Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games or any of its characters.
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Chapter 8
"I can't dance…did I say that?" Katniss sighs. It's the millionth time he's come up with a reason for her not to go to the sort of dance with him. "And I can't…"
"Do you not want to go to the dance with me?" she asks seriously and looking at him. "All you've done so far is tell me reasons why I shouldn't go with you…so if you want to un invite me or whatever just do it" she says angrily.
Peeta closes and opens his mouth several times, eyes widened.
"So? You will un invite me?"
"No…I just…I don't want you to have an idea of how the night is supposed to be and then be disappointed by how it actually turns out to be" he says almost in a whisper.
"I am not like most girls Peeta…I've never gone to one of these things so honestly I am not imagining anything…"
"Ooh…okay…" he says and he sinks on his seat.
"Hope that's okay" she says uneasily. He just nods and so they keep eating.
The so called dance it's two weeks away and while they all promised it was going to be a sort of winter dance and not a dance dance they still are picking flowers and dresses and all those things. She's nervous. She can't afford to buy a dress and well…she just doesn't want to wear a dress. But well…social conventions and those things she is resigning herself to the fact that she will have to wear one. She's not feeling much like going anymore.
It looks like she's going to her first dance…and the only thing that she's looking forward is to spend it with Peeta and her friends. There still are little things that can make her forget she's not as old as she feels sometimes.
XOXO
He's given her a list of things every day. He's given her a list of reasons for her to tell him that she doesn't want to go with him to the sort of dance. It's not that he doesn't want to go with her…it's like a dream come true. It's more like…these kinds of things are really important to girls…and he doesn't want to disappoint her with a lame night.
After she gets angry and asks him if he wants to un invite her he just shuts up. It makes him kind of sad to know that this is her first dance and that she's going to have to spend it with him. A not very usual date…that probably won't turn out as good as one with a normal guy would. But if she wants to go he will go with her.
Finnick tells him that they all are buying corsages for the girls and asks him if he wants to join the fun. They are going to buy it a day before the party and put them in the freezer so they don't mess up. He agrees to go with them. It looks like the sort of dance got bigger and fancier than they had agreed but it's fine by him. Just the fact that he's going with Katniss changes everything so much. And he can't wait for the day to arrive. He promises himself that he's going to make the best of it.
The painting is going good. Well, better than okay…he's actually taking Art in school now with Miss Effie…she spends about two hours with him every Friday or more just to work with him on different paintings and techniques and he actually likes Miss Effie…even if she's got weird moods and perceptions she is a good teacher. And best of all she treats him like there's nothing wrong with him. She has to thank Katniss and Alli for it. Miss Effie even thinks he can apply to scholarships…she says he's that good. He doesn't think so.
"What color will you be wearing?" he asks as he eats some pudding.
"What?" she asks like surprised.
"What color are you wearing to the party?"
"Peeta you really don't have to…" he sighs.
"What color Katniss?" she sighs too.
"I don't know" she says. And because he knows she's not lying he doesn't keep asking.
"I wanted to show you something" he says standing up. "Come on…no one will be there right now…I want to show you something" she holds his hand, he's used to it now. He loves it. They go to the Art room because he knows there's no one there.
"Miss Effie said she would place it in the back. Is there something in the back? It's supposed to be covered". He says standing behind her but not letting go of her hand. She lets go first and he hears as her voice gets farther and farther away.
"It's here" she says her voice sounds almost impatient and he smiles. He knows that if Katniss is not something it is patient. "Can I?" she asks and he nods.
"It's for you" he says with a small smile. He knows she must be expecting to see his first painting and that's precisely what she's going to get.
XOXO
When she uncovers the painting she's expecting a master piece. What she gets it's even more amazing than that. She's speechless and she places her fingers close to the painting. She can't believe that he could paint that…that the sunset they saw days ago is there on that canvas somehow…as she remembers the way she described it…she can see it in the canvas…it's what she told him what he painted and she can't believe how accurate it is. It's accurate in its own way because it's not exactly the same but a version of it. It's like when two people see something and they have two different perspectives of it. But somehow it is the same thing.
"Well…say something…" he says. He's got his hand on his neck…the nervous gesture.
"I don't know what to say…"
"Is it that bad? I think that when Miss Effie said it was good she was thinking it was supposed to be abstract" he sighs.
"Don't be stupid! It's…I don't know what to say because it's so amazing that I can't find words to tell you" she says as she never stops seeing the painting. "It's…it is the sunset I took you to see…the colors…everything Peeta…everything looks…like I told you"
"So it isn't abstract?" he laughs a little.
