My apologies for the slow updates on this story, but rest assured I am still working on it… As evidenced below by the addition of a new chapter! I am so excited for the events upcoming in the story. A heavy thank you goes to my betas, titania522/ct522 and Solas Violetta for their excellent editing skills and desire for new content. It keeps me motivated!
Thank you so much for reading, and also for your patience. Please review!
Katniss
"Delly, why is this necessary?" Katniss sighed irritably while her friend fiddled with her hair. Delly pursed her lips, her mouth full of bobby pins, as she gathered the intricate individual braids into an elegant knot on her head, leaving two to loop down lower on Katniss' neck.
When she was finally finished, she said, "I want you to look your best tonight, Katniss." She looked strangely furtive as she studied Katniss' hair, tucking a stray wisp behind her ear. "This is the biggest party of the year."
Katniss rolled her eyes. "I don't care, Delly. I don't even want to go. You know this. So why are you making me?" Delly bit her lip, and Katniss narrowed her eyes. It was a rare day that Delly Cartwright had nothing to say.
"Please come, Katniss. Everyone is going, even Gale," Madge said softly. Katniss whirled around to look at her, having not heard her coming into the room. Her brown eyes were soft and a little sad, and Katniss felt her protests dying on her lips as she looked into them.
"I still can't understand how you got him to go," Katniss replied. Madge just smiled, bringing out a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings and glittering, crystal stick-ons to be applied underneath Katniss' eyes to help them stand out. She eyed them warily, remembering her grudging promise to Madge a few days ago that she would not put up a fuss about what the girl brought forth from her mother's jewelry collection for Katniss to wear tonight.
"I know he doesn't like this stuff anymore than you, or so he says, but I'm sure he would never pass up the opportunity to see you like this." She waved her hand over the floor length, fitted, navy gown with a patterned design meant to give the appearance of feathers, the sleeves designed to look like wings. Johanna had picked it out for Katniss from among the ones in Delly's closet. Katniss shifted uncomfortably.
The theme for this year's Mellark Gala was "Variations on Black and White." Katniss had snorted at its pretentiousness, wishing Johanna had wanted to go to the damn party last year when the theme had been "Panem and the Sea." That had been a stupid title, too, but Delly had far more colored dresses than white or black. The dress she was wearing was the only one that had fit Katniss' petite frame. She'd never been so done-up in her life, and she longed for her ordinary, comfortable, ratty t-shirt, pants, and boots.
"I don't get why anyone wants to go to this," Katniss insisted. "You, Finn, and Delly never talked about the Gala like it was anything more than a chore. Finn said his and P-Peeta's goal was always to leave as quickly as possible." She winced, realizing she'd stumbled over Peeta's name, thankful that Johanna was not yet there to notice it, and that Delly seemed too busy fixing her own hair to pay attention. True to her nature, Madge only shrugged and began pinning the jewelry in place, leaving Katniss to her thoughts.
Peeta. Even saying his name in her head felt strange, after actively trying not to think of him for four long, lonely years. Katniss shook her head, earning a reproachful look from Madge, and stilled again.
Since they'd come to their "truce" a week ago, things between she and Peeta had gotten both worse and remarkably better at the same time. They talked to one another now at work, had even gone out on the Wave runners together two more times, but the weight of their history was something that was never far from Katniss' mind.
She could tell Peeta felt it too, with the way he sometimes stopped abruptly or changed a subject quickly, like when Thresh had brought up the brief time Peeta had dated Glimmer in high school while she pranced by the group in a practically see-through bikini. Katniss had been hard pressed to contain her disgust, both at Glimmer's appearance, and the memories it brought up. Hurt. Frustration. Longing. They were echoes of a past Katniss wasn't sure she was ready to explore, though the awkward tension that still existed between her and Peeta suggested the need for it.
"Wow, Kat. You look hot," Johanna said as she burst into Delly's enormous bedroom, a pleased look on her face. Katniss glared at her.
"That doesn't exactly look white or black, Jo," she said, eyeing the lacy, beige dress with a long train that Johanna was wearing. Her black hair was piled on her head in a way that Katniss could only liken to a mo-hawk. Johanna smirked at her.
"It's close enough. And it's not like you're one to talk," she said, nodding wickedly towards Katniss' deep blue dress in a way that made her scowl.
"It's variations on black and white, Katniss," Delly said pleasantly. "Your dress is a midnight blue and looks beautiful. Johanna's dress is along the spectrum of white. I promise you two won't look out of place. You'll just be the standouts in the crowd."
Katniss shook her head. "I didn't agree to this to be put on display," she said vehemently. "I'm not a piece in some game," pointedly looking at Johanna. Jo smirked again.
"Oh, unfortunately, I think we all are, but don't worry. We're going to make them pay for it." Katniss blanched at her friend's words.
"Why did you insist we all go to this? We don't have to be a part of this; we've never been part of this," she said, ignoring the shadow of hurt she saw on Delly and Madge's faces at her words. Katniss hoped they understood she wasn't trying to insult them; they were just the kind exceptions, along with Finnick, to a world that Katniss had never belonged to, no matter how hard she'd once tried. Johanna sighed at her.
