know the school year just started but I have a project for you!" Ms. Trinket exclaims. The whole class groans in unison. "Come on, it will get you ready for college. Please write a book review on this novel," she starts passing out copies of the novel, The Resolution to a Revolution, a boring book about the war that split us into districts, which are now our cities.
"But don't worry, this will be a partner project." I hope I can do it with Madge, my closest friend in this class. She posts the list of our names on the projector. I scan the list.
Nicandro, Maryana
Jezebel, Gerrit
Azaiah, Sabra
Madge, Jago
So I'm not partnered up with Madge. I think that's okay until I see who I'm partnered with.
Katniss, Peeta
My heart starts beating faster. I look across the classroom to Peeta and he looks back. We stare for a couple of seconds until I finally look away. What will Gale think now? On top of it all, Ms. Trinket tells us more.
"And, since it is a pretty big project, I want you to swap emails or phone numbers. I know it is the beginning of the year and you don't know each other very well but this will help you know each other better."
I walk over to where Peeta sits across the class and say, "Well what a coincidence"
"Sure is. So you want to exchange emails and phone numbers now?"
"Sure," I say as he scribbles down his info. I grab a scrap of paper too and jot down:
Katniss Everdeen
555-2038
girlonfire
"Here you go." We exchange cards. His reads:
Peeta Mellark
555-3730
boywiththebread
"So I guess we should just read the book first?" I say, trying to break the silence.
"Yeah that would really help", he says laughing. I laugh too and I feel a lot more at ease.
"Okay class! Let's get back to our seats now!" Ms. Trinket screeches, clapping her hands.
"So I'll see you later?"
"See you", I reply and leave to sit back down in my own seat. Well I guess that's one way to get a guy's phone number.
The periods go by quickly and soon it's the end of the day. I head to my locker, meeting Gale there.
"Ready to go?" he asks smiling.
"Yep." As we walk out he smiles down at me. I see Peeta out of the corner of my eye and he doesn't look happy. I wonder what made him so sad.
We head to the Hob and pick up some groceries, and then walk back to his house
"What's wrong? You seem a little unhappy"
"Madge told me about your history class." I know he's talking about Peeta. I stop where we are, a block from his house. There's not anyone else around except for a neighbor's cat searching for scraps in a garbage can.
"Look, Gale seriously there's nothing between us."
"I know but..." he trails off. Then, as if in slow motion he puts his hands on my face and kisses me. It's long and I feel my face heating up. I stand there for a moment in shock, moving away. He stares at me with a serious expression on his face. What seems like hours pass by until an old man starts to walk by.
"'Scuse me, sorry." he mumbles with his gruff voice. Right then I turn and run, leaving a shocked Gale behind. I run into my house and into my room, throw on my headphones, and lay down on my bed. I turn the music up and smash my head into my pillow.
The next morning I practically run to class to avoid Gale. Since I'm there 15 minutes early, I sit down and put my head on my desk.
"Hey Katniss." I look up to find a smiling Peeta peering down at me.
"Oh. Hi Peeta." He frowns, trying to figure out why I'm not bouncing for joy when he is talking to me.
"Is...is something wrong?"
"It's not you. I just have a lot on my mind.""Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." He frowns again and then goes to sit back at his desk. I put my head back down as Madge walks in. She immediately goes over to talk to Jago about the book. Ugh.
At lunchtime I hesitate before walking over to my table. As I sit down everyone greets me except for Gale, who sits there picking at his food.
"Hey guys." I sit next Madge instead of the usual Gale. She gives me a suspicious look but doesn't say anything about it.
"So how's school going for you?"
"It's been going well, but ugh in history Jago is so indecisive and needy. How's Peeta?" I give her an STFU look while I see Gale look even more sad and unfriendly.
"Well I mean, we haven't started yet."
"Oh okay. By the way, have you seen Lola's shoes? Hideous with a capital H!" I smile, relieved that she's switching the topic.
At the end of the day I see Gale walk by. I know he sees me too because we make eye contact for a second before he walks out the doors. I miss talking to him already, the manly smell of his shoulder that I cried onto when my father passed away. I wish he would talk to me, but then again I was the one who made him stop. I feel tears forming in my eyes, brush them away, and walk stiffly out the door.
