Chapter 11
"Reports of more violence in the streets of Panem have emerged today as 2 more men, both in their early 20s, have been admitted to hospital with head and back injuries. 23 year Beetee Latier is suspected of several broken vertebrae in his back after he was pushed through a window by a Panem City fan. There are doubts if he will be able to walk again."
"These latest attacks follow almost 2 months of violence in the city. All attacks have been football motivated and increased in numbers since the two football teams were pictured having a brawl at a local club in December. The FA encourages both Panem City and Panem United to set a good example to their fans and showcase a display of unity. The FA has threatened to close the door to fans at the next derby match between the teams in just over a month's timeā¦"
Mum angrily presses the off button to shut off the dour news reporter on the TV. She lets out an exasperated sigh as she turns to face the rest of the family.
"This is totally ludicrous! There has always been a fierce rivalry between the two teams. There is nothing we can do to stop it. It is ridiculous to ask us to work with the Everdeens," Mum says.
The rest of us sit on the fluffy white sofas in my parent's living room. The FA has issued us with a cause for concern over our encouragement of our fans to fight Panem United. They have suggested that the two clubs do a series of photo opportunities that show the two clubs working together and in the process encourage the two sets of fans to respect one another. This has not gone down well with my family and Mum demanded that we have a family meeting to discuss it.
Haymitch has also been invited but he just sits slumped in the corner swirling around a glass of scotch.
"Football needs rivalry. It thrives on it," Haymitch comments.
Rye and Dad both nod their heads enthusiastically in agreement.
"But people are getting hurt. Maybe it is time we make a statement to try and change things," I say.
I agree with the fact that friendly rivalry can be good for the game. It can create great debates and atmosphere. But this violence is unnecessary. Football is supposed to bring large groups of people together but at the moment it is tearing our city apart.
It is getting harder to walk down the street without some bit of abuse being shouted across the street. The regional news bulletins are filled with stories of various attacks and acts of vandalism. City fans have recently been found guilty of spray painting "Fucking Miner Twats" on the side of the United football stadium. The local police are struggling to keep things under control.
I have come to think that we need to be the ones that need to change. It is our hatred towards the Everdeens that fuels this hooliganism. Maybe it is time we did something to address this.
However my suggestion is met by a series of fierce glares from my family. They clearly do not want to bury the hatchet with the Everdeens.
"Mellarks and Everdeens can't work together. The fight at the club only proves that. They have cheated and stole from us. I don't want to be associated with the likes of them and anyone in this family who suggests otherwise can leave," Mum says coolly.
Rye looks over me with a pointed look. He knows Mum would kill me if she found out what I was doing with Katniss.
I avert my gaze quickly to avoid his stare. I don't need a reminder of his disapproval.
He has kept my secret about Katniss from both of our parents. He only does so to give me time to break things off with her. He rightly thinks that with everything else going on my parents don't need the extra stress. He barely talks to me unless it is about an upcoming match or his latest attempt to try and convince me to stop things with Katniss. His disgust for my relationship is clear and I hate that he is shutting me out as a result. After losing Finnick it is extremely hard to think that I might lose my brother as well.
For the first time since I have started seeing Katniss I have questioned my sense over it all. I have started to doubt the future of our relationship. Rye is only one member of my family and he has all but exiled me. The rest of my family are probably only going to react worse. Am I ready to risk losing my family for her? Mum lets out another heavy sigh as she paces the floor in front of us.
"We have more important things to worry about. With this latest string of bad results we are in danger of being knocked out of all competitions. If we do not win the Champions League Addidas has threatened to pull their sponsorship. We can't afford that," she says.
Dad nods his head dejectedly. Results have only slightly improved since Christmas. We are out of the running of all cup competitions apart from the Champions League, the competition that crowns the best club in Europe, and we are so far off the pace in the league it would take a miracle to win it. If we don't win the Champions League trophy this year we will not be entered into the competition next year and all the money from sponsorship and TV deals will be lost as a result. The club finances won't be able to cope with the loss.
"You boys need to concentrate only on your game for the next few months. I want no distractions. You will bring that trophy home in May," Mum says determinedly.
Both Rye and I nod our heads like scolded children. Mum nods her head sharply before she declares that the meeting is over. Everyone gets up to leave and tries not to think about how our livelihood is being threatened.
I follow Rye out into the hallway as we make our way back to our respective homes. Rye looks at me coldly as we walk down the corridor silently. I hate the contempt that is in his eyes now when he looks at me.