"You are so brainless, Brainless. Come on. Gale and Finnick are downstairs waiting for us."
XXXXX
"Fuck. This is what I've been missing? Why did we say no to this when Peeta asked us in high school?" Jo said in an awestruck voice that didn't even have her typical disgust at the ostentatious wealth on display. Katniss looked up at the enormous white house, shocked as well. She'd been here many times before, but she'd always avoided visiting on the weekend of the Gala and had never seen it looking as it was now.
Large fountains surrounded by mounds of white roses had been set up on either side of the lawn, their tinkling sound masked by the classical musical being piped through hidden speakers around the various buildings on the property. Mellark House itself was lit by the candles that were flickering in every window and a dazzling light display that changed every few seconds. Gold and cream and black designs danced across its face, sometimes accompanied by soft pinks, greens, and blues. It should have been beautiful, but Katniss couldn't help but think the lines scattering everywhere looked like prison bars, ready to trap everyone making their way through the giant front doors that led into the house.
"This is gross," Gale mumbled quietly enough that Katniss knew only she could hear. Even though he was technically Madge's date, he'd taken Katniss' arm as soon as they'd arrived. Katniss had felt a little bad for Madge, but she also knew she needed the support of her oldest friend for this. She looked up at him to find his face pinched into a dark scowl. He glared at their surroundings and said, "Half the town lives in the Seam, barely scraping by, and this is what exists on the other side of Panem. I still can't understand how you and that jerk were ever together." Katniss stared at him.
"He wasn't a jerk," she said, unsure why she felt the need to defend Peeta, but her words continued to flow. "How rich someone was never made a difference to him. I know even you know that." Gale's scowl deepened.
"How can you stand there and say that, Katniss?" he practically growled, gnashing his teeth. "He was a jerk. He left. He left, without so much as a word and never looked back! How many times do I have to remind you? In case you've forgotten, what with your newfound friendliness and all." Katniss' mouth fell open in surprise, but Gale continued. "Oh yeah, Kat. Don't think Jo hasn't mentioned how you two are buddies again. Going out on the water together just like old times... I mean, what the hell, Katniss? How can you think I'd be comfortable with you hanging out with your ex-boyfriend when you're with me?" Anger bubbled up from a well deep within Katniss' chest but also fear. It appeared Gale's feelings ran much deeper for her than she'd realized.
"First of all, going out on the water is part of my job. When I go and who I get paired with is beyond my control. And second of all, we aren't together," she said harshly, but she regretted it immediately when she saw the pallor under his tan features. She gripped his arm. "I'm just...I'm not ready for that. I'm not good for relationships. There's just too much you don't understand." Gale gave her a sad look.
"I would if you told me, Katniss. We've all been waiting for that." Katniss winced as she watched him look back up at the Mellark House. "And you were ready once. Just not for me," he whispered, this time so quietly Katniss wasn't sure she was meant to hear it. She reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek, but to her confusion, it only increased his sad expression. "I knew you'd do that," he said. Katniss furrowed her brow.
"How? I didn't," she said. Gale shook his head.
"Because I'm in pain. You only ever notice me when I'm in pain. I can't believe you're still…" He trailed off speaking.
"Still what?" Katniss questioned. She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer and was almost relieved when Gale gave her a small smile.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually, Catnip, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop fighting for you." He turned and walked up to where their friends were waiting for them, leaving Katniss to stand there on the lawn, trying to puzzle out what he meant.
XXXXX
Katniss looked with trepidation on the steep set of stairs that led down into the gardens of the mansion. She had spent the last half hour with Johanna and Gale, scarfing their way along the long buffet tables that had been set up in the Mellark's dining room, while Finnick, Delly, and Madge had been cornered by a multitude of people Katniss didn't recognize and few whom she did.
She'd felt bad for Madge, for as quiet as her friend was, her friend's status as the daughter of a prominent senator made her a magnet for the hangers-on and suck-ups of the town. The Mayor's simpering plea for Madge to put in a good word to her father as he geared up for Panem's mayoral election had been the last straw, and she and Johanna had drug a mortified looking Madge behind Gale. Katniss and Jo had hidden behind him, shortly thereafter, when they'd caught sight of Effie and her husband Plutarch, gaping at the large ornate grey ruffle around her neck and 6 inch high heels Effie had on. When Finnick had finally managed to extricate himself from some fawning old ladies, they'd decided to venture into the gardens to find Annie, who had said she'd meet them there.
"Finnick!"
Everyone looked down the stairs to see Annie making her way up towards them in possibly the most beautiful gown Katniss had ever seen. The white material flowed gracefully behind Annie as she climbed and small glass beads of sea green formed a whirling design over the bodice, making Katniss think of how the ocean looked just before the coming of a storm. But it was Annie's smile that was most radiant as she finally joined them, her beaming gaze directed mostly at Finnick, whom Katniss only just now realized was wearing a tie to match Annie's gown.
