Katniss POV:
The first morning light is the best light for me, in my opinion, even though I am not a morning person but I just like laying in bed watching how the sun when it rises it changes the colors on my wall. Suddenly I fell a huge weight on me.
"KATNISS!" Prim yells, jumping on top of me, scaring me awake "what time did you get in last night?"
"OOF! what the hell Prim?!" I try to turn around so I'm laying on my back "what's wrong with you? Isn't mom asleep?"
"No, she left early one of her patience went into critical cardiac arrhythmia" Prim lays next to me "so mom said to tell you, well more like told me ask you, but since you're my big awesome sister I know you're going to do it. Can Gale and you give me a ride to school please?" she flashes me her biggest puppy eye that she can manage.
"Ugh, fine but you need to make breakfast then" I look over at my alarm clock, it's only 6 o'clock "jeez Prim why are you awake so early?"
"Well" she blushes a little bit. "I heard mom leave and I really don't like being alone so I came in here and well… yeah" she smiles at me.
I wrap my arm and throw my leg on top of her "It's fine but let's sleep for a few more minutes." She holds me closer "you can wake up in a bit and make breakfast"
"Mm-hm" she says almost asleep
We sleep for a couple more minutes and we get started on the day. When we got to school I was called into Ms. Trinkets office.
"Hello Katniss, come on in, I have big, big, big, news for you." Ms. Trinket says to me clapping her hands gleefully
"Oh, Okay" I sit down somewhat apprehensively.
"So, I have a friend, in Harvard, and I showed him the paper that you wrote" I felt my blood leave my face.
"WHAT?!" I stand up "Ms. Trinket you said you would keep it between you and me this is not cool"
"Katniss will you let me finish" she says exasperated "So, I gave my friend your paper but I didn't give him your name, and he just e-mailed me back and they are going to print your paper in this week's newspaper over at Harvard" she looks at me a little bit sternly "Katniss you have this amazing potential you are a smart girl, a loving, caring girl, and don't tell me you're not I have seen how you protect your friends, also prim. You're sister, right? Any ways, how many time you've gotten in trouble for protecting them. I would highly consider you for a medical career. I just know that you would shine there." She looks at me expectantly.
"Ms. Trinket "I sigh "I will think about it, but don't hope too much" I stand up and start walking out of her office and then I hear the voice that can ruin a whole day.
"Hey! Everybody look who it is. It's Panem highs very own super senior." Peeta says loudly "so why did you got into Ms. Trinkets office? What did she finally tell you that you need summer school and another year in high school?" Peeta looks at me arrogantly. I'm smart but I don't like to show it and flaunt it but Peeta holy shit he likes to show how smart he is and how much he studies in the library I don't think this guy has ever spend a lunch out of the library ever.
I was rearing to punch him right in his mouth. when I felt a hand on my shoulder I look up I was half expecting Gale but it was Finnick, Finnick is a cool guy, best friends with Peeta but he's not an asshole like him. Finnick and Gale are on the same football team so we get along with him. Finnick will eat lunch with us once in a while. Over all he's a good guy and I can tolerate him.
Finnick whispers to me "Come on Katniss, you just got out of detention. Don't go back plus its Friday and I have good news for you" Finnick smiles down at me with his 1000 mega-watt smile.
"fine but your best friend is a fucking asshole" I tell him but right before leaving I hear Madge say
"Finnick don't hang around the street rats. You'll catch some weird disease" Finnick turns slowly to her and just glares at Madge, Peeta sees this and quickly takes Madge away.
"I hate that girl so much I have told Peeta to dump her so many times but he thinks he'll never find any better than her." Finnick says a bit disappointed.
"Well he won't he's an – "
Finnick interrupts me "I know, I know, I know. You'd better get to class I will see you at lunch and tell you what's going on"
"Fine but one of these days I'm going to punch him in that mouth of his" I say looking back at Finnick.
As the day passed it felt like it was forever till lunch time. You know that feeling of excitement that makes time flow so much slower but it's only an illusion. I am in the same freaking boat right now. So as soon as the bell rings I let out a huge sigh I didn't even know I was holding in. so I grab my lunch from my locker I've never really liked school lunches, and I go sit out on the quad where Jo and Gale are under a tree.
"Hey guys, what's up?" I sit next to gale and right away Johanna goes through my lunch box to see what Prim put for food today. "besides Johanna stealing my lunch." She sticks out her tongue out at me.
"Not much Catnip, what's up with you I saw that Finnick had to help you out this morning?" he raises an eyebrow at me. Takes the lunch box from Johanna and gives it back to me, because he knows I wouldn't ever take away food from Johanna.
"yea he did" I say a bit ashamed. I know, I should have more control over my feeling I usually do, but I just hate arrogant people, more like despise them. Put a little bit of perspective in your life, would you?
