I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES! I hope you enjoy my second story. Thanks for all the positive comments I enjoy reading them. Enjoy chapter 4!
Finally
Of course my brothers know what happened outside. It was my first kiss and they seemed super duper proud of me. "Aww baby Kat's growing up," teased Rye, as he pretended to wipe a tear from his face. He came up and lifted me in the air. Wrestling made the boys amazingly strong and fit. Both came in first last year. Sometimes they switch year to year to see who gets first because they are always the last two finalists. This year, Rye let Graham win. They followed every Mellark Man tradition: go to school, wrestle for all 4 years of high school, learn the trade of baking, and soon enough, get married and start a new generation of Mellark boys to raise. Graham, being the quieter one, is a little more understanding than Rye, who is the outgoing and funny one. I think that he takes after mom, while Rye is all Daddy.
"Congrats Kat," said Graham. He came and kissed me on the forehead. I wiped it off.
"Gross, I feel bad for Emma," I teased, "now I have to boil my face." His girlfriend, Emma, was in my grade, but Graham wouldn't stop trying to ask her out. He used to follow her and watch her eat. Sometimes he would try to sit next to her for lunch, but she got up and moved tables just as he sat there. Finally, one day in the spring, she said "yes" to shut him up, but they've been inseparable since. Rye, on the other hand, goes from girl to girl week after week. One day you see him with a blonde, the next he's with a seam girl, and so on and so forth. I think that he is afraid for a commitment, while Graham is already picking out a ring for when she graduates.
"So how was it?" Rye asks. He looks like a little boy on Christmas day. His eyes are beaming at me. Graham joins him to interrogate me as I take out the last batch of cupcakes cooling on the rack.
"Fine," I say. They look disappointed when I vaguely describe what happened.
"That's it?" Rye said. "That was it, I wasted 15 minutes trying to get that out of you and that's it?" Graham was just laughing at Rye's tantrum. He was screaming, "My loser sister!" all over the bakery floor. I had to stop frosting because I was laughing so hard.
"Calm down Rye," Graham started to say. "Mom and Dad are gonna come any second." It still didn't stop him from laughing. My dad came downstairs and started to look at Rye like he was a lunatic.
"Who gave him loopy pills?" he asked. He grabbed a cupcake that I frosted and started to eat it. The cupcakes are one of the perks to living at a bakery. My dad has the biggest sweet tooth in the world.
"No one," I say. "He's just Rye." At this we all laugh while Rye calms down from his laugh attack.
"Hey that hurts," he is trying to pretend that it really hurt. I roll my eyes at his gesture and put away the finished cupcakes. It's been a long day, so I decided that I was going to go to sleep early.
I start to walk up the stairs. When I'm halfway up I yell, "Well it's true!" As I walk past Mama and Daddy's room, I see the television turned on. I walk into the room and sit on the bed where my mom is laying down, reading one of my novels. "Hey Mama, what'chu doing?" I ask and sit on the bed next to her.
"Catching up on some reading and watching the news," she says. She takes off her glasses and puts her book down. "How was your day?" she looks at me and smiles.
"Pretty eventful," I start to say. "I finished the Mayor's cake and I started a new project in art, and I got a B+ on my physics test." She cocks one of her eyebrows after I say this.
"I meant with Peeta," she said. I look at her with wide eyes and my jaw opened. I recollect my composure and look away.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I say. It's super hard saying that to my mom. We are super close, and I feel guilty about lying to her.
"Katniss Aster Mellark, you better not lie to me," she threatens me with my full name. "I heard you two fighting outside." She probably did. The apothecary room is in the back, close to where Peeta kissed me. Now I start to blush and I tell her some of the events that happened.
"I heard a rumor spread about me and I thought Peeta started it and lied, so I got angry," I don't tell her all the details, because if I do, she will probably give me the talk again. I just had my first kiss and there is no way that I am ready for that.
"Well, I hope everything's okay," she says. "Did you make up?" She takes the remote and turns off the TV. Then she puts her arm around my shoulders and holds me close.
"You could say that," I said. Not only did we make up, I think we made out. I am still super jittery and shaky, even though it's already been an hour.
"That's good, Peeta's a good kid," she says and takes out her book.