"Oh my God, Annie," Delly exclaimed. "Where did you get that dress? It's gorgeous!" She smoothed her hands over her cream colored dress with black-dyed peacock feathers self-consciously. Katniss had to contain a snort. With her blonde curls, buxom chest, and curvy figure, Delly looked like a model tonight. The eyes of many young men darted towards their group as they made their way down the stairs hadn't escaped Katniss' notice.
"It was my mother's," Annie blushed. They all looked at her curiously. She'd never mentioned her parents before; Annie's color deepened as she seemed to realize what she'd said. Katniss glanced at Finnick, who looked back at her enraptured. Johanna rolled her eyes.
"Come on, you idiots. Looks like we've got to get past the Wicked Witch to see whatever the hell else this party has going on." Katniss' heart clenched as she looked where Johanna's gaze was now directed.
At the bottom of the stairs, where she stood with most of her family, stood Adelaide Mellark, dressed in a sequined, black, high-necked dress that did, indeed, make her look like a witch. Bile rose in Katniss' mouth as she looked down at the woman who had never looked at her with anything but contempt, and memories of their last meeting had Katniss blinking hard. She'd known seeing Mrs. Mellark was a likely possibility and had been wondering where the Mellarks were greeting their guests, but to see them all standing there after all these years of silence was almost more than she could handle.
"Katniss?" She looked over to see Finnick watching her, his expression one of sadness, like he could see past the facade she always tried so hard to maintain. He took her elbow gently and whispered, "It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart. You can do this, Kat. Come on." He guided her down the stairs towards the small group of people gathered at the bottom.
Her eyes passed over Mrs. Mellark briefly to rest on Mr. Mellark, surprised by how thin he looked. She wasn't entirely sure, but it almost looked like make-up had been applied to his wan face, the black suit and bow tie he wore only serving to highlight the paleness of his features. Only his lips were red, making Katniss think of the vampire stories Haymitch had liked to scare her and Peeta with as children. Rye and Bannock stood next to their parents, their blond-hair and solid builds marking them easily as Mellarks, but they had brown eyes like their father. Peeta, the only one to inherit their mother's eyes, was nowhere in sight.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mellark. How good it is to see you! And Bannock. It was so nice of you to come back from the Capitol for the Gala. My parents are there right now on business. How are things?" Delly greeted cheerfully once they all had come down the stairs. Bannock grinned at her.
"It's busy, Dells. We're expanding into a few new districts," he said a little pompously. "So I'll be glad when my brothers can come help me out." A shrill laugh from behind him made them all jump as Mrs. Mellark turned from where she'd been finishing up a conversation with one of President Snow's advisors.
"When Rye joins you, Bannock. Peeta is going into politics. I would think you'd know that after his having lived with you so long. Such a way with words, our Peeta has," she finished with a smile that made Katniss squirm. Bannock looked at his mother with confusion, while Rye, who had remained silent until now, snorted loudly.
"Whatever you say, Mom," Bannock said with a shrug, but by then Mrs. Mellark's ice blue eyes had fallen on Delly, her smile falling away when she noticed the company the daughter of one of her oldest friends had brought. An artery throbbed noticeably in the thin skin of her neck as she finally looked at Katniss. Katniss hardened her stare, trying to keep Finnick's words in her mind.
"Delly. How lovely it is to see you, my dear," she said in a tone Katniss sensed was meant to be sweet but held no warmth. "I was so saddened when your parents informed me they could not come." Her eyes flickered again over their group. "But it seems like you brought some guests with you. I know Finnick and Madge, of course. It's so nice to see you both again. It's been too long," she said, casting a new sickly sweet smile in their direction. "Madge, I was so disappointed your father couldn't come to my Gala this year." Katniss watched her friend blush, something Katniss guessed would become a recurring theme throughout the night as it was inevitable others would bring up Madge's famous father.
"He wishes he could be here too," Madge squeaked out, looking like she wanted to sink into the ground. Katniss felt bad for her. She hated being the center of attention almost as much as Madge did.
"Yeah. Who would want to miss this?" Katniss jumped as Gale spoke from beside her, startled. She looked up to find Gale's sympathetic gaze directed at Madge's red face before he looked down on Mrs. Mellark, challenge in his eyes. Mrs. Mellark smiled almost too happily, her beady eyes falling onto Katniss, who suddenly felt like shrinking into the pavement along with Madge.
"I don't believe I've made the acquaintance of your other friends, Madge. Why don't you introduce me? Does your father know the company you keep?" Katniss felt a chill run through her entire body and noticed Finnick grab Johanna, who wasn't even bothering to hide her anger. Whether she'd ever liked them or not, Mrs. Mellark definitely already knew all their names, and the implication that they were "lesser" was clear. Even Delly's smile faltered. Madge looked at them all helplessly.
"This is-"
"Mom, Annie lives in your house. And this is Gale Hawthorne, Johanna Mason, and Katniss Everdeen. I find it hard to believe you've forgotten their names after only a few years. Maybe something is wrong with your memory? Perhaps you should make an appointment with Dr. Aurelius. I saw him walking in a few minutes ago." Peeta said it all with an air of worry as he appeared from seemingly nowhere, his face arranged perfectly into one of concern, but Katniss caught the smile playing on his lips as his mother's face tightened, struggling to contain her fury.