"So is this how it is going to be? You are just going to keep on ignoring me?" I ask.
"Have you broken up with her yet?" Rye asks.
"No," I reply looking down at my feet.
"Then yes. I am going to keep on ignoring you. What you are doing is disgusting," he says harshly.
"I can't help who I fall in love with. Are you telling me that if Madge had been an Everdeen you would have been able to stop yourself falling for her?" I say.
Rye spins round to face me with anger in his eyes.
"How dare you bring her into this? She has nothing to do with this!" Rye yells.
I cower back slightly at the intensity of his voice.
"I would have never got in the situation in the first place. I would have walked away the second I realised who she was," Rye says.
He takes a step towards me and backs me against the wall.
"Where is your family loyalty? This is the girl whose brother slept with my wife, whose father conned our dad into a bad deal. Our club could be dead because of her family," he spits.
I stare back at him sadly. I have not forgotten about what the Everdeens have done but Katniss has not been involved in any of it. She is separate to them in my mind. I don't want to have to choose between her and my family but as Rye continues to stare at me with contempt I realise I will need to make the decision sooner rather than later.
"No wonder the team is playing so badly. You are too busy fucking the enemy," Rye sneers.
"You are not being fair. I put my all into that team," I defend.
Rye pulls back and shrugs his shoulders.
"Then prove it. Break up with her and be the captain the team needs you to be," he replies as if it should be an easy thing to do.
I stare at him in disbelief that he can talk to me in this way. I am not prepared for the extreme disgust he has when he looks at me. The reality of what would happen if Katniss and I ever revealed our relationship is all too horrible.
Just then Mum's heels can be heard clacking down the hallway. She stops behind us and looks at us with a frown.
"Are you two arguing again? I don't like it when my boys fight. We need to stand united as a family in times like these," she says.
Rye stares at me coldly as he answers.
"I know that Mum. Peeta is the one that you should be worried about," he says.
He stares at me for a few moments longer before he turns and stalks out the house. Mum looks at me in confusion but I can only smile weakly at her and shrug my shoulders pretending that I don't know what he is talking about.
Mum purses her lips, not quite believing me.
"You look tired," she states as she reaches to caress my cheek.
I let out a weary sigh. With things bad at the club and between Rye and I haven't been sleeping as well lately. I am beginning to find everything emotionally exhausting.
"I know I put a hard front on when talking about the club but your health is my priority. I can't have my baby getting ill from the stress of it all. Go home and get some rest. And whatever is going on with Rye sort it out," she says.
I smile at her tiredly. If only things were that simple.
She smiles at me tenderly before she pats me on the shoulder and wishes me a good night. As I turn to leave I begin to fully understand the hopelessness of my situation with Katniss. Doubts about our relationship raise themselves again.
The next night is Valentine's Day and Katniss has been very secretive about the plans she has for me. She phoned me earlier in the week to make sure I made no plans and to tell me to just turn up as my usual charming and handsome self. To say I am intrigued is an understatement. I am often the one to make the plans in our relationship and it is slightly strange to see Katniss so secretive and excited about her plans.
I stand outside her door clutching a bunch of red roses as I wait for her to open it. I didn't know how dressed up she wanted me to be so I decided for a crisp blue shirt and chino trousers. Annie has made plans to be somewhere else tonight and I stand outside a little nervous about what Katniss has planned.
Katniss opens the door wearing a short navy dress with an embellished top and sleeves. She smiles at me broadly as she opens the door.
"Happy Valentine's Day," I say leaning in to give her a kiss.
She smiles as I pull away and takes the roses out of my hand.
"Are these for me?" she asks as she brings them up to her nose to smell them.
"No. They are for my other girlfriend. I am going to see her when I'm finished here," I joke.
Katniss swats at my arm but the smile remains on her face as she leads me through to the kitchen and places the flowers in a vase.
As hard as I have tried to forget Rye's words about family loyalty they still ring in my ears. I suddenly feel a little guilty for being here. I hate fighting with my brother and our latest fight has plagued me the last 24 hours.
I don't want this night to be ruined but by being here I am reminded how hopeless our relationship is. I can't take her out tonight like every other boyfriend would do on Valentine's Day. We have to stay hidden.
Once Katniss has put the flowers away she turns to me with an excited sparkle in her eye. I push my doubts aside to try and just enjoy the moment.
"I think you are going to like what I have planned for you tonight," she says with a smile.
I raise my eyebrows at her before pulling her in by the waist and giving her a cheeky smile.
