Chapter 8

Yellow light illuminates the black concrete, two weeks after the wedding, as Katniss and the rest of the group walk to their cars in the student lot after their respective practices. As they get closer to Peeta's parking space, she notices two black Hummers blocking in his truck at the front and back. The glass in the windows are tinted so black that there's no way of seeing the occupants of the vehicles. They approach cautiously. The doors of the black Hummers open.

Cato Jameson, captain of Capital Elite's wrestling team, steps out along with his girlfriend Clove Andrews, and rest of their snobby friends Marvel, Glimmer, Gloss, and Cashmere.

Rye stiffens up at the sight of Glimmer and Gloss wrapped around each other like a pretzel. Delly takes his hand and rubs soothing circles into his palm to distract him. He squeezes her hand in thanks.

Cato storms over to Peeta. Peeta releases Katniss hand and walks forward to meet Cato before he can reach the rest of the group.

"Oh, look guys it's the preppies coming to challenge us greasers to a brawl." Rye tries to diffuse the situation with humor.

Cato and Peeta ignore Rye's comment and continue to face off against each other as their friends watch warily glancing between them.

"Mellark, I hear you and I are bracketed to go up against each other this Wednesday. Honestly you should just drop out now. Or I'll have to rearrange your face. Then not even your girl on fire over there will be able to recognize you. We both know you don't have what it takes to beat me." Cato towers over Peeta.

Peeta just smiles. Never one to be intimidated by threats. "Yeah you seem really confident. Needing to bring your little pack here to back you up while you run your mouth. I'll be on the mat Wednesday. Then we'll see then if you can back up all the talk. Now I suggest you go back to your side of town preppy. We're done here."

Cato turns as if to leave then suddenly spins around to throw a right hook at Peeta's face. Peeta expecting it, ducks and steps back. In the blink of eye, the quiet parking lot is filled with the sounds of a fight as Peeta, Rye, Gale take on Cato, Gloss, and Marvel. Never one's to stay out of a fight Clove Cashmere take on Katniss and Johanna. Glimmer, Madge, and Delly duck behind their cars to avoid the violence.

Cato kicks Peeta in the leg at the knee where he knows Peeta has a weak spot from an old injury. Peeta's leg collapses momentary but he quickly regains his feet and he slams a fist into Cato's nose causing a crunching noise and blood gushes over his face.

Suddenly a horn goes off behind them. Finnick Odair steps out of his jeep fury in his face. Annie looks mortified from her place in the passenger seat. "That enough. Break it up right now." Finnick shouts.

Everyone immediately complies. Not wanting to face the wrath of the furious former champion wrestler. Even the big talker Cato has a fearful respect of Finnick Odair.

"You could all be arrested for fighting on school property. I know tensions are running high because of the upcoming match, so I'll keep this to myself. Now I suggest you Elites leave before I let the Mockingjays finish you off."

It's clear to see that the Elites had suffered the most damage from the fight. Clove is holding her wrist limply. Marvel has a split lip and bruised neck. Gloss has a bloody mouth and probably to some knocked out teeth from Rye's fist. The Elites sneer at Finnick as they make their way to the black Hummers. The screech out of the parking lot at a fast pace.

Finnick turns his gaze to his friends after they are out of sight. "Is everyone ok? Peet how's your leg?"

Delly and Madge come out from the cover of the car. Peeta limps towards his truck and leans up against it. "It will be fine. I just need to ice it. How about the rest of you?"

Katniss has a cut over her left eye where Clove's ring cut into it. Gale has a bloody nose. Rye is clutching his stomach from a hit to the gut. They seem to all be in decent shape all things considered.

"Just some superficial wounds. No need for any hospital visits." Katniss says after Annie helps her bandage the cut over her eye and she checks everyone out.

Finnick glares at them. How could y'all let this happen? I know they came on your territory, but you should have walked away. If coach finds out about this, he'll probably cancel the match."

"Cato made the first move when he tried to sucker punch Peet. Then Peeta was forced to defend himself. The rest of Cato's pack jumped in, so we had to fight them and watch Peeta's back." Rye exclaims.

"Alright." Finnick sighs seeing that they were in the right. "Can everyone get home ok? Or do you need a ride?" He eyes them all critically.

"Gale and Delly rode to school with me so I'll take them home. Rye are you ok to drive you and Peeta home? Madge asks.

Rye straightens and climbs into the driver's seat. "Yeah I can get us home."

Peeta notices that Katniss's cut is still bleeding. "You can't drive yourself home with that cut still bleeding."

"Jo can drive me home. She's staying at the house for a while anyway." Katniss reminds Peeta. Johanna nods in agreement and takes the keys from Katniss.

She kisses Peeta goodbye and slides into the passenger seat as Johanna cranks up the car. She leans her aching head against the cool window and prays her mom won't make a big fuss over the incident when they get home.

Johanna and Katniss pull into the driveway and slowly climb out of the car. A gust of warm air washes over them Katniss opens the door. "Katniss, Jo is that y'all?" Mrs. Everdeen calls from the living room.

Her mom goes in to nurse mode when she sees the bandage around Katniss forehead and the bruises on Katniss and Johanna's hands as she goes to get the first aid kit from the bathroom. "What on Earth happened tonight? Why are you both injured?" She asks as she returns to the living room.

Katniss and Johanna recount the nights event as Mrs. Everdeen disinfects their wounds and Haymitch and Prim sit on the couch to listen in.

"I should have guessed this involved those Elite snobs. The rivalry between the schools has been going on for generations. Your dad and I mixed it up with some of them plenty of times in high school. It's practically a right of passage. I hope you tore them up good. You need to uphold our legacy." Haymitch encourages.

"Haymitch honestly you shouldn't encourage this behavior." Caroline scolds.

"You're one to talk Caroline. I seem to recall a certain girl fighting right beside Jack and me back in the day." Katniss, Prim, and Johanna all stare wide eyes at Mrs. Everdeen at this new discovery.

Caroline blushes at the reminder of her youthful indiscretions. "Well they're supposed to do as I say not as I did. Now you two should go get something to eat." She says dismissing them.