Usually, Artemis would hiss at her mother for toying with her hair but this morning she appreciated it. Feeling her mother's long finger rake through her scalp and elegantly pulling it up in a top knot made her feel even more relaxed than what she had felt in a long time.
She sighed as let her mind wander and day dream about what would happen this afternoon when Peeta was scheduled to come home. Her mother was prepping her hair to make her look nice to see her friend again. The friend who she thought she was going to lose to the Games.
She had sobbed tears of joy into her pillow last night as she thought of his homecoming. She was glad he was coming home. Enthralled. If he hadn't she'd be crying a different set of tears.
She wondered how Gale was reacting to all of this. Was he acting the same way that she was other was he being stoic like usual? Katniss had brought herself and Peeta back alive. It was something Artemis was going to have to thank her for. But was she prepared to have her around all the time? She was a victor just like Peeta, she would live next to him in the victor's village alongside the only other victor, Haymitch. They had also professed their love for one another on live television.
So she would have to be around constantly now since they were together. Would that mean Gale would be around more often? Or would he sulk at Katniss finding another love and stay away from them?
As soon as her mother was done plucking at her hair she stood up and placed her shoes on her feet. She looked back to see her mother giving her a questionable look to which she replied with a smile. "I'm going to see Gale. I'll be back." Artemis informed as she tapped the toes of her shoes against the wooden floor.
Her mother sighed in defeat, shaking her head as if she were annoyed. Artemis frowned as she looked at her mother. Had she done something wrong? Was she spending too much time away from home? The only reason she was was to put food on the table. She hadn't told her family about the hunting but she had lied and said she was working for Hazelle, she assumed that they would understand that she was gone a lot.
"I could stay," She stated in a meek voice, attempting to take off her shoes before her mother stopped her. "You can go." She granted with a firm wave of her hand. Artemis pursed her lips together in a fine line. Her mother was trying to guilt trip her but she knew if she stayed it would only cause an argument. She looked at her mother one last time before she exited the house.
The square was bustling with people, it was more than what she had been used to. She assumed it was because of Peeta and the bakery, which had a large gathering around it. Perhaps the Mellarks were doing interviews, or people were just congratulating them on their sons win.
She wondered if the Mellarks were even happy their son was coming home. After what Peeta had told her what happened during his goodbye to his family, Artemis couldn't bring herself to even glare at Mrs. Mellark. She was far beneath her. Mr. Mellark was a different story, the kindest out of the family besides Peeta. Bern and Isaiah had unfortunately taken after their cruel mother. Which would explain why they didn't heroically volunteer for him like Katniss did her sister.
Artemis veered to her left towards the street Gale lived on in The Seam. Even it was crowded with people trying to get a look at Katniss's home. If that's what it was called. Like all houses in The Seam, including Gale's, it was a poor excuse as a house. It didn't look too sturdy and it was bound to collapse at some point. Good thing Katniss's family didn't have to live there for much longer.
She bounded up on the small porch of the Hawthorne's residence and knocked lightly on the door. She smoothed out the dress that her mother had picked out for her, she insisted on her looking good when Peeta arrived. This time Artemis didn't mind it. The door creaked open and her hopes of seeing Gale were suddenly dulled as Linden's stature filled the doorway.
"Artemis, it's always a pleasure when you show up." Linden purred out with a smirk that caused her to roll her eyes. It was a poor attempt at flirting, it seemed to become his usual thing to do when they saw each other. She would always deny his attempts. "I would say the same but, it is you Linden." She greeted back with an annoyed tone. "Where's Gale?"
"Looking for your crush?"
"Looking for my friend. I assume he's not that busy since our infamous victors have yet to arrive." Artemis corrected him with a slight hint of sarcasm in her voice that made Linden's light-hearted face turn almost sour and serious. He stuck his head a little further out the door, craning it from side to side. It was as if she had did something illegal and he wanted to see if anyone had seen her. "Careful about what you say. They're watching us." He warned, his voice was low and foreboding. It was chilling to see him act serious after she was used to his humorous nature.
He was quickly yanked back by the scruff of the collar on his shirt by Gale who took over the space where Linden was standing. His eyes were the same cloudy grey as before but something lingered in them that made him seem different. Something that made him seem a little more colder.
"Hey," He greeted, stepping further out onto the porch, softly shutting the door behind him so Linden couldn't hear. It was a private conversation that it seemed that he intended on having. Artemis, although taken back, smiled at Gale in greeting. "I came by because I wanted to see if you wanted to join me in going to the train station. Beau was planning on coming and he said he'd bring enough chick-"
"That's all right, Artemis," He cut her off, his voice cold. "I promised I'd take Katniss's family up there. Besides you should be with the merchants." She looked up at him confused by his cold nature towards her all of a sudden. Since when did the status of her family come in the way of them walking to see their friends arrive from the death tournament?
