Chapter 10: Flirting With Trouble

(Katniss POV)

That night after dinner the counselors were all standing around the porch of the mess hall, talking and laughing. Katniss avoided Peeta's watchful gaze, fearful that she would become the target of one of Glimmer's gossipy whispers or Clove's tirades about boys. Katniss had made up her mind to avoid both of them for as long as she possibly could that summer. Glimmer had done nothing but talk and whisper about Marvel and Jackie, and it was safe to say that it had been the topic of conversation the entire meal. Personally, Katniss was just glad that Peeta had kept their kiss a secret and she wasn't the subject of all the talk around camp.

"Don't get too wild tonight," Haymitch grumbled, stalking out onto the porch. Several of the boys snickered.

"Oh Haymitch, let them be kids!" Effie trilled, walking out behind him. She beamed at all the counselors. "What are the plans for tonight?"

Haymitch started to chuckle. "Leave them alone, they're all getting along well. Some of 'em too well. They probably don't want to hang out with a bunch of old balls like us, Effie," he added under his breath.

Effie's face went bright red as she swatted Haymitch across the back of the head. He winced but grinned sheepishly at her, his blue eyes twinkling.

"You insufferable cad," she spat, stomping away.

"Oh come on now Effie! Lighten up!" He called after her. He loaded into his golf cart and grinned at the counselors. Even Katniss laughed as Haymitch took off after Effie.

"I think he likes her," Rue giggled, nudging Katniss.

"You think?"

"Oh, that old drunken bat has had his nuts in a twist for Effie for years now. Nothin' new," Johanna laughed loudly to them. "He pretends to be belligerent, she pretends to care, same old song and dance as every other year."

The group stood on the porch of the Mess Hall and chatted for a while, everyone trying to figure out what to do that night.

"So um, I say we have another bonfire tonight," Cato announced. Thom readily agreed, nudging Johanna suggestively.

"Fine, fine," she chuckled darkly.

"I think so too. Who knows what Jackie will do tonight….or me," Glimmer added in, sitting on her hip and smiling widely at Cato. Katniss watched as he laughed and flexed his arms as he crossed them in an effort to look bulkier. She could only manage to roll her eyes. She couldn't understand how someone as quiet and sweet as Jackie was getting so much crap for simply making out with Marvel when Glimmer was clearly a sleaze and a half. She chalked it up to one of life's unfair mysteries and instead went to stand with Madge. She was a quiet girl, very observant and kind, and had yet to utter more than a few words. Katniss liked her a lot so far.

"You gonna go?" she asked.

Katniss shrugged. "Last bonfire I went to didn't end up so well," she laughed quietly. "Maybe."

"Come on now Cabin two! You get extra participation points for tonight," Finnick said as he walked up to them. His shirt was already off and slung over one shoulder, and Katniss found herself slightly appalled at the boy's blatant love for himself. He spied Annie leaning on the rail behind Madge and flashed her a megawatt smile. "I know you'll be there. This one can't take her eyes off me!" he laughed.

Annie snorted. "I wasn't even looking in your direction, but thanks," she muttered. Katniss burst out laughing as Finnick's award winning smile faltered.

Katniss snuck a glance at Peeta, who was leaning on the railing further down and talking to Thresh. Well, talking at Thresh was more like it. The larger boy would only nod and grunt quietly in response to Peeta as he yammered on about something. He chanced a look at her, his gaze questioning. She knew what he was thinking – how were they going to meet and talk if everyone expected them at the bonfire? She shrugged it off and looked away, scared to draw any attention to herself after the day's events.

Glimmer was still gossiping and giggling about something when Sae came out and shooed them all away. "Go have fun while you can. After a day with a bunch of campers you'll be too tired to even think, much less have a good time," she grumbled. Katniss smirked to herself and followed the rest of the group towards the cabins. The old cook was slowly growing on her for some strange reason.

The boys decided to go get firewood while the girls all went back to their cabins to shower. Glimmer was still whispering about something to Clove, who would cast devious looks in Jackie's direction as they walked. They were almost to the cabins when Johanna brazenly grabbed Thom around the neck and pulled him to her in a daring kiss. He grunted in surprise, but soon kissed her back enthusiastically. "What was that for?" he asked with a grin when they broke apart. Everyone had stopped to hoot and laugh at them, which only seemed to please Johanna.

"Oh you know, just giving Glimmer over there something to talk about," she chuckled knowingly giving Glimmer a 'haha' look. Glimmer's jaw dropped and Clove snickered as Johanna brushed past the pair, bumping their shoulders.

"Definitely not complaining. Definitely not," Thom muttered, biting his lip as he watched Johanna stride confidently away. The girls followed her towards their cabin, breaking away from Clove and Glimmer's group.

