I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES! I hope you enjoy my second story. Thanks for all the positive comments I enjoy reading them. Sorry I haven't updated sooner. Also there won't be a hunger games but some circumstances are the same and their love seems like it is fast but it has been months and years for them to notice each other and stuff. Enjoy chapter 7!
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I woke up feeling more nervous than ever. Not only am I going to tell Mrs. Fisher that I want to transfer schools, but I'm also going to have to see Peeta. His face just makes me depressed and sad, knowing that I can't see it anymore. Slowly but surely, I get up from my bed that still has Peeta's lingering scent. I walk to the bathroom and start my day. Today, I feel like I should dress more sophisticatedly to ensure that I'm ready for a change. I wear a knee-length black skirt, a burgundy and ruffle-filled blouse, and a white sweater to top it all off. As usual, I pin my hair back to the side and add the orange hair bow and my book bag from the side of my bed. Quietly, I walk downstairs and grab an apple and a muffin, and then I walk out the door. It's weird not walking with Peeta to school. I guess I got used to having someone with me all the time. Instead, I shrug it off and grab Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen from my book bag that is slung on the side of my shoulder, like I used to. Prim scares me, just as I start to get to the part where Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Darcy.
"Hey Kat," she says. I jump a bit and drop my book on the ground, losing my page. I frantically pick up my book from the ground.
"Oh hey Prim," I say and straighten out my skirt and my hair. "What are you doing here?" I ask. I thought she walks to school with Peeta only, like the way she's done it for years.
"Oh, I just wanted to talk to you, and it's easier to walk with you to school and talk to you," she says shyly. "I didn't mean to scare you or disturb you while you read." I smile at her and put my book back in my bag.
"Don't worry about it Prim," I say and she smiles. "So what did you want to talk about? I'm all ears now." I can tell she seems nervous. She fidgets around a bit and constantly strokes her braid with her nimble hands.
"I heard that you're going to that gifted students school across town," she says sadly. I know where this is heading.
"Yes I am," I state firmly. "I am going to accept Mrs. Fisher's offer to the Academy of District 12 today."
"Why are you going to go there?" she asks. I can tell she's confused and unsure about my sudden change of tone.
"Because I want to pursue my art career," I say and look up at the sky. "It's something that I really love and maybe one day you will see my art hung in Capitol Elite's houses." She laughs as I act as a capitol socialite. Those people are just ridiculous. They dress in the strangest clothing that makes them look like a kindergartener threw paint at them during play time.
"Oh, but I don't want you to go," she says sadly. I grab her around the shoulders and pull her close to me.
"Don't worry, I'll still see you all the time, but you also need to visit me at the bakery," I say calmly. Out of everyone at this school, I will probably miss the sweet Primrose Everdeen the most.
"Promise?" she asks and sticks out her pinky.
"Always," I reassure her and grab her small pinky with mine. We walk to school in silence after. When we reach the front, I see Peeta and Gale leaning against the fence talking about something. I can tell it's serious because both of their faces look solemn and stoic. Peeta glares at me and stiffens his posture as I arrive with Prim and calls her over immediately.
"Sorry Kat. See you later," she says and waves at me. I wave back and reopen my bag to take out Pride and Prejudice. I can feel the stares of the other kids ripping me apart. Their whispers are eating at my sanity. 'Did you hear that they broke up?' 'They were yelling all day.' 'I bet he cheated on her.' 'She's leaving school.' Trying to avoid the gazes, I swiftly walk to the art room and take a seat at my normal spot. The sun barely makes an appearance through the thick clouds that cover it from my sight. Other students start to trickle in the classroom when I see Peeta walk in. I catch him staring at me, but I look away. He takes a seat on the other side of the room, to probably try and avoid me. I don't mind at all. I mean, before we started to so call "date", I was always alone with my books. It just feels different knowing that Peeta won't be painting next to me.
