Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or rights to the hunger games. The plots all mine though.
Chapter 3: "Centuries "
" Some legends are told. Some turn to dust or to gold, but you will remember me remember me for centuries" - Fallout Boy, Centuries
It's been a couple weeks since the party and I've seen Peeta almost everyday between hanging out and me sitting in on band practices. They've been getting lot of local gigs since Madge's party.
Jo, Annie and I try and make as many as we can. Like tonight their playing at the beach for grad night so we thought we'd go and support.
Throwing on a pair of jean shorts, a white T-shirt and converse I grab my keys and phone off my bed and head out the door. Prim is out with Rue tonight so I don't have to worry.
I pick up Annie and Jo on the way so we can meet the guys at the beach before they go on.
Jo comes stomping out of her house with Annie in toe and I can tell she's irritated with my tardiness. "what took you so long brainless, damn I'm ready to party."
I roll my eyes at her and pull out of her drive way " you better be grateful your drunk ass will have a ride home tonight and were not partying. Were going to support the guys and help out as best we can."
Annie laughs from the back and Jo flip us both off.
"Shut up, don't act like your doing this for me or to help lug heavy ass equipment around, we all know you'd jumped at the chance to go see drummer boy" she said with a smirk.
I try an glare at her but cant help my smile breaking through "whatever Jo, I could say the same about you and Gale".
Her cheeks tint pink earning me another middle finger.
When we finally get there we pull up besides Gales truck where the guys are unloading their stuff. I see Peeta carrying a large part of his drum and can't help the smile that stretches across my face.
Annie jumps out and over to Finn wrapping her arms around him while Jo punches Gale playfully in the arm. I wish they would just get together already, this school yard flirting is really painful.
I get out and make way over to Peeta who meets me half way and wraps his arms around my waist picking me up and twirling me around.
I wrap my arms around his neck to steady myself while I let a series of girlish giggles before he sets me back on the ground.
He leans in and places a chaste kiss on my lips and then buries his face in my hair. " I missed you".
" I missed you too" even though we talked on the phone last night.
We stay like this until Gales loud voice brings us out of our world. " hey love birds, can we finish this or what?".
We both laugh and reluctantly pull apart.
We help the guys finish setting up and then go to the front of the stage to watch their performance. I steal a glance at Peeta and he gives me his signature wink before they began to play.
***M&B***
When the guys come off the stage I see a man in a black suit walk up them and they talk for a while before he hands Finnick a card and walks away.
The guys talk quietly before making their way over to us grinning like happy idiots.
" what's got you all giddy?" Jo says.
Gale looks at Finn and Peeta before he says anything.
"we'll?" She presses.
" That guy in the suit is a music producer looking for new talent. He gave us this card and wants us to come and audition for his people tomorrow at noon." Gale says.
I hear Annie scream and hug Finnick. I think Jo and I are in utter shock because she's still staring at Gale and I'm speechless
When I finally find my voice and say "wow"
Peeta chuckles and pulls me in for a tight hug "you wanna go take a walk on the beach?"
I nod yes and he grabs my hand leading me to the away.
We walk along the shore in a comfortable stealing glances and smiles from one another.
" So how do you feel about all this audition stuff?" I ask breaking the silence. He looks over to me and shrugs.
" I mean I don't really know what to make of it. This whole band thing was sort of a hobby and now its real. I feel like I don't deserve it. I just joined D12, I'm sure Titus is gonna be pissed".
" Peeta, Titus was a really sucky drummer". I deadpan. He chuckles and nods his head knowingly. " I'm serious though, don't doubt this opportunity because of him." I say.
He nods " your right, I should be grateful I'm even being included. I always thought I would take over the bakery when my parent retired. At least that what my mom planned. May dad will probably be happy for me. He know how much I love it".
This is a first, Peeta doesn't really talk about his mother much. His dad and his brothers all the time but never his mom.
" Well I'm sure she'll be happy, her son is going to be a famous drummer. What parent wouldn't be happy their kid is succeeding " I say. He smiles sadly and shakes his head.
" You don't know her, she's sucks the happiness out of everything"
I stop walking and look at Peeta with concern but he just shakes his head again and pulls me to him ending the conversation.
