Katniss and the Rebels

Chapter 9: Whispers and Stares

An - I know, I know it is later than I expected but I do have a reason my relatives from Australia came over for a week so I was busy with them. The day that they left I went to London (which is really cool just in-case you didn't know that already) then the day after we came home we went on another holiday and we had no Wi-Fi where we were staying in both places so I do apologize for the delay but I am back and very warm because it has been so hot for the past 2/3 weeks but sadly I haven't got a tan because I never get one :'( Ah well so here is Chapter 9 in Katniss POV Thanks for all the reviews and followers from the last few chapters and I hope you like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games

Updated on: 28/12/13

This chapter is dedicated to: clohedames, Kyranoel and Lifeasitisknown

Katniss POV

Peeta shuts the oven door quickly and stands up straight again.

"Now we just have to wait for this to finish and then we can eat our starter"

Peeta has been acting like one of them fancy cooks that you would see on the TV ever seen we came to my house after school. At the beginning I thought that it would be annoying but it is kind of funny.

"Grand now all we have to do is make sure that we don't burn this because then all our hard work would have been for nothing." I tell him grinning.

"We are not going to burn the starter you have Chef Mellark and our hard work? What exactly did you do?" Peeta asks teasingly.

"I helped! I got plates and trays and stuff. And you are a baker not a cook Peeta"

"Details, details why did we decide on garlic bread anyway? It makes your breath smell."

"Hey you chose garlic bread not me. I wanted us to make crisp sandwiches for our starter but no you said that it wasn't a 'proper' starter. You told me that garlic bread tastes nicer and that it is one of the most well-known starters other than soup or something like that"

"Then why didn't we make soup?" He asks sitting down at the table opposite me

"Because it is boring."

"So is garlic bread" he mutters under his breath. I glare at him and gently kick him under to table. Which Peeta just ignores.

"So where were your other friends at lunch today?" He asks and I shrug.

"Thom texted me after school telling me that he had a dentist appointment. I don't know where Gale was. Darius was probably flirting with some sophomore." Peeta and I laugh because I am probably right about Darius because well it's Darius.

We sit in a comfortable silence for a while before Peeta speaks.

"I am sorry about Finnick. He just really enjoys embarrassing others"

"Yeah I noticed. It's fine really I am just glad that Darius wasn't there he would have made it ten times worse"

We both start laughing again so much that we don't hear the front door open. So we are surprised when the kitchen door opens to reveal Prim and Rory.

"Hey Katniss! Oh hi Peeta, Rory and I are going up to study in my room is that ok? I will say hi to mum first" Prim asks excitedly she keeps glancing at Peeta and then at me with a massive grin on her face.

"Yeah sure that's grand Prim. Hey Rory what are you two studying for?"

"Hi Kit Kat, we have this big geography test tomorrow"

"Well good look on studying and tell mum I said hi as well"

"Thanks Katniss" They both say before they shut the door and run upstairs.

"Your sister is lovely and so is her friend" Peeta says kindly

"Thanks yeah they both are, Rory is Gale's younger brother. It really is only a matter of time before him and Prim get together. How do you know Prim anyway?" Prim has told me that she and Peeta talked at the bakery last week but I don't know that they had spoken previous to that.

"I talk to her whenever she comes into the bakery she is always very polite" He tells me smiling

"Yes she is. I wonder who she got that from" I joke and Peeta laughs nervously before he asks

"So…where is your mum?"

I freeze for a second. I had forgotten that Peeta doesn't know about my mother. Well not in detail what is wrong with her.

"She is upstairs. She isn't feel- she isn't well" I stutter and look at my hands on the table.

I see him nod out of the corner of my eye. I assume he wants to ask more questions about her, like everyone else but thankfully he doesn't and instead says

"I think it's ready" Peeta takes the tray out of the oven and nods

"Looks good you have talent," I raise my eyebrows at him "Ok maybe you'll never be a chef or a baker like me but you might be able to cook things on your own in future without burning it…completely."

I hit him lightly and he gasps and then he grabs my sides and starts tickling me.

"Peeta! Please, Peeta stop! This is unfair!"

He's grinning now, "I will stop when you admit that I am the best baker in the world"

Somehow I manage to think of a somewhat witty remark under all of this torture

"Ah you see I would say that but you aren't the best baker and I don't lie so- Peeta!" Peeta increases the tickling and I think how insane this is as we are both 17 years old.

"Say it Katniss!"

"Fine, fine Peeta you are the best baker in the whole wide world now please stop torturing me!" He stops and I move away from him but we both move in the same direction and I slip and fall dragging him down with me.

We end up, me on the floor with a pounding head and him above me trying to catch his breath. Peeta soon realises the position that we are in. He looks at me in shock then he quickly gets up stumbling and apologizing continuously. He then helps me up while still apologizing even though none of this was his fault.

