Later that night, well, evening, I'm back at home.
A lot has happened over the course of a few hours.
Dad is in jail.
Mom is our only parent.
And now in currently unpacking all the boxes.
"What time is it?" I call.
"Six!" Mom calls. I gasp and jump up, going downstairs.
"Momma, can I please go to the game? I don't even have to sleep over!" I say.
"Go ahead. You can sleep over honey just...please be careful." She whispers.
"Thank you!" I run upstairs and grab my old jersey, that's white with a number 6 on the back in blue. It's loose but my size. It's the kind with holes in it so I put a jet black tank top underneath it.
I can't call my friends because Mom is still working in getting service back into my phone.
I slide on black shorts.
"Katniss, I actually need you home tomorrow morning. I have to go get control over the computer company. It says in the contract that is anything happens to your father, I can now the owner. I have to go take care of that and I need someone here to take Prim to the school for her test to see if she's joining high school or not." She says.
"Okay Mom," I button my shorts. I transfer everything in my purse to my smaller backpack and pull on my vans. She gives me thirty dollars.
"Have fun sweetie. Please don't give in to peer pressure." I laugh.
"I won't, I promise." She hands me her iPhone.
"Use my phone till I get your service back. It will probably be back by the time you get home because I'm going to Verizon." She says.
"Can I go out to dinner with them after?" I ask. She hands me thirty more dollars.
"Okay, but I want you home by midnight. You know the consequences if you break the curfew." She says. "And take your inhaler."
"I will!" I jog downstairs an grab my inhaler, taking my depression pill because I'm supposed to take it twice a day.
I hurry to my car. They said that if I'm coming to get there by six fifteen.
I speed to the bakery an get there by six twenty.
"They left honey, the guys had to get there." Mrs. Mellark says.
"Okay, I'll meet them!" I'm in a hurry. I wave and then hurriedly run to my car.
It's cold outside and I wish I brought a jacket. We're in a cold front and I'm freezing.
I put the hood up and head to Osceola.
I've never been to a football game. Ever.
I know the guys are probably in the locker rooms, so I take out Mama's phone and call Annie.
"Who the fuck is this?" Johanna sounds really pissed.
"I don't know where I'm going." I say.
"You're here?" She demands.
"Yes!" I snap.
"Park in the senior parking lot." She says.
"I am in the senior parking lot." I reply.
"Well get out of the fucking car!" She shouts.
"Stop being such an asshole! I didn't do shit to you!" I shout back as I get out of the car and slam the door. "Put Annie on the phone. I don't want to talk to you."
"Hey Kat." She says.
"Hey Ann, where am I going?" I ask.
"We're in line. Come find us." She says. I hoist my bag over my shoulder and walk off to the line. "Who's phone are you on? What happened to your phone?" She asks.
They don't know.
"I'll explain later. It's a long story." I sigh and hang up because I spot Johanna.
I walk right over to them.
"What happened to your phone?" They demand immediately.
"I'm using my mom's phone because my dad shut the service off on mine." I say.
"What the fuck! Why?" Jen says.
"Well...he kicked me out." They're jaws drop. "And I went to Peeta's and his mom was gonna take me in but I called the cops and got my dad arrested. My mom was forced by him with a gun so now I only have one parent. I have no service in my phone, and no dad."
"Oh Katniss," Annie says sadly, hugging me.
"I'm fine with it. Mama says I'll have my phone back on by the time I get home. I'm not sad. I didn't really like my dad anyways. He was an alcoholic." I note before we but our tickets.
"He was?" Allison asks.
"Yeah. He was real good at hiding it, but me, Prim, Mom and Zoe knew. Don't tell Peeta because he's gonna get real pissed. He was more angry then I've ever seen." I say. They nod.
"My lips are sealed." Annie promises. We buy our drinks and snacks and go to the bleachers and sit down.
"He was really upset you didn't come." Annie says.
"All of us were." Jen says.
