Ace High by K. Jessica Ramirez

Chapter 9:

Day Four of utter hell in this boring state. I may or may not be suffering from withdraw from lack of contact with the outside world. This town literally has no internet I have yet to discover. Well to be fair I haven't done much exploring but can you blame me? I have to deal with the she devil AKA Gale's loving mother, her horrific off spring, and that whore Madge fucking Undersee. I could really use a night out in the city with Cashmere. I'd even settle for a call to my mother. We all know things are pretty bad if I'm trying to contact my mom.

After I left Peeta's house I spent the rest of my day locked in Gale's room. I needed to set things straight for myself. I can't keep doing what I'm doing. I came here to share the news of my engagement with my fiancée family and to win them over and I have done no such thing. I'm Katniss Everdeen and when I have a job to do I do it, come what may. I can't keep wasting so much time with Peeta. Sure he's friendly and he makes my days here just a bit better but I shouldn't put it upon him to do so. If anyone should be helping me it should be Gale.

Being shut away from society makes me realize that I may be a bit of a workaholic, maybe. Seriously I'm itching to just pick up my phone to bark orders, check in with all levels, and maybe even create my schedule for when I arrive. I've always been able to throw myself into my work when I needed some form of peace. Here however I had no connection to the outside world. Peeta keeps running through my mind like there's no tomorrow. I keep seeing his bright blue eyes piercing into mine or his curly blonde hair falling onto his face.

Okay that's it I need human company a.s.a.p. or I might start talking to the damn deer head mounted on the wall. I jump off the bed and race down the hall for Haymitch, maybe he could hangout.

I spot Posy cleaning in the living room. She'll know where Haymitch is.

"Hey Posy" I greet politely moving a little closer to her.

She looks up confused but once she makes eye contact with me her eyes brighten. Okay weird. To my knowledge she hadn't even gotten over me mistaking her for the help.

"Great, there you are! You can finish up my chores for the day. Momma left your list on the counter."

She talks so quickly and before I can stop her or even slow her down she's out the door and half way down the road in the truck. So much for enjoying the day with company. Damn Posy for sticking me with all these chores. Oh well At least I'll have something to do know.

I turn to walk into the kitchen and grab the list off the counter. The list has all my chores from yesterday with an added sum. Great, not. I have to feed the horses, cows, chickens, and pigs then I have to clean all there stables. I have to milk the cows, collect the hen's eggs, groom the horses, and water the pig's mud hole. Yeah and that's only my outside chores.

Mrs. Hawthorn also expects me to clean all the bedrooms, hand wash everyone's clothes and then air dry it, sweep and mop all the floors. Yeah as if. I'm only doing the outdoors chores because I'm in need of physical labor to distract me from my own thoughts but I won't lower to house work only because I know she thinks that's where woman belong.

I walk out of the house muttering to myself over this bullshit. If I plan to even finish half of the outdoors things I better get started. I set off to feed all the animals first. I throw half eaten food into the pigs pen, open the gates for the cows to eat grass, throw corn seeds to the chickens and feed the horses carrots from the fridge because I have no idea what they eat and semi remember someone telling me they eat carrots. Oh well as long as it doesn't roll over and die I think I'm fine.

When I finish I decided I will not be cleaning up after any animal. Especially after catching a whiff of the horse stables. I'm a huge animal rights support but that doesn't mean you'll catch me cleaning up their poop anytime soon. No, thank you.

I do however convince myself to collect eggs and milk the cows. I mean maybe that's the only milk income for this family and who am I to deny people dairy products? They are a great source of calcium for a well-balanced and healthy diet.

I spot one of the cows who I would guess can produce milk because it has an utter. I don't know how this is supposed to work, like do only the girls make milk or everyone? Only one way to find out. I lead the cow into the barn before ordering it to stay. I quickly grab a low stool from the corner of the barn and sit beside the cow.

I grab a bucket and place it directly under the utter. Okay ready for business. I silently thank the fashion gods above for creating fashionable T-shirts so I don't have to wear a dress or long sleeve while doing this.

"Okay cow, go." I instruct.

The cow turns at the sound of my voice but does nothing. Stupid cow.

"Okay so maybe cow was a harsh term. What if I just call you Madge? You should take it as a compliment though because come on your a cow who doesn't respond to 'cow' that pretty much resembles that dumb whore. All you need is to run off with my husband and you guys would be twins."

Okay its official I've lost it. I'm ranting to a cow. Someone end my misery.

I continue to keep talking to the Cow newly named 'Madge' because let's face I have no friends and I've reached rock bottom can't get worse, right?

