Arc 1: The Witch's Charm

Chapter 10: Morning After

Katniss didn't sleep very well that night. The feeling of Johanna's lips pressed against hers haunted her until the very early hours of the morning. The warming feeling that spread through her entire body at the contact of those soft lips against her own. The taste of alcohol was the only thing to break the otherwise perfect kiss. She had never been kissed quiet like that, not as softly but longingly as she had that night.

Her first kiss was playing spin the bottle at a birthday party she had snuck out to go to. During her years in foster care she only wanted to be a normal girl, even just once. The party was a bust, the only thing she got out of it was a half-hearted kiss and horrid jokes made at her expense. She couldn't remember the boy's name. He was some kid from a richer family with reddish blonde hair and green eyes.

Katniss woke up early that morning, she got up from her air mattress she had slept on and looked over at Prim on the bed. She had one of the books Johanna had given them next to her opened to the "About The Author" section. A photo of their father and mother was clear in full color. Katniss smiled, she had been more then thankful to the older girl for providing them with the old books. The hard covered ones usually had full color pictures of her parents in the back, each one taken in a different time and different place. Her father and mother smiling from a moment trapped in time.

After another glance at her sleeping sister, Katniss slipped out of the room and into the hall, glancing briefly to see if Johanna had woken up yet. She notices the door cracked the the tail end of the ugly cat Prim insisted on keeping sneaking into the room. Katniss turned and headed to the kitchen to see Peeta reading through a newspaper with a mug of coffee in his hand.

"Morning," He greeted with a smile,

"Morning, is Johanna up?" Katniss asked as casually as she could.

"She is," the blonde stated, "she went for a run an hour ago."

"A run?" Katniss's brows furred together, "In that snow?"

"That's what I said, she insisted that she needed to go run."

Katniss sighed and thought for a moment, Johanna had been gone an hour, so she should come back soon, right?

"I should get that stupid cat out of her room, I saw him go in so I assumed she was in there."

"She'll be pissed if he breaks anything." Peeta agreed, "I don't think she'd mind if it keeps him from breaking stuff."

Running solved everything.

That's what Johanna learned after years of foster homes and problems. You could run away from what you couldn't fight. You didn't have to think when you could run. If something really meant anything to you you'd run back to it. That's what her father had always told her. You could run from anything but the things that mean the most to you, you'll only find yourself running back.

Running helped her through a lot of things. She could solve a lot of problems after a long run. It helped her think. Next to woodworking it was one of her favorite things to do. She had run outside of Tretton Village, through the woods by the school. It was the closest thing to running through the woods of Sju.

Her sneakers were soaked with sweat and snow, the wind bit through her thin hoodie and her jeans were damp from the snow. Her breath came out in fogged pants as she slowed to a jog to catch her breath a bit looking through the white scenery before her. Not as pretty as Sju, but pretty in it's own way.

The minute she woke up she needed to run, she had kissed Katniss in her drunk-stupor and God knows what else she would have done if Katniss hadn't pushed her away.

Pushed her away

How could she expect anything different? How could Katniss be interested in her when she could easily have sweetheart Peeta Mellark or heartthrob Gale Hawthorne?

She fell back into a sprint, her white hoodie had come unzipped somewhere during her run revealing her pale stomach and black bra. Not that she cared much, no one could see her out here.

She shifted into her dog form and continued her way back to the house. After all, she couldn't run from her forever, she only hoped she would maybe have her wits about her when she got in front of Katniss to explain her behavior for that night.

"Stupid cat" Katniss growled as she stared at the cat that lay just out of her reach under Johanna's bed. "Can't you come out now? Jerk."

She had been in that room with her for almost twenty minutes now, running from her as soon as she got close, hissing at her and hiding in the most inconvenient locations. In complete honesty she felt like a creep using the cat as an excuse to look around Johanna's room. Had it been anyone else's she would have given up by now. But she had never really looked at Johanna's room before and that in itself fascinated her. The room itself was the smallest bedroom in the house, painted green with a darker green accent wall. A large bay window, a bed resting against the wall, a desk in the corner, a bookshelf filled with books, and an old dresser.

