"The Festival's tomorrow!" Madge cheers. "We better get ready together, Katniss!"
I shift from sitting on her bed to roll face down on the floor.
"Do we have to?" I groan.
If there's something more I hate than having to get ready is doing it with a bunch of people. I like the down time of getting ready for these type of things. Especially since this is going to include Peeta, but at the same time since it does include him I'm going to need all the help in the world.
"Of course! Can we not do it here? Your uncle's house is way bigger than any of ours..."
"Who's coming?" I mumble into her carpeted floor.
"Just Clove and I," Madge replies fast.
A little too fast.
"Who else, Madge?" I ask, shifting my body to stare at the ceiling.
"NoonereallyjustDelly," rolls off her tongue quickly.
"DELLY?" I shriek, sitting up. "Why on earth would I let her into my house?"
"Oh come on, Kat. She's not that bad..."
"Only that she's after Peeta." I huff, throwing my body to floor once more. "I don't like her."
"Is someone jealous?" She giggles.
"I am not!"
"Come on, Kat. We all know you and Peeta are going together. There's nothing to be jealous about."
"I'm not jealous!"
"Yeah, uh-huh. Sure you're not."
"I'm not! And to prove it tell Delly it's fine that she can come tomorrow."
"I'll tell her right away," she grins, taking her iPhone out of her back pocket. "So what time should I tell them?"
I scowl at her as I realized she planned this. Madge knows the one way of getting under my skin and it always includes Peeta. Everyone always assumes we're something even though I know were not, and she knows that I'll go to any length to prove it.
"I don't know? What time does the Festival start again?"
"Four in the afternoon, Katniss! How do you not know that?"
"I'm never in charge of time!" I defend. "It's always someone else in charge of that. How long does it take to get ready like an hour?"
"You are awful at being a girl. You know that, rightt?"
"I know." I mumble.
"I'll pick a time!" Madge grins. "Does noon sound okay?"
Who the heck needs four hours to get ready?!
"Yeah, sure. Aunt Effie will be thrilled."
God knows she gets excited every time I tell her I have plans of some sort. I guess after being locked into a shell for so long any type of activity coming from me makes her happy.
/
Madge and I spent our whole time watching the chick flicks she picked out for us and babbling about scenarios that could happen tomorrow. She want Marvel to kiss her. She finally wants her first kiss and it made me realize I've never received mine. I mean Peeta and I share kisses but they're always on the cheek, or forehead. They're simple and lovely kisses but they're not what could be considered an actual kiss. After all the movie were done she drove me home, I didn't want to call my uncle's driver.
"I really need to learn how to drive," I mutter to myself, kicking the shoes of my feet and making my way into my living room.
"You what honey?" My mom asks. I pause not noticing that she was in the room and eye her carefully. She looks just like she was a year ago. Of course a little warn out and her eyes don't shine like they use to but she's there.
My mother's there.
"Nothing. Just that I need to learn how to drive."
"You're uncle can teach you if you'd like," she says, facing her book down onto the table. "Want me to ask him?"
"No, mom. Really it's okay. We have his driver and no one really minds driving me around," I sigh. "Plus, I never have the need to go anywhere."
"Are you sure? I don't think anyone would mind teaching you. Why don't you ask Peeta?" she asks.
"Nah," I say, awkwardly placing myself next to her on the long couch. "I'm alright, really." I assure her.
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" she asks. "I know I was when I was your age. I could barely sleep the night before."
"Yeah, I guess I am." I sigh.
"Sweetie, what's wrong? Aren't you happy your going with Peeta?" her smile falls.
I can detect every sort of concern laced into her features.
"Yeah, it's just I feel like he could have gone with anyone else." I tug the end of braid letting it fall to my shoulders and smoothing it out as I look at my mom. "I feel like he just asked me because no one else would."
"Oh, sweetie. You know Peeta he wouldn't do something like that. He knows how you are with the whole 'pity' thing."
"I know, I know. It's just Prim told me that Peeta has this massive crush on one of his friend. And I-I-I don't want to be the reason he doesn't approach her or anything. You know what I mean, mom?" I sigh, letting my hands fall into my lap.
"Do you know who this friend is?" her lips twitching into a small small, throwing me completely off.
"No," I pout. "No one will tell me."
