A/N: I'm back! Thanks for everyone that has been following up on the story but sorry for the confusion about whether the last chapter was the end of the story. There a still a few more chapters until the end , and you'll definitely know when it ends :) I will also update those chapters quicker than this one.
Anyway, enjoy Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14: END GAME
The car door slams in the dark, echoing down our street, signaling my arrival home. I linger for a moment as Peeta moves to the trunk and retrieves my luggage. He lifts it with ease even though I nearly toppled over trying to lift it from the carousel back at the airport. I walk up towards the porch and the door swings open, my hand barely brushing the knob. I peer in expecting Finn or Jo to be staring back at me but the hallway is empty. I step into the landing carefully eyeing a few red cups splayed across surfaces and the other nameless things strewn about. Peeta's noisy footsteps sound behind me.
"We were going to clean up a bit." He says nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Kat!" Finn's voice breaks the quiet. He bustles down the hall with his arms wide for a hug and I notice the slight wobble in his step. I hug him back tightly though.
"Did you guys have a party?" I ask curiously.
"Party's tonight Kat!" Finn announces while I notice Peeta looking sort of cautious. The distinct smell of alcohol lingers on his breath. "A welcome home party!"
"Welcome home?"
"That's right brainless." Jo appears from the kitchen slapping Finnick's shoulder. Maybe a little harder than necessary. "We missed you, you know." Her eyes roll in Finnick's direction. "And…Finnick's already drunk."
I laugh as Finnick tries to refute it but he stumbles into the wall while doing so. I shoot a curious glance at the other two but they don't give anything away.
"Let's put your stuff upstairs." Johanna suggests immediately taking the suitcase from Peeta. He tries to protest but she yells something about feminism and we both roll our eyes and follow, leaving Finn downstairs and talking to the T.V.
When my bedroom door clicks shut I ask, "What's wrong with Finn?"
A pause. "He had a bad day." Peeta hedges.
I shoot him a look. He looks to Johanna for help.
"He fought with Annie." Jo blurts out. "Don't ask him about it yet, okay?" Jo never pleads me but today she does. I take that to mean that something serious happened.
"What did they fight about?"
I see them try and trade glances. I ask again, my annoyance growing.
"It's not our place to tell you Katniss." Jo says to me softly.
I sigh knowing I can't argue with that. "Is everything okay?" I try. I feel like I've missed something while I was gone. Their behavior seems strange. Stranger than normal.
"We wanted to ask you that actually." Peeta cuts in smoothly effectively shifting my attention. "How are you?"
"I'm fine." I smile.
"And how was 12?" Jo asks.
I sigh and direct my attention more towards Peeta. I try to smile encouragingly. "I know I may have overreacted on the phone a little But I'm okay. Really. I'm a lot better. I fixed a lot of things up. More with myself than anything else. And I'm glad to be back. Everything seems…a bit less complicated now."
Suddenly I'm enclosed in a massive hug by the two of them. Their arms wrapped tightly around me. I can't see them but I can feel the warmth and the love. "We missed you." They both say.
"I'm missed you guys too. Now let's go party."
000
"So you're back."
I lift my head from inside the fridge, my hand pausing on the bottle inside. "Hey Cato." I grin.
"Happy to be back?" He asks casually.
"Definitely. I missed you guys."
"We missed you too Kat." He pops the top off his own bottle and takes a swig. "That's why Finn made us come over anyway." We both turn to the window where we can see onto the back porch and see Finn telling some sort of story to the others, his arms waving frantically in slightly uncoordinated motions.
My curiosity gets the best of me. I try to play it nonchalant. "Did you talk to Finn today?"
His eyes are guarded. I can tell because I grew up wearing a very similar expression. "I did. I heard about his fight with Annie. It's not really a big deal is it, Kat? I mean couples fight all the time."
It bothered me that he did have a point. And I was being nosy and controlling. And I was going to try and stop that. I came home vowing I would be better than that. "Yeah, you're right." I consent.
"Hey, you think you can come over tomorrow? I have some of your mail at the house." He shoves his hand in his pocket and takes another swig of the alcohol.
"Yeah no problem, Cato."
Outside music blares and we all congregate on the porch. It was a small party, just my housemates, Delly, Cato and Thresh. I liked it better this way. I think briefly of Prim and I hope she is okay. Luckily we'd made up before I left and I managed to go back home on a happier note. I wouldn't go back to State 12 until after my finals. I would put my trust in Haymitch and Prim. That didn't mean it didn't kill me though.
Delly is laughing about something that had happened the other day that I had no idea about. I wave at Thresh from across the circle and he smiles back. He moves closer to me.
"How was the trip?"
I roll my eyes slightly at how often I was going to explain this. "Good."
"Did you see Gale?"
My mind flashes briefly to that night when Thresh walked me home after my blow out with Gale. "Yeah. And we…made up, I guess."
He smiles a lopsided smile. "I knew you would. You two are too close not to."
"I love Peeta though." I admit cautiously, though I'm smiling.
"Oh I know that too." He leans closer to mutter in my ear. "He wouldn't admit it, but he missed you like crazy when you were gone. It was like he lost half of himself."