They're already on the field, doing push-ups to warm up.
I immediately spot Peeta.
"God damn. He is so hot!" I say. The girls laugh.
"You took the words right out if my mouth." Allison says. I'm about to yell at her but she shakes her head. "About Travis." She laughs
"Oh...right." I say. We're in the front row.
"You need to get him to know you're here." Annie says.
"Yeah. Maybe you'll be a good luck charm. We haven't win a single game this season." Jo grumbles.
"Lets get his attention." I say.
"How?" Jo says.
"I don't know...um..." We're silent for a second.
They're too far for us to throw something.
Actually...I have some really good aim...
"A ball. Get a ball." I say. Johanna grabs a softball from her bag.
"What? I have softball class and I wanted to practice!" She says.
"Oh my god." I laugh as I get a sharpie. "Lets hope they don't need this back.
I write "look behind you!" In my swirly handwriting.
"Do you have good aim?" Jo asks.
"Yes." I say.
"Oh yeah, you played softball." She says. I nod.
I swear in on Peeta and throw the ball as hard as I can.
It gets him right in the ass and then flies backwards and gets someone in the face.
The person hit in the face looks behind his shoulder and spots me.
He winks at me and the girls start roaring with laughter.
The guy is staring at me. I shake my head and point at Peeta. He raises his eyebrows and then points at him. I nod frantically and he nudges Peeta, who stands up, looking pissed and irritated and upset.
I know that's my fault.
The guy says something. Peeta looks confused and says something back.
The guy points at me and Peeta follows his finger. His eyes light up and he grins and then looks down at the ball and picks it up. I see him laugh and then he looks at me and points at the ball, then me. I nod.
He pegs it back and I catch it effortlessly.
"That guy doesn't realize he hit on his teammates girlfriend!" Johanna is hysterical.
The coach, who is Smalley, sends the boys off and then walks away to converse with the other teams captain.
Peeta looks like he wants to say something, and then he looks back at Smalley and then just goes ahead and jogs over to where we were, not on the bleaches but in front of them.
I get up and go to the front, leaning on the railing.
"When did you get here?" He asks.
"I don't know. I got to the bakery at six twenty and your Mom said you left so I just came here." I say.
"Mellark!" Smalley shouts. "Stop conversing with your lady friend and get back over here!" Peeta and I both laugh.
"Hey," I say. I lean down and peck his lips. "Good luck," I say.
"Thanks." He says. He jogs back and ignores Smalley shouting at him as he goes back to practice.
Smalley shakes his head in an angry manner and storms over to me and starts shouting at me.
"Abernathy! Leave my boys alone!" He shouts at me. The bleaches fall silent while we argue back and forth and I'm starting to feel some of my issues sink in again. Plutarch walks over.
"Leave the girl be," he says.
"She's disturbing my boys!" He says.
"Leave her alone." He repeats.
Smalley shoots me a glare and walks off. Our argument was so loud that the microphone for the announcer picked it up and it echoed across the whole area.
"Hey Smalley! I bet that Peeta's going to score the winning goal because this girl right here!" Johanna shouts.
Smalley narrows his eyes. He said he's giving me detention.
"I'll make you a deal!" He shouts, walking back to us. "If your boyfriend scores the winning goal..." He oauses and is handed a microphone. "If your boyfriend scores the winning goal, not only will you not get detention, but I'll give you a hundred dollars." He says. "And if he doesn't, you get the detention AND you have to give me a hundred dollars." He says.
"Katniss, our team has never scored the winning goal." Johanna warns.
People are shouting at me not to do it.
"You know what." I say. "I'm gonna do it." Even Peeta is shouting at me not to do it. "You know why?" I say. "Because I trust Peeta." I say. "And Peeta?" I look at him. "Don't fuck this up." I warn while shaking hands with Smalley.
"Alright then! Let the games begin!" The announcer says as he takes his microphone back. "And may the odds be ever in your favor."