"You'll find out sooner or later, don't worry about it." she pats me lightly on my back. "It's almost time for me to go to the 'TV Room' with your aunt, would you like to join us?"
I jump off the couch in a quick beat, "No thank you! I'll be upstairs in my room if you either of you need me."
My mom laughs as she continues to read the book I interrupted her from not so long ago.
My lazy body climbs the stairs in a slower pace than a snail.
Once I finally reach my room I throw myself onto my bed. My head pops up to see the red dress reflecting from the bright lights in my room. I detach myself from the bed and work my way to where my dress hangs. I carefully unzip the clear bag from it's hold and gently take the dress out. It's beautiful... and it's from Peeta.
I know that the dress wasn't made from nor did he pay for it but he gave me the best present I have ever received, to just remember that I said that so many years ago. It makes me want to cry on the inside of pure happiness that this boy that I call my best friend has never been anything but that. Pulling me out of my state of loneliness when my dad slipped away, coming up with forms to talk to me when I wasn't feeling the conversations at hand, tracing words throughout my skin to make me feel alive, just being there for me when I needed someone's warmth - someone's arms.
Peeta Mellark has given me all of that and more.
He starts training again on Tuesdays. Apparently, they have to start getting ready to beat the other eleven football teams also invited to the Capitol. My fingers swiftly trace the sequins and sheer design of my dress. I place myself in front of the mirror and cover myself with the red fabric. Seeing it just cover me bring shivers throughout my body.
Tomorrow will be a day I'll never forget.
My thought breaks as I hear the shrieking sound of my phone. I move frantically around me room until I remember I left my phone plugged into the iHome.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Hey! Are you busy?" Peeta asks.
"Not really, I was just laying in bed. Why?"
"I'm heading to a party," Pause. "Want to come?"
"A party before the Festival!" I gasp. "Do those things exists?"
"Of course they do! You should come. Madge, Annie, and Clove will be thereeee," he sings through the phone.
"Are you trying to get me to come by naming people?"
"Maybe," he says. "Maybe not."
I can practically feel his grin through the phone, "Well, will you be there?"
"Only if you want me to be," he laughs.
"Then pick me up before the party." I say.
"Will you be ready in twenty minutes?" He asks.
"Yeah, why would I need more than ten?"
"I don't know how girls work. Apparently now that Prim's a teenager she need way more time in the bathroom."
I chuckle, "Have you not noticed I suck at being a girl?"
"I beg to differ! I'm going to shower. See you in twenty, Kat."
"See you, Peeta."
/
"So who's party am I going to?" I ask as I climb into his passenger seat.
It only took me five minutes to get ready after Peeta hung up. My braid made me hair flow into nice curls and all I did was pull on a pink lacy shirt with a black cardigan, my jeans weren't dirty at all and I slid my feet into black flats. So I sat in bed for the next fifteen minutes trying to figure who's party I was even going to.
"Gale's," he shifts his car into reverse. "He said I should bring you. So I am."
"Where does he live?" I quickly fasten in my seat-belt.
"By where you use to," he says, putting his car into drive once we're out of my large driveway and on our way to Gale's.
"Seriously?" I ask.
"Yeah, I didn't think you knew either but he lives a street behind where you did."
"Oh," I say. "I didn't know that."
"It's okay, Kat. It's not like you ever really needed to know where he lived," he smiles. "What time do you have to be home?"
"What time is it now?" I ask.
"You're really bad at this whole time thing. How do you survive?" he asks me, pointing at the clock above his radio.
7:30.
"Time doesn't exists. Clocks do." I say, indifferently.
"Very deep today, aren't we?" He jokes.
"My mind is a pool of deepness, Mr. Mellark." I wink.
"Don't call me that," he laughs. "You make me sound old. I am not my father."
"He's not even old, Peeta." I poke my tongue out at him.
"He's still my old man," He smiles.
"True."
As the word escape my lips Peeta turns his blinker to turn right. I recognize all these streets and Peeta wasn't lying when he said Gale lived a street behind me because he did. We pull up to Seam Ave and turn into a large light blue house. You can tell the party has already started with the light flashing from the inside and the dozen of car parked up front. Peeta parks next to the a cherry red car and slides out to pull my door open.
"Is he throwing a party without his mother's permission?" I whisper into his ear as I climb out the car.
