Sorry again for the ultra-mega-super-late update! I had a severe case of writer's block. And when ideas do form, it's when I'm about to go to sleep. And I am, as you well know, a procrastinator.
I also wrote 2 versions of this chapter because the 1st one mainly sucked. In other news, who has gotten Insurgent? I haven't got my copy yet, and I don't think I will soon. We don't have bookstores here too. (CRAPPY CITY) :P
It takes a few seconds for me to realize that what I'd just said to Katniss wasn't the best idea. Alarm is evident in her face; her cheeks red and eyes wide. A surge of horror rushes through me, and I suddenly realize that Peeta Mellark isn't all that smooth as he thinks he is.
Her gaze turns to the ground and it's my turn to be alarmed. Without any of us saying anything, the awkward tension will become even worse enough than it already is. As I trouble myself by fumbling for words, Johanna runs into the room like the nutty person that I trust is and saves me from humiliation. The previous District 7 Victor screams that a slug is in the kitchen, atop the kitchen sink. "A big giant slug," she says, spreading her arms to indicate the size of the creature, even though that tells me that the slug might be only seen by Johanna.
I can tell that both Katniss and I are grateful for what Johanna did. I know that she felt that she needed something to say and like me, was tongue-tied.
"I think you better get rid of it, I'll be going anyway." Katniss gives me a nervous smile. I can only nod and smile back. "No, I can take care of the slug," Johanna smiles implicitly and continues, "Peeta can take you home."
I glance back and forth between the two girls. Katniss remains silent and I scold myself for even thinking that Katniss might want me to come with her. I figured that out because if she doesn't want me to, she'd be leaving. Johanna pushes the both of us outside forcefully. I don't bother objecting because I know it's bound to be ignored. And maybe I don't object because a little part inside me wants to clear things with Katniss, no matter how it is.
Johanna slams the door as soon we get out. A series of smiles were exchanged before Katniss and I actually get moving. It was definitely awkward, and we were moving at a snail's pace.
"Do you think there really was a slug?" she asks me and I try to hide my astonishment. I didn't think Katniss will actually talk after what happened. "I think there was," I look momentarily at her, "only it was invisible and only Johanna can see it." She smiles and shoves her hands down her pockets. It was a mannerism of her that no one knows about. I deem she does it when she feels somewhat "sunny". I think she doesn't know it herself.
"You and Johanna are pretty tight. She seems really…lively." I laugh. This probably was the hundredth time I've laughed today. "I just hope you remember the time the three of us were in the elevator together. It showed how lively Johanna was." I can't help but flash a cheeky grin at Katniss, which she frowns at. "When did that happen?" Genuine curiosity is apparent in her voice. "After the Quell's Chariot Parade, I think you were pretty shaken back then. "
"Was Johanna wearing a tree then? And then she..." she stops, closes her eyes and shudders. "Wow, that's good." I say facing her, "You remembered." She laughs, making her face alive with beauty. "And I thought remembering was a good thing." She kids. This is the most enthusiastic state I've seen her since the accident.
"How do you exactly…remember?" I ask. I'm really curious how it happens, her episodes. And I ask it to stray away from the awkward explanation of what happened in Caesar's interview, about having a crush on her.
She presses her lips together, and ponders for a moment. Streaks of morning sunlight lands on her, it is as if she was in spotlight. I can spend the whole morning just looking at her. She catches me staring. "What?" she glares at me with her trademark scowl.
"Nothing, just looking at a possible subject to paint." Did I just say that? She just nods slightly, though I'm beginning to question the way I talk to her. I don't like how the words come out. Ugh.
"They just come to me, some stronger than others some faint as if it came from a dream. And some do really come from dreams." She pauses, as we walk up the steps to her door. "Uh, I think you should come in. There are some things I want to ask you."
"What, like an interview? Are you going to be following Caesar Flickerman's footsteps?" I tease. She laughs softly, and opens the door. Buttercup greets us with a loud hiss and dashes outside between our legs. I hear Katniss mutter "Stupid cat," under her breath. "What do you do with all of those…flashes?" She stops for a moment and answers, "I ask Gale about them. I ask if those things did happen. But he doesn't give me a lot of answers. "
"Hmm...And do you know why that is?" She turns a brass knob of a door before responding, "Because almost all of them are about you." She says it almost inaudibly. The sides of my lips twitch up.
I follow her inside the study. It's just like the one at home. A polished wooden desk stands at the end of the room. Wooden furniture top the carpeted flooring, one of the walls lined with bookshelves. There's a television mounted on the wall opposite the shelves. I can tell that this room isn't used that much because the things just seem unused, the objects in the room neatly arranged.
"Is it okay if we talk here?" she asks and I nod. I expect Katniss to sit down on the chair behind the desk but instead, she plops right down on the floor, next to a potted plant. I just go along and sit down next to her.
"So now we're here, sitting on the floor of your study. I expected an interview to be much more proper." A smile appears on her face and she looks at me. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure. That's how interviews work. You ask questions, am I right?"