...

Six to three! We're six to three! We are winning! My throat is hoarse and I drink more Gatorade.
"I'm losing my voice!" I exclaim.
"Me too!" Johanna says.
"Me three!" Jen says.
"Me too!" Allison says.
"So am I!" Annie completes.
Peeta has the ball again. We start screaming and he makes it. Seven to three.
Smalley doesn't look mad, he looks ecstatic. His team is winning. We're playing Clearwater High school and they're really stressed.
We're in the forth quarter.
The other team scores and I feel my heart rate increase. Seven to four. Five.
Seven to seven.
We're seven to six.
"Come on Peeta!" I scream at the same time as the girls.
He's stressed beyond belief.
We have fifty eight seconds.
The other team scores and we're all freaking out.
Seven to seven.
Peeta gets the ball again and we're screaming like crazy.
3
2
1
Just as the timer beeps, he scores.
Eight to seven.
"Did we win?" I demand.
"We won!" Johanna screams. Smalley is honestly beyond shocked.
All four of us girls run out to the field.
Peeta spins me around.
"It's because of you! We won!" He says.
"I know!" I exclaim. He laughs at the fact that I lost my voice.
After that minute or two ago when I was saying how I was losing my voice, it went away completely.
"Kitty! You made us win!" Finn says, taking me from Peeta's arms and spinning me around in his.
Peeta takes me right back
Smalley walks over to me.
"I don't want your money." I say to say.
It's so strained that only Peeta can hear because his arms are wrapped around my middle back and my legs are bent, crossed, my arms wrapping around his neck.
"She said I don't want your money." Peeta says.
"Just don't give me detention and we're good." I say.
"She said don't give me detention and we're good." Peeta says.
"No. I gotta give you the money. It's part of the bet." He gives me one hundred dollars. I sigh and take it, shoving it in my back pocket.
"I gotta say Abernathy, you need to come to more games." Smalley says.
"I agree." Peeta cuts in. I roll my eyes, still cold because we're in that stupid cold front.
"Alright boys! Step away from the ladies and go home!" Smalley shouts.
Peeta pecks my lips.
"Are you sleeping over?" He asks.
"I can't. My Mom has to go get control over my Dad's computer company and I have to take Prim to school real early tomorrow morning to take that test." I say. He sighs.
"Oh..." He mumbles.
"Are you guys still going to dinner?" I ask. He nods. "Can I?"
"Why are you asking?" He demands. I laugh.
"My curfew is at midnight. I can't go over." I say. "Or I get my phone taken away for A few days. If I'm gone five minutes later then it's five days. If I'm gone two hours later and then one hundred twenty days." He raises his eyebrows and sets down down.
"I'll see you in a couple minutes." He pecks my lips and runs off.
The girls lead us across the field to the exit.
"Good call, Abernathy." Some people high five me. We all wait at my car. I sit on the hood and lay with my back against the window.
To my suprise, my phone, MY phone starts ringing. I sit up and pull it out.
"Hello?" I ask. My voice is super quiet but they'll manage.
"IT WORKS MOM!" Prim screams.
"Are you still at the game?" Zoe asks. I'm on speaker.
"No. I bet Smalley a hundred dollars and no detention that Peeta would win the game and I was right. I got a hundred more dollars!" I'm laughing.
"We actually won?" Zoe exclaims.
"Yup." I say.
"Hey Katniss, Mom wants you to bring home milk." Prim says.
"Okay. Tell her I said thanks for fixing my phone." I say.
"Alright," they hang up.
"Got your phone fixed?" Allison asks.
"Yeah," I say.
"It's so quiet it's scary and awkward." Annie says.
I get up and start my car. I put the top down and turn on the radio, put the lights on high beam and blast my P!nk CD through the stereo.
We all dance around the car, scream singing the song.
There's still some people; a lot of people here and they're looking at us like crazy.
But eventually, people start to join us.
I can hardly sing because I've got no voice. I clear my throat multiple times and down more water, and to my utter surprise, it comes back.
Is even possible? Eh, who cares.
Slut Like You comes on and we all start laughing and cheering.

