Yooooooo we made it to 20 chapters guys! This is actually big for me bc I am so bad with consistency and actually sticking with my goals, and I have you guys to thank! If it wasn't for each and everyone of your reviews and following and even favoriting my story, I probably would have given up months ago, so thank you! Love you all! Now let's get into some reviews from last chapter!
Guest-Once again, an amazing chapter! "Grandpa Haymitch" is the most wholesome thing I've heard/read this year. ;) Peeta's "episode" was heartbreaking and so beautiful at the same time. I wonder if a mention of Madge will ever come up... Keep up the great work, and I can't wait for the next update!
Haha yes, gotta love Grandpa Haymitch. I really loved the concept of his and Lily's relationship so I was super excited to showcase it. And yea, Peeta's episodes at this point in his life are far and few between, but they've always been as strong as when he was a teenager. I thought it was important for Lily to witness that first hand, even if it is a bit traumatic. I'm not sure if any mention of Madge will come up in the recent future but if the story vears that way, we could get a tidbit about Madge.
guestb-I think this is the best chapter you've written so far - really great work! I really love the way you wrote the interaction between Lily and Haymitch. I thought it was really beautiful and I hope we get to see the two of them together more in the future. You managed to get a sort of philosophical tone during that section, which I really really liked. And I'm glad you're bringing Peeta's flashing into the story more, and am really excited to see how explaining that to Lily goes. Keep up the good work! Can't wait to read more.
Thank you so much, I definitely think the last chapter was one of the most cohesive and had a great flow story wise, so it means a lot to hear that. I love the idea of Haymitch taking on a grandfatherly attitude and him and Lily are really close, so I was excited to display it. I'm glad you liked that section as much as I did! And yea, as I said before, I think it's important for Lily to witness something like that firsthand and realize the consequences of her words and actions.
Guest9394- Loved this chapter, especially the interactions between Lily and Haymich. One small thing, are we going to see more of Kaden? I liked his character, and its strange we haven't seen for a while since he also lives there. That's just a small critique, overall the story is amazing. The way you write the characters and how they react is so genuine. Keep up the good work!
Hahaha yea, oh Kaden. I've actually been thinking about this for a while and I feel kinda bad I haven't been able to bring him into the story more. Kaden is way more social than Lily, so in my mind he was always off doing something with friends when drama was happening at home, but I agree that there should be more of him. And thank you, I try, I try.
And now onto the story!
~Jillian
Xoxo
(Lily's POV)
What the hell?
That was my only thought at the moment, repeating over and over again in my brain.
What the hell just happened?
One second, dad and I are arguing, which may be uncommon but it wasn't that bad, and the next, he's looking at me with pure fear in his eyes, trying his best to get away from me.
It was terrifying to see him so vulnerable, especially towards me. Even after watching some of the Hunger Games, that was Peeta with fear in his eyes. This is my Dad. My super hero. He's not… he's not supposed to be afraid of me.
So, what happened? What did I say or do during our conversation that flipped a switch? It was so strange, it was as if he wasn't even there, like he wasn't seeing me, his daughter, but somebody else.
It had to have been what I said about mom. That she didn't love him when they first went into the Games. My own words now ring in my head, She didn't even love you then. I know it's true, they told me so themselves. So why did it have such a strong effect on him? It just doesn't make sense. There has to be something else.
A thud interrupts my raging thoughts, and my head snaps up to stare at the ceiling above me, where my parents room would be. I even manage to catch the muffled sound of voices, rushed and pleading. My heart aches. Hot tears spill out over my cheeks, and I can't control the way my breath starts to speed up.
I have to- I need to get out of here. Escape.
Turning on my heel, I sprint to the front door and rip it open by the cold handle.
I've always loved running. I used to go on runs with my mom through the woods, going up over the grassy hills of the meadow and into the woods. We haven't gone on a run since late summer. We haven't done a lot of things since late summer.
But now I'm not running to the meadow, or the woods. I'm keeping on the path, following the winding road out of the Village and into town. I reval in the feeling of the wind cooling my flushed face, and through my raven waves. The sound of my shoes slapping against the pavement is the only noise to be heard in these morning hours, and District 12 is not known for its early risers, especially on a Saturday.
