Sorry for the delay late update. It's been well hectic for the last two weeks for conventions along with school so I'm really sorry. Thank you for all the reviews n follows.
Chapter 4: The Winter Rose
My eyes felt puffy and sore as I woke up cocooned by blankets. Today was a new day... I was engaged, Gale kissed me, and then I kissed Peeta. I tightened my grip of the blankets as I tried wrapping myself in a tighter mess than I was now. God I don't want to see anyone today. Maybe I could call Madge Undersee and put a rain check on our little outing today. I shook my head with a small sigh. That would probably make it worse and then I'd have to stay here all day. I threw off the covers changed into some acceptable clothes and went in search for a phone. I opened the door wearily as I checked to make sure I wouldn't run into anyone like I did yesterday.
Actually it was more like I didn't want to see Peeta at the moment. The little butterflies that filled my stomach yesterday during our kiss had made my brain feel all fuzzy and I didn't like it.
I nodded my head, noting that the coast was clear and sighed, closing my door lightly and thankfully they were well oiled so there wasn't a peep.
I must have looked like a chicken as I tiptoed through the halls, shoes in hand, making as little noise as humanly possible. If I remembered correctly since it was around 10 in the morning I wouldn't have to deal with a surprise visit from Gale since he normally was working the day shift. And If I had a recollection of what the baker hours were back down in Mississippi, Peeta shouldn't be home at the moment.
With a new confidence, one that was filled with not having to answer any questions I raced down the stairs and stopped in the foyer. The smell of fresh baked bread was calling to me like a damn siren, and I wanted it now.
My mouth watered as I sniffed the air like a hound dog. It smelt so good that I could feel my stomach try to rip open my flesh and chase after it. It wasn't going to hurt looking right? I mean even a little taste wouldn't be too bad right?
I turned on my heels and tiptoed in the kitchen.
I carefully opened the kitchen door and a waft of warmth and the sweet smell of bread filled my nose. I inhaled deeply and sighed at the wonderfulness of it all. Of course all of it was ruined with a small deep hearty chuckle to the right of me.
I turned to see Peeta, standing there with a splitting smile on his face. Here I was thinking he would be out at work like normal that I hadn't once thought that he may have stayed home to try an keep Prim and me company.
I mustered up the best smile I could which felt a bit awkward. God, I wanted to punch myself in the face, hard. All this time I was trying to avoid this moment and because of my stomach I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Morning." He nodded to me with a smile as he turned to the oven and pulled out a tray of bread and set it on the wire racks to cool with a quick sprinkle or freshly grated cheese that I could feel my mouth water.
"Mornin'" I replied back trying to keep my drool in reign. I was almost surprised at his calm demeanor after last night until I noticed the bright red of his ears.
"Oh my god, Katniss you just have to eat this bread." Prim chirped leaving me surprised as she ran up to me and stuffed a roll in my face like a stuffed pig. I bit down at the soft pillowy goodness and sighed. I could feel the butter roll onto my tongue and the fluffy insides just melted in my mouth. I think I just moaned cause I could feel my eyes roll into the back of my head.
"Oh." I groaned, or really what I mumbled out through the rest of the bread. It was so delicious I didn't really care about my manners. I savored the first taste and wolfed the rest down like a hungry dog. Licking my fingers of crumbs that were left behind.
"Careful. I don't want you choking." Peeta stated with a hearty laugh as he handed me a glass full of orange juice. I took a cautiously small sip and I was floored. I think I died and went to heaven. The juice was so divine it was as if god had come down and squeezed this shit himself.
"Mmmmm." I hummed with the back of my throat at drank down the glass. It was fresh and sweet against my tongue.
"I'm glad you enjoyed that." He had this smirk on his face that made me want to slap it right off; I could tell he was still thinking about the kiss last night. His eyes were on me like a hawk and it made my skin shiver with anticipation. I inwardly shook my head. I wanted nothing to do with that at the moment or for a while till I sorted all the cobwebs in my attic, but he had just fed me so I let it slide.
"Where is the telephone?" I ignored his statement and asked with a forced smile. His eyes dropped to the floor as he sighed. It was interesting seeing how he stopped everything to sulk a little.