"Morning class," Mrs. Fisher said. Everyone greeted her back and she continued with her plan for today. "I want you guys to choose a color about how you feel right now. Try to reciprocate your emotions on the canvas." I immediately know what color I'm choosing: blue. It's not completely angry or sad, but it's a cool and calm color. I don't want people to think that I'm depressed. "After you finish, I want you to present your painting to the class." I simply shrug it off and start to work on my painting furiously.
My painting is about the events that happened. I basically draw a bunch of random shapes in different shades of blue. To the normal eye, it looks like I scribbled a bunch of random stuff all over the canvas to pass it off as art, but it has so much more meaning. If you see it from a tilted angle, you can barely make out a profile of a face. I purposely added this. The profile is of Peeta as I watch him work with anger on the canvas. He's stroking with so much intensity and focus. I realize that I'm staring at his perfect face, and I finish the last touches to my painting. I sit patiently and wait as the other students continue to work on their projects. After another 30 minutes, the art teacher calls time.
"Okay, who would like to go first?" Mrs. Fisher asks. Peeta's hand shoots up in the air the second she finishes the statement. "Mr. Everdeen, you may start." Peeta walks up to the front of the room. His gaze never leaves me. He gingerly places his painting on the easel and reveals a true work of art. He chose red, symbolizing anger and frustration. He added a pair of blue eyes towards the center, and I know that it means that I'm somehow in this painting.
"I chose red," he says in a strong voice. "It's a very powerful color showing passion and determination." I obviously was wrong about the reason he chose his colors. "It has been a wild ride and all I've been through were crazy flames, constantly getting burned. Flames don't destroy all the time though, they ignite passion that starts out as a tiny flicker and ends up as a wildfire. It's hard to contain once it starts, but it's the best feeling you can ever imagine." His gray eyes meet my blue ones. "It's really hard to take it back what you do in the moment." How dare he try to apologize to me indirectly? I can't take this type of drama and stress anymore. He finishes after he says that statement.
"That is a beautiful painting Peeta," Mrs. Fisher says. "Who would like to go next?" I raise my hand timidly. "Katniss, you may begin."
I walk nervously to the front of the class. I'm not used to all the eyes staring at me. I place my painting to the class. Most people gasp in awe because of the stunning colors, but Peeta sees right through my painting. "I chose blue," I start to say quietly. "It's a calm and underused color. I am trying to show a mixture of emotions. The darker blue is more angry and sad while the lighter shades are more calm and relaxed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that; I'm content on where I am and how everything has been. Everything happens for a reason." I finish my presentation and swiftly walk back to my seat, where I continue to read Pride and Prejudice.
Just before the bell rings, when Peeta is still in sight and can hear my conversation, I walk over to Mrs. Fisher's desk. "Hello Katniss," she says smiling at me.
"Hi Mrs. Fisher," I say. "I think I'm going to take the offer to go to the academy." Her grin is spread all across her face.
"That's wonderful to hear. I will submit your paintings from this year and request a transfer student application," she says smiling. "I already know that you're going to get in." I thank her and turn around to bump right into Peeta.
"Oh, excuse me," I say politely and continue to walk on. He grabs my arm and I get butterflies in my stomach.
"So you're really going through with it?" he asks. He runs his hands through his beautiful dark hair and looks down at me.
"Yes I am," I state harshly a little. "I think it's the best choice for me right now." He just looks at me with desperation.
"Well, I hope you get in," he says and walks away.
"Hey Peeta," I say nicely. He turns around slowly. "Thanks." He nods his head and leaves the class. The next two classes go by horribly slow. I can't seem to shrug off the gesture he sent me today. I can barely breathe and reading a book about love is not helping me at all. I just wish that the Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy would figure out that they love each other so much already, so I don't have to sit through the agony. The lunch bell rings and I couldn't be happier to leave my physics class. I find it strange to see my table empty, but I sit down anyways and grab the apple and muffin I brought to eat today. Madge comes soon after and sits across from me.
"Hey Kat," she says in a soothing tone. I already know that she's going to act all sorry and timid, so she won't step on my toes.
"Hey Madge," I say. "How were your classes so far?" I take the apple and bite a chunk out of it as I read the book.