Finally, I make it to my destination. Standing in front of the tiny town home, I find myself hesitating, second guessing my initial impulse to come here. What if he's not even awake? I know Adrian definitely wouldn't be on a normal morning.
I swallow my nerves, forcing myself to raise a fist to the door.
So imagine my surprise when the door opens at just the same time.
"Oh!" I yelp, a warm body crashing into mine. Silver eyes widen, meeting my own blues, and I feel a press against my back, keeping me from falling.
"Hi…" I croak, embarrassed.
His face breaks out in a smile, his dark olive skin contrasting beautifully against the whites of his teeth, "Hey."
Devin's hair is ruffled with sleep, it's chestnut color turning auburn in the morning sun. I want to run my fingers through it, to see if it's really as soft as it looks.
The feeling of Devin's thumb rubbing lightly on the small of my back reminds me of the matter at hand. "What's going on?" He asks worriedly, bringing his other hand up to swipe at the remaining wet tracks under my eyes.
Feeling flustered at the concern in his eyes, I place my hands on his chest and hide my burning face in the crook of his neck. His arms embrace me in a hand without a second thought, pulling me closer to him.
"I need to talk to you about something," I whine miserably.
He huffs out a laugh, "You're not breaking up with me are you?"
Surprised, I pull back, moving my hands to rest on the back of his neck, "No! No, it's not that."
"So you accept?" He asks, eyes bright and excited.
I quirk and eyebrow, "What?"
"You'll be my girlfriend?"
My heart, which had been so down-trodden and broken, now seemed to soar. "Yes!" I answer, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, given his amused smile. "Yes, of course, but that's not what I was talking about." I tilt my head, threading my fingers with the hair at the knape of his neck, "Are you busy right now?"
"Well, I was just heading out to go on a run, but now that a better option has come along.." he says, taking my hand and lacing it with his, leading me away from his front door.
We meander down the blocks, enjoying the simple pleasure of feeling the other's hand in our own.
"So," Devin starts, breaking the comfortable silence, "what was it you needed to talk to me about."
I let out a miserable sigh, bemoaning what is to come, "My family." I scoff, " Actually, our families ."
He lifts a dark eyebrow, confused at my phrasing. I laugh, shaking my head, and start over. "So, as I'm sure you remember, my mom, and your dad, know each other from when they were teenagers. Well, actually, my dad knew him too, kind of an awkward situation, but that's beside the point for now."
I look back up at him, and notice him staring at me, very bewildered at my ramblings. "Okay, okay," he says, "how about we find some place to sit, and you can start from the beginning, yea?"
Nodding with an embarrassed smile, it's now my turn to lead him.
My legs take me to one of my favorite places.
The lake is cold this time of year, freezing even. But it's always beautiful. Dark blue water, with calm rippling waves, sunlight casting golden shadows on the surface.
My mom taught me how to swim here. She taught Kaden how to swim here Apparently she even taught my dad how to swim here. Memories of summer days spent splashing around or playing on the shore swirls around my mind like a small school of minnow.
My mom told me that when she was my age she kept the lake a secret, wanting to keep the memories of days spent with her father to herself and herself only. But she's never kept me from sharing this place with my friends if I wanted to. Adrian and Celia love this place nearly as much as I do, going from breath holding competitions, to getting dark tans and sun freckles, to cliff diving while screaming at the tops of our lungs.
And now that brings us to Devin. I hear his breath hitch at the sight, and I don't blame him. It's truly stunning. "Oh, Lily…" He whispers, voice grateful that I've shown him this wonderful place. I smile, blushing, and bring him over to a boulder with a flat top to sit on.
Shutting my eyes, I take in the fresh air, feeling it rejuvenate and prepare me. And so I tell him.
Everything.