It was pretty empty, like Johanna spent very minimal time staying there. Katniss briefly wonders if her dorm at school is fuller then her room here.

"Katniss?" Katniss jumped at the familiar voice as she turned to see Johanna standing in the doorway. She suddenly wonders if Peeta was still in the kitchen or if Johanna hadn't expected her to be in there.

"Buttercup," Katniss started in an attempt to make her presence seem less unwarranted, "He got in here a while ago, I tried to get him out-"

"He's fine," Johanna cut her off with a shrug, "He comes in here sometimes."

There was a pregnant pause in the conversation as Katniss picked herself off the ground and dusted herself off before looking back at the black haired girl clad in a hoodie only half-zipped with damp and cold jeans and running shoes. Katniss notices the shiver that rifles through the other girl's body.

"I'm going to take a shower," Johanna commented as she crossed the room to the wardrobe, throwing it open to show that even that was a sparsely filled as the room itself with very basic pieces.

"Yeah, go get warmed up, I'll put tea on," Katniss stated as she walked past Johanna and back to the kitchen to see Prim sitting on the couch paging through an old book and Peeta in the kitchen.

"You couldn't warn me?" Katniss hissed at him as she stepped closer, "I almost had a heart attack."

"Sorry," Peeta offered a shy smile, "I didn't hear her come in."

Katniss shot him a glare anyway, Johanna had to walk through the kitchen to get to the hallway with the bedrooms. She had to have walked past him.

"Making tea?" Peeta asked as Katniss took out the kettle,

"You can't have any." Katniss snorted as Peeta chuckled.

"OK, I just wont make any cheese buns then."

"That's evil." Cheese buns were Katniss's favorite thing Peeta made, the warm buns were filled with goat cheese inside with melted cheese on top. "Chai or black?"

"None thanks," Peeta grinned as Katniss shot him another glare, "I'm going to the grocery store to get some stuff. Do you want to come Prim?"

Prim looked up and thought for a moment, "No thank you, I have to finish homework."

Prim had started attending an online school in order to keep up with schoolwork while she was in Tretton. It worked out nicely and Prim seemed happier to be able to go online since she wasn't bullied like she was back in Tolv.

"Ok then, don't work too hard." Peeta smiled before he pulled on his heavy winter jacket and headed toward the door, "Finnick and Annie took Mags to Fyra for the day, Something about meeting up with some old friends of Mags? They said they'd be back for dinner."

"I remember," Katniss called, "I think Finnick told us about it yesterday."

Peeta nodded before walking out the door. Prim closed her book and rested it on the coffee table and walked towards her room.

"Did you eat already?" Katniss called from the kitchen.

"Yeah" Prim chirped from the hallway.

"OK good"

Katniss smiled faintly before her mind traveled back to Johanna. How could she just act like last night never happened? Did she remember? Katniss didn't know how or what to say to the girl regarding their encounter the night before. It bothered her slightly that she couldn't make herself flat out say...

Say what?

What did she want to say to Johanna? That she hated her? No, Katniss didn't feel anything close to anger or hatred toward her. She had no reason to. Johanna had gotten drunk yes but it was a holiday and if she went a little overboard with the alcohol then she certainly wasn't the first one.

Did she like her? Maybe. Katniss had knew she had some kind of feelings for Johanna. From the time she was pressed up against the side of a lumber mill in Sju she knew the older girl has some kind of power over her. Johanna made her heart race. But was it because she really liked her or was it all just physical?

"Your burning water Brainless."

When did Johanna get so quiet on her feet? Katniss quickly moves the whistling kettle off the flame and turns off the stove.

"Chai or black?" Katniss asks over her shoulder as Johanna settles on one of the seats at the island.

"Black"

"Sugar?"