My smile grows. A comment like used to scare me but…not anymore.
"Thanks Thresh."
Delly gets my attention by clicking her fingers angrily in my direction.
"Take this."
She hands me a shot. Everyone else has one in their hand.
"Everyone in this together. One, two, three!"
000
Waking up next to Peeta definitely put a good start to the day. His breath was hot against my neck and even though I felt a little claustrophobic I relished the feeling. The alarm put a slight damper of things reminding me I had things to do today. I feel Peeta stir and in the next moment kisses were being pressed to my neck. I roll over sharply, slapping against him and give him one long good morning kiss.
"Morning beautiful." His voice was rough and incredibly sexy.
"Morning." I smile. "I missed this."
He sighs and hugs me tighter to his chest. "Like you wouldn't believe."
"I have to go to Cato's today. And Annie's I suppose." The second I say it I can feel him tense. It was almost imperceptible but it was there.
I try to roll to the edge of the bed to get the first shower of the day but his arms stop me. "Just stay for a few minutes."
"Peeta we have to get up." I chuckle.
"No we don't."
"Yes we do -" His lips are suddenly on mine in a much fiercer kiss than before. His hands grip my waist as his mouth moves roughly against mine. When we break away to breathe I laugh quietly.
"I guess I have a few minutes." I say, resting my chin on his chest.
We're both a bit flushed by the time we make it downstairs. Jo and Finn smirk a little but ignore my stupid grin plastered on my face. I grab a bottle of juice and a bagel before searching for my keys. Like usual Peeta finds them before I do and presses them into my hands.
"See you later." He pecks me on the lips.
I jog out to my car which I'd missed over the last week. Briefly I feel a wave of jealousy as I remember Prim's Jag while I look at my much less impressive car. I mean Haymitch gave me the money to buy this car yet he gives Prim a car that can triple my speed. Drunken bastard.
My first stop is Cato and Thresh's. I reach their small two bedroom in under five minutes. I still liked it better than my own house. Even with the few beer bottles in the grass and the cracked bricks on the path.
The door swings in before I knock. Cato's shirtless and in jogging shorts and trainers. Even though I don't intentionally look it's still a pretty pleasant sight.
"Hey, come in." He widens the door and steps back. I follow him as he walks towards the kitchen. "Have you written that essay that's due on Monday?" He asks over his shoulder.
Fuck me. "No." I sigh. "I don't even know if I'll graduate at this point. I've barely been to class lately."
He shrugs. "You have double the experience of anyone else in our year. Particularly with the Mel– um – you know that big case you've been working on."
Did Cato just stumble over his words? I frown at him but his head is in the fridge.
"Cato-"
I'm interrupted when the girl walks into the kitchen. And I'm completely thrown.
"Cato where is – oh hi!" She says when she sees me standing in the kitchen. I recognize her from campus. I was pretty sure her name was Clove. I'd heard the volleyball team talk about her and I knew she liked to get around. And now I was pretty sure Cato was fucking her since she was wearing nothing but her underwear and his shirt. I don't judge him for it. We don't always do the right thing. "Oh, yeah. Katniss Clove, Clove Katniss." He introduces us quickly completely unfazed by the situation. That doesn't surprise me either.
"Hi." I say quickly barely glancing at her. "Listen Cato I have to go."
He reaches for a few envelopes on the counter. "Here's your mail. I have something else, wait here."
He jogs down the hall to where I know his bedroom is. I glance awkwardly at Clove and notice how she is staring at me.
"Why does Cato have your mail?"
"Long story." I mutter. "Why are you wearing his shirt?"
"I'm his girlfriend." She says in a matter of fact way.
I snort. "You're not his girlfriend Clove. I know him way better than you. He doesn't go for people like you."
Cato walks back in then while Clove sputters for a response. He holds out a binder folder to me.
"What's this?"
"Notes for all the classes you missed. Thought you'd might like to look through them."
"Thanks Cato." I say, really touched. I wouldn't have expected him to even consider how behind I was getting.
"No problem Kat."
"I'll see you later." I go to hug him, like usual, then glance at Clove. Just for fun I give him a kiss on the cheek and watch her fury grow. I saunter down the hall and out the door laughing to myself.
I head to the store next to buy a few things for dinner. I'd been forced into it since I hadn't been here for a whole week. I smile at a few people from campus that I pass down the aisles. A few look a little surprised and I guess it was surprising. I was usually scowling. And even though the case wasn't yet finished and I had exams to ready myself for I feel much happier than I have in a while.
Shopping doesn't take long and I throw the bags in the backseat. I didn't really want to think about work but I knew I had to go see Annie and brush up on what I'd missed. The trial was coming really soon and I needed to be on top of everything.
Annie lived a little further out but it still took only ten minutes to get to her house. I knocked on the door a few times until it finally swung open. Only it wasn't Annie. It was her roommate. I can't even recall her ever having a roommate but I didn't think too long about it.
"Hi, is Annie home?"
"No." Her roommate is a polar opposite to Annie. She's frowning and I think I may have just woken her. I have no idea why Annie would live with her.