He smiles and nods.
He clicks the button of his car keys to lock his car and motions for me to follow him.
Like I would escape his sight.
When we're in front of the house I already see people are losing their minds to alcohol. I see Gale as Peeta waves 'Hi' to him and I peer over his shoulder to see a semi-drunken girl slayed across his lap. I don't have to be told who she is because Rue's resemblance to this girl kicks full force, it's Seeder. I kindly say hi to the two of them before I get to witness any make-out sessions.
Peeta laces his fingers with mine as he pulls me into the house. The house is a lot larger from the inside than the outside. The first thing you see are stairs once you walk into the threshold of the home. Tile floors and pictures are hung everywhere.
I would have put those down if were my home, wouldn't want them to get ruined.
Peeta swiftly dodges people through the house until we're in the backyard where the party continues. I hear the blaring music coming from speakers and teens are huddled around dancing. There's beer cans everywhere.
Welcome to teenager years, I think to myself.
I feel smoke linger past my nose and once I tilt my head to see where it's coming from, my eyes land on a scowling Johanna Mason taking a hit. I nudge Peeta's hand and glace over to the scene before me. He turns his gaze to mine and his smile falls.
"I'm going to see what's wrong with her, okay?" I nod. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah," I reply. "I'll go look for Madge and Clove anyways."
It takes me a while to find someone I actually know and it happens to be the last person I would ever want to talk to.
"Hey," Delly says to me, taking a long sip of a dripping beer can.
"Um.. Hi." I stutter. My mouth really fighting to say, You're really the last person I want to talk to, go away. But I won't. "Have you seen Madge or Clove?"
"Clove is probably somewhere with Cato. Last time I saw them they were really wrapped into one another, if you know what I mean." Delly winks.
Gross.
"Madge is inside by where the food is."
"Okay," I say quickly. "Thank, see you later."
"Wait!" Delly grabs my arms. "Are you sure you want me at your house tomorrow?"
"Uh, yeah I don't really care Delly."
"But... But the whole Peeta thing I don-"
"Look Delly, I don't really care what you and Peeta have but tomorrow night he's going to be my partner to the Winter Festival and I would like to keep that way. So if you don't mind I'm going to go find Madge."
I turn on my heels and march back into the the house. The model of Gale's house is the same exact one as the neighborhood I use to live to so it doesn't take me more than a minute to figure out where the kitchen is. Delly was right, Madge is happily eating a way at a plate right in front of here except Delly didn't include that Madge was wrapped in Marvel's embrace herself.
"Hey, Madge." I smile at her while I slide in next to her.
"Oh Katniss!" she shouts, happily. "I knew you'd come!"
"Why wouldn't I?" I ask, joking.
"Because you're not the type to go out!"
"True. But I can go every once in a while," I smile, grabbing a bite from her potato chips.
"There you are!" I hear a voice squeal. I tilt my head to see an overly happy Annie. "Peeta told me you were here!"
"Hi, Annie." I smile.
"Katniss! Please come dance with me! You have to! Finn doesn't want to anymore, he's in front drinking with Gale. What a bore." she exhales.
If it wasn't for Annie bubbly person I would have said no but she so undeniably sweet that I can't ignore her. She reminds me of a little dog wanting to be played with and held. I stand from where I was sitting and let her take a hold of my hand, "Lead the way, Annie."
"Oh thank you! This way!" she pulls me through the pool of people forming around the house and out the back door once more.
I can once again hear the similar music that was playing at Finnick's party and go into the same dance moves I did that time. Annie's hair swirling along with her. When I was younger I was like Annie pulling people out on dance floor to dance away with me but it's one of the things that changed since my dad disappeared. It's one of the things that floated away with him. It makes me happy though dancing away ten, fifteen, twenty songs with her and Madge who joined about the seventh song in. It makes me feel like a normal teenager.
"Oh my god, Katniss!" someone yells. I turn a little to see a wide eyed Clove staring at me grinning. "I didn't know you had dance moves!"
This makes me smirk, "Then you don't know me at all."
She lets out a Clove like laugh and pulls me for a hug. "Where's Cato?" I ask her.
"With Finnick, Gale, and Peeta." she pouts.
"Wait, where's Peeta?" I ask.