"As long as it ends up with you naked and writhing underneath me I am sure it will be perfect," I say leaning into gently bump my nose with hers before I bend down to give her a kiss.
Katniss smiles as she pulls away and tugs on my arm.
"Come on," she says with a grin. "I can't wait any longer to show you it."
I look at her curiously, my intrigue over what she has planned for me only intensifying as she drags me through to her living room.
When we enter I see that the living room has been completely transformed. The TV has curtains draped round it and the sofa has been placed in front of it with popcorn and champagne sitting beside it.
To the side of the sofa a set of bowling pins have been set up and indoor bowling balls are placed at the opposite end.
In the corner of the room there seems to be a tent that has its flap open. When I peek inside I see there is a blanket and picnic basket.
I turn to Katniss with a confused look and she looks up at me like a kid on Christmas morning. She holds onto my hand tightly as she bounces up and down on the balls of her feet in excitement.
"You are always complaining that you can't take me out on dates so I decided to bring the dates to you," she says with a big smile.
She tugs gently on my arm as she leads me round the room showing me the various dates she has set up.
"First we have a night at the theatre where we are going to see a live production of Billy Elliot," she says as she leads me to the TV and picks up a DVD of a live recording of the ballet musical.
The curtains on the TV make sense now. They are supposed to represent the curtains in the theatre. I am touched that she has added so much detail.
"Then we have bowling where you can finally show me that bowling prowess that you keep boasting about," she says as she leads me past the indoor bowling she has set up.
"And finally, the best part," she says with a sparkle in her eyes as we approach the tent.
She bends down to crawl into the tent and gestures for me to follow.
"A picnic under the stars," she declares.
As I crawl into the small space Katniss gestures for me to look up. When I do I see that she has hung fairy lights on the roof of the tent, making them resemble stars in the sky. I turn to her with an amazed smile. She bites her bottom lip nervously as she waits for my reaction.
"Do you like it?" she asks suddenly unsure of herself.
I look around the tent in awe. I can't believe she has put so much effort into tonight. Katniss has admitted herself that she finds the lovey dovey stuff in a relationship hard. She is so used to keeping her emotions in check but this is better than anything that I could have ever thought of.
I turn to her with a loving smile.
"You are amazing. Do you know that? I can't believe you would do all this for me," I say in awe.
Katniss smiles shyly at me.
"You are pretty special to me. I wanted to show you how much you mean to me," she says softly.
My heart melts at her words. She means a lot to me too. That's why I haven't been able to break up with her like Rye asked. I love her more than I have loved anyone in my life. It scares me a little how much I care about this girl and how her happiness is linked to mine. Particularly when I am uncertain of the future of the relationship.
"I love you so much," I say as I lean forward to cup her cheek and capture her lips.
Katniss melts against me as I slowly push her back against the blankets in the tent. Her hand reaches up to hold my face in place as we kiss leisurely.
After a moment Katniss puts her hand on my chest and pushes me back slightly.
"As much as I would like to skip the rest of the evening, I didn't go to all this effort for nothing," she says.
I smile down at her as I lean in to press a kiss to her forehead before I sit up and give her a hand to help her out of the tent. She smiles sweetly as I help pull her out of the tent and she smoothes the creases out of her dress as she stands up.
"I do believe we have a theatre show to see," she says as she makes her way over to the sofa. "We need to be dressed appropriately."
Katniss bends down to pull out a top hat and cane for me and a faux fur wrap and pearls for her. I laugh when I see the outfits and reach out a hand to grab the top hat.
"I apologise for not being in my suit and tails," I chuckle as I place the hat on my head.
Katniss laughs as she fixes her own wrap around her shoulders and gestures for me to take a seat.
I slump down on the sofa, holding my cane and watching her bum as she bends down to put the DVD in. She comes to join me quickly and snuggles down beside me. My arm automatically goes around her and I place a kiss on the top of her head as the music begins to play through the TV. I don't think I have ever been more in love with her than I am now.
The evening passes quickly as we enjoy the story of a small boy overcoming his mining background to achieve his dreams as a ballet dancer before we challenge each other to a game of indoor bowling.
Both our competitive natures kick in and we do the best to put each other off with kisses and tickles. My pride may have been hurt by her beating me if it wasn't for the triumphant glint in her eyes as she dances goofily and triumphant around me. I love seeing her this happy.
We end the night with her sitting between my legs and her back against my chest as we sit in the tent feeding each other strawberries.
