Katniss and the Rebels

Chapter 10: Rumours

AN: Hi so this is chapter 10 sorry it isn't that long. Gale is back in this chapter and Cato and Peeta have a conversation.

Thanks for all the feedback on the last chapter.

I hope you like this chapter and Happy Friday!

This chapter is dedicated to: KC99, DarkBlue17, doctoreverdeen78 and Random person in wonderland :)

Updated on 30th December 2013

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games

Katniss POV

I am not, I repeat not, cheesy at all.

Just because I have been smiling non-stop ever since I came home last night doesn't mean that it has anything to do with Peeta Mellark.

So therefore I am not cheesy.

No matter what my 14 year old sister says.

It is just a weird coincidence that I have been happy since then.

I shake my head trying to clear my thoughts of Peeta as I try to sort out my books for this morning. Thankfully it is Friday! Yay Happiness and all that.

I am now wondering where Gale is because it is like he just disappeared. Rory and Vick told me this morning that they hadn't seen him. Rory had to ring me this morning asking if I could come to their house to bring them to school because Gale had left before they woke up.

"He was the same yesterday." Rory told me this morning, "He woke up at 6, we never saw him after school then he came back for his dinner and the left again and didn't come home until after 11. I did try to tell mum that he hasn't gone to school and that he probably wouldn't go today but all she did was smile and told me that Gale would never miss school and that he loves school. Gale has never loved school."

When speaking of his mother Rory looks disgusted and disappointed. He is beginning to understand what is wrong with our mothers now and he hates it just as much as Gale and I do.

I am not surprised at Hazel though and that sickens me. She still thinks that her children are the same age as they were when her husband died and refuses to think otherwise. But I am surprised at Gale.

If there is one thing that I know about Gale Hawthorne it is that he hates getting up early. He hates it even more than Darius (and that is saying something) but obviously not as much as Haymitch because that would be impossible.

So what is Gale doing then?

I am snapped out of my thoughts by a loud bang.

I jump and I see that my locker has been shut by a hand that still lies on it.

I look up to see Gale.

Well this should be fun.

I fold my arms, move his hand off my locker and I lean against it. I then study his face.

Gale looks angry, furious even. Why is he angry? I am the one who should be angry at him I have every right to after what he did to his siblings this morning and yesterday.

"What were you thinking? He growls at me. Yes growls now I defiantly know that something is wrong with him.

"Well I was wondering what class I have next and what books I will need from my locker for it but then somebody rudely slammed my locker shut so I couldn't finish getting my books"

Gale glares at me so I glare right back at him.

"Don't play dumb Katniss, you know what I am talking about." Great and now he is calling me Katniss which he only does when he is really mad or frustrated with me which isn't often.

"No I don't know what you are talking about Gale." I see something flash in his eyes before they harden again.

You know you could have told me! Or at least suggested that something was going on. I mean yeah I wouldn't have like it sure but I would have preferred you being honest with me than finding out through other people because apparently the whole district knows about it except for me. People we don't know and have never spoken to and who never knew us are talking about you. Townies are talking about this Katniss!

"Gale for God's sake I have no clue what you are talking about. If I did know what you were on about and I wanted to tell you whatever it is you are mad at me for how was I meant to tell you? You have been MIA since yesterday. Rory and Vick are worried sick about you and so am I. You know that you forgot about them yesterday and this morning. Rory had to ring me and ask if I could take them to school. We always tell each other or somebody at least if we aren't going to be around especially when you miss school and forget about the kids!"

Gale eyes soften when I tell him about Rory, Vick and I feeling worried about him.

But he soon remembers his argument and finally answers me.

"You and Mellark. Together"

Damn it! I hoped that wasn't what he was on about.

Wait did he say that I was going out with Peeta?

"What? Gale I am not dating Peeta" Gale scoffs and I frown at him

""Then why would you bring him to the Hob? The only reason townies would ever come into the Hob. Or even enter the Seam was if they were seeing someone from the Seam."

I roll my eyes. Why does Gale have to over-react over everything that he hears?

"That isn't all ways the reason Gale and you know it. I told you we are just working on a project together"

"Yeah you're right it isn't always the reason but the only other reason is if there was an emergency. Townies just don't go into the Seam and there is a reason for that"

"And what is that reason Gale?" Gale and I glare fiercely at each other.

The reason Gale and I are such good friends is because we are so alike. This can be good at times but on other occasions like this it is a recipe for disaster.

I know perfectly well what Gale is talking about but I want to hear him say it.

Gale sighs and he rubs a hand over his eyes.

"I'm sorry Catnip. I didn't mean to act like that and I defiantly didn't mean to forget about the kids or you I have just been really busy. It's just you know what his brother Rye was like when he was our age. What he is still like now and his older brother wasn't much better. I just don't want to see you get hurt"

I smile slightly because I do know that Gale is just trying to protect me even if he doesn't have the best way of showing it.

"Gale I know that you mean well but I can take care of myself. I know exactly what Rye Mellark is like and I also know that Peeta isn't like that. Even if he was like that it wouldn't even matter because I am not dating him. I can protect myself if he does hurt me which I highly doubt and anyway I have you, Thom and Darius to protect me if he even thinks of harming me don't I?"

He nods, "Yes of course we will. I know you can protect yourself. I'm sorry Catnip just-"

"Yeah, yeah I know. You just thought that you were doing the right thing. Now I have to get my books and I expect you to tell me where on earth you have been all of yesterday at lunch."