"I know," I get up from my seat in the bed and leave her reading the book she put away. I walk to my room and pick up my pajamas and get ready for bed. Finally, I get back to my room and I plop on my bed. My mother and I made a quilt of all my baby clothes and my dad always holds it when he comes in here. I think it's because he misses when I was still his baby girl. After 20 minutes of lying down on my bed, I browse all the books I've collected over the years. Mama says that I became an avid reader right after I learned how to read my first word. My collection is so large, that Daddy and my brothers had to extend my shelves 4 times. Currently it covers 3 of the 4 walls in my room. It covers every place except the sunset I painted, since I love looking at it. My dad says that if I get more, we have to store the overflow books in the attic. I already have 20 books listed for my birthday wish list, and it's still growing. I grab Moby Dick that I got last year, and read it until I fall asleep.
My alarm clock goes off at 6. I wake up and yawn, then rub the sleep from my eyes. Groggily, I walk to the bathroom to get ready for school today. Once I take a shower and brush my teeth, I walk back to my room and pick out a plain light pink dress with a pink ribbon to tie in the back that my mom got for me when she went to the dress store last week. The stylist, Cinna, really likes to dress me in pastel colors, not that I mind at all. I put my hair up in a ponytail and add the orange hair bow as usual. Once I'm fully clothed, I deem myself presentable when I look in the mirror at the side of my room. After, I grab Moby Dick up from the floor and head downstairs. Breakfast was a blueberry muffin, my favorite, and after I eat it, I packed myself some crackers and some snap peas. Outside looked a little chilly, so I grabbed my coat just in case, and my book bag, as usual. I start walking out the door, and read my book from where I left off.
While I was in the midst of reading my book, someone grabbed me from behind and lifted me up. "Ahh!" I scream. "Help! Someone help me!" I scream like someone is trying to murder me. I kick and try to fight my way out of this person's grasp, but they are way too strong for me. My captor turns me around and I realize that it's Peeta.
"Calm down it's just me," he says. He puts me back on the ground and tries to kiss me, but I turn my cheek. "Hey what was that for?" he whines. I simply walk ahead and he trails after me.
Once he catches up to me I start to talk. "We barely even talked before this, I think we should slow it down before we head into that," I say. I continue to read after that.
"Well you didn't complain yesterday," he says. Wow he's really trying to push my buttons. I start to blush furiously and walk briskly after his comment. I'm not used to this extra attention and it's kind of overwhelming. "Fine, we'll do it your way." He holds out his hand. "Hello my name is Peeta Everdeen nice to meet you."
I start to laugh at his elementary gesture. "I didn't mean it like that, I just want to go slow," I start to say. "I'm not used to a lot of attention and it's kind of making me nervous and uncomfortable." He grabs my hand and I let it slide. I didn't mind holding it. They are warm and large in contrast to my small and cold fingers.
"I didn't know, I'm sorry," he looks at me when he says this.
"You really need to stop apologizing," I say. "Be a man and suck it up." I laugh so hard, that I start to snort. Peeta is just staring at me with stars in his eyes. I thought it would be me who is all about the lovey dovey stuff, but I guess the mysterious kid has a heart.
"You're cute," he says and lifts me up again. "So cute." I lie limp in his arms as he carries me the rest of the way to school. Once I see the school gate, I start to feel uncomfortable.
"Could you put me down? I don't want people to stare," I whisper. He doesn't hesitate to put me down. I straighten my dress and put my book away in my book bag. We head into class together and get the supplies for the painting.
"How's Prim?" I ask as I paint the book a darker orange. Peeta smiles when I ask this question. I guess she is doing better.
"Really good, she's coming back to school tomorrow," he says.
"That's great, I'm glad she's feeling better." I go back to my painting. Once I finish the book, I start to color the sunset peeking from the pages. First, I start with a darker orange to show distance, then a lighter orange as I go up the canvas. When I hit the horizon, I add the iridescent sun in the center with a light yellow. As I blend in the colors, I don't realize how quiet Peeta is until I look at him. He was watching me paint the sunset. He finished a few minutes before I did.
"You're really talented," he says this and touches my arm. I start to blush.
"Thanks, you are too."
"Not nearly as much as you are," he says. I put my paintbrush down.
"You were the one who added meaning to your painting. It is not just a painting of what you like; yours describes who you are to a tee. I just painted quiet things," I go to the back after I finished cleaning the brushes and painting plate. He follows me and does the same.
"That's true," I spray water at him when he says that. "But yours has a hidden meaning too, to the way people see you."
"Like what?" I ask and return to the table.
"You painted a beautiful thing, that shows that you are beautiful," he says. I start to laugh at him.
"Yeah, I doubt that anyone thinks I'm beautiful," I say.
"There you are wrong. For one, I think you're beautiful," he says. "I know so many people who think you are beautiful. I hear so many juniors and seniors who want to ask you to the festival, but are too scared."
