Katniss and the Rebels

Chapter 29: Birthday Blowout (Part 1)


AN: Hello! Time for Peeta's 18th! Hope you enjoy! Please follow, favourite and review! If you review I'll love you forever and ever!


*Text Alert*

From Katniss: Help

From Thom: With what?

From Katniss: I don't know what to get Peeta for his birthday

From Thom: I thought you already got him something?

From Katniss: Well it's his 18th so I kind of want to get him something else…

From Thom : Awww

From Katniss: Shut up and help me!

From Thom: I don't know, I doubt he'll care, just make out with him the whole time at his party and he'll be happy

From Katniss: That's what Darius said

From Thom : Great minds think alike

From Katniss: I'll ask Madge

From Thom: Good idea


Peeta POV

"What do you mean you're going to Finnick's?"

I pour milk into my cereal while my mother shrills from across the kitchen.

"Finnick asked me to his house. I said yes."

"It's your birthday!"

I swallow, I don't know whether to be grateful she remembered or sickened that this is how she wishes me a happy birthday.

"Exactly, it's a birthday celebration for me."

"Why would he do that?" My mother sneers as she fixes her already perfect hair in the mirror.

"Because he's a kind person and my friend." I say as I sit at the kitchen table and begin eating my breakfast.

She huffs but doesn't speak again until her blonde hair is tied into a tight bun and she finally faces me,

"It's what you want?"

I look up but aside from her words, her face shows no sign of care for what I actually want.

"Yes."

My mother sighs in despair and hurries around the kitchen for her keys, wallet and handbag.

It's Saturday morning, she's getting ready for shopping and lunch with her friends.

"Will she be there?"

Her familiar emphasis on the word 'she' informs me that she's not talking about Delly or Annie.

"Yes Katniss will be there."

My mother opens her mouth to most likely go on her usual rant but she is interrupted by my father rushing through the door.

"Peeta! Happy Birthday son!" I smile and stand from the table as my father envelops me in a hug, "Thank God, I thought I missed you!"

We part and I notice my mother leaving but I choose not to say anything about it.

"No but I'll leave for Finnick's after breakfast to help him set up."

Dad nods but doesn't seem to really be listening.

"Here" Dad passes me a bag and I raise my eyebrows, "Your present, it's not much but-"

"Dad! You didn't need to get me anything."

Dad brushes it off,

"It's not wrapped or anything, you can open it later but I have to go. I'm really sorry but there are loads of weddings coming up and-"

"Dad!" I raise my voice but stay smiling "Thank you, I'm sure I'll love it. Now really, go. I'm fine."

Dad looks a little unsure but pats my arm, goes to the stairwell to yell at Rye to "wake the hell up" before apologising again and leaving for the bakery.

Finishing my breakfast, I drop dad's present in my room without opening it, grab my phone and hurry out the door before Rye has the chance to wake and tease me mercilessly.


"Just how many people did you invite Finnick?" Annie asks as she stumbles to regain her balance when she hops down off the ladder.

Finnick quickly dashes across the room to help her upright again and kisses her on the head tenderly,

"Only people we like…"

Delly groans, "Finnick you like everyone."

"Not…everyone."

Delly, Thresh and I snort while Annie just kisses him on the cheek.

Katniss shakes her head and asks Finnick what she can do next.

"Oh great! Could you get the food? I've most of it bought but there's still one or two bits we need from the shop. I made a list on the counter."

Katniss nods, "Yeah of course."

"I'll go with her." I say as I stick up the last of the fairy lights.

Finnick sends a smirk my way but he thankfully doesn't say anything about it.

I walk over to Katniss, grab the list and then her hand and we leave the others to it.

Things have been good between Katniss and I so far.

We've gone out on a few dates, we talk every day and we trust each other.

We're comfortable around one another and that's really all I could have asked for.

"So are you looking forward to your party?" Katniss asks as we walk to the store.

"Yeah I think so. It'll be nice, something different."

Katniss laughs, "Different? I know for a fact that all the girls in our year invite you to their house parties."

"It doesn't mean I go to them." I squeeze her hand gently "I used to go with Finn when we were younger just to satisfy him but once he and Annie got together there was no point. They'd be making out in a corner and I'd be left with too many people that I didn't know so I stopped going."

"You poor thing" Katniss teases

"I know" I sigh dramatically

"I did get you a present by the way but I wanted to give it to you later at the party."