"Gale?"
"Madge." I corrected with a click of my tongue. He seemed to perk up like a puppy at my word. "She said she'd show me around town like Navy Pier, the theater, and shopping places, though I don't know why." Prim poked my arm and I looked down at her as she stood in front of me with a smile. "Yes little duck?"
She pursed her lips at me and I stifled a snicker.
"Stop that." She frowned before she continued. "Can I go too?" I couldn't ever say no to that little face. She had these puppy dog eyes with the slight tilt of her head that was just cute as a button.
"Ok go get ready."
"Excuse me sour puss, I am ready." She gave herself a small twirl, and I looked her over. Yeah that was not happening. She was wearing some sleeveless dress with her hair all pinned up short like those flapper girls.
"Yeah, you are fourteen kitten, all I see are nighties. Go put on something decent." Prim huffed about how I was so old and a prude before she stomped her way out of the kitchen.
"Ugh fine. Kill joy. " Prim called out as she stuck her tongue out at me with a small slam of the kitchen door I smiled as I watched her go in her little temper tantrum. A small chill ran down my back. I had forgotten the most important part.
I was alone with Peeta Mellark, and that is exactly what I didn't want today. I stiffly looked back over to him as he wiped down the counter. His face was set but his ears were still red as ever.
"Stop thinking about it." I huffed, great; my ears were heating up like the summer heat. Peeta stopped mid wipe as his face flushed like a tomato and mine was starting to match.
"Oi- I can't really stop it you know." He mumbled as he looked at me with those clear blue eyes and I could feel my skin turn to chicken feet. "I really liked it." He mumbled.
"What was that mumbles?" I asked I heard him but I kind of wanted to hear it again even if my brain was screaming for me to stop. My heart was overfilling in warmth.
"I said I liked our kiss last night." He stated with a grand lopsided smile before he continued as if he was damn proud that I kissed him last night. Peeta leaned in towards me and I could feel a knot form in my throat. He looked really good this morning and whatever resolve I had earlier was starting to crack. His white buttons up sleeves were rolled up to his elbows; his hands were covered in flour and sugar.
Peeta's squared and calloused fingers found their way to my cheek giving them a light caresses as he stared into my eyes. I licked my quickly drying lips only to see his eyes darken.
"Peeta." I called out his name and quickly Peeta dropped his hands and just gave me a large toothy smile.
"You can cash your checks at my bank whenever you want Katniss." I could feel my face redden at his implication that I could kiss him whenever I wanted. He chuckled heartily as I slapped his arm as punishment. The moment didn't last long as his face fell a little. "We need to talk later. But I have work tonight so I can talk to you tomorrow morning."
I wanted to ask if it was mob work but I'm pretty sure Gale wasn't supposed to tell me any of that so I needed to keep my trap shut. Thankfully the doorbell rang and interrupted this little awkward moment. I sighed, grateful of the interruption.
"I wanted to show you around too…" He looked a little disappointed but shook his head lightly. He pointed out the door towards the front of the house. "The telephone is in the study. Here, I'll show you while I get the door." He gave me a small nod as he made his way to the front door. I followed his broad shoulders to the front of the house where he pointed me over to the telephone through the double doors of the study as he continued on his way to the front door.
Peeta opened the door and I couldn't really see him but there were hushed murmurs. He walked outside and closed the door behind him. It's none of my business. I told myself. I made my way to the small black rotary phone and called the operator.
"Operator." The lady over the headset seemed annoyed at life and I couldn't blame her.
"Mayor Undersee residence please."
"Name, City and State please."
"Katniss Everdeen, Chicago, Illinois."
"Thank you. I'll patch you over."
"The Undersee residence, how my I help you?"
"Is Madge in?" The line went dead for a while till I heard a small click.
"Hello, Katniss?" Madge called out and I sighed.
"Yeah, I was seein' if you're still up for showin' me around town n all, Prim wants to join too."
"Oooh. Thank god you called, I was up to my ears in boredom. Ab-so-tutly I'm square with that. Then we can gab about what happened last night." My blood froze. She didn't know did she?
