Chapter 37: November 24th

Peeta

"So Peet, are we ever going to meet this mystery girl you keep yammering to dad about?"

Peeta cringed and took another swig of his beer. His brothers had done nothing but terrorize him since the minute they'd stepped in the door. It was Thanksgiving, so he knew he'd have to suffer their wrath for a majority of the day and it wasn't even noon yet. Heaving a sigh, he turned around to face his older brother Rye.

"Christmas…erm, I think. If mom agrees."

His brother raised an eyebrow. "Mom is letting you bring a chick home for Christmas? Must be serious."

Peeta gripped his beer and nodded. They were standing out in the chilly garage, sneaking beers before noon and avoiding their mother as she raced around the kitchen trying to get the meal ready. Any offers to assist her were shot down with a snarky look and an order to go and clean something and be useful. So, the three of them had opted instead to hide in the garage and pretend to look at the Mustang their father was still working on to avoid her. Their father was on his second emergency run to the grocery store that morning, so things weren't going well in the Mellark household so far. Peeta winced to himself as he wondered if Christmas would be this bad or worse.

"She's my girlfriend, Rye. Has been for months now," he shrugged. "But like I said…if mom agrees."

His brother chuckled, shaking his head. "That's the catch. Jesus, is she in a mood today. I walked in and barely had my coat off before she started in on the fact that I need a haircut."

"Sounds like mom," Peeta agreed. His other brother, Bannock, finished his walk around the car they were pretending to stare at.

"What do you want to bet dad secretly hates cars and shit but just does this to avoid mom?"

Rye chuckled as all three of them made a face at the idea.. "It wouldn't shock me at all. Fuck, she's on a roll today."

Peeta knew he'd certainly taken up an interest in the Mustang his father was restoring in hopes that the garage would become a sort of safe haven for him. Much to his delight, his mother tended to leave him alone when he was out there with his dad, claiming it reeked like grease and gasoline for her taste. Working on the car with his father had become a hobby of theirs that usually bought them a few peaceful hours each weekend when Peeta was growing up.

"So it's serious," Rye continued, turning back to him. "How's the pussy?"

Peeta rolled his eyes at his older brother's crass words. He was no prude, but he wasn't about to talk about Katniss like that. Especially with Rye, who would either no believe him or bring up the information at an awkward time…like possibly the dinner table. Peeta wasn't about to give him ammunition. "Rye…"

"I'm just asking! I've been looking at the same one for five years now! So shoot me if I'm living vicariously through my little brother. Do you have any pics of her?"

Peeta shot him a dirty look. "Perv."

Rye shoved him in the shoulder so hard he staggered. "Untwist your panties, Peet; I just want to see the girl who finally let my little bro into her pants."

As annoyed as Peeta was with his older brother's obnoxious antics, he did want to show off Katniss every chance he got. Pulling out his phone, he quickly flipped to a picture of Katniss. It was the morning of one of her first visits to his school; they'd been eating breakfast on the outdoor quad, enjoying each other's company before Cassie dropped in and interrupted them. Katniss was sitting across from him at the little table, her hair in a beautifully messy braid. The morning sunlight was shining across her face, illuminating her unique grey eyes and making her tan cheeks pink. Peeta loved the photo because he'd caught her in a rare smiley moment; the happy expression and the soft sunlight making her look almost angelic.

Rye blew out a breath of appreciation as he scanned the photo. "That's not her."

Peeta gaped at him. "It is too!"

Bannock cracked open another beer and peered over his shoulder. "Who is that?"

"Katniss!" Peeta insisted. "That is too her, Rye – don't be a dick!"

"Whatever little bro. That chick is hot. You're not banging someone that hot, no way."

"She's my girlfriend," Peeta insisted. "I swear! Why don't you think that's her?"

His older brothers both hooted with laugher in the garage, their jibes echoing loudly in Peeta's ears as they insisted that the 'hot' girl in the picture was in no way Peeta's girlfriend. His ears grew hot and he felt himself getting increasingly frustrated over something completely petty and stupid. How on earth could his brothers make him feel like he was in fifth grade again? He suddenly felt like he was fifty pounds overweight again with braces and glasses as the two gave him a ribbing.

