Authors note: *runs and hides* So I have a really good reason for not updating...I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL! Yeah it was really nerve-wracking and hectic so I haven't been touching ground especially since I do two instruments (piano and clarinet) and choir which means I have to miss class and still get 80% averages! So I haven't had ANY time for fanfiction, I haven't even been able to read much which really makes me sad, but I finally got a chance to do some writing sooo here ya go! Also, didn't really edit this so I apologize for the mistakes ._.
Disclaimer-THG series is not mine!
Chapter 4: Feelings...
Katniss' POV
While the boys are gone, Madge and I talk about our lives and school and wonder why the boys left. And where the hell is Annie? Just then the bell rings for the start of class and Annie rushes in through the gate. I remind myself to ask her why she was late during class.
During Science, I pass her a note: why were you late this morning?
She reads it then replies: Tell you later at lunch.
I wait in anticipation for lunch to arrive and when it does, we all go outside and sit under a tree since it is quite a hot day today. "So, Annie, why were you late?" I ask. "I'm not sure if I can tell you guys..." she mumbles. "C'mon, you can trust us,"says Madge. The others agree.
She takes a deep breath.
"My dad came back. From 4, last night. H-he came to our house last night, and he was drunk. He started shouting at us for leaving him. Luckily, he didn't hurt me or my mother, but this morning I wanted to stay home just because I was scared he would hurt my mom.
But then he started to shout at me telling me to go to school so I could become better that the no good for nothing I already was," she is crying now and Finnick puts his arms round her awkwardly.
I raise my eyebrows at this. We all envelope Annie in a group hug, because I don't think any of us really knows what to say, so we try to say it in our actions.
Finnick is the first to speak up. "Don't worry Annie, we'll protect you from that asshole," he mutters angrily. She laughs through her tears.
"No, really Annie, if you want us to just hang around your house we can do that just in case he tries anything on you two," says Peeta. I smile because he's so sweet!
"No, Peeta that's okay,I think we'll be fine," she says. "Hopefully we can convince him to go home." She smiles bravely and I can only smile back in adoration.
Peeta's POV
In the car on the way home, I ask Katniss what she wants to do. "I think we should go to the park, we haven't been there in a while," she says. I nod and head to the park we've been going to since we were little. I remember to focus on trying to get things between us back to normal.
Because, despite this morning, I still feel like we're far apart.
When we get to the park, we lay on the grass, and Katniss puts her head in my lap. I start to run my fingers through her hair. She sighs and says, "Peeta, I don't want there to be any weirdness between us." I smile, "I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way," I say and she sits up and looks me in the eye.
"I feel like swinging. Push me?" she asks and gets up to run over to the swing. I smile at this rare moment of childishness and follow her. I start to push her. "Higher!"she screams. I push her high into the sky and she screams like a little girl. I laugh loudly at this.
When we are both all tired out, we lay back on the grass. Katniss is really tired now and lays her head on my lap once again.
"So,what was that rare moment of childishness I just witnessed?" I ask. She scowls and shoves me lightly. "Well, don't get used to it."
I scoff. "Come on, as if I couldn't make you laugh like that whenever I want," I say. She raises her eyebrows, and realizes too late what I'm about to do.
She starts laughing before my hands even touch her, and a few seconds later, she she is laughing so hard she's tearing and begging for mercy.
Suddenly, she gathers up all her strength and straddles me, effectively pinning me down. I stop tickling her and the atmosphere switches in an instant to an electrically charged feeling I've never felt before.
She leans down, her hair in my face and her cheeks tinted a blushing pink from laughing.
"I thought we said no weirdness?" I whisper so quietly I can only hope she hears. She pulls away. "You're right." She gets off of me and I sit up. "Home?" I offer. She nods and we drive back home in silence.
When we get to the front of her house I open her door for her as usual and hug her goodbye. But this hug feels different somehow, it has the same spark from earlier in the park. She pulls away and looks into my eyes. I search her grey ones, trying to read her emotions, but she's not giving anything away.
"I...I need to go inside. Goodbye Peeta," she says, pulling away and walking up the pathway to her house.
I stand there for what feels like forever, trying to figure out what this is. Why is everything suddenly different between Katniss and I?
Eventually, I give up and go home.
Katniss' POV-
When I get inside the house, I greet my family, and announce that I'm tired and want to go to bed. They don't argue. I guess they can see that I'm not in a mood to argue with at the moment
I go upstairs to my room and lie down on my bed. I lay there thinking for a while about this afternoon. Why does it feel like for over the past few days, every time Peeta and I are together, I feel so different. Like there is this attraction between us that has my body screaming for his touch every time we are together.
He felt it too. I know he did. But I neither of us want to admit it. We both don't want to ruin our friendship. But I think it's way too late for that now.