"I am so sorry Katniss. Are you alright? I swear I didn't mean to make you slip or for me to end up like…that."

I almost laugh but then I see him looking at me with his eyes full of worry and my heart melts for him. How can he feel so bad for this?

We look at each other for a moment but then I place a hand on the back of my head to try and calm the pain and Peeta goes into worry mode again.

"Oh God your head. Here I'll get you some painkillers. You're not allergic to them or anything right? Come on sit down." I almost roll my eyes at Peeta but I still sit in the chair that he offers me. I have fallen plenty of times especially in the woods but my head is killing me so maybe sitting down might be a good idea.

Peeta sits beside me and covers his face with his hands. I shake my head at him and try not to call him a drama queen because I know that he is only worried about me which is sweet.

"Peeta relax I am fine. This is not your fault I just tripped and by accident brought you down with me." I take his hands away from his face and hold his hands in mine

He finally looks at me again "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes Peeta thanks for asking. I am fine and if I am not I have you to call for help. Now can you please try some of this garlic bread and tell me if it sucks or not"

He nods and smiles, takes a piece from the tray and tries it.

"Well?" I ask nervously

"It's edible" He answers and I glare at him to which he raises his hands in an act of surrender.

"Joke Katniss, it was just a joke. This is great actually. Maybe there is hope for you after all now. Another joke calm down please and try some of this."

He holds out the tray and I take one and taste it and even I have to admit it tastes good, way better than I thought it would taste anyway.

"Well?"

"It's good" Peeta looks at me for a moment before he punches the air with his fist.

"Yes!" He shouts.

I must be looking at him like he's insane (the fact that I may or may not be thinking that he is insane is beside the point) because he calms down and looks sheepish but he still wears a broad grin on his face

"Sorry but I just accomplished the impossible. To help Katniss Everdeen cook a good meal and not have it burn."

"It was just garlic bread and it was a starter. Peeta don't over exaggerate it."

"No seriously I think you show amazing promise."

I smile and slide the garlic bread onto a large plate, leave the tray for cleaning before I call Prim and Rory to come downstairs.

"Well I am sorry Peeta but unfortunately I am not going to become a cook so you can forget you ever thought of me as that because that is never going to happen. It leaves too much cleaning up to do and if I was a baker, also another no, I would be your competition.

"True maybe leave it to the experts eh Everdeen?"

"Oh no I know I'd be way better than you it's just I'm not bothered to wake up early and I couldn't put your family out of business, Rye or Bran might never speak to me again." Peeta fakes hurt and replies

"But what about me?" I can hear Rory and Prim running down stairs so just before they enter I walk up to him and whisper in his ear

"What about you?" and then Prim and Rory come running into the room

"Yeah Katniss?"

"Peeta and I made garlic bread but I have to go to work so do you want to finish it?"

"Yes please" Rory says smiling and they run back upstairs with the plate of garlic bread yelling, "Thanks Katniss, thanks Peeta."

"God I am sorry I completely forgot that you have to go to work" Peeta says concerned

I shake my head this has to be the millionth time that Peeta Mellark has apologized to me over something that wasn't his fault

"Peeta please stop apologizing to me. You don't have to I have been keeping watch of the time. Now let's get a move on because I don't want Sae to yell at you because I am never late for work so she will think that you are a bad influence on me."

"Ah yes when we both know that you are the bad influence on me." We walk into the hall, Peeta opens the front door while retrieve my coat from the closet and I put in on.

"Exactly and don't you forget it. Prim, Rory we are leaving now I'll be back later. Prim if I am late back please ring Gale and ask him to bring you and Rory to their house for dinner" We close the door to the sounds of Prim and Rory saying goodbye to us.

I lead Peeta in the direction of the Hob. He looks around at the dark dreary village in fascination as we stroll through it.

"So how are you allowed to work in the Hob anyway because isn't that like a bar?" I laugh it's not the first time that somebody has been confused about my job but hey it's America anything can happen.

"I am just a waitress there. I don't go anywhere near the alcohol, Haymitch would thing that I was hogging it from him. The only time that I have ever poured a drink was when we were really busy and there was nobody other than Sae, Haymitch and I there and Sae was watching me the whole time anyway. Darius's dad is a peacekeeper and so he and the others that work around here just ignore that I am not 18 or even 21 yet." In Panem we call the police peacekeepers.

"God my brother would kill for your job" Peeta says grinning and I grin back.

"Rye?"

"Yep, have you ever met him? If you have I feel sorry for you." I laugh

"No, well I have talked to him a bit I guess. When he went to our school and by talked I mean he flirted with me and I tried not to punch him in the face."