"I can't look at strawberries the same way since that first night we spent together. I can still remember how you tasted as that juice dribbled down your chin," I say as I pop a strawberry in her mouth.
"You have gotten me wet just talking about it. You were extremely impressive that night," Katniss replies.
I smile and kiss the side of her head.
"What made that day different? Why did you decide to make your move?" I ask.
Katniss shrugs her shoulders.
"We had been dancing around each other for so long. I had gone to bed dreaming about you and at first I felt guilty. Guilty that I was betraying my family. But after a while I stopped caring. I just had to have you and I didn't care about what my family would think," she replies.
There is that mention of our families' opinions again. I had forgotten about them for a moment while we had fun tonight. It is all good to say we don't care what they think when they don't know but I think it will be very different if they ever do find out.
I push the thought of this aside, not wanting to spoil a really good evening. I tip her head back and engage her in a heated kiss. Katniss scrambles round in my lap until she is straddling me. There is a wicked glint in her eyes as I pull back to look at her.
"I think you mentioned something about me being naked and underneath you by the end of the night," she says teasingly as she slips her hands underneath the open top few buttons of my shirt and plays with the hairs at the top of my chest.
I let out a moan as I let my head fall back as she begins undoing the buttons of my shirt.
"I better get working on that," she says as she leans forward to place a kiss on my lips and she pushes the shirt off my shoulder.s
Once she has done so I grab hold of her arms and flip her beneath me. Katniss lets out a small shriek as I look down at her hungrily.
"You seem to be wearing too many layers of clothing," I say as I reach behind her to undo the zip of her dress and pull it down her torso.
She shivers as her skin is exposed and she reaches up greedily to find my lips. I kiss her deeply as my hands make their way down to cup her over the thin fabric of her bra. Her nipples have already begun to pebble through the fabric and I give them a strong tweak that causes her to let out a sharp cry.
I remove my lips from hers as I begin kissing a trail of kisses down her body. I don't wait much longer to remove the lacy black bra that she is wearing and I place a gentle kiss on the swell of her breast.
"You are so fucking perfect," I breathe as I make my way down her body.
Katniss lets out a breathy moan as my tongue sticks out to swirl around her nipple. I repeat the action and it is not long before she is squirming beneath me. My hand reaches up to massage her other breast as my tongue works the other and I feel Katniss buck her hips against me. As she does so her core brushes against my throbbing dick and I groan against her skin and I bite down on her nipple.
Katniss lets out a yelp but weaves her hands tightly in my hair to encourage me to keep going. I lavish her breast for a few moments longer before my dick begins to throb painfully in my trousers.
I growl as I pull away and Katniss whimpers at the loss of contact. I yank my trousers and boxers down as quick as possible before I am back kissing her needily. Katniss moans into my mouth as she wraps her legs around my hips to pull me closer. The tip of me gently brushes against her dripping folds and we both shiver with pleasure at the contact.
"I need you now Peeta," Katniss whimpers against my lips as she pulls me in for a deep kiss.
I nod my head in reply as I position myself at her entrance. I pause momentarily as I take her head in my hands and give her a long kiss.
"I love you," I state.
Katniss smiles up at me in reply. Slowly I begin to push into her and feel her walls stretch to accommodate me. We both moan as I feel every inch of her and her heels push into my ass to urge me to go deeper. When I can go no further we both stop to take in this moment together. Katniss looks up at me with complete love and adoration and my heart clenches with love for this girl.
Eventually she rolls her hips into me, encouraging me to move and I slowly pull out before I slowly push my way back in.
We set a slow and steady pace that is punctuated with sweet kisses and loving gazes. Katniss reaches up to brush the sweaty curls off my face as I thrust into her agonisingly slowly. I can feel every bit of her. Every ridge and inch of her walls. She feels magnificent.
Eventually I can't hold back any longer and I begin to slam into her with more purpose. With this change of pace I begin catching her clit just right and Katniss cries out in pleasure. Our pants get heavier as I quicken the pace and lean down to kiss her.
"God, I love you so much Katniss. So fucking much," I say through pants as I screw my eyes shuts and the pleasure intensifies.
"Yes Peeta! Right there! Oh God I love you so much too," she cries.
I silence her moans with a kiss and she comes suddenly and unexpectedly around me. I grip the blanket that is underneath us I drive into her in search of my own completion. She takes my head in her hands and gives me a sweet kiss. The sensitivity of it is enough to push me over the edge with a strangled cry.
