An Everlark St. Valentine's Day
"Hi. To celebrate a belated St. Valentine's Day we thought we tell you a romantic story. But first I'd like to thank Peeta for wishing me a belated Valentine's Day."
"You're welcome Katniss."
"Peeta got me chocolates. He got me flowers. He got me a card. And he got me this pair of diamond stud earrings. Thank you honey."
"You're welcome sweetheart."
"Peeta, would you be a dear and go to Mr. Kim's and get me a container of orange juice. In the meantime I'll entertain our readers with a story."
"Okay pumpkin."
"First of all, if he hadn't forgotten about Valentine's Day he would not have to have bought the diamond stud earrings. They are beautiful though. And he should have remembered that I detest white roses. So I regifted them. I sent them to Gale with a sexy card that I wrote with no name attached. Madge is probably going to beat him over the head with them as soon as he walks through the door. I'll call them later and fess up. But for now a story about our senior prom. Enjoy and I'll see you later."
"Come on Katniss, you have to get ready." My Mother pleads with me.
"Mom! I said I changed my mind. I'm not going." The last thing I want to go to is my prom.
"Katniss, you have the dress, the car and the tickets. Get up, you're going." I turn and look at her. She has a look of determination in her eyes that I have never seen before.
"Mom! Why do I have to go? Why is it so important?"
"What's wrong fatso? Why don't you want to go to the prom?" I just look at Prim and shake my head. I don't have the energy to give a comeback.
Prim just stares at me. I think she is confused. She doesn't understand why I'm not insulting her back. "Hey! What's wrong?" I just sigh.
"Katniss, you're scaring me. I don't like you like this." I just shrug my shoulders, turn around and look at myself in my vanity mirror. I start to question myself. Why did Geoff break-up with me? What did I do wrong? Maybe there is a chance we will get back together?
Shit! Who am I kidding? "Katniss, Get ready. Madge will be here any minute." My Mom screams up to me. Jeez, I don't want to do it but I may as well make the best of this.
I finally put on my dress. My Mom does my hair and make-up. "Smile honey. You have a beautiful smile." I force a smile. "Prim, how does your sister look?"
"She looks beautiful!" Prim says and then storms out of the room.
"What's wrong with Prim?" My Mom asks. I just shrug my shoulders.
"Katniss! Madge is here!" My Dad screams up the stairs. I get up and look at myself in the mirror. My dress is a beautiful color. I think they call it salmon.
"Thanks for doing my hair Mom." I kiss her on the cheek. I walk down the stairs.
"Wow. Kit Kat. You look beautiful. That dress is great."
"Oh my God Madge. You too. The limo will be here soon." The doorbell rings. "I'll get it." I open the door. It is my very handsome date. "Hi Gale. Nice tux."
"Thanks Kit Kat. You look er, um, really nice."
"Thanks Gale. You're sweet. Thanks for taking me at the last minute."
"No problem. Sorry to hear about you and Geoff." I cut him off.
"Let's not talk about it." I look at his hands. "Is that corsage for me?"
"Oh yeah. Sorry. Let me put it on." He puts it on my wrist. It is very nice.
We here the honk outside. The limo is here. "Bye Mom, bye Dad." They take some more pictures.
"Let me get one with Madge and her date." My Mom runs out to the sidewalk and starts snapping.
"Hey Madge. Billy is looking real good." Madge gets a tremendous smile on her face.
We all load into the limo for our ride to the Hotel Thayer. Our prom is on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Unfortunately I can not get into the party mood. I'll be at the same party with my ex. And he'll be with another girl. And just my luck. I see him with his new girlfriend. She's blonder, she taller, she's thinner. Jeez, what luck.
We sit and the night goes well. Gale, who doesn't like to dance, dances with me. I appreciate what he's doing. Madge, on the other hand is, is having a wild time with her new beau. They're dancing now but I came across them making out on one of the terraces. Good for her.
Later in the evening I wander outside to get some fresh air. I stand on one of the terraces. It has a beautiful view of the Hudson River. "Hi Kathleen." Oh, here we go again.
"It's Katniss." I turn around and see Peeta. "Oh hi Peeta."
"I thought you were Kathleen Emerson. You two look so much alike."
"That's what they tell me." I chuckle. "Enjoying yourself? Kelly looks great."
"Yes and thanks." We both smile at each other. I turn and look back out at the river. He moves and stands next to me. AH! I'm standing alone on a terrace with the twelfth hunkiest guy in our high school. "Gale is very handsome tonight. Are you two dating?"
"No. He just took me tonight." Peeta, who is never at a lose for words, seems a little tongue tied.
"Have you decided what college you're going to?" He asks me.
"NYU."
"Wow. I'm going there also."
"Uh. Small world." I'm going to college with the eleventh hunkiest guy in my high school. YAY!
"Um, do you think Gale would mind if we danced?"
"No, not at all. He's very popular right now with the girls." I laugh. "Kelly?"
"Doubt it. She's busy with friends." I nod as he escorts me to the dance floor. He puts his hands on my hips and I put my hands on his shoulders. I have known Peeta for years but I never been this close to him. I stare into his eyes and finally realize how blue they are. They are a deep blue. A blue I've never really seen before. Not even in the 64 Crayola box.
We dance to a nice slow song. I'm not even sure what song is playing. I'm lost in his eyes. "Peeta. Peeta." His name is called from across the ballroom. This breaks me out of my trance.
"I think Kelly wants you." I don't want to say but I do. "You better go to her. Thanks for the dance."
"It was my pleasure. Um, have a good time for the rest of the party. Bye."
"You too. Bye." He walks away towards his girlfriend. He kisses her and they walk off hand-in-hand. I take a deep breath and make my way to the lady's room.
"It's jammed but I happen to find an empty stall. I go in and lock the door. I lean my back against the door and start to cry. I really shouldn't. I just danced with the tenth hunkiest guy in our high school. A smile works it's way to my face. I grab some toilet paper and dry my tears and leave the bathroom. I find Madge.
"I see you're having a good time." I say to her.
"Yeah. How 'bout you?" I smile and nod my head.
"Yeah. It started out slow. But it definitely picked up towards the end."
"Listen. Let's leave now for the lake house. I invited about ten couples. I have to get there first."
"Okay Madge. Let's go." I walk away with her. I look at the ballroom full of people I have spent the last four years with. Some of them, like Madge, I've spent the last thirteen years with. Some of them I will keep in contact with. But most I will never see again. But that's how life goes. I still had a good time. I got to dance with the ninth hunkiest guy in my high school. YAY!
"Katniss, that story is beautiful. Why are you crying?"
"Pregnant woman hormones Peeta. Just pregnant woman hormones."
"Kiss me Mr. Mellark."
"Okay, Mrs. Mellark. And Happy St. Patrick's Day in case I forget."