I smile at her, "Thank you, you didn't have to."

Katniss rolls her eyes, "Course I did now stop being so modest we have to buy-". She checks the list "chips, frozen pizza, soda and- beer? How are we supposed to get beer, Finnick knows you're 18 not 21 right?"

I wink at her, "Finnick has a friend."

Katniss shakes her head and mumbles something under her breath before kissing my cheek and heading to the right side of the store while I go to the left.

This party should definitely be different alright.


By 11 o clock that night the party is in full swing.

Half the guests are drunk, most of the couples are kissing and empty beer cans and paper plates are scattered on every surface but I'm just thankful that none of Finnick's family things have been broken yet.

Thankfully Finnick doesn't live close enough to anyone to disturb his neighbours with our loud and cheesy music.

Gale begrudgingly brought his guitar but he insisted that Finnick lock it in his room.

I sit on the couch, lazily running my fingers through Katniss's hair while she talks to Annie who is sitting quite comfortably in Finnick's lap in the armchair beside us.

"So what do you think then?" Finnick asks, quirking an eyebrow at me "Did I do a good job?"

I look around, the fairy lights shine above the mirror, there are multicoloured banners and balloons stuck to the walls and the stairs that loudly scream my age to whoever notices them and so far nobody has thrown a punch or thrown up.

So for a High School house party I'd say that's pretty good.

"Excellent Finn" I grin "Truly excellent"

Katniss sniggers and sups innocently from her coke can when Finnick narrows his eyes at her.

"Do you disagree Everdeen?"

Katniss shakes her head and hiccups, "Certainly not."

I kiss her head gently, partly to be romantic, partly to stifle my laugh.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say Katniss was drunk, but she hasn't drank anything except coca cola all evening.

Hyper then.

A hyper Katniss Everdeen, that should definitely be different.

Annie bursts out laughing at something that Finnick says before nuzzling his neck in embarrassment.

Now Annie on the other hand is at least tipsy.

Katniss giggles and leans her head back to look up at me.

"Hey"

"Hi" I smile down at her "You okay?"

She nods, "Of course, I'm happy. You're happy. We're all happy!"

I grin, "I'm glad."

"What about you?" Concern flickers in Katniss's eyes and I can't help but feel comforted, "You're not regretting agreeing to this party are you?"

And miss hyper, excited, giggling Katniss? Definitely not.

I don't tell her that though

"It's great." I say instead "Really, I'm glad Finnick convinced me-"

"Hear that guys!?" Finnick shouts over me "Peeta's glad I persuaded him to have this party! Achievement!"

I roll my eyes but blood rushes to my cheeks at the cheers and hollers that answer him.

Katniss abruptly sits up and throws her legs onto the floor.

"I'm going to get another can from the kitchen and look around for the guys. Be back in a minute."

I do my best not to pout.

I really do.

"You want me to come with?" I ask, looking up at her when she stands.

She laughs and leans down to kiss my forehead before straightening up again, "I'm fine. Socialise with your guests. It's your day, enjoy it."

I smile and I watch as she walks into the hallway.

Twenty minutes later, I'm chatting to two guys, Blight and Bristol who are on the football team when I hear the loud, shattering sound come from the kitchen.

My eyes widen and I take a quick glance around the sitting room.

Katniss never came back.


Katniss POV

After spending a few minutes talking to Gale, Darius and Thom, I head for the kitchen.

Dumping my empty soda can in the bin, I open the refrigerator door with the hopes that not all the good drinks have gone by now.

"Need a hand?" A condescending voice asks from behind me and I turn sharply, cursing my hunter reflexes for being off their game.

Especially when Cato Hunter is standing right in front of me

I stifle a gasp at how close he is and try to swallow down the fear building in my stomach.

"I'm fine. Thank you." I say with little to no emotion in my voice.

Cato laughs but it comes out cold with no humour attached,

"Where's the birthday boy?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Em. It's his birthday. I was invited." Cato says slowly as if talking to a rather stupid child.

I step to the side and try to put some space between us, "Who the hell invited you?"

"Why Katniss I'm hurt. I only came to wish your boyfriend a happy birthday."

"Well I'll tell him so you can go now."

Cato steps towards me, I look away but I can feel how close he is by his disgusting breath on my face.