"I think they're on the front porch still," she says, grabbing my hand and moving me along to her rhythm. "I don't really know."
Once the song end I excuse myself to look for Peeta. I came here with him and haven't even spent a whole minute doing anything together. I glance around the large backyard to see that he's definitely not back here. I slide open the back door and make my way into the house going through people as quick as possible. I can smell the spilled alcohol and vodka from a mile away. I go to the front porch like Clove said to find everyone there but Peeta. I turn to Gale who's holding a pretty bruised Seeder in his lap and I look away quickly.
Whatever happened...none of my business.
So I glance at Finnick, "Where's Peeta?" I ask him.
"Oh, Kitty-Kat!" he smiles brightly. "I had no idea you were here."
"Yeah, right," I reply. "I'm pretty sure Peeta told you."
"Actually he did not," he grins. "He was too busy handling Johanna."
Handling?
"Where is he?" I ask once more.
"He took Jo home but don't worry he'll be back soon. I'll entertain you while he's gone!" he winks, grabbing me by the shoulder and guiding me towards the front door.
"Is that girl okay?" I ask him once we're inside the house out of their hearing.
"She'll be fine. She just drank a bit too much and let wrong things slip from her mouth," he tells me.
"You should really go dance with Annie. She's almost destroying the dance floor without her beau at her side."
"Well! We can't have that now can we?"
"No we can't. Now go dance with her. I'm hungry anyways," I say, pushing him towards the backyard.
I sit by myself for about twenty minutes munching away at the million of foods that were laid in front of a large white table until a very familiar voices whispers into my ear, "Ready to go home yet?"
I turn to see a very exhausted Peeta and quickly shove him towards me giving him the biggest hug I can. Even though he's two times bigger than me. "Are you okay?" I ask him. "What happened? You look so tired."
"I'm fine, Katniss." he wraps his arms around me. "It's getting late though. I should get you home."
"What time is it?" I ask.
"Almost eleven."
I've been here for almost four hours?
Wow. Sure didn't feel like it.
"Then let's go, Mister." I say.
"Behind you, Miss," he laughs.
I text Clove, Annie, and Madge a goodbye and telling them I can't wait to see them tomorrow, my body was too lazy to go out in the group of people to find them and say goodbye. This was way easier. I do say goodbye to Gale who doesn't have a girl across his lap anymore.
She must have gone home.
"Thanks for coming, Katniss," he tells me. "I hope you had fun."
"I did. Thank you for letting me come Gale."
"No problem! See you two tomorrow!" he yells at both us while stepping into his house.
"Time to get up Katniss!" I hear my Aunt Effie yell. "You have a big, big, big day ahead of you!"
I groan inwardly and throw another pillow above my head. "Do I have to get up?"
"Yes dear!" she squeals. "Your friends will be here in three hours! We have to get you fed and pre-ready. Do your nails and such so all we'll have to do is your hair and make-up once your little friends arrive."
"That sounds like so much work!" I yell.
"Beauty costs a price, my dear," she laughs, pulling the pillow from my face. "Now, please get up."
"I don't want to be beautiful." I whine but Aunt Effie's pointed look gets me to roll out of bed.
Aunt Effie has everything planned out to a tee. When I'm going to eat, what I will be eating, the time to shower, the time to get my nails done, the time to shave my legs, the time to get my eyebrows shaped, I'm pretty sure the time to breathe is laced somewhere in those words as well.
"I'm not allowed to eat anything until these things dry?!" I ask.
"No, I'm sorry dear but I didn't bring my nail dryer you'll have to wait."
"This is ridiculous!" I sneer.
"Oh, Katniss. You'll look lovely," she smiles, obviously ignoring my bad mood. "I promise!"
"Can I at least nap?"
"No!"
Ugh.
"Fine, then I'll just sit here and stare at that wall," I point behind her.
"We can watch TV is you'd like."
I shake my head. I'm really not in the mood to watch anything at all. I'd rather just sit here and seriously just stare at the wall than watch some Capitol show that Aunt Effie will put on. I only have to wait ten minutes anyways, so it wasn't as bad as I would have thought. By the time my nails are dried and eyebrows shaped Madge is knocking on my door bell. I skid down my three story stairs and rush because I want to be the one opening the door. Once I push open the door there they are with garments bags in one hand and large purses in the other.
