Thank you so fucking much for the reviews! I was in such a bad mood when I last came on fanfiction. When I saw the review it complete brightened my mood and I was supposed to next update like in February or March. But your reviews motivated me to write even though it takes more time now. So thank you very much and enjoy thing chapter.
Chapter 21:
I walk quietly down the school hall. The only thing I hear is my low footsteps on the floor. Gale always says I walk quietly. I guess I never really noticed until now. I'm already 5 minutes late to Algebra, and I'm in no mood of running. I have a lot on my mind and I want to think it out before I start solving complicated equations.
I don't know why I can't stop think about that day when Peeta's mother almost caught us. The morning after I woke up to find myself sleeping on Peeta's chest - again - and Peeta's arm was around my waist. I broke away quickly and went back to the floor to avoid any awkwardness that would soon to follow. I can't say that hadn't slept comfortably. I was nightmare-less and warm. It was like déjà vu. This happened to me last time Peeta and I slept in the same place. Mental note: never sleep in the same room or place as Peeta.
I left Peeta a messy note saying I didn't want Rye - Peeta's brother - to also come and find me in his room, and then I disappeared down the trellis. I don't really care if Rye comes in, I would have been hiding under the bed if he did. After Peeta's mother, I don't think Rye could compete. After I was done changing for the day, I went to pick up Prim who I almost hugged her to death. I missed her but I hadn't really thought about her. I had other things to deal with like Peeta's mother bashing me and my family. Prim still thought I slept under the tree. Not that I corrected her.
I can't help but think about what Peeta thinks of me. Surely nothing more than a friend. Maybe a best friend like he said before. It's hard to read Peeta sometimes it frustrates me. If he wanted anything more he would speak up, right?
Delaying no more I walk into the class. I see Ms. Leevy explaining something as she turns to face me.
"What is your excuse of being late Ms. Everdeen?" She places on hand on her hip.
'I was thinking about trying to understand Peeta more, and also your class is really boring' I think to myself. Aloud I say:" I was getting something," I lie lamely.
"That is not an excuse. What was so important that it could not wait after class?"
I roll my eyes at her. Why does she talk like that? I try to continue with my failure of a lie. "I was—"
I cut off by Finnick's silky voice. "I hope you don't mind Ms. Leevy, but I asked Katniss to get my notebook because I forgot it." He gave her a smile. Everyone in the whole freaking school knows that Ms. Leevy is in love with Finnick. He could get away with almost anything in her class. She absolutely hates Annie. She always screams at her. She's completely jealous of Annie, even though Finn is younger than Ms. Leevy by... 6 years or more. Apparently since Justin Bieber and Selena cougar is in fashion. It's absolutely disgusting. Annie is usually complaining about her.
Ms. Leevy looks at him and smiled widely. "Oh, in that case, take your seat Ms. Everdeen."
I move past her and walk to my sit which is - to my unfortunate luck - next to Finn. He is grinning at me as I slide into my seat.
"Hey there girl on fire," he says. I scowl at that nickname. He's never going to let me live that down.
"Hey there, little mermaid," I say in the same tone. Finnick is the swim team's captain. He and Annie stay in the water so much we sometimes joke that they are lost mermaids.
"I don't have red hair," he scoffs.
"Your hair is copper-ish." I say tilting my head checking.
He rolls his eyes annoyed. "Well, I saved your ass be a least bit grateful," then begins to write down what Ms. Leevy's saying.
Scribbling quickly, I pass him a poorly drawn version of him with a fishtail. I pass it to him. "I didn't asked to be saved,"
He scowls at me. "You suck at drawing," he states.
I shrug. "I'm no Peeta," I think everyone knows that Peeta is the best artist in the whole freaking school. His art pieces are sometimes on the school's newspaper. Also Finn knows Peeta for years, so I guess he picked up that Peeta loves to draw.
"Of course, the love of your life is complete different case," he laughs quietly.
I shove his elbow that was resting on his table, making his face kiss the table.
"He is not the love of my life," I hiss at him. Maybe he's not, but I do have some weird feelings about him...
"Ugh, okay. No need to get violent about it." He groans with pain. "I mean, seriously Katniss, my face is off limits."
I roll my eyes at him and look back at Ms. Leevy confused. What the fuck is she saying?
"Are you excited for the dance?" He asks wiggling his eyebrows in a joking manner. It's either Ms. Leevy is deaf or just ignoring the fact I'm having a conversation in the middle of her classroom.
"What the hell is 'the dance'?" I ask automatically. I raise my fingers to add quotations. What's the big deal about a dance anyways?
"Ah, I forgot your new here," he says. I narrow my eyes as he continues. "It's just a Valentine's day dance where each year the school raises money for charity. Every year is a different 'romantic' theme. Last year was Rome, the year before that was Spain...etc."