"Sure"

Another long silence as Katniss sets the steaming mug in front of Johanna and rests her elbows on the island across from her. Johanna places her hands on either side of the glass allowing the heat to circulate in her hands. They sat like that in silence almost daring the other to start up the conversation. Johanna opened her mouth for a moment before her nose wrinkled against her will.

"Achoo, achoo"

"One more time!" Katniss almost slapped her hand over her mouth as the words flew out unwarranted. Johanna tilts her head, brown eyes looking at her as though she sprouted another head.

"What?"

"Um..." Katniss shifted uncomfortably, she didn't know where that outburst came from, it was something she kept safely locked away in her vault of childhood memories. "When I was little my dad used to always sneeze like that, two at a time, so every time he did it I would cheer 'one more time' he'd laugh."

Brown eyes scan her intensely as she feels herself being pinned by their gaze,

"Sorry, It's kinda stupid." Katniss turned away from the gaze. She heard a snort of laughter from Johanna as she shakes her head.

"Your weird"

"Whatever"

"It's a complement," Johanna insists as she looks away. Katniss rolls her eyes.

"Thanks then, I guess." The two fell in silence again as Katniss looked on to Johanna's profile. "Are we just going to dance around what happened last night?"

Johanna's attention snaps back to her in an instant, That's when Katniss was sure Johanna remembered what happened. The way her pupils shrink slightly in surprise like a child caught after they've done something they weren't allowed to do. The panic that momentarily crosses chocolate brown orbs, they way her lips part just a bit. Everything shrinks to a look of sadness and regret.

"I'm sorry," Johanna states, "I don't always think about things when I drink, I make really bad decisions, I hurt people."

Katniss shifts, unsure to say anything.

"Cress usually doesn't let me do anything stupid, or Finnick or Annie. So I try to drink with them. I guess I just went overboard last night." Johanna seemed so small then, almost weaker then she usually was.

"You regret what happened last night?" Katniss's voice came out soft, unsure, almost disappointed as she watched Johanna silently mulling over her answer.

"Regret isn't the right word." Johanna started as she nodded to herself, "I'm sorry if what I did upset you. It was a drunken mistake. But...it's not the most regrettable thing I've done...that is if your not too upset with me."

A forced smile tried to make it's way to Johanna's face, but it vanishes as quickly as it appears. Katniss isn't sure what to say. She's unsure how to process it all.

"Johanna-" Katniss starts but is interrupted by a knocking on the door. "I'll get it."

Katniss's head is still swimming when she opens the front door to see Gale standing their fully clad in winter attire.

"Hey Katniss," He greeted with a smile, before Katniss can greet him back she is cut off by his voice, "I'm really glad to see you. Would you like to come for a walk? I've been on that train for hours now and could really stretch the legs."

"Um, well I" Katniss started before noticing his attractive face grow dark as he noticed something behind her.

"Johanna"

"Gale" Katniss spun when she heard the other female voice, seeing Johanna standing there arms crossed and an look that equaled in darkness to the one Gale wore. The air between the two glaring at each other grew colder.

"I was just asking Katniss to come for a walk."

"I'm not her mother," Johanna snorted, "If she wants to go with you that's her choice. I'll look after Prim if you want Katniss."

Johanna's voice softened at the last sentence, peering at Katniss's face as she said it.

"Thank you." Katniss stated as Gale's face lit up.

"Alright, grab a jacket and let's go." Katniss looked over at Johanna one more time before turning to grab her jacket. As she returned she noticed Johanna looked far more defeated. She hears Johanna's voice as she turns to leave causing her to turn back.

"Johanna?"

The older girl rolls her eyes, "Have fun Brainless."

Katniss and Gale walked down the streets of the village still glowing from the previous day's Christmas celebration. Gale was busy telling her about his family back in Tolv and other random things as they walked. Katniss was only barely paying attention to the words he was saying as they walked. She wasn't sure how to handle her conversation with Johanna.

But...it's not the most regrettable thing I've done...that is if your not too upset with me.