"Dr. Aurelius is a surgeon, Peeta," she said coldly. Katniss noticed Mr. Mellark and Peeta's brothers shifting uncomfortably.
"I know, Mom," he said airily. Mrs. Mellark's eyes bugged out of her head. "Now," he said, turning towards their group. "I think we should let everyone enjoy the party, don't you?" He waved his hand towards the great lawn, finally looking at them. Katniss wasn't even sure what her face looked like, but his expression told them they should move on quickly. As they made their way past him, Katniss did not fail to notice the way his eyes swept over her.
"Well, that was new," Johanna commented, when they were finally well away from the Mellarks. No one said anything, but Katniss knew what her friend meant.
She glanced back to where she could just make out Peeta, the entirely white suit with gold accents he was wearing highlighted every line of his toned physique, gleaming in the floodlights scattered over the lawn. She wasn't used to Peeta standing up to his mother. It had been a rare occurrence back when they were young, and she wasn't sure what to make of it now.
XXXXX
The music from the live orchestra floated through the air as the dancers twirled across the dance floor in a blur of sequins, crystals, and silk while Katniss watched from the table where she'd plunked herself shortly after leaving the Mellark family. Just as the over-done entryway of the house had been, the scene was drenched in its extravagance with the colored lights, twinkling trees, and temporary fountains that had been placed on the lawn. Even the pool was dazzling with a net of glittering white beads placed across its surface, though that was nothing compared to the people in attendance. Katniss laughed internally as she remembered Delly's words from before the night began. She needn't have worried about standing out when there was a woman with a working mechanical dove on her head or another with a ball gown so large, she required a five foot berth wherever she walked.
Since the incident at the bottom of the stairs, the night had gone surprisingly smoothly, much to the disappointment of Johanna, who was stewing next to Katniss. Jo had been approached by a few brave men, but her look of disgust had been enough to send them scampering. Delly had spent most of the night in the arms of a boy named Thom, a member of one of the few families to have escaped the Seam, when Thom's father had struck it rich by inventing some sort of mining tool. Gale, whose scowl had only deepened as the night had worn on, had mustered a small smile for Thom but had spent the rest of the night glowering at the dancers, talking to Madge, or occasionally sullenly looking at Katniss, leaving her to feel even more guilty about their earlier conversation than she already did. There was a part of her that wanted to grab Gale's hand to tell him everything would be ok, but the part of her that knew she was broken realized that she'd just be lying to him if she did. Her eyes turned to Finnick and Annie, who were still on the dance floor.
She had honestly never seen Finnick look as happy as he did with Annie in his arms. While there were almost as many girls looking longingly at Finnick as they were at Peeta, Finnick's eyes were riveted on Annie. They moved across the dance floor with a grace Katniss knew she could never possess.
"Seems like Finnick is just about the only one having a good time," Johanna observed. Katniss smiled thinly.
"You could be out there dancing too, Jo."
"Yeah. Making a prat of myself like that is just what I want to do. I don't feel like dancing with any of the Catos of this world. Get enough of him at work," she said, waving towards where Cato and Marvel had just made their way onto the dance floor with Glimmer and Clove.
Katniss was pleased to see Glimmer looked less than thrilled to be dancing with the blonde lug. Her eyes were fixated on something over Cato's shoulder, but Katniss frowned when she saw that she was staring at Peeta, who was standing next to Bannock but seemed to be watching Finnick and Annie, a wary look on his face. Suddenly his eyes darted to Katniss' face, his eyes widening when he realized Katniss was watching him. She didn't wait to see whether he looked away as Katniss ducked her head quickly.
"Peeta seems quite protective of Annie," Johanna said in a tone that brimmed with curiosity. Katniss looked up to see her friend's eyes were narrowed in her direction, not at the couple still on the dance floor. She reddened, guessing Jo wasn't really interested in talking about their new friend.
"Well, they're cousins? I don't know," Katniss mumbled.
"Yeah…" Johanna said slowly. "But there's more history there than Annie has told us. Delly told me she's their dad's sister's kid. Delly didn't even know their dad had a sister, and she's known the Mellarks the longest. Even longer than you." Katniss' brow furrowed in confusion. She honestly hadn't given much thought to Annie in the wake of Peeta's return, but as she thought about it, she realized Peeta had only ever talked about his dad's brothers, men who were more comfortable in a board room than with their own family. Johanna nodded. "Yeah, now you get it. Looks like the Mellark family has even more dark and dirty secrets than we thought. I wonder what else good ol' Mr. and Mrs. Mellark are hiding." Katniss' felt her heart beat increase, and suddenly the humid air felt unbearably suffocating.
"Is that why you wanted to come tonight, Johanna? To try to figure out everyone's secrets?" Katniss asked angrily, standing up. Johanna quirked her head.
"Maybe. But I didn't say it was your secrets that I wanted to know, so why so hostile, K?" Katniss blushed.
"None of this is our business, Jo. If Annie wants to tell us what's happened to her, she will. Don't push her." She looked over to where Peeta was, cursing herself when she realized Johanna had probably noticed. She huffed, "And whatever people don't want to share, they shouldn't have to."