"So Madge can you please spray some milk into the bucket and I promise to leave you alone for the rest of the day. Come on, please" I beg to the cow who's looking at me completely dumbfound.

Maybe I should moo at it? Okay I lied, now I've reached rock bottom. I lean my head against the stomach of the cow sighing frustrated with its un-cooperation

"Work with me" I pout to myself.

Suddenly I remember a man milking a cow in an old movie I watch a long time ago. I have to like rub or squeeze or like pull the utter. Okay I can do this. I take a deep yoga breath giving myself a pep talk.

You can and you will do this Everdeen. The world is depending on you to bring them milk. You won't let them down!

Have I mentioned I've recently gone insane? I have? Good, because this is pretty sad.

I wrap my hand around on of the utter and pull lightly. I wait for a second but nothing happens. Maybe I should pull harder. I wrap my hand around the same utter again and yank down. Madge shrieks and bucks forwards causing me to fall back off of the chair. She does however manage to finally produce milk, only it doesn't land at all in the bucket opting instead for my damn blouse.

I scream bloody murder totally grossed out. I'm pretty sure that stuff is cleaned before it's even allowed close to humans. I rip my shirt off completely grossed out. I'm so busy freaking out that I don't notice someone has entered the barn most likely at the sound of my scream.

"Katniss?" Peeta's voice asks.

I freeze, my back turned to him. I silently cuss the heavens for placing me in such a situation. Of course of all moment for Peeta to pop in he chooses to make an appearance when I'm standing there in only a red lacy bra, skinny jeans, and heels. Just wonderful, not.

My eyes search frantically trying to find my shirt while keeping my back towards Peeta. When I can't place it I mentally send an angry message to whoever happens to be listening in on my thoughts. Slowly I turn towards Peeta, completely embarrassed. Why me!

He locked eyes with me and he looks worried but once he notices what I'm wearing his eyes fall a little taking in the exposed skin. I feel the incredible urge to throw my arms over my body. I don't however because it would only cause to make this more awkward.

I cough in trying to get his attention. Peeta's eyes snap back to mine instantly. This time though he's sporting a light blush on his own cheeks. I want to laugh at how young he looks at that very moment, like he's just been caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar before dinner. Playful Peeta is my favorite.

Peeta quickly dismembers his shirt and throws it in my direction. I catch it and raise an eyebrow at him using all my will power to not droll over his gorgeous upper body. This boy should be a Hollister model. Actually they should pass a law that he can't wear a shirt, yeah that would be nice.

"Can't have ya out there dressed like that can we?" Peeta smirks playfully.

I smile in thanks and throw the shirt on over the head.

"Darn Tiffany and Brittney just loved the attention" I wink at him.

I watch as Peeta's eyes dip down from my eye level slightly but snap back up quickly.

"Tiffany and Brittney huh?" He asks shaking his head with a playful smile on his lips.

"I'm kidding but seriously thank you." I smile at him.

"I'm pretty sure Gale would have a heart attack, actually I'm sure someone else would seeing as he's out with that whore again." I mutter to myself bitterly.

Peeta nods in understanding a small frown covering his beautiful face.

"So what are you doing over here? Don't you have a lot of work to be done at Sky Ranch?" I ask trying to keep conversation.

Talking to Peeta is one of my guilty pleasures. He's just too nice to push away.

"Ehh ever since old man Hawthorn passed I been helping out round here when I can" He explains leaning against the wall of the barn.

"Wow that pretty generous of you." I comment and then add "But who watches over Sky Ranch I doubt J can handle it all by himself."

Peeta's smile widens at the mention of his son.

"Nah I only get Jessie on Saturdays. Plus I got folks who work for me." Peeta explains.

"Oh. Wow that's pretty cool. I have some people who work for me back home too." I share excited we have something in common.

I exclude that I provide work for over a thousand people nationwide because Peeta looks proud of his ranch.

"Oh don't try to make it seem like some little ditty. We all know you a big woman in that city of yours. That's why all them woman here treat you so nasty. They ain't never gonna be more than house wives. Your Ace-high an auger"

"You lost me with your cowboy talk sweetheart" I say to him.

Peeta shakes his head playfully before answering me, "Ace-high means first class or well respected and auger means the big boss"

I nod at him in understanding.

Even though Peeta's words are meant to make me feel good because of my accomplishments it still makes me sad. As a woman of this generation I can never imagine just being a house wife where as for these woman it's the most common and practiced thing. I bet woman who even leave in search of their dream are probably even looked down upon and it kills me.

"Woman here shouldn't care so much what the men think." I state quietly.