"She was about to punch Peeta and his fake ass bitch of Barbie doll" Finnick says behind me sitting down between Johanna and me. "Hey man what's up?" he shakes Gale's hand.
"Not much dude" he nods a Finnick "what's up with you? I've never heard you cuss out that twat so much you usually hold on the cussing."
"It's just how much I hate her. Peeta seriously need to get out, more and meet other girls" we all look over to where the usual jock and popular crowd hang out. "look at her she's all over that other football player. What his name Cate, Caden… Cato there we go. Dude is an arrogant asshole too"
They turn back but I stare for a bit more watching how Madge acts with this guy. "guys I think she's already cheating on Peeta with this dude" I nod at them "look at the way they look at each other"
I turn back and start eating my lunch "anyways what was so important that you needed to tell us?" I ask looking over at Finnick
He perks up right away "oh yeah! So around in the information highway that is thread texting I found out that Delly is having a party tonight at 8:00"
Gale looks at Jo "alright we're in"
Then they all look at me expectantly "No, no, no. I can't I have to work plus it a Friday so the comic book store is going to be packed I can't you guys I'm sorry" I look down at my food
Finnick shrugs "well it was a long shot but at least I asked"
We finish up the rest of the day in school and it was uneventful. But I did keep getting the death eye from Johanna all day. Then finally the time has come for me to be released from this prison they call school.
I was walking out with Gale chatting happily. "oh shit!" I smacked my forehead.
"what's wrong, Catnip?" he stops with me.
"I forgot to get my gym clothes. It's laundry day tomorrow, let me go back really fast and get them"
"okay do you want me to come with you?" he asks.
"No, I'm good, I'll be okay" I start heading to the locker rooms
"Okay, I'll have the pearl out in front of the school okay?" I nod at him
I get all my clothes from my locker and start heading out. Suddenly I hear some voices and by instinct, I hide behind some bleachers, and move quietly. Unexpectedly, I see Madge kissing someone. At first, I think it's Peeta, but then they turn and I see him, Cato, I feel my eyes go wide. The way they were kissing and grinding would make a porn star blush. Holy fuck I need to get out of here.
I look down and move out of there fast. I'm almost out from under the bleachers and to the door but in my haste, I knock a pole over and it makes a loud bang. I freeze my blood draining from my face.
Madge manages to pull away from Cato looking around and focusing at the area where I'm at. my heart is beating so much, so loudly I think she can hear it. "did you hear that?" I cover my mouth and hold my breath. Thinking she's going to come over to where I'm hiding.
"No, I didn't, now, where were we?" he grabs Madge, turn her to him.
She giggles, and kisses him "Let go to my place, my parents won't be home for a while" she grabs hold of his hands and leads him out of the gym. I take my chance and run out of there, run right out of the school to where Gale is waiting for me.
"Catnip? You okay? You look like you saw a ghost" He asks shaking my shoulder gently. I just shake my head not willing to look up.
When I finally walk into the comic book store, I take a long deep breath and just revel in the homey scent it has. It smells like a good guy cologne with paper and just a touch of ink. To me it smells like home. I got to the back of the store drop off my things at my locker. I go out and look for Chris my boss.
"Hey Chris, what's there to do today?" I ask as I turn the isle looking at the catalog that we order from.
"Katniss, I did some thinking" Chris looks at me strictly
"That's dangerous." I say smiling at him.
"Shut up and listen smart ass." He says to me annoyed "I want you to be a teenager and plus it your senior year. Go have fun, go party I heard some kids that there is going to be a party. So today you're going to be off at 6:30" he turns to grab a box and starts arranging the books where they go.
Meanwhile I stood there like a gapping fish trying to come up with a good reason why I can't leave early "B, b, b, but Chris we're open till midnight tonight and plus its Friday do its going to be packed tonight" I try to come up with any excuse for him to let me stay.
Chris groaned and turned to me "Katniss you're the most hard-working person I know, you get here early and are the last one to leave" he puts the box down that he was holding.
"But you sometimes forget that you're still young, so hear what I have to tell you. Listen to your teachers, but cheat in calculus. Tell the truth, regardless of the consequence, and every day, give your mama a compliment" He holds my cheeks and looks at me lovingly.
"I tell you this not as your boss Katniss, but as a dad. Watch the sun set with best friends from a rooftop. Don't be stupid! Jaywalk, but look before you do it. If it snows, go outside, build a jump, get some help. Get a sled, thrash the hill with your friends, 'til it melts. Fall in love and dance. You're only young once, my loved one, this is your chance. Take risks, because life moves so fast. Before you know it, your all grown with responsibilities. So, you're going to work till 6:30 then you're going to go to that party everyone has been talking about" he pushes me toward the counter where we have costumers already lined up.