Pain. So much pain.
Johanna looked up at her with stunned seriousness, fiddling with the white table cloth. "Geez, Kat. I'm sorry. Like I said, I don't need to know your secrets." Katniss gave her a look to tell Jo that she didn't believe her, and Johanna sighed. "I don't, Katniss. Not if you're not ready to tell me, but you're going to have to talk to someone sometime. We just want you to be happy."
"I am happy."
Johanna sighed again. "No, Kat, you're not. You just haven't realized it yet," she said bluntly. Katniss glared at her, but Jo didn't back down. Instead, she shrugged and pointed to a spot behind Katniss. "I think someone wants to ask you to dance." Katniss whipped around, ready to tell whoever it was that was approaching her to go away, but she stopped short when she saw who it was.
Mr. Mellark stood before her, still pale and breathing quite heavily, like the short walk across the dance floor had exhausted him. She looked at him in confusion, able to count on one hand the times Peeta's father had actually spoken to her. His wife had always spoken for both of them.
"Mr. Mellark," Katniss said uncertainly. Peeta's father smiled kindly.
"Hello, Katniss. I was wondering if you would do me the honor of dancing with an old man?"
Katniss blinked in shock. "O-Ok," she stuttered out, allowing herself to be led onto the dance floor, wondering if Mr. Mellark had always moved so slowly. For a long moment, they didn't move as Mr. Mellark seemed to be catching his breath. "Are you ok, sir?" Katniss asked.
"Of course, my dear. Just getting older. That's all," he said with a sad smile, but Katniss couldn't help but think how much that wasn't true. Mr. Mellark wasn't that much older than Haymitch, no more than a few years older than her father would have been if he was alive. Mr. Mellark smile broadened as he took Katniss' hand in his own, keeping a feather-light grip on Katniss' waist with the other and began to guide her in a circle. Somehow, Katniss found it comforting, and it was some minutes before they spoke again.
"Have you enjoyed yourself tonight, Katniss?" Mr. Mellark finally asked. "I must say I was surprised to see you here. I remember Peeta always wishing you would come." Katniss tried to smile, knowing he meant it kindly, but a whole new rush of memories flooded her mind.
"Come on, Katniss. Please come to the Gala. How many years have I been asking you now? It'll be so much better if you're there," Peeta begged, flashing puppy dog eyes in Katniss' direction. Katniss rolled her eyes back at him.
"Your mom is already pissed enough at you for breaking up with Glimmer," Katniss replied, trying to keep her relief over that fact from her face. She wasn't sure if she'd ever get up the nerve to tell her best friend how she felt about him, but at least he wasn't dating that twat anymore. "Do you really want her to get even angrier by having me show up? You'll have Finnick, Delly, and Madge there to keep you company."
Peeta frowned at her. "Yeah, but everything is better with you there." Katniss stared at him in disbelief as a pink flush rose in Peeta's cheeks. He seemed to shrink under her gaze. "I just mean, it's, um, more fun with you there." Katniss scoffed.
"I'm not the social butterfly you are, Peeta. And that's not my world. That's yours."
Peeta's frown deepened. "Social butterfly? Katniss…" he started, but Katniss didn't let him finish, stopping him from talking with her hand. She didn't want to repeat the same argument they always had, about her perception that she was looked down upon for her wealth or lack thereof. Peeta always told her it was all in her head, and that there was no difference between them. He'd told her that since they were little, but Katniss had never fully believed it. Not that she felt like telling him that.
"I'll come next year, Peeta. It can be my graduation gift to you. I might even let you have a dance." Peeta eyed her skeptically for a moment before breaking into a full-fledged grin. He tossed her one of the cheese buns he'd just popped from the oven.
"Ok, Everdeen. I'll be holding you to that promise. Now I guess I'll have to get you something too," he huffed out like it would be some sort of chore. Katniss threw a handful of flour at him, and their laughter echoed through the cavernous kitchen as their play fight began.
"Katniss?" Mr. Mellark questioned, shaking Katniss out of her reverie.
"It's a little overwhelming," she said quickly. Mr. Mellark nodded.
"My wife… She likes to make sure everyone is having a good time. Sometimes I think she goes a little overboard, but don't tell her I said that," he said conspiratorially, a gleam not unlike Peeta's in his eyes, but Katniss didn't smile. He had to know how hard his wife had worked to make Katniss miserable over the years. Mr. Mellark's smile falling away to sadness again as Katniss kept her silence. Finally, he spoke.
"Katniss, I know you and my wife have had your differences," he admitted. Katniss pressed her lips together, feeling a little sick. It was so much more than that. Could she really have never told him? "And I do not know exactly what went on between you and my son, but…" he continued, seemingly oblivious to Katniss' discomfort.
"But w-what?" Katniss struggled out. Mr. Mellark stopped dancing with her, and Katniss was surprised to find he'd brought them back to the edge of the dance floor.