"That's her," he insisted.

Rye sipped his beer and shook his head. "If you manage to bring that girl home for Christmas, I don't care who she is – I'll give you a hundred bucks if she walks through the front door."

Shaking his head, Peeta slipped his phone back into his pocket. He had a few more pictures on his phone that he could certainly show them, but he knew Katniss would never forgive him. The weekend before they'd been sending flirty, slightly dirty texts to one another and he'd begged and begged her for a racy shot. After almost an hour of pleading, Katniss had finally relented and sent him a dimly-lit topless picture of herself in bed, her face cut out. She was lying against her purple sheets in the picture, her chocolate hair down in waves against the material. She'd held the phone up and snapped a quick picture, but it had been enough to drive Peeta wild. The way her dark pink nipples stood out against the slightly paler skin of her breast; the faint tan liens from summer….it had taken him less than a minute to save the picture on a locked folder on his phone and he'd looked at it at least a dozen times a day last week. He'd keep his mouth shut now if it mean walking through the front door with Katniss at his side at Christmas; he was pretty sure Rye would shit himself.

"A hundred bucks? You gotta deal," Peeta agreed. He gripped Rye's hand in a firm handshake until his older brother winced.

Katniss

She was so engrossed in her flashcards she almost didn't hear the bedroom door open. "Katniss?"

Looking over her shoulder, she spotted Prim in the doorway. "Yeah?"

"Dinner's ready. Gale and them just got here."

Katniss grinned as Prim's cheeks turned slightly pink. "You mean Rory is here?"

Prim shrugged and avoided her eyes. "Fine. Come down and say hi. Why are you studying so much? You've been home a whole day and all you've done is study. Spend time with me," Prim pretended to whine as she flopped down on her sister's bed. Katniss gave her a stern look.

"I'm studying."

"But finals aren't til before Christmas break! Come on."

Katniss sighed, turning in her desk chair. She knew her little sister missed her; due to limited transportation and spending most of her free time with Peeta, she wasn't home as many weekends as she used to be. Prim was at a difficult age, and she felt horrible for not spending more time with her.

"Can you keep a secret?"

Entranced at the idea of knowing confidential information, Prim perked up. "Oh, yes! What is it?"

Katniss rose, closing her bedroom door and returning to the bed to sit next to her sister. "Well…if I get good enough grades this semester I might be able to qualify for a special grant."

Prim frowned. "But you already have several. Why do you need another?"

Katniss swallowed, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Well….I'd need it to transfer schools. Private schools are…a lot more money."

It took her a moment, but soon Prim's blue eyes were widening. "Wait, as in the same private school that Peeta goes to!?" she nearly shrieked.

Katniss lurched forward, shoving her hand over Prim's mouth. "Will you be quiet? Mom doesn't know. No one but Peeta knows yet."

Too excited to focus, Prim ignored her. "Oh! You're going to go to the same school! And then I bet he'll purpose at graduation! We could have a summer wedding…"

Rolling her eyes, she stood up and tossed a pillow at her mouth. "Prim…no. I'm just doing this to…get a better education."

Prim snorted. "Right, and to have your sex stud within an arm's reach."

"Where did you learn how to talk like this? You used to be so…polite. You used to live up to your name," Katniss laughed. "But can you keep this a secret? I'm not telling anyone in case it-"

"No," Prim cut her off, "Don't even say it. It will work. It will."

"I take it you approve of Peeta?"

"You know I do Katniss. I think it's great that you've found someone who makes you so happy. You…you were so unhappy for so long. I feel like we're both coming alive again."

She gave her sister another stern look. She knew things were tough after the death of their father, and she did agree with Prim; after his death, she felt like she would never feel joy again. But she needed Prim to understand that this wasn't just to see Peeta more – this was to go to a better school as well.

"Just keep your mouth zipped, alright? Don't even tell Rory."

Prim grinned, bobbing her blonde head as she ran her fingers across her lips. "Zipped."