"What's this year theme?" I ask bored. It's a good cause but... Dances... Dressing up... Ugh...
"Paris,"
"Ugh, I'm so not going," I state. Yes, I'm going to pay for a ticket to go stand in the corner dateless while everyone else dances. No. thank. you.
"What? Why not?!" Finn exclaims. Of course he is going, he has Annie.
"Because it's boring,"
He snorts. "I bet I know ten guys who are willing to go with you. And one of them I'm sure you are interested in." He grins wickedly. ten guys? Finnick is just kidding. I bet he doesn't even know ten guys. I laugh silently at that thought.
"You don't even know ten guys," I say aloud. He looks at me offended.
"I do too!"
"Oh yeah? Name them."
"Fine!" He snarls. "Peeta, Gloss, Thresh, Gale, Tyler...uh...Cato... Marvel.. "He trails off.
"That's it?" I almost burst out laughing. "Gale, Tyler, and Cato are dating, smart ass." I smirk at him. "I think I know more guys than you."
He scowls deeply. "Whatever," then rolls his eyes clearly indicating that I'm obviously correct. He continues to write his notes quietly until the bell rings.
Line break-
I'm pushing the crowd as I jog to reach the parking lot. Prim is hanging out with Rue and Rory, so I don't have to pick her up and take her home. From Rue's giggles and laughs, I have a suspicion that Prim is dating Rory, or will be dating Rory. I should talk to her about it, she's still too young to dating.
Apparently, from what I heard during lunch, almost everyone is going to this stupid Valentine's Day dance. It even surprised me when I heard Johanna is going. All the girls are going shopping this weekend, and they asked me to join them even though I'm not going. It was a pain in my ass last time I went. So, I'm not even bothering with joining them. I tried to explain to Cash that I'm not going to the dance, but kept thinking it was a funny joke.
I roll my eyes at the thought and turn the key on my Vespa, and it buzzes with a start. Even though it's looks new, it's still pretty old. I'm just afraid it would break down or something. I'm about to put on my helmet when I see a jogging Peeta come. His cheeks are slightly red like he has been running for a while.
"Katniss! Thank god I found you," he says as he comes up next to me.
"Huh?" I wonder if...
"My car broke down and I've been looking for someone to give me a ride,"
"Oh," I say slightly disappointed. "Hop on," I give him a helmet and place his bag inside my seat.
The drive to our houses is a quiet one, the only thing we could hear is the soft buzz of the motor. The motor is not the only thing buzzing; my mind will not turn off and focus on the road. I already almost crashed into a tree twice. I just can't concentrate. Peeta is sitting behind me with his hand around my waist. I could not help think about the stupid Valentine's Day dance. Is Peeta going? I should ask him, but not now. Who is going with? No, I'm not going to ask that. Is she prettier than me? Most probably. I barely have any curves, and my breasts aren't large. I'm not exactly attractive. I could see why Peeta wouldn't want to be seen with me. He would probably want to be seen with someone like Glimmer or Johanna or—
Oh my god. This thought pulls me up so abruptly, I almost take a wrong turn. How could I have not thought of it before? Peeta has a crush on Jo, and Jo - for the first time - wants to go to a dance without someone forcing her. I can't bel— actually I can believe. Johanna likes him, and Peeta likes her. But how did Johanna tell me that she and Peeta are always only going to be friend? Was she lying to cover up her feelings? The thoughts depress me. My head is spinning with thoughts, now I just want to crash a tree so I could stop it.
Finally we reach our houses, and I cut of the motor. Peeta climb off and hands the helmet smiling. I'm not smiling, my thoughts are depressing me.
"How was your day?" He asks me. I avoid eye contact. I'm afraid if he looks through them he'd be able to see what I'm thinking as usually. Peeta has this thing that - somehow, I don't know how - he knows what I'm thinking. Am I that predictable? More reasons for him not be with me. Great.
I shrug. "Boring." I reply shortly. Peeta notices but doesn't comment.
"Are you going to the dance?" He asks a little timidly.
"Uh... Not really," I answer. "You know, dances are not really my thing..."
"Oh right..." Am I imagining things, but does he look crestfallen?
"Are you going?" I ask dreading the answer.
"Nope."I have an urge to laugh with relief. That means he's not going with Johanna, and means that Johanna is going with someone else. I wonder who.. "Last year I was forced to go with Glimmer. I hate ties and dressing up," he makes a face.
"Me too," now I laugh. For real, not that fake laugh that I usually give people.
We stand in a comfortable silence, until I break it. Impulsive as usual.
"You want to come in? I have some left over Mac n' cheese that Prim made," I blurt out. I don't know why I'm like this around Peeta. I'm always acting impulsively and without thinking.
Peeta raises his eyebrows.
Before he could answer I continue, "You wouldn't want to miss it, it's amazing,"
"Alright, if it's amazing and all," he teases.