"Peeta missed you." Katniss' jerked her head up to meet Mr. Mellark's eyes for the first time since they'd begun talking. He looked at her imploringly. "You might not believe that, Miss Everdeen, but he did. I hope you'll give him another chance." Katniss followed his gaze as his eyes turned to where Peeta was now standing with Rye, and Katniss suddenly got the feeling that Peeta had been watching them the entire time. "He deserves better than I've done for him," Peeta's father said quietly. Katniss looked at him again, but he only took a deep breath. "Thank you for the dance," he said.
He shuffled off towards a table, leaving Katniss in a stew of emotions she could barely comprehend. But if she'd been paying more attention, she would have noticed two pairs of blue eyes gazing upon her, one set cold and furious, the other full of struggling hope and longing.
XXXXX
"Jo, can we go now?" Gale grumbled, moving Katniss out of the dazed state she'd been in for the last hour since her dance with Peeta's father. She'd taken to staring at the lights on one of the fountains to deliberately avoid anyone's gaze, but Gale's comment finally drew her eyes. He looked back at Katniss for the first time in hours, and Katniss saw her own misery reflected in his face. She nodded at him in agreement.
"Gale, it's barely 11 o' clock. Since when did you turn into such an old man," Finnick teased, answering for Johanna, as he set glasses of water down for himself and Annie. Gale glared at him.
"We've been sitting here doing nothing for an hour. No one is enjoying themselves, and I could think of a ton of things I'd rather be doing right now."
"Like what?" Johanna asked with narrowed eyes. "I don't feel like watching you pound beers and play pool at the Mockingjay. Seen that already," she said. And when Gale opened his mouth to argue, she added, "We can leave after the damn fireworks. They're in an hour. I did not put up with wearing this stupid outfit not to see the fireworks. Delly has been gushing about them for so many years that I want to see them just to shut her up about them." Katniss glanced over to where Delly sat talking animatedly to Thom, completely oblivious to the insult Johanna had just laid at her feet.
"They really are supposed to be nice, Gale," Annie spoke up timidly. "Peeta said they're the only part of this night he's ever liked." She quailed under Gale's severe gaze, earning Gale a look of reproach from Finnick.
"They are good, Gale," Finnick said. He turned to Katniss with a begging expression. "You want to see them, don't you, K? I bet you heard all about them for years too. You can't tell me you've never wanted to see them." It was Katniss' turn to glare, wanting to tell him that there was nothing more she wanted to do than go home and crawl into bed or perhaps cuddle with Prim. At home, things were familiar and safe; they made sense, but Finnick's sad-sack expression was too much for Katniss to take.
"Yeah, Gale. I want to see them too," she sighed. Gale didn't have to say anything for Katniss to know he was calling her a traitor internally. He turned back to Madge without another word, anger written in the tense muscles of his back. Katniss couldn't muster up a smile when she noticed the grateful look Finnick was trying to give her, and minutes later, she found herself regretting her decision entirely as Rye approached their table.
"Hey O-odair," Rye said, a slight slur to his words. "Liking the party?" he asked as he plopped down heavily into the open chair between Finnick and Katniss. He scanned his eyes over the table, taking in Finnick's company. Annie tensed as his eyes made his way past her, but it wasn't until he noticed Katniss that Rye's face contracted in anger. He shoved the mop of sweaty, blonde curls out of his eyes.
"It's...just grand. A Mellark Party. Never changes," Finnick responded, his expression wary. "Your mother seems to have pulled out all the stops this year."
Rye answered him with a bitter-sounding laugh. "You could say that. She's never backed down from a big show, has she?" His eyes moved across the way to where his mother was holding court with the richest men and women present. Then, his face darkened as they all watched her grab Peeta as he helped Mr. Mellark back to his seat from wherever the two had been. Peeta did not smile as his mother began tugging his arm towards an imperial looking man with a gray mustache. "And there goes Peeta, fucking things up again," Rye said bitterly. "Now, I'll have to clean up the mess." The group glanced at one another, and even Delly had torn herself away from Thom to give Rye a shocked stare.
"What do you mean by that, Rye?" Delly asked. But Rye wasn't paying attention, still looking across the floor, mumbling to himself.
"Why c-can't he just do whaat she wants? It'd make everything so much e-easier. I wouldn't have to be thhe good son, then. Fucking asshole. Left me all alone with h-her. Never cared about me. The fucking asshole." Katniss' eyes widened. She hadn't realized she and her friends were the only ones who had felt left behind. She wasn't sure what compelled her to do it, but she placed a hand over Rye's on the table in solidarity. He looked at her blurrily before his eyes snapped wide at her, and he yanked his hand away, knocking over Finnick's glass of water.
"Watch it!" Finnick cried as he frantically grabbed some napkins to keep the liquid from spilling onto Annie's dress, but Rye ignored him.
"You're the-e reason he l-left, Katniss," he said with contempt. Katniss' heart constricted in her chest. "You drove Peeta awaaay. You were never supposed to b-be with him. Should have left him a-alone like we all wanted. He left be-cause of yooou."
"Rye, that's enough," Finnick said sharply, the water long forgotten. Katniss didn't have to look at her friends to know they were close to a fight. Katniss didn't know what to say. There was a part of her that feared what he was saying was true. Rye smirked at her silence.