Tell me something new
Cause' I've heard this
Okay I'll fuck you!
A little taste test!

There's a ton if people joined now. I'm freezing cold but I say nothing.
The football team comes out, looking confused, but them Finn jumps in and starts to twerk, so the rest of the guys join.
Plutarch actually starts to film us. The song changes and we keep going.

So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right way

Just as fast as my voice came, it's gone again.

So raise your..aw fuck!

The song ends and I out up a finger and climb over the door and get my Eminem CD from the middle console and switch it out.
"Wait!" Johanna pauses it. "We need a Rihanna!" Everyone immediately looks at me. I shake my head and point at my throat.
"You lost your voice?" Finn asks. I nod.
"Here!" Rye hands me a cough drop. "Chew it and then drink lots of water!" He says.
I hate not being able to talk. I do exactly as he says and everyone holds their breath in hopes it works.
"It worked!" I exclaim. They all cheer.
"Now play it!" Someone orders.
Johanna plays the music and I start at Rihanna.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and here me cry
Well that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Then Eminem comes on and all the guys rap it, except for Peeta. He won't rap. He says he sounds like a dead horse.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Eminem comes right back on and I cut off. "Stand" and "watch" on my part are really high but I can easily get them out.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
Well that alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
Well that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

The songs ends.
"Guys! We have to go!" Peeta calls. People utter protests.
I look at the time to see its eleven. I have one hour to go out to dinner and come home with milk.
"Yeah, I have to be home in an hour and I live down on the beach." I speak up. People all say goodbye and Peeta shuts off the music.
"I have to get milk from the store too." I say.
"You can't sleep over?" He asks.
"My Mom has to go get control over my Dad's company and I have to take Prim to school real early tomorrow to see if she starts high school." I say.
"Oh..." His face falls. "How early?" I shrug and text Prim.
Me: how early do you have to be at school tomorrow?
Prim: I have to be there at nine
Me: okay
Now I'm kind of mad.
"She doesn't even have to be there till nine!" I complain. "I can be home by nine!" I pout for a minute and then dial Prim.
"Yes?" She asks.
"Put Mom on the phone." I order. She sighs and then there's a pause.
"Yes honey?" She asks.
"Why can't I sleep over if Prim doesn't have to be there till nine?" I whine.
"Don't start." She says.
"Mom! Please?" I beg
"No Katniss." She says.
"Why?" I demand.
"Because I don't want you getting pregnant!" She says.
"I'm not going to get pregnant!" She's so embarrassing!
"Fine. Sleep over. Don't come crying to me when you have a baby."
"Thanks bye." I hang up before she can change her mind.
"Well?" Rye demands.
"She said yes." I say.
"Yes!" Annie exclaims.
Peeta is muttering a song under his breath.

Doesn't matter when
It's always a good time then

I grin.

