Under A Lovers Sky

Chapter 1 – Peeta

'Is that the last of the boxes?' My dad asks slamming the trunk.

'I think so.' I nod, not really knowing what to say next.

After living at home in New Jersey for 22 years I'm finally moving out.

It starts to rain which is convenient for my dad as it hides the tears he's pretending not to cry. I fight the urge to cry myself as thoughts of my dad driving back alone to that empty house.

'Don't, don't think that.' My dad says softly, reading my mind. 'You gave up going to college to help me take care of your mother and now she's passed its time for you to live your life.'

I was 18 when my mom was diagnosed with cancer.

When I close my eyes, I can still see her face in the doctor's office the day of the diagnosis. I see her face with a bright smile, trying to keep it together for me and my dad, but I also see the fear that crept into her eyes as she was told she probably had less than 5 years to live. In the end it was only three.

My older brothers had already left home and had their own families, so it was up to me and my dad to take care of her. My dad was reluctant wanting me to still live my life but there was no way I could have left him, he needed someone to share the burden.

At first, I deferred college for a year but then she got worse and I deferred again and then I gave up on college all together. Part of me wonders what it would've have been like to leave home, although I wouldn't give up those last three years with my mom for anything. She taught me so much about life and love and kindness and how to be the best person you can be.

She passed away six months ago.

It was a long time coming but it didn't make it any easier. I was by her side when she passed holding her hand until the very end. My dad was there too, and her best friend Iris Everdeen, she was surrounded by people who loved her, and I take a lot of comfort in that.

I'll always remember Iris's kind words to me at her funeral, 'You were her favourite. I know parents aren't supposed to have favourites but there's something about your soul Peeta, she felt more connected to you. She wouldn't want you to stay here in this town, you're too talented for that, she'd want you to be young and explore a new city! And don't worry about your father, I'll be here to look out for him.'

Those words were the push I needed to call my best friend Finnick and ask if I could move in with him in his New York city apartment.

My dad gives me a sad smile looking up at the building where Finnick waves dangerously far out of the window.

I know I need to do this, to start my life in a new city with a fresh start however a small part of me wants to get in that car and beg him to take me back to Jersey.

'I'm going to get going now kiddo, want to beat the traffic' He says pulling me into the worlds tightest hug. 'I love you.'

'I made you a month's worth of lasagne, it's in the freezer.'

'Is that your way of saying I love you too?' he asks trying not to laugh.

'I guess so.' I laugh too, it feels good to laugh again.

My dad breaks away first, climbing into the car and turning the key in the ignition.

'Say hi to your Uncle Haymitch.' he calls pulling away from the curb.

'I will.' I reply weakly, a lump forming in my throat.

As the car disappears around the corner, it's my turn to find the rain convenient as it disguises the tears streaming down my face.

It's not until all my belongings are neatly put away that I realise how little I own. My books and CDs are stacked on the shelving units, my clothes hung and folded in the closet and my laptop perched in the middle of the desk. The only item taking up any space is my guitar standing pride of place by the window.

Slowly, I sink down into the bed not knowing quite what to do with myself. It's been a long time since I didn't have to think about anyone but myself. I thought I would feel alone in this big city without my dad, but I actually feel liberated, I can do what I want, when I want.

When I don't have to work that is. Before I left Jersey, my dad scored me a job working in my uncle Haymitch's late night diner. I have to do two late shifts a week and three day which suits me fine as I plan to spend all my free time here perfecting my songs before I send demos off to recording companies.

I've always dreamt of being a songwriter. My teachers told me that it was a waste of time and I should be more realistic, but my parents always supported me, in fact my mom was my biggest cheerleader. I used to sing to her when the pain got really bad, she said it was the only thing that made her feel okay again.

For a while after she died it hurt to write, every time I tried it felt like reopening a fresh wound. However recently it's gotten easier, but I still feel a dull ache in my chest whenever I pick up my guitar.

Finnick knocking at my door makes me jump out of my thoughts.

Finnick has been my best friend since we were five. We met on the first day of school when we were sat next to each other alphabetically as no one's surnames began with the letter N. His parents are super rich and super uninterested in him, so he spent most of his time at my house when we were kids.

My mom's death hurt him just as much as it did me, for all intents and purposes she was his mom too. Finnick moved to New York when he was 18 on a full scholarship to Columbia with a Journalism Major. I didn't really see him much the past four years, but we never lost touch and he made it home more the last six months of my mom's life to say goodbye which made me appreciate his friendship even more.

Now aged twenty-two and freshly graduated, he works as a researcher for the New York times and I couldn't be prouder of him.