"Of course not" she says laughing too. "But you can't give me this! I mean I'd love to have it…but…you should send it somewhere for a scholarship" she says. If he paints a few more he can apply and she's sure that he'd get in. But when she looks at his face she frowns she can't help it. He's got that sad face again…the one that tugs the corners of her mouth. The one that she hates so much.
"Let's talk about that another time…okay?" he says because she knows he's sure she's frowning and wants to kick his ass for the face he's got on now. She really wants to but she won't. She squeezes his hand and keeps repeating that it's amazing followed by many silences that stop only when they have to rush back to class. Lunch is over.
XOXO
So… the sort of dance is tomorrow. He's really nervous. Today after school Finnick is going to pick him up so they can go buy the corsage thingy. He's bought corsages before…he'd be lying if he said he always went by himself to the dances but this one makes him particularly nervous because he won't be able to actually choose it.
By the time they are actually in the store Peeta has thought about all the kinds of flowers he knows and that he'd like to buy for her. He's rooting for katniss' or lilies you can never go wrong with those. The problem is the color and that Katniss didn't even know what she was going to where so he's buying kind of blindly here…he doesn't know what to do.
"I'll buy a rose for Annie…Rye asked me for a tulip and Gale told me that If I bought flowers Johanna would kick my ass but I am taking him roses...she's s sucker for roses even if she doesn't admit it…Soooo….for Katniss a katniss?" he asks carefully and watches Peeta shake his head.
"I want a lily…" he says simply "But could you…ummm…"
"There are yellow lilies with orange at the center and little red dots or whatever…they have white with strong pink in the center and little dots and white ones with orange in the center and little red dots…I think the white and pink ones look great…"
"Yeah…I know what you are talking about…" he says. Every time Finnick or someone else describes something for him he's got to use his imagination…he's gotten pretty good at doing it. No one can describe things for him like Katniss can. Well…even Mallow describes things better than Finnick but he appreciates the effort.
"So? the white one with strong pink?"
"Yeah, but pick the prettiest one please" he says as Finnick talks to the flower girl.
"We all should get ready together" Finnick says as he's taking him to the center. He's got to practice some reading and stuff with Alli. It's not that he needs it…he likes to.
"It probably is a good idea" says Rye's voice from his right. "Mom would kill us if she knew we are wasting our waking time in something is not working…we'll tell dad the truth and to mom…we'll….teller her that you've got something at the center…she won't bother to question. We get together there and then we pick the girls up as a group"
"Where did you come from?" he asks. And his brother laughs.
"I was waiting here at the center…saw you guys from the window decided to come down"
"Ok…so here at the center it will be…" they all agree.
XOXO
Today is the sort of dance. Today…is…the sort of…dance. Why in heaven had she agreed to go? She's nervous and she can't stop looking at the dress laid out on her bed. A green dress that's got little spaghetti straps, it's fitted right on the waist and reaches her knee. Delly borrowed saying that all she had in mind when she'd seen it was her. She didn't like the idea of borrowing a dress but the truth was that it was that dress or nothing. She discovered this after freaking out the other day for over an hour when she realized she didn't have something to wear to the dance.
Now she was freaking out because she couldn't stop thinking about what shoes to wear…if she should let her hair loose or what. It certainly was a girl's thing and she was just clueless. She sighs. She needs help.
XOXO
If he looks okay…he can't know. Alli picked the tie and his brother took out his usual suit. He fidgets uncomfortably. He doesn't know why he thought that agreeing to the stupid dance was a good idea. He feels more useless than usual…and it doesn't feel right. He's supposed to be excited…he's supposed to be ecstatic. He always dreamed of going to a dance with Katniss Everdeen. He always dreamt of the way he would ask her to be his date, how they would dance all night and he would not be able to stop looking at her and her beautiful face with those beautiful gray eyes, they would have so much fun and he would make sure that she didn't scowl that much. She was going to be happy with him. And at the end of the night when he took her home…he would have kissed her and tell her how he had been in love of her his entire life, ever since he saw her singing in the assembly.