"Are you excited, Kat?" Clove asks.
"Of course she is!" Madge replies for me.
Behind her I see an uncomfortable looking Delly. I do my best to smile at her. Today is a big deal for a lot of teens our age and I wouldn't want her to have a terrible time.
I just laugh at Madge's reply and lead them through my front door. It's the first time they've step foot into my new house since we moved in.
"Geez, Kat!" Clove gasps. "I knew your uncle was loaded but your house is amazing!"
I laugh awkwardly not knowing what to say and lead them up the stairs, "My Aunt Effie has some of her friends from the Capitol in for the occasion..."
"She what?!" Madge asks.
"Yeah, they're going to do our hair and make-up the way we want it," I say. "Anything we want."
"You're kidding!" Delly says. "That's wonderful!"
All three of them shrieks.
"Did I ever tell you I love you?" Madge jokes.
"Shut up, you're just happy someone's here to make you look pretty."
"Yeah, and?" She laughs.
"Come on, we're close my room."
All four of us walk into my large room and Aunt Effie's eyes light up when she sees my friends. I only told her about Madge and I can totally tell she doesn't mind that I brought another two girls along. Her attitude towards friends always makes me feel like such a loner.
"Aunt Effie, this is Clove and Delly," I tell her. "You've already met Madge."
She rushes to each of them and pulls them into a hug, "Nice to meet you two! I hope you guys are ready for what we in store for you."
"More than ready!" Clove smiles.
While I was downstairs I noticed that they set my room like some sort of Salon with chairs around and full body mirrors. My Aunt Effie obviously went all out for today.
"I can't believe it's finally the day!" Madge squeals, happily sitting into the seat Flavius pulled out for her.
"Me either!" Clove chimes in. "Are you and Marvel matching?"
"Of course! Who wouldn't?" Madge smiles. "Who are you going with Delly?"
I hadn't noticed none of us knew who she was going with. As much as Delly annoys me I wouldn't want her to go without a date if I have one. It would be strange. She's a typical pretty blonde girl, with bright shining blue eyes. The only difference than her and a typical blonde girl is that she has curves and she isn't ashamed to flaunt them.
"Thom." Delly says, with a tight smile.
"Seriously? He's hot!" Clove exlaims.
"Yeah, he came over to my house and asked with the red roses, of course."
A flood of relief runs through my body as the conversation unfolds. Aunt Effie pulls out a chair for me and I notice that she'll be the one to take care of me for the Winter Festival, and I couldn't be happier about it. I'm very personal with be touched, especially when it comes to my hair or face. I just don't like being touched by people I don't know. I glance at my aunt's friends to see that they look normal, they're dress casually. The same way my aunt does when she's in the district and now that she officially lives her. It's nice to see them that way. Their natural beauty.
I find myself staring at the set before me.
There's colors beyond colors of make-up sitting on the small table in front of me.
My eyes going wide to the sight, I've never seen so much make-up before in my life.
I close my eyes as Aunt Effie tells me to do and never open them once. I let myself relax and listen to mindless chatter of my aunt's friend, gossiping about things in the Capitol and all the things she's missing but I can tell my aunt likes it here more than she lets on. It's like she's finally found a home. It's nice to think that we've given her that because she's given me that. Her and my uncle have both given me a place where I don't have to worry about anything other than myself, as selfish as that sound but I'm only sixteen. Every time I feel myself dozing off I get a pinch on the shoulder.
"Okay, I'm going to turn you now dear so I can start on your hair," Aunt Effie tells me.
"Am I allowed to open my eyes now?" I ask.
"No!" She shrieks.
"Hey, how are you guys?" I ask, feeling her part my hair in a direction different.
"This is so relaxing!" I hear Clove say.
"It so it, thank you so much Mrs. Abernathy," Madge gushes. "It's the best I've been treated in my life!"
"Oh, please call me Effie dear. Mrs. Abernathy is my mother-in-law," she jokes.
"Are you guys' eyes closed too?" Delly voice asks.
"Yes!" We all say in unison, followed by a fit of giggle.
"Girls! Stop laughing! You'll ruin your make-up!" I hear one of my aunt's friend scold.
"Sorry!" We all cry.
Part Two on it's way...
