Hi! Sorry for the late update again, I've been so busy I barely have 5 minutes to myself nowadays! I'm glad everyone liked the last chapter and I hope you like this one too! It was a lot of fun to write.
(I do not have a BETA so if there are any mistakes that I have missed I would like to apologise for them, I'm only human!)
Chapter 20
Is it me or do rehearsal dinners seem pointless? I mean fair enough the rehearsing the ceremony before hand so you know what to do but rehearsing dinner? I know how to eat thank you very much I practice every day! I have just finished the most delicious lamb stew in the world and am currently waiting for desert to be served. Jayms, Sophia and the parents are located on a table at the front of the hall while I'm sat on a table with Finnick, Annie and of course Katniss. After the argument which occurred last night Katniss has been a bit...possessive over me. Her hand is currently placed firmly on my thigh underneath the table as a way of telling me that I am hers and nobody else's, not that I would want anyone else but it's sort of a turn on at how dominant she is being. Seriously if any girl even gives me a look which suggests she's attracted to me Katniss is quick to make sure she understands that I'm taken. Little things like grasping my hand with hers, messing with my hair, whispering in my ear, sticking her tongue down my throat, you know subtle indications that I'm a taken man. She slides her hand towards my inner thigh and squeezes as Finn recounts something that happened to him back in Florida before he met Annie.
"-Seriously I didn't even know who this guy was but all these girls kept coming up to me and asking me for pictures and to sign autographs and shit. I mean do I really look like Sam Claflin?"
"Sam who?" I ask
"He played that guy in the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film who saved the mermaid." Annie replies.
"Oh you mean the really hot one?" Katniss says excitedly. "I can see where they are coming from Finn, you do sort of look like him."
"Is this your way of telling me you think I'm really hot Katniss?" Finnick winks, making both ladies and myself roll our eyes at him.
"Attractive yes, but not my type." Katniss taunts back.
"Oh really? And why is that?"
"Too much of a pretty boy, I prefer my men to be a bit more...rugged." She says as she strokes her hand across my stubbly chin. I waggle my eyebrows at Finn making his snort out a laugh.
"It's okay baby." Annie replies as she leans in and kisses his cheek, "You're perfect to me."
"And you're everything I could ever dream of and more." He says back and captures her lips softly. It's quite strange to see Finn in a loving relationship, knowing the lothario he used to be, but I can honestly say I have never seen him happier than with Annie by his side. I have only met the girl a couple of times but I could tell right that he is smitten with her, and it's not hard to see why. They complement each other perfectly. She realises that even though he is a flirt at heart, he only has eyes for her. That's probably why neither of us has said anything about his harmless flirting with Kat, because we both know it's just banter and nothing with ever happen between them.
"May I have your attention please." My brothers voice brings me from my thoughts, "I would just like to thank all of you for coming here tonight to the rehearsal of the big day, bad news is you all have to do it again tomorrow for the real thing," He pauses for laughter. "To say me and Sophia hit it off when we first met would be, well, a lie. In fact I don't think we got on at all, so if you told me 6 years ago I would end up marrying her I would have probably laughed in your face. But now 6 years later I can't imagine anyone else in the world I would rather marry-"
"Not even Emma Watson?" Some Jackass shouts from the back of the room, causing an eruption of laughter to emerge.
"Not even Emma Watson." Jayms chuckles before carrying on. "All I will say is tomorrow can't come fast enough because Sophia," He looks down at his fiancé. "I can't wait to start this journey with you." Everyone in the room aww's at his statement and when I turn to look at Katniss I notice she has tears in her eyes.
"What is this?" I lean down and whisper in her ear. "Has the words of Jayms Mellark actually pulled a heartstring of the stone cold woman who is Katniss Everdeen?" She grins and punches my arm gently.
"Shut up Mellark, what he said was sweet okay." She chuckles and leans in closer to me, her head on my shoulder and her hand splayed across my chest.
"Oh you think that was sweet? Wait until you hear what I have to say at our wedding."
"Oh so we're going to get married now? Why haven't I been consulted about this?" She laughs against my neck.
"You bet we are! It may not be tomorrow, or next week or even next year. But one day you will become my wife, I just know it." I feel her smile against my skin.
"Okay so we do get married, remember I haven't said yes yet, what would you say in your little speech like the one your brother just did?"
"Well," I start and pull her in closer so only she can hear what I have to say. "I would start off by saying I was a boring old fart before I met you and that you bought out this whole new side of me. I would then go on to mention how your eyes captivated me on our first meeting and how I wanted, no needed to know more about you. I would say how you have this effect over me which nobody else has and how I could never imagine anyone else walking down the aisle towards me dressed in white, or carrying my children." I gently lift her chin so our faces are inches apart. "I would then tell them that every time I wake up in the morning and see your beautiful face I fall even more in love with you. That every kiss we share," I lean down and kiss her softly, "sends a shiver through my body like it's our first kiss all over again."
