Here you go. An actual update of over 2000 words...
Well I have some news at the bottom AN if you'd like to read it once you finish...
P.S: I nearly lost this chapter tonight and had a panic attack, if that would've happened this wouldn't have been here tonight so be glad :)
- The song for this chapter was in a Katniss/ Peeta YouTube video, I fell in love with it 3 -
Oh and someone asked about Peeta's POV well I have something like that this Chapter! But it's like third-person kind of thing.
Enjoy, and read on people!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except this story plot.
Tell me the way you've been (so long)
I want to go along and pretend that it's dawn
That's the start not the close
"Wolf's law" by: The Joy Formidable
Chapter 13: Introspection
That means I'm not the only one in these woods right now.
I instantly know their a girl without turning around I can tell so by the higher pitch of voice, but the big question is - who is the girl behind me?
My lungs sharply inhale as if I'm embracing myself for the huge reveal. Slowly, I turn my body toward them.
Our eyes connect and I suck in a cold breath of air like I just got off a long run ans I'm out of breath - that isn't the case at all I'm nearly in shock.
Immediately I recognize the girl before me. Her thick long dark-hair and eyes the color of fresh grass wouldn't be forgettable.
Annie, the new girl, the one who now hangs out with Peeta and Finnick stands there.
I can't even blink.
Why is she in here, it can't be any later than nine in the morning.
I cross my arms over my chest like I'm trying to hide myself from her eyes.
Who will be the first to talk, should I, or she, or maybe silence.
Silence doesn't happen.
"Katniss," she breathes out and nods her head as a greeting. The morning is so cold you can see each breath she takes, the sun throws an orange glow on her face.
"Annie," I reply monotonous in an instant unsure of what else to say.
I mean these aren't my woods I can't just kick her out.
But what do I do, Walk away, talk?
Suddenly the realization strikes me. Behind me is my tree what if she sees the bags, what if looks at my messy hair- What if she puts the pieces together.
I begin fidgeting nervously, my feet aren't still, I'm bouncing on my toes -my nervous habit.
Do something Katniss!
But she speaks before I. "I - uh found this and though I'd give it back, and I just figured you'd be in the woods."
I don't know what she's talking about as she begins digging in through the front pocket of her olive-colored pants.
She said she 'figured I'd be in the woods,' something isn't right why would she suspect me to be in the woods?
"Katniss," a bird echoes my name in a distant tree as if reminding me of the question from earlier of wondering how they learnt my name. But I wouldn't dare asking Annie, could it be her, or maybe Glimmer? After all Glimmer is the reason I must stay away from Peeta, it's a fact she knows the truth of how I live. She must be the only one to know too - if this gets to far and turns into a rumor a school official could hear and they too would look into it to see if it's the truth. And when they find out is, well, I'd immediately be hauled of to some homeless care center or orphanage and that is the last thing I want.
Annie snaps me out of these thoughts when she thrust her gloved hand towards me. In it is a folded-up piece of paper, it's wrinkled and you can tell it's been creased multiple times.
I slowly reach out and take it. "Thank you?" It more of a question than a statement.
She nods silently saying your welcome. I look up from the paper in my hands at the sound of her voice piercing the silence. "It has your name on it I figured it belonged to you."
I bite my lip and nod having no reply for her.
Her small hand lands on my shoulder, my eyes widen and I instinctively stiffen. I know even with those thin red mittens on she can still feel the cold radiating off my body. She removes her hand nearly three seconds later like she can tell she crossed some invisible boundary.
She turns on her heels and begins to walk in the direction of the exit of the forest. "I'll see you at school Monday, Katniss!" She calls over her shoulder before disappearing behind an immense snow covered tree. I don't even bother yelling back, what could she mean she'll see me at school Monday? I thinks she's just a friendly person honestly - you just wouldn't expect to come across one they're so rare, I mean there's Peeta - and Prim, Finnick (in a different way.) Maybe Annie. Odd thing is they all hang out together. What's even more odd is I spent time with them at one point, I couldn't see why though I'm nothing like them.
I look down at the note in my hand. I should read this.
I sink into the base of my tree and slowly open it my veins buzzing with anticipation of what it could say. I open it.
My eyes reel across the page as I read it.
Katniss, I'm sorry.
That's it no name, nothing else than my name and I'm sorry. Who wrote this, is it a joke?
I sigh and climb back up the tree unsure of what to do with myself now, I don't even think I could do anything now with my thoughts consuming me like this. Maybe I could sleep more, It's definitely to cold now to clean my hair up at the un-freezable stream.
For some reason when I get to my branch I open my black bag and shove the note deep inside of it, I'm not exactly why I'm saving it instead of ripping it up and letting and blow away in the nippy mid-morning breeze.
Maybe I'm just really curious of who it could be, or it could be something completely different. I don't even know myself or my feelings. I just haven't been sure of anything lately.
Not even myself.