Today…the only thing that resembled that scenario was the fact that he would take her to the sort of dance. But he had not done any of the things he had imagined. He would never be able to, he couldn't even dance now. And that was it. He sighed. If only he could make sure that he looked okay…
Alli was the only person who knew that and right before she had gotten a call from Katniss they had had a fight. That was the usual thing of course but today they had yelled at each other. The last thing she had said before storming out was that he was being an idiot for thinking that Katniss was not going with him for the fun of it. Unlike him Alli strongly believed that she was going to go with him because she wanted. Katniss doesn't look at him like he's blind and even if she did she doesn't care about that. She doesn't care that he's blind and it's about time he's got that into his stubborn head. Ouch. The girl had an amazing sixth sense…she always knew what to say to hit a nerve.
"Mr. Peeta looks really pretty" says a little voice.
"Mallow?"
"Yes Mr. Peeta…it's me! Mommy is about to finish here at the center…I was playing when I saw you…you look really pretty Mr. Peeta…your eyes look cute too they look blue like the sky!" she states. He can't see her but he's sure she's blushing. The crush she's got on him is something he never experienced before and he feels flattered. "Can I tell you something?" says the little voice.
"Of course" he answers. It is amazing how the innocence of a little child can bring a smile to your face. It may sound stupid but that innocence brought something back to him when they first met. Her innocence allowed her to tell him things that coming from an adult may even sound insulting. Coming from the girl most of the times sounded encouraging. And he had learned to trust himself a little more.
He feels the girls little hand on his pulling him down and he kneels. She places her little hand on his face next to his ear as if to tell him a secret and she whispers.
"I would dance with you. I don't care that you can't see. For me you are the best" she says whispering with her little voice. And he smiles. "I swear it's true…please don't be sad and I am sure Miss Katniss thinks the same way"
"Thank you Mallow…thank you so much" he says as he places his hand on the little girls face and his other hand takes hers.
"So…a dance with me? I know you can dance!" she says and the hand that's on her little face can feel the smile.
"Of course" he says taking her on his arms. Even if today doesn't go the way he always planned it can go a different way…an equally good different way. Even if he is blind life still got those little things that make it good. He's going to a dance with Katniss Everdeen. And as he spins with the little girl giggling on his arms he smiles. The little things…maybe he will be able to dance tonight after all.
XOXO
She's not sure why she cares so freaking much. It's only a stupid sort of dance…nothing fancy…but she is panicking even with Alli in front of her taking out shoes from her duffel bag and saying things about hair and complaining about Peeta. Apparently they had another fight. Those two with their fights get on their nerves.
"Katniss I am talking to you woman look at me! Do you need me to slap you or something?"
"What?" she asks annoyed. Alli just sighs.
"Stop being so nervous would you? Even if you showed up on ratty jeans that boy is going to be speechless so just pick anything…"
"I don't even know why I am nervous…" she groans and picks some flats from the pile that Alli dropped on the bed. Alli kneels on the ground in front of her with that smile of I know something you don't she doesn't like.
"It's going to be okay Katniss…don't beat yourself up for wanting to look good…It happens" she smiles knowingly. "And don't worry you look perfect just the way you are…no makeup or anything!" she says as she stands up. Oddly she feels comforted by her words. And at the same time she wonders if there's something that Alli knows that she doesn't. That smile is on her face for a reason.
She looks at herself on the mirror. The dress looks good now that she's got it on, the flats that Alli brought look good with the dress too and she's wearing her usual braid…no makeup or anything. She likes how she looks…she just hopes Peeta does too. Peeta won't be able to see her…but still she wants to look good. This is new!
XOXO
Annie is grumpy. She spent her whole afternoon placing lights in the backyard so it would look beautiful. She even hung some lights so it would look prettier. She placed a table on the center with a beautiful black tablecloth and all kinds of flowers so it would look good. She's tired and she knows she doesn't look as pretty as she would like. That's why she's grumpy.
"Baby baby!" comes Finnick from behind and hugs her tightly. She loves the way he hugs her tightly because it makes her feel like she's home. "You are going to be the most beautiful girl on this party!" he says and kisses her temple.
And just like that. She feels pretty…and just like that she feels loved. Yeah, love can do that to people.
XOXO
Delly, Johanna, Madge and Alli are having an awesome time. They are waiting for the dates to pick them up. Guys got together at the center to come and pick them up mostly to save the trouble to Peeta and Rye with their mom. Finnick is probably with Annie at her house by now. She can't understand love. The way those two just fix each other and complement each other is beyond her understanding.
When they hear the knock on the door Delly and Madge start screaming like crazy. Alli is just shaking her head with a smile just as Johanna scowls and she…she is frozen. Alli places her hand on her shoulder and walks to the door opening it.