Peeta

His breath left his mouth in shorts bursts of air as he ran, his sneakers digging into the mud in the backyard. His body collided with Rye's, sending his older brother down like a sack of potatoes onto the cold ground.

"Fuck, Peet! I'm down, I'm down," Rye groaned, shaking his head. "Fucking owwwww…"

Peeta grinned to himself as he untangled his limbs from Rye's, climbing up and brushing off his hands on his sweatpants. After dinner, he and his brothers had decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and take part in some touch football in the backyard to work off their oversized meal with some of the other neighbor kids and a few cousins.

"Hey Peet," Bannock whispered as they set up for another play. "Those chicks are staring at you."

Peeta frowned. "Who?"

"Over there…"

Peeta looked up, glancing over in the direction his brother was not-so-discretely nodding in. His stomach did a small flip when he saw the sisters who were two years younger than him that lived down the street. They had teased him relentlessly as a small, round child and called him roly poly for as long as he could remember. As an overweight, slightly horny kid he had tolerated their teasing, but looking at them now….he managed to see straight through their flirty stares and only remember their taunts. A year ago he would have loped over and greeted them, desperate for female attention from the girls that used to tease him so much.

"Don't you know them?"

"Yeah…" he sighed, shaking his head. He could see hear their taunts as they zipped around him on their stupid roller blades in the driveway while he played basketball as a chubby child. Roly-Poly-Peeta! Roly Poly Peeta!

Now however, they were standing on the edge of their lawn watching the impromptu football game with a few appreciative gazes and a few whispered giggles. Peeta tossed the football in his hands, spinning it as he let a little bit of satisfaction trickle over his limbs. He knew a few years, puberty, and a regular workout schedule had done him some good – a lot, actually. Most people who hadn't seen him since he was under the age of eleven barely recognized him now as an adult.

"What are their names again?""

Peeta smirked, looking away with disinterest. "Bonnie and Twill. They live up the street."

"Ah, that's right," his brother chuckled. "Well give them a show. I bet if you took your shirt off they'd offer to be our cheerleaders."

Peeta made a face. "It's not even fifty degrees out, jackass. Besides, I have a girlfriend that's ten times hotter than those two put together," he replied, tossing the ball back to him.

Bannock snorted, not hesitating to reach over and slug him in the shoulder. "Sure ya do Peet, sure ya do."

"Hey now, that hundred bucks is gonna be mine come Christmas. I hope you pay in cash, cuz I could sure use it to do some Christmas shopping."

"If you bring that girl home, I'll pay you in cash," his brother agreed as they lined up to resume the play.

"Good. Get ready to pay up."

Katniss

After shoving the last bit of pie into her mouth, she turned to Gale and gave him a glare. "Who are you so busy texting all through dinner? And since when do you text?"

Gale gave her a chagrined look and stuffed his beat up cell phone into his pocket. He turned his attention back to his untouched pie and shrugged. "It's nothing."

"It's Madge," Katniss muttered with a smile. Gale's lip twitch confirmed it.

"Have you guys seen each other since camp?"

He nodded, looking around the living room nervously to make sure no one was paying attention. They were all sprawled around the Everdeen living room, full from the turkey Hazelle had brought over and the pumpkin pie Prim had concocted. Their families had made a habit of celebrating holidays together ever since the accident and this one was no exception. The entire Hawthorne clan was scattered around the living room as her mother got ready to go to work for the night. She had to remind herself that a nurse's work was never done, especially on holidays – people still got sick. She would have to prepare herself for a lifetime of working holidays and weekends if she wanted her dream career of healing the sick.

"How is lover boy?"

"He's fine," she smiled, leaning back in her father's old armchair. Gale smirked.

"Never thought you were the long distance type."

"We make it work," she shrugged. "It isn't always the best situation, but…"

Gale shrugged. "Peeta's a good guy, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised you guys made it this long."

"What?" she snapped. "Why wouldn't we?"

"You just don't strike me as the clingy type. Most girls would have either cheated on him or just transferred by now. Not a lot of people do the long distance thing."

"I wouldn't cheat on Peeta," she spat quietly, dragging the prongs of her fork through the remnants of the pie on her plate.

