Interlude II: All That Glitters

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine.

Anonymous: Correct! There is a lot coming up, we start moving a bit faster after this chapter I think. And I promise, Clove cares too. She's just being more careful. Thanks for reading and reviewing!


"Me and you, and you and me.
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be.
The only one for me is you, and you for me.
So happy together."

-Happy Together, The Turtles


Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. Left. Perhaps it was a mistake to attend a wedding when the bride was constantly occupying his thoughts. Going out for a walk was a rather pathetic attempt at pushing her out.

Annie Cresta, bridesmaid extraordinaire, had been smart enough to solve the mystery surrounding his melancholic state. The petite brunette bravely confronted him on the subject, claiming misplaced affections and,in his case, gratitude confused with love were terribly common ailments. She was lying; falling back on her psychological expertise and false statistics, all for his sake. Annie went on to insist he tell Katniss. But why would he? Never had he seen her smile so widely, never had she laughed so sincerely. It was beautiful. And Peeta was an art curator, he made a living off beauty. He preserved it.

"Hey!"On a whim, the blond had looked up from his feet, spotting something unusual. "You okay?"

A few yards away, a girl desperately marched up and down a section of the sidewalk, lifting her head only when she heard him call out to her. "No, no, I'm fine! I dropped something!"

Ever the gentleman, Peeta rushed to her aid. Why not? Helping her might keep him from seeing molten silver every time he blinked. "What are we looking for?"

She smiled, displaying a set of flawless white teeth. "I'd hate to waste your time."

"It's no trouble." He assured.

"If you say so." She playfully shrugged, smile in place."I lost a bracelet, I think it might have fallen while I was out jogging earlier, so I'm retracing my steps. Gold bangle with some awful rubies on it. A gift from my boss' daughter, but she's a friend and I-gosh, I'm rambling! I always do that, I'm so sorry, I have no control over what comes out of my mouth sometimes!"

He chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "No worries, I'm not judging."

"Thank goodness!" The girl laughed, charmingly melodic. She pushed back her golden hair and glued her emerald gaze onto the sidewalk, beginning the search. "So, are you new to the neighborhood? I don't think we've ever met."

A gold ruby studded bangle would be hard to miss, reflecting the sunlight like a mirror, but there was nothing catching his eye. Honestly, Peeta doubted they were looking in the right place. It would have been wise to end the encounter, he wasn't in a chatty mood; but she was here, starting a conversation that revolved around him and maybe she was meant to be a distraction. She doesn't know or care what happens to me. She'll just talk.

"I'm visiting from Atlanta." He told her, making an effort to sound invested in their superficial talk.

"Ah. Well, that's fun, hope you're liking the neighborhood." And she meant it. If the houses in the area were anything to go by, not everyone in Miner's Ridge would be as welcoming as Haymitch and Effie. Or as friendly as this girl with the missing jewelry.

"It's a nice place, but I don't think small town living's my thing." He confessed. "You live around here?"

"I used to. I moved to Charleston for work, though. I'm a press secretary for a senate campaign." Her voice was tinged with pride, implying it was something she loved to talk about. Her job.

"Politics." Pretty face and a body to match, she didn't lack appeal. She'd win the crowds over with a wink and a wave. Peeta wondered if she'd be able to win him over. Certainly wasn't happening at the moment.

"I'm more of an assistant, really." Her hands went to her hips, an expression of mild disappointment intruding upon her lovely features. "Darn. I don't think we'll find it."

"We could look somewhere else." If she left, he'd be alone with his thoughts.

"That's sweet of you to offer, but I've gotta head home." She gave him sweet smile. "I'm Glimmer, by the way. Glim, if it gets too annoying. Don't ask, I have no idea what my parents were thinking!"

"That makes two of us." He admitted. "My parents went with Peeta."

"I'd take that over Glitter any day!" Her brilliant smile appeared on her lips again as she pulled a rubber bracelet off her wrist. "Here. Not much of a thank you gift, but in case you change your mind about small town living, a little advice. It was great meeting you, Peeta, I hope you stick around!"

Glimmer ran off the second he took the rubber bracelet in his hand, forcing him to keep it. Engraved onto it were two words:

Vote Undersee!

Clever advertising. No wonder she liked politics, her charm would win any race. Just not one against Katniss.


It was Kat and her bridesmaids for the rest of the morning. Peeta went out for a walk, and Effie and Prim were handling yet another goose situation. Haymitch's hobby got a little out of hand sometimes and the feathered creatures had a nasty habit of invading adjacent properties.