"Well there was something else I wanted to talk to your lover boy about."

His fingers slide along my arm and I shiver.

His hand is ice cold against my bare skin and I curse my decision to wear the button up top with no sleeves that Peeta thinks is pretty.

"Don't touch me." I demand.

Cato simply cocks an eyebrow and only grins more as he continues to trail his fingers up and down my arms.

"I just wanted to ask you about Peeta, seeing as you won't tell me where he is then I'll just have to have this little chat with you instead."

Peeta.

The name sets a fire in my veins and I meet Cato's eyes that glint with something predatory and dangerous.

Bringing my hands up to his chest, he smirks for a split second until I use them to shove him hard into the counter behind him.

I hear the sound of shattering glass and dread overpowers me. I hope I didn't break anything important.

"You bitch!"

Cato's eyes are dark and he growls threateningly at me.

I back up towards the door but it doesn't stop him from stalking towards me with his teeth gritted together and pure hatred in his eyes.

"Just-"

I'm interrupted by a gentle hand on my shoulder, I jump but quickly realise that it's just Peeta.

Peeta.

He rubs his thumb on my shoulder reassuringly but when I turn my head, his eyes are focused solely on Cato.

"Is there a problem?" He asks and I've never heard him sound so detached.

Cato straightens his back, his eyes are focused on Peeta now but the hatred hasn't left his face.

"Peeta. Just the man I wanted to see."

Peeta raises his eyebrows but otherwise, his face remains expressionless.

"I don't remember inviting you Cato." Finnick's voice this time, appearing on my other side and standing half in front of me.

Normally I would despise the act of protection but there is something in Cato's eyes that I don't like.

"You didn't." Cato eyes flicker to Finnick before back to Peeta "Mrs. Mellark did."

I shut my eyes for a second and curse Peeta's mother to hell and back.

I'm not even surprised.

"Well that wasn't her call I'm afraid so I must ask you to leave." Finnick says, standing his ground.

Something tells me that he and Cato have been here before because Finnick clearly has no problem standing up to him and something shifts in Cato's demeanour when Finnick speaks to him.

Cato looks at me and I glare at him.

I want to yell at him, show him that he can't push me around, that I don't need two boys to protect me from him.

But it's late and it's my boyfriend's party so I really can't be bothered to cause even more of a scene right now.

"Goodbye Cato." I say drily.

He clenches his jaw and pushes roughly past us. A minute later we hear the front door slam shut and we know he is gone.

Unconsciously I feel myself lean back into Peeta and sigh.

"Thanks guys" I whisper

Finnick scoffs as he moves about the kitchen, "Please. I heard you shatter my mother's favourite bowl. I had to come out and stop you before you broke anything else. Or punched him. Punching Cato Hunter wouldn't be a good idea."

"You'd know." Peeta teases from behind me but I hardly hear him.

"Your mother's favourite...oh Finnick I-"

Finnick laughs, "Kidding Katniss. I've been at enough of these to know what to hide out of sight and what I can afford to leave lying about." He brushes the pieces of broken glass from the counter into a shovel and dumps it in the bin, "I always hated that thing anyway."

I smile and when I feel Peeta press a soft kiss to my neck, my smile widens.

"Are you alright?"

I nod and turn to him.

"Yeah I'm fine. He just wanted to talk to you but then he started touching my arm and wouldn't stop so..." I shrug

Peeta smiles and kisses my cheek,

"That's all?"

"That's all." I promise

He leans his forehead against mine for a minute before pulling away, "Good. I won't kill him then. You want another coca cola?"

Peeta moves towards the fridge and I laugh, "Maybe something stronger."


Finnick POV

I decide to leave the two lovebirds in the kitchen and I walk back to the sitting room, casting a cautious eye around the place on the way, making sure nothing else is broken.

Annie is still sitting in the armchair and is talking to Madge who has taken Peeta's seat on the couch.

I bite back a smile.

Annie is wearing a stunning sea-green dress that comes just above her knees. Her heels are small, white and the small beads on them glint in the fairy lights when she crosses her legs.

She looks just as beautiful as always.

Annie spots me out of the corner of her eye and even before I reach her she stands and gestures for me to sit down. This has been our routine for over a year now and I love how it never gets old.

I sit and gently bring her down to sit on my lap, our arms wrapping around each other like we have done a hundred times before.