"Oh okay, thanks anyway." I mutter before striding back down the path. I need to talk to her but I have no idea where she'd be. She wouldn't be at my house because of the fight with Finn. Maybe she was at the coffee house or the Strip. Instead of driving around randomly I decide to just go home and text her. It would be way too crowded in town at this time of day to find her anyway.
Everyone still seems to be home when I pull back in the drive. Their cars are parked all over the street. I battle with the shopping bags but make it inside unscathed. I'm about to call out when I register the yelling. A lot of yelling.
"We have to tell her!" That sounded like Annie. Wait, Annie? "This is getting out of control."
"No but-"
"Shut up Finn!" I'd never really heard Annie raise her voice. It was odd considering how sweetly she usually spoke. For a moment I think only she and Finn are fighting again but then I hear Peeta's voice too.
"I can't keep stalling with my father either. He's going to tell the firm."
The firm. Was this about me? I suddenly feel sick in my stomach. I know I should call out or something, announce my presence, but I feel rooted to the spot.
"If he tells the firm this is over." I hear Johanna say. And I wonder since when Johanna had ever put her opinion into this.
"No if my mother makes good on her promise this is over." Peeta spits out bitterly.
"I don't want to do this to her." Finn says it quietly and I only just catch it.
"We have to tell her! We should have told her last week."
"Can't you try to strike a deal with your mother, Peeta?" That was Finn again.
"Finnick I've told you! The deal is drop the charges and I can't do that. She's going to do it."
"This is ridiculous!"
Suddenly the door the kitchen swings open so rapidly I don't even have a chance to hide. I'm sure my eyes are as wide as Annie's.
"Katniss…" She breathes.
Finn's panicked face peeps out from behind her. "How long have you been standing there?"
I glare at all of them. "Long enough to know that you're keeping something from me."
I see Johanna roll her eyes and Peeta just looks stricken.
"We're all a bunch of idiots." Johanna laughs sadistically before storming off.
"What's happened?" I demand, striding angrily into the room.
I don't get an answer though. Glances get passes from one eye to the next each with equally guilty expressions. "What the fuck happened?" I yell.
"My mother." The soft comment comes from Peeta's lips. "She made a new threat last week."
The silence in the room is deadly. I can't believe they've kept this secret from me for a week.
"What did she say?" I say very slowly, trying to keep my temper in check.
He sighs, pressing his finger to his temple. "She threatened to go public if we don't drop the charges."
000
The day is picturesque like it always is in State 4. The waves roll in and out onto the sand, the sun warming the water in streams of light. I like the beach. Always have. It is a calming place.
But calm is not even close to how I feel. A storm rages inside of me. They lied to me. All of them, even Peeta. I take a deep breath trying to will away the tears.
It was over. It was only a matter of time before the firm figured it out. That I lived with Peeta, that I was involved with Peeta…
They threw the party to distract me, to try and pretend everything was okay. Finnick fought with Annie about the case not a trivial couple's issue like I had thought it would be. And Peeta…well he deliberately didn't tell me even though he had known since last week.
My career was going down the drain and no one cared to tell me.
The tears slip freely now, rolling down my cheeks. I look around at the empty expanse of beach either side of me. No one travelled down here, it was too far from the Strip. But far away was exactly where I wanted to be. I look towards the sky finding the birds flying freely.
I didn't want to think of Peeta's mother but she was all I could think about. If she went public the case would get incontrollable attention from the media. That in itself would be hard to avoid but that wasn't the nail in my coffin.
The nail was that Peeta's father knew about the encounter at the bakery only he didn't know it was me. He wanted to bring that to the firm and Peeta had already stalled long enough. Once that got in they would pull the CCTV footage. I'd be identifiable not only by the evidence but by the accused as well. I was done for.
I stay by the ocean until the sun has moved nearly past the horizon. It was getting dark and I knew I had to get back. I thought this was the only place I wanted to be; State 4. But I was wrong. I thought of Prim, Haymitch and my mother and how I'd let them down.
I no longer can sit still. I rise my from my perch on the rock and stumble my way back to the footpath. One last thought occurs to me and I open my phone and dial Cato's number.
"Katniss?" His voice is laced with worry.
"Do you know?" All the fight has left my voice.
"Do I know what?"
"Do you know about the case?"
"Katniss you have to understand we were trying to protect you-"
"Who is 'we'?" I demand, my voice cracking.
A pause. A sigh. "We all found out last week Katniss, I'm sorry."
I hang up and use all my energy to refrain from throwing my phone at the ground. Lies. So many lies.
I walk down the path blindly, tears blurring my vision. I look up when I get to the corner of the road and I see it. The red car and an unmistakable blonde woman exiting it. Lora Mellark.
She smiles. No, she doesn't smile, she sneers. She recognizes me from the bakery. Pure hatred wells up inside me and I choke back whatever it was I wanted to scream at her. She enters whatever shop it is and then she's gone.
Fine. In the end it will be me that loses this game, but we weren't done playing. And if she wanted to pin me down I'd murder her first.