Then she pieced it together. Katniss was coming back, there was no need for her anymore. Even as a friend. She shoved these thoughts aside. There was no way he would just stop being friends with her. But something inside her felt betrayed. Something she didn't think she would feel today.
She gave him a weak smile while nodding her head. "Another time." She huffed out in disappointment. Gale pursed his lips together, a trait that she had accidentally picked up from him. She patted his upper arm as she backed off of the small porch, looking behind her to see if anyone was standing there. Thankfully no one was there, they were just passing by to see the Everdeens.
"Wait!" Linden's voice raised up loud enough so she could hear him over the muttering crowd. She watched as Linden pushed Gale out of the door frame and bounded down to her. "I'll take his spot, if you don't mind."
She stood frozen for a moment, out of pure shock. She didn't know she had grown that close to Linden as well. However, it did seem fit since he was always around Gale annoying her and desperately trying to flirt with her and whatever woman was around him. She couldn't tell if her cheeks were heating up or if the warm breeze was stroking her face. "Sure." She answered flatly as he waited patiently for her. A smile broke out across his face and he began his steady pace beside her.
Gale didn't want to put too much thought to the pair walking out of The Seam side by side but he couldn't help it. He knew how Linden worked and assumed that soon Artemis would be wrapped around his finger. However, he knew she was strong. Strong like Katniss.
"Is he always like that?" Artemis asked. "I mean, he's always moody but he's never too distant." A piece of her hair strayed in the wind across her face. She plucked it off to the side as Linden chuckled to himself with his hands in his pockets. "Get used to it." He stated. "He showed sympathy when Katniss was away, he showed weakness. That's the Gale you know. The Gale I know, is hard headed and moody. It's probably because he has lady problems."
"So it's true then," Artemis clarified. "Him and Katniss are together. Why won't he admit it?" She felt anger bottled up inside of her, she had trusted him with details of her life, of how she felt about Peeta but he didn't do the same. It was a one sided friendship.
"Because they're not," Linden defended, abruptly stopping as they approached the merchant's square where she lived. "He has feelings for her, he knows that. Katniss just doesn't portray her feelings as well as he does so it looks like she doesn't like him. Makes him doubt himself."
"But does she?"
"Of course, but she won't admit it."
"She hides her feelings?" Artemis perked a confused brow as she began to meander through the crowd of people near the bakery. She liked having Peeta live near but she hated this mass amount of people. Linden nodded. "She always has," He said. Without missing a beat he added, "Reminds me of a certain merchant's daughter."
Artemis whirled around, with a small, frown on her lips, looking into the deep grey eyes of Linden as he chuckled. She could definitely feel herself flush as she turned around and began wading through the people. She reminded herself that Linden was the type of person to get someone's goat, no matter the cost. The way he got hers was through flattery.
People were scared of her, however, in the recent weeks it seemed she was drawing in more friends than she ever had. It was thanks to Gale, his charm rubbed off on her after being with him for so long. But the friend's she made were also Gale's friends. Linden, if course, and Dakota, who was the total opposite of the brooding Gale and flirtatious Linden. He was actually nice and sweet. She wondered if he'd be at the station as well, and she also felt a little guilty for not tagging him along. Although it was never her plan to have Linden by her side when she saw Peeta.
After they surged their way through the crowd, Artemis took lead and made her way towards Davet's Butchery. It only took one wrap at the door for Beau to fling it open with a concerned, frantic look on his face that intrigued her. "Took you long enough," He remarked as he shut the door behind him, jingling his keys in his pocket. "Your family went with mine like ten minutes ago. It's so crowded. We should've been at the station ages ago." He scolded, locking the door behind him.
Artemis rolled her eyes as Linden laughed under his breath. He could watch Artemis get annoyed all day long. "You seem like a worry wart, my friend." Linden spoke up, startling Beau. Beau narrowed his eyes at the stranger, eyeing him up and down as if he were a threat.
"Who's this?" Beau questioned, his voice sounded upset but he held his composure while Linden puffed up his chest to look bigger. "This is Linden. A new friend of mine," Artemis introduced him. Beau was wary as he plucked the chicken breast from it's cloth wrap. He offered it to Linden first, who in turn took a massive chunk of the flesh and plopped it in his mouth.
Beau looked to Artemis for a moment, judging Linden by how greedily he consumed the chicken. Artemis narrowed her eyes and shook her head once, it was so slight that Linden didn't notice but Beau did. He huffed out a sigh and handed the chicken breast over to Linden, who looked confused at this gesture.
