Chapter 10:

HEYOOOOO! What's up you guys?! It's finally the weekend! Well after tomorrow... And guess what this chapter is?! ROAD TRIP! WOOT WOOT! Oh I am way too hyper right now! Onward and onforth with le chappie!

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing but the plot and story idea. The Hunger Games and all characters belong Suzzane Collins.

Katniss' POV:

Ring, ring, ring! I jumped as my phone rang next to me. I glared at it and looked at the caller id. It was Annie. I rolled my eyes and pressed 'answer.'

"What do you want?" I answered bitterly.

"Someones not in a good mood! You better fix it, we're leaving soon!" Annie said rather hyper. I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. It was only 7 am.

"No we're aren't! It's only 7! I've got until noon." I shot back.

"Correction, you've got until 11:30 because that's when I'm picking you up!" I groaned.

"We'll see about that..." I replied before saying goodbye and hanging up.

I sighed once and stood up, stumbling over to the bathroom. I don't fully wake up until at least 9:00. I turned on the hot water and jumped right in. The burning water beating against my skin was soothing. Around 30 minutes later, I jumped out and into my bathroom, wrapping myself in a towel along the way. I quickly towel dried my hair and grabbed my clothes for the day. It was a simple white v-neck with jean shorts. Annie and Madge are always on my case about dressing more "lady like." But I honestly couldn't care less about how I looked. After all, we were just driving today.

I clambered down the stairs, suitcase in hand. I was about to grab some breakfast before I noticed something was off. I was greeted by my mother in the kitchen. My mouth hung open as I stared at the sight of my mother making breakfast.

"M-mom. What are y-you doing up?" I stammered.

She sighed an turned to me. "I know how important this trip is to you Katniss. And I know how much you care about Primrose being safe and well while you're away. So, I decided to pick up the slack. I- I just don't know what came over me these past few years. I... want to apologize. For not being here for you and Prim when you needed me most." My mother expressed to me. I honestly had no idea what to say.

"I... You- you can't do it again. You can't. She needs you. More than anything. Just be there for her, make sure she stays safe and well fed, and gets attention from you." I warned my mother.

She sighed and looked down. "I know. I won't. I promise. It won't happen again. I won't let myself slip away again."

"You better not. I, um, have to get going," I shook my head to try and clear my thoughts, "I'll see you when I get back. Bye mom." I said back to her. Her eyes bore into mine.

"Goodbye Katniss. I love you." My mother barely whispered the last three words, yet I still heard them. She had only said that to me a handful of times, all when I was much younger. I had no idea how to respond, settling on a simple nod, before turning to wait for Annie.

Madge's POV:

I rode in the middle row of Finnick's car as we drove to pick up Gale. I was so overly excited for this trip. I would get to spend an entire month with Gale and my best friends. I had no idea what stage we were at right now- if me and Gale were dating, or just friends. But I couldn't care less. I just want to see his handsome face again.

Annie pulled the car up in front of his house and my heart lept out of my chest. Gale came clambering out of his front door, suitcase in hand, and shouted at Finnick in the passenger seat.

"WHOSE READY TO GET THEIR PARTY ON?!" Gale threw his suitcase in the trunk and took a seat next to me.

"Hey, Madgy-padgy."

I giggled at his nickname for me."Hi Gale."

"So... How's it going?" He asked me.

"Pretty good. You excited for the trip?" I asked him in return.

"Oh hell yes. I've been waiting for this day for so long." I giggled again at him swearing. It was pretty hot.

"Ok you two, enough flirting back there!" Finnick called from the passenger seat, sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and tried my best to ignore him.

"It wasn't even flirting, Finnick! I was having a conversation with Gale! But you wouldn't know how to hold down a conversation with Annie anyways. You're just making out the entire time you're together!" I teased Finnck. He sneered at me and shot back, "We do to talk! We don't only kiss. Sure like, 90% of the time we're making out. But the other 10% is quality conversation time." I rolled me eyes at him and turned my attention out the window.

We were driving down Peeta's street to get him when I felt an arm go around my shoulder. I slightly turned my head and sure enough, Gale had his arm around me. I smiled and leaned into his chest. What does this mean for us? Are we together? Just friends? Surely this is not how 'just friends' act around each other. I tried to push the thought to the back of my mind. The last thing I need on this vacation is to worry.

Annie pulled up outside of Peeta's house. I could see through his front window, where he was hugging his dad goodbye. That's sweet. Peeta has always come across as this sweet, innocent, kind guy. And that gesture just proved my theory.

He waved at us from his driveway as he walked to the car. He'd have to sit in the backseat alone, because every other seat was taken already. As soon as Peeta's bottom hit the seat, though, Finnick started firing off questions.

"Peeta! My man! What's good? Haven't seen you in a while! How's everything at home? Bakery going good? Good. Your mom still the same? I feel ya. Excited for the trip? My parents will love you, I promise! They've always wanted a son who isn't cocky and arrogant like me. Sometimes I just wish they-"

Peeta cuts him of mid-rant. "Ok, Finnick. It's nice to see you too."

But that wasn't the end of Finnick. "Why haven't you come over at all this week? I called you like 7 times and you always said you were busy? What's up with you, dude?"

Peeta didn't answer for a few seconds, seeming to be pondering his answer. "I was... just really busy. I was visiting a friend most of the week..." He trailed off at the end of his sentence, as if he had said too much. What friend would he be with? I thought we knew all of them.