"Yes," she nods and laughs. "Have you experienced what I'm experiencing right now? What do you call it, amnesia?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, before Mother left, she told me I should talk to you. She says that you are the best person to talk to because you know how I feel. So I just guessed that maybe you've experienced this."
"Mine's not exactly amnesia,"
"But did you forget your memories?"
"Kinda. I just forgot how to discern the truth from what Snow made me think."
"What do you mean by that?"
"They…altered my memories, changed how I viewed the world."
"I'm sorry." She gingerly puts her hand on mine and gives it a gentle squeeze. I smile at her, to say that things are all right. "We're such unlucky people, Peeta." She leans her head back and closes her eyes.
"Maybe we are, but I know unlucky people have their lucky days. You never know, it may happen soon."
"You're so optimistic," she sits up straight. "I wish I can be like you."
Sounds of raindrops arriving onto the roof filled my ears. "It's raining again." I sigh. I feel Katniss react as I stand up. "Don't go home yet! I mean it's raining, you know." I observe her expression. I disregard the thought of her pleading and instead think of it as a friendly gesture. "Okay, sure. Who wants to get soaked in the rain anyway?" Wait, I do.
One time, when I was little, my older brother and I played in the rain after our jobs. A little kid's definition of fun was getting contact with much filth as possible. We didn't know what our consequence was, and we were greeted with hits from our mother as soon as she saw us. It was the only time I played in the rain.
I pull Katniss up to her feet and I know she know what's on my mind. "Oh no," she laughs and I drag her out. "Peeta!"
Her feet disconnects with the ground, me carrying her towards the back door. "I thought you didn't want to be soaked!" her giggles lightening.
"I'm not perfect. I lie." I put her down on the ground. Only a few inches of roof cover our heads. "Wow, it's pouring buckets."Katniss says. I look up at the sky. All I can see is water and gray clouds. "It was just sunny earlier." I whisper.
"Oh well Peeta, ladies first." She says and unexpectedly pushes me into the shower of rain. I pull her in immediately, the both of us fall into the already muddy ground. We both play like children, kicking water at each other and showering with the water from the gutter.
...
"Peeta," I find Katniss' eyes looking up at me. "Yeah?" We're sitting in the yard, our backs on the fence. It was drizzling, as the rain had slowed down. Her eyes immediately find another thing to look at. "Did you…um…really have a crush on me?" What? I have no idea that Katniss was going to ask me that. But I guess I did it once, it will be so much easier now.
"Yes." Katniss' eyes focus on mine. Her gray eyes wide and I think, incredulous. "And you said it on television?"
"Uh… Yeah." I laugh nervously. "Gee, I know what you're going to say…"
"What am I gonna say?" her lips are twitched upwards into smile.
"That I made one hell of a mess. That I made you look weak."
"Why? Did I say that?"her eyebrows furrow.
"I think I need to tell Haymitch to let you watch our Games—the real one," I still have trouble with remembering actually, so Haymitch has copies of our Games, the 74th and the 75th. "Though I doubt they had cameras backstage. "
"I'll take that as a yes. God…"
"Yes, it's a yes. And not to mention you pushed me and got my hands injured."
"Crap. I'm sorry Peeta. I acted so badly towards you."
"It's okay. But I guess that's what you get for not telling a girl your feelings directly." Her melodic laughter chimes in my ears. "Katniss, didn't you tell me you had dreams of me?" she blushes and nods slightly. "Doesn't it sound weird?"
"No not at all. I believe I have some about you." I don't catch her reaction. "Tell me Katniss, do you have…nightmares?"
"Nightmares?" she bites her lip. "I have them sometimes. But I don't really understand them though…"she drifts off, her face ashen. I nod in understanding. I don't understand my nightmares either. My dreams are muddled with the false recollections Snow gave me. Fake ones mix in with the real ones. It's horrifying really, and I always wake up in the middle of the night, confused. As if she read my mind, she says she experiences it too, waking up and confused. "I don't know who to talk to. I can't, of course, go to Hazelle's and talk. Greasy Sae comes by, but I think it will be awkward if I talk to her. "
"You know you can always talk to me. "
"Thank you."
Instead of the rain ultimately stopping, the downpour increased. We instinctively look up, which was a really bad idea. Rainwater immediately makes contact with our eyes. Though weirdly enough, I think it lifted our spirits because soon enough Katniss and I are again splashing around like children. She undid her braid, the strands falling in a cluster behind her back. She twirls around and I, not thinking clearly, crash my lips onto hers as soon as she faced me. I pull away immediately, thinking of how stupid I am for doing such a thing. I may have just ruined Katniss' trust.
Surprise, Katniss face shows. Shit. "I'm sorry. I just.." I am cut off by rapid contact of Katniss lips with mine. "Who said you can pull away?" She says, her lips still pressed against mine.
Haha! What will happen next?
While waiting for the next chapter, write a review on how you hate me for not updating early.
JUST REVIEW! :P