SEVEN
The rain started about halfway from the house. Johanna felt warmed by the day. The kids had been ecstatic to see her. They spent the afternoon chasing the little monsters on the playground. Johanna peered over her shoulder. The sad girl in borrowed clothes still slogged a few feet behind. She hadn't spoken a word since they set off from the school.
"You all right back there?" Johanna asked her eyes forward.
"Yeah. Fine."
They crunched through the woods. A cool breeze stirred the leaves. Johanna smelled the rain on the wind.
"It's going to rain." Katniss observed before Johanna could.
"I think so."
"How are you with all that now?"
Johanna shrugged. She scratched unconsciously at a Capitol borne scar hidden by her hair. "Better."
"You certainly smell better."
Johanna turned and sneered. "Hey runaway, best not throw stones."
They stared at each other for a moment and then a fat drop of rain landed on Johanna's nose disrupting their emotional standoff. Katniss cracked a smile and the sky broke. The rain tumbled down. Thunder crashed and their eyes met. Johanna took off running and Katniss followed. They galloped through the woods, through the rain, through the tumultuous feelings of the day. Katniss caught up. They ran shoulder to shoulder until Johanna cut a corner and leapt out in front. Johanna turned to gloat, but with a misplaced step, she fell to the ground. Katniss sped past. Johanna scrambled back to her feet.
"Watch it, Everdeen."
"Bring it, Mason."
She could see the red of her front door. She pushed harder despite the throbbing in her knee. She threw herself forward, but Katniss' fingers grazed the front door first.
"In your face!" Katniss bellowed. She threw up her arms.
"Rematch. I fell. Not fair." She said between gasping breaths.
"Sore loser." Katniss hunched over and grabbed at her sides. The rain dripped down her face. "Whooo, I am out of shape."
"You and me both." Johanna wiped at the hair plastered to her face.
"You've got mud all over."
"I fell down if you recall." She took a small step forward. She winced. "Banged up my knee pretty good."
Katniss wrapped her arm around Johanna. "Come on whiner. Let's get you inside."
Johanna put her weight on Katniss and allowed the other girl to help her into the house. "We're so having a rematch. I can't even with the smugness."
"Sore loser."
"Just help me to the couch."
"Touchy."
They shuffled slowly from the foyer into the living room. Johanna eyed the couch, but Katniss pulled her back.
"You have to take those muddy clothes off."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Johanna gave a pained leer. Katniss stared evenly back. Johanna relented. "I can't."
Katniss rolled her eyes. "Johanna, I'm not taking your pants off for you."
"Well congrats. You are the first person to turn that opportunity down."
"Johanna."
"Katniss." Johanna smiled innocently.
"Why does everything in this house end with nudity?"
"Cause we are party people." She tried to put weight on her leg. "Ow. Fuck me."
"Fine. Hold on." Katniss conceded. "At least unbutton them."
Johanna laughed, tickled by the flush on Katniss' cheeks. "You're adorable."
"Shut up."
Johanna balanced on Katniss and unbuttoned her jeans with one hand. She pushed her pants down, Katniss followed suit on the other side.
"Okay, sit down." Katniss helped Johanna settle on the couch. She knelt down and unlaced Johanna's boots. She pulled off her shoes one at a time, followed by socks. With a slight hesitation, she slid Johanna's pants down her legs. "Swing your leg up there. Here put the pillow under it. You have to elevate extremities." She added knowingly, the stain of embarrassment still on her face.
"That wasn't so bad was it?" Johanna smirked. She stripped off her shirt and added it to the muddy pile.
Katniss stared and picked at her lip. "Oh, it was awful." She said sarcastically. She looked away and then back at Johanna.
"What? Why are you being all fidgety?"
Katniss blushed. She stepped backwards clearly flustered. "I, uh, it's nothing."
"No, what is it?"
"Nothing. It's nothing. Do you have any ice? You should really ice that." Katniss asked a she sped off to the kitchen.
Johanna recognized a strategic retreat when she saw one. Her interest was piqued. She settled back against the couch and contemplated her next move.
Thanks for reading!