"See, Odair? The S-seam Trash doesn't even try to defend herssself." Katniss felt Gale rise at the same time Finnick leaped to his feet, but Peeta was faster.
From out of nowhere, he descended on their table like an avenging angel, his blue eyes blazing in the candlelight, his face a stone mask of fury. "Rye," he said coldly. He grabbed his brother and hauled him to his feet, shoving Rye away disgustedly when his brother stumbled into him. "Excuse me," he said to Katniss and the rest before guiding Rye roughly over to where Bannock was sitting with an upset look on his face. Katniss saw him looking in Mrs. Mellark's direction, whose displeasure was obvious even one hundred feet away as she watched her youngest son's actions. Peeta was making no effort to be discrete as he sat Rye down and gesticulated wildly at him. Katniss could tell she wasn't the only one who wished she could know what he was saying. After he'd finished with Rye, Peeta spoke briefly to Bannock before twisting violently on his heel away from both his brothers and made his way back over to where Katniss was sitting.
"Katniss, I only heard the last bit of what he was saying to you, but I'm so sorry about that," he said, looking nowhere else but at her. Katniss kept her eyes on his face, acutely aware that the others were staring, and was oddly struck by how handsome he really looked. Somehow his flushed face and the way his eyes still burned with anger from his brother's actions made him even more attractive than he already was. Katniss attempted a nonchalant shrug, wishing to avoid the attention she knew was focused on her.
"It's fine, Peeta. Rye's had too much to drink. I'm sure he didn't mean what he said." Neither of them believed what she said, and Peeta looked like he wanted to say more, but Katniss turned her face away from him, trying to make it clear she wanted the conversation done. She caught Gale's blazing look and looked at the table instead and heard Peeta sigh.
"Everyone looks beautiful tonight," he said tiredly. "I hope you're enjoying yourselves." She saw his feet turn as if to walk away when Finnick spoke.
"You've called me many things, Peet, but I never thought you'd call me beautiful." His tone was joking and light. Katniss looked at him in surprise. Of all those around the table, he'd been the least friendly to Peeta besides Katniss and Gale. Peeta, too, had turned back around with a startled expression on his face. Finnick grinned at him and struck a ridiculously provocative pose, fluttering his long eyelashes flirtatiously. "Do you find this distracting? Because that's what I was going for tonight. Right, Annie?" Annie looked at him like he was insane. Peeta and Finnick burst out laughing a second later.
"I didn't mean you, Finn. But if that's really what you want me to call you, I'll consider it," Peeta said with a new chortle. Finnick smiled wider.
"I think I'll settle for dashingly handsome. Seems like a good angle for me. You were always the pretty one anyways." Peeta snorted at this, and everyone except Katniss and Gale started to laugh.
"That's my title, Finnick," Johanna said. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Oh I don't know, Jo," Peeta replied, his eyes twinkling. "I think you are always more the scary one. What do you think everyone else's' are?" Johanna smiled, looking pleased.
"Damn straight, Bread Boy. And hmmm..." She looked around. "Dells, you're the model, which makes Madge probably the Queen of Pretty." Madge's face flushed, though she didn't look upset with Johanna's statement. "Annie. You're floaty and beautiful like the sea. Which makes Gale-"
"Grumpy," Finnick said. Even Katniss couldn't contain her smile as Gale frowned deeply. She was stunned by the lightheartedness of the conversation. As soon as the silliness had begun, it felt like old times. Peeta looked radiant, as did everyone else.
"What does that make, Katniss?" Annie asked, her green eyes lighting up in Katniss' direction. Katniss looked around as they all fell silent with thought. She caught Peeta's eyes and saw there was an answer already on the tip of his tongue, but he did not speak. Her stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch.
"A bird," Finnick finally said. Katniss looked over to him in confusion.
"A bird?" she asked. Finnick shrugged.
"Yep. You're a bird. About to spread her wings and destroy us all." Everyone began to laugh again, but this time Peeta didn't join in and Gale did.
"Well, this place could use that. It's amazing the way some people live. I mean, who needs all this?" Gale said, chortling, but there was a coldness to it that bespoke the years of anger she knew he harbored over the disparity between this life and those in the Seam. "No offense, Peeta," he added after he observed everyone's smiles had faded, the happier mood dying as quickly as it had come. Johanna looked like she was about to kick him. Peeta stared at Gale for a long moment before he spoke.
"Maybe, Gale. I daresay my family has too much," he said slowly, glancing around at their surroundings. Gale made a noise of disgust that didn't seem to faze Peeta at all. He looked at Katniss.
"Would you like to dance with me? I seem to remember you promised me one once," he said softly. Katniss gave her head a vigorous shake without really thinking about it, the realization of her outright rejection of Peeta's request only coming as Gale quietly laughed. Peeta's face fell for a second before it became the same emotionless mask she'd noticed he'd adopted while speaking with the group of people around his mother. "No worries," he said evenly. Katniss felt like she had to offer some explanation.
"I just don't dance. You remember," she said, staring back at the floor.