"I said most girls," he reminded her. "And actually…I thought you might have done the other by now," he grinned.

Katniss felt her face grow hot and Gale immediately snorted. "You've thought about it, haven't you?"

She glared sideways at her friend. "You tell anyone I'm thinking of transferring and I'll tell everyone you're making the beast with two backs with Undersee's baby girl."

His smile disappeared as fast as it had gotten there. "Katniss…don't. She could get in trouble with her dad, or…or I don't know, just don't, okay? This…thing with her is difficult enough."

She raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen her a lot? Is this little summer fling more than I thought?"

"Yes, quiet," he hissed. "Just the one time…she came to visit me. Madge is so…weird," he chuckled softly. "I think her dad knows she's slumming it with me."

"What?"

"I duno…he wouldn't let her bring her car to school this year, and the truck has been broken down since September. Sucks that I can't make up to her school more, but…anyway; she had some friends drop her off for a few hours one weekend. She can never stay," he sighed.

"I'm sorry," she replied truthfully. No girl had ever made Gale act this way; she knew the strange yet kind politician's daughter had a hold on her best friend that wasn't easy to explain.

"I was able to work at the shop this weekend though. Got some extra money. I think it might be enough to get the truck fixed and I can hopefully drive up."

"Are you guys still together?"

He took a bite of pie and shrugged. "I'm not fucking anyone else if that's what you're asking."

She snorted. "I guess that's as exclusive as one can hope to be."

She lifted her head with a start. What time was it? Had she seriously fallen asleep while studying? Her neck ached in protest as she lifted her head from the desk beside her bed.

"Ow," she groaned. Glancing at the clock on her nightstand, she realized it was almost one. Her phone was lit up with several texts from Peeta and even a few from Johanna wondering if she was dead or not since she hadn't called. Grimacing, she leaned back and let her back pop in about eight different places as she stood up and looked around the room. Her childhood bedroom had varied very little since she was a girl; she'd painted it at the end of the summer, but her twin sized bed and wooden desk that her father had built were the staples of the layout. Her mother's old rocking chair was in the corner, covered in dirty clothes and an errant stuffed animal from childhood. The dresser near the door had a few pictures tucked into the slightly dusty beveled mirror; a few of her father, some of Prim as a little girl, an a few newer ones of her with Peeta. For the longest time this room was her sanctuary; a place she could go that only had good memories. It was a place that made her feel save and loved and she craved it when she was sick or lonely. A strange little pang of realization skittered through her mind as she realized a small part of what she hadn't retreated home so many times this semester: Peeta had become her home.

She smiled and glanced at the picture of them he'd taken on the last day of camp last year. They looked happy; in love, but sad to leave. Staring closely at it, she realized they had an underlying fear in their eyes too – they hadn't known what the last year would possibly bring them. To embark on a long distance relationship had been completely worth it though. Peeta made her feel safe and secure, but also like everything would be alright. He had the uncanny ability to just give her a simple smile and make the rest of the world melt away. He made everything alright somehow.

She sighed, cracking her neck. She needed to get the grades to transfer – that was all there was to it. While a big part of her hated that the main reason for the move was for a guy, the rest of her felt completely justified after simply looking at his picture. Peeta was her future, and she was ready to live it.

Shuffling quietly down the hall to not wake her sister, she got a glass of water before ducking her head in Prim's room and frowned.

Prim was nowhere to be found.

Her mother's room was empty since she was working the graveyard shift, as was the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Pausing in the middle of the linoleum floor, she looked around and started to panic until she realized there was music playing in the basement. What on earth is Prim doing in the basement at this hour?

To her horror, she soon found out. She was six steps down when she turned her head just in time to see Rory pull his hand out from under her little sister's shirt and jump away from her on the old couch with a start. Prim gave her a completely horrified look that Katniss returned.

"Oh my fucking god."

Peeta

He shuffled down to the kitchen the next day, reveling in the way it already smelled like heaven. Some type of expensive, freshly ground coffee was brewing and it already smelled like his mother had been baking something even though the sun was barely up. Cursing his ability to never sleep in, he shuffled to the coffee pot to slump on the counter and wait for it to finish brewing. He sniffed the air in appreciation and sighed.