"It is," I bump him playfully.
We enter my quiet house, mom probably still working and Prim is still with her friends. I gesture Peeta to follow me. We climb up the stairs and the second I step on wooden floor Peeta stops me.
"What?" I ask.
"Let me guess where your room is," he requests. Odd request but I just nod my head to amuse him.
"Okay,"
He stops for a minute to think then walks to exactly where my door is and holds the handle. "Is this it?"
I clap quietly, "Congratulation, you just saved the world," I say with an eye roll.
He bows, "Thank you, thank you,"
"Get over yourself," I push forward to open my door.
I walk in and Peeta follows behind me. He stops for a second to look around the room. "Nice room," he comments.
I narrow my eyes. Is he joking or actually being sincere. But since Peeta is a good person I'm guessing it's the latter. The second Peeta touches my bed to sit on it; Buttercup springs out from under my bed.
"Your cat?" He asks.
"No, it's the gardener's cat that lives in my room," I reply sarcastically. We don't even have a gardener.
Peeta rolls his eyes, "what's his name?"
"Buttercup and he hates me."
Peeta chuckles softly. "Why?"
"Uh, I tried to drown him in a bucket," I reply proud. I wanted the disgusting feline to die. I had to let it stay when we first moved here. Prim begged so hard, cried even. He's an okay cat. He stopped hissing at me after a while.
"Wow, and you expect him to like you?"
"I never said that!" I laugh. It seems that Peeta is the only one who could get me to laugh.
Line break-
Peeta sits across from the table eating. His blond hair almost looks golden, and I can't stop my eyes from drifting to stare at Peeta's eyes. He has the longest blond eyelashes I've ever seen. I'm surprised they don't get tangled. His eyes remind me of the sky, sometimes the sea in district 4. They are always so clear. I just—
"You're right," Peeta cuts off my endless thoughts for a minute. "Her Mac n' cheese is awesome,"
I don't really take compliments but these are addressed towards Prim. Before I could thank him the front door open and a slim figure with blond hair tied with a pink ribbon walks in. "Speak of the angel," I say.
Prim grins at me and greet Peeta politely. Peeta compliment her food and she blushes. The idea of Prim blushing because of a boy reminds me of what I needed to tell her about Rory.
"Hey Prim, would you sit down?"
"Sure," she chirps happily. Peeta raises his eyebrows questioning but doesn't say anything. 'Boy talk' I mouth to him. He nods understandingly.
"So, Prim. A little birdy told me that you and Rory are getting close," a bird a.k.a Rue. She didn't tell specifically, but her giggles say otherwise.
"Mhm..." Prim says unknowing were this is going.
I take a deep breath and say:"I think you are too young to be dating. Meanwhile Rory is a good kid, but I think you should wait,"
Prim's face is shocked then quickly became embarrassed like a little tomato.
"I—I—we..." She stammers.
"Live your childhood Prim," Peeta continues for me - which I thank him for. He is better with words than I am. "13 is too young, maybe wait another 2 years? I had my first kiss when I was 15,"
I'm suddenly curious of Peeta's first kiss. I wonder... "Yeah, me too." I say a little unfocused.
Prim is still blushing like crazy. "We are not dating!" She exclaims. "We are just friends."
I look at her skeptically.
"Promise."
"Alright," I say finally. Prim stand up to leave but before she could Peeta stops her.
"Just make sure your first kiss is someone you love." He says. "Oh and by the way, your Mac n' cheese is delicious," he smiles warmly.
"Thank you," Prim whispers the rushes to her room.
"I think we embarrassed her," I say after a very long awkward pause.
"You think?" Peeta replies sarcastically.
"Yup,"
Peeta chuckles quietly as he finishes his dinner. He kept on rubbing his neck and wrist throughout the whole thing. Strange, I've never seen him like this. I'm surprised even I noticed. I was busy being curious most of the dinner.
"Hey… Katniss?" Peeta says as we place our plates in the sink
"Hmm?"
"What do you think of hanging out together instead of being alone when the dance comes up, I don't mean like—"
"Like go to the dance as friends?" I rudely cuff him very confused.
"No! That's not what I meant!" He explains quickly. "Like instead of being alone while everyone in the dance, we go bowling or something."
"Uh... I was under the impression that we are already hanging out that day," I say. Actually, that's a lie. I was going to spend that day read some cheesy romantic novel or something like that.
"Yeah, okay, great!"
He gives me a goofy smile that I gladly return. Now he just let wondering two things:
-Who was Peeta's first kiss?
-Why the fuck does Peeta even care about hanging out with me? I'm nothing special like Jo.
I hope you liked it and I thank you for constructive criticism. I will fix everything when I find the time. Please review. Also who would you rather Gale be with? Johanna or Madge? If Madge then who should Jo be with?