I slump my shoulders and get ready for this very short day of work, also figuring out what I'm going to tell gale that I'm actually going to the party.
So, I go home and my mom isn't home she usually picks up 72-hour shifts at the hospital. Prim is at a friend's house, so I have the house all to myself. The doorbell rings, well almost all to myself. I go open the door and in comes the tornado that is Johanna.
"FINALLY! FINALLY! You come to a party with us." She starts to set everything down her make up box. Which terrifies me a little bit. "what is this? like you first ever high school party?" Jo turns to me with her hands on her hips "about damn time too. So, let's go up to your room and get you ready, Gale will be here in about 30 minutes." She hauls me up to my room.
By the time jo is finished with "fixing me" gale is here and we're on our way. JO is chatting the whole way there, but I'm still silent I can't get the picture of Madge cheating on Peeta. Sure, that guy is a total asshole but I wouldn't wish that even on my worst enemy. When we get to the house Gale let Jo go a bit ahead and holds me back.
"Okay Catnip, you've been quite the whole way to work when I dropped you off, then you were quite the whole way here. What the fuck is going on and don't you dare bullshit me that it's nothing" Gale looks down at me and rises an eyebrow.
"well…" I hesitate a bit. I sigh and started telling him "I say Madge kissing Cato and I don't know Gale, Peeta is an ass, a piece of shit but he shouldn't be betrayed like that is just fucking brutal imagine putting your hops and trust on one person to have that person stab you in the back?" I look up at him and he's smirking at me.
"What?"
"Nothing Kat" Gale smirks down even more.
"No tell me. What?" I say a bit demandingly.
"Well I thought you hated the guy?"
"I do, he's a fucking punk, However I still don't think that he should go through that and be betrayed like that" I look down scuffing my feet on the floor.
"Well look who just showed up" Gale points over to Peeta that is just walking through the door with Madge on his arm. "if you want to be the bigger person here and tell him. I'm all for it but I don't think he will listen much to you but go ahead and try"
"Thank you, but I think I need some liquid courage lets go inside I bet Delly had raided her mom's alcohol closet" Gale chuckles and leads us into the house.
We walk into the house and there is food everywhere and drinks empty, half empty. We find jo already have drank some shots.
After a while and some shots of vodka. I was feeling a bit buzzed and weightless, I felt confident, I saw Peeta and he was mostly by himself. I take my last shot and go over to where Peeta is at.
"Hey Peeta" I say somewhat quietly "do you think we can talk I have something t-t-t- to tell you"
He looked at me for a minute a bit then shrugged and said "I have time for a stupid comment or two"
We walk into a somewhat lonely hall way away from the music and everyone, except for a couple of teen making out.
I take a big breath and start "so today when I was at the school gym" I hesitate a little bit but I just tell him and rip off like a band aid "Peeta, I saw Madge kissing Cato, I've been noticing things for a while now but I think I had to get drunk to tell you"
I see Peeta's face change from smirking arrogantly to just filled with rage. Towards me then he goes red in the face.
"How fucking dare, you?! Just because you can get any guy to even fucking look at you or even give a guy a boner! Doesn't mean you have you ruin other people's relationship." He starts to come closer to me and get louder, some people starting to watch our altercation.
I am drunk and you know what in not going to deal with his bullshit, I'm going to give him what he deserves. I know I told Gale I would take the high road but I've had my fill this punk is going to get what's coming to him. I exploded
"you know what Peeta. Fuck you! Fuck your stupid ass face, fuck your pompous windbag personality. Just fuck you over all, I hate you." I slap him so hard I hear some people gasp, but I'm reeling so I do the next thing I can think about I kick Peeta as hard as I can right in his partners and walk outside I need some fresh air.
I walk outside and sit on a swinging. I don't know how long it passes when I hear someone come out here with me "Gale I don't need a lecture right now please just me enjoy this buzz I have" I look over and it a girl from our school they call her fox face.
"oh, hello I though"
"I know," she answers right away "may I?" she points to the seat next to me.
"yeah sure,'" I scoot over a bit "so I've seen you around campus. What's your name?
"my name is Agatha, but I'm not here talk about me but I want to help you" I look at her really confused maybe because I'm drunk but I have a bad feeling about this. "I will teach you the true meaning to walking in another person's shoes." Agatha looks at me with a bit of a smile and she gets up to walk away.
I try to follow her but as soon as I get up I get really dizzy and start to faint. I fall back and hear Finnick's voice shout out my name. I feel him pick me up and them I black out.
A/N thank you so much to my fab readers that are following this story. I've had this idea for a while. Thank you, thank you so much for keeping up with me and my crazy uploading times. So, thank you so much for being patient. And I hope you enjoyed this chapter.