"Eggshells," his mother chimed as she breezed past.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Eggshells. I use them in the coffee grounds after I make them. It smells good, doesn't it?"

Peeta nodded slowly, carefully gauging his mother's sparkling blue eyes. She ruffled the hair on his head as she walked past him to pour herself a cup. While he loved his mother simply for the fact that she was his mother, Peeta was still quite cautious around her in the morning as her moods then usually determined what she would be like for the rest of the day. Today she seemed….chipper.

"You going shopping today?" he asked. "Isn't it like…national shopping day or something?"

She laughed as she opened the refrigerator and grabbed the creamer before pulling out a cup for him and a cup for herself. "Yes, it's Black Friday. I've already been to the mall and back. There's some good sales," she shrugged.

Peeta glanced at the clock on the oven and winced, accepting the empty coffee cup. "Already?"

She nodded, and it was only then Peeta realized she was fully dressed and coiffed for the day.

"Listen…I know we touched on the idea of you bringing Katniss to the Christmas party when you were home for Fall Break and…I think I'd like that. I'd like to meet her, that is," she said.

Peeta let his mouth fall open slightly before snapping it promptly shut. His mother was being so uncharacteristically pleasant that morning that he couldn't help but he surprised.

"You do?"

She nodded. "I don't mean to seem closed off; I just want you to do well in school. A girl might distract you. That's all I'm worried about Peeta. You're my baby boy; I just want you to do a good job while you're there."

He bobbed his head and gripped his empty coffee cup as the coffee pot sputtered behind him. "I know. I…I'm on track to make Dean's list."

She smiled warmly, standing back up and making her way over to the coffee pot with him. "You're a good boy. You're just so different from the other two, Peeta. I was never sure how to handle you."

He gave her a sheepish grin and shrugged, watching as she poured two cups full of delicious, hot liquid. "You're going to do just fine in life. Just like your father," she sighed happily. Then, her expression turned slightly sour. "Just stay on track and don't get anyone pregnant," she snapped quickly, eyeing him as she usually did.

Peeta's eyes widened as she gave him one last stern look before grabbing her cup of coffee and stalking out of the kitchen.

"Weird," he muttered, shaking his head. Grabbing a pastry from the tray on the stove, he took his cup to the window seat and flopped down.

What did you do yesterday? I didn't hear from you after dinner, he texted Katniss. The pastry was gone in two big bites, much to his disappointment. His phone buzzed almost immediately.

Yesterday was a bad day.

Yeah? My day sucked too. My brothers think you're too hot to date me! What happened to you?

I saw my little sister getting felt up. I win.

Peeta sputtered in surprise.

Prim got felt up? By who?

Rory, who else.

Did you kick his ass? He asked, chuckling afterwards at the thought.

I wanted to. I had to talk to my little sister about sex. Talk about awful.

You mom is a nurse. Didn't she do it?

Yeah, but…she gave her a nurse's version of it. The mom/nurse version. I gave her the realistic, slightly gross, but understandable big sister version.

Good

Eh, it was awkward. Anyway, I miss you

I miss you too. I'll be there to pick u up on Sunday, k?

K.

Peeta paused, looking down at his phone. He still longed for the time when he wouldn't always have to prepare himself to say goodbye to the girl he loved. They did far too much of that.

I want the day when I never have to be apart from u

I love you, she answered back. I hate goodbyes : (

Hah was wonderin if you would say it. Love u too babe. Bye : (

I'm back! Thanks your your patience as I get ready for my wedding and all of the lovely well wishes!

This was a bit of a time mover/filler chapter, I realize. I wanted to show time passing but also not dwell on too much while they're apart. The next chapter will have them reunited and it is a chapter that I have been DYING to write, so... ; )

Remember to come play on Tumblr! I answer questions there and I'm also on Twitter if you have any questions about updates, chapters, etc. I'm busy but I'm around and I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time when I get to torture this sexy duo some more! hah! *MUAH*