"Yeah he does have that effect on people. You are a very strong person to not punch him, I want to punch him all the time."

"I can see how you would want to do that. Well I will probably meet him if we continue working at your house"

"I must warn you that Rye is…Rye is something that is beyond words. And not in a good way" I frown

"I can take care of myself you know." Peeta looks me in the eyes and shakes his head frantically

"No I didn't mean it like that. I know that you can take care of yourself and Rye is harmless but I am just saying that he can be really, really annoying that's all." I smile

"How are you so nice when you live with him?" Peeta's cheeks flush bright pinch and I have the urge to kiss his cheek but I quickly shake it off. I am not going to turn into a soppy teenage girl.

"I have no idea." He answers

We fall into a comfortable silence again when we reach the Hob. Peeta looks nervous and I can understand why so I take his hand in mine and give him a reassuring smile and we walk in together. We do get a few looks, scratch that we don't get a few looks we get the whole bar staring at us. I can tell that Peeta feels uncomfortable so I pull him further into the bar ignoring the whispers and stares. We sit on the high stools at the bar with our backs to most of the people.

Haymitch is behind the bar and looks at Peeta with narrowed eyes as if he was looking into Peeta's soul. He then glances at me before turning back to look at Peeta again.

"Hi Haymitch, could you please tell Sae that I'm here?" I ask him trying to get him to lay off Peeta but he continues to look at him as if he is surveying him. I look around subtly and notice that everybody else in the bar is doing the same thing. Many are looking at me wondering what I, of all people, am doing with a townie. I turn back to Haymitch quickly.

"Sure Sweetheart."

Haymitch goes into the kitchen and there is now complete silence and Peeta looks as if he would give anything for the ground to swallow him whole. Which he probably does want and I don't blame him as I kind of feel the same way. I reach down and take out the folder with our project in it that I gave to him earlier from his schoolbag. Just when I am about to start talking, Haymitch comes back and after again looking at Peeta he looks at me."

"She'll be out here in a minute sweetheart" Haymitch slurs and he starts cleaning a glass while watching Peeta curiously.

"Thanks" I say nodding, I get up from my chair and retrieve my apron and put it around my waist.

"Peeta?" He looks up from the table and smiles hesitantly

"Yeah Katniss?"

"Could you tie this for me please?"

I turn around so my back is facing him. He doesn't speak for a moment before coughing slightly and I hear him stumble off his chair and walk towards me (He is seriously loud)

"S-Sure" I feel him tie my apron. "Done" He says shakily

"Thanks Peeta" I turn and hug him quickly then I go into the kitchen and as I walk in I see that now everyone's eyes including Peeta's and Haymitch's are on me.

As fast as I can I push the kitchen door open and run inside. Sae must notice the look on my face because she asks another cook to take over for her.

"Katniss what's wrong child?" I shake my head trying to get rid of the thoughts and worries swirling around in my mind. I am over reacting. I don't care what people think. I never care what other people think and I defiantly don't care about what a bunch of strangers think and gossip about but I do care what Gale, Thom and Darius think. And Peeta and even Haymitch and of course Sae. And what about them others out there? The people I grew up with? What do they think of me? That I am some sort of Seam slut like what the townies think of me?

I put my face in my hands as Sae sits me down on a chair. She finds one for herself and turns it to face me.

"It is nothing Sae. Thank you I just don't know what I was thinking"

"It's all right dear just take a deep breath and tell me what happened." I nod my head and drop my hands into my lap

"Well do you remember that I told you I was working on a project for school with Peeta Mellark?" she nods

"Yes I remember. The baker's youngest son? What about him Katniss?" I nod answering her first two questions.

"Well you see I brought him here so we could talk about the project and organise it. He didn't mind and neither did I, I guess I just didn't think! But when we came here everybody out there started staring at us especially him and Haymitch was practically glaring at him which obviously made Peeta even more nervous than he was with all these strangers staring at him. Then me being me just before I leave I go and do the stupidest thing that I could do in that situation I go and hug him. Then I came in here and I saw everybody staring at me like I was insane and now somebody is going to tell Gale, Thom and Darius and they are going to freak out and Sae I just don't know what to do!" I take a deep breath and Sae smiles at me gently while patting my back softly

"It's all right Katniss. You calm down its ok. Now I know you and you don't care about what other people think right? You never have" I nod

"Well then I am sure that Peeta doesn't either. If he is anything like his father then he is probably worried sick about you. As for Haymitch you just let me deal with him. Now Gale, Thom and Darius, well you just ignore them and if they keep going on about it then you simply tell them the truth. That you and him were just here working on this project.

I nod and smile slightly. I know that she is right, to tell you the truth she always is right.