Annie intertwines our fingers and continues talking to Madge.

"Well I think you should just go for it." Annie says in her matter of fact tone and that makes me smile.

"No, no I really shouldn't." Madge insists.

"Why not?"

"Because it's a bad idea!"

Annie scoffs, "How so? What's the worst he could say?"

"He wouldn't have to say anything. He could just laugh at me."

I try not to listen in.

Thresh isn't anywhere around to talk to so I happily play with Annie's hair.

Parting her hair and twisting strands so I can plait it down her back.

Don't ask me where I learned this talent because I don't even know myself.

Back in District 4, I used to tie knots all the time on the beach. It was different from the sandcastles and the swimming and it came in handy when my dad went fishing. That might be where it originated.

Though I don't think Annie would be too pleased if I tied her long auburn hair into knots.

"Finn? What do you think?"

I look up into Annie's bright eyes,

"About what love?"

One of Annie's arms is draped over my shoulder, her hand at the back of my neck and I try not to tremble as her expert fingers thread through the sensitive hair there.

"Madge wants to ask Gale Hawthorne out on a date."

"I do not! Shut up Annie!"

"Course you do. You're just scared he doesn't like you back."

Madge opens her mouth to protest but instead she sighs and leans back into the couch.

"Yeah..."

Annie grins in triumph and turns to me, "So? What do you think Finn? Should she go for it or not?"

I love Annie.

I really do and I've no hesitance about it. I never have.

But if she thinks I'd have any idea on what Gale Hawthorne's feelings are then she may have drank a small bit much.

I indulge her anyway.

Because I'm an amazing, helpful, supportive boyfriend.

Plus she looks really, really pretty with her hair pulled back in the plait I did and I'm trying really hard not to stare at her exposed neck.

"Eh" I try and be polite and turn to Madge who is looking at me with wide doe eyes, "Well do you like him like that?"

Madge takes a sip from her cider and nods bashfully.

"Well then, go for it. What's the worst that can happen?"

Madge laughs and then splutters when she gets cider up her nose.

"What?" I ask when Annie starts giggling too.

"Nothing!" Annie insists and she leans her head against my neck

"You two are just way more alike than I anticipated." Madge mutters, rubbing her nose.

"Oh..." I say, even though I don't fully understand.

Annie's still giggling into my shoulder and I kiss the side of her head.

"But I think you should go for it Madge. Gale's a decent guy and I think he likes you." I continue

That's not even a lie. Every time I see them at lunch, they are always talking or looking at each other.

"Yeah?" Madge asks, her voice dripping with hope.

I'm only half paying attention now because Annie has started pressing subtle kisses up my neck and yeah she definitely drank more than I thought she did.

"Eh- yeah. Really. Plus if he doesn't then he's an idiot. And he doesn't seem like an idiot so..."

My voice catches in my throat and I clench my fists, reminding myself that sober Annie would never do this in public so I can't encourage her.

"So you could maybe bring it up with him that you like him as more than a friend and see what happens."

Madge is silent for a few minutes before she starts nodding enthusiastically,

"Yeah. Yeah. You're right. Thanks Finnick."

Annie lifts her head from her solace in my neck and we both watch in surprise as she stands, downs her drink and walks, well more like stumbles, out of the room to find Gale Hawthorne.

I laugh softly and turn to Annie who is grinning,

"Thanks for that."

I kiss her nose, "Anytime."

My eyes catch sight of Madge's empty drink and I frown, "Just how much did she have to drink to get the courage to do this?"

Annie bites back a smirk, "Emmmm...a few drinks?"

I raise an eyebrow

"No more than me!" Annie insists, grinning.

"That's very comforting" I say sarcastically but instead of swatting me like she usually would, she just grins.

"She'll be fine. I've caught Gale staring at her a few times. They'll be fine."

I nod and pull her closer, "Okay good."

Annie bumps her nose against mine gently, "What happened in the kitchen? Was there a fight?"

I shake my head and lean my head into hers,

"Doesn't matter." I murmurer before pressing my lips to hers.

And just like that I forget all thoughts of stupid Cato Hunter, shattered glass and Madge Undersee's complicated love-life.

All that's left is the beautiful girl in my arms that kisses like sin and I'm perfectly content with that.


AN: Part 1 of the party is complete!

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Thanks for reading!

- xTeam Mockingjayx