I tell him about the situation with my parents. He already knows the basics, due to being in literally the exact same history class as me, but he doesn't really know how I've handled it. I tell him about watching the tape, having Celia and Adrian by my side. How hurt and heartbroken my parents have been for the past few weeks at my rejecting them and me feeling betrayed by them in turn. I even tell him about what happened with my dad this morning, and why I came crying to him. And then I get to the hard stuff. The weird stuff. Our parents and their strange relationship. I see the emotions create a storm behind his eyes, going from astonishment and horror to discomfort and awkwardness. The fact that my mother and his father have shared a kiss or two makes his hand flex in mine, palm sweaty. He looks away from me when I mention the theory that it was Gale Hawthorne's bomb that killed my Aunt Prim.
"So...is there anything you want to say?" I ask slowly, after nearly ten minutes of silence had passed since my speech.
Devin lays flat on the boulder, staring into the open blue sky, eyes glazed over. His mouth opens, but no words seem to be able to escape him.
"Dev?" I try again, but he answers me with a slight shake of his head. I let out an understanding sigh, laying down next to him. "Are we gonna be okay?" I ask, voicing one of my fears.
I'm surprised when this actually gets a response from him, as he turns his face to me, whispering "Of course."
I smile but look away, not believing him. "But- but," I stutter, "you're so traumatized by what I've told you, you can't even talk about it."
"That's not because of you!" he says, voice panicked. "I hurt and angry yes, but not at you. At my father. For never telling me anything about this, barely telling me anything about his role in the war." He leans forward, propping himself up on his elbow, and takes my hand. "I'm upset, and I know you are too, but I promise you, we'll work through this. I'm not letting our parents ruin this for us," he smiles.
I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. This boy is too good to be true. He understands me and cares about me. While he looks like a trouble-maker I know he just wants to make others laugh. Nevermind the fact he's boyishly handsome. Barely able to contain my joy, I do what comes naturally.
I lean forward and kiss him.
Not on the cheek or the nose or the forehead. On the lips, where he ought to be kissed. And it's magical. My teenage brain is practically squealing. Devin reaches up and cups my face, jaw moving to deepen the kiss. I shiver at the feeling, arching into him to thread my fingers into his hair. It is as soft as it looks.
Against my wishes, Devin regrettably starts to slow down, playing with the ends of my hair. We finally pull away after what feels like an eternity and a second at the same time. Both of our faces are flushed slightly, and Devin's lips are beautifully swollen. His eyes bore into mine, sparkling.
"I've been wanting to do that for a while," he mumbles, almost more to himself than to me.
"Beat you to it," I tease, trying to distract myself from my racing heart by pushing back and fixing my mussed waves.
He groans, stretching out on the boulder before sitting up again suddenly, "Suddenly I'm starving, you?"
I can't help but laugh at his bluntness, "Yea actually, wanna check out the diner?"
And so we finish our morning, laughing over stacks of waffles and glasses of orange juice. Perfectly happy and content to share this moment with each other. Secretly, I wish for many more mornings like this one, completed with goodbye kisses that taste like citrus.
I hope he's thinking the same thing.
(Katniss's POV)
Who would have thought that through all the drama I would have forgotten about my sweet baby boy? That's not what happened, not 100% but that's what Kaden said. Kaden stood at the foot of our bed an hour or two after Peeta's episode, an annoyed look on his face. After the excitement of Peeta's episode, neither of us was too keen on leaving the comfort of the other's embrace for something as silly as breakfast.
Kaden disagreed with that idea.
"But Kaden, we figured you would just grab a muffin or a pastry off the counter if you were hungry. You know they're always there," I point out.
"That's not the point," he groans, frustrated, "I barely see you guys anymore. First all the drama with Lily means you guys need to spend more time with her, and then I get really busy with school and my friends, it's just...I wanted a breakfast. With everyone." Kaden plops himself down on the side of our bed, looking saddened, "Like it used to be."
Peeta lets out an understanding sigh, leaning forwards and pulling Kaden into the bed with us. "I'm sorry buddy, we didn't realize this would be a big deal for you."
"But now that we know, we can go downstairs, and force your father to cook for us," I tease, making Kaden chuckles and Peeta groan exaggeratedly.
The three of us head downstairs, Kaden feeding Trixie, and Peeta and I grabbing stuff for breakfast. Can't go wrong with eggs, can you?