"Wh- what are you talkin' about?" I stuttered.
"The engagement… but seems like you're keeping your trap shut about something juicy. Oh, this is just berries! I'm going to hoof it to you." How the damn hell did she know something was up? Now I'm thinking those hold'em trades were just out of pity… I must really suck at this.
I couldn't help but hang my head in the fact that now she knew something was up. Although it left me relieved which was odd.
"Wai…" I couldn't even finish my sentence as Madge hung up the phone on me. I laid the earpiece back on its hold and sighed. Well seems like today's going to be a long day as well… but it would be nice to talk about what happened to a third party. I made my way to the door and curiosity peaked my interest. I leaned my head in against the door until I heard Peeta's voice. I was really asking to get myself hung one of these days I swear.
"Don't get your kitty in a twist." Peeta groaned.
"The fucking Italians are trying to hit our runners boss! I mean..."
"Hush it Marvel. You're getting the whole neighborhood on the in. We'll talk at the Rose tonight. And for the love of all that is holy don't do anything stupid. That goes for Darius too." Peeta groaned. I heard the doorknob twist with a small click and I bolted on the balls of my feet back into the study.
My feet skid to a stop on the dark wood floors and my hip slammed into the corner of the desk with a swift hiss that escaped my lips. My hand quickly covered my new bruising skin hoping to ease the pain. It was definitely going to black and blue at the rate I hit it. I could hear the door open and shut as Peeta looked over towards me in the study. His face softened as we both looked at each.
"Madge says she's coming over." I stated with a small nod. He smiled back at me with that lopsided grin of his and I could feel the ice in my heart melt. Even as a mobster he seemed like the kindest guy I would ever know.
"Good, I do have to head out but there should be some cheese buns in the kitchen with your name on them." I looked at him a little confused as he smiled even further.
"You remembered I like them?"
"Well yeah, how can I forget the look on your face when you bit into one 10 years ago." He chuckled. "It was almost the best damn day of my life." He muttered shyly before he turned around and grabbed his suit jacket off the coat hanger. The dark blue fit him like a tailored glove and I could feel something in the depths of me wanting to rip it off. He turned around to fix the edges and I just watched his back.
I can't begin to explain how mortified I was by this feeling. I've never really had it before. It was like ache that I wanted so desperately to be taken care of that it left me feeling vulnerable around him. I absolutely hated this feeling. "Yeah." My voice came out a little deeper a little more gaspy than I have ever thought would come from me. He stopped what he was doing and glanced back at me his eyes darkening with a small curl of his lips.
"If you look at me like that I won't be able to leave." His voice was almost rough with something that licked the flames that ignited in me. I quickly looked away as he chuckled to himself.
...
"Oh my GOD woman that just makes me ooze." Madge stated as she popped a torn piece of a cheese bun into her mouth. I had just told her all that had happened last night and this mornin when we stopped over by one of them designer stores that Prim was all up and up about. I swear my arms were going to fall off from all the bags I was carrying. None of them being mine by the way and yet I was still holding them. Madge had stolen one of the cheese buns from the house when she came over and was eating it piece by piece during our little trip.
"No, It's really confusin'." I groaned as I shifted the bags around on my arm and looked back up to the register where Prim was buying a small purse. It was eating away at me. Before Peeta had left for whatever he was doing, he handed me two hundred dollars. That was A LOT of money that I had never really seen with my own two eyes before. He just told me to buy what makes us happy. I tried refusing several times till he just stomped over to the kitchen grabbed a bun and stuffed it in my mouth before he high tailed it out of there. I guess he had learned one way to shut me up.
"Well, which one do you like more?" Madge asked, her eyes sparkling with piqued interest into my love life. I rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm. This was not fun for me. I had a crush on Gale long ago but I never really acted on it and that feeling just made like the air and drifted away. Peeta was really good to us and I'd only been at his house one day and I kissed him.
"I don't know. It's so confusing "
"Hmmmmm… oh don't gimmie that bushwa, one of them fella's gotta churn your butter more than the other." Madge hummed as she looked around us and smiled. "Wanna go out tonight to forget about it?" She asked.