Finnick's eyebrows shot up. "Interesting. What kind of friend? Is this friend a girl? Does she have brown hair worn in a braid? A little sister by the name of Primrose? Hmmm?"

KATNISS! Peeta was with Katniss this entire week. Oh my gosh. This cannot turn out good. I know Katniss, she doesn't trust many people. Poor Peeta will be crushed if she gives him the cold shoulder.

Peeta's POV:

Finnick knew. He knew I was with Katniss this week. How? How could he possibly find out this information? Just play it cool, Peeta. Act like you have no idea what is going on.

I faked a confused look. "What are you talking about? My friend is a guy. His name is...," Think Peeta, think! Any guys name! "Michael... Jordan!"

Finnick laughed out loud at my failed attempt at a decent lie. I mentally facepalmed. Michael Jordan? You could think of a different last name?

"You were with Katniss this whole week, weren't you?" Gale asked me. Oh well. What have I got to lose?

"Ye- yeah... Why? Is that a problem?" I stammered, suddenly very nervous.

Gale simply responded with, "No, it's fine. But I swear if you break her heart, I'll kick your ass and make sure you're never within 10 yards of her for the rest of your life."

Geez. He's like an over protective older brother. Did Katniss have a past with him? I had no idea how to respond to that. I nodded and gulped. "We-we're just friends... That's all."

He didn't seem to buy it. "Uh huh. Just he careful. You never know when she'll snap."

I was completely lost as to what Gale was talking about. When she snaps? I thought things were going good with her. Once again, I nodded. Gale was about to say something else, but we pulled up at her house. Annie honked, waiting for Katniss to descend her front steps. The front door opened and I could see Katniss kneeling down in front of a little girl. I assumed that was her younger sister, Primrose. Katniss was holding the small girl's shoulders with both of her hands. Prim smiles at whatever her sister had said. The sight of the exchange between siblings made me smile. Katniss pulled Prim in for one last hug before leaving. She waved from the porch as Katniss walked towards Finnick's car. She put her suitcase in the trunk before joining me in the last row, considering it was the inly seat left.

"Hey, Katniss." I greeted her with a small blush. She looked gorgeous, as always. In a t-shirt and simple shorts, Katniss was the most beautiful girl in the world, and she needed nothing more to prove it.

"Hi Peeta." She answered me back, a small tint of pink creeping up her cheeks.

Everyone sat in silence for the next hour and a half, besides Finnick who wouldn't stop talking about nothing and to no one in particular. Madge had already fallen asleep, leaning on Gale's shoulder. Gale himself seems to be watching something sports related on his phone. Katniss was staring out the window while I discreetly stared at her. Her beauty was unbelievable. I didn't know how someone as gorgeous as Katniss couldn't see that in herself.

As I watched the clock tick away, I started wondering when we would stop. Eventually, I'd have to use the bathroom and eat something. "Hey, Annie? Can we stop somewhere soon?"

She looked into the mirror back at me. "In like 3 to 4 hours we can." And left it at that. Great.

I shifted in my seat to get more comfortable. This was going to be a long ride.

Clove's POV:

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Glimmer yelled at Cato. He said something that offended her, so she just set off on him. Marvel hugged me tighter to him, so I was practically sitting on his lap. We were about an hour into the drive and Glimmer and Cato were already fighting. So much for my peaceful vacation.

I leaned my head back into Marvel's chest and tried to get some sleep. But he had something to say beforehand.

"Clove?"

"Yeah, Marvel?"

"Do you... believe in love at first sight?" He asked me.

"What kind of question is that?" I shot back. He hesitated.

"I don't know... Just... Curious."

I thought about how to respond for a moment. "Well, when you know, you know."

"But how do you know for sure that she, or he, is the one?" Marvel asked in return.

"Are you hinting to me that you're secretly gay?" I asked him. He did say 'she, or he,' did he not?!

"What?! No! I- I'm just wondering how girls figure out who their crushes are."

"Is this for a special lady whose caught Marvel's eye? Hmmmm?" I teased him. Marvel blushed in response.

"I don't know... That's the problem." He said, glancing at his shoes.

"Well, when a girl likes a guy they try to show off in front of them, give the guy reasons to like them back. Girls like to think that their crush isn't just one way, and that's how a lot of drama is started. For instance, take Glimmer and Madge. Madge clearly likes Gale, so she'll try to act cutesy around him to make him like her. But if Glimmer liked Gale too, then Madge would have a problem with another girl challenging her. She'll feel threatened and won't have a better chance at winning Gale over. Get it?"

Obviously Marvel was lost considering the confused look on her face. "No, not really."

I shrugged. "Oh well. Wake me up when we stop." My head fell against Marvel's chest again as I drifted off into sleep.

I am so so so so so sorry that this took so long to post! I had horrible writers block while writing this chapter! I had an idea of what I wanted to write, I just didn't know how to type it up so it flowed nice. You know what I'm talking about? I normally go out of my way to write and post as soon as possible! I use any free time to write. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! This story is kind of like an end of the summer fic. I just kinda want it to be like a fun, summer closure kinda thing. Yeah... Please review and follow, favorite, etc. because it makes me so happy to know that you guys are liking what you read! That sounded kinda sexual and weird to me... Awkward... :/