Doesn't matter where
It's always a good time there

I sing my part. He looks up at me and his face goes slightly red. I laugh.
I'm on the hood of my car and he's next to me.
"What did your mom say?" He asks.
"She said no." I lie.
His face falls. "Oh."
He moves in front of me. I wrap my legs around his wast and my arms around his neck. He stands up and now is holding me with his hands on my butt. I laugh. He looks so sad.
I lean in and place a gentle feather kiss on his lips.
"Peeta," I whisper, a hairline from his lips. "I'm just kidding." I whisper.
He gasps and backs up to look into my eyes. "You're allowed?" He asks excitedly.
"Yes I'm allowed!" I laugh. "But I almost didn't tell you." I say.
"Why?" He demands.
"Because you were so upset. It was adorable." I say, brushing a curl out of his face.
"You guys are disgusting." Johanna gags. We both tense, both having forgotten we had an audience.
"Your just jealous." I say.
"I am not." She says defensively.
"Yes you are. Don't you just wish you could make out whenever you want to?" I tease her. She glowers at me and I laugh.
"You guys hardly make out." She says. "I have never seen you make out."
"I'll bet you haven't made out since you had sex." Rye teases.
"So?" I narrow my eyes.
"At least I have a girlfriend." Peeta snaps, setting me down on the hood of my car.
"Screw you!" Rye snarls.
"Oh calm down," Peeta says. "Don't get mad becaus girlfriend and you don't."
Instead of replying like I thought he was going to, he punches Peeta in the face. They immedatedly start fighting, punching and shouting nonsense.
I think we're all in too much shock to do something, because Peeta and Rye don't fight. Especially not Peeta.
But when Peeta starts bleeding, in snap.
"Stop!" I struggle to shout from my lost voice, grabbing Peeta's arm and Rye's arm, shoving both of them back. They're panting and glaring at one another.
I open my mouth to say something and not a sound comes out.
It's gone completely.
They're silently watching me.
But to all our surprise, I start crying.
Peeta goes to comfort me but I angrily shove his hand away, shaking my head.
"Your mad at me?" He's angry. I nod. "Why! I didn't do anything!" He says.
I can't even say anything...
I pop the trunk and get my backpack, getting out my notebook and pen.
Yes you did
"No I didn't! He was purposely pissing us off!" He says.
He was joking mad you damn well know it. And he didn't piss me off, you pissed him off
"So you're on his side?" He asks.
There's no "sides" this isn't a civil fucking war, Peeta!
"Whatever," he's pissed. He starts ignoring me. I then realize this is our first fight. Ever.
Whatever?
He nods with an annoyed expression on his face.
Fine. I'm going home
"Katniss!" Jen protests. I drop the notebook and pen in the backseat and get in the front.
"Katniss! Don't go!" Jo shouts. I ignore them and press the gas while putting the hood up and buckling my seatbelt. Nobody is here now. I speed right out of the parking lot.

...

I walk into the house and put the milk in the fridge, crying.
I must be being loud because Mom, Prim and Zoe come into the kitchen, looking nervous before they see its me.
They were sleeping. Mom check the time. It's eleven fifty nine.
"I thought you were spending the night..." Mom asks carefully.
I turn to the whiteboard on the fridge
I was
"Why are you writing everything down?" Prim asks.
Lost my voice...
"Why are you crying?" Zoe asks.
Peeta and I got into our first fight...
"Oh honey," Mom whispers. "What happened?"

...

My alarm blares at seven thirty. They stayed up with me till one and listened to me, or read. They promised me its gonna be okay but I don't think it is. I think he's going to break up with me.
I step out of the shower and pull on a sweatshirt while still wearing my bra and jeans. I slide on my boots and go downstairs. Mom is already gone. My phone has tons of missed calls and texts.
"Don't forget your luny pills." Prim says. I glare at her and she laughs. "I'm just kidding." I sigh.
"What if he doesn't break up with me?" I whisper.
"Hey! Your voice is back!" She says while I down my pill. "But he won't." She says. "I promise."
I sigh and head outside. She follows me.

The whole ride, I test her on everything she could possible need to know about this test and she gets them all right.
I drop her off.
"Call when your done." I say. She nods and walks inside the school.
I go right back home.
Zoe and I lounge around for a while, doing nothing.
My phone starting ringing.
"Hello?" I ask.
"I'm done." She says.
"I'm on the way." I hang up.
Zoe grabs all three of our longboards and follows me to the car.

...

We don't even go inside, we just ride off.
"Where to?" Prim asks. She gets the results tomorrow.
"I don't know. Lets just ride. You guys lead." I say.
They take off and I follow them.
"What song?" Zoe calls when we get close to the pier.
I'm too preoccupied on my phone so I don't answer.
"Katniss! Watch it!" Prim screams. I look up from iFunny and nearly collide with someone. I swerve around them.
"Sorry!" I call, kicking and going faster. I get a text from Finn.
Finn: you need to come to the bakery. Now
Me: ...why?
Finn: Peeta's trying to kill himself!