I lean into him and he tightens his arms around my waist pulling me towards him as if he try to absorb me.
I laugh and leans down capturing my lips.
I return the kiss and he slides his tongue along my bottom lip. I part my lips slightly and he plunges his tongue in to wrestle with mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and my hands find his hair. His hands go on either side of my hips and he pulls me even closer to him.
He trails kisses from the corner of my mouth to my jaw, then down to my neck finding my pulse point and sucking, making me let out an embarrassing moan.
Just then someone walks by yelling " get a room!".
Peeta stops and laughs against my skin. I roll my eyes and drop my hands to his waist.
He rubs the spot on my neck where he was just sucking " umm..I might have given you a hickey".
I take my phone out and use the camera as a mirror and gasp when I see a bruise already forming.
" Thanks Peeta, Jo's never gonna let this go"
He laughs and kisses me on the forehead " I'm sorry baby, I'll try to be more careful next time."
He doesn't seem sorry at all. Boys.
" You know I never asked you to be my girlfriend, have I?" My eyes widen and my heart might have just jumped out my chest.
"No you haven't. You might want to before another drummer boy comes and scoops me up" I tease.
Chuckling Peeta nods " your absolutely right about that". He steps closer to me cupping my cheeks in his warm hands and placing a tender kiss to my lips.
"Katniss Everdeen, will you be my girlfriend?"
I pretend to weigh my options and laugh " of I will, who else will bring me special bakery treats everyday".
Peeta scoffs " and here I thought it was my good looks and charming personality".
" Yeah well, thats all great but its your cheese buns I really stay for. And speak of food, I'm starving"
He chuckles "Ok well lets see where everyone is and maybe we can all go out to get something". I nod picking up my shoes and head back to the stage.
We talk to the group and decide to head over to the diner for a breakfast dinner.
I don't even get a chance to buckle in before Jo pokes me in the same spot Peeta bruised and starts in on me.
" so you and drummer boy run off and bang or what?"
I cover my neck and glare over at her " damn it Jo, really. Why is that the only thing you think couples do? I mean really Peeta and I just took a walk on the beach and talked."
Annie lets out an 'aww' in the back, Jo however rolls her eyes and starts laughing " really because that hickey says different"
I scoff and began driving off behind the boys.
15 minutes later we pull into the Ihop parking lot and Finnick checks us in where were seated almost immediately at a larger booth in the back corner.
Annie and Finn take the middle, Gale and Jo take the left and Peeta and I take right.
Our waiter Darius takes our drinks and we look over the menus.
" So what song do you guys think we should play tomorrow. We need to make it a great one" Finnick says to everyone.
I see Gale and Peeta look at Finn and then each other and just shrug.
Finn sighs dramatically " really guys I know I'm the face of this band but really I need Input. I mean I'm already doing most the work with the looks" he says motioning to his face and body playfully.
The whole table burst out laughing and he rolls his eyes.
The guys debate songs until Darius comes back with our drinks and takes our orders. I order a spinach omelet and Peeta orders so stuff French toast. Gale and Jo order strawberry banana pancakes. Annie gets a cheese omelet and Finn orders a smiley face chocolate pancake.
" What, there fucking delicious" he says when we stare at him.
Darius takes our menus and tells us our order will be out shortly. I instinctively lean into Peeta and he drapes his arm around my shoulder to pull me closer. I glance across the table to Jo and Gale and note that they seem to be fooling around under the table when Jo lets out a small squeal and nuzzles her face in Gale shoulder.
Gale looks at her with a smirk and I immediately twist my face in disgust and look away to Annie and Finn, who are laughing at some private joke.
Then I finally lay my eyes on Peeta who I see is staring right back at me. I smile widely at him and he returns it.
" What are you staring at Mellark?" I ask him teasing.
He chuckles and leans in close to my ear " only the most beautiful girl at this table".
He places a chaste kiss on my temple before lean back. I swear even the smallest contact with this man gives me goosebumps.
I place my head back on his chest an inhale his scent of cinnamon and vanilla with a hint of man musk.
Just then Darius and one other guy shows up with the food. We all eat in a comfortable silence and then make plans to meet up at the audition at 10am the next day.