"Katniss dear, I know what gossip in this district is like and everyone will know by nightfall but you walk with your head held high. You are doing nothing wrong here if you want to be friends with that boy then be friends with him. If you want to date him then go ahead. Forget about what everybody else in this district thinks they don't matter in this situation. I remember your father was in the same position as you when he first started dating your mother. Nobody in the town like him because your mother had been somebody else before she fell in love with your father. All of your father's friends tried to talk him out of it and warn him away from your mother. Even Mr. Hawthorne was wary about them but he soon came around. But your father and mother didn't care because they loved each other. And if anything like that happens between you and Peeta or with you and somebody else that others disapprove of. You will get through it because you are your father's daughter."

I smile brightly, I love when people who knew my father compare me to him. I don't remember much about him but thankfully I have a few amazing memories and I know deep down that he would tell me the exact same thing to forget what everybody else thinks and be myself.

"Thank-You Sae" She smiles and fixes up my hair and she hands me a plate of chips and a burger. Then she pushes me gently towards the door telling me,

"For table 6. Tell the young lad's parents that they will have their food soon" I laugh and I push the door open.

Everybody is talking when I come through the door. I know that it is about me but I hold my head high, smile bright and ignore their talking. I go to table six and place the plate

"Table 6 and tell his parents there that they will have their food soon." I laugh and push the door open. Everyone is talking fast when I come through and it is obvious what they are chatting about but I hold my head high and ignore them I go to table six and put the plate of chips and a burger in front of a young boy named Alex and I tell his parents that their food is on its way. Alex grins and thanks me. I smile and walk back to Peeta. He is still sitting at the bar and is flicking through the folder with his head down trying to be invisible and failing miserably so I decide to sneak up on him. I walk up to him quietly until I am standing behind him and grab both his sides he yelps and I burst out laughing. He glares at me and I take my seat next to him.

"That wasn't very nice Katniss."

"Well I never said I was nice Peeta now how are you getting on without me?" He rolls his eyes and slides the folder over so it's between us.

"Good actually. I was thinking that maybe we should do each page in a different colour paper or something because you know as well as I do Ms. Trinket loves that sort of thing and pink too." I groan I don't want it to seem like a 10 year old girl did this project but I know he is right. Ms. Tinket really should have done primary school teaching.

"Yeah you are probably right so what colours should these pages be?" "I was thinking maybe orange, green and pink" I raise my eyebrows confused "That's a...weird combination?" "Well it's your favourite colour, my favourite colour and Ms. Trinket's favourite colour." "Ah yes that its true well we can buy the paper tomorrow if you want I have no work on and I don't have practice until the evening." He looks up smirking

"Practice? For what?" Damn it. I forgot that people from the town wouldn't know about The Rebels. "Yeah er me and the guys made this band a few years ago. Nothing special or great about us though we aren't going to be the next big thing or anything" I try to play it down so I don't bore him with the details. Which I will do if he gets me started talking about it. But to carry on the tradition on Peeta Mellark surprising me he looks quite interested.

"You're in a band" That's cool. What is the name of the band?" I blush and say quietly

"The Rebels, me and Gale came up with it and Darius thought it fit us all perfectly and so did Thom so we chose that. We started a year or two ago." The Rebels is a weird name and we know that but we are all weird so that's why we chose it and Gale is the perfect definition of a rebel.

"Are you any good?" I shrug

"I don't know. We are defiantly better than some of the supposedly good bands that are famous now. But people around here think that we are good. We play here once or twice a week. We write our own songs as well but we do covers also. People clap and cheer and don't boo us so I guess we are all right"

"That's great, I am sure that The Rebels are amazing."

"They are." Agrees a gruff voice. We both turn and look at Haymitch who is cleaning another glass or most likely the same one.

"Thank you Haymitch" I say back smiling. Haymitch nods stiffly and goes back to cleaning his glass and watching Peeta.

I turn back to Peeta, "There you go then. If Haymitch Abernathy says that we are amazing then we must be really amazing." We both laugh and I look at the clock and get up from my seat telling him,

"Here I better go back to Sae and get some work down. I will talk to you soon"

"Oh sorry I kept you" I give him a look and he shrinks slightly before mumbling

"Fine, fine I won't apologize any more" I smile and go back into the kitchen hoping that somebody else brought Alex's parents their dinner.

So what did you think? I hope you liked this chapter and please let me know if you did or if you have anything you want to say about this chapter or past and future chapters.

I wanted to show Katniss and Sae's friendship in this chapter and how Peeta is affected by his mother and feels he has to apologize for things he hasn't done. We will see Katniss and Peeta's mothers in the next chapter or two and we will have to find out where Gale was and what The Rebels will think of Katniss and Peeta's friendship.

R.I.P Cory Monteith my prayers are with his family and friends

I hope to have the next chapter up as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading

xTeam Mockinjayx