"You are lying," I say. The bell rings and I start to walk to class. Once I get there I take out my book and read until the next bell rings, where I'll probably do the same. Lunch, comes around and I see Madge from the table.
"Hi Madge," I say. She looks at me and waves. Then she puts her book down and eyes me.
"Spill," she demands. I start to laugh.
"I have nothing to spill," just as I finish the sentence, Peeta and Gale come sit at our table.
"Hi Madge," Peeta says. Gale simply waves and takes the seat next to her. "Could you tell Katniss about all the boys who want to ask her out to Festival?" I roll my eyes and continue reading Moby Dick while eating the snap peas and crackers that I packed before leaving home.
"Of course," she starts. "I overheard that Carson was going to ask you, but stopped because he saw Peeta. Then I heard about Axel, Phoenix, Gray, Lazer, Slater, Gage, Colton…"
"Okay I get it a lot of people like me what's it to you?" I ask Peeta. He can tell that I am really irritated.
"I'm just proving a point to you," he says.
"I don't need a point proven okay," after I say that, I feel bad. He just was complimenting me.
"Kat, come on, he was just complimenting you," now that Madge also says this, I feel bad.
"Fine, Sorry I didn't know," I say. He grabs my hand from under the table and squeezes it. I give him a look of sympathy and continue reading.
"Not to mention," Madge says, "there are girls who hate you for being you."
"I could care less," I say. For the rest of lunch, Madge talks to Gale about her love of strawberries, while I read with Peeta holding my hand. I walk to the bathroom after I finish eating to wash my hands, where I see Ari and her friends.
"Oh look, it's the pudgy boyfriend stealer," her friends laugh after she says it.
"I didn't steal anyone's boyfriend," I say quietly. I walk out of the door as fast as I can and bump into Carson.
"Oh sorry," I say, I don't look up to meet his eyes. He stands in front of me and won't let me go.
"Don't worry, it was my pleasure," he grabs a little piece of my hair and holds it in his fingers. "So soft, I bet that Seam brat already got in your pants." I walk away as fast as I can trying to block out what all the people are saying. When I walk back into the room, I feel people's eyes on me, I can't take it. I don't know what I did to deserve this.
"Hey what's wrong?" Peeta says. He brushes the hair out of my face.
"Nothing," I say nonchalantly. I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders when the bell rings, so I can get some alone time in my last 2 classes. When school ends, I almost run outside of the door to get home. Frosting at the bakery calms me down. It keeps me sane and relaxed. I love turning cakes into masterpieces with just a little frosting and food coloring. I walk into the bakery and get attacked by the sweet smalls of sugar and vanilla. "Hi Daddy," I yell.
"Hey baby girl," my dad says. "How's school?" He kisses me on the forehead and wipes his hands on the white towel next to him.
"Busy," I answer, "Is there anything to frost?" My dad chuckles a bit and hands me a tray of white cupcakes.
"This is for a baby shower, turns out baby's a girl. Could you frost it with little pink roses?" he asks.
"Of course," I say. I grab the white frosting in the fridge and add red food coloring to it.
"Thanks cupcake," he goes to the back and finishes the loaves for a toasting tomorrow. Usually people toast with the white bread my dad makes. If I was going to do a toasting, I would want my favorite bread to use. It's cinnamon raisin with the little sweet crumbles my dad puts on top. He only makes it for special occasions and orders.
When I'm halfway through with the cupcakes, Gale and Peeta come into the bakery with yet another haul of game. "Hi Katniss," Peeta says.
"I'll get my dad, one second," I say. My dad comes out with me a few minutes later. I eavesdrop on the conversation they're having. They trade for the loaves of bread and squirrel.
"You boys better watch out," I hear my dad say. "There's a new Head, he punishes poaching with whippings or even life. I don't want to put you guys in any harm. We can work out another arrangement if you want?" my dad asks.
"That won't be necessary, we'll be careful," I hear Peeta say. Leave it to them to refuse a great offer. I let it go for today.
"Just watching out for you boys," my dad says. They shake hands and start to leave, but Peeta comes to where I am frosting again.
"Baby shower," I say. "It's a girl."
"Hey Katniss, do you want to come talk with me outside?" he asks nervously. My dad gives me an okay, but warns Peeta.
"If you do anything to hurt my baby girl, I'll send my boys for you," Peeta looks very calm, but I can tell he's scared. My brothers might not be super tall like Peeta, but they are super strong and intimidating.