Did that mean Johanna didn't regret it as long as Katniss wasn't mad at her? Did Johanna not regret it because she liked her and maybe the alcohol gave her the confidence she didn't have sober to reveal her feelings? Or maybe Johanna just valued their twisted friendship enough to want to keep it and not have it ruined by a drunken kiss.

"Hey Katniss, are you alright?" Gale asks as he notices that Katniss isn't paying attention.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking."

"Oh?" Gale smiled brightly, he really was an attractive young man. Girls in Tretton were always around him. He was taller then Johanna and stocky like Peeta. His dark hair was contrasted by his blue eyes and slightly darker skin tone. "What's on your mind?"

"Actually, Johanna and I-" Katniss started, "Are kind of in an awkward situation. I'm just not sure what to do now."

"Don't worry too much about Johanna." Gale stated off handedly as his smile faded, "There are better people to be worried about."

"You two don't like each other much." Katniss stated, she had observed that through the first semester. Gale and Johanna rarely talked and when they did it was an argument.

"I have a reason to." Gale stated as they stopped and faced each other, "She's reckless and doesn't care who she screws over in the process. You can't trust her."

"Gale," Katniss started, "What happened between you two?"

Gale pauses and runs a hand through his hair.

"One night, last year. I was a first year she was in her second year. There was this New Years Eve party with a lot of drinking." Gale shook his head, "I'm sure you know the rest. Two people get drunk and end up in bed together the next morning."

"You and Johanna?" Katniss asked in disbelief.

"She woke up and left before me. The only reason I knew it was her was because of that stupid pine needle scent on my pillow. After a few hours I remembered bits and pieces." Gale clenched his jaw, "She tried to joke about it, like it was nothing. But you know what? Getting drunk and sleeping with someone isn't something you take so lightly."

Katniss looked down not sure how to process it. Johanna and Gale? Part of her stomach felt sick at the thought. She felt slightly angry at Gale, how he was speaking about Johanna being reckless and black-hearted when he was also drunk.

"You both were drunk," Katniss pointed out as she looked up, "You can't blame it all on her."

"It was the first time I had ever gotten drunk enough to actually get involved with a one-night stand." Gale's eyebrows furred together, "All she did was joke about it. If I didn't know better I'd say she was far less drunk then me."

"That's a wild accusation you just tossed." Katniss growled, her voice clearly showing her anger.

"Katniss, you don't understand," Gale pushed as his hands gripped Katniss's shoulders, "Johanna didn't care that she ended up in bed with some guy she hardly knew. She just up and left and acting like it was no big deal. She doesn't care about who she hurts. I want you to be careful."

When Katniss didn't respond Gale added:

"How well do you really know Johanna?" Gale's voice was softer then before.

Katniss ran every memory with Johanna through her head. How they met when she kicked down her foster parent's door and took her and Prim to Tretton. When Johanna conned her into going to dueling club and seeing Johanna's towel-wrapped form in the mirror of the girl's locker room with water droplets running down her neck and face as she pulled twigs out of Katniss's hair. How her shirt smelled when she allowed Katniss to borrow it that same day. Her kicking the island during that weekend Katniss visited Prim at Mags's. Johanna's hands on hers as she showed her how to cut vegetables.

Katniss remembers the feeling of her heart sinking when Johanna is attacked by werewolf-Finnick. How worried she was when Johanna wasn't breathing and the relief she felt when Johanna took in that gasp of air when Annie got her breathing again. She remembers their afternoon in Belloccino. Johanna's warm laughter when they were misunderstood for a couple and Johanna's teasing voice about how she was disappointed that they really weren't on a date. She remembers their time on the train to Sju, Johanna looking out the window with her pendent between her teeth.

She remember's Johanna's sincere voice when she gives Katniss Nora's books. How they ran together from centaurs and Johanna's hot body on her own when they hid. Her breath on Katniss's face and neck. Johanna's groggy voice Christmas morning and her red face when Prim talked about how she carved Katniss's mockingjay pin.

Every memory, every teasing word, every warm touch. Katniss came to realize;

"No Gale," Katniss started, "I know Johanna, or at least I know her much better then you do."