"The nerve. I can't get over it, I can't believe she had the guts to come to the wedding!" Johanna cried, lifting her legs onto a mahogany coffee table.

"I'm gone for a day and the office falls apart!"Annie whispered, texting furiously. She was a workaholic, having to take time off was eating away at her very soul. "Jo, she's related to Gale. What were you expecting?"

"A little shame? A little decency?" Jo mused. "Too much to ask, seeing as she wasn't ever actually human."

Katniss laughed. "Anger, she's got a lot of that. Yesterday's brunch was a travesty."

"And tonight's dinner will be twice as good." A slow grin spread across Jo's lips. "What's the plan?"

"There is no plan!" Annie scolded. "None! We act our age, and we have dinner with some of the guests!" Johanna shot her a dirty look.

"She's right, Jo." Alma will chew her up and spit her back out before the week's up. Saves us the trouble. "Talk to her if you want, but if you start anything, make sure it doesn't get in the way of my wedding."

The chocolate haired girl groaned, rising from her seat. "I'm getting more lemonade. No-I'm gonna go see if your uncle's down in the wine cellar. He's more fun than the two of you combined!"

"Hate is so unhealthy." Annie sighed, turning to Katniss in hopes of hearing her agree.

But Katniss wasn't listening. There were other, more important things on her mind. With the revenge agenda cleared thanks to her future aunt-in-law and Johanna, the bride could finally make time for final wedding details. She'd call the bakery, see that the table cloths were the correct shade of eggshell. And she'd stop by the jewelry store. Jesus, I think my finger's turning blue! This damn ring, why is it shrinking?! She had to get it resized. ASAP.

"Kat?"

"The ring's a bit tight and I'm trying to loosen it up." Katniss explained, feeling Annie's intense green stare upon her.

"Kat, you're nervous, and it's perfectly understandable" Annie was using her patient voice, never a good sign. "You've known Gale for all of what? Eight months? Maybe you're having second thoughts, but I'm here for you."

Katniss sighed, still busy with wiggling the ring off her finger. "Annie, I wouldn't be marrying him if I wasn't sure. I don't doubt myself. It's natural for brides to be nervous."

"It's not natural for them to want to cut off their ring fingers." She replied, frowning as she watched her friend continue her struggle. "I'm not saying you're nervous because you doubt your feelings for him-"

"I don't." Katniss said sharply. "Annie, yesterday I was anxious, today I'm more anxious. The closer I'm getting to my wedding day, the more anxious I am. It's just anxiety. You deal with this sort of thing all the time, it should be obvious."

Annie's eyes briefly fell on the ring, suspicious. Eventually, the bridesmaid opted for a sympathetic approach. "Tea will help with the anxiety. And the extra weight the ring puts on your hand will be nothing in a few more weeks. You'll get used to it." Kat knew the girl had no experience with engagement rings herself, but it felt necessary to take her word for it.

"What are you guys doing?" A blonde crashed into the sunroom, notebook in hand. Behind her, an older woman glided in, looking far more composed. "Kat, you have a dinner party tonight and you're sitting here wasting time!"

"Prim, I've got hours." Katniss was bored by the idea of having to attend that dinner. It would be held to entertain Alma's friends, not hers or Gale's. That was the price they paid for choosing to have the reception at that dreadful woman's house. If Haymitch had agreed to get rid of the geese, we wouldn't have to!

"Katniss, honey, you're the bride. You have to get your hair done, nails, make up! The list goes on!" Effie informed. "Where's your uncle?"

"Taking inventory of the cellar." Annie deadpanned. "Don't worry, Jo's keeping him company."

That didn't ease Effie's concern; the woman all but sprinted out of the room, muttering on about how the cellar was off-limits when there was no 'proper supervision'.

"What are you waiting for?" Prim grabbed a pencil out of her hair, checking something off her list. "Go! You already know which dress you're wearing, right?"

"Green one." Katniss' tone was confident. Green was, after all, her favorite color.

Her little sister, and maid of honor, shook her head. "Red, Kat. We went over this, it complements the ruby on your ring."

But, like the ring, that dress was a size too small.


I want to get the Everthrone/Everlark plot moving fast and I'm aiming to have another real chapter up on Monday, since it's a holiday. Yes, some of you guessed the other woman is Madge. Now guess what her favorite gemstone is...

Update coming soon, reviews are always welcome! Thank you guys for reading! :)