Gale nods sheepishly and just when I have retrieved all of my books the bell rings and we both head off to our first class.

Peeta POV

I groan as I open my locker.

Yesterday with Katniss was great. The starter that we both made turned out perfect. Prim and Rory had told us when I walked Katniss home that they had loved the garlic bread. I had stayed talking with her for ages until I was late going home and she had to bring Rory home. On the way home I had realised that I forgot that my mum had returned home at lunchtime. The minute I returned home she started quizzing me on where I had been. I told her that

Yesterday with Katniss was great, the starter turned out perfect and Prim and Rory loved it. I stayed talking to her for ages so I was late going home and of course I forgot my mother had come home yesterday. She started quizzing me on where I was. I said that I was working on a project for school and that I was sorry that I was late.

When she asked me who I was working with. I froze for a moment before quickly replying with Finnick.

She seemed to buy it as she just slapped me round the head and ordered me never to be late again. I shared a look with Bran and he smiled sadly at me. He is really the only one who knows just what my mother does to me though she has gotten easier on me as I have gotten older. I know that the only reason she didn't give me a proper beating tonight was because she was tired from her trip from District Six. I think that Finnick suspects what happens. I think my Dad and Rye know but they are trying to pretend it doesn't happen.

I managed to escape the house early this morning so I didn't have to face her. Luckily Rye was at some big party at his friend's house last night and he crashed there so I didn't have to drive him to college or listen to him beg me to drive him to college.

I am nearly finished at my locker when I hear somebody slide up behind my locker door.

"Alright Mellark?"

I sigh, grab the last book that I need, put that in my bag which I sling over my shoulder and I shut my locker to see Cato Hunter standing in front of me, smirking as usual.

"What do you want Hunter?" I ask him and he just smiles cruelly

"Can I not have a talk with my friend now? Do I have to want something to be able to start a conversation with the great Peeta Mellark?" He asks sarcastically and I just raise my eyebrows at him.

Cato Hunter used to be alright when we were younger. We were kind of friends, he thought that I spent too much time worrying over Katniss and that I should have got over her. I remember telling him that I couldn't get over her and him scoffing in disbelief. We stopped talking to each other altogether when he became friends with Clove, Marvel and Glimmer and when I became friends with Finnick.

"We are not friends Cato now what do you want?"

"Of course we are Peet. Don't know what you are on about. I just came over to ask you about all these rumours about you and Everdeen. The lads and I were just wondering if they were true. Actually the whole school is wondering that but they are assuming they are. I thought I would be a good friend and come up and ask you about it." Cato laughs while I frown in confusion.

Rumours? What rumours is he talking about? Rumours about Katniss and I? I haven't heard any rumours so far today but then again I wasn't talking to anybody since I came into school. I am not that surprised that there are rumours about us after the Hob yesterday. I hope that Katniss knows that I didn't start them and that I wouldn't start them.

"What type of rumours?" I ask him suspiciously. Cato smirks

"Oh you don't know about them? God I am sorry! I just thought that you would know because the whole town and seam are talking about you. People are even calling you two the 'Star Crossed Lovers of District Twelve'. How sad is that?" Cato doesn't sound sorry at all though and I doubt that he ever is sorry about anything.

"So anyway, there are tons of different rumours going around. Some are saying that you and Finny Boy have a bet on that you have to sleep with her in the next three months or you have to buy him a new car and don't worry Peet nobody would blame you if you that was true. Others are saying that you announced that she was knocked up in the Hobbit? The Hip? Yesterday, others are saying the usual using you for your money which I think we all know is pointless if you know what I mean? Then of course that she is dating you but cheating on you with Hawthorne and the other way around."

I laugh at him I'm not naïve I know why he has come over here. To try and push my buttons and find out the truth. I am wondering what he thought would get me angry though. Acting like we are friends? Openly making fun of me? And of Katniss? Maybe it was mocking my family's money problems? Or the rumour that she was cheating on me with Gale Hawthorne?

Cato frowns, he is clearly annoyed as he thought I would be upset or angry.

"Seriously Hunter? If you think any of them dumb rumours are true then you must be even crazier than I thought." He glares at me before storming off. I smile and then I see Finnick making his way over to me.

"What did Hunter want?" He asks when he reaches me. Cato and Finnick have never gotten along. Ever since Finnick beat Cato in a swimming competition when we were 13. Cato has held a grudge against him ever since then.

"He just wanted to inform me on all the rumours about me and Katniss because apparently he and I are friends."

"Wanted to tell me some rumours about me and Katniss because apparently he and I are friends?"

Finnick scoffs and asks, "What did you say to that?"

"I just said that if he believed any of them rumours then he is even crazier than I thought. I also told him that we weren't friends"

Finnick laughs, "Good on ya. So yes I did hear that you took a little de-tour into the Seam yesterday"

"Yeah I was there. We were just working on the project. We went to the Hob because she had to work and everyone there was staring at me the whole time especially that drunk guy who works there, Haymitch."

"You got Abernathy's attention? Wow you must be really special Peet." The bell rings telling us that we have got to go to our first class on a Friday morning so we head off.

AN: That's the end of chapter 10 I hoped you liked it and please tell me if you did or if you have any ideas or comments.

See you soon

xTeam Mockinjayx