Author's note: You'll have the next chapter (the date chapter!) in just a little bit. It is written and awaiting editing. This one has some hidden information about a couple characters. See if you can figure it out. Come talk to me on Tumblr (booksrockmyface) if you want to discuss anything about this story. Reviews here are also welcome. Thank you to everyone that has read, reviewed, and favorited this.
Happy reading!
Chapter Four
"I can't believe we still have to do these stupid Sunday lunches." Prim grumbled.
Katniss sighed and turned into the driveway of the home where her mother was raised. It was her Uncle Haymitch's now with his wife Effie. "At least they stopped making us go to church after Mom died."
"Yeah."
"Effie just wants our souls to be right with God."
Prim snorted. "Effie just wants to save us from our fashion sense."
Katniss laughed. She gave her sister a mocking once-over. "Where on earth did you find that coat, Primrose? A peasant in the French Alps? A French bulldog? We must go shopping sometime."
Prim laughed. She put on the same voice Katniss had and asked, "Why, Katniss, those shoes look like they belong on the feet of a lesbian. You aren't one, are you? Because if you are, I know of a lady in need of companionship."
There was a sharp tap on the driver's side window. Haymitch's hard face was close. "Come inside, ladies."
They both sighed and got out. Haymitch, despite his gruff demeanor, was really a big old softie. He pulled them each into a tight hug as soon as they were inside and had their coats off.
Effie came in with her blonde hair as high as she could tease it, wearing a bright green dress with monarch butterflies all over it, and orange heels, the highest heels Katniss had ever seen. Her face was painted in all the colors to match the dress and shoes. In her ears she wore what looked like actual preserved butterflies. "Katniss! Primrose! So lovely to see you both!" She gushed.
"You saw me just the other day." Prim muttered.
"Hush." Katniss admonished.
"Come in, come in!" Effie said. She was always so chipper, much to Prim and Katniss's annoyance. Somehow, Haymitch saw it as endearing. She took a seat and poured everyone some sweet iced tea. "So how is everyone's weekend?"
"Katniss has a date tonight." Prim said.
"Prim!" Katniss admonished.
Haymitch chuckled. "A date, huh? With someone we know?"
"My art teacher." Prim supplied.
Katniss groaned. "His name is Peeta. He's Prim's art teacher, like she said. Finnick and Annie are really rooting for it."
"I'm rooting for it." Prim said. "The last time you went on a date, I was still in braces. In middle school. You need to get a life."
"Well, that's not very nice, Primrose." Effie said. She turned to Katniss. "Do you need an outfit? I have some things that I believe might fit you."
"No, thank you." Katniss said, trying to swallow the bile that rose up at the thought of wearing anything that had once been on Effie's body. "We're just going to a diner. I can manage to find something."
Prim snorted and started shaking with giggles. No doubt she was picturing Katniss in Effie's clothes. Katniss started giggling right along with her and they were soon holding onto each other in laughter.
Effie looked from one to the other and then to Haymitch and asked, "What did I miss?"
Prim gasped, "Katniss in your clothes."
Haymitch even cracked a smile. "Honey, Katniss would not be able to pull off your look." He knew she was a loud dresser, but he loved her anyway.
Katniss couldn't help but admire their relationship. She didn't always agree with Effie, but she had good taste in men at least. And Haymitch had a decent eye for a woman with a good heart.
"Well, let me have a bit of a hand in it. I don't have a daughter of my own to dote on." She looked down sadly a moment. Effie was a relatively young woman, but Haymitch was older and he always grumbled about not having kids. He'd done a great job raising Katniss and Prim and that was enough for him, he always said.
"I'd be happy to have your input, Effie." Katniss said.
"Thank you so much, Katniss." She gushed. "Where is he taking you again? You have to dress appropriately."
"A diner." Katniss said.
Effie screwed up her face. "That's no place to go on a first date."
Haymitch chuckled. "Not all of us want to go to French restaurants."
"All proper first dates happen over five courses." His wife argued.