***M&B***
When I wake up the next morning I descend the stairs to the kitchen and find Prim making cereal.
"Hey little duck, your up early. What are doing today?" I say kissing the top of her head. After my father died and mom lost her mind Prim was the only one in the world I was sure I loved.
" Katniss I'm 14 now, stop calling me little duck. And I'm hanging with Rue, Rory and Vick today. We're doing some early school shopping before things get crazy next week." She says wiping my kiss off.
I completely forgot about school. I mean I graduated last year but I forgot prim is starting high school this year. I guess she's not my little duck anymore.
" Well get yourself some good stuff and tell Haymitch to give you some extra money since your going to high school now" I tease, rubbing the top off her head.
She groans but then smiles at me " thanks Katniss"
I wink at her and grab a banana before climbing the stairs again to get dress.
By the time I pick Jo and Annie up and head to meet the guys it's 9:45am. We quickly stop to get Starbucks which Jo insisted on.
" I just think that if I have to wake up this fucking early someone should get me coffee. Perfect logic to me."
I roll my eyes and reach out for the cups in the drive thru.
" You better hope they don't kill us if we don't make it by 10".
She waves me off drinking her coffee and I haul tale to the building where there holding the audition at.
I see the guys outside the building and sigh a relief that were not late.
"Cutting it close there Everdeen?" Finn says. I point over to Jo and he chuckles while shaking his head.
I look for Peeta and see him pacing on the steps and walk over to him.
" Hey beautiful" he says enveloping me in his arms.
" Hey, you ok?" I ask as he starts pacing again running a hand through his blonde curls.
" I'm just a little nervous that I'm going to mess up and ruin our chance of getting this deal. "
I take his face in my hands and give him a tender kiss. " your going to do great, just forget about them and look at me, just like you did at the party."
He nods and gives he another kiss. I move to deepen it but Peeta is yanked away by Gale and Finn.
" Show time Mellark, plenty of time for that later" Finn says and I blush.
When we get in the boys head for the stage while Annie, Jo and I sit in the middle sections of the auditorium. There are three people sitting in the front row of the stage. I recognize one as the man from the beach.
I lock eyes with Peeta before they began and he gives me his wink.
When they finish the man from the beach stands up and walks over to the stage and shakes Finnick's hand and they chat for a minute before the guys leave the stage.
They come up the rows to where were seated and sit with us.
" So, what did they say?" Jo ask.
Finn smiles nervously " nothing really, just that they enjoyed the performance and that he'll call us back when they've decided. They still have one other band to hear".
We sit and watch as the other band sets up and plays their song. Their good. Their sound is more pop than the boys. I just hope thats not what the produces are looking for right now.
When their done we all stand around for a while when we see the produces leave out into a room to deliberate.
I get nervous when a woman comes out and motions for Finn, Gale and Peeta to join her.
Jo, Annie and I wait by the stage.
Ive adopted Peeta's pacing and Annie starts picking at her nails while Jo looks at me like she's gonna punch me. She hates it when people pace.
" Fuck brainless stop! Your getting on my last nerves!" She yells.
I mutter a sorry and began to rock side to side on my legs, another thing she hates. She huff and gets up to strike but I'm saved by the guys coming out the door.
" Well?" I ask
Jo huffs " please tell her or she'll start pacing and rocking and then I'm going to have to kill her." .
They laugh and Peeta comes and pulls me in for a hug. " we got it! They're going to make us rock stars!"
I squeal and jump up and down. I see Jo and Annie doing the same. They go through the whole meeting and then comes the big news " they want us to play a pre party in a few weeks for the up coming music awards, we need to be in Capital by Monday."
I'm shocked and frozen. " wow, umm, wow that's great Peeta, really. You guys are gonna have a blast".
Next week, I wasn't expecting it happening that fast. That's only two days away not counting today. Where does that leave us. I guess I should have know. It's not like they can be huge stars living here in this small town. I knew it would have had to end soon.
Peeta pulls me from my thoughts by leaving chaste kissed all over my face.
" Katniss, I know we've only known each other a short time but I want you to come with me. I couldn't have done any of this without your support. Please say you will?"