Peeta nods and we stay in a comfortable silence for a while.

"So how'd you get yourself in that situation?" Peeta asks quirking an eyebrow.

"Whoa situation big word for you huh buddy?" I tease winking.

He shakes his head at me still smiling thankfully.

"I was ordered to pretty much run this damn farm and I was supposed to be milking the cow but it wouldn't cooperate. First I tried to speak to it but then I think it got offended at being called a cow to I named it Madge but she still wouldn't work with me. I almost started to moo at her to get her to do it" I explain laughing at myself.

Peeta joins me shaking his head at me.

"But then I remember seeing somewhere in a movie that you like pull or squeeze or rub the utter so I tried to pull it and obviously that's not what you do."

Peeta laughs at my expense for a little while repeating to himself my experience. After a while he calm down enough and decided to approach a different subject after I started to mutter about how stupid farm work is.

"So Haymitch's taken a liking to ya huh?" Peeta's comments after a while.

"Yeah he's alright, better than most people here"

"Even better than the poor bastard who endure jogging with you like we bein' chased every morning?" Peeta asks feigning hurt.

I smack his arm playfully.

"No one asked said poor bastard to join me in my jogs." I counter smirking at him.

Even if I do always remind Peeta he doesn't need to join me I do enjoy the company. This is town is too boring and without my IPod I need something to keep me entertained and Peeta's whining is welcomed. However I wonder if he truly does get tried so easily on our runs or if he does it to make me feel good because according to his droll worthy eight pack this mother fucker should be able to out run me. Maybe he's just shit at cardio.

I notice that I've completely ignored Peeta as I stare bluntly at his muscular shoulders, chest, and gorgeous stomach. I snap my head up to be met with playful blue eyes. I feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"You've got some droll right there" Peeta comments pointing to the corner of his mouth.

I quickly wipe at my mouth mortified. Please lord, god, Jesus, Santa, the Easter bunny do not let me embarrass myself in front of this gorgeous creature. I whip out my travel mirror and search my face frantically. Peeta is literally rolling on the floor laughing. I scowl when I realize he's just messing with me.

Well two can play at that game.

"That's so messed up" I whisper purposely making my voice shake.

Peeta sits up immediately eyes wide. I sniffle and wipe my hand under my eye. I make my eyes water making them look glossy. Peeta stands up and walks over to me quickly.

"No, no I was kidding. It was a joke, don't cry." He says looking completely useless.

I try to force myself to keep up the act but the look on his face makes me crack up and in seconds I can no longer hold in my laughter. I bust out laughing clutching my stomach.

"Oh I see what you did there." Peeta says stroking his chin trying to look thoughtful but it's completely ruined by the smile on his lips.

I nod still laughing at his expression.

"Well I'm going to have to make you pay for making me worry."

I snap my eyes open to see him lung for me. I step back holding in giggles.

"I'm going to tickle you into surrender." He says lunging for me again.

I leap over to the far left corner of the barn shrieking with laughter. Peeta's laugh soon joins mine as he continues to try and catch me.

"The more you run the longer it'll last, I'm going to catch you eventually" He taunts still chasing after me.

I stick my tongue out at him and keep moving. All of a sudden Peeta jumps onto me knocking us both to the ground. We both laughing so hard and out of breath that we don't notice the sound of the barn door opening. I swear I need to start taking in my surroundings more often before some serial killer walks up behind me and I don't notice because I'm like tying my shoe or something stupid.

"Ahem!" Mrs. Hawthorn's voice screeches from behind us.

Peeta jumps off of me offering me his hand to stand. I take it and stand before him.

"Hello Hazelle" Peeta greets to her but she ignores him.

"Not only ain't ya doing nothin' but you over here sleepin' round! My son deserves so much better than trash like you!" She spats at me.

I'm seething at her words. How fucking dare she! Her son has completely left me on my own the minute we arrived and I'm the bad guy because I have a damn tickle fight with a friend. Fuck you lady.

"Don't you dare speak to me in that matter! Your son has paid me no attention since we arrived in this shit state!" I scream at her.

She actually gasps at my words. Hand over the mouth and everything. This woman is a joke. Let me at her and I'll show her how I got my black belt in MMA.

"Well I'll leave you ladies to it. So long Hazelle, I'll see you later Katniss" Peeta announces to no one since Hazelle and I are both seething at each other.

He shoots me an apologetic glance before he makes a haste escape. He's out the barn door before I can even turn and yell at him for leaving me alone. And their rode off my night and shinning arm you guys. See those romance stories are just bull.