"Madge, Delly, Johanna Katniss… your dates are hereeeee" she calls to them with a smile on her voice. They exit the living room and she can hear them talking to their respective dates. She walks and she sees him.
She remembers thinking Peeta is beautiful…she is speechless…his eyes are a shining neon blue that match perfectly with his tie, he's got a small smile on his face…a shy smile and he's hair is messy but she just loves what she's looking at.
"Katniss?" he asks because as everyone is with their dates he's the only one standing there still alone.
"I'm here" she says and immediately she holds his hand.
"I brought this for you" he says clearing his throat because his voice came out in a funny way. He is handing her a beautiful lily. It's white and coming from the center there are streaks of a dark pink that spread on the petals and that are adorned by little dots of a darker shade of pink. It's a beautiful lily and as he takes it out of the box he takes her hand and slides the elastic band from the tip of her fingers to her wrist. It looks beautiful.
"Thank you Peeta…it's beautiful" she says.
They are walking down to Annie's house. They walk in couples down the street she and Peeta decide to stay at the back. They are walking quietly down the street. He's got his cane in one hand and Katniss' hand on the other. He's smiling. Her smile.
Annie decorated beautifully the backyard. She describes to Peeta how it looks and he is happy about it. They talk and talk the whole night. It's interesting because she looks at the others dancing and laughing and there's some kissing too but she can't think of a better way than being with Peeta exactly where they are and doing exactly what they are doing.
She dances for a while too and amazes herself when she realizes that she is actually having fun. They have dinner and play for a while and if this is a dance she thinks she likes them.
The rest of the night goes by in a blur and before she knows it's midnight. Everyone starts calling it a night. The only ones left are Delly, Rye, Annie, Finnick and them. The other two couples went inside a long time ago leaving them behind by themselves in the backyard.
They are sitting there feeling the breeze. It is great. It is peaceful. It feels right.
"You didn't dance the whole night" she says suddenly.
"I'm sorry" he says and "looks" down.
"There's no one left here" she says as if informing him. She doesn't know why a fact like this one is relevant at this moment but she feels like telling him.
He "looks" up and she can see he's got his face of I'm thinking about something. That face he gets every time he's over thinking something. His lips are pointing to his right tight and his brow is furrowed.
"What are you thinking about?" she asks laughing a little.
"I'm just…would you like to try something?" he asks standing up. "But…there's no music…forget about it" he says suddenly sitting back.
Oh no! He's not going to do that to her. She rushes to where the ipod and the speakers are and she puts a song she likes on. She gets back to where he is and sits next to him.
"There's music now" she says as she takes his hand and squeezes it.
"I was at the center today…I had a fight with Alli…Mallow heard and before I knew she was telling me some things and…she asked me for a dance" he says with a shy smile. She won't ask why they fought because she doesn't want to ruin the moment. She probably will ask him later…but not right now.
"And what did you do?" she asks. She knows he can't say no to Mallow…the little girl's got a crush on him but Peeta loves her equally. She wonders if he denied her for the first time.
"I…danced with her…I didn't think I…" he says with a rueful smile. "I thought I couldn't…but…Mallow…and well…" he turns and smiles at her. "Would you dance with me?" he asks with a shy smile on his face.
"Stupid question" she smiles and stands up as they position themselves to start dancing the familiar beat of a song starts coming from the speakers. What an appropriate song for the moment. It makes her think of him and somehow part of the lyrics fit.
"Ps you rock my world?" he asks recognizing the song. She just nods laying her head against his elbow as they move slowly to the song. Even if the words don't fit completely there's something on the song… on its beat that makes it perfect.
Once again here in his arms she feels like she belongs. She feels the warmth enveloping her and she can't help but to wonder again about their blurring lines. She looks up.
She can't keep her eyes away from his eyes. She looks at his face. His lost stare is the only thing that gives away that he's blind. She doesn't even care about that. His strong jaw line…his neon blue eyes…his long eye lashes. His lips. She's never felt this way before…she doesn't know what it means. And she doesn't know what she's doing but somehow something is attracting her to Peeta. She looks at his lips and the smile that they are forming and she just…she's not thinking about anything as she starts getting closer and closer to his face. She closes her eyes. She can feel his breath on her cheek. What the hell is she doing?
AN. Soooo…hope you like the new chapter! Again thank you so very much for the alerts, favorites and reviews! Again…review for a preview!
I didn't sent the preview for the review you left for chapter 7 because…well…chapter 8 is ready so I saw no point! Let me know what you think!