'Hey man, want to come with me to a bar tonight, my girlfriend works there I can get us free drinks.'

'Can I get a rain-check for tomorrow? I've got to go to Haymitch's tonight to sign my contract and work my first shift.'

'Hey, no worries! Actually, I think I'll come hang out at Haymitch's with you, I can see Annie tomorrow.'

Haymitch Abernathy is a taskmaster. I expected my first shift to be simple, to be shown the ropes, not to be thrown in at the deep end without a life raft. He handed me an apron and a spatula and said, 'Get to cooking.'

My first memory of my Uncle Haymitch consists of him frying burgers in our kitchen back in Jersey while my mom complained that he was making too much of a mess. He's ten years older than my mom and always looked out for her as a more parental figure rather than a sibling. He was always a prominent figure in my life growing up and having him as an ally in New York is very comforting, like a piece of my mom is always near me.

Finnick watches and laughs as I struggle to keep up with customers orders.

'Would you like to come back here and try this?'

'No I'm good right here thanks.' He's still laughing.

'Chin up boy, only half an hour to go.' Haymitch smiles pointing at the clock above the door showing 2:30 AM.

My eyes flick down from the clock as the door opens and the most beautiful girl, I've ever seen walks in. She takes a hair band from her wrist and pulls her long chestnut hair into a loose ponytail revealing more of her perfect face with her full pink lips and button nose. She wears tight leather trousers, that accentuate her curves, cowboy boots and a leopard print crop top showing just the right amount of cleavage. Her grey eyes shine with tiredness and as they lock with mine there's something oddly familiar about them.

She's followed in by a tall friend with short red hair and a nose ring wearing a similar outfit, they make a beeline for the corner table and collapse into the chairs, obviously exhausted.

'Good evening ladies, or should I say good morning now?' Haymitch calls over to them as he takes two slices of pie out of the hot cabinet and places them on their table.

'Good Morning Haymitch.' She smiles and my knees buckle at the melodic sound of her voice.

'Good night?' He asks leaning on the back of her friend's chair.

'Johanna punched a guy!' The beautiful girl laughs, and it sounds sweet just like honey.

'He went for me first.' Her friend, who must be Johanna retorts defensively.

'Good for you Johanna!' Haymitch exclaims, 'Although that might not go down too well with your court mandated anger management.' He adds.

'Well I won't tell if you won't.'

'My lips are sealed. How's Effie?'

'Still not interested in you.' Johanna snickers.

Haymitch mocks holding his chest as if her words literally wounded him, 'Can't blame a guy for trying, enjoy your pie ladies.'

'Thanks, Haymitch.' They both trill before tucking into their deserts and talking quietly amongst themselves.

I try to keep focused on cleaning the grill, but I can't help but keep sneaking looks at the girl. She seems so familiar, but I can't for the life of me think how I could have ever forgotten meeting a girl as beautiful as her before. Her olive skin glistens under the florescent lights as they ask Haymitch to turn up the song playing so they can dance around the diner. I am utterly mesmerised by her. I think I scrub the exact same spot until Haymitch tells them its closing and she walks out of the door breaking the trance she put me under.

Haymitch claps me round the back of my head, 'You can put your tongue back in your head now boy.'

'Was I that obvious?' I groan. After taking care of my mother for the last three years of my life, I am very out of practise in the dating department.

'The word pervert springs to mind.' Finnick jokes.

'Oh fuck, was it really that bad?'

'You were like a cat in heat,' Haymitch chuckles, 'But thankfully for you I think she was too tired to notice.'

'Thank goodness.' I feel the relief coursing through me. 'Do they come in often, you seemed to know them pretty well Uncle H?'

'Yes they do and yes I do, they come in every night after work for a slice of pie.'

'Who is she, the girl with the olive skin and grey eyes?' I know I sound eager and desperate but there was something about her. I feel like she's put me under a spell.

'It's more of a question of what she is rather than who she is.' Haymitch says cryptically exchanging a glance with Finnick.

Suddenly I feel like there's an inside joke that I'm not a part of and I get even more frustrated.

'Well what is she then?' I almost Yell.

Haymitch and Finnick exchange another glance.

'She's a coyote.' They say in unison.

Hello, I haven't written in a while so, sorry if this is a bit rusty! This was just an idea very loosely-ish based on one of my favourite films Coyote Ugly which i couldn't get out of my head so I wrote it out. Don't worry you don't have to know the film to understand the story!

If you enjoyed reading please follow, favourite and review! I'm hoping to have the next chapter up in a few days, I'm thinking it'll probably be from Katniss's perspective. Stay safe!