"Sounds perfect." Katniss whispers and leans forward to capture my lips again.
"Oh my god will you two just get a room!" Finnick groans from across the table at our PDA. Katniss laughs softly against my lips, pecks them one last time and pulls away. Her hand which was on my chest is now situated back to my thigh. I glance around the room and my eyes lock onto my mothers. She must have seen mine and Katniss' intimate moment and to say she doesn't look too pleased in an understatement. I give her a confused look and she motions for me to meet her outside. I tell Katniss that I'll be back soon and follow her out into the gardens. The sky is a beautiful midnight blue and because of where we are situated there is hardly any light pollution so the stars are clearly visible. The night is dazzling. We walk together in silence towards the fountain before she turns around to address me.
"I saw Delly today, she said she had spoken to you." Oh.
"Oh yeah, I ran into her a couple nights ago at a..." don't say strip club, "bar downtown when I was at Jayms's stag do. She was looking for work so I said she should come and find you, I hope that's okay."
"Of course its okay, you know I always liked that girl."
"Okay then so why did you bring me out here?" I ask.
"Because we... I'll just be blunt about it... I think you two should give it another shot."
"What!" I shout loudly before looking around making sure I don't draw attention to us, "Are you crazy?!"
"Don't use that tone with me!" She whispers harshly, "She doesn't look happy Peeta, not like she was when she was with you."
"Urm if you haven't noticed mom she has a boyfriend and I happen to be in a relationship as well."
"That can easily change, you know you two are perfect for each other."
"No me and Katniss are perfect for each other"
"I'm not too sure about that." She scoffs. My jaw almost hits to ground at her statement. "Don't look too shocked Peeta, I know her type."
"Oh yeah and what is that?" I ask through gritted teeth, my hands balled up into fists at my side.
"She's one of these girls who will take advantage of you because you've got a bit of money and you look good, but someday soon she will get bored with you Peeta and when she does you'll be left heartbroken and who will have to pick up the pieces? That's right me."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" I seethe, "What gives you the fucking right to talk about her like that! You have had a grudge against her from the start because I decided to be with her instead of getting back with your precious Delly. I'm so sorry that I've fallen for someone who won't cheat on me mom." Now it's her turn to stand there in shock at my outburst. I have never raised my voice at her before and I defiantly have never sworn in front of her.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" She shouts, "Being with her has changed you into this vile, arrogant excuse for a man."
"No being with her has made me into the man I've always wanted to be! And if you can't see that, well, you can just fuck off!"
"You little piece of-" She screams and raises her hand at me, ready to strike.
"Don't you fucking touch him!" Katniss barks as she appears from the darkness, pushing my mom out of the way before she can hit me. The force of her push makes my mom lose her balance and fall directly into the fountain. Guest from inside the building must have heard the commotion outside and coming piling out in a huge crowd towards where we are standing. I am in total shock at what just happened in front of me.
"Look what you've done you little slut!" My mom bellows as she sits in the water. "Are you going to let her humiliate me like this Peeta?" The sound of my name pulls me from my trance. I look quickly between the two women before choosing my side.
"Why yes," I say and wrap my arm around Katniss' shoulder, "Yes I am."
"You're making a mistake!" She screams as she attempts to stand up but just ends up falling down again. "She doesn't love you!"
"Actually Mrs Mellark you'll find that I do, very much." Katniss says back to her.
"Shut up! You will never be accepted this family you piece of trash."
"That's fine by me, because they only person from your family whose opinion I care about is Peetas. Come on lets go." She says smoothly and pulls me through the crowd. I vaguely hear Finnick shout 'Yeah bitch you just got owned!" in a different voice to attempt to disguise his own. Just when we are about to walk through the door I hear footsteps running behind us.
"Wait!" Jayms shouts as he tries to catch up with us. We turn around and wait for him to reach us. "Look I don't know what happened out there and I don't really care," He says breathlessly. "But I know what our mothers like so she more than likely deserved it. I just wanted to say that not all the Mellarks hate you Katniss, in fact after what you just did I think we like you even more."
"Thank you." Katniss replies, obviously taken back by his statement.
"Look, just...just promise you'll still come tomorrow. I really want you two to be there."
"But what about Mom?" I ask worriedly.
"I'll sort it. Come on it'll ruin my day if you're not there."
"We'll be there." Katniss promises. Jayms grins from ear to ear and pulls us both in for a big bear hug.
"Thank god! Look I've got to get back, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow" We both say in unison.
This is going to be interesting.
Wooo! Don't forget to leave me a review and I'll try to update ASAP, but don't be surprised if it's not in the next few days. Keep smiling and being perfect and I'll see you guys soon xx