"You didn't have to do that you know," Jackie offered meekly.

Johanna barked out a laugh as they girls followed her up the steps to their cabin. "Well I couldn't let her just get away with that. Doesn't all her stupid talking and giggling bother you?"

Jackie shrugged as Madge patted her shoulder. "Well yeah, but…"

"But nothing. I put that stupid bitch in her place and maybe now she'll leave you be. I hate girls like that. Every year we have one like that, every fucking year. Some dumb girl who can't shut her mouth about stupid crap…"

Johanna continued her rant into the shower, dropping a trail of clothes as she went. Katniss flopped on her bunk and sighed, watching as Johanna disappeared. Maybe she was right – maybe after something like that, Glimmer and Clove would give their stupid ways a rest. Rue caught Katniss' eye and grinned. "I like her," she laughed.

"I do too. I really do too."

Katniss walked to the bonfire that night with the rest of the girls from her cabin and tried to forget about her deal to talk to Peeta. It would have to wait for another night; the last thing she wanted to do was draw attention to them after the hellish day Jackie had.

Besides, she thought, it's a lot hotter when it's a secret for whatever reason. Peeta's face had appeared in her mind many times that day – more than she cared to admit. There were a few guys at school she had gotten crushes on over the years, but those had all fallen flat without anything happening. Katniss had crushed on several in private until the unknowing boys had picked up someone else, which left her kicking herself. She knew she would have to talk to a guy other than Gale at some point – she just wasn't sure how to do it. Perhaps that was why she had grabbed Peeta the way she had. She didn't want that awkward, slow decent into an even more awkward kiss. It had just seemed easier to grab him and do it herself.

Turns out, she was right. She had replayed the image of their all-too-brief kiss many times in her head, and each time she had to bite back a smile. She had never done anything like that before, so this was new territory for her.

"Are you having fun at camp so far?" Annie asked her politely as they walked down the path.

"I am. I'm excited for my little sister to get here though," Katniss replied.

"That's so great you guys will get to spend the summer together. I'm just glad I get to spend the summer working with horses."

"Do you ride a lot?"

"I wish," Annie sighed. "I took lessons when I was little and I've loved horses ever since. Never could afford one though."

Katniss laughed. "I feel you," she added. Annie walked along beside her as Rue chattered away in front of them. Madge was smiling and nodding in all the right places, dutifully giving the younger girl an audience. Johanna and Jackie brought up the rear, Johanna coaching Jackie on how to blow off Glimmer and her 'stupid mouth'.

"It's really okay. She doesn't bother me that much, and I'm never even looking at Marvel ever again," Jackie insisted. Johanna patted her shoulder and grinned.

"Fine fine, whatever you say. I'm just saying we could really get her you know. I've been coming up here since I was a kid; I know my fair share of shit to do to get to people."

"I'll figure it out," Jackie replied slowly. Something in her tone told her that she shouldn't doubt the humiliated girl. Katniss grinned to herself and silently cheered for the fox-faced redhead. Whatever Jackie had planned for Glimmer, she was sure the vindictive blonde deserved it.

They arrived just as the fire was being lit. Katniss immediately spotted Peeta, who was sitting next to Gale and Finnick. Upon their arrival, Finnick jumped up and handed them cups.

"So glad you could join us ladies," he announced suavely. "Who wants a beverage?"

Katniss watched as Cato cracked open a bottle of cheap vodka and began graciously doling out portions into the plastic cups. Counselors gathered around him and laughed as he jokingly poured the girls more than the boys. Katniss met Gale's eyes over the fire and they shared a private smirk. The cheap vodka Cato was serving had been their alcohol of choice several times when they were teenagers. Katniss didn't drink often, but she had been drunk once or twice with Gale. He stood up and walked over, plopping down on the bale of hay next to her.

"Drinking tonight, Catnip?" Gale asked.

She shook her head. "Uh, no. I don't trust myself not to punch Cato's lights out if he was to say something stupid to me again."

Gale snickered and took a drink. "Good point. You looked like you wanted to deck him the other night."

"I did," she agreed, "I really did."

She watched as Glimmer downed the rest of her cup and giggled, staggering slightly as she made her rounds with the two girls that were always at her side, Clove and another girl whose name Katniss didn't know. "I'm tempted to give her water and tell her it's vodka in her drink….see if she still acts like an idiot," she muttered. She smacked a mosquito away and sighed sadly as Peeta talked and mingled. He made the whole thing look so natural; talking, laughing, meeting people. It wasn't hard to see that he made friends and charmed people quite easily. As a shy, introverted person, she had never been particularly good at either. When her dad died and she had to take care of Prim all the time, she had gotten even worse. Most of her friends and what few social things she did had quickly fallen to the wayside.