"I know."
It took several minutes of awkward silence for Katniss to realize that Peeta had left and even longer to realize that she was now alone at the table with Finnick. She gave him a look of befuddlement.
"Where did everyone go?" she asked. Finnick gave her a thin smile.
"Sometimes you get into your own head too much, Katniss. Delly asked Johanna, Annie, and Madge if they wanted to go out to the floor a few minutes ago." He waved over to where Johanna was doing a jerky whirling dance move that required the other girls to shift quickly away from her. It didn't escape Katniss how they kept looking over at her. She looked around.
"And Gale?" she asked. Finnick shrugged.
"We told him to go let off some steam."
"Oh." Katniss twisted her hands together nervously, wondering if Gale had really gone willingly. "And why are you still at the table and not dancing with the others?"
"Because I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh."
"Yeah." But Finnick didn't offer any words after that. He just sat watching Katniss, like he was trying to figure out something about her that he didn't quite understand. Katniss shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Why were you so...friendly...to Peeta?" she blurted out. The question had been in her mouth from the moment Finnick had made his joke. His eyebrows shot up into his hair. Katniss floundered. "You've seemed so angry with him when we're working. You've talked to him even less than I have," she pointed out.
"You've been friendlier with him in the past week," Finnick countered. Katniss blushed.
"We agreed to be friends. Or well, at least acquaintances." Her friend shook his head and laughed. Katniss wrinkled her nose at him in annoyance.
"You still haven't answered my question, Finnick. It was just surprising you seem to be...giving in?" She wasn't sure why she said it like a question, but Finnick sobered enough that she knew he was taking her seriously.
"I'm not 'giving in,' Kat. Not exactly."
"Then what are you doing?" Finnick sighed at her question, twirling a fork back and forth in his hands like a trident.
"He still has a lot to answer for, Katniss. I'm not arguing that. There are things I want...no, need...answers to…" Finnick frowned, lost in his own thoughts before he focused again, staring at her with serious eyes. "But I don't think he's quite the asshole I thought he was or maybe even wanted him to be." Katniss furrowed her brow at him, and Finnick huffed. "What I mean is, while I don't think he's the same person we all knew back in school, he doesn't seem like the jerk who left us four years ago either. Look at tonight. He's saved us from the Wicked Witch and her dick of a son." That earned a laugh from Katniss, and Finnick grinned.
"I just finally realized Haymitch may be right. There are two sides to every story." Finnick gave her a pointed look. Katniss bit her lip, and Finnick sighed again. He reached his hand across the table, making sure Katniss was looking at him before he spoke.
"Look, I know this may not be what you want to hear, but I think it's something you need to hear." He took a deep breath. "So here it goes…We all know something more happened between you two than you've ever told us about." Katniss' eyes widened, not realizing she was confirming Finnick's suspicions. He continued, "Honestly, when you were together, we were all jealous of what you guys had. I always thought if I could be with someone who made me half as happy as you made Peeta, well I'd be doing pretty well."
"Really?" Katniss asked in shock. Finnick nodded somberly.
"It took me a long time to realize that he probably didn't leave just because. No one disappears like he did without...something...happening to cause it, and I'm guessing you know more about it than I do." Katniss could feel the pain in her heart returning with a vengeance, and Finnick looked at her sadly. "I'm not asking you to share anything with me or Jo or Delly or anybody, Katniss. We're not going to push you on it, but we've been friends for a long time. I know you've been pretending you're ok for a long time, but that you're not really." He squeezed her hand. "But what I really know is that you can be ok and that talking to Peeta might be the first step in that process."
"Why?" Katniss whispered. Finnick smiled at her.
"Because I saw my best friend tonight. He may not fully be the old Peeta we loved, but like I said, I saw hints of him tonight. And I remember how much that guy loved you." Katniss gripped the table with the hand Finnick wasn't clutching. He'd been right; she didn't want to hear this. What he was saying had never been true. She'd worked too hard to accept that fact. She couldn't let it go now, but Finnick wasn't about to stop talking. "I think that guy deserved a dance," he said quietly.
"I don't know," Katniss said, wishing her hair was in a braid so she could tug it like she liked to do when she was upset.
"Or at least that guy might deserve to be saved from Glimmer's clutches. Yikes." Katniss looked up abruptly, following Finnick's gaze to where Glimmer had practically just pounced on Peeta's back. They watched as she gripped Peeta's jacket, while Peeta said something inaudible, utter discomfort on his face. Glimmer waved in the direction of Mrs. Mellark before forcing Peeta into the dance.
To her shock, Mrs. Mellark, seemingly satisfied with her son's "choice" of partner, turned and stared at Katniss, a smug look on her face. Katniss' whole body went rigid. It had been the exact same look she'd given Katniss when Peeta announced he was dating Glimmer towards the end of their sophomore year. Wordlessly, Katniss stood up, a fury suddenly filling her that she had to accept was jealousy, the same she had felt back then. She looked at Finnick, who was now broadly smiling at her.
"Go save him, Everdeen," he said. Katniss took a step forward, wondering what it was she was about to do.