"Fine," she responds. "I heard that you're going to go to the art school."
"Yeah, I told Mrs. Fisher today. We're sending out the application and some of my work to the school board today or tomorrow." Madge gives me a small grin.
"That's really good to hear Kat," she says. "I'll miss you when you leave." She looked down at her book and started to tear up.
"Madge, I'm still your best friend. Nothing and no one will change that," I reassure her.
"I know, but now it's just Madge to tackle all the books by herself," she says sadly.
"Madge. I don't even know if I got in the school, heck, I haven't even sent the application yet," I laugh. She starts to laugh too.
"Well it's not just me who'll miss you," she states quietly. She turned her head in the direction where Peeta and Gale sit. I look over with her and see Peeta watching me, like the way I used to. I look away, and pus my hair out of my face and focus on the book. "Come on Kat, he looks miserable."
"Well he made his point very clear Madge. If I can handle it, then he can too," I say coldly. I am not taking this well. I need to get over this and move on, but I can't when everyone is constantly reminding me about Peeta.
"I know, but I was talking to Gale last night. He said Peeta's angry and messed up," she says. Hearing that pulls at my heartstrings, but I need to put on a brave face. "He just tore up his room and broke a lot of glass."I'm seriously getting tired of everyone telling me about Peeta and looking at him makes me want to run into his arms.
"Hey Madge," I smile. "I think I'm going to go paint." I only paint when I have something on my mind. She lets me go to the art room. I walk swiftly through the halls and see Carson ahead. I try to turn around, but he catches me before I can leave.
"Hey looky here, it's little Miss Cat-piss Mellark," I try to walk away as fast as I can. I block out everything he's saying and what his friends are also making comments at me.
"What a little slut!" one of his friends calls out. I start to cry and run to the art room. I grab as many colors as I can and brushes. I get a canvas and paint my heart and anger out. I furiously paint with every single color I can find in the class. I don't even notice the paint on my face as I angrily plaster paint on the canvas. I put my fingers in the paint and smear it all over the picture that is somehow turning into my best painting yet. Everything is eating at me and is weakening me. I can hear yelling and screaming in my head from everyone. At one point I yell and throw the paint all over the room. I scream at the top of my lungs and ignore everyone that passes by. Once I finish my tantrum, I slump on the ground and start to cry. I think the only way to get rid of hurt, is to cry. Plastering a smile on my face did nothing, but bottle up my anger.
"Katniss?" I hear. Mrs. Fisher stands before me. I look at her.
"I'm sorry, I got a little carried away," I start to say. She hands me a tissue to dry my tears and I try to wipe off the paint that stained my face.
"No sweetheart, don't worry. Your painting is so very beautiful. It's your best yet, but the bell already rang" she says. I slowly get up and look at the finished painting staring at me. I painted a huge sunset of different colors and a profile of a face in so many different colors. It's Peeta. I guess I really didn't notice what I was painting until I really saw it. It was just my anger controlling my actions, my anger towards everyone. In his face, I painted all the things I remember of him. There is the dandelion, the cupcakes, the coop, the forest, my hand, and so many different things I remember of him all in different colors.
"I think, we should send this painting in too," said Mrs. Fisher. "This one shows what you're feeling, that's all they want to see. I'll write you a pass." I agree with her and dismiss myself from her classroom and take the pass she gives me. The walk to the bathroom was so long. Once I arrived, I saw the mess I made. There was green and blue plastered on my cheeks, and some red got in my hair. Yellow covered my hands and orange stained my forehead. I washed all the paint down the sink and re-did my hair and wiped my face. Unfortunately the puffiness I got from crying didn't go away. Slowly, I walk into my classroom and hand my teacher the slip I got.
I feel so relieved when school is over. I just want to frost something and drink some tea with my mom. I run out of Music theory class and get ready to walk back to the bakery. "Hey Kat. Do you mind if I walk with you?" Prim asks.
"No problem," I say. She stands next to me. She is not so little anymore. By next year, she'll probably tower over me. "How was your day?" I ask.