Gale snorted. "What's with you? You've been acting funny since you got here."

Katniss was aghast. "I have?"

Shit, I should have known Gale would see right through me.

"Yup. You feeling alright?"

"I'm fine, I just….it's nothing."

" I bet you just miss Primmy."

She smiled at Gale's nickname for her little sister. "I'll be happy when she gets here, yeah."

Gale's eyes followed hers across the fire, the rapidly setting sun making it more difficult to see. "That's not it though. You've been away from home before coming up here. You're sure you're okay?'

She nodded. "I'm fine."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Katniss discretely trying to watch Peeta. He was sitting across the fire with Thom and Marvel, laughing at something. He caught her gaze and held it until she quickly looked away.

"You know, some of the guys in my bunk were asking about you."

She whipped her head up. "Which one?"

"No one in particular. Just curious is all. They knew we were friends before camp, wanted to know if there was anything going on between us."

She snorted in response.

"I know, right? That ship sailed years ago."

Katniss looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Gale, you don't want me. We'd kill each other. Plus I don't think I'd ever be able to look at you naked with a straight face. I know too much."

He grinned at the truth, taking a sip of his drink. "You've got me there. Sometimes you just know too much about a person to date them. But…Katniss, why wouldn't someone want you?"

She shrugged. "I'm just….not like other girls. I'm not cute, or friendly or….girly."

He laughed. "Maybe some guys prefer that. Maybe 'other girls' have screwed them over and they want to try something different."

Katniss shrugged again and elbowed Gale in the side. "Whatever, Hawthorne. You have to be nice, you're my best friend."

"So what if I am? Something's bugging you Katniss, I know you that well," he said, offering her his red plastic cup. She glared at it for a moment.

Screw Cato. If I lose my control and deck him, he'll probably deserve it.

"Just leave it alone Gale," she muttered, accepting his cup. She took a long sip and nearly gagged at the taste of fruit punch and cheap vodka, but it would have to do. Truthfully, she wanted to go for Peeta, but she wasn't sure how. Throwing herself at him just seemed like a good idea at the time. Would it work twice? Wrinkling her nose, she took another long gulp and silently wondered if Peeta was drinking.

"You worried those girls gonna laugh at you if you let a boy get close to you this summer?" he asked, motioning to Glimmer and her lackeys.

"No."

"They're being pretty bitchy about that redhead and Marvel. I'd be shocked if she ever looks at him again."

"Can't say that I blame her."

"Katniss don't let stupid girls get in the way of being happy and having some fun for a change. You're bummed about something, I can see it."

"Why is it always about guys? Who says it's about a guy, Gale?"

"Never said it was," he grinned. She took another gulp of his drink and frowned. "You've never let fear stand in your way before, Catnip. What's all this about?"

Katniss glared across the fire as Glimmer walked up to Marvel and Peeta. "Introduce me to your friend," she giggled.

Katniss rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that night.

She watched as Peeta shook her hand and the hand of the girl next to her. "This is Wiress."

Wiress was a leggy, completely gorgeous Asian girl with long, jet black hair and the prettiest almond shaped eyes Katniss had ever seen. She stretched a perfect hand out to Peeta and shook it, offering him a charming smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Oooh! You guys would be so cute together! Look at him blush, ohmigod, I think he likes her," Glimmer cackled.

Peeta blushed and yanked his hand back, shaking his blonde head as he tried not to laugh. "I just….stop," he chuckled. He turned to Marvel for help, but the other blonde boy just laughed. Peeta smiled politely at Wiress before glancing over at Katniss. She looked away quickly, only to find herself looking at him again. Glimmer practically shoved Wiress at him, laughing loudly as they both acted embarrassed. Before Katniss knew what was happening, Peeta was all smiles as he made polite conversation with Wiress. The beautiful girl laughed at something he said and touched his arm flirtatiously.

Katniss felt her face grow hot. She had missed her chance again.

Some people have asked why I write shorter chapters for this story - shorter chapters mean faster updates. Simple as that. I could write longer ones, but it would take me a lot longer to post. They will stay beween 1000-2500 words a piece. Real Life is hectic right now, so I'm doing the best I can.

That said, I was a 'review reply' fail this time - please know that I read and LOVED every single review and they served as wonderful motivation. I used to time I usually spend replying to them to write - I hope you don't mind!

Please check out my blog! I posted a lot of pics that inspired the story. Look under the 'Cruel Summer' tab.

Hope you liked this! Please review - I'll be back to post again before you know it!