In all honesty that was a yes. I really wanted to just do something to keep me from thinking about the situation I was in right now. Madge tapped her finger on her cheek with a small smile. She stated as we stood there in this stuffy department store waiting for Prim.
"Yeah sure."
"Ahh but first you need an outfit for tonight. You have to get all dolled up to go to the joint I'm takin' ya." Madge stared at me with a smile that she had something in store for me. I shivered at the thought. I hated shopping and I hated shopping in these kinds of places. Everywhere I went with these two the ladies behind the registers would give me a weary look. I groaned wearily as Madge grabbed my arm and dragged me in towards the dresses. I stared at the dresses and groaned at the prices. We still had $140 dollars and looking at some of these dresses I was already stifled by the prices. Who the hell needs a dress that costs $40?
"Uh these are just a little too much. I feel really bad that the Mellarks are paying for this." I moaned and groaned but instead Madge pulled out this red little number and this black and gold dress, shoving it in my arms. "I think these might show off a little too much…" Madge ignored me and shoved me into dressing room.
"Shut the spill and put it on kitten." I grumbled at Madge's comment, finding myself in front of a mirror in the back with two items that were worth way more than I could ever afford. "I think the red one will look ab-so-tutly divine on your skin." Madge called through the curtain. She clapped her hands twice I guess, I bet you a dollar she had a smile on her face. "Spit spot."
I stared at the little French red dress in my arm. The collar was cut low and the hemline reached right above my knees, which meant I'd have to shave again. I never understood why women needed to shave all the time but both of these were sleeveless and showed my legs. This little red thing was covered in little crystals and three layers with eight little flaps that if I turned would flower out like petals. I groaned as I shimmied my way into the dress.
"Is Katniss trying on a dress?" Prim called out behind the curtain.
"Oh Prim, just the girl I wanted to see. Which boy do you think is better?"
"Are we talking Gale or Peeta?" I opened the door for them to see the dress. At least in hopes to stop their conversation from going any further.
"I feel like my breasts are goin ta pop out of this thing any second."
Madge turned around to one of the store girls with a smile. "Were taking this one." She turned back to me with a wide grin. "Now for the make up."
"This is going to be so much fun!" Prim trilled as she clasped her hands in excitement.
...
"I don't think this is a great idea…" I moaned as Madge and I made our way down the street in the most uncomfortable shoes I have ever worn in my life. I tugged on the front of the dress while the other pulled up the top. I must look like a damn weirdo; I almost fell 12 times in these things. What man created these things? When I find him I will shoot an arrow in his eye. I grumbled to myself as we made our way down into an alleyway. My skin prickled from the cooling air. "Madge."
"We're almost there, it's only 9 pm." The clicking of our heels against the concrete set a steady rhythm till Madge's stopped. It was a small door in the back of a building. Madge walked down the small set of stairs and knocked on the door with gusto. A small latch opened as a pair of blue peepers looked through the little hole. I could smell the liquor and cigarettes from where I was standing.
"Passwo… oh hey Madge."
"Heya Darius." I guess she came here often. The door opened to a red headed fella with a bright smile on his face as he eyed the two of us. He licked his lips as he made his way over to me and gave a lopsided grin.
"Madge, baby, who's this tasty tomato?" He purred as he gave me a wink and took my hand in his.
"Peeta's fiancé." Madge snickered as Darius dropped my hand like a hot coal and paled white at her words. Darius cursed a few colorful words under his breath.
"Right… sorry about this, I – well uh." Madge laughed as she tapped his face a few times before walking right in with me in tow.
The sounds of saxophones and laugher filled the air to the point it hurt my ears. Smoke rose to the ceiling and swirled around the glass chandeliers that shone over the wooden trim. The place was packed to the brim
"Welcome to the Winter Rose." She screamed out into my ear. Darius closed the steel door behind us with a nod and made his way through the crowd. I followed as Madge made her way to the bar. She tapped her finger tail on the wooden bar and smiled at herself more than the bartender. "Gimmie a blue moon."
...
AN.
Blue moon is a drink gin, violet liquor, and lemon juice. shaken till bruised.