I let the weight of my body rest on top of her, my head over her breast as we hold each other tightly. Katniss brushes the sweaty curls on top of my head before placing a kiss on top of them.
I pull her with me as I roll over and tuck her into my side. Katniss lets out a contented sigh as she snuggles into closer to me, her eyes already beginning to close.
Suddenly the image of Rye standing looking down at us with an angry and disproving look appears in my head and a sense of guilt comes rushing through me. Once again his words about family loyalty ring through my head as sleep pulls me under.
I sleep fitfully that night, tossing and turning in my sleep. My dreams are filled with my family that night. Mum and Dad finding out about Katniss and shouting verbal abuse at me. At one point I find myself naked in front of them as they pelt me with stones. I try to plead with them but they keep up chants of betrayal and deceit. They even manage to get hold of Katniss and I have to watch as each member of my family lines up to flay Katniss with a whip. I watch helplessly as the welts on her back rise up on her skin.
I wake early and in a cold sweat. The sun hasn't even risen and Katniss lies curled beside me in a ball. The fairy lights are still on above us. Shaken by my dream I crawl wobbly out of the tent. I grab my boxers as I do so and put them on as I stand up and make my way to the kitchen.
I pour myself a glass of water and gulp it down in one go trying to banish the memories from the dream. I drain the glass and immediately refill it again, taking a smaller sip this time and slumping in a chair at the kitchen table. I run a tired hand through my hair as the images from the dream still plague me.
I don't know what was different last night. Maybe Rye's constant disapproving words are finally having an effect on me. Maybe it is to do with the violence out on Panem's streets at the moment. Or maybe it the threat of the club going bankrupt but my doubts about our relationship plague me. I am struggling to see a positive outcome for us.
I love her. I know that much. But Rye is right to say that it can go nowhere. We are stuck in a place where we can't move forward. We have been seeing each other for 7 months. This should be the point in our relationship where we have met each other's families and begun to think about moving in together.
But we can't do that.
Who knows what type of hell would break loose if we told our families. We would probably be disowned. I don't trust our families not to inflict physical harm on one and another. We don't need that after the FA's warnings.
We can't just keep hiding and hoping that things get better.
I am broken out of my thoughts as Katniss pads through wearing my shirt from last night. She yawns and smiles at me sleepily as she makes her way over and bends down to wrap her arms around me from behind.
"You are up early," she says as she places a kiss on the side of my head before she draws up a chair to sit down beside me.
I smile at her weakly as I look over at her.
"Where is this going?" I ask abrutly.
The question startles Katniss and she pulls back slightly from me with a frown.
"I thought we had sorted this. We love each other. What else do you want?" she asks.
"I want it all Katniss. I want to hold your hand in public and take you home to meet my family. I want to make a home with you. A family," I reply passionately.
Katniss eyes widen in surprise. We have never talked about our future before.
I let out a heavy sigh as I turn to look down at the table.
"But I can't have that. This relationship is going nowhere," I state despondently.
"Where is this coming from? Has your brother said something?" Katniss asks a little angrily.
"Maybe he has but he's right. This relationship can't go anywhere from here," I reply.
"You are being ridiculous," Katniss says turning away from me and crossing her arms in frustration.
"What do you suggest we do then? Carry on keeping it a secret? Run off to Gretna Green to secretly get married. Hide the baby in the closet every time our families come over," I say.
"We are not getting married!" Katniss yells.
"Yes but we can never get married."
Katniss recoils at my last statement.
"What are you saying?" she asks.
I look at her sadly. I don't want to let her go but I can't be stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere. My heart can't take it. And maybe Rye is right. I need to focus on keeping the club alive right now.
"Maybe we need to take a break," I state solemnly.
I can see the pain wash over Katniss's as I say the words. The look in her face breaks my heart. I didn't ever want to see her this upset. But we will only hurt each other more if I let this go on any longer.
"Then leave," Katniss says the hurt and anger clear in her voice.
I fight the tears that threaten to fall as I prepare myself to leave her.
"I'm sorry," I say as I get up to go.
I lean down to place one last kiss on her head but she shifts away from me leaving my lips hanging in the air.
Her back is turned away from me as I stare at her for a few moments before I turn and leave.
A/N: Have faith in me. A happy ending is on the way. Just a few more chapters to get there.
I also want to promote the S2SL charity drive organised by streetlightlove. You can sign up and donate $10 before Valentines Day to gain access to a collection of sexy Everlark stories. I will be submitting my own one shot called The Scariest Thought. Anyone who signs up and donates will be helping a worthy cause.