Johanna had sulked off after Katniss left with Gale, secretly she had hoped she would turn down his offer and stay here. She sat at the island alone until Peeta walked through the door, grocery bags hanging from his arms.

"What's up Jo?" Peeta asked with a friendly smile as he set the bags on the island and started putting the groceries away. "Where are the others?"

"Prim is out playing with some friends she met in town. You remember Thresh's little sister, Rue? Katniss is out with Gale."

"Gale came over?" Peeta asked casually, "Is he staying for dinner?"

"I hope not," Johanna growled as Peeta looked over at her. In the forever war between Gale and Johanna, Peeta tried to stay neutral. Gale was his roommate and friend. He reminded Peeta of his older brother. Johanna, however, was similar to him. A muggle-born wizard heavily bullied and looked down on. Johanna seemed to deter other wizards from bullying him when she was around. He liked them both and valued both their friendships.

"Something bothering you?" Peeta asked as he leaned on the counter behind him and faced the island.

"I did something stupid." Johanna admitted as she buried her face in her hands, running her hands through her dark hair, "And it's going to come back to bite me."

"Jo, what's going on? Gale being here never bothered you this much before. OK yeah you two argue every chance you get, but you've never been this upset before."

"Last year, me and Gale had one drunken hook-up," Johanna deadpanned, "Since then, he's been pissed as hell at me. He thinks that night had no effect on me and that it's all about him. You know something? I don't cherish the fact that my first time was wasted on the likes of him...He acted like I had no right to be upset"

Peeta looked shocked, he never expected something like that to be one of the skeletons in Johanna Mason's closet. "Why is this coming out now?"

"Because I got a little drunk last night and did something else, not with Gale and far milder, but I'm afraid Gale's going to tell Katniss. And if it's his version, she'll think I'm a total bitch."

"Then tell her your side," Peeta offered softly as he patted Johanna's shoulder, "Besides it was a year ago. It's water under the bridge."

"Too bad Gale doesn't think like you." Johanna sighed, "I'm going to start dinner."

"Do you want help?" Peeta offered before Johanna shook her head.

"I kinda want to be alone," Johanna stated as Peeta walked off, allowing Johanna her space.

"OK, Maybe I'll go tell Prim it's almost dinner time. She and Rue are probably at that park." Peeta offered before leaving again to go get Prim. Johanna sighed and preset the oven and turning back to go through the grocery bags. Peeta had picked up a few five pound chickens that she planned to roast for dinner that night as she fiddled through the spice cabin to pull out salt, pepper, and paprika. Usually in Sju this spice mixture would be used for roast duck, but she supposed it would taste fine on roast chicken. Her father did most of the cooking when she was small. Nora cooked too before she went to Tretton and Johanna had learned to help her father while Nora was gone. When Corey was also accepted the house seemed so much smaller with the two of them away.

The cooking lessons with her father resulted in Johanna having an almost masculine style of cooking. She liked bold flavors and filling dishes with plenty of well seasoned meat. Her father had loved cooking, next to woodworking it seemed to be his favorite thing. No matter how long he worked chopping wood all day he still managed to come home to make a meal for his family.

Katniss had walked home after her less then appealing conversation with Gale. She opened the door the smell of cooking chicken and a seasoned cheese smell as she made her way to the kitchen.

Johanna stood by the stove sautéing a mixture of parmesan cheese, goat cheese, and heavy cream seasoned with minced garlic, black pepper and salt.

Johanna looked different when she cooked, usually Annie did most of the cooking with Johanna helping her, but Johanna proved to be able to cook far beyond what Katniss had expected from her. She had a very...almost manly way of cooking to her Katniss decided. She pulled lettuce apart with her bare hands and added large chunks of potatoes and hunks of meat to soups and stews. There was nothing dainty about the way she cooked. There was always bold, spicy, or earthy flavors.

"What's for dinner?" Katniss asked as she watched Johanna jump slightly at her voice. Her head snapped up and dark brown met gray.