People have said Peeta and I were great at many different things over the years, all the boring stuff about being a fighter blah blah blah, but one thing we love doing, is making a nice breakfast spread.
Peeta cooks up delicious smelling eggs and bacon, and I grab a tray of muffins and the bowl of fresh fruit I bought the other day at the market. On spring and summer days those fruits would have been gathered by me or the children, but there isn't much in season that we like this time of year. There's certainly no strawberries growing the District 12 woods in the middle of October.
As Kaden is setting the table, Peeta pulls me to the side nervously, "What are we gonna do about Lily?" he whispers.
"What do you mean?" I ask, knowing exactly what he means.
"She was there. She saw- she saw what happened. I spoke to her. What if I said something awful?" his voice catches, exposing how truly scared he is at this moment. Worried, I place a gentle hand on his tense arm, trying to soothe him.
"Hey, it'll be okay. We'll eat together, pretend to be merry, hope Lily gets the hint, and afterward, well that's up to you how you want to explain."
He lets out a huff, upset, "This is not how I wanted to do things."
"I know Peeta," I frown, casting a glance at Kaden, who looks at us curiously. "Let's just, play it by ear?"
He only answers with a stiff nod. "Hey, Kade?" He says, turning away from me.
"Yea Dad?" Kaden answers with a face all too excited to be included.
"Can you go get your sister? Tell her it's time to eat?" Peeta asks, eyes looking away in embarrassment.
Kaden bounds up the stairs, and the two of us remain silent, tense and uncomfortable.
"Peeta-"
"She's not in her room," Kaden says confusedly, returning from upstairs.
I look to Peeta, eyes wide, and see my expression matches his.
Where has she gone to now?
(Lily's POV)
Of course the thought to call my parents pops up in my mind once or twice, but I force myself to push it away. I've done this before, running off, disappearing for the day or morning. The first time I did it, I returned to find my parents more worried than I have ever seen them at the time, eyes wide and glossy, skin pale and sweating. It was an eerie sight.
My mom was easier to convince of my safety than my dad. She told me she used to do the same thing when she was younger, running off to the woods when she felt she needed an escape. To be honest, I had only wanted to hang out with my friends and was too impatient to wait for my parents permission, but I went along with my mom's justification.
My dad on the other hand, understood eventually, but not from personal experience. I learned he had had a job growing up, working in his family's bakery. He never had time to run off whenever he wanted to. But he came around, reluctantly if I'm being honest. He's always been the more overprotective of my parents.
But this time, I've decided to forgo calling my parents, still a bit shaken up by what happened. Even after such an amazing morning with Devin, I couldn't seem to put the event out of my mind.
And so I spent the remaining hours of the morning walking around the now bustling town. I greet the shop owners and my parents acquaintances the way my dad taught me. You never know the effect a genuine smile from someone you know, or even someone you don't know, can have on somebody.
I've done nearly four laps around the entire town when my phone rings. Expecting it to be one of my parents, I choose to ignore it. And then it rings again, and again, until I can't take it.
"Yeah?" I answer, knowing I'm in for it.
"Lily? I need to talk to you."
"Celia?" I ask incredulously.
"Uh, yes?"
"Oh sorry, I was just expecting somebody else," I laugh awkwardly, reaching up to scratch my hairline.
"Okay then," she giggles slightly, "is that a yes then?"
"Oh yea, of course, your house?"
"Yes please!"
"Okay awesome, see you in 10," I say, hanging up after she says her goodbye.
Celia's house is in a certain part of town that I think of as the old section. It's not that the buildings are older than the rest or it looks more run down, but my parents once told me that this section is where the majority of the district lived when they were kids. District 12's population has nearly doubled since the end of old Panem, so they had to expand as more families moved out here. But Celia's family chose to place their home in this section, as her mom, Delly, grew up over here. Adrian's family in comparison, moved into the expanded part of town, as his parents were originally from District 2 and 6.
I walk in without knocking, feeling nearly as comfortable in this home as my own.
"Hello!" I sing-song, calling out to Celia.
"Hey Lily!" Mrs. says, greeting me from where she sits in her living room. She's always had a thing for television shows, as they almost always seem to be on whenever I come over. This time it's a home decorating show from District 1, the participants oo-ing and ah-ing at each other's handiwork.