"Good. I aced my science quiz," she said proudly. "How was yours?"
"That's really good Prim," a say, "and I've had better days."
"I heard you screaming in the art room, I was going to go in there, but the art teacher went in before me. Are you okay?" she asks. She has so much concern in her. I think she's an old soul and is wise beyond her years.
"Oh. I am fine. I'm just tired of people telling me things that I really don't want to hear," I say calmly. She understands and we walk the rest of the way in silence. "I'm home and Prim's here!" I yell. My mom walks out of the apothecary cheerfully.
"Hi girls," she smiles and hugs both Prim and I. "Prim, I have a special assignment for you…" she says and walks away with Prim. I smile and wave to them as I go to the back to greet my father.
"Hey Daddy," I say.
"Hey it's my special little helper," he comes and gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Want to help me with the cupcakes?" he asks. I agree without a blink of an eye. "Take these and do with what you wish." He hands me a tray of white cupcakes.
"Thank you very much," I say happily. I walk over to my station and grab some orange and yellow frosting. I think that I'm going to make the daffodils that are starting to bloom around the bakery. Spring is just starting to show. The flowers are starting to bloom slowly and the sun makes quiet appearances throughout the day. I start to frost some of the cupcakes when a few little kids come in.
"Hi Miss Katniss," says a young girl. It's Violet, and her teeth are starting to grow back in.
"Hi Violet. What brings you to the bakery?" I say and get out from behind the counter to greet her. Before I leave, I grab 2 cupcakes that I just frosted and hand them to her. "Here are some cupcakes for you and your brother."
"I am supposed to give this to you," she says. She hands me a slip of paper with a Katniss flower attached to it. "Mr. Peeta said that it was important."
"What's this?" I smile, but she's already going towards the door.
"Thank you for the cupcakes Miss Katniss," she says and runs out. That girl is the cutest little kid ever. I just look at the little note that she handed to me. I open it up and it reads:
Dear Katniss,
I am really sorry about the way I acted towards you. I can't take back the wrongs I have done, and it wasn't your fault. I understand that you just wanted to make up your mind before telling me, and I feel awful about accusing you for no reason. I know this won't stop you from leaving, but I just want you to know that if you leave, I will be crushed. I saw your painting after school, Mrs. Fisher didn't hesitate to leave it open for everyone to see it. It's truly beautiful and I know that you will do great things at the art school. I hope you can accept my apology.
Love,
Peeta
I can't believe this note. I don't know if I can accept his apology. He's a coward. He can't even give me the note in person. This ignites a new rage in me. I'm tired of people trying to walk around me because I'm fragile. If he did it in person, I might be more open to accepting it, but he didn't even dare to come in. Instead, he used a young girl as bait to give it to me. How pathetic. I take the note and leave it in my pocket. I can't dare to look at it. A few minutes later, only Gale walks in to trade with my father.
"Hey Kat," he says. I wave and say hi. "I heard you guys are over." He looks down when he says that.
"Well, things happen for a reason whether it is good or bad," I sigh. He nods his head and my dad walks out from the back of the bakery to see Gale.
"Hey son," my dad says. "Thanks for the squirrels, but I don't want you to get in trouble to feed my family. I want you guys to worry about your family. I heard Thread had 4 poaching lashings last week." My dad seems concerned. Thread is the new peacekeeper. He is a brutal and heartless man who enjoys whipping people half to death.
"I know sir, but…" Gale starts to say but my dad cuts him off.
"No buts, come in any time for help we can surely use it. I don't want to hear about a boy getting whipped to death," my father says. Gale thanks him and leaves the bakery, but gives me a disappointed glance before exiting. I don't know what it with everyone. It would make it a lot easier if I didn't feel guilty about leaving. The bakery closes a few hours earlier than it should because business is slow. I go to my room and reopen the letter Peeta gave me. I realize that I do forgive him after all. I don't know what came over me to not accept his apology in the first place. All night I think about the letter. It's still fresh in my memory and I don't know how I should tell him that I accept his apology or thank him for the letter.