"Roast chicken, goat cheese Alfredo over penne, salad," Johanna's monotone voice stated as she gestured to the oven, stove, and countertop respectfully.

"Smells great." Katniss offered a smile that wasn't returned as Johanna turned back to the stove.

"How was your walk with Gale?" Johanna's voice was cold, enough to send a shiver down Katniss's spine.

"We got into an argument, he decided not to stick around since he had to get back to Tolv." Katniss stated as she sat at the island, "Are you mad?"

"Why would I be mad?"

"Because you knew Gale would tell me about New Years Eve last year?" Katniss dared knowing Johanna would be angry, "Johanna that happened a year ago, but you were right about one thing, you make horrible decisions when you're drunk."

Just then Mags, Finnick and Annie came through the door. Finnick's voice echoed through the house.

"Something smells awesome! When's dinner?" Finnick smiled brightly as he entered the kitchen and greeted everyone, Peeta and Prim came in to greet them.

"You started dinner already?" Annie asked Johanna, "You didn't have to you know?"

"I know." Johanna stated before Annie looked between her and Katniss and back to Johanna.

"I'll go set the table," Annie offered, her expression showing that she clearly knew something was going on.

Dinner was mostly quiet, Peeta came back with Prim a few moments before the food was done. Finnick told tales from Fyra while Prim talked about her day with Prim. Johanna sat quietly and excused herself from the table between Finnick's tales. Katniss didn't follow, the look Peeta gave her when Johanna left told her she should let the older girl have some space.

Annie had disappeared into Johanna's room an hour ago with a herbology book. Annie had been tutoring Johanna in herbology for the last couple weeks. It was Johanna's weakest subject at Tretton and Annie's strongest.

A while ago Annie had walked out of the room and Katniss decided she needed to finish their conversation or at least end the night on a good note after everything that had happened.

"Johanna?" Katniss called as she knocked on the door. Johanna opened the door with a less then amused look on her features.

"What do you want now Brainless?" Johanna snorted but moved aside so Katniss could enter.

"We're finishing this Grumpy," Katniss crossed her arms, "You've been pissed off since Gale came and told me about your get together New Years Eve."

"You wanna know something?" Johanna asked as she turned, "I freaking blacked out, I don't remember what happened that night. I just remember waking up, panicking, and leaving. Don't you dare get the idea that I run around getting drunk and sleeping with people. It only happened once. I've never gotten that drunk since. That's why I drink with Finnick or Cressida, they don't keep refilling my glass when I'm not looking like those punks at the party did."

"Look, lets not focus on that night anymore," Katniss offered dropping her arms, "What's done is done. I'm not going to hold it against you. I know you, if you say you honestly don't remember and were that drunk that night, I believe you."

"So what, you come in here to tell me that you really don't care?"

"I'm saying I wont hold it against you." Katniss corrected with a role of her eyes. "So you can stop being grumpy about it."

Johanna snorted and walked back over to her desk where her wand and a potted plant stood.

"What were you and Annie working on?" Katniss asked as Johanna sat back at her desk.

"Silva Incendio"Johanna drawled as she pointed to the pot, "It's a spell that burns plants and causes forest fires. It's pretty useless, but controlled it can be used in place of Fiendfyre, which is much more uncontrolled."

Katniss sat at Johanna's bed while Johanna paged through Nora's notebook.

"He'd be good for you."

"What?" Katniss is confused by Johanna's words.

"Gale," Johanna turned to look at Katniss, "He'd be good for you. He defiantly likes you. Why else would he tell you all of that? To keep you away from me? He clearly cares about you."

Katniss stays quiet, completely floored by the change in Johanna's tone and mood. When she does answer Johanna continues.

"What? You really like him?" Johanna smirks but it's not like her usual smirk, "Doesn't surprise me, everyone falls for Mr. Gorgeous."

Katniss doesn't know what snaps in her mind to cause her to cross the room and straddle Johanna's lap, hands on either side of the older girl's face force dark brown eyes to look into gray.