"It's fine. There's plenty where that came from." Beau smiled, his hazel eyes sparkling with a fake sincerity. Linden then looked to Artemis confused but she simply nodded her head towards the chicken breast, affirming he can take it. After that he wasted no time in grabbing it and taking another chunk off and devouring it. "Thank you," He muttered out with a mouthful of chicken. Beau smiled lightly. "You're welcome," He replied clapping his hands together. "Can you walk and eat?" Linden absentmindedly nodded his head and began following the two friends towards the train station.
"Did they say what time it will arrive?" Artemis questioned Beau as she peered over the mass of people. The station was already hot during the summer time but the added body heat made standing their almost unbearable. Beau shook his head in response, waving his hand in front of his face.
She began to worry that she was going to regret standing in a large crowd of people waiting for Peeta to disembark the train. Would he even see them? She was small enough, she thought she could possibly squeeze her way towards the front of the crowd.
They hadn't seen one single person they knew. Not her family, not Beau's, not even Gale. Just a sea of new faces, fake faces waiting to catch a glimpse of their friend. No one cared about them when they were living their normal life, why was this so different? Artemis couldn't help but feel jealous. She wasted the last couple of weeks worrying for her best friends life and he wasn't going to see her.
She looked towards her right to see Linden sitting on the ground, waving his hand in front of his face like Beau, fanning himself. She gave him a concerned look. "You better not die on my watch," She teased down at him, only to receive an exasperated laugh in return. "You're so funny." He slurred, squinting up at her. She crouched down beside him, a smirk playing at her lips. "No seriously if you die I don't think Gale would ever forgive me."
"He probably wouldn't," He agreed. "He'd probably seek revenge." He wiggled his fingers towards her in a teasing manner. She rolled her eyes. "Why don't you stand up?" She suggested, standing up beside him and sticking her hand out towards him. Instead of taking it, he smacked it gently.
"There's a better view down here." The heat must've been getting to him if he thinks he can see the station better from down there. This started to worry her. "Better view of what? It's just legs." Artemis pressed, sticking her hand out towards him again. He gave her a sly smirk and winked at her. "Yeah, I know."
Her skin crawled as she watched him eye up her exposed legs like a dog looking at a bone. She quickly pressed the edges of her dress closer to her legs, she didn't want him getting cheeky. She cursed herself for actually wearing a dress to this but she'd be roasting otherwise. She uneasily traded spots with Beau who gave her a confused look which she brushed off.
The there was a whistle that came from a mile away. People started chattering excitedly. She desperately wanted to get closer to the platform to see her friend. She tried standing on her tiptoes, jumping, trying to squeeze through, all with no luck.
Coming to the station seemed pointless at the rate. She could hear the train pull into station but she couldn't see it stop. She could hear people cheering and shouting as the victor's stepped out of the cabin but she couldn't see the one person she's been trying to see for weeks.
She was fed up with the crowd of people. It angered her to the point she where she exploded. She grabbed tightly onto Beau's forearm, only giving him a moment to respond with a nod. He clutched onto Linden's shirt and drug him towards her. Angry and frustrated, she pushed her way through the crowd of people, carrying the other two behind her with an iron grip. She didn't care if people stared rudely at her, she thought it was rude of them to suddenly care about Peeta.
Artemis didn't stop until she came face to face with the ivory chest of a peacekeeper as he blocked the crowd from groin any further. She noticed that they were in a straight line on both sides, blocking the crowd, creating a large path for the victor's to cross to their car. Something that Artemis had only seen a handful of times.
Her heart seemed to stop when her eyes finally rested on the stocky stature of her best friend. The smile he wore was not genuine. The gleam in his eyes did not express the happiness that most of the District felt, they displayed pain.
The cluster of nerves that writhed in the pit of her stomach, that she once thought were butterflies of excitement, turned into an anxious feeling as she watched Peeta and Katniss pass by without looking at a single person in the crowd. Haymitch and the ever preppy Effie trailing behind and waving into the crowd, making up for their absent cheerfulness.
The whole scenario only lasted mere seconds but it felt like ages to her. She wanted to reach out to him, grab onto him and never let go. She wanted to tell him soothing things about how he was going to be safe now and how much she missed him. But every time she thought about it, her eyes would drift towards the peacekeepers in front of her with a gun on their hip. It wasn't worth the trouble of getting shot, or worse.
She didn't know when or why she did it, but she grabbed tightly onto Beau's hand as they watched the maroon car drive off with their best friend. All around them, people began to disperse, heading towards the merchant's square or The Seam to catch a glimpse of the new victors. Her heart clenched in her chest. "What was that?" Beau spoke up, the same confused yet concerned look on his face as Artemis. Linden was even looking at the car driving off in the distance with a frown, as he brushed the backside of his pants free of dirt She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the car that grew further and further away from them. "That wasn't our Peeta."