- Monday Morning-
I'm about half way to school now, my feet scraping against the cracked-sidewalk as I walk. I usually would have to sneak in early this morning and shower, but yesterday at the warmest point of the afternoon I managed to clean up enough to make myself presentable. I still automatically woke up to early but I just lied there and thought - for hours. My only concern is I hope I don't smell to much like stream water, if someone were to ask I'd probably say 'I was trying this new perfume' or something like that. I snort at the thought, perfume, so expensive, who could afford that crap - I mean girls like Glimmer could, but those disgusting sickly sweet scents these days that make you sick, I think they're doing more repelling of guys than attracting. However those are usually the ones you'd find in a closet with a guy though.
Out of no where Annie appears and matches my stride, replacing my thoughts of perfume with internal questions of what is doing here?
I come to a halt and turn to her, "what are you doing here?"
"Walking with you to school," she replies simply.
"Yes but why? I mean me?" I ask exaggerating 'me.' She's from the merchant side after all why would she walk all the way over here to walk with me to school.
"Why not you, there's nothing wrong with you."
I want to tell her otherwise but I don't even bother, she should know who I really am at school by now. "Fair enough."
We walk for maybe three minutes before she speaks up.
"I know your situation."
My heat drops, is she implying what I think she is implying? "Excuse me?"
"You're homeless I figured it out." She says knowingly shrugging.
"Do not tell anyone," I hiss.
"No promise me you won't," I quickly add before she can speak.
"I won't I promise." She says firmly as I eye her from underneath my over-grown bangs.
"Okay."
A few seconds of silence.
"I brought it up because I thought I'd tell you, you can tell Peeta this, he cares about you - he didn't say anything but I can tell, he knows something's but he can't figure it out and he's worried sick for you." Her words shock me but I quickly brush them off as un-true.
"Well, if he brings it up tell him he doesn't need to worry about me and that I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself." I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth, I wouldn't really say that to him but I don't dare reclaim my words. It's better to push him away from me.
"It's just a suggestion, but seriously consider it."
It's the moments when our eyes accidentally touch that I wish there were some way that I could speak to him but not get into anything with Glimmer. It's those times I wish I was normal, average, anything other than girl on the sidelines who watches everything around her, understands everything around her but does not acknowledge anything around her. It's when I wish I am better than who I am, I wish I didn't look like dirt to others eyes, I wish I could cry sometimes maybe be a little more human.
Although I'm sure it's stupid, this is who I am and all I'll ever be, there's no way around that. These thoughts of mine - they're stupid nonsense too.
I know this is who I am and all I'll ever be, you couldn't change that. No one can, not even myself.
I remember being different when I was younger, the sight of Peeta is just a reminder like we're living in that moment all over again. Somehow everything good seems to be associated with him. Like the times I would be at recess in grade school and he'd always be sitting on top of the monkey bars kicking his legs, and I'd turn and make eye contact with him and giggle. Strangely enough it's true. Or when he and I watched Prim and Finnick bicker over the dreaded sugar-covered pretzels Finnick loves, both of us smiling at the exchange.
In another life, he would have made a good friend. One maybe I would've have strongly trusted.
But if one's thing's true, I know it's safer to stay the way I am now.
That's what I should do. I don't want too. I've gone against my instincts before, I just might again.
I will consider talking to Peeta when Glimmer is not looking.
Peeta's POV (Third-person:)
-Monday-
The crunch of the apple Finnick was currently eating was probably the loudest sound in the schoolyard, it was a free period and Peeta and Finnick were outside.
They sit quietly on the bench under the covering of the school as the snow has been really heavy and persistent today. Although Finnick is never quiet he seems to always have something say. But today he has a quiet demeanor and his face is scrunched in a thoughtful way, he looks like doesn't even know Peeta's less than a foot away from him.
Peeta doesn't blame him, he infer he's acting this way because early he invited Annie to meet up with them during free period which has just begun and it's already a fact that Finnick has strong adoration for Annie.
His eyes dart to the front doors of the school waiting for the second she slips out the door, Peeta doesn't need to ask him he already knows this is on his mind. Finnick finishes the apple and carelessly tosses the core which lands five feet next to them with a 'thunk' as it sinks into the glistening white snow.
At the click of the door Finnick nearly falls off the bench, he quickly sits up and waves Annie over to them.
Annie quickly trots across the schoolyard and falls onto the bench beside Finnick as she says hi to both.
Finnick and Annie sink into the usual conversation, which means Finnick casually flirting with her, this somehow makes Peeta a little jealous. He wishes he knew why Katniss turned from the group.
It must be something I did, he thinks to himself.
Maybe I moved to fast, or I said something wrong. I wish I knew.
After five minutes Finnick mentions Katniss, he asks where has she been.
Anything running through Peeta's mind is dropped as he listens to the conversation.
Annie silently shrugs her face blank.
Peeta takes notice of it right away. Annie usually always has something to say but today she quieter in a strange way, looking anywhere but Peeta, like she knows something he doesn't.
Like she has a secret that could affect Peeta.
Peeta sees this, he doesn't say anything however.
But he doesn't know that actually is the case and not just a thought.
So the news is I've been making a trailer for this story, (on my phone.)
For those who want to see the trailer once I finish it, you'll know when it's up trust me, I'll let you know.
Well please review I'm going to get on that trailer. :)