"You listen to me, Brainless" Katniss starts, mimicking the nickname Johanna often used for her, "You're an idiot to think that I liked Gale and you've got a ton of nerve saying that to me after you kissed me last night."

"What?" Katniss could have laughed at how much higher Johanna's voice sounded. How confused she looked underneath the younger girl.

"I don't want Gale." Katniss was sure to pronounce every word clearly, "I want you."

Katniss's bravado fades after that as she looks down at the chocolate brown eyes beneath her, searching for some reaction to her words. She feels Johanna shift underneath her before a quick prick of pain on her forehead causes her hands to drop to Johanna's shoulders,

"Ow, did you just flick my forehead?!"

"Duh Brainless," Johanna grumbled, looking away with her face tainted pink, "Are you trying to get me into trouble?"

Katniss almost asks when she remembers the night Johanna didn't show up for dinner because of her detention. A detention she got because her and Katniss were mistakenly accused of sexual activities and Katniss was still only seventeen.

"Johanna,"

"If you keep saying my name like that you will get me into trouble." Katniss stiffens as her ears turn red, "Look at you, so pure."

"S-stop teasing me!" Katniss smacks her shoulder but doesn't move off of her,

"Listen, I can't get into any more trouble with Coin...she'll have me expelled." Johanna states calmly, "It would be easier if you were eighteen,"

Like Gale was, Katniss remembers that Gale's birthday was December 2nd, so he was at least of age when him and Johanna accidentally happened.

"Coin doesn't allow upper classmen to date first-years because they are under eighteen, even second years could get into trouble." Johanna continues, "Plus, your her Mockingjay and as far as she's concerned I'm a problematic mud-blood."

"I don't care," Katniss states as she feels Johanna brush a stray strand of dark brown hair away from her face. "May,"

"What?" Johanna asks.

"May, if I turn eighteen Coin can't hurt you, right?" Katniss asks as Johanna nods after a moment, "My birthday's in May so we'd have to wait."

Johanna looks conflicted for a moment before nodding.

"We can keep it a secret until then?" Katniss offers, but she knows that's next to impossible. When Johanna got a detention they were ratted out by a random girl. There was always going to be that one person. If they got caught Johanna would be expelled and/or tortured by Coin with her medieval detentions before then.

"Beginning or end of May?" Johanna asked as she wrapped her arms lightly around Katniss's waist.

"Beginning,"

"I guess I can wait," Johanna didn't seem too thrilled with their situation, but there was nothing they could do about it. "We should go to bed."

Katniss nodded as she got up and headed for the door.

"Katniss," Katniss turned at her name and felt Johanna's hand on the back of her neck and her lips press a kiss to her forehead, as Johanna pulled away Katniss decided she couldn't wait until May, at least not tonight. She leaned forward and up on her tip-toes to connect her lips to Johanna's. She felt Johanna's arms move around her torso as hers moved around Johanna's neck. The kiss was over almost as quick as it started and Katniss looks up at Johanna's red face.

"Payback for last night," Katniss grins before she steps out of Johanna's arm and leaves the room. She was sure to fall asleep with that grin on her face.

END NOTES:

This seems to be the chapter of references...I made one to "My Forged Wedding", "Donnie Darko", "Metro PD"...

Johanna's cooking style I tried to base off some cookbooks I went through that had classic Northwestern dishes since District 7 is located in northwestern USA. (And I'm crazy and laid over a map of Panem and the map of the USA to see what states were in those districts. Montana is engulfed in District 7 as well as parts of surrounding states.) The chicken she made in this chapter is based on a recipe for roast duck I found and the pasta is also a classic Montana dish from the web.

Links are here:

Roast duck: ?evt19=1

Goat Cheese and Arugula over Penne: ?evt19=1

I crossed the goat cheese dish with this one to make Johanna's Goat Cheese and Arugula Alfredo over penne: recipe/goat-cheese-pasta-alfredo-with-asparagus

"Silva Incendio" is also another one of my spells, it means "Forest Fire"