"That's enough Daddy," I say annoyed. We walk out to the back of the bakery, but away from the apothecary so my mom doesn't hear what we're saying. I grab Peeta's hand and he smiles. For some reason, this shy gesture gives me a sense of comfort, which I need since today's events shook me up pretty badly.
"What's on your mind?" he asks. I feel kind of nervous about telling him about Ari and Carson, but I think that I should tell him. We won't make any progress in our relationship if I don't tell him what's wrong.
"When I went to the bathroom, Ari and her friends were calling me chubby and a boyfriends stealer; and when I got out of the bathroom, I bumped into Carson who said that you wanted to date me to 'get in my pants'". I added the air quotes and everything. Peeta looked like someone punched him in the gut.
"Did he hurt you? I swear I'll kill him if he touched you," he turns a dark shade of red. I take his face in my hands and look at him straight in the eye.
"No he didn't," I say. I rub his face with my fingers. "Don't worry Peeta, just calm down." He takes a breath of relief.
"Sorry it's just that guy is a creep and if anyone touches or hurts you I don't know what I'll do," he says. He hugs me close. I am enveloped in his long arms that cover my whole body. He smells like pine and mint. His head rests on mine and his back is hunched over.
I get out of his grasp. "I'm a big girl Peeta I can handle things on my own," I tell him.
"Well you're fragile to me," he says. I appreciate that he's looking out for me, but I can fight my own battles.
"I'm not glass Peeta," I scold. He looks at me and I give him the scowl.
"I know," he seems ashamed. I take his face in my hands and kiss him. It was only a second, but it was the best second of the day. "I take that as you forgiving me," he smiles.
"You can think whatever you want," I tease. I start to walk back towards my house when he pulls me back for another kiss. This one lasted longer than the other before.
"That was my apology," he says. I walk back to the bakery and see my dad.
"Hi Kitty Kat," he says. He only calls me that when something is on his mind. I walk into the back where he's making some bread. I notice that it's my favorite. Why is he making my favorite bread? It's not my birthday or a holiday.
"What's wrong Daddy?" I ask. He comes and gives me a hug.
"I remember when you first had that bread when you were three," he starts to say. "You picked up a whole loaf and ate it all by yourself." He started to laugh and so did I. "You complained about a stomach ache and threw up all over your brothers. I had to make a whole new loaf because that was for a special customer. Your mom got mad at you for doing that, but I said it was fine because you didn't know. I looked out for my 3-year-old angel, and now my little baby has a boyfriend."
"Daddy I'm still your little cupcake," I say. "Also, he is not my boyfriend."
"I know, but I don't mind your brothers and their girlfriends, but you're my angel and I am not ready to let you go," he says.
"Daddy I'm not going anywhere for a long time. Now let's eat that bread," I laugh. We both indulge in a few pieces of that delicious cinnamon loaf.
"He's a good kid Kat," my dad starts. "He takes care of his family and protects them. Sometimes he comes off a little hard, but he is only living for his little sister." I already know that. Why does everyone tell me this?
"I know," I say. "I wouldn't talk to him if he was a criminal." My dad laughs.
"That's my princess," he says. When we talk about the upcoming baby shower, Rye and Graham walk in from the apothecary.
"Hey, why didn't you call us for raisin bread?" Rye asks. "Did the fatty eat it?" he asks pointing at me. Both Rye and Graham laugh at his remark.
"Hey I was three not my fault," I say. My mom walks out after hearing the commotion in the bakery.
"Not to mention, she barfed all over you two," she said. I laughed at this comeback and hi-fived my mom.
"Ooh you just got burned," I say.
Graham finally speaks up, "Yeah well you got kissed." At this remark, Rye and Graham start laughing their brains out, while I get so red. My dad looks so surprised and furious, so my mom is trying to comfort him as much as possible.
"I will kill you two!" I yell. I ran towards my brothers and start to punch and kick them. It doesn't affect them since they are super buff. "You jerks, I wish you had an annoying older brother to bother you!" I scream so loud I think the neighbors can hear me.
"Oh come on Kat, Graham has one," teases Rye. Graham starts to kick Rye too.
"Yeah by a minute you loser," now they are in a full on fight.
"Boys break it up," my mom warns. They completely ignore her, so my dad intervenes. He grabs both of them by the collar and pushes them apart. After giving them a talk, he sends them to their room.
"I'm going to bed, see you in the morning," my dad sighs.
"Oh I'll talk to him," Mama reassures. "Don't worry; he doesn't want you to grow up so fast, he'll be better tomorrow." With that, I go to my room.