"Hi Mrs. Cartwright, Celia in her room?" I ask, taking my shoes off by the door so I don't get dirt on the plush carpet that lines the house.
"Yup, you can just go on in. Oh! Are you hungry Lily, we have some leftovers from breakfast if you need it?" She offers, getting up and making her way to the kitchen.
"Oh no, I'm okay." I say honestly, trying to pacify the always overly giving Delly Cartwright.
"Oh alright then, head on up dear," she dismisses with an amused wave of her hand.
Running up the familiar steps, I open the door and am faced with a shocking sight. It seems the cheerful demeanor that Celia displayed on the phone was just that, a display, as she looks near tears.
"Celia!" I hiss, shutting the door softly behind me before quickly joining her on the bed. Wrapping an arm around her, I go into interrogation mode.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Ugh, everything!" She moans, falling to the side to lean against me.
"Everything?" I repeat, sensing she's being a bit dramatic.
Celia shakes her head, flustered, "Okay maybe not everything," she admits, making me laugh, "but there is something!"
"I'm listening."
She lets out a frustrated huff, looking up at me, "It's Adrian."
This has me pulling back out of surprise, "Adrian? What did he do?"
"It's just, he's been kind of weird lately. When we're alone it's great, but then when we go to school and we're around our friends, it's like he pulls away slightly. Like he's distracted by something. Or… someone." Suddenly, both of our eyes go wide in shock, and Celia pulls away to face me. "Wha-what if he's having second thoughts about us? Or- or he likes someone else? Someone better? Someone prettier, and smarter, and funnier than me?"
Seeing Celia is near hysterics I swiftly pull her into a tight hug. "Shhhhh," I whisper, "don't think like that Celia. Adrian likes you a lot. He already loves you, he's just having trouble adjusting to being in a relationship. Remember, this is his first too."
"But- but what if-"
"No. No, okay. You are the best person I know. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen. The funniest, most caring friend or girlfriend anyone could ask for."
And it's true. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's no denying Celia's beauty. Her light blond hair and striking eyes could turn heads any day. It always pains me that she won't ever see herself the way I do. The way so many people see her.
"Thanks Lily," Celia says, wiping away at her eye, "but that doesn't change the facts. Adrian has been weird lately. Especially since you started hanging out with Devin. Maybe he misses you?" She suggests, making me roll my eyes.
"Or he feels threatened by another guy. I don't know what he has against Devin, he's literally done nothing wrong to him." The annoyance I had felt towards Adrian a week ago resurfaces at this reminder.
"And this morning," Celia continues, gesturing wildly with her hands, "he was all weird and flustered. He only kissed me on the cheek, usually he kisses me normally every morning. But this morning it seemed like a chore to him. It really rubbed me the wrong way." Celia blushes as the mention of kisses, as do I. A moment from this morning flashes before my eyes, and my face burns. Thankfully Celia ignores it.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" I suggest. Celia jumps, shaking her head wildly.
"No! Oh no, pleeeeease don't! He can't know that I was complaining about him! That would ruin everything!"
"Are you sure?" I ask, confused at her adamants.
"Yes, I'm sure. Promise me you won't say anything?" She says, holding out her pinky finger.
I roll my eyes and laugh, linking mine with hers, "I promise."
"Good," Celia breathes a sigh of relief, relaxing for a moment, "thank you."
I nod, leaning away to look out the window.
"Now, wanna tell me why you got so blushy at the mention of kisses?"
Cursing, my head whips around to be met with Celia's smug and giddy face, who looks ready to burst with excitement.
I let out a sigh of defeat, slouching. "Well," I start, "I may have seen Devin this morning…"
Celia squeals, grabbing my brands and pulling me forward, "Tell me everything!"
Xoxo
Hey guys! I'm really sorry to be putting this up a day later than planned, I had a lot going on this week and I'm really bad at time management haha. Well anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, even if it was a bit shorter. Make sure to leave a review letting me know what you think, and make sure to follow to keep up with any updates. The next chapter should be up by February 6th!