"I would have gladly gotten to know you at a pizza place." He brushed his fingers down her cheek.
Effie giggled.
Prim sighed, "You two are sweet."
Haymitch cleared his throat. "I need to go check on the ribs." He left the room awkwardly.
"I don't mind going to a diner with Peeta." Katniss said. "I think it will be fun."
"Order a salad." Effie advised. "You don't want him to see you stuff your face."
"I'll order whatever I want. I don't think he's one of those superficial kinds of guys. Anyway, he's already seen me eat a burger and chips. I'll be fine."
"I didn't eat red meat for the first few months of dating your uncle. My mother always advised against it. A girl must keep her figure." She said the last seriously.
Katniss said, "A girl must take care of herself. That includes not starving herself for a man." She got up and walked out to the back porch where Haymitch was standing at a smoker. "Your wife is a real piece of work, you know that?"
Haymitch chuckled. "That she is, sweetheart." He held out a flask to her and she refused. "But she's also a good woman."
She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall. "I know. And I know you love her, even if you aren't comfortable saying it in front of us."
"Yeah." He said reluctantly.
"Anyway, do you want to know more about this guy or are you putting aside your protectiveness because I'm an adult now?"
He laughed. "Tell me more. Art teacher?"
She nodded. "And he's pretty close with Finnick and Annie Odair. You know Finnick, right? Prim's swim coach? And his wife Annie lets Prim help around her daycare in the afternoons sometimes when she isn't busy. And I figure they are both pretty good judges of character." She grinned. "And Peeta is kind and funny and Prim thinks highly of him."
"Then I hope it works out. You've been working too hard. You need something to distract you." He started pulling meat out of the smoker. "This should be ready."
"I'll go tell the others and help get the table set up." She started to walk away.
"Hey." He called.
She turned. "Yes?"
"Don't think too much, okay? On this date. Just be yourself. If he likes that enough, everything else will fall into place."
"Is that why you love Effie so much?"
He chuckled. "We balance each other out."
"I can tell." Katniss laughed as she walked back into the house.
"I'm going to mess this up." Peeta said into the phone.
Finnick laughed. "You won't. Katniss is as down-to-earth as you are. So just be yourself. Tell her about CASA and all the painting you do. Talk about your favorite artists. Girls love it when you talk about things you're passionate about. They think it's hot. I think it is, too."
"When guys in general do it or when I do it?"
"When anyone does it. But you are pretty cute when you go on and on about Salvador Dali."
"Does your wife ever get jealous of you telling people they're cute?"
"Only if I neglect telling her she's cute every once in a while." Finnick chuckled. "You'll do fine. Just don't tell her all your dirty secrets just yet."
"Like about my mother?"
"Yeah, that's a little heavy for a first date. Wait for at least the third."
Peeta sighed and looked in the mirror for the millionth time. "I don't ever want to tell her about that."
"You might have to if it gets serious." His friend advised.
Peeta took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I know. But I'd just like to forget about that bitch."
Finnick snorted. "You know, you ought to curse more often. You'll get all your anger out."
Peeta chuckled. "I get my anger out in painting."
"You could go swimming more often, too. You know, girls love a toned guy."
"I know. But some of us have to land a girl on more than our looks."
"She likes your looks." Finnick argued. "She was staring at you every time you walked away."
"No, she wasn't." Peeta said.
"Yes, she was. Annie, tell Peeta Katniss was staring at him yesterday."
"She was." Annie called, "She totally thinks you're hot, Peeta."
Finnick got back on the phone. "See? My wife thinks so, too. You'll be fine."
Peeta took another deep breath and let it out. "I'll be fine. Now, I have to go and pick her up."
"Do you have condoms?" Finnick asked quickly.
"I'm not planning on sleeping with her." Peeta argued.
"Well, I wasn't planning on sleeping with Annie our first date either, but things happen."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Finnick. Thanks for the advice." He hung up before his friend could say anymore